Recalling a friend by the Wong name

Our dear Lois Brady's beloved husband, Michael Long, died a couple of weeks ago. It brought a story to mind when we first met him about four years ago.

We were having lunch at the Grill, when Lois introduced this 6-foot-4 giant of a man, and Maizie thought she said, "I'd like you to meet my fiance, Michael Wong."

MHJ thinks to herself, "He certainly doesn't look Chinese." And so, for several weeks she thought Lois would soon be Lois Brady Wong, until someone else brought it to Maizie's attention that she had gone deaf and misheard the name.

However, from that day forward, Michael and Lois shared the name "Wong" along with their real one. It made us all laugh every time it was used ... even on their Christmas cards to M. "Mr. Wong, you will be missed." (Michael's memorial service will be on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 2 p.m.) And our love to Lois.

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Don't ever say $$$ doesn't talk ... it appears Kobe Bryant's trial will be after the NBA season, whereas the two UNR football players were zapped, rightfully so, immediately upon being indicted for felony battery charges. Would it have been the same for NFL players? Not...

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One of our readers (yup, we have a few) says he notices that big trucks and clunkers go through the roundabout on E. 5th without a problem ... it's the new cars that hesitate. Can it be the latter are afraid of the former? Just wondering...

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Now for all the people who are sucked in by sweepstakes and lottery scams ..."I'm calling to say you've won $89 million in the Nigerian lottery, and you only need to send us $89.95 for handling fees, then we'll send you the money."

No problem, "Just take it out of the 89 mil, and send us $88,999,910.05."

Gee, they hung up ... does this mean we didn't win?

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When Maizie was 8 years old, she thought the most wonderful name in the whole world would be "Marsha Cookie"... (she doesn't know why, so don't ask). Carolyn now thinks she would like to be called "Marsha Mellow" if this trend continues ... (and for our Puritan readers, yes, we know it's spelled incorrectly).

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By the way, you may not agree with us, but we don't care ...

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Dating tip: If a guy doesn't tip well, believe us, he's for the birds ... cheeeeeeep!

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Congrats to State Engineer Hugh Ricci for continuing former state engineer Mike Turnipseed's denial of water rights for Yucca Mountain ... way to go, Hugh. When will the Feds realize "we don't want it here?"

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After all the meetings about "downtown," just do it ... All talk and no action is boring...

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For a little taste of Europe in the morning, take in our local coffee shops and let the world go by...

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Good luck to the Douglas Tigers in the 4A football championship this week ... and to the 3A Dayton Dust Devils for their volleyball team ... and, also, to the Vikings of South Tahoe for their 4A soccer showing ... Way to go, guys and gals...

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We saw a sign last week that said, "...food sell today," and a friend said, "Ever notice that the people who make the signs, are usually the one's who can't spell?" Sort of like some local menus ... (draw evil grin in here _______)

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Remember when Christmas things were never seen before Thanksgiving? Hah ... you must be really old ...

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And speaking of old ... have you noticed that when we need it, youth has snuck away and left us with all these good ideas we can't possibly handle physically (or should that be spelled "phiz-suck-ly?) any more? To use an early Christmas phrase ... Bah Humbug!

Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Send questions or comments to editor@nevadaappeal.com.