Thoughts (and prayer) for the day

Thoughts for the day: "Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant, sort of like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?"

Or ... "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, "Holy Moley there, Andy, what a ride!" (We edited that last one for those of you whose sensibilities might be offended)

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And just so we don't get into too much trouble, here's our "prayer" for the day: when Maizie Pusich (a relative who will soon disown the "other" one) was very small, her mother overheard her saying her prayers ... "Hairy Mary, full of grass, the Lord is a tree ..." (for the Un-Catholic, that usually reads, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee ...") We like it both ways ....

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Our deepest sympathies go out to Charlie Abowd and family on the death of his mother, Adele ... she established a high criteria for dining in Carson City that is still enjoyed by all of us today ....

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And a Happy Birthday to Ben Grissom who was 17,897 days old yesterday (plus 1 now ... we can't help it if he wasn't born on the day we write our column) ...

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We also thought you ought to know about Terry Beauchamp, a co-worker of Carolyn's ... he's a Red Cross volunteer who just ran the Galena evacuation center for the recent Andrew fire ... he also went to the World Trade Center during the Christmas holidays after the 9/11 tragedy so that the volunteers who had been helping there could be with their families over the holidays ... he also responds to any disaster where the Red Cross is needed ... she's proud to have him as a friend ... Maizie can see why ....

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Hooray ... did you know that many of the poles used in the pole vaulting event in the Olympics were made right here in Carson City by USC Spirit? That's called "local representation" and it's closer than we'll ever get ... (PS: if either the gold or silver medalist shows up in Carson City ... can we meet him? Or both? We promise we'll be charming ....) And did you know that Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner's sister, Gerrie, is a doctor here in good ol' CC? We're proud of him, too ....

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We are relating a story purported to be from the answering machine of Pacific Palisades High School in California ..."Hello. You have reached the automated answering service of your school ... please listen to all your options before making a selection: Press 1 to lie about why your child is absent ... Press 2 to make excuses for why your child did not do his work ... Press 3 to complain about what we do ... Press 4 to swear at staff members ... Press 5 to ask why you didn't get information that was already enclosed in your newsletter and several flyers mailed to you ... Press 6 if you want us to raise your child ... Press 7 if you want to reach out and touch, slap or hit someone ... Press 8 to request another teacher for the third time this year ... Press 9 to complain about bus transportation ... Press 0 to complain about school lunches. If you realize this is the real world and your child must be accountable and responsible for his/her own behavior, class work, homework, and that it's not the teachers' fault for your child's lack of effort ... hang up and have a nice day!"

The staff voted unanimously to record this on the school's answering machine after being sued by parents who wanted their children's failing grades changed to passing, even though those children were absent 15-30 times during the semester and did not complete enough school work to pass their classes ... way to go PPHS ... it's all about responsibility and not passing the buck ... we think teachers should refuse to teach if they don't get the cooperation and respect they deserve ....

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Get your walking shoes on for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk '04 ... it's on, uh ... hmmm, we're thinking ... let's see ... this year, we think ... maybe ... what was the question?

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Carol Read-Andersen and her daughter, Rachel, were named Queen and Princess of the recent Highway 50 wagon train ... what fun ... but, there's a down side (for us, anyway) o this story ... after over 10 years at the Ross Clinic at FISH, Carol is leaving to take a well deserved rest. She started the clinic with the late Dr. Charlie Ross and will be sorely missed.

The clinic serves hundreds of people, who, through no fault of their own, are uninsured, out of work, and have no other resources. The whole town owes her a debt of gratitude ... so, Carol, go out, rest, and have lots of fun with Mick and Rachel ... and drop in to say hello a time or two ....

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Oh ... we finally remembered the Alzheimer's Memory Walk '04 ... it's Sept. 19 on the Capitol grounds at 8:30 a.m .... for more information call 786-8061 ... hallelujah ... we ... uhhhh ... why are we wearing sneakers?

Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at editor@nevadaappeal.com.