Here's a quick and dirty guide to the nicknames I use on Musings. I apologize that some of these pictures aren't the best. I'll update them as I get better ones.
Alyce
Writer of poetry, non-fiction and humor, editor of Wild Violet online literary quarterly, wife of The Gryphon. They live in suburban Philadelphia with their doggie, Una, and kitty, Luke.
Family
The
Gryphon
My husband, whom I began dating just after Otakon 2003 and married in
September 2007, was nicknamed after the kind-hearted, wise character
in The Alice in Wonderland who tells wonderful stories.
Kung
Fu Panda
Our son, when he was nursing for the first time, pulled my IV out with his strong Kung Fu action grip. After his first bath, the nurse brought him to us wrapped in a panda blanket, and a nickname was born.
Mom
Dad
Perpetually optimistic, my Dad is an osteopath. He shares my interest in pop culture, keeping current on today's music and movies.
My
Sister
My sister, a family counselor, is one of my best friends. We talk to each other frequently on the phone, although we live hours apart.
My
Sister's Husband
My
Brother
My
Brother's Wife
Frequently Mentioned
Batman
He's part of my Philadelphia circle of friends and also a fellow Otakon staffer. His name comes from a story he tells of how he once quit a thankless job, then climbed up on his desk and declared, "I am Batman."
The
Cheshire Cat
Fellow Penn State alum and member of the Penn State Monty Python Society (MPS), he also wrote and produced comedy for my WPSU radio show. He suggested this nickname after I started using names from Alice in Wonderland.
The
Cousin
Because she's the cousin of one of my closest friends, The White Rabbit, many people still think of her as his cousin. She's the wife of The Photographer, and they have two teenage daughters.
The
Dormouse
A friend from college and fellow member of MPS, I named him The Dormouse when I started using names from Alice in Wonderland in my write-up of Otakon 2003. He rescued me from the Pool of Tears.
The
March Hare
Another Penn Stater/MPS member, I gave him this nickname because he's frequently a participant in the mad tea party that is my Philadelphia circle of friends.
The
Paper The wife of The Cheshire Cat is also a Penn State alumna, although we've gotten to know each other better since graduating. She's named after a character in one of her favorite anime series, Read or Die.
The
White Rabbit
We met my freshman year at Penn State and became fast friends. We were in MPS, and I've always loved his silly form of humor. He's the White Rabbit both because he's known to overextend himself, like at Otakon, and because it was through him I met many of my Penn State friends.
Friends and Associates
The
Actor
I met him through The Gryphon. He's involved in both Philcon and Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE). Although it's not his day job, he often takes roles in regional theater or serves as an extra in movies.
The
Adventurer (formerly The Instigator)
A fellow graduate of my Dad's medical school, the two of them got to know each other again by attending medical conventions and have since started dating.
Agent
Smith
A Penn State alum who lived for many years in Philadelphia with his wife, The Costumer. They've since moved to Northwestern Pennsylvania with their young son. He nicknamed himself after the character from The Matrix.
The
AMV Editor
A good friend of The White Rabbit, he is known for his creative Anime Music Videos (AMVs) and also runs a podcast for fans of anime.
The
Anthology Editor, a.k.a. The Bad-Ass Farie
A dynamic science-fiction writer whom I met through Philcon, she has edited several volumes of science-fiction short stories and is unflagging in her efforts to market them. She is married to The Military SF Author.
Aqua Man (see Batman's Roommate)
The
Artist
A friend from my Penn State days, whom I met between undergrad and grad school. While she works in computers now, she's also a very talented artist. She was the co-founder of my online lit mag, Wild Violet.
The
Artist's Husband
A Virgo like me, he's a practical-minded guy with a wry sense of humor. As soon as The Artist introduced him to me at a dinner party, I knew he was the one for her.
Attila
the Pun
A fellow member of the Penn State Monty Python Society who also was on the staff of my radio show on the campus radio station, WPSU. He is renowned for his affinity for puns.
Attila
the Pun's Wife
She was Attila the Pun's high school sweetheart, and they have been happily married since shortly after he graduated. They now have two young children, a boy and a girl. She is an art therapist working with disabled children.
Aunt
Corn
A family friend dating back to childhood. Her name comes from the fact that her children had nicknamed my parents Uncle Broccoli and Aunt Bean. She is married to Uncle Squash.
The
Balloon Guy
A friend of some friends of ours, he makes fantastic balloon creations to liven up parties.
Batman's
Roommate, a.k.a. Aquaman
I've gotten to know him since he started sharing an apartment with our friend, Batman. He enjoys gaming and is involved in Otakon.
The
Blue-Eyed Brazilian (BB)
The head of Otakon Press Relations in 2007, this affable guy has striking blue eyes which contrast to his almost black hair. Half Brazilian, he spent two years in that country while doing his grad work and is proud of his heritage. He now lives there full-time.
The
Bodyguard
A fellow Otakon staffer with a wry sense of humor who also serves in the military. He typically works with the Treasury Department at con, and with his height and muscles is an ideal person to act as their unofficial security detail.
The
Book Lover
When we gave her a bridal shower, we didn't have to think about what to get her: a Barnes & Noble gift card! She's an avid reader and mother of a young son. Her husband is The Martial Artist.
The
Browncoat
I've gotten to know her through her involvement with Philcon, a science-fiction convention in Philadelphia. We have a lot of mutual friends. Her nickname comes from her fondness for the Joss Whedon series, Firefly.
The
Class President
A high school classmate who has since become a lawyer and is involved in the county Republican Party. He once ran for the House of Representatives but hasn't run for office again since.
My
College Roommate
We met within the first couple weeks of school, because we kept showing up at the same club meetings. We were destined to be good friends. She and her young son live in the Philadelphia area.
The
Con Ops Guru
One of the so-called Four Fathers who started Otakon, he's a Penn State alumnus who has remained an invaluable part of the convention operations.
The
Corgi Mama
A fellow Otakon staffer, her nickname comes from her love for her pet Corgi. She's married to The Minion.
The
Cosplayer
I've gotten to know The Cosplayer, so named because of her many years of involvement with costuming at various anime and other cons, through our work with the Otakon Publications Department. She's a hard worker with a wacky sense of humor. In 2007 and 2008 she headed Otakon Publications.
The
Costumer
Fellow Penn State alumna and Otakon
staffer, she and her husband, Agent Smith, live with their young son
in Northwestern Pennsylvania. While they lived in Philadelphia, he took
charge of costumes for a community theater.
The
Court Wizard
A good friend from college, he'd be mentioned much more frequently if he lived closer. Like me, he's a former president of the Penn State Monty Python Society, and he's quick witted. He currently designs video games.
The
Cyclist
A good friend from college who was one of my bridesmaids for my first wedding. She's a fellow writer and an avid cyclist. We lost touch for a while but recently reconnected.
The
Devil's Advocate
A Penn State alumnus, he's hung around with some of my closest friends
for years. I nicknamed him after his tendency to argue unpopular points
of view, in the interest of advancing conversation.
Dr.
DJ
A friend of The Gryphon's from Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE), I named him after a Halloween party I attended, where he was spinning tunes while dressed as a doctor.
Dr.
DJ's Wife, a.k.a. The Giggler
Prominent in Philcon, she's got a bubbling laugh that you can hear from another room.
Doc
the Stampede
Fellow Otakon staffer Doc goes by this nickname online. I was program book editor under him while he headed the Publications Department several years ago. He's since been Otakon con chair and head of Industry Relations.
The
Doctor
I met her through Otakon and has gotten to know her much better in the last few years. Despite this silly pic from Otakon, she's just completed medical training and certification. She and her husband just had their first child. Married to Dr. No.
Dr.
No
Also an Otakon staffer, he's held many responsibilities over the years, including running Gopher Ops. He's married to The Doctor.
