In college I was in a class with an awesome girl -
- did a three week project with her. We got on so 
well we roomed together the next year. It took me 
two months of rooming with her for me to remember 
her name without help. Pathetic? Yes. 9_9;;

Another friend in college said I'd mastered saying
"hey you!" in a way that seemed so personal, it 
was as if I had called a person by name. I'm not 
sure if that's a compliment or not. (*sweatdrop*)

Then came the internet and suddenly I needed a new
name -- because "everyone knows" you can't use 
real names online. The first place I went, still 
my online family and safety net, was my Vampyres 
mailing list. I wanted to make it easy for people 
to remember me. At the same time, I didn't want 
it known I was female and thus attract hordes of 
computer geeks hunting a virtual date. In high 
school I had only one (rarely used) nickname. . . 
It was simple and masculine and it matched my new 
online home. I called myself "Drac".

(Incidentally, the Vampyres were the ones who 
showed me the "brand new" Miyu OVA, with which I 
fell in love. Way to date myself. ^_^;;)

I'm always asked: "Do you use your handle in real 
life?" Of course! I consider it an extension of 
my real name and welcome being called by either. 
When I applied for a home loan, I found if I'd 
used "Drac" in two more unique places, I would 
have had to have listed it as a *legal alias*.

But getting to your question, I still am TERRIBLE 
at remembering other people's names. I love it 
when people make it easy for me and use the same 
name everywhere they go. I like recognizing I've 
reencountered a familiar person, and part of my 
decision to bid on auctions depends on who I'm 
bidding against. (Am I a dying breed there? ^_^;;)

So if people want to see a gallery, well, it's 
small but there -- I just don't advertise. Said 
link is above. ^_^

I'll also add a picture of my own, a cel of a 
vampire to show off the roots of my bloodthirsty 
handle:



^_^

Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac