NTMP 140: Bonester

With another city truck naming contest!

New-To-Me Phrases, June 15, 2025

Mona Leaf-A * California sober * Pedrosexual * Bonerama * Teenie Masturbeenie * Bagster

Bedroom eyes photo by Matt S.

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The phrases, with context

Hello from northern Illinois, where the weather is once again glorious. If you’re a dad, Happy Father’s Day! Per tradition, my husband requested Lou Malnati’s deep dish to celebrate, and we’ll also enjoy a food truck lunch at our town’s amazing Pridefest this afternoon. I got really lucky in the life partner department, finding a kind, hilarious, and generous co-parent to our three kids. I see those traits in them and know it comes from my husband. He’s simply the best.

And now for some phrases! It’s been a minute but in this edition we have stoners, boners, public displays of self-affection, and more.

Let’s get to it!

1. Mona Leaf-A

Longtime NTMP readers know we love a punny name for public amenities like snow plows and library carts. Here’s a new addition: the city of Chamblee, Georgia held a leaf truck naming contest and Mona Leaf-A was one of the finalists, along with Snuffaluffaleaf and Leafal Weapon.

Thanks to NTMP superfan Rebecca for this one.

2. California sober

I was talking with my oldest son’s boyfriend about people we know who got sober from hard drugs or alcohol but keep getting high. “Oh, that’s called California sober,” he said.

I researched it a bit and learned that Vice writer Michelle Lhooq likely coined the phrase in an essay. Demi Lovato also wrote a song about it (later reversing her position and advocating for abstinence, or “sober sober,” lol. Experts in this Psychology Today piece seem to fall on the side of being sober sober for those who struggle with addiction.

3. Pedrosexual

Happy Father’s Day to the internet’s Daddy. Fully endorse.

I love that the best use of Threads, aka the gas leak social network, is to screenshot it. H/T to NTMP stan Deborah for this one.

Bonus Pedro content:

cosigned

4. Bonerama

And we have another band name! You’d think I’d cover more of these in a newsletter about phrases but it doesn’t come up too often.

Bonerama is a New Orleans brass band that’s been around for over 25 years. They recently did an album of Led Zeppelin covers. I love a funky brass band. Brilliant, no notes.

5. Teenie Masturbeenie

You’ve probably seen a dog humping someone’s leg, or a couch or whatever, right? Well, birds like to beat it, too, but it looks a bit different, where they like to rub their lower backs against stuff (this is why you should only pet a bird from the neck up, btw). Every afternoon, my oldest son’s conure, Athena, likes to enjoy some special time with her toys. We’re a sex-positive household, but her cage is in our living room so it’s hard to miss, lol.

One of our nicknames for her is Teenie Beanie, and my son’s boyfriend coined the phrase “Teenie masturbeenie” in honor of her midday revelry.

From the family group chat:

My husband had not yet observed this avian autoeroticism, and I wish I had video of his face when we were hanging out in the living room and I said, “I guess it’s masturbating time!”

6. Bagster

This is a clever portmanteau brand name - it’s a big bag that works like a dumpster. I love that the website is “thebagster” dot com, like it’s some dude’s nickname from college.

Here’s what they look like in action:

Wait—is that—is that a skull in our neighbors’ Bagster? Yes. Yes it is.

#normal.

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Bonus Bit

My middle kid (who does not read this newsletter) told me about this very good meme:

That’s it for this week! Remember to keep making it weird and stay furiously curious!