What's In A Name?

Seven commented that there must be something behind the name of my dog, Ali. And, yes, of course, there is. He also told a rather unusual story about his brother who raised Great Danes and gave them bowling balls to play with. (See comments on previous post) So I've decided to tell the story behind that, and others, name. When I finish, I'll either have delivered a story that is cute and shows my imagination ... OR I'll have proven that I'm as certifiable as seven's brother.

So, here goes . . .

When we got the first Shih Tzu, it was one of the others who still resides in my house. I've called her Mai Lin (pronounced my-lin). Her full name is, grab your rompers, kids, Empress Mai Lin Shu. My late husband named her this because she was regal (Empress), Mai (My-belonging to me), Lin (my 1st name, Lyn), Shu (the beginning of my maiden name). Then a couple years later Mai Lin was bred to a dog named Ali BaBa. Yep, from the Forth Thieves. Except it didn't work. Poor Ali Baba had lost his pizzazz. His owner, however, put us in touch with the owner of one of his sons, and we had success. Mai Lin was to be a mommy.

A few days before Mai Lin's litter was due, an acquaintance suggested that we swap males from our litters. We went to look at the pups, jut 5 weeks old. One little guy just scampered right into our hearts and lives. We decided to bring him home before our puppies were born so Mai Lin could get used to him and hopefully we could avoid rejection. She was a very grumpy prego with her belly almost on the ground, but in a couple days, she began to accept him. In fact, after the puppies were born, she allowed him to be in the pen with them after a few days, and he began to baby sit while she took breaks, He was a wonderful "big brother," even helping to bathe the little ones. But I digress.

His name. Ah, yes, he must have a name every bit as majestic as the Empress. Emperor Ali Zan D'Ewok. Ali was because my husband had really liked the potential sire for our girl. I noted that it was close to the first of the family name and added the Zan (Ali Zan or Alexan), D'Ewok was because of the faces. I would guess that everyone knows how much they look like the Ewoks from Star Wars. So yes, seven there is a story behind it.

If I may ... well, I will anyway, it's my blog!! ... I'm going to add the names of the other dogs in our family. We were on such a roll with these names that we couldn't be stopped. I kept one of the girls from Mai Lin's litter. We call her China or China Doll. Full name is Princess (well, what did you expect?) Ama Wei China Doll. Just say it out loud and you'll hear, "I'm a wee china doll." Her litter mate lives with my daughter and is called Mai Tai, just like the drink. full name is Princess Mai Tai Bei A Wei Lin. Again, say it out loud an phonetically, and you get "Might I be a wee Lin," so named because she looks exactly like her mother. Two years later, Ali sired a litter with Mai Lin. One from that litter also lives with my daughter and is called Rita or Margarita. She looks like a spitting image of Ali and has his personality. Her full name is Princess Mai Tai Bei a Wei Margaritaville, or "might I be a wee margaritaville." No my daughter isn't an alcoholic, she just liked the names. OK, and she was as weird as her mother.

Well, seven, will you ever muse and hint a question of me again? ;-)