I knew there were some old great ideas that I still hadn't blogged about and I just remembered one. This is one I had when I was temping in San Francisco, jeesh, like 12 years ago. My idea was this:
When you start a job, they always take you around and introduce you to people. When you're a temp, you have nothing to lose. So, I wanted to tell people:
"Hi, my name is Mary, but all my friends call me Knockers."
Or Stinky. I couldn't figure out which was funnier. The first time I thought of this I laughed so loud I startled myself -- I was walking up a really steep hill by myself and had to stop and think about it. I still think it's pretty funny. Other people I've told this to haven't thought it was so funny, so I've had to explain that the people meeting you would have to figure out if they wanted to keep calling you Mary, and seem rude because they didn't want to be your friend, or if they were going to call you Stinky or Knockers and risk being rude because those are rude names.
The whole idea of rude or outgrown nicknames I find kind of funny. I remember we had someone in my school named Stinky, and he was a really funny, really charismatic guy, from what I remember. He was a couple years older and had a hairlip. Anyway, one year he said he didn't want to be called Stinky, and I was like, "but that's his name! what's he thinking?". I understand better now. I've had or tried to coin a few nicknames in my time, but they've never really stuck: Ace (someone told me too late that you're not supposed to name yourself Ace, you're supposed to wait for it to be applied to you in spontaneous appreciation of your skills of some kind); Breakfast; Noodles. Then there were the stage names: Daisy, Elektra, Monique. Those have a half life of about 2/3rds of an AC/DC song.
Now, I stick to Mary. I didn't even change my name when I got married, although it did occur to me. At this point, it's too late to change my name, except for maybe if I need to go into witness protection or something.
I would just like to comment on the link I put up there, in case no one scrolled down far enough to see the comments on the suburban woman's fantasy about the Witness Protection Program. Because her thing is a blog, I guess, she probably got fairly high ratings for witness protection. Then some people found it, commented on their actual experiences in the witness protection program. Now I'm linking to her blog using the same term because it was one of the most interesting things I found on it (because of those comments). Before you know it, her page will be like the leading authority on witness protection! Blogs are funny.
Gee, i thought it was darn funny, and so did Kurt! In fact, he still refers to you as Knockers on occasion. Luv, Pancakes
man, that witness protection thing is insane. i wonder if any of those people are telling the truth... maybe i'd be more likely to believe them if they could spell.
hi:
thanks for the visit.
please dew drop in again... and again and again.
O:)
tina
hi:
thanks for the visit.
please dew drop in again... and again and again.
O:)
tina
breakfast noodles: now there's an idea!
I was given the name 'Stinky,' at the age of 10, and naturally I was made fun of a lot. I can't deny the name was (and is) well-earned. The day after I was given my name, kids I didn't even know were yelling 'Hey Stinky!' at me. At 14 I started answering to it. The girls I turned around to laughed at how quickly I responded - 'He knows his name!'one of them said. I blushed even more than usual at that. But from then on I began answering to it, and still do today.
Stinky
I actually think stinky is a pretty good name. It may be that I just have such fond memories of that Stinky from school. Was it you?
Mary,
I don't know - did you go to high school in Ohio in the mid to late 90s?
What about your Stinky? Did you name him? Hold your nose when you walked by him? Fond memories? I really would like to know what you felt about him (me?)How is Stinky viewed by others? That, to me, is the question.
It will certainly seem strange, but I have my own fond memories of that time - now. At the time, my feelings were a little different.
Stinky
i never called anybody stinky in highschool...unless they actually were giving off a foul odor at the time...i was more likely to call people spunknose or beadpopper. i guess the youths at your school were just unoriginal
well in high school i was called hugs my friens were called;chick,tot,bunni,& kitty.Also we caleld all the guys by their last names eg somthing park we called him parky lol.
is that stinky wentworth miller...from your description it sure sounds like him...cheers