> > > > > > > When did a Renault become a Reno?
> > > > > > > When did a Chevrolet become a Chevrolay?
> > > > > > > When did a Volkswagen become a Volkswaggon?
> > > > > > > When did a Saab become a Sob?
> > > > > > > When did a Porche become a Por-shhhhh?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If Chrysler likes to name their cars after clouds, why don't they have one called Cumulo nimbus?
> > > > > > > After all, they have one called Neon. Ain't that a gas!
> > > > > > > Howard
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I distinctly remember having an argument with my second grade teacher, Mrs. Damschroeder, about whether my parents drove a ChevroLET or a ChevroLAY. I had the spelling, but she had the pronounciation.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Mou'now her name was a whole different story'sie
> > > > >
> > > > > I had a teacher whose name was Pendelton. She had a highpitched voice so we called her Penedlingting. Not to her face. That was first grade!
> > > > > Howard
> > > >
> > > > So what did the kids call you?
> > >
> > > The first year I taught, I was 24. Before the year was over, they were calling me "Old Man Murrill." Seventh graders aren't as clever as they think.
> > > Howard
> >
> > So true. I had a teacher back in fifth grade (and then again in the eighth) who was *maybe* five feet tall if her hair was poofed up. We commonly referred to her as "Shorty" or "Short stuff". At the time we thought we were terribly creative, and the first to do so. Duuuuuhhhhh.
> >
> > Tra "Later in high school, a couple of us went back to visit her, only to hear her current band of children calling her by the *same* names. Go figure." nio
>
> I don't use nicknames very much unless the person really likes the nickname. If I'm not sure, I use their real name. I had a friend in high school named Kenneth. Everybody called him Arab (pronounced A Rab)because he wore a towel on his head in a Christmas production. He had red hair and looked more like Kenneth to me, so that's what I called him. Then somebody told me that only teachers and his mother called him that and he didn't much like it. After that I used A Rab.
> A few people called him Ken. He didn't mind that.
> Howard

I had a friend in college who went by Sam. Everyone made the natural assumption that it was short for Samuel. One night while we were talking, he confided that his name was actually Samivar. (--don't ask, I don't know.)
A couple days later, in class, I openly called him Samivar. Apparently, it wasn't something that he wanted publicly known. He didn't exactly appreciate it.

Tra "If you're out there Sam, I'm sorry. °_¸º" nio