Nom de Blog
Since Snake Eater asked so nicely, I suppose I should give him a nicer answer [fixed link]…
Here’s the short version: Fuzzybear Lioness (FbL) comes from comments by Sgt. B, who had once described me as a Bear in terms of spirit. As I was teasing him one day, he said playfully that I had a bit of Lioness attitude in me, too. But it’s the reason for tying the two words together–and what that led to–that’s probably more interesting.
If you want the whole (long) story, keep reading…
I began reading and commenting on MilBlogs in the summer of 2004. I used my real name and made a number of online friends–including Lex. I was the model of shy decorum and proper behavior. I know, hard to believe…
Anyway, about February of 2005 I was beginning to comment at John Donovan’s “Castle Argghhh!” back when their witty “comment parties” were in full swing. Sgt. B was a regular and encouraged me to join the insanity. When I finally jumped in, I wanted to feel free to be silly, so I adopted a “nom de blog.” I chose a name that Sgt. B would recognize–the Bear-Lioness part, adding “Fuzzy” to soften up what seemed a harsh monker. Besides, the question of scientifically classifying a “fuzzybear lioness” appealed to me.
I donned my “innocent and unattainable flirt” face, and Fuzzybear Lioness was a hit. Now I had an alter ego!
At the Castle, John Donovan quickly learned who FbL really was, as did BillT. FbL wasn’t supposed to appear outside the Castle. But then I accidentally left at Lex’s an FbL-signed comment that blew my cover. I had to ask Lex (who lurked at the Castle) to delete it and was terribly embarrassed to have to explain that FbL and the serious correspondent he knew from his blog were one in the same.
After that, FbL began to “take over.” By July when Lex convinced me to start blogging, I had to decide whether to blog as FbL (and bring all my Castle friends with me to my blog), or do it as myself with the few bloggers who knew my real name. Obviously, I opted for the former, and the Castle was my springboard. The only other people who transitioned from knowing the “real me” to FbL were the Greyhawks, Blackfive, Chuck Z, and Sarah of “Trying to Grok” (though I doubt Sarah remembers).
My real name just faded away in the milblogs… And to be honest, FbL is more real than my “real name” ever was. 
Posted by FbL
On February 10th, 2007 under Unfiled.
Comments: 15
Comments
Comment from Michelle
Time: February 10, 2007, 4:37 pm
Great story, FbL.
The only thing missing is …….well, your real name!
Can’t help it, its just me, enquiring minds and all that…. 
Comment from unkawill
Time: February 10, 2007, 5:05 pm
I went back to the other thread and read your short answer.
YOU.MADE.MY.DAY.
Comment from FbL
Time: February 10, 2007, 5:10 pm
*GRIN*
Comment from KrisinNewEngland
Time: February 10, 2007, 5:31 pm
Thanx FbL! I have to admit I’m always fascinated with people’s nom-de-blog’s. For example:
Unkawill & Foobert – now THOSE contain a story I’m sure…
And I may be last to the party, but Snake Eater??? Course, as he’s a now-outed lawyer…that could explain that.
Comment from FbL
Time: February 10, 2007, 5:41 pm
I’m guessing “Unkawill” comes from little nieces and nephews (mentioned in his Bio) who have trouble saying “Uncle Will” clearly.
As for Snake Eater, I suspect from some of his comments that he was in Vietnam-era Army SF.
Foobert? Who the hell knows…. LOL!
Comment from FbL
Time: February 10, 2007, 5:42 pm
Called “Snake Eater” because he’s a lawyer? That would be cannibalism!
Comment from FbL
Time: February 10, 2007, 6:10 pm
Or he could just be a mongoose. I mean, they eat snakes, don’t they?
Comment from unkawill
Time: February 10, 2007, 7:09 pm
Ding Ding Ding. Fuzzy wins! Actually the little rugrats have an awful time saying Uncle William.It just stuck. Couldn’t get rid of it. Even my Mom calls me unkawill. Cause its So cute!
Comment from JHD
Time: February 10, 2007, 9:59 pm
I’m “Poppy”. Granddaughters are wonderful little creatures. Now I get to train them to ping a soccer ball around. Here we go again! The next to youngest is the spittin’ image of her Aunt Dink so there’s promise there. Heh!
Now that Da Grunt is IRR I guess I need to find a new handle. Think I’ll go with “Boudreaux” next. Or just “Old Fart”. That’d be more in tune!
Comment from FbL
Time: February 10, 2007, 11:29 pm
Actually the little rugrats have an awful time saying Uncle William.
My father and some of his orphaned siblings were raised by an unmarried aunt. Of course, this aunt (great aunt to my generation) became the family’s matriarch, since there were no grandparents for the children of those she’d raised. [Hope that makes sense. It was hard to explain succinctly.]
Unfortunately, her first name was “Gertrude.” And so, of course, the first-born grand niece found mastering the name “Great Aunt Gertrude absolutely impossible as she learned to speak. Her tongue-tied mouth thus annointed Great Aunt Gertrude “Grangra” (pronounced: GRAN-graw).
Of course each subsequent child faced the same problem in his/her early years. And so none of us ever called her “Great Aunt Gertrude.” For us, “Grangra” became both an affectionate name and a noun: “Grangra”–an adopted grandmother.
Comment from Snake Eater
Time: February 12, 2007, 3:03 pm
RE; My Nom-de-Blog…About ten months ago I was checking out Blackfive or John of A.. where I picked up a link to Lex. I recall I came into the middle of a heated discussion about the merits of aviation expertise…Airdales vs. Zoomies( nothing new there) cheep shots and smart-aleck comments abounded…my kind of place. I decided to post a comment about this old Dog ( me the Army Guy) deeply enjoying a cat fight between the pampered princes of the air…lame eh. I needed a nom-de-blog quickly( never having commented before) and came up with Snake Eater… a droll relatively mild put down, in my day, for a FNG, new in country, full of piss and vinegar Green Baret Rambo type goober. I thought I ‘d be called out on the name by now, by some green beanie vet, but I haven’t … I guess it’s stuck. Best
Comment from Michelle
Time: February 12, 2007, 3:31 pm
Hey Snake, good to see you on the Flght Deck. Wondered where your name came from; Lex made a comment about it once but I can’t quite remember what it was – either someting about going into dark places to pull out the bad guys or…….something like that anyway.
So, now that you’re here……..you got a bio up yet?
Comment from Snake Eater
Time: February 13, 2007, 6:49 am
Michelle, Not sure about the bio…I am secreative by nature and certainly by training …anonymity has its’ advantages. Best
Comment from FbL
Time: February 13, 2007, 7:17 am
Snake Eater, I don’t think it requires anything that would reduce your anonymity.
Something like… “Spent ______ years as an [officer/enlisted] _______ in the U.S. Army. Now living in the [South/Midwest, whatever] and enjoying ____________.”
See? No so hard…
Comment from Michelle
Time: February 13, 2007, 10:03 am
And, just think, it could even be a place where you could publish some snarks, like for posterity’s sake
Come on, its safe, you’re among friends……and you know we wuv you!
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