It's the year of the dog, so be nice to Maizie

Groundhog Day and the Chinese "Year of the Dog" are nigh upon us ... prepare for six more weeks of winter if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow (and if you're interested in being the next "Phil" handler ... the old one just resigned ... contact the mayor there) ... or, if you go by the Chinese New Year, dogs are loyal and true (if you want to know if you're a "dog" or rooster or tiger, etc., eat at your favorite Chinese restaurant and read the placemat) ... Maizie's a dog (keep your remarks to yourselves, please) ... don't know what the Care-bear is ... gung hai fat choy ...

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Asystole, Consender and Fate, three hot "metal" bands, will be playing at the Brewery Arts Center Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Don Reynolds Theater. If you're an adult, bring your earplugs ... if you're a teen, your hearing's shot already and it won't matter (actually, this is a great rip-roaring concert for teens). $5 at the door ... sodas extra ...

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Elementary math ... Lobbyists + $$$ + Congress = kiss up politics. Guess who pays in the long run? (hint ... go look in a mirror)

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For those of you who are upset with the government spying on you ... just think ... you'll never be lonesome again ...

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A certain doctor we know and love, told us this one ... "An old couple went to see a 'racy' movie, and, later that night as he gets into bed and starts to read, his wife comes into the bedroom dressed in a revealing negligee and asks him, 'Would you like some super sex?'

"'Why, thank you,' he replies, 'I'll take the soup.'"

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Maggie Jesse, 15, has a suggestion for the city fathers ... how about buying the old Kmart building and putting in an ice-skating rink and arcade for the local teenagers? With maybe a dance floor and food, too? Sounds good to us ... (and might be self-supporting as well) Just remember, a good idea begins with a dream ...

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And while we're on the subject of big box stores, have you noticed that all the Wal-Marts have all the architectural attributes of a cardboard box? And just as attractive, too. Seems a lot of towns around this country have been left with these "boxes" when the mother companies decide to move out and build another one elsewhere. Lucky us ...

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Heidi DePuy wrote to us that her niece's husband, Jono, is a director of a missionary school in Senegal. He recently asked his staff for student reports and got this response from a math teacher ... "Sam's math's talents continue to multiply. He organizes his work clearly and divides up his time with great care. He is a fantastic student without equal and I have nothing to add or subtract." We expected nothing less ...

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We know that the Presbyterian Church here in Carson City needs a new facility ASAP ... however, they are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to tearing down the old church (which has historical value) and building a new one from scratch. We hope they can get the best of both worlds by building a new church, but also incorporate some of the old materials into the new, so that they may still have a connection to the past. Good luck, no matter what ...

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Don't forget to hit the star parties every Saturday night at the WNCC Jack Davis Observatory ... they're open to the public and are a treat for the casual star gazer. St. Teresa's school is holding an "open house" Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 567 S. Richmond (corner of W. 5th and Richmond) to honor Catholic School Week. Everyone's invited.

And, this morning, on the steps of the Capitol at 10 a.m., the new Nevada quarters will be unveiled with a ceremony headed by the governor, treasurer and Mint director. You can then go to Nevada State Bank and buy them in $10 rolls. Call the Nevada State Museum immediately for information about "first day of issue" envelopes, too ...

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More hot news ... the WNCC Wildcats baseball team won their first two games ever (they lost the third, but "stuff" happens) ... congrats. Auditions for "Aladdin, Jr." will be held at the BAC (883-1976) on Saturday at 10 a.m. ... a cute musical for those 6-16.

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Connie Lord sent us this one: "A study by UCLA's Department of Psychiatry has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her monthly cycle. For example, if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features. However, if she is in the middle of her period or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with scissors lodged in his temple and duct tape over his mouth while he is on fire. No further studies are expected ... "

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The Carson Tahoe Regional Healthcare Foundation has told us that its "Building for Your Healthy Future" campaign is in full swing ... they are raising money for the new CT Cancer Center (which will open in the fall ... hooray for them) and asks the whole community and those in the surrounding area to help them reach their goal of $15,250,000.

To a cancer patient (and who of us have not had a friend or family member touched by this terrible disease), ... what a relief. As a survivor said, "Fatigue is the worst side effect," and this will allow them to have everything in one place ... no more trotting around town for doctors, drugs, advice, etc. Campaign director Rick Robins asks you to "Leave a legacy." Even though any amount of money is wonderful, they can also use many volunteers ... so ... leave a legacy, and use your time and money to help Carson City combat cancer ... everyone will thank you!

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From Progressive Zen ... "It's always darkest before the dawn ... so if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it." Especially on Tuesday mornings ... enjoy the day ...

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