My maiden name was so American it was boring. And my married name is ... really straightforward, if Irish, and yet people puzzle over how to pronounce it anyway.

Yay, d! That's awesome news.

We only americanized by using the Roman alphabet and accenting the first syllable, but that's enough to allow me to serve on the Supreme Court, right?

I'm not sure which would be more difficult, becoming a lesbian, or moving to Iowa.

I vote Iowa. We wouldn't have to actually sleep together, after all, but it would be hard to have an open relationship with your state.

Yay for new house, d!!

My last name was finagled with by my grandpa when he came over from Sweden. It starts with an A-with-the-"o"-over-it (no idea what that letter is actually called), which is pronounced like the "o" in "fore." But, Grandpa decided to keep the spelling with a plain "A" and change the pronunciation to "Ah" instead, thinking that would be easier for Americans to deal with. Unfortunately, he was thinking like a European in terms of vowel pronunciation and not like an American, and so the name is constantly pronounced with an "A" sound like "apple," not "ah."

Very cool house news, d!

My name is perfectly simple. Iffen you don't count my first name. Today's recruiter finally caved and asked where I was from. Unamerican, sweet lass, unamerican.

Apparently the consulting company she hooked me up with wants to submit my name not just to the client (interview within a week?) but to their business developers including furrin travel. Can you see me in Dubai? Need good migraine meds.

One thing being out of work this long has made me sure of--I am willing to work through the pain perhaps more than before, because I want to work so badly. Not just to earn money, but to be productive and not fucking be home.

Congrats, d!

My investigation into French tennis nomenclature continues. They say "partout" for the score in games, and for the tiebreak score, but "a" for the score in normal points. Still haven't heard what the French for set and match are.

I've been to Iowa many times and have found it to be pretty nice place. I like the cooler climate as well.

Of course, that was before it went all gay.

I do not stink.

A pie business would be grand. where's that lottery win?

Still haven't heard what the French for set and match are.

I kid you not, le set and le match.

I kid you not, le set and le match.

Lazy bastards! Explains why I haven't noticed, eh?

Thanks for the clarifications.