Have I ever told you Sean calls me Man? I may have mentioned it once or twice, as our neighbor, you know, the one I’ve likened to a creature from the Dark Crystal, once came over and expounded on all the reasons why Sean shouldn’t call me “Man.”
“Fuh, stawtuhs, yure a woman, yure not a man.”
I nodded my head, because no matter the depths to which my self-esteem have plummeted, I’ve always known I was a woman.
“Fuh, segunds, yure name is A-man-duh, there are other shortcuts or nicknames, whutevah ya call ’em. Like “N’duh,” he could call you, “N’duh.”
I nodded some more, because, yes, he could certainly call me, “N’duh.”
“I just doe-n like it. It’s like, it’s like it’s wrong, yuh too pretty fer dat.” And with that she sort of shuffled off.
Anyway, he calls me Man, my mom and sister did before him, I like it. It works, except when we are out with a friend of his and he says, “Man,” in which case I’m like, “Me, man? Baby, man? Or him man, dude man?” He usually rolls his eyes at my rather weak attempt to emulate a Who’s on First comedic genius.
As I was saying, Man at Work – I realized that my last two posts have been rather dark, which, quite honestly, is natural as my work can be a dark place for me sometimes. What can I do? How do I turn this around, I asked myself. And then it hit me, Men at Work. Who doesn’t smile at their signature song? It’s right up there with Blondie and The Tide is High.
In the spirit of Flutter, a magnificent wordsmith who on occasion graces us with music she thinks we should hear, I give you a bit of Aussie and a bit of sass to slide you into the second half of this, the last workday of this week.
My friend Amanda from college… we always called her Manda… and I'm sure sometimes Man. Her family all call her Mandy though.
Great songs… Zoe's doing a little dance. I'll have to join her.
Thanks for sharing the classic tunes, Man. š
I wonder why we so often feel the need to shorten names? I don't think anyone calls me Janet. A lot of people (including my husband) call me "Jan," which sort of reminds me of the Brady Bunch, but whatever. And Elyse? We call "Lee-see," which isn't really a shortcut at all. Now she is referring to herself as Lee-see.
Boy! This is a long comment. Sorry about that. Have a good weekend.
There is something about '80s music that makes me so bloody happy! (maybe because I think most pop music today sucks…) Thanks for the smile, Man! š
I like "Man," it's fun! My name is the nick name so I never really had one. I rarely get called Kris.
Your neighbor stories kill me!
They don't make music videos like they used to! I think I saw a pair of shoes like the ones Blondie is wearing in a store recently!
Somebody bring me a vegamite sandwich. STAT!
The shortened names we use on our kids, dogs, cats, each other are constantly changing, always in flux. Those that can call us something for short are those we hold dear. Tell that neighbor to mind her own damn business.
my favorite part of that whole video is the fact that one of the band members is dragging a stuffed koala on a leash. i don't know why i find that so hilarious, but i do. š
I think Man is totally cute š
Love Men @ Work…
Oh my. I just played them both at the same time. They don't mix well.
The nickname I enjoy the most because it makes me laugh is Be-tay-ho. Somehow my petticoat junction down home American name and become hispanic in the the last 10 years or so. Doctors offices, pharmacists – anybody who reads my name but doesn't know me – has started sounding it out like the J is an H – Bettejo -. Whenever it happens it makes me laugh so now one of my co-workers calls me that all the time and I like it.
Oooh, now I'll be singing Land Down Under all night!
Man, I love you.
You are beautiful, by the way but he could call you Chuck, and it wouldn't lessen that about you one little bit.
Now I want Outback….