A "Sparky" by any other name....??

Dave and I have been searching and searching for the perfect name for our baby, and in order to help us with the search, I bought a book of baby names. The book has everything: All types of names, the origins of the names, the meaning, and notable celebrities (both famous and infamous) who have the name.

Plus, every few pages they have a list of names of varying topics, such as popular names in other countries or names that were the most common in different decades over the last 200 years. However, some of the categories are a bit far-fetched, at least to me...

For example, "Notable Names from the Music Industry":

Now, it takes a brave person to name a child Axl, Elvis, or Bjork. But our personal favorite from the list (which has now become a top contender in our baby name search) is P. Diddy!

Another favorite list of ours, being the drunks that we are, is the "Baby Bottoms Up" list, which of course features names based on types of liquors.

We think that naming our baby Glenfiddich or Merlot might be seen as a little "uppity" (if you know what I mean), but we are seriously considering Bud (middle name of Light).

And finally, for the parent who believes that a troubled youth builds character, I bring you the "Pharmaceutical Names" list:

Yeah, because any child named Cialis or Viagra is destined to become a serial killer. Or a porn star...

Who knows? "Sparky" may just end up sticking in the end. Considering that if the baby was born right now, his (or her) name would probably be P. Diddy Hermes Morris.

Maybe Dave and I need to take this name thing a bit more seriously.

Rebuilding...

I haven't had the opportunity to visit NYC since I was in my early teenage years. But, the memory of seeing the WTC buildings as part of the skyline is etched into my memory. The memory of seeing them come down is seared there, too.

I have a lot of family that lives on the East Coast and I am proud to say that I have a connection with the work that is currently being done at the WTC site. Two of my uncles and one of my cousins works for a company whose purpose (as I understand it) is to prepare construction sites with the underground infrastructure needed to support the buildings that are going to be built there.

I know that there has been a lot of criticism of the fact that nothing has been built on the site since 9/11... However, they've definitely put the pressure on the contractors now - the contractors are being fined $300K per day for everyday that they are not finished after January 1, 2008!

My uncle John recently posted a bunch of pictures of the job site on our family website. I thought I would share them here with you.

From left to right: Uncle John, a friend, Cousin Max, and Uncle Pierre.

A cross made out of steel beams from the original WTC. I like the NYPD car in the foreground.

One of the original signs for the PATH train station at the WTC. Apparently, a lot of these types of items are still being stored at the site. Definitely has a sobering effect.

This truck was so loaded down with scrap iron, I-beams, re-bar, and sheet metal that it got stuck in the mud and had to have a little help from a friend to get out. I thought this was kind of symbolic.

Dave and I are going up east in the week between Christmas and New Year's this year. We may have time to take a day or two down in NYC; it would be very cool to have the opportunity to see this site... We'll see what happens.

Can't Believe We Missed It!!

Being (the self-named) Queen of all holidays that shouldn't probably really be holidays, I bring you:

National Alpaca Day

Yeah, that's right! Although it should be National Alpaca Weekend, since it falls on September 29th and 30th. Two whole days! To celebrate alpacas!

I can't wait 'til next year! I'm going to make everyone a National Alpaca Day Advent Calendar, so you can count down the days with me!!