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.