The Druid (See The Seeker)
The
Drummer
Although I originally met him in State College through my brother, he shared a house for many years with my sister, which is when I got to know him better. A D.C. lawyer, he still makes time for his passion, music.
The
Drummer's Wife
She met The Drummer when he was playing backup for a singer friend of hers, and it was attraction at first sight. She's a paralegal in the D.C. area.
The
Editor
A friend of The Gryphon's, she has worked for several publishing companies and shares interested tales of her experiences shepherding books to print.
Eeyore
I met her through her husband, Kapow. They both are Otakon staffers and friends of The Cheshire Cat. She's named for her love for the Winnie the Pooh character.
The
ER Doctor
While we were in the Penn State Monty Python Society together, she helped me with the club newsletter. Since then, she's gone to medical school and was working as a ER doctor when I nicknamed her. She and her husband have two young boys.
The
ER Doctor's Husband
He also attended Penn State, although I didn't meet him back then. A talented musician, he associated with people I knew from the Penn State Blue Band. He and his wife have two young boys.
The
Evil Twin
A fellow Otakon staffer, he used to run the Guests Department with his identical twin brother. Since his brother was the one that actually ran the department, he jokes that he's the evil twin.
The
Field Hockey Player
A high school classmate who played field hockey with me and who is now a teacher.
The
Filmmaker
An outgoing member of the SF fan community, he has directed and acted in short films and plans to do more. He is another Philcon staffer, and when I first met him, it was at a Halloween party, dressed like a pirate.
The
First Chair Flutist
A high school classmate who was the best flute player in our marching and concert bands.
The
Fruit Lady
A friend of The Cousin's whom I've spoken with at a few parties and interviewed for my wedding book. The Cousin suggested this nickname because of her tendency to bring fruit to potlucks. She's married to The Quiet Man.
The
Gamer
A fellow Otakon staffer and fellow Penn Stater whose first choice of recreational activity is to play a game.
The
Gamer's Fiancee
Also an Otakon staffer, she shares many of The Gamer's interests. She's a soft-spoken, reserved sort of person.
The
Game Designer
A friend of The Gryphon's who develops primarily military-based strategy games. We usually only see him once a year at Philcon, which is where the two met.
The
Genealogist (a.k.a. The Reg Queen)
A Penn State alumna and Otakon staffer, she was my boss when I worked in Registration at the convention several years ago. She has been actively seeking out information about her family's history and always has colorful stories to share.
The Giggler (see Dr. DJ's Wife)
The
Godfather
I have enormous respect for The Godfather, an affable guy who has served as 2006 Otakon con chair and the 2007 head of Guest Relations. Because of his natural leadership abilities, his height, and his habit of talking with his hands, I thought this nickname suited him.
The
Golfer
An Otakon staffer who served with me on Press Relations staff in 2008. He was also once a gopher under me in Registration. He's named after his major in college, Golf Course Management.
The
Goth Grrl
A member of Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE), she also attends Philcon regularly. She's appeared in a video for a Goth musician and frequently wears a black corset at conventions and costume parties.
The
Green Man
When I first met him at a Halloween party, he was dressed like Bacchus, and at the next Halloween party, like the green man. I gave him this nickname before I realized it was his online handle, as well! His SO is The Linguist.
The
Guest Handler
An Otakon staffer who works in the Guest Relations department, primarily escorting guests around the con. He's also a pop culture junkie.
The
Gulf War Vet
A high school classmate who was in my homeroom from middle school through senior year. He served in the Gulf War, then worked in a prison and is a brain cancer survivor.
Hellbuny
An Otakon staffer who has worked his way into the top echelons of the organization, serving as Con Chair in 2008. He's dating Vyxle and shares her wacky sense of humor, as evidenced from this photo.
The
Horror Film Buff
One of The Gryphon's friends from Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE), he also helps program the horror track at the Philadelphia Area Film Festival and volunteers for Philcon and other conventions involving film, science fiction and pop culture. He's married to The Seamstress.
