Who's Alyssa Milandris you ask??

I have an alter ego. Her name is Alyssa Milandris. I didn’t create her, she was given to me. Now she’s a part of me. It’s one of my favorite stories of all time:

A bunch of us were hanging out at the local bar after work. 4 hours and a handful of cocktails later, one of my coworkers(we’ll call her Ms. Wrong ;-) ) was talking to some guy and I walked over.
She turned to introduce us and said (slurred) to him: Have you met Alyyyyssa Millllllandris??
My response: I don’t believe I have. I DO know a ‘Natasha Alexandris’ but no Alyssas.

We all thought this was the funniest thing and we talked about this mysterious lady all night long. I told the story to a friend of mine (let’s call him Jolly Green Giant) and he agreed that was the best name ever and decided to put it in his phone along with a made up phone number.

Cut to Monday. JGG comes up to me and my friend (we’ll call him Mr. Fabulous) and asks us if we know who the hell Alyssa Milandris is because he found her name in his phone. Me and Fabulous look at each other. I ask JGG if he really doesn’t remember. He states he has no idea. So, Fabulous and I get the same idea: make JGG believe he met the girl of his dreams and make him feel like an idiot for not remembering. Operation AM begins.

I start: How can you not remember her?! She was amazing! You guys were talking and dancing. She was hot! She gave you her number. C’mon, this is what happens when you drink too much. That sucks for you.

JGG: I don’t want to call her if I can’t remember who she is. I have no recollection of this. Are you sure? She could be the girl of my dreams.

Me: Absolutely. She was really cool. I think you should text her. But do whatever you want...

Weeks went by. Every so often JGG would ask, “I still can’t believe I don’t remember her. What if she’s the girl of my dreams?” I kept up the charade. It was the funniest thing ever because the poor guy was so tortured. So, finally we were sitting down and he stops me again and says, “who was Alyssa Milandris?! It’s driving me crazy”. I couldn’t take it anymore. I just started laughing and shaking my head and said: You’re such an idiot! I’M Alyssa Milandris!!!

Now, everyone agreed that it was a magnificent name and that Alyssa sounded like a really cool chick. So, whenever we went out and I got a little too crazy, people would say: Oh, here’s Alyssa!!
She was great. I’m more confident as Alyssa. She’s loud, fun, silly and doesn’t care what other people think. Whenever I need that boost of confidence I think: WWAD?? (What Would Alyssa Do)

We all have our own alter ego. Our own little Sasha Fierce. Our own Alyssa. Find yours, introduce yourself, and let them take over for a night…sometimes we just gotta relinquish control. And I have a feeling Alyssa's coming out full force tonight....