Scrappy, what a faux pas!

We're now the Central Republic of the United Teplands.

I guess that puts me in the Western Teplands.

We'll annex your provinces soon, Connie.

Very soon.

I for one welcome my new overlords.

So many people shorten my name that I decided I will not answer to it at all if it occurs. They yell my shortened name insistently and I say to them: "oh, my name is XXX, I didn't think you were talking to me."

In dogs, I remember reading about ball prostheses that vets could put in the sack after ball removal, to keep things looking, um, robust. I always figured that was more for owners who wanted the image of a bad-ass, macho dog

Testicle prosthetics are ENTIRELY about the owner. And, I always suspect, those guys are personally insecure.

I decided I will not answer to it at all if it occurs. They yell my shortened name insistently and I say to them: "oh, my name is XXX, I didn't think you were talking to me."

I've done a version of this. It's hysterical.

Stopped by a local carniceria that I'd never seen and picked up many things. None of them actually meat. Some fresh chiles, sope and cotija. Which has been converted into dinner.

Two more ladies nicknamed me since I last posted (in email). Not sure how to respond to that in the future. I detest teh "cute".

I make an effort to get people's names right. I don't have a great talent for foreign names so it is a challenge at times.

I like my name. My family gets away with Lauri, No One else dare try. Living in the South for much of the past few decades I don't mind the Hon and Darlin' and so forth at all. I take it in the spirit it is intended. But if I tell you Laura that is what I expect to hear.

Two more ladies nicknamed me since I last posted (in email). Not sure how to respond to that in the future. I detest teh "cute".

It's harder when it's someone I have to work with or deal with continually. Women who call other women things like "cutie" when they hardly know them are usually the type to get offended if I say I don't like it. They seem to take it as personal rejection and a sign that I'm not "friendly". Which, I'm not, not in the way they are, but I still want to have pleasant dealings with them.

My boss (a woman) occasionally calls me "Lady". As in, "Hey, Lady, how are you today?" with a big smile. I have no idea why. It creeps me out. And she's my neurotic boss, so I can't just tell her to stop it.

Everyone in my family calls me Hillie. I don't mind it too much from them, or from people who've known me since I was a baby, as long as they spell it that way when they write it out (I just don't like the spelling Hilly), but it really annoys me when I meet someone new, and I introduce myself as Hillary or Hil, and then they meet my family and hear them calling me Hillie, and then the new people start calling me Hillie.