The
Hugger
One of the sweetest people you'll ever meet, she's a fellow Otakon staffer who has worked in the Staff Suite for years, seeing that staffers eat, giving them fun candy, and making people's day with hugs and a cheerful smile.
The
Improv Lawyer
A friend I met through the ComedySportz improv classes we took together. We were frequent scene partners, and we have remained friends since then. Since our Kung Fu Panda was born, she's been very helpful with babysitting.
The Instigator (See The Adventurer)
The
Invisible Man
Since he has a real aversion to cameras, I have no recent pics of him. We dated for a while and have remained friends since then. I will never forget his inspiration and support when I began working on my physical and mental health. He's named after the protagonist in the Ralph Ellison novel.
The
Jazz Keyboardist
A neighbor whom I initially nicknamed The Rasta Guy because of his dreadlocks. We recorded some spoken word and jazz tracks together, which are slated for a spoken word album.
Kapow
Kapow doesn't have an aversion to photos: I simply don't have a good one. I met him through The Cheshire Cat, and he's since joined the staff of Otakon. He's married to Eeyore.
Kiddie
Kaper Classmate
We were great friends in my nursery school, and used to hold hands every day, but we went to different elementary schools and high schools. He and another high school classmate of mine are now good friends.
The
Knitter
Even if I had a decent picture of her, it would be outdated, since she recently had her hair cut much shorter. She's another friend of The Gryphons from Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE). She often knits, even at public gatherings.
The
Laughing Man
I met him when he was The White Rabbit's roommate at a house in the Philadelphia suburbs many years ago. He's a perpetually cheery guy who loves to make people laugh with silly hijinx.
The
Laughing Man's Wife, a.k.a. The Scrapbooker
Since she's the quieter member of the couple, it took a while for me to come up with a suitable nickname. When I was interviewing her for my wedding book, I discovered that she enjoys putting together beautiful scrapbooks commemorating her family's history.
Leechboy
I dated him for four and a half excruciating years spanning undergraduate and grad school, and he haunted my dreams for years later. He was a controlling, emotionally abusive drain on my spirit. I'm glad I finally got free of him.
The
Life of the Party
My Dad's medical school buddy, he's always making jokes and starting shenanigans at the annual medical convention. Here's a rare picture of him sitting still.
The
Life of the Party's Wife
She and The Life of the Party have been married since he graduated from medical school with my Dad. We see them every year at a medical convention.
The
Life of the Party's Daughter
I look forward to seeing her each year at my Dad's medical convention. She's an artist and teacher, and we always have a great time talking.
The
Linguist
I met her through The Gryphon and the SF community in Philadelphia. She recently went back to college to study linguistics. Her SO is The Green Man.
The
Luser
A manipulative, abusive ex-boyfriend who cheated on me (twice), stole from me and gave me a permanent eye injury. Needless to say, he deserves his nickname.
The
Mad Hatter
A fellow Penn Stater and Penn State Monty Python Society member. He has a marvelously bizarre sense of humor and an enviable collection of toys and collectibles.
The
Martial Artist
A Penn State alumnus, he gained his nickname from a costume he wore to a Halloween party in 2001. Not only did he wear a uniform from his actual karate class, but he demonstrated excellent form. He's married to The Book Lover, and they have a young son.
The
Massage Therapist
He's the husband of one of the members of Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE). We attended their housewarming, where I got this pic of him at the grill.
The
Military SF Author
A friend of The Gryphon's and fellow member of Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE). He writes and illustrates SF and games, primarily with a military focus. He is married to The Anthology Editor.
The
Minion
A fellow Otakon staffer and the 2009 Con Chair, he acquired this nickname when he was considerably further down the chain of command. He's married to The Corgi Mama.
Mistress
Chimera
A fellow Otakon staffer I first met while she was helping The Gryphon at the Info Booth. She is a bubbly, fun woman.
The
Moogle
An old friend of The Plushie's, she is an Otakon staffer who helps with LARP.
Most
Talented
A high school classmate who played the flute in the marching and concert bands with me, and who was multitalented in the arts.
