more animals

Kurt and I have connected on FaceBook. Let the feast of the finest meats and chesses begin.

Something I’ve had to explain to folks from High School is why the first name on my profile is different/wrong. (Some of you that read here may not even know my real first name.) To add to the confusion, my parents never switched to my new name – it makes going home a bit confusing.

The short answer is that during the second reconstruction of Triangle in 1994, I was convinced that my given nickname was childish and that I needed to go by my formal first name. I do not really like my first name because no one ever used it growing up. So it was suggested that I go by my middle name instead. So I let myself get talked into it. In retrospect, I made a really bad decision.

For the record, Kurt, Bill DeArmey, and several others told me that it was a bad idea at the time.

Anywho, it is irreversible now, so I have grown to like it. I have even incorporated it into the blog as it is the source of my screen name, pinakidion.

Considering the ancient mindset of names, it actually works out that my adult professional life began shortly after my name change. I thought about changing it back after I withdrew my membership to the church I attend. I figured it would mark the time where I reclaimed my indentity. But then I realized that my identity is not totally comprised of where I go to church, what I feel about the UPC, my religious history, or even my blog. (In real life, I rarely talk about church stuff, I talk about game stuff, deaf/hard of hearing issues, community awareness, my small group, and linux.) Besides, it was difficult to switch in 1994 and it would have been harder for my wife and friends who have never known me by my real name.

So there’s the short version. The good news is that I found Kurt. I have also found a lot of other folks, especially from High School. I cannot facebook at work because it is blocked, but I enjoy a few minutes a night seeing what everyone is up to.