What's in a name?

This morning I woke up and began reading Anne of Green Gables. In it is a very talkative little girl, who if she doesn't like the name of something she imagines a new name for it. For some reason this set me off- names. The book was written by M. Montgomery. So I started to wonder: if i were an author would I use my real name or a pseudonym? What makes a person use a pseudonym? Is it fear of pride? Do they not want their next door neighbor know they are an incredibly famous author that has sold millions of copies and been on the NYTimes bestseller list dozens of times? But then if you do author under your real name, is it because you do want the glory? It all became very confusing in this morning's light.

I decided if I wrote a book, my author name would be Dana Lee. It is half pseudonym and half real name. My name. Well, that is a story all in itself. When I was born, my name was Amber Lee Dana. (But that only came after I wasn't born on my due date of Dec. 25th and had the name Holly Noel. That is a kid's worst nightmare right there.) So for the first three months of life, I went by Amber. Meanwhile, I have a cousin named Rickey. My grandpa didn't like that because its a boy's name. So, after three months of this other name, my mom decided I wasn't an Amber but a Randi and my name was changed. The picture of the name change: my birth certificate says Amber crossed out and Randi typed in above it. How official does that look? And so I joined the boy's name club. (Recently I found out my mom had an ex-boyfriend named Randy. I don't think I feel good about that.)

However, to throw into the mix is the fact that my last name is Dana. A first name. So, I am forever going by either Randi or Dana because nobody can get it right. (Except when have you ever seen Randi as a last name? I don't get the confusion.) At least my new pseudonym would carry on the confusing tradition.

Randi. Once i read up on my name in a book my sister has. It tells all about names based on the first three letters in the name. So there I was listed with Randal (a nickname of mine, but don't even get me started on hiding behind nicknames too.) Anyways, the book was right on!! Scarily accurate. Randi I am meant to be. However, this is a secret fear of mine... with a first name of Randi, I feel I can never go to England. How can I approach someone and say, "Hi, I'm Randi"? Its never gonna work out. Farewell London trip of my dreams. UNLESS!! I use my new pseudonym!!

U.E.P.Y.

So, I realize I suck at the whole blogging thing. Lets be real. It should be left to those creative types. But here is a little catch up action:

<- my class minus Chuck.

I did it. Graduated and survived. But now the real question is how long can survival persist? It seems to be indefinitely. I have moved home. Home to a house that doesn't have room for me. My mom likes to always celebrate national pack rat day (May 17th.) And now my days are filled with pseudo-studying for my national boards test, wedding planning (not for myself) and a newly acquired habit of water aerobics.

U.E.P.Y. are the top letters that stand out in UNEMPLOYED. Oddly enough, I have been unemployed for over a year (since I counted nursing school as a full time position.) But in the two weeks since graduation, I have felt the weight of that word pressing on the space around me more than seems nice. And I have had it thrown in my face more than once. I liked the respect of being a nursing student. And everyone seemed okay with me not working. Its all changed in a very short amount of time. I miss school, I think.