But *never* call me by my first name unless we've been introduced. Christ, my migraine specialist still calls me by my last name.

Me too, I hate that shit.

Not least of all because you're 75% going to fuck it up, and chances were good I wasn't going to tell it to you anyway, Coffee Person. Cheating off my debit card is just that--cheating.

I sometimes cheat at the theatre, but I use the patron's last name.

Safeway cashiers are forced to address customers by their first names and I hate it.

I have complained about that. The manager said to me "It's friendlier to use a first name." and I replied "not if it offends the customer. Mary isn't going to mind if you call her Ms. Smith, but I am damned sure going to mind if someone uses my first name without permission" And he still argued with me "well, you're unusual". I said "that very well may be, but you've just lost a customer."

The debit/credit card thing is to prevent fraud. They want to make sure you answer to the name on the card.

I don't think so, or if that is the case, it doesn't work. If someone I don't know uses my first name, I'm going to ignore them, because they clearly don't know me.

OMG, I'm the person I hate. I just had a ten, fifteen minute discussion with my boss and I stared into his eyes the entire time. I freaked myself out. I could not work out where else to look. I don't remember how I normally look at people. Do I always do that? I tried to look away, but then I thought "He's going to think I'm distracted." Then I'd look at his shirt and think "That's creepy, stop it."

So, you know, sorry, Steph.

I try to look at their nose. That way, I appear to making eye contact, but am not staring.

I have complained about that. The manager said to me "It's friendlier to use a first name." and I replied "not if it offends the customer.

My eyes skipped over the first name part of the. The Dominick's cashiers (same company, basically) read your name off the receipt but it's definitely last name.

Everybody I work with probably thinks I want to shag them or beat them up. Wonderful.

So what do the Safeway cashiers do if you pay in cash and don't use a rewards card that might have your name on it? Go with the first name of the president on the largest bill?

I spend a good hour on the tube every day, which is like the epicentre of world eye-contact-avoidance. I sometimes worry it's turning me into some kind of sociopath.

So, you know, sorry, Steph.

Heh. If you, personally, stare me down, I'll be flattered.

Ticket acquired. Though I'm bummed to be going to yet another movie by myself. It's not like I absolutely need other people to go to a film, but I've been going by myself for so long now that I'm a bit tired of the loneliness of it.

I saw a new rheumatologist today. The doctor and the nurse were both very impressed with my ability to list my medications and give my medical history. That kind of confused me -- I mean, I lived my medical history, of course I know it.