Most
Unusual
A high school classmate who was artistically talented and dressed in very colorful, creative outfits. He's now working in industry in Colorado.
Mr.
and Mrs. Doctor
Two of the regular attendees at my dad's annual medical convention, who often sit at our table with us. I don't have a picture of Mrs. Doctor, but this couple are both physicians.
Mr.
Kitty
An Otakon staffer who loves to cosplay, often as characters from Card Captor Sakura. We bonded over our mutual fondness for Hello Kitty.
Mr.
Mutton Chops
A fellow Penn State Monty Python Society alum and current Otakon staffer. He got his nickname from his characteristic mutton chops.
Mr.
Smiley
A fellow Penn State Monty Python Society member whose outstanding feature has been his ever-present smile. He also did a mean Roy Orbison imitation back in the day.
The
Music Geek
An Otakon
staffer who worked under me on Press Relations in 2009. Previously,
he'd worked in Spec Ops. He loves music and plays several instruments
in addition to knowing computers and being a SF/anime fan.
The
Nature Lover
I have hung out with her at the annual Girls Weekend Out, and gotten to know her much better over the years. She's currently studying environmental science in Colorado.
The
News Producer
He's won many hats at Otakon, including this bunny hat that was presented to board members in 2007. Though I'd known him for years, the first time I worked with him at con was on the Press Relations staff in 2008. His day job is serving as producer for a Vietnamese news network.
The
Paralegal
She was a member of the Penn State Monty Python Society who occasionally improvised little scenes with me. Since then, like me, she's taken an actual improv class and loved it.
The
Pastor
The pastor of my parents' church and close family friend, she married The Gryphon and I.
The
Pastor's Oldest Son
Always passionate about computers, he has moved all over the country since graduating from college and held a number of jobs in the industry, including programming flight simulators.
The
Pastor's Youngest Son
Shy about pictures, the pastor's youngest son is currently finishing up his college courses.
The
Photographer
I met him through his wife, The Cousin. He photographed the wedding of The Gryphon and I, and while he's not a full-time photographer, he frequently takes industrial photo assignments. He and his wife have two teenage daughters.
Pimp
Daddy
This is the hat that earned him his illustrious nickname. It was given to him by the board the year he served as Otakon con chair and he good-naturedly wore it at the con. We've affectionately called him Pimp Daddy ever since.
The
Pirate
I met him through The Gryphon, who knew him through Otakon. A self-proclaimed "conversation assassin," he says outrageous things that stop people in their tracks. He's brash and tough-minded, just like a pirate.
The
Plushie
A petite Otakon staffer who helps with LARP. She's a very affectionate person who reminds me of a huggable Valentine's Day bear.
The
Poet
My best friend from grad school at Penn State, where we both earned MFAs in poetry. He's one of the most talented poets I know and also is a great guitarist and songwriter.
The
Pop Junkie
The king of pop culture trivia, he has an uncanny memory for facts about his favorite (and least favorite) movies, TV shows, comic books, and more. For several years now, he's run the anime track at Philcon.
The
Pottermaniac
An Otakon staffer I worked with in Registration and in Press Relations (which she headed in 2008). When the seventh Harry Potter book was released, she wore a Slitherin uniform and bought it at the first opportunity.
The
Punster
A college friend and fellow MPS member, now a teacher in Maryland. For many years, he's also helped at Otakon. No surprise, given his nickname, that he is renowned for his love of puns.
The Punster's Wife (See The Nature Lover) (They divorced in 2008)
Quack
The News Producer's cousin, he often works with him at Otakon. We worked together in Press Relations in 2008. I'm referring to him by a family nickname.
The
Quiet Man
The husband of The Fruit Lady, this soft-spoken man is a friend of The Cousin, who suggested this nickname. This is the best picture I have of him, which seems a bit appropriate, given the nickname.
Radioactive
Man
An Otakon staffer whom I first met when he helped to run Gofer Ops.
