Highs:
We had a baby.
We’re making a LOT of progress at work.
Shaker Heights finally remembered that we have trash cans that require emptying.
My son Garrett turned two yesterday.

Lows:
We’re not making ENOUGH progress at work to keep me asleep at night.
AM&E has a bunch of spine-less people working for them.

So the latest is a speeding ticket I got this morning while driving into the office. Evidently, there is a school next to us that doesn’t like it when you drive 33mph by it.

Bastards…

(…and it’s only Thursday.)

Oliver Joseph Hardman
08/25/2008 @ 8:18am - 7lb 3oz - 20″

He’s already fitting right in. Garrett thinks he’s pretty cool…All the grandparents can’t get enough of him…Angie is doing awesome.

“Did you see that match yesterday? The US totally blew that lead and almost lost it.” What sport? Doesn’t matter. You can say that to anyone in any elevator…and you’ll find someone to agree with you.

But for some reason, I’m still glued to the TV….trying to will the US team…in whatever sport I’m an arm-chair expert in…to a win.

Having a pediatrician for a wife, I hear some outstandingly bad names that parents inflict on their children. More often than not, they’ll be names that people “invent” for their kids in an attempt to be different. Kids are all different…they don’t need parents handicapping them out of the gate. It’s gotten so bad that pediatric residents are now taught to ask the parents for pronunciation tips before addressing the child. Something like “What a cool name…can you pronounce it for me?”

Some of these poor kids are going to have a pretty hard time in school. Below are some ACTUAL NAMES and the corresponding stories that go with them. You can’t make this stuff up.

Honorable Mention- Nevaeha

Nevaeh is Heaven spelled backwards, which has become quite popular in recent years. I would hazard a guess that the opposite of Heaven would be Hell, but that’s just me.

One particular lady couldn’t get that the “eh” was pronounced “ah” and decided to add an extra “a” at the end. This is effectively pronounced “Na-veh-ah-ha”.

Second Prize - R’Mani

Dr. : Hey there Kiddo…that’s a neat name. How do you say it?
Mom : Just like the suit man.
Dr. : Suit Man?
Mom : Armani.

Runner Up - Marconium

Nurse. : Have you picked out a name yet?
Mom : I think so.
Nurse: Can you spell it for me?
Mom (writing) : Marconium.
Nurse: How do you say that?
Mom (Saying it properly) : Meconium.
Nurse : Did you just hear that?
Mom : Yeah, I thought it was nice. I’ll call him Marco for short.
Nurse : Honey…let me tell you what meconium is…

Meconium: An infant’s first bowel movement.

Grand Prize Winner - Pron

Dr. : Good Morning Pron!
Mom (VERY Annoyed) : It’s pronounced “Ron”. The “P” is silent.

To all parents picking names for their children: Please run your name by a Nurse, and ask for their HONEST OPINION. Don’t be offended if they give it to you…it’s for the good of your child!

If you are a Canadian, and want to do your part, please click the link above and sign their petition.

I’ll also be posting this link on PutterTalk.com.

I know it’s been a year, because the last episode is still on my Tivo. I can’t bring myself to erase it. My wife rolls her eyes every time we’re ‘purging’ and she asks if she can delete it. It’s not that I’ve watched it since it originally aired. I haven’t.

Deleting that show will take it out of my mind…and I may forget about it. Seeing it wedged between South Park and Top Gear is a constant reminder of “what could have been” in network TV.

I know..I know. I could buy the DVDs and watch it whenever. But then it’d just sit there on my shelf next to all the other un-watched “must-have’ silver disks collecting dust in the back of my living room.

Aaron Sorkin’s first episode of Studio 60 had me yelling at my TV. “Yes!” I screamed as the rant given by Judd Hirsch just before the opening credits. Aaron Sorkin was back, and I forgot all about the gaping hole The West Wing left in my Wednesday nights.

The problem was, the fate of the world wasn’t ever at stake. I guess people couldn’t care less about if the show went on, or if the fictitious network got fined. The only two plot-lines that people cared about were whether or not Matt and Harriet got back together, or if Jordan and Danny’s baby was healthy.

Anyways…

One Year Later: I miss you Studio 60. You were a great show, and you’ve earned a permanent place on the Hard Drive of my Tivo.

First post!