So I just received a spam email from someone named Penelope Hooper. Besides from being rather authoritative in her message, commanding me to “read this word for word,” because it may be “information that I may not receive again” so I should “take it seriously,” I was struck by how humerous the name was. I give the spammer credit for coming up with a name that gave me a chuckle.

I must be weird, for I find names of things really funny. I like to name inanimate objects by funny names…names that are typically of an older generation, which makes them sound funny in a cute grandparent-y type of way. Names like Walter or Edgar, Bessie or Ethel. Naming a stuffed cow Walter is really humerous to me. Calling a balding overweight man Bessie is funny. I know, I need help.

I think it’s just the striking disconnect of expecting a “normal” name and not hearing one. For instance, a guy I work with has this little game that we play with each other, in which each time we IM one another, we address the other with an outdated woman’s name like, “Mertel, would you please…” or “Nancy, would you mind…” For some reason, this *never* gets old for me. I always think its funny.

Perhaps I’m too easily amused. Perhaps I need medication for my desire to call appliances by proper nouns like Fridge or Toaster (“Toaster, don’t you give me any crap this morning!” “Fridge, now behave and stop making noises”). Or perhaps i just need to grow up.

But Penelope Hooper. Now that’s funny.