My theory is that certain names start becoming popular as certain sounds become popular. Like, the "ayl" thing from a few years ago, where there were suddenly a ton of Kaylas and Baylees and Taylors, and an upswing in the number of Haileys.. Now, there seems to be a thing for girls names ending in -a or -ah. Looking at the early twentieth century, it seemed to be r, th, l, dis, and dith that were popular sounds for girls names -- Gladys, Edith, Meryl, Beryl, Thelma, etc.

I'm glad you found Shadow, connie! I've heard folks say that to make a cat stay in a new place you should put butter on the cat's paws. After they finish licking it off, the cat will have settled down and adjusted to the new home. Personally, I think this would be a great way to get buttery paw prints on every possible surface, including the ceiling. Plus, there's the whole question of who's gonna butter the cat.

Connie, that's great! I love happy-ending pet stories.

Yay, connie! Poor guy. Moving is hard on everybody.

Oh, connie! I'm so glad.

I'm telling my mom!

(who's named 'Enid.')

I knew that was going to be your punchline. However, my folks' names are just as bad/worse, and I've told them to their faces: Bernice and Hubert.

When my b. friend named her daughter Madison 9 years ago, neither of us had ever heard of it. Weird how that happens.

The first Madison I met is also nine, and there are a lot of them, now.

So....we can talk about the gender of the Cashmere!sprog now?

Cashmere is the biggest spoiler slut I've ever met, or at least until I met Plei. I've just been waiting for this silly white font to disappear.

I think Iva's a good name. Not one I'm likely to use, but there you go.

My grandmothers were named Mary and Diana. Some of the most normal names in the family, really, and least obviously trended or dated.

Yay for Shadow's return!

I like Irene, which is my mom's middle name. I think that could see a comeback.

The first Madison I met is also nine, and there are a lot of them, now.

See, I date this back to Splash.

Yay for returning kitties!!

ION, Z has been nannying in his spare time for various theater friends. Today was his first day with another set of friends' daughter who is 14 months old, and she is apparently laying on her back in the middle of the living room, sighing theatrically and not wanting to have anything to do with him. She's perfectly fine, she just wants to be alone. I'm threatening to buy her a black dress on my lunch break. So. Cute.

My old cat is very happy to have his partner in naps back. Now Hubby is convinced that Shadow loves me more than him, because Shadow guts my hand more enthusiastically when we play Mr. Sock (hand inside two socks, rub the cat belly until retaliation).