[I wrote this a few weeks ago and completely forgot to publish it. No wonder I wasn’t getting any good cat name suggestions!]
Here are the things the grocery store was out of when I last went:
1% milk
pepperoni
bologna
salami
frozen hamburger patties
red bell peppers
zucchini
the big bags of spring greens
vanilla ice cream
I realize we may be a bit over-accustomed in this country to getting whatever we want whenever we want it, without even having to stand in line or use ration coupons or ANYTHING. But considering we DO live in such a country, where grocery stores are NOT dealing with shortages and/or other issues, I DO expect them not to be out of so many things in one trip. “People in other countries wouldn’t think this was worthy of complaining about” is NO DEFENSE when you and I are in THIS country, GROCERY STORE!!
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We continue to languidly think of name options for the new cat, just in case the Penny Arcade thing falls through. One of my favorites is Hastings, which I think is a good name but also I love it because of the character Hastings in the Agatha Christie mysteries. Problem: Agatha Christie’s Hastings is laid-back, good-natured, relaxed in any situation, and quick and confident in an emergency. Our cat is…none of these things. So now I am trying to think of a well-loved anxious/shy/jumpy character from books or movies. Can you think of any? Wilbur, maybe, from Charlotte’s Web?
Re: Grocery store
With the holiday this last week their truck was probably delayed.
Darcy?
Someone like Piglet, perhaps? But with a cuter name? Hmmm….I’m thinking.
I don’t know how I missed the Penny Arcade thing, but as suggested in THOSE comments, I think you should definitely go with Rue. Because a) funny Penny Arcade tie in and b) It’s a character from the Hunger Games books/movie that almost fits with your request – Rue was small and flighty, although maybe no anxious and neurotic. But she was well loved and underestimated so in MY head that is close enough.
Woody (Wood Allen is the definition of anxious)
Neville (from Harry Potter)
Bertie (or Wooster, from PG Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster books, although he is more bumbling than anxious/shy/jumpy)
Chuck/Chuckie/Charlie(Rugrats or Penauts, take your pick)
I second Piglet.
It drives me crazy when grocery stores are out of ANYTHING, particularly so many common things. And I have lived in third world countries. Now I live here. Stock enough ice cream!
The name Sheldon (a la The Big Bang Theory) came to mind when you said your cat was a bit anxious and jumpy.
Your cat is male, right? But I keep thinking of Aunt Pittypat from Gone from the Wind. Or Mr. Tumnus from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Mr Green from the movie Clue or Sheldon from Big Bang Theory
I’m not sure if this an internationally known trickfilm series, but do you know the stories about a bee named Maja? Her sidekick is the bee Willi, and he is exactly like you described– shy, anxious, jumpy, and always a little worried. And well-loved, too :)
Hold on, I just checked, apparently it’s been shown not just in Germany, but also in the US, and was created in Japan but after a German book. Who knew.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_the_Bee_(anime)
Anyway, I suggest Willy. Because it fits, sounds like a pet name (as in, a softer version of a name, not just name for a pet) and because of the two syllables works well if you want to call him to you. Wiiiii-lliiiiii!
Or you could just call him Penny.
Monk. Name that cat Monk.
Oh, I second Tumnus, or anything else from the Chronicles of Narnia. So many fun names to choose from. Hogglestock! Glimfeather! Pattertwig! Etc.
What about Marlin from Finding Nemo?
I like Monk too, though. :)
Sheldon for sure!
Mister TUUM-NUUSS!!
Mister Tumnus is soooooo cute.
I suck at naming pets so I won’t vote. I concur about the grocery store thing (while also feeling guiltily glad that you have meat containing nitrates on your list – unless you buy the all-natural stuff in which case never mind) – I think the same thing when we have no air conditioning or water or power for four or five hours. If I have to get the first-world shit done, I need the first-world amenities in order to do it.
Oh, i was totally going to suggest Adrian or Monk too. (Adrian is his first name….)
Bertie Wooster isn’t jumpy, but his fried Augustus Fink-Nottle (Gussie), the one who collects newts, is.
PG Wodehouse himself was not much of a mingler. That would give you PG, Pelham, Plum (his official nickname), or Woody (if you’re worried about being too precious).
Smee from Peter and the Starcatchers is a little dim and anxious.
Is Mr Benedict (with the mysterious society) nervous, or just not fond of company.
Barney! (i.e., Barney Fife, from the Andy Griffith Show)
I realize it’s not a book OR a movie, but when I think lovable, anxious, jumpy character, he’s the first one who comes to mind :)
I think Mister Collins is a fabulous cat name, but mayhaps you have too strong a connection the THE Mr. Collins for that to work. He’s not very socially capable, though, and I just love his character in the newest version (but don’t get me started on what’s-her-name that played Elizabeth. Rawr angryface!).
Bernard–from the Disney Rescuers movie.
When I watched Sesame Street with my daughter many years ago the character Telly had exactly that personality. I also like Monk and Sheldon and… watch a lot of television.
Melman! Anxious and jumpy but much loved giraffe from Madagascar. :)
I immediately thought of Neville as I see another commenter did as well.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read the Adrian Mole books, but I love them, and I think he would be a good namesake for your cat.
Or else Eustace from the Narnia books, as in “his name was Eustace Scrubb and he almost deserved it”.
Neville from Harry Potter!!
Rory from Doctor Who.
My first thought was Mr Darcy. His first name is Fitzwilliam if that helps?
I don’t have a suggestion for the name, because I’m not good at naming things.
I commented to say I loved the top part about the grocery store. I feel that way every time I try to shop at our local supermegastorething that starts with W. Now I refuse to go there. Never mind the lack of reasonable alternatives (small town), I have a POINT to prove! Ugh.
I get mad when the grocery store doesn’t have ONE thing that I need. Even if it’s a weird thing. If I were faced with an empty shelf where the zucchini should be, I would just stand there, slack-jawed.
I like the suggestion for Mr. Tumnus, but I love the one for Bernard.
Arthur Dent from Hitchhiker’s might be a good fit. And there’s always C3PO if you’re feeling really nerdy.
Quirrel, like professor Quirrel from Harry Potter? He was very very twitchy.
But I like other people’s suggestion of Neville better because I <3 Neville!
We once named a cat Frisbee, loved that name, suitable for a high energy cat!