The Slice: Nothing against little Ellie, but …

Perhaps you noticed a first in the S-R births listings the other day.

There among the baby names was “Eleanor ‘Norah’ Delores Blake.”

Yes, the baby girl’s nickname was spelled out, quote marks and all.

OK, first let me say that I am on record as admiring the name Eleanor. I wrote an entire column about that.

But you have to suspect that the parents here are living in a candy colored dream world. I mean, don’t nicknames just sort of evolve of their own accord?

And if you are dictating terms to the future, why stop there? Why not add “Eleanor will have a beguiling smile and be accepted at several medical schools”?

Oh, well. Here’s hoping little Ellie has a great life.

•Saying G’day to the Inland Northwest accent: “When I was in Australia, everyone thought I was Canadian,” wrote Bev Hatch.

Actually she’s from Idaho. And “eh?” is not something she says.

•Just give me that countryside: “You know you live in the boonies when a departing guest says, ‘Thanks for letting us overload your septic tank,’ ” wrote Tom Bacon.

“Really happened,” he added.

He and his wife were the hosts.

“It tells you your guest probably lives in the country, too.”

And, perhaps, that a good time was had by all.

Just wondering: Do you find yourself wondering about the authenticity of “satisfied client” testimonials on Spokane TV commercials when the people in question can’t correctly pronounce common local place names?

•Society in transition: Fewer and fewer people get it these days when you do the Art Carney/Ed Norton pre-writing hand flourishes.

•Today’s Slice question: How many people around here own a copy of the 1957 set-in-the-1880s novel by the late Zola Ross, “Spokane Saga: The Rebuilding of a City Destroyed”?

Here’s the blurb on page 2 of the 1973 Ballentine Books paperback edition.

“Rebuilding a town called on the talents, the virtues and vices of many. The fire had ruined the town John Gordon helped to build, but he stayed to fight the devastation and start again. It had created new opportunities for handsome Miles Winfield, and Harry Elphinstone found a dozen new fields in which to make money.

“Charity was caught up in the raw energy of Spokane. Her own determination to break free of the past blinded her to the way that miracles were being achieved … miracles that arrogant Philip Storm saw through.”