Thanks for supporting U.S. soldier

By Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse

Heartfelt thanks to all those who wrote and sent things to Sgt. Kevin Murray in Baghdad. Lisa Tolda tells us he was thrilled. And for those of you who missed the first time, Kevin is a soldier stationed in Iraq who wanted mail for himself and his buddies (his mother, Joanne Haskin, used to work for the Appeal). His address is Sgt. Kevin Murray, Bravo Company, 1-32 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division, APO AE 09384. So if you can make the time, please drop him a line, mail him some cookies, toothpaste, whatever (he'll share), and wish him well. If a school or class would like to "adopt" him and his friends, please feel free to do so ... here's to a good New Year, Kevin, and come home soon ...

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A friend of ours went to the post office down south and asked for some Christmas stamps with the Madonna on them. A woman nearby threw a hissy fit and said, "How can they honor that sleaze bucket with a stamp?" Cuz thar's no accountin' fer taste ...

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For those of you who received perfume and shaving lotion for Christmas ... give the rest of us a break and not use it all at once ... there's nothing pleasant or romantic about announcing your presence with a quart of the stuff poured over your head ...

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Lexie Lequerica and Emmy Heller at different parties exhibited the true meaning of Christmas with an original play and an original story, respectively, for their families. More things like that would make Christmas less of an ordeal for everyone. Several people have told us that December 26th is their favorite day of the year (not just because it's Jonni Moon's or Marty Tate's birthday, either). Unfortunately, commercialism has taken over the Christmas holiday with the "season" starting now in October or before. Whatever happened to waiting until after Thanksgiving? Yeah ... it's the money thing ...

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A few summer's ago, a young lady we know picked up her bike in the field next to her house and found a scorpion in the basket. She screamed for her dad to come and get it, and, as he did, she yelled, "Don't kill it!" Her father swelled with pride as he thought how kind his daughter was not to want to kill one of God's little creatures ... until he heard the same voice yelling, "Make it suffer" ... so much for the "milk of human kindness" ...

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If you make a New Year's resolution, keep it attainable and short term ... that way you won't be disappointed. Too many people resolve to totally change their world, then wonder why they fail ... we think you should keep it simple and down to one thing ... that way you won't have to remember much ... and will feel quite pleased that you succeeded ...

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Maizie went to the KU-UNR game last week because she had gone to both schools. Nevada came out like gangbusters and deserved to win. They took it to KU and never let down. If they played like that all the time, they would be in the Top 10. But, unlike Kansas and other schools in the Midwest, had UNR been losing, half of the fans would have been gone by the end of the game. That's why M is a Jayhawk fan ... that doesn't happen at KU. It also would have been nice if the public address announcer had praised the UNR band, which was great, and acknowledged the cheerleaders (although half of them looked like they'd rather be bowling) ... but, nooooo, that didn't happen either ... oh, well .. .maybe next year ...

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We'll end this with a few predictions for next year, 2004 ... the public will have lots of patience with the traffic delays around the freeway and new hospital ... they will put in geothermal heating on the new bridges on the 580 Interstate so we won't slide off them in the winter ... former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will be correct and Osama bin Laden will be caught in October, right before the election ... Rush Limbaugh will be as self-serving and obnoxious as ever ... Carson City will get a new Chinese and Mexican restaurant and sports bar every month during the new year ... ah, heck, fill in your own predictions_____________ ...

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If you watch the Rose Parade at 8 a.m. on New Year's Day, go to H>V (cable Channel 46 in CC) ... it has NO commercials to interrupt your viewing ...

Thank you and happy New Year to all ... may 2004 be your best yet ...

Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are long-time Carson City residents. Contact them by writing to editor@nevadaappeal.com