Volunteers put the clean in 'C'

Things are looking up in Carson City. Have you looked up and seen the "C" this week on C-Hill? Thanks to Adam Houghton and about 10 of his EX-friends ("ex" because he made them go up there all day to pull 3-foot weeds, replace about 3 feet of rock at the top of the C, and then paint the whole thing) and family (you can't "ex" the family ... they're stuck with you), the "C" is bright and shiny again and looking gooooood. And thanks to Sherman-Williams, Kelly-Moore and Meek's Lumber for donating the paint. We thank you, the community thanks you, and if you need new friends, we'd be glad to volunteer.

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We'd also like to thank the city street-sweeper guys for cleaning North Roop Street along the wall from Winnie Lane to the new stoplight. Looks so much better.

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Kress Whalen told us the following: "God greeted a cat at the gates of Pet Heaven and said, 'I see you've been a good cat on earth ... what would you like up here?' The cat thought a minute and said, 'I'd like a big, fluffy pillow to sleep on,' and - poof! - one appeared, and the cat went into heaven and was very pleased. The next day, six mice appeared at the gates, and God said, 'I see you've been good mice ... what would you like in heaven?' They looked at each other, and in unison replied, 'Roller skates, because it would be so much easier to get around than running all the time.' Again - poof! - and they all rolled happily into heaven. A few days later, God saw the cat and asked him how things were going and did he enjoy the pillow. 'Oh, the pillow is wonderful, but do you know what I like best?' 'No,' says God, 'what do you like best?' The cat rolled his eyes and said, 'I especially like the little Meals on Wheels.'"

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Local funnies ... one of our neighbors mentioned that the reason some losing politicians haven't taken down their signs is that they don't realize that they've lost (guess we did vote the smarter ones in). And the Fleet Feet ad in the paper gave us quite a giggle. It shows a good-looking guy in "that was then ...," then a good-looking gal in "this is now!" No, it wasn't a sex change, just advertising for new running apparel. Goes to show you a first impression is not always the right one.

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Two BIG events coming up on the same date on Saturday, Sept. 9: the Boys and Girls Club's Kids Auction and World's Greatest BBQ, featuring Glen Campbell, is in the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park, and the Tin Cup Tea & Chuckwagon BBQ, hosted by Gov. and Mrs. Kenny Guinn, is at the Governor's Mansion at 606 N. Mountain St. The kids auction and barbecue starts at 2 p.m. (call 882-8820 for information), with the concert at 6:30 p.m. The tea starts at 5 p.m. (687-4810 for details) with mansion tours and a silent auction, with dinner and program at 6 p.m. It's too bad they overlap, but both are worthy of your support.

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Vern Manke has passed along some wonderful advice he got from Larry Callahan (which is surprising, since we know Larry ... tee-hee) that we all should take to heart: "One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, 'My son, the battle is between two 'wolves' inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.' The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 'Which wolf wins?' The old Cherokee simply replied, 'The one you feed.'"

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The BAC beer tasting and Jazz Fest were great successes, even if Rex Baggett made Carolyn count out her tickets twice to pay for dinner ("You don't trust me?"... whine, whine, whine). LOTS of people attended, drank beer, and heard some great music. Besides Rotary selling food, Buz and Pat Keller of Zydeco, Inc.-Via Veneto Italian Ice were putting out some delectable icy desserts.

Carolyn was particularly impressed with the root beer float ... or was it piña colada ... no, it was mango ... never mind, it was all good. Maybe Ben Grissom can serve it at his birthday this week. H b-day, Ben.

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The Olson family (not the "twins") gave us this one: "A husband and wife go to a counselor after 15 years of marriage. The counselor asks what the problem is, and the wife goes off on a tirade listing every problem they've ever had. She goes on and on, until the counselor gets up, embraces the wife, and kisses her passionately. The woman clams up and sits quietly in a daze as the counselor says to the husband, 'This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?' The husband thinks for a moment and says, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish.'"

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Camilo and Andi O'Kuinghttons performed the tango at the BAC a couple of weeks ago after their great trip to South America that added to their repertoire. They are with Truckee River Tango (www.truckeerivertango.com) that has a "milonga" (that's "dance" for the uninformed ... us) every month at the Caughlin Club in Reno. Hopefully, they will be bringing lessons and "milongas" to Carson soon. Even if you don't "trip the light fantastic," they will be great to watch.

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And finally, congratulations to Steve Grupe, Rick Schaff, and Rob Young for being inducted into the CHS Football Hall of Fame Saturday.

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