Everyone knows it's Wendy

When I first started The Bookish Girl and became involved in the blogging community I though briefly about how I would sign my comments and posts. I knew there was a very well known knitting Wendy out there and it made me feel weird to post my name on my comments for fear of confusion.

This was (and is) strange for me. I have a somewhat uncommon name (It reached the height of its popularity in the 60s and 70s when it was the 47th most popular name, in 2003 it was 288th.) (Side note: have you ever played with Baby Name Wizard? So. Fun.) I have known only two other Wendy's in my almost three decades on this ball of magma. While I have periodically come across the name, either in entertainment or in my everyday dealings with retail establishments and/or other minor public encounters, I have never been confused with another person with the same name.

I ultimately decided to sign my posts with my initials. The reasoning here was to avoid anybody looking directly for me by typing my full name in Google. In other words, I didn't want my full name on the site. This (to me) has nothing to do with courage, as some may claim, it more has to do with my family. The result - WLPR which, as someone once commented here, sounds like a radio station. That amused me and I continued to sign off that way.

As for my comments on other blogs? I decided to use my first name (Wendy) thinking that there was little chance anyone would confuse me with the other Wendy. And you know, it was my name.

Little did I know that there are like 1 million Wendy knitters out there. It's crazy. I read blogs I go to leave a comment and I think, "Huh, I didn't know that I've already been here." And then I realize it's not me. It happens EVERY time I see the name. You see, I just am not used to it.

Identity crisis up ahead. Need for distinction rounding the bend. Irrational loss of self pulling up the rear.

Consistency and clarity to the rescue! In the blog work I am not only wlpr or Wendy but I am also Bookish Wendy (cue the ta-dums.) And from now on I will call myself such. Here on the blog posts and over yonder in your comments.

In celebration of this very dull realization I have christened a new email address where you all can reach me d-i-r-e-c-t-l-y. I will add it to the sidebar once I figure out how to hotlink it and whether or not spam will find me (any hints?). In the meantime reach me at: "BookishWendy at" that wonderful place called "gmail dot com" (combine the words in the quotes, substituting the appropriate punctuation and you should find me.)

I've also done a bit of trolling and found these lovely Wendy's in the Knitting Blog Sphere. If there are others let me know. I'll add them to the list, cause Wendy's rule. These are in no particular order...


Wendy Knits

Spaazlicious

Knit and Tonic

Zibibbo is Good

Multi-Crafter

Wendy's Wee Woolies

Fiberrant

Cat Knits

Not Your Ordinary

See what I mean?! There are a ton!!



BTW - As I mentioned in my last post, I originally saw the "Taste of Yarn" on a blog. Well, that blog was Andrea over at MellowTrouble. Go check her out and give her a virtual hug. She said that she went to on at a yarn store in Burbank, CA. Thanks for blogging about it Andrea!