Since you seem to enjoy some of the eastern european languages (serb, croat, rus) I would add "Danya" to Dannie, as a diminutive of Daniil from the Rus for Daniel, of course. That is how we call a young friend who is from Russia, originally.

Sorry I brought up the middle name. I think you can tell I wasn't prying, and I also should have realized that with the methodical and meticulous, yet ethereal, way you are approaching the name search that you already are considering the obvious sources for a future perfect name with possibly some sacred roots.

Kristoff, as is usually the case, has some wise points of view -- I admire his and all wisdom as my style is more off-the-wall. I should think more before yapping.

From Natzhuska

Hi Natzhuska (I like that name!),

There's no reason for you to apologize and I in no way thought you were prying when you asked about my middle name. We've been discussing new names here, after all, so being curious about my current middle name seemed natural.

Now that you've brought that up, though, I do realize that if I go ahead with a name change I'll likely want to change my middle name as well. Or perhaps just eliminate it.

I really like it when the roots of names are explained. I would indeed prefer to find something that has some kind of spiritual or sacred meaning, from any culture. It doesn't have to be Western at all. I also want to really like the sound of the name.

Kristoff, I really like Danya. Thanks for that input.

Natzhuska, I agree that Kristoff has a lot of wisdom. Actually, the more I get to know him the more appreciative I am of that.

I can appreciate an off-the-wall style, too. Just be yourself and all will be fine.

Aside from the fact that my full name seems somewhat feminine although technically not, as I was trying to find a word to remember the number of my cell phone by it somehow came up with the name "Roxxie" for me. And I may just go ahead and use that name for myself.

My best friend is a lesbian. We have spent a lot of time together. We still do, even more so now. In fact, we now regularly tell the other 'I love you'. It's not THAT kind of love, though.

So, over dinner last night, my friend gives me her suggestion for a new name: Tracey. She really is quite adorable when she comes up with things like this. I gently told her that this name had bad associations for me. She was fine with that.

She then let me know that she'd told two friends from church (they're my friends, too, although we're not as close) about my being transgendered. I'd already told her she could tell friends so everything was fine to that point. These friends were actually quite interested.

The problem came in when I asked if our friends clearly understood that I wasn't male to female but male to 'not male'. She was a little taken aback by this and said 'no, they weren't'. She thought I was taking female hormones. We've discussed my situation a number of times and I had hoped she would remember what was what.

I wasn't upset with my friend over this. Just mostly concerned that people would start getting the wrong idea of who I am. I can straighten it all out with no more than I few phone calls, I hope!

As I've grown to know and love her, I've found out directly from her that she's having some memory problems from Parkinson's. Fact is, I care about her so much I pretty much don't mind how inaccurate anything she says about me is. At least I know it won't be anything bad. Or how many times I re-explain things.

Sometimes her memory is really good and I'm glad for those times. She's still able to live alone and she's happy. Best part is, she really cares about me, as I do for her.

At any rate, things took another turn when she asked me if gay men were in pain when they did 'it'. I've got to confess, I was holding back a chuckle and I asked her what she meant. I knew exactly what she meant and I quickly let her off the hook.

We then had a lively discussion on all aspects, or a lot of them anyway, of gay, lesbian, eunuch, bi, straight and what have you sex. Then we went into dildos and sex toys. All in the middle of 'The Olive Garden' restaurant.

-danya

Now, I'm also giving some thought to changing my last name! I like some of the listed first names a lot. Think they'd sound even better with a new last name.

My last name is German, although some have thought it is Dutch. This one will require more serious thought, both on the actual new last name and whether to go through with it!

OTOH, I'm already getting comfortable signing posts with different new first names. Very different from real life but it still is starting to give me a feel for what I like most.

-kirit

Kirit sounds like Fuckit.

Could be just me.

And, I'm not saying that it is either a good or bad ryhme.

Happy Handle Hunting.

-N

NN,

You are very funny, indeed! I hadn't made that connection. Even after reading your comment, though, I don't hear that. It is something to keep in mind though!

-Sasha

Danya are you sure MLF#1 is not looking at you with a different type of interest? What I mean is that if your "transgendered" then maybe you no longer off limits? I'm trying to think how a close male friend turning into a "hot chick" would work for me.... Ummm... maybe not....

MrT,

Actually, the thought has crossed my mind that my female friend may indeed be looking at me with a new kind of interest! This desire may actually be the source of her forgetting the piece on my being male to 'not male', instead of all the way from male to female. I was a bit surprised about her sudden intense interest in my former sex practices. We've never gone into that in such depth before.

Who knows what will happen? I find my feelings toward both sexes are changing the further along I go through this transition. Right now, though, I've yet to feel a strong attraction to women. Maybe more of an emotional understanding only.

-Misha