Oh the stuff starts coming in and the church is singing

We are heading to New Hampshire this weekend. Melanie's family is hosting a shower for her. This time we are driving up, and we rented a mini van! Yes, amigos, a mini van. I remember growing up we had a red mini van with wooden panel sides. I must admit that the van drives nicely. We have it loaded up with a dresser, skis, and ice skates, as we are returning these items to New Hampshire. Although on the way back it will be filled with baby gear. I have already had to put together a shelving unit and the crib is in the room just waiting to be assembled.

On a sadder note a former of mine from Penn passed away last week, and the funeral was yesterday. He was 34 and had complications from a gastric bypass surgery. The whole thing is sad. It was my first time attending an African American funeral. It was actually pretty amazing how the church came together and the music was uplifting and very spiritual. Carlos always cracked me up. There was this woman in our office who use to dress in bright colors and crazy skirts -- she would do this in the middle of winter, and it never did fit her personality. Carlos use to say to me, "Jeffrey, it is like a blind Puertoriccan dresses her everyday." Perhaps the Puertoriccan angles will get the advice from Carlos and help this woman out.

"It's difficult to get a fryer on a Friday night"

That is correct my friends, according to our waitress at the Towne Lounge. In Wisconsin it is difficult to get a fryer on a Friday night. Why may you ask? Every Friday in Wisconsin is fish fry. A time when members of the community come together to enjoy each others company and enjoy fish. Last Friday we spent fish fry with my dad and grandma. The trip to Wisconsin was good. Melanie and a nice shower and it was good to be back home. On the way back to Philadelphia we had the opportunity to give up our seats on the flight from Detroit to Philadelphia for $600 in airline vouchers. We were the first ones in line and ended up coming back to Philly early Monday morning.

On Saturday we are attending a birthing class at Pennsylvania Hospital. I am also starting to make the pinata for the fifth annual Easter pinata party. Our basement has turned into a paper mache factory -- yes, my Spanish major comes into great use. So far we have over 50 rsvps. It should be a good time this year as we plan on blocking off the street and my friend Robert's band is going to play.

From the Keystone State to the Dairy State

Tomorrow we will be leaving the "City of Brotherly Love" for the land of cheese. Melanie has her first baby shower thrown by some of my mom's friends. We have figured out that this is baby Snyder's sixth round trip flight. Too bad you can't earn frequent miles while the baby is cooking -- maybe I should write some of the airlines.

It is also a good thing that we cleaned out the guest room the other weekend, as I am sure that it going to start to fill up. A co-worker reminded me the other day that we only have 10 or 11 more weekends.

Now bring me some fried cheese curds and a Leinenkugel. We will be getting home just in time for fish fry. I wonder were we will be going -- my guess is the Towne Lounge, across the street from the Baraboo public pool.

What's in a name?

During Mrs. Anderson's 9th grade English literature class at Baraboo Junior High School (9th grade back then was not part of the high school like it is now) we had to memorize lines from Romeo and Juliet. I recall the the following:

"Tis but thy name that is my enemy. What's in a name? That which we will call a rose. By any other word would smell as sweet."

People have been asking us lately if we have thought of names for the baby. I guess we have a few that we like, but I do think that the whole process can be complicated. I have a hard time believing that you can name something without seeing "it." first. I have never had a problem with my name. My parents really never gave me an reason of how they came up with the name Jeffrey, they both said that they just liked it. In some name books I have been reading it says that every group of friends has a Jeff and that Jeff was a 1960's surfer name. I am almost positive that my parents were not surfing in Northern Wisconsin. My middle name Allen was my great grandmother's maiden name and my Grandpa Snyder and Dad's middle name.

The thing with Jeffrey is that it does not translate into Spanish. Although many of my gringo friends have called me Jefe (boss). My Spanish speaking friends usually say Yaffrey or Heff. Jeffrey is the form of Godfrey and in Spanish Godfrey translates to Geofredo -- now that is awful.

My Grandma and her sister's are/were: Hilda Helen, Grace Bernice, and Mrytle May. Talk about old school! Although I do think that those names are classics.

So, friends, we have not decided on a name yet, I think I really need to see this kid in person before "naming it."