He then moved into Press Relations under my leadership and in 2011 took
over as head of Press Relations. For his regular job, he works at a
nuclear plant.
The Reg Queen (see The Genealogist)
The
Rock Chick
We worked together in Press Relations at Otakon 2008. I nicknamed her after her penchant for wearing colorful, layered clothing with rock T-shirts.
The Scrapbooker (See The Laughing Man's Wife)
The
Seamstress
Another person who doesn't enjoy having her photo taken, so I'm not including one. A member of the Philadelphia SF community, she helps run Philcon and, as her nickname implies, is a talented seamstress. Her husband is The Horror Film Buff.
The
Seeker (formerly The Druid)
My first husband, whom I met during my hippie days. We were divorced by our second anniversary, partially because he suffered from mental health problems but also because we had different goals in life. He was very interested in pagan religions and last I heard had become a Hare Krishna.
The
Showboater
A member of the Philadelphia SF community, whom I met through socializing with that group. I nicknamed him for his amazing dance abilities, which he often shows off at parties.
Sir
Jim
An Otakon staffer and also a performer at a Renaissance Faire, he's skilled enough at jousting to have earned the title of knight, hence the nickname.
The
Tea Practitioner
A friend of The Gryphon's who has been studying the art of the Japanese tea ceremony for many years and regularly participates chakai, or "tea meetings."
The
Tea Practitioner's Boyfriend
They began seeing each other several years ago and bought a house together in suburban Philadelphia in 2008.
The
Tech Guru
A friend of The Gryphon's from college, she was one of my bridesmaids at my wedding. Her job involves installing systems for companies, which takes her all over the world.
TitaniumJunky
One of The Gryphon's friends from Philadelphia Area Gaming Enthusiasts (PAGE). She participates in a number of the role-playing games he runs, and we also see her at Philcon and multiple social events. This is her LJ nickname.
The
Treasurer
For several years, he served as the treasurer for Otakon and continues to work for the treasury at the convention. He also hangs out with many of my old friends from Penn State and is an alumnus from before my time there.
The
Trombone Player
A high school classmate and fellow member of the marching band who graduated first in our class.
The
Trumpet Player
A high school classmate who was in the marching band with me and attended my church.
The
Ukulele Player
An Otakon staff member who has translated for the convention for years. He can often be spotted playing his favorite instrument. Guests which one?
Uncle
Squash
My father's best friend from childhood, who was like family. The name comes from the fact that his children nicknamed my parents Uncle Broccoli and Aunt Bean. He's married to Aunt Corn.
The
Vegetarian
Part of The Gryphon's circle of female friends. She's frank, independent and rarely glimpsed.
The
Video Editor
A good friend of The White Rabbit's, he only recently started helping at Otakon. For years, though, his fan parody videos have been a popular part of the programming.
The
Vietnam Vet
The brother of Uncle Squash, my father's best childhood friend. I only see him rarely, because he's constantly moving, having just retired from a military career.
The
Vietnam Vet's Wife
Quiet, soft-spoken and rarely glimpsed, just like her husband.
The
Voice
Another Penn Stater, though from before my time at the university, for many years he has done voicework for Otakon, earning him the nickname, The Voice of Otakon.
Vyxle
Indirectly, she was responsible for The Gryphon and I getting together, because she was my roommate at Otakon in 2003, and was sitting near him in Con Ops. I walked in to talk to her and ended up hitting it off with him!
The
Warrior Princess
We took an English class together when we were both attending Penn State, but I've gotten to know her better in the years since then. I call her The Warrior Princess because she's such a strong, independent woman.
The
Water Ballerina
I named her after her participation in a Baltimore area community water ballet company, Fluid Movement. Intelligent and reserved, she's a fellow Otakon staffer.
The
Whovian
A fellow Otakon staffer who gets his nickname from his love of all things Dr. Who.
The
World Traveler
A friend and fellow Penn State alum who shares my interest in British comedy and music. She spent a semester abroad in Manchester and has taken little jaunts all over the globe.
