I had an argument with someone recently that ita was your actual name.

Him: No it isn't! It's a nickname!

Me:...

Lots of ~ma, Cashmere. That's an awful lot to deal with.

As for the not-mentioning, I've been driving Zipcars for errands for a while, but I try to limit it, because I have such a superstitious relationship with driving at this point. Even my neurologist said that's it's all about my fear of driving at this point (and, well, money) but when I told him how many close calls I'd had with seizures and driving years ago (before my seizures were as well- controlled) he admitted that my fears weren't totally irrational.

I guess I've just never completely gotten over having seizures in the first place: losing consciousness with no warning, no auras, and waking up later, with memory loss, sometimes injuries...it totally changed my perspective on what my body was capable of, and what I have control over. But really, all the experts say it's okay to drive, and I'm just limiting my life at this point, and making myself a PITA to others. (Thanks for all the rides, friends, btw)

Uh, is that someone who knows me? Evidently he needs to be introduced to the idea of people named nicknames, because my parents were totally in that groove. At which point...name. It's like magic.

Cash, apparently the ScarJo pictures are definitely real. I have no nude pictures on my phone. Of anyone. I feel behind the times.

He named a moon after you.

Cash, apparently the ScarJo pictures are definitely real.

I have one nude photo of my ass on my phone from where I lost a sharpie fight and my teammates wrote "exit only" on my ass in Las Vegas. But you can't tell it's me.

Thanks for the support, guys. Schizophrenia is a real treat. I keep telling myself at least he's not in prison or institutionalized but my parents are aging rapidly and just can't deal with a 6' 180lb man when he's convinced they're trying to kill him by poisoning the tap water.

I've talked to the SW about finding him alternative living arrangements. Joe draws SSDI so he should qualify for some sort of subsidized, low-income housing. Dad's his trustee and can pay his bills, dole out spending money and make sure he has groceries. We have enough family to help him out with rides, etc. He just can't fucking live with our parents anymore. It's getting too dangerous.

I love him and he's a perfectly nice guy as long as he gets his meds. And stays sober. *sigh*

I had a teacher in middle school who refused to use nicknames and only used first names. This was a problem for a classmate whose name was Vicky. The teacher kept calling her Victoria and Vicky would refuse to answer because that wasn't her real name.

He named a moon after you.

He's very silly.

Don't tell him I said that.

In happier news, Owen brought Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azikaban home from the school library. He's almost through Sorcerer's Stone and I told him if he reads all the books, I'll buy him the Lego Hogwarts Castle.

I feel that the named always gets to choose what they are called, whether it's a nick, or a long version or an honorific. Unless, of course, it's an elderly person or someone like that, in which case it's more polite to let it slide.

I always ask new employees what they want to be called. Once in a while they HAVE NO PREFERENCE. You don't care if you are called David or Dave? WTF? WHAT IS YOUR NAME?