Some kids are destined to get beat up on the playground!

Honestly, what are some parents thinking when they name their kids? Do they want them to become jokes? It's bad enough when people take a fairly normal name and change the spelling to make it "unique." Hey, coming from a Kris with a K, that's a pain in the butt to always have to spell your name automatically when on the phone with customer service types, etc. However, It's even worse when people make up their own "unique" creative names that just sound good.

But I think worse yet is the type who give the kid a name that isn't meant to be a name. For example, the recent news story about a couple somewhere down south who named their kid ESPN. Seriously. ESPN - like the sports channel. She said her husband could name the son anything he wanted. So I'm not sure who should be shot - the father who named the kid or the mother who let him.

I'm thinking of this today because I just read a classnotes section of a college alumni paper we get at church. I often skim through this section because I do know a few people who went to college at this school, although I did not myself. I recognized one name from a family I used to work with at camp many years ago. It's not a common name, so I'm sure it's the same family (I'm not naming the school or the family, in case any of you know them...) This guy and his brother were both counselors at camp with me briefly. He and his wife just had a new baby boy. Name? Hero Gabriel. Yes HERO. I wish I could tell you the last name, because it's such an unusual name it makes if even funnier. I thought "Man, that poor kid has a lot to live up to."

Then I read further and they named his 3 older siblings: Justis, Liberty, and Honor. What? What kind of drugs are these people on? Those kids are gonna get the crap kicked out of them at recess their whole life. Justis I can see.... I've even heard Liberty before for a girl (hopefully this one is.) But Hero and Honor?

I predict a future of lots of expensive therapy for those kids.

Yes!

Got out on the scooter today for the first time this spring. Today was an absolutely beautiful day, and I needed to get my groove on with the little red Vino. So after attending a piano recital at church, and then reading the Sunday paper, it was time to fire her up and see how she ran.

I know a walk would have been better for my body, but this was better for my spirit. I was a little afraid to try starting her, because she'd been sitting in the garage untouched for a good 5 or 6 months. But with a little extra prodding of the button she was ready to ride. We had some smoky stinky exhaust for a several blocks, but eventually her engine cleared out.

I rode around the neighborhood first, just in case the Vino would have some problems. But then we took off down the Menomonee Parkway to Wauwatosa and back. I tell ya, it sure felt free to ride again with the wind blowing through my hair - even the waiting-to-be-waxed hair on my legs! That was kind of a strange sensation... but kind'a cool too. Maybe there's a little earth mother in me after all. But I'll be getting my spring wax soon, and then keeping them clear until next winter's growth again. (Yeah, yeah, I know.... TMI... too bad!)

It just feels good to get into the summer swing again. Long live summer!