Weblog

Earlier today, I had to endure the pain of having someone mention that my accent sounded Southern. I was horrified by the thought, and somewhat still am.

As I was walking through a hallway here at the university, it suddenly struck me: this isn't the first time that someone has made assumptions about where I live just from my mannerisms. A few weeks ago, someone else asked me if I happened to be from New York. It struck me as odd that someone would assume that I could be from New York. I mean, how do I seem like a Newyorker? Apparently, my style of dress, my nickname up here (Tony) and my slicked-back hair gave her the impression that I was some type of mafioso.

The irony is that… I actually am from New York. Technically, when I was really young, we did live in New York. So apparently, my Newyorker ways have not left me or something like that. Well, being from New York is kind of maybe something to be proud of. What I mean by that is that it certainly beats being called from the South. Still, I wish that someone could mistake me as being from some place cool… and when I say cool, I pretty much mean with a cool accent like… New England or New Orleans (even though it is technically in the South) or even right here in Minnesota. I've said it to people before, and I'll say it again: accents are one of the sexiest things about a person. I totally want to marry a broad from Minnesota just so that my daughters will have an awesome accent and such.

Anyway, regarding compliments, in that same hallway where some hours later, I remembered the New-York thing, some couple was walking through the corridor from the direction that I was headed. The female got my attention and said right in front of her husband, “You are such a snazzy dresser. I just wanted to let you know.” That's pretty much exactly what she said. I would hope that mom's proud of me. It's a far change from t-shirts and sweat pants.