Blog Name Explained

Oops! I've realized that my blog name (which was chosen out of a plethora of ideas that were spewed onto one of my Facebook status updates) may be a little confusing to those who don't know me. So, here's a quick explanation.

I suppose there is a double-meaning (or maybe even triple) to "Meg, Acting Out" (or megactsout, whichever). The most literal comes from my involvement at our local community theater group, Ilion Little Theatre Club. I've been acting there, thanks to my sister's earlier membership (and a desperate last-minute need for someone who could, heck, READ) for a few years now, with several shows under my belt. More recently, (a year ago) I became a board member - secretary - which takes up lots of time, but is something I strangely enjoy. In all honesty, this place is like home; a home full of strange, mostly-wonderful family members whom I care deeply for -- and whodathunk I'd find a FUTURE family member there!? Yep, it's where I met Dave, where we started as acquaintances, moved to friends, and eventually became partners. Oh, and although he doesn't readily admit it, he's the president. ;-)

So, from the literal, we explore the abstract. I'm the youngest of four talented, unique individuals; we're similar in some ways (particularly in twos -- the older brother and older sister (1 & 3 in the line-up) are quieter and more reserved, in general; the younger brother and sister (2 & 4) share similar illnesses and allergies as well as their tempers and flair for the dramatic), but all quite different. I grew up known as the "spoiled one" -- which is all relative. Compared to my siblings, yes. Compared to all of my friends, no.

I was also very vocal from a young age. For better or worse, and for all who truly know me, it's who I am. My senior superlative was "Most Outgoing." I'm slightly outrageous (but generally responsible and not prone to poor choices -- can't really do stupid things that'll get you in trouble with the cops when you work in a school) and am known to say extremely random, at times slightly offensive things. I had a problem with interrupting family members at the dinner table. I've never liked being talked down to, and tend to speak up about it (can you picture a cute 4-year-old speaking up? Yeah, I'd want to give me a spanking, too). But, I was raised with enough sense to respect my elders (with exception to my mom back in the day, and my stepdad during my teen years, poor parents!) and never spoke rudely to teachers, grandparents or, well, any other adults. Regardless, my closest friends and family know that "Meg, Acting Out" just describes the person they've always known. I'm grateful that they've remained loving, and that I've been lucky enough to find a guy to put up with this quirk.

I suppose a third meaning could come just from living life, since that's essentially what this blog is about. I could have just decided to write a blog about living green -- but I'm not an expert. Or, I could have written about students -- which I'll, on occasion, do, but would rather not air their business too publicly. I could also have written a design blog -- but, again, I'm no expert and would rather just share our renovations as they come. I could've written a wedding blog -- but I'm not a hugely wedding-obsessed bride (although I'll be writing more about the planning as we go along; besides, I've got a blog on our wedding web site). So, one reason the name appealed to me was in the fact that it somehow describes EVERYTHING I wanted to write about -- which is, pretty much, EVERYTHING. :-)

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...."

Have a great Memorial Day weekend, everyone! I'm a lucky duck; got an extra day off. Hope it's as gorgeous where you are as it is here.