Wednesday, December 3, 2008

A rose by any other name would still be crazy

First of all, don't be alarmed, I have changed my name to Nutty Hamster Chick. It has a certain flair, don't ya think?

Of course all the paper work and bureaucratic red tape was a pain. But I think it will be worth it. I just hope all my old friends can still recognize me and still talk to me.

And I can't take credit for thinking it up, that goes to Shelle at Blok-thoughts. Thanks Shelle, I think when you get a make over, it is the perfect time to change your name. And Shelle thanks for reminding me that even though I changed on the outside, I am still the same on the inside.

This isn't the first time I have changed my name.

My given name is Patricia. But growing up my family and friends always called my Patty. Once I got married, my husband started calling me Pat. When I graduated from college and started my first accounting job, I thought that Pat sounded more official and financially sound than Patty. Does anyone really want to trust their financial futures to a girl that reminds them of peppermint patties? I think not.

To rectify this problem when I first went to my new job, I introduced myself to everyone as Pat. That was great because they didn't know anything else. The only problem was that I forgot to inform myself about the change. Hence people in the office had to say "Pat" like 3 or 4 times before I would finally realize they were talking to me. Unresponsive. Not really the best impression for your first post college job.

They probably wondered if I was on drugs or hard of hearing or just in outer space. "What's with that new girl Pat? She seems a bit cuckoo."

If they only knew the truth. Except at this point in my life I didn't have any children and so I wasn't cuckoo yet. Actually truth be told, at that point I desperately wanted children and was cuckoo because it hadn't happened yet. But that is a horse of an entirely different color.

So it only took a few months before I answered to my new name. Of course I was still Patty at church resulting in the schizophrenic phase of my life. So confusing.

After two years of leading a double life, we moved from Provo to California and then I became just Pat to my new ward also. This and the adoption of our first son helped cure a lot of my mental problems. But then a whole new batch were born. Another topic for another day.

So anywhoo, to most in my life today, I am Pat, but my family still calls me Patty. And that's OK. It helps me identify which compartment of my life a caller is from by what name they call me.

But I really like the name Nutty Hamster Chick.

If I ever get another job, I think I will introduce myself as Nutty Hamster Chick. It would have to be the job thing because I am NEVER moving again, so that option is out.

Hey and now I can join the secret combination club with CTD and OBG as NHC.

Will one of you IM me the secret handshake and password? And also could someone please post about what all these text initials mean. I am not talking to my seventeen year old right now, so I can't find out. It is all greek to me.

17 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I love Nutty Hamster Chick. Between you, Dummy, and Farmer, we have a whole lotta nutty. ;)

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Hee hee. And Kristina P, don't forget Nasty. With you in the pot we have a whole lotta nutty and nasty.

Pat, I mean NHC, you will always be Pat to me because you were my first SNL stalker. Remember!!!

The Crash Test Dummy said...

Hee hee. And Kristina P, don't forget Nasty. With you in the pot we have a whole lotta nutty and nasty.

Pat, I mean NHC, you will always be Pat to me because you were my first SNL stalker. Remember!!!

Amie Earl said...

I like NHC as well it is fitting for some of life situtions I need to think of something clever like that.

Amie

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Crash, you are right, we can't forget Kristina P.

And don't worry I will still answer to Pat.

In fact probably people will be yelling at me "Hey Nutty Hamster Chick" and I will just sit here in my usual stupor of thought.

Mariko said...

NHC sounds like a college. Huh. I think it is.
I have had the name problem in the past. My whole life everyone called me "Muh-reeko", and in Hawaii people actually knew how to pronounce the Japanese way, "Mah-dee-ko", and my dad's side of the family calls me "Mar-ick-o." And all my friends here call me Mightyko. I always tell everyone I'll answer to anything, because most people don't understand what my name is the first time I tell them and proceed to call me Mary or Matty. And I will NEVER correct them.

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

You might be right Mariko about the college thing. And that is kind of a bummer to have a name that is hard to pronounce. But it is good you are such a good sport about it.

annie valentine said...

My MIL is Patricia and she's gone from Pat to Patty to Patsy to Trish. Her husband calls her Patty when she's in trouble. Once I accidentally called her Patty and she BIT MY HEAD OFF.

It wasn't the last time (she bit my head off). It was the last time I called her anything but Oh Great One.

Kris said...

I like it NHC. I will try and remember to call you that in blog land

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Wow Annie, that sounds a bit drastic. I know Patricia is an older name, I was never in a class with anyone else with that name. But once I was in a ward with 3 other Pat/Pattys.

J. Baxter said...

Try being a "Jen". There were so many of us at Ricks it was ridiculous.

And I like the new name. And the initial thing. It goes with the whole "hampster" theme so nicely!

OldBoatGuy said...

Hey Pat, I really like the "CHICK" part. Hee Hee

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

OBG that is the farmer in you that the chich part appeals too, huh?

Crazy Lady said...

I love the new name, but then I love funny, nutty, crazy people!

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

That just like Kristina to try and one up me...Glad you didn't have that name before you decided to change it to the one I mentioned! lol!

Marjorie said...

Sounds coolio to me. I do like the new layout and header. Very classy! Glad my links still work.
Love ya!

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Wow mom, I am glad you are feeling up to posting. Hope all goes well this weekend.