People who happened to stumble upon my blog sometimes asked me where in Idaho I am located, or if I like living there. One person even inquired about hiking trails in Idaho, and every time it happened I can’t help but laugh. I never had been in Idaho let alone in the United States. The name of my blog is derived from a movie of River Phoenix with the same title. It’s about a homeless street kid, a metaphor for a lonely, loveless drifter who has no defense against a world that can take his money, his heart, and his life. My Own Private Idaho is a film almost unbearably sad to watch. It resonates strongly with me.
I always have been a fan of Rio ever since I first saw him in movie adaptation of Stephen King’s book Stand By Me. The boy had depth and can convey range of emotions without being in your face. What a pity he is no longer with us.
I love the film, I adore River, Stephen King is my favourite author and I like the sound of: My-Own-Private-Idaho in my head, especially the ‘private’ part, it sums up what my blog is all about: personal thoughts, views and experiences I wish to convey to the readers for whatever reasons.
For a tagline I decided to go on the road less traveled and use the constant state of my mind instead of going the catchy way or tweaking my name into a sort of anagram. I never thought of search engines when I was creating my blog. In fact, I did not know the existence of them that time and I could not care less. I still don’t give a damn.
My tagline reads like this:
“My thoughts are colourful fast-moving screen saver’s slides show with badly connected international radio playing in the background…”
I don’t know if it’s catchy, clever, original or funny and frankly I don’t care. Like the overall design of my blog, it has to please me first before I can think of pleasing anybody. It’s my house/home after all. If I cannot be comfortable in my own abode, how can I be hospitable to others? How can I be inspired to write if I dislike my work place? No, I believe in putting your own domain in order first before you go on exploring outside
So, that’s it. That’s how the name and tagline of my blog came to being. I hope some people could appreciate it. Let me leave you with a little nugget of wisdom from the late actor himself:
“There’s not another road anywhere that looks like this road—I mean, exactly like this road. It’s one kind of place. One of a kind, like someone’s face. Like a fucked-up face.”
~ River Phoenix, My Own Private Idaho
I love this… I feel much of the same. I’m still contemplating how to begin, but my story starts a bit like yours. Thank you for posting and giving me the proper thoughts to get started…
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Glad I could help 🙂 Thanks for reading and commenting. I’ll check yours when you’re done. I’m way past my bedtime but happy this task is out of the way.
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I must say, I have always wondered about the name. Love the story behind it! I think it fits so well with what you’re doing on your blog.
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Now you know 🙂
I always try my very best to put everything together in a cohesive manner. Probably that’s the designer in me.
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I was with you Michelle, I didn’t even consider the state, just went straight to the movie 😃
I also love Stephen King, I have most of his books and particularly love his early work. The Tommyknockers is one of my favourite books of all time, and hardly anyone has heard of it!
I like the name of your blog, it’s exactly how you describe.
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I have most of his books too. Tommyknockers if my memory serves me correctly is the one where they have discovered a spaceship buried deep in the ground, right?
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Right! It’s creepy and long but intriguing with great gritty characters.
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I am currently reading another classic of him: Dreamcatcher.
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oh, good one. Ok, that’s it, I’m going to dig out a King after I finish my current book.
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This one landed on my spam folder and just saw it today. Sorry about that.
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Spam!? Oh no! LOL, no worries, thanks for rescuing me ☺️
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You’re too good to be spam. It happened more and more lately, comments ending up in my spam folder. My pingbacks and links still not working either, and daily prompts don’t appear in my reader. I get tired of complaining.
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Oh no! That’s not good. I’ve not noticed any issues so far, but I hope they sort it out!
And thank you ☺️
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very cool about the name! Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure!
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Love that movie
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Yes. They never make it like that anymore. Quality from beginning to end.
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“I don’t know if it’s catchy, clever, original or funny and frankly I don’t care. Like the overall design of my blog, it has to please me first before I can think of pleasing anybody. It’s my house/home after all. If I cannot be comfortable in my own abode, how can I be hospitable to others? How can I be inspired to write if I dislike my work place? No, I believe in putting your own domain in order first before you go on exploring outside.”
Nicely said. 🙂
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Happy 🙂
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You know I have read your blogs and I could derive that you were in the West but not Idaho. LOL
Reading your post, I feel a sense of connection with the movie Steel Magnolia, and you as the lead character Sally Field.
Keep posting and you doing great!
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I’ve seen the film in passing glances on a Saturday evening in a friend’s house. I think it’s also with Julia Roberts and Olympia Dukakis and Daryll Hanna. I must confess I didn’t pay attention much for two reasons: One is films like that is not my thing. I’m more of a Transformers/The Hobbit/Dracula//Pulp Fiction/Midnight Express kind of girl.
Second is I had to chat with the host for courtesy. I’ll check it later though out of curiosity.
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I’ve never even heard of that movie, will look it up!
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The best of it’s kind. They never make it that way anymore, especially on hand out budget. I will recommend it for anyone who prefesr quality over mainstream and commercialism.
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