Bleeding Espresso

9 March 2007

a blog by any other name

Throughout The Ultimate Blog Party*, I’ve gotten quite a few questions about the origin of the name of my blog. Maybe others are also wondering where it came from and are just too shy to ask. Or, most likely, you haven’t given it any thought at all and couldn’t care less about my creative process.

No matter. You’re all getting an answer right now. And we’re going back to when I first moved to Italy in 2003.

I’m a journal-keeper by nature, and so it was only logical that I’d be recording my experience of making a new life in my family’s old village. Remember this was around the time of Under the Tuscan Sun, and I was thinking about at some point organizing my experiences and observations into something larger, which for the sake of argument, we’ll call a book.

So I brainstormed some names for chapters and came up with “Mozzarella Dreams,” (this because I had recently had nightmares on two separate occasions after eating mozzarella in the evening; the chapter would be about food habits); “Questi Uomini” (”these men”; chapter to discuss the culture of machismo**); “The Young Girl and the Sea” (talking about my aversion to the beach despite living so close to it); and (I bet you saw this coming) “Bleeding Espresso” (about the coffee-drinking habits around here, including the no cappuccino other than first thing in the morning “rule”).

But that still doesn’t really explain where I got the phrase from, so stay with me here.

“Bleeding Espresso” first came to mind because when I was in college, there was a rather flamboyant football player who was always good for an entertaining quote. One day he let loose with: “I believe if you’d cut me, I’d bleed Duke blue.”

It immediately became a catch phrase among my friends and me because it was so over the top and hilarious. I mean, I like my alma mater and all, but that’s a little excessive. Surprisingly, it’s not as out there as I thought because when I just did a quick Google search for the phrase “bleed Duke blue,” I got 5 pages of results. And none of them were said by this particular athlete.

In any event, that phrase has always been somewhere near the surface of my consciousness, so when it came time to chapter name, I wanted something along the lines of espresso, cappuccino, and the like. I thought about just how much coffee people drink here, and that probably even I at this point would bleed espresso if I were cut.

So I scribbled “Bleeding Espresso” on the inside of a manila folder where I kept random tidbits that I wrote, brochures from travels, etc., and there it sat for a few years.

And then one fateful December night, I got the inspiration to blog, but I drew a complete blank on a name. I thought and thought for a couple days until it occurred to me to go back to the beginning of my Italian travels quite literally.

I went to the folder, and “bleeding espresso…” was born. The tag line below it came a few moments later, and my name “sognatrice” (”dreamer”) came from the “Mozzarella Dreams” phrase.

So now you know.

* Sadly, the party wraps up today, so if you haven’t joined yet, get on over there and type in your URL…there are prizes! Or if you’re just in the mood to discover new blogs, there are almost 1000 listed there. Yes, this was one heckuva shindig.

** Anyone else out there always think of Tony Danza doing a soap commercial on “Who’s the Boss?” when they hear this word? Anyone? Anyone?

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Technorati Tags: naming a blog, blog names, espresso

32 beans of wisdom »

32 beans of wisdom to “a blog by any other name”

Karen on 09 Mar 2007 at 7:08 pm #

I’ve always thought that it was one of the coolest blog titles I’ve heard… I’m glad I now know the story behind it.
Kaffeebohne on 09 Mar 2007 at 7:36 pm #

I had a good laugh while reading ‘under the tuscan sun’.
I’m a coffee addicted so I think I also would bleed coffee when I get a cut. Realy cool blog name. My blog name is Kaffeebohne which means coffeebean in english. My blog is a food-blog.
Sara on 09 Mar 2007 at 8:00 pm #

Ha! I read the “bleeding espresso” part awhile ago and relate to it strongly, because I’m always telling people that I drink so much coffee I bleed brown. I didn’t know the meaning of “sognatrice,” though, and it’s a lovely word.

Thanks!
Femminista on 09 Mar 2007 at 9:57 pm #

You went to Duke? My brother and SIL did, too. I wonder of you were there at the same time–1993-1997?
Ambra Celeste on 10 Mar 2007 at 1:10 am #

I also love the name of your blog. I didn’t know the cool story behind it, but I guessed the meaning. I have said for years about my love of coffee: If I can’t drink it, better hook me up to a coffee pot via IV. So, yeah…I love “bleeding espresso”
Wendy on 10 Mar 2007 at 2:48 am #

Thanks for sharing your story…I love your title. I’m afraid I wasn’t very creative when I came up with mine. I was in too big of a hurry to just start blogging.
sarala on 10 Mar 2007 at 4:05 am #

Good story about the name. I like it. I think I once posted about how I named mine (less original) but now I forget. It came in the nature of a silly ditty: “Blogaway into the wild blue yonder. . . “
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 10 Mar 2007 at 3:46 pm #

I love your blog name. What a great idea to let us know how you came up with it (it’s so great I might have to “borrow” said idea. ha).

