(This is merely to satisfy my boundless curiosity...)
How did you come up with your username here? I know some are obvious, like EricJ (real name) and Frustrated Father (self-explanatory), so maybe you guys can explain why you chose your real name over some pseudonym.
I may as well begin:
Duende - I chose it because it was a song on the album Karma by Delerium. It was a very pretty sounding song sung by Camille Hernderson (Sarah McLachlan's backup singer) but the lyrics themselves were very dark (read here). I thought it was symbolic for me since I sometimes have problems with depression so it seemed to go along with how sometimes I wear my 'happy face' to cover the blacker feelings underneath.
Also I chose it because of the meaning: "often considered to be Spanish equivalent of the English word, "sprite" or the Japanese word "yokai" and is used as an umbrella term for any fairy-like being such as goblins, pixies and elves."( - from Wikipedia), and that it was kind of gender-neutral, that people wouldn't be able to tell from my username alone if I was male or female.
Well, that's my story. What's yours?