I have had a reader request an explanation of Anvilcloud as used on this blog, AC being a short form that people use but that I didn't invent. I get this a lot. Just the other day, someone asked about it over coffee. Many people wonder about it; folk look up curiously when they ask for, and are given, my email, for example.
It has to do with my surname, Rayner, and with a fun class that decided to play with the name and call me Mr Storm Cloud. While it might make me seem a gloomy sort, I wasn’t, and it was done in fun. It was only one class that ever called me this — a grade 10 geography class. Good times.
I never forgot although probably those kids did, and so, years later, the internet became a thing, and one had to choose email addresses and blog names and so on and so forth. I chose anvilcloud, a variation of storm cloud.
You see, storm makes me think of thunder, and a tall thunder cloud may typically have an anvil shape at the top, as the winds of the next layer in the atmosphere, the troposphere stop the cloud from rising farther, and sheer it off in effect.
Not only does the moniker suit my name, but causes me to recall that fun class, and it also connects with my subject, geography, for it is a wide-ranging subject, and we did venture into the topics of climate and weather from time to time.
Now you know the rest of the story if I may borrow shamelessly from Paul Harvey.
FYI
Geology is a fantastic subject...one that I really loved in school even though I went a different route [teaching but didn't finish that].
ReplyDeleteI also love the study of weather and was taking a Master Naturalist class [cancelled due to Covid]. There is so many things I have yet to learn.
Thanks!
That's a good story. I wondered how you came up with the name. But I thought it had something to do with the hardness of an anvil but the softness of a cloud.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed my college geography class very much. As you say, it is a wide-ranging subject, with so many intriguing facets to it.
I really liked geography.
ReplyDeleteKinda fun looking back. I did wonder.
That's interesting. I would not have guessed. I took geology in college. I decided during that class I would not return to California!
ReplyDeleteWell I did know about anvil clouds, and now I know your event of obtaining the nick-name! Good old geology was a favorite class of mine, but already at 17 I couldn't remember the names of rocks. So I just appreciate seeing it out on the face of the earth everywhere I go!
ReplyDeleteA happy memory to think on, I wish I had taken a geography class!
ReplyDeleteI wondered how you came up with that name, but I didn't lose any sleep over it. :-)
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Thanks for sharing, AC. I wondered what was the significance of the name.
ReplyDeleteMy geography lessons consisted mainly of drawing maps of the British Isles and naming rivers and counties. Quite useful sometimes, but I preferred physical geography.
ReplyDeleteI had poor geography teaching, mainly drawing coastlines and rivers. I used to dread ever being asked to draw Finland, alk those lakes!
ReplyDeleteGood explanation. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI like that! We all have a name that no one "gets" till we explain it! Sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteDon't "rayn" on my parade, John! LOL That's a great explanation of how nicknames morph. I'm happy to no longer deal with mine of Magret, Maggie Mae, Maggot, etc. When one has brothers...
ReplyDeleteI love it! We used to listen to Paul Harvey all the time. I never would have guessed that's how you chose your moniker. I can imagine what a fun teacher you were.
ReplyDeleteIt is so cool that you come up this name that is now uniquely you
ReplyDeleteOne good thing is that your nickname is memorable. I know you were a reader of my mom's blog (Maya's Granny) and so when I would see you pop up on people's comment sections, it always made me happy to see you.
ReplyDeleteGreat story. I always wondered about AC and Anvil cloud. I knew if I was patient I would find out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. I wouldnt have been able to guess correctly, thats for sure.
ReplyDeleteI always figured that it had something to do with a photograph! Thanks for the enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteGeography has always been a dear subject for me, starting in the fifth grade, when Mrs. Peters made us learn all the states, their capitals and their location. Good stuff.
ReplyDeleteI get comments about my email address from time to time. (recycled.thoughts@) But I don't get many comments about my blogger name of Ed which I shamelessly stole from author Edward Abbey.
ReplyDeleteI am one who always wondered about Anvilcloud so thanks for getting that off my mind. Perhaps I can sleep better at night now!
Aha! I'd always wondered and hadn't made the connection with Rayner.
ReplyDeleteYou were and are a stellar teacher. When I hear AC, I think 'airconditioning', but, yeah, anvil clouds are amazing. I got interested enough in cloud formations to get a book and try and learn the nomenclature. Of course, I can't do it without the book. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteCool story. Apt moniker. I can hear Paul Harvey saying "And now you know the rest of the story ... good day!" xoxo
ReplyDelete