There are times when it's inconvenient to have an unusual first name. For example, when trying to place a phone order to a noisy restaurant to a person who has English as a second language - it results in conversations like the following:
"Your name please sir?"
"Svend."
"Steb?"
"Svend. S-V-E-N-D."
"S-B-E-M-D."
...
When I eventually got my meal, I had apparently transformed into SVEZON, MechaDefender of Humanity!!! (I may have extrapolated the "MechaDefender" part.) This would be more amusing if I didn't have a bit of upset tummy today; I'm not sure that it's the food to blame, but I didn't really have anything else to eat yesterday outside of a couple of Oreos and a Werther's butter toffee. I guess I should dump the leftovers that I have sitting in the fridge, even though it outrages my "don't waste food" sense. On the upside, a nice cup of tea seems to have settled my stomach.
Getting back to names, my workmates have two or three nickname-like things for me. One is "Svenzor", to go with "Benzor", "Miltron", "Kathtron", and other leet-isms. Another is "Sven-d", which is a joke that is a bit geekier - it's referring to things like httpd, imapd, crond and sshd. (These are the names of the daemons that manage that process; for example, crond looks after cron jobs. That's right, I'm the daemon that looks after the "Sven" processes at Weta. :)
I've also been called "Mr Sv" (pronounced "svuh"), which eerily mirrors the name given to me by the Singstar Posse, "Jazzmaster_Sv".
Oosh. Okay, it seems that the cup of tea didn't help as much as I thought. Darn it, now I definitely have to dump the leftovers. :(
***
Finished the first season of Due South yesterday, having started earlier this week. I have had them on DVD for a while, but I hadn't gotten around to watching them until Jenni asked to borrow them. I'd watched a bunch of episodes on video a few years ago, but there were two or three on the DVD that I don't think I've ever seen before. I really like the series - the way that the two detectives that act as Fraser & Vecchio's foils (Gardino & Huey) are still given moments to show that they're good people at heart, for example. And little things, like calling the evil dog catcher "Benedict Arnold", and having Vecchio not react while Fraser does a little double-take. Oh, and "Mrs McGuffin". Heh.
I have (but have not yet watched) the second season; I'll have to buy the third season at some point. :)
***
Yes, I'm aware I haven't done the present list. Maybe tonight.
Posted by svend at September 16, 2004 10:04 AMMy sister always uses my far more user-friendly name when she has to leave her name anywhere. It's ok, except for when I'm with her and they say Ema and I assume it's me. You could always use a pseudonym when booking at restaurants?? It could be fun to choose a new name??
Posted by: Ema at September 16, 2004 4:14 PMI already know what I am getting you! Now I just have to find it.... Next week!
Posted by: Giffy at September 16, 2004 5:32 PMThat is why I am a "Sam". That way I don't get Sandra or any other version of Samantha.
Posted by: sam at September 17, 2004 2:10 PMIf I were going to pick a random fake name, there is an obvious choice - "Jason". (Apologies to the boyfriends of Michelle, Sok, Zephfi, et al. :)
I guess I should just get used to saying "Andersen". They'll spell it wrong, but at least they'll be able to *hear* it. ;)
Posted by: Svend at September 17, 2004 3:23 PMWell you could always have the opposite like I have - a common name with an uncommon spelling. It's equally annoying. People assume you've spelt your own name wrong and correct it for you. Or ask if it's correct and then look dubious. Parents should be forced to think of this sorta thing before naming their kids!!!
Posted by: Ema at September 17, 2004 4:26 PMAh, see, I have the worst of both worlds - an uncommon spelling of an uncommon name. I guess I could start using my middle name, but I'm not sure I ready to be called "Arthur" on a regular basis. ;)
Posted by: Svend at September 17, 2004 6:40 PMRegan morphs quite well into megan, Rena, Mela (who knew that was a name?) and occasionally something truly bizarre like stephanie. WHY??! Then there is the whole discussion of "oh I know a boy called Regan." hurrah!
Posted by: sok at September 19, 2004 2:47 PM