Most people assume internet usernames are carefully chosen for personal branding, ego, or just because they sound cool. But for me, “SexyMacMan” was a total accident—one that started with a fateful moment during Apple’s iCloud beta launch.

Back then, Apple rolled out iCloud for beta users and asked us to pick a username that would become our temporary Apple email. Apple said we’d be able to change that name before iCloud went public, so I picked “sexymacman”—a cheeky, throwaway name I never expected to stick. But when iCloud officially launched, our “temporary” usernames became permanent. With a single mistake, “SexyMacMan” was now my digital identity, email address, and (eventually) a nickname that would follow me for years.

I could have been embarrassed, but instead, I learned to lean into it. I registered the domain, built a website, and slapped the name on headers, banners, and even my gamer tags. Sure, there were awkward moments—like spelling out my email to customer support, or trying to sound professional while using a name that sounded like a bad Bond movie character. But in the end, people always remembered it. What started as a fluke became a surprisingly effective way to be unforgettable online.

The best usernames tell a story, but mine definitely raised eyebrows whenever I had to share it with tech support, HR, or anyone at a conference. One of my favorite memories is giving my contact info to a web host and hearing them burst out laughing. At first, I cringed every time someone asked about it. Then I realized—maybe it’s better to live a story worth retelling.

“SexyMacMan” became a little bit of everything: my online persona, my inside joke, my calling card. I even became “Mac” to a lot of people, both online and off. If you searched the internet for SexyMacMan, chances are you’d dig up gaming clans, developer communities, social handles, and probably a few forums I forgot I joined.

Underneath it all, “SexyMacMan” taught me to roll with life’s unexpected consequences. Sometimes a dumb decision, a random click, or a moment of irreverence can accidentally turn into an asset.

But as life moved along, I started needing a username that reflected who I really was, not just who I’d once joked about being. Life had hobbies, struggles, and dreams both way beyond and way messier than an old Apple alias.

The biggest shift came in 2011, while I was working at Amazon.com. Out of nowhere, I developed a relentless, mysterious fatigue. I wasn’t just tired—I’d fall asleep at my desk, I’d nod off mid-conversation, and I simply couldn’t fight the urge to sleep anymore. I took paid time off, used up my unscheduled time, and tried to push through, but things got worse. Meetings with managers turned into scheduled doctor visits, and eventually medical leave under FMLA.

Two months of waiting, uncertainty, and doctor’s visits went by. My savings dwindled, and every day became a struggle just to stay awake. Finally, in late August, the long-awaited sleep study happened. Less than a week later, the doctors had an answer: narcolepsy.

Test results were clear. My sleep latency—how quickly I fell asleep in the tests—was a rapid four minutes. For reference, healthy adults usually take 90 minutes. Even after eight hours of monitored sleep, I could instantly slip back into REM. It was finally a name for everything I’d been experiencing—and a whole new chapter of my life.

Getting diagnosed was both a relief and a challenge. Suddenly, years of “laziness,” “spacing out,” and unexplained exhaustion all made sense. But it also came with a new reality: narcolepsy is widely misunderstood, minimized as “just sleepiness” when it’s so much more complicated.

I started searching for information and for others living through the same daily battles. That’s when the idea for NarcolepticNerd.com was born. After years of living as SexyMacMan, I wanted an online home that reflected more of my actual experience—a space for vulnerable storytelling, education, and, above all, to connect with a community that “gets it.”

Here, I share my journey through narcolepsy, but also my passions: programming, tech projects, weather modeling, open-source intelligence, general nerd culture, and maybe a little too much coffee. Narcolepsy shapes my days, but it doesn’t define me or limit my curiosity.

The evolution from SexyMacMan to NarcolepticNerd isn’t just about switching usernames. It’s a story about transformation, learning from life’s accidents, and turning unexpected moments into sources of strength and connection.

Whether you’re here because you remember the “SexyMacMan” days, because you’ve stumbled onto the narcoleptic side of the internet, or you’re just curious about sleep disorders and nerd hobbies—welcome! Dig into my writing, tech resources, sleep story blogs, or connect over a shared interest. Let’s build this community together.

Thanks for stopping by. You’ll always find a place here—no matter how awake (or not) you may be.

Want to connect, share your own journey with sleep, or geek out over tech and weather? Reach out here—unless I’ve dozed off. Old usernames, new realities, same nerdy passion.