Fine as a Frog’s Hair

I am “all in” when it comes to playing with language.

• He’s a day older than dirt.
• That’s slicker than snot on a greasy doorknob.
• It’s colder than a witch’s tit out here.

       (Great, now I need to go to my admin settings and change my blog’s rating from G to PG-13. Damn…)

• Be prepared if you want to be a big wheel, just remember what dogs sometimes to do wheels.
• Finer than a frog’s hair. (I’m response to, “How are you?”)
• Still on this side of the dirt. (Again, in response to, “How are you?”)

I am sure I inherited this trait from my dad; the phrases listed above are all popular quotes of his. He loves to joke with people, he’s warm and welcoming, and his favorite past time is assigning nicknames to everyone: friends, family, neighbors, mail carriers, pets, etc.

I’m not sure why, but when I was just a little kid, he started calling me Lulu. I think this came from a childhood figure, the main character of comic strip called Little Lulu—syndicated from 1950–1969 (info plucked from Wiki, image source).

(I was born the year after the end of syndication, just as an FYI).

I found this Little Lulu comic panel (above), and I laughed out loud because I often cajoled my sister using this technique, but, instead, I used the word “corn.”

Corn

Corn

Corn

Corn

Corn

Corn

Corn 

Say it out loud enough, and preferably while you’re alone, and all of a sudden it sounds so, well…, like, idunno? Definitely not a real word.

Try it. No really, no one’s listening.

Remember, I grew up in the Midwest, so it seemed to be a natural word to use to annoy my sis.

It worked. I still have the scar to prove it. It’s OK. I deserved it.

I had it better than my older sister, who somehow picked up the nickname, “Weeds.” Again, I can’t be sure the reason Dad picked this one, but I think it had to do with the fact that she was really good at weeding our many acres of beans, corn, and sugar beets. She hated the name so I made sure to use it as often as possible, and still do to this day. (I just started laughing again.) I’m glad she thinks it is funny now, too.

Anyhoo….I was asked by a friend of mine the other day why I always give my friends nicknames. Her question made me realize the following:

1. I do this? Yeah, I guess I do. 
2. I love it!

Somehow, it gives me the sense that I’m pulling my friends and family closer. 

• Ali-Bee
• Li
• MM
• M@
• Speenakie
• L cubed
• Triple
• Moochy
• Tulip
• Shazam
• Heidi
• Randorf
• Boles
• Kell-Bell
• Mi ma
• T-bone

I could keep going on, but I think I’ve made my point. (My skirt is the right length.) 

I realize I pretty much rambled during this post, but I hope I, at least, caused you think for a minute about the things you do for those you love. My dad made me feel special by inventing a name for me all for his very own. I guess I want to keep my friends close and part of that includes creating a name for them that is only for me. Is that selfish?

Forgive me, friends. I’m just trying to tell you I love you.

(P.S. Disclaimer: sometimes friends occasionally show up in my life with nicknames that I adopt, so thanks for letting me adopt your nickname and pretend that its my very own.)

What are some nicknames or funny phrases that you’ve used? Help me build my “awesome phrase” toolbox. ; )