Sarah Palin's 'Going Rogue': five not-to-miss tidbits

They talked that way for months – until they discovered that the commercial trucks barreling through towns could hear them.

Palin kid hates his name. Sarah Palin's oldest child is named Track. Her nature-loving father was thrilled; he was sure his grandchild had been named for the adventure of the hunt.

No, it was because the baby was born during the spring track season. As in, track-and-field. If he'd been born during hockey season, he might have been named "Zamboni," writes Palin in her memoir.

As a youngster, Track did not like being teased about his name. He came home from kindergarten one day and demanded a change. He wanted to be named something normal, he said.

"Okay, son, what should we change your name to?" asked Palin.

Track looked up at her, eyes ablaze. "Like I told you, something normal," he said. "I want to be called 'Colt.' "

Tough on families. In 2002, Republican Sen. Frank Murkowski of Alaska ran for the state's governorship, and won. The state's political circles were abuzz with speculation as to whom he might name to finish out his Senate term. Sarah Palin's name was on the short list of contenders.

Palin was summoned to Murkoski's office for an interview. After a brief discussion of substance, he started talking about how tough the job of senator was on families. It was, Palin writes in her book, "a weird segue."

He asked her plans for her kids, then repeated how tough it would be on them. At this point it became clear to Palin she wasn't getting the job.

And who did get the coveted appointment? Murkowski's daughter, Lisa – who also happened to be a mom with young children.

TV in the mirror. Sarah from Wasilla was not accustomed to all the perks that came with big-time politics, after she hit the trail as John McCain's running mate. She was used to the Best Western Inn on Lake Lucille, where they did not provide guests with thick robes and slippers.

So the first time Palin and her girls stayed in a hotel where there was a flat-screen TV inside the bathroom mirror, they were impressed.

"That drew cries of 'Way cool!' from my girls," Palin writes.

But on Sept. 1, 2008, Palin was standing in front of this mirror, watching the news as she brushed her teeth, when a crawl scrolled across the bottom, breaking the news that her daughter Bristol was pregnant.

"I nearly gagged on my toothbrush," she wrote.

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See also:

Sarah Palin 'Going Rogue' to the White House? Polls say no.

Sarah Palin on Oprah Winfrey show: Five best outtakes

Is Sarah Palin Newsweek cover sexist? Palin says yes.

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