I didn’t know if this should go here in IMHO or in MPSIMS or if it should just be locked straightaway as a completely meaningless example of vanity posting, but, aw, to hell with it. You can share your thoughts on this oh-so-fascinating subject or ignore it or go clean the mildew from your shower, whatever may please you most.
Well, we’re here, or at least I am, so let’s discuss my username. It’s a combination of the first names of two actresses I like - Myrna Loy and Marlene Dietrich, and so should be pronounced MER-na-LAY-na. The result is supposed to be evocative of old-school glamour and beauty. You’re supposed to read my name and think, “Ah, that must be a lovely and sophisticated young woman. She is sure to be a delicate creature, dressed in gowns by Adrian, posting with one hand as the slender fingers of her other hand grasp an ornate ten-inch cigarette holder.” (Or whatever those things are called. It’s all a façade, see? I’m really quite ordinary, but I don’t want YOU to know that.) Then the other day it occurred to me that it actually could be read as MER-na-LEEN. Now for me that is evocative of some late middle-aged woman with giant hair and cat’s eye glasses who spends her afternoon split between hanging out at the beauty parlor and stocking up on the newest tabloids at the grocery store. Someone who holds a place of honor at the local bingo parlor and chews gum nearly all the time. She is likely the owner of a small and highly irritating dog that she spoils horribly and calls Trixie or Fluffy or Buffy or Snookems. That is not the effect I was going for. I don’t want someone to read one of my pearls of wisdom and then ignore it once they look at my name and realize it reminds them of their great-aunt from Kenosha whom they hate.
So then, which version of Myrnalene do you see? One or the other or maybe something completely different? Let me know your perception if you would like. (Keep in mind, I won’t change it no matter what happens. After 200+ posts here I think there’s like, two people who know who I am, and dammit, I’m not gonna throw that all away.)
Well, I’ll shoot for the classic beauty of Myrna Loy and Marlene Dietrich. But only because your profile says you’re in Indiana. My home state, and I just live across the border now.
Well, upon reading the title of your post, I thought, “An unfortunate name for somebody’s girlfriend on the Dick Van Dyke show,” who then proceeded to go to seed and become the second of the two you mentioned.
I’m afraid the second pronunciation is the one that first popped into my head, though the image was a younger one… all too attractive for her age, in fact… wearing “Daisy Dukes” and no shoes, chewing gum, and probably living in a trailer.
Non-native English-speakers might default to the desired “Marlene” pronunciation more often.
I read it as “EEN”, which evoked polymer names like polypropylene. The whole thing struck me as a good brand name for a synthetic petroleum-based marmalade.
Honey, you just be yourself and don’t worry yoreself non about whut anybody thanks. An’ if anybody does come up an’ give you some lip, you can tell them I said to kiss my grits! Aint that right Mel?
Precisely the second one. In every detail exactly as you described. That’s what immediately popped into my cranium upon reading the aforementioned username and thread title. Big hair and everything. Did you mention the hair was blue? Cause it is.
I always read it MER-na-LEEN, and I thought it was really cute. It conjured images of a hip early 1960s hostess, wearing pedal pushers, sling-backs with daisies on the toes, and a flip hair-do, effortlessly mixing Mai Tais and passing hors d’ouevres made with Ritz crackers around the patio.
Just from your question, I read it as “My-ma-leen,” a regional competitor of Maybelline that went out of business when blue eyeliner went out of style.
I didn’t read the OP just the question so as not to cloud my mind. I will go back and read it after I post. I’m sure I will look stupid. Well anyway, here we go.
A type of pie that I hvae never heard of that someones grandma would make.
Well, the first thing that went through my head when I saw the thread title was an old Chuck Berry tune, so my question to the OP is, Myrnaleen, why can’t ya be true?
I read it as MER-na-LEEN and the first thing that came to mind when I read the thread title was cough medicine. After reading your OP I shall read it as MER-na-LAY-na from now on
I read it as “mernaleen”, and immediately thought of the stereotypical “trailer trash” chick you see on Jerry Springer. Someone with long hair in the back but short ratted up bangs, too much makeup, wearing a shirt and jeans that are too tight for her chubby self.
To me it speaks of a beautiful marmalade cat. In fact, whenever I read your name, I think, “that would be a great name for a really pretty marmalade girl cat!”
She’d have big green eyes and be not too skinny and not too plump. On occasion, her little girl owner would try and get her into baby clothes and play dolls with her. Every once in awhile the cat would agree, because she loved the little girl so much.
The cat would not, however, agree to wear doll clothes or ribbons around her neck on a regular basis, because she is after all, a cat, and has some standards!
I’m assuming you are not a cat, but that’s the image your username conjures.