How is your book coming along?
Kaffeebohne on 10 Mar 2007 at 8:40 pm #

Upps, I mixed up ‘under the tuscan sun’ with the book by Dario Castagno ‘too much tuscan sun’
Nadine on 11 Mar 2007 at 12:08 am #

I like the name of your blog. It was nice to meet you during the party. I will be back.
Waspgoddess on 11 Mar 2007 at 3:33 pm #

Ah, I have wondered but figured you’d probably divulged the secret some months ago and that I was too late to be let in on it

I would certainly not bleed coffee of any kind since I never drink it, but since I arrived in Sweden yesterday I may bleed a drop or two of snaps if I got a cut

Thanks for your kind words re my dad. I really appreciate it.
BecsLifeOnline on 11 Mar 2007 at 10:03 pm #

Haven’t you posted the meaning of your name (but not in so much detail) before now though? Either that or I’m psychic because I knew this already!
kate5kiwis on 12 Mar 2007 at 2:11 am #

hello from new zealand:
yes, i dream of living in tuscany… just popped on over from the party prize page: congrats girl!!!!!!!!!
Jeff Gromen on 12 Mar 2007 at 8:42 am #

I can identify with your blog name because before I moved to Italy I NEVER drank coffe. Now I’m on 3 to 4 cups a day.
I want a cool name for my blog. I was going to call it “A Day without Pasta” because I wrote in my journal once. “Today was the first day in Italy that I didn’t pasta at least once!”

Jeff
JennDZ on 12 Mar 2007 at 4:44 pm #

Well just keep it comin!
I posted a comment in your 100 list, but I realize you wrote it like 3 months ago…oops! It was just too great, I had to say something!
Shan on 12 Mar 2007 at 9:49 pm #

I’ve always thought you had a great blog name and I loved reading how it came to be. It’s funny I had just been thinking that very day about writing the same post. I put mine up on Sunday.
sognatrice on 13 Mar 2007 at 10:49 am #

Glad you all enjoyed learning about the name–but no, Bec, I didn’t discuss it before…you know me *too* well

Femminista, I was at Duke from 1994-98, so just about the same time as your brother and sister-in-law.

Kaffebohne, I have to find that book you mentioned; I’ve heard it was rather funny

Kate, thanks for letting me know I had won something–I completely forgot to look!

Jeff, I really like your potential blog name–and I so identify with it!

JennDZ, thanks for both of your comments

And for anyone who hasn’t shared how they named their blog, do tell!
Wanderlust Scarlett on 15 May 2007 at 6:13 pm #

Love the name, thoroughly enjoy the blogs, and the look! YAY coffee beans and warm colored tones!
Aren’t ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’, and coffee ANYTIME (especially iced…)and Italy and writing (especially in journals) the best? the best. yes. Must admit though… I LOVE the sea. Sorrento is a 4 day stop on the two+ week escapade by train through Italy that I am planning.
I wonder sometimes just how incriminating my journals will be to me someday. Hmm.
Sognatrice… how honest are you with yourself when you write in your journals?
I’ve found that I always give myself the best advice in them, I just never follow it. Which makes for anguished and lamented writing later, of course.

;o)

Scarlett
sognatrice on 17 May 2007 at 8:46 am #

Scarlett, thank you In my journals, I’m exceedingly honest–and yes, the hardest part is following all the great advice I give myself in them. Your trip sounds wonderful!
grace on 24 Jun 2007 at 11:19 am #

I like the title of your blog as well. Definitely unique!
kailani on 01 Jul 2007 at 10:41 pm #

Very creative. I wonder what I would bleed? Probably chocolate! hee hee

BTW, thanks for stopping by!
sognatrice on 02 Jul 2007 at 3:36 pm #

Grace, thanks!

Kailani, well for me if it wasn’t espresso, I think it’d probably be chocolate too
modelbehavior on 18 Jul 2007 at 10:54 pm #

Hey, I’m a huge Italo-phile and I love your blog (and your title). If you want to check out my site here below are links to some of my favorite stories from when I was living in Milan! I’m linking up to your site, hope that’s ok - cheers! - mb

http://modelbehaviorny.blogspot.com/2007/05/happiest-place-on-earth-part-i.html
http://modelbehaviorny.blogspot.com/2007/06/criminal-mind.html
http://modelbehaviorny.blogspot.com/2007/06/criminal-mind.html
sognatrice on 19 Jul 2007 at 4:30 pm #

Modelbehavior, thanks so much for your visit and comment–I have been reading through your site on and off all day. So glad you found me
ChristinaG on 19 Jul 2007 at 10:11 pm #

I enjoyed hearing how you came up with your blog name. I spent a week working in Calabria and loved it. Definitely my favorite part of Italy (so far at least). I look forward to reading more great posts from you! Cheers!
sognatrice on 20 Jul 2007 at 9:58 am #

Christina, what a coincidence–Calabria just so happens to be my favorite part of Italy too Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
WINERAK on 19 Dec 2007 at 6:00 pm #

it’s a great name
sognatrice on 20 Dec 2007 at 1:21 pm #

*winerak, grazie
Sandier Pastures » Blog Archive » blogosphere generosity on 19 Jan 2008 at 1:44 pm #

[...] an intriguing name for a blog and you will know the reason behind it in one of her favorite posts: A blog by any other name. I think her blog name is cool and something that sticks to [...]
Eligio on 11 Jun 2008 at 3:05 am #

loved the name, i also love the Mozzarella Dreams, sounds like american dreams. by the way I enjoy reading your blog.

Cheers from the Philippines

Eligio’s last blog post..Busby SEO Challenge Clarification and Update!

Thanks! So happy to have you here
Yeepage Blogging Tips on 06 Aug 2008 at 5:28 pm #

Thanks for sharing your story…you created a great blog title. Not to impressed with mine, but guess i will just stick with it….

Yeepage Blogging Tips’s last blog post..WordPress 2.6 is live…

Thanks; if you’re not happy with yours, though, perhaps you should consider changing? Life is too short to be unhappy
This Eclectic Life » Is She Really Bleeding Espresso? on 11 Aug 2008 at 4:41 pm #

[...] As for my blog name, I’m going to cheat a bit in my answer and send you to a blog post I wrote about it: A Blog By Any Other Name. [...]