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Everyone knows how cruel kids can be with names. Each has been distorted by a few schoolyard bullies. But imagine growing up with a name like Bill Waffle. From an early age I was regaled with choruses of waffle wifflers. The stupidest comment came from Jeff McDonald: "Hey Bill Waffle, where's Joe Pancake?" If only I had found out before graduation that his middle name was Ronald.

My clan made the best of it. My brothers used to call each other Waff and Wiff. But I never thought of Woof.

Several months ago Mike, the moderator of a yahoo bear group, contacted me. He had seen some of my photos and wanted to use them for an upcoming feature. I agreed.

Erotic photos of me have diffused through cyberspace. I don't bring them publicly to LiveJournal, but I don't hide them either. If you want the group info, email me.

For those perplexed by the word, in bear culture WOOF! is an interjection of sexual attraction. So when Mike showed me today how he had altered this photo, I was flattered and amused by the play on my name.

"That's because you are a WOOF!" he told me. "Use it."