I may not accomplish anything else of substance today, but I was successful in getting permission from the State of Michigan to stop using a housing form that had, I shit you not, the following box:

Applicant:
___ White/not-minority
___ Negro/Black
___ Oriental
___ American Indian
___ Spanish American
___ Other

Our contact at the state level had NO IDEA this form was still being used. It's a form that was originally issued in 1966, but was REVISED in 1986 (!!!), and still being passed out as of 1998. She said, "Yeah. You don't have to use that form anymore. Good heavens."

I'm so old-fashioned. I met The Boy in person, when he offered to tie me up.

Aww. How traditional!

Aims, that is truly wack.

Well, that didn't take long. I'm playing Buffy/Angel trivia with a woman on OKC. She got one of three on the first question (how many actors played in Buffy, Angel, and Firefly). Hope I didn't scare her, but she did say she doubted that I knew more than she did!

Beyond finding someone to date, it would be cool if I made some new lesbian friends. I have found that very difficult since quitting rugby.

I would love to have the confidence to correct people with 'Ms J.' when they use my first name and it's not appropriate. I'd particularly like to be called 'Ms' at my many medical appointments. The social inequality of discussing my health with soemone who I have to call 'Dr' and gets to call me 'Naomi' is annoying as hell.

When that happens, just smile and say "I prefer Ms. ____" . the smile is very key, and make it genuine. You have a right to be called what you want to be called. And if someone says "Do you mind if I call you [first name]", my response is "and what's your first name?"

With doctors, I make a point of learning their first names. I had a doctor walk in and say "[First name]?" and I replied "I'm Ms [last name]" He looked surprised for a second, but continued "I'm Dr. Smith". We had some small talk and he said "so, [first name] (random medical question) " and I replied "Well, Bob (answer to question)" He looked at me for a second, and said "Okay, Ms. [last name], now we're going to . . ."

Aims was right. I would say "Stephanie" as a reflex, to somehow get the spelling in my head, but of course that wouldn't help at all. So I am a doofus.

I have an easy first name and I am happy to have people use it. Both the DH and I enjoy watching check-out folks try to pronounce our last name, Fogelson (FOE-gl-sun). We mostly get something like "Thank you Mr. Fergoolsin," and neither of us can figure out where the "r" comes from.

Hope I didn't scare her, but she did say she doubted that I knew more than she did!

She asked for it!

I have a similar problem to Scrappy. If I had a dollar for every time I've heard (PET-rik) instead of (PETE-rik), I could probably buy Buffista Island. Or at least put up a respectable down payment.

We mostly get something like "Thank you Mr. Fergoolsin," and neither of us can figure out where the "r" comes from.

Probably because our minds try to make unfamiliar things familiar, so they are thinking Ferguson, which they know.

With doctors, I make a point of learning their first names. I had a doctor walk in and say "[First name]?" and I replied "I'm Ms [last name]" He looked surprised for a second, but continued "I'm Dr. Smith". We had some small talk and he said "so, [first name] (random medical question) " and I replied "Well, Bob (answer to question)" He looked at me for a second, and said "Okay, Ms. [last name], now we're going to . . ."

My mother got into a huge brouhaha with her doctor over this because he flat out would not call her Dr. Lastname. God, he was a jackass.

My name is awesome for confusing people. "Laura? Maura? Norma? Dora?" and then do not even get me started on my last name.

When I called the floor guys for a quote a couple weeks ago, they looked up my record and saw my name AND PRONOUNCED IT CORRECTLY. I was about to comment on it (it never happens) and then the second guy told me that McGunnigle was the name of his brother's (the first guy) ex-wife. I was like, Ahhh, now I get it.

Seriously. It freaks people out!

Dude. I ever get enough education to warrant a Dr., You better betcher ass that EVERYONE had better call me Dr. Empress.