Pansygirl asked in my notes section where I chose the name "RatInk" from. For her, and anyone else who is interested, here goes.

The name RatInk (or variations Rat_Ink, Rat Ink) goes all the way back to my second homepage, which I created at gurlpages, way back in my freshman year. I had one previous page at Geocities (yeah, the obligatory), which was a one page wonder with titles like "my family" and "my pets", and moving gifs everywhere. I don't remember what I called it, but I am sure it was something along the lines of "Caitlin's Page".

Anyway, that was circa 1997, and when I returned from New Mexico Military Institute (more on that if anyone asks me nicely) in the spring of 1999, I created Rat_Ink v1.o at gurlpages.

The name was chosen for two major reasons.

1. On the Chinese calendar, I am a rat, born in 1984. The characteristics listed (i.e. seldom makes lasting friendships, prone to theivery, et cetera) seemed to suit me pretty well.

2. At the above mentioned military school, we were called RAT's. Or, Recruits at Training. For the entire year, this title, along with all of the traditional humiliation and abuse, were the cornerstones of my experience.

So really, they were just two titles that fell together nicely, Rat, because of its historical significance in my life, and Ink because obviously, I was and still am, writing about my life. I've kept it because it is catchy, but I think I am going to switch soon to my new, more mature screename, Nombril Insouciant. It means "careless bellybutton" in French. That is what my diary is listed under and named after, and I've pretty much moved on from NMMI and the Chinese zodiac, so... perhaps in the near future.