Couple Fights to Name Baby 'Metallica'Apr 3, 1:08 PM EST
The Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden --
Metallica may be a cool name for a heavy metal band, but a Swedish couple is struggling to convince officials it is also suitable for a baby girl.
Michael and Karolina Tomaro are locked in a court battle with Swedish authorities, which rejected their application to name their six-month-old child after the legendary rock band.
"It suits her," Karolina Tomaro, 27, said Tuesday of the name. "She's decisive and she knows what she wants."
Although little Metallica has already been baptized, the Swedish National Tax Board refused to register the name, saying it was associated with both the rock group and the word "metal."
Tomaro said the official handling the case also called the name "ugly."
The couple was backed by the County Administrative Court in Goteborg, which ruled on March 13 that there was no reason to block the name. It also noted that there already is a woman in Sweden with Metallica as a middle name.
The tax agency appealed to a higher court, frustrating the family's foreign travel plans.
"We've had to cancel trips and can't get anywhere because we can't get her a passport without an approved name," Tomaro said.
On Monday we played hooky and decided to take the 'ol girl to the track at Thunderhill Raceway. Peter was like a kid in a candy store, and my eyes were opened to a whole new world. The only way I could really describe it, would be that if you had a really fantastic pair of shoes, and you went to the most beautiful place where other girls with amazing shoes were hanging out, and you wanted to check out what shoes other girls were wearing, and then you had the opportunity to walk up and down a magnificent stage while other girls watched in awe, and wished they had some shoes as great as yours. Am I right, ladies?
It was actually really fun to see Peter among 'his people', and I learned a couple of things as well. I learned that perhaps the Lotus Elise really is the coolest car ever, that a simple piece of metal placed just so, really may improve handling and steering feedback, and that I am no Steven Spielberg when it comes to filming cars at high speed on a race track. (4/30/07)
Yesterday we attended the memorial service for our landlord and friend, George Goodwin. He lost his short battle with cancer, but was lucky enough to be surrounded by his loving family. Although sad, it was nice to learn more about him through the eyes of his good friends and family. From his oldest daughter to his youngest brother (who is 80 years old), it was great to hear stories of growing up in San Francisco, how he started in the real estate business, his love for golf, his competitive spirit, and the importance of family. We saw some amazing pictures of when Marge and George were married, of his first car, a Model T Ford, his time spent in the Navy, great fishing adventures, and many memories of him always surrounded by friends and family. We will miss him. (4/21/07)
