Count what you are thankful for, then chow down

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. And while you're giving thanks and eating dinner, be sure you remember our men and women in uniform, overseas and on the home front, including our policemen, firemen, emergency-services workers and those who have to work that day.

Be thankful if you have food on the table, a place to live, family and anything else that makes your life easier that you take for granted. And if you know someone who is not as fortunate as you, try making their life a little easier in some way, even if it's telling them about the Nugget's free dinners, FISH or the church at the Stewart Indian School, and the Salvation Army. They are all trying to make Thanksgiving special for those down on their luck.

Be thankful for those who love you, and tell those you love how much you appreciate them. Above all, be grateful to live in a country where you can still disagree without the opposition gunning you down. And thanks to you for your kindnesses over the past year. We are very grateful.

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OK, who were the dumb clucks who decided to cut down the trees on the northwest corner of Stewart and East Fifth? If you are putting in a parking lot, the trees could've stayed. If not, what's the excuse? We'd like to know.

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Nina Bailey sent us this Thanksgiving story: "Last year, my mom went to my sister's house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, she decided to play a trick. She sent my sister to the store, then took the turkey out of the oven, inserted a Cornish hen, re-stuffed it, and put it back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister took the turkey out, and, as she took out the stuffing, found the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, my mother said, 'Linda, you've cooked a pregnant turkey' (Mother should have been an actress). At the reality of this shocking news, my sister started to cry. It took us two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs. And, yes, she's blonde."

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Carson's own Rockette, Caitie McCarthy, will be dancing in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on Thursday. She is also the cover girl on the commemorative program for their Christmas spectacular. Just look for the sparkling redhead.

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The Pinkerton Academy of Dance will present "The Nutcracker" Friday-Sunday at the Community Center for the 18th consecutive year. This is the true start of the Christmas season and deserves your attendance. It's fun to see the likes of Gail Ruff, Vern Manke, Vickie McMaster, Ayako Britt (all original members) and the rest of the cast (including C's nieces, Kayla and Madison Clinger) trip the light fantastic to Tchaikovsky's beautiful music (call 887-2290, ext. 108, for additional information).

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Congratulations to Kelly Faltis, co-owner (with her mom, Carol Ann) of Sugarplum Bakery and Treats in Genoa, for being named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Sierra Nevada Republican Women. The bakery also contributes to the Carson Valley Food Closet. Well done, Kelly.

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Also congratulations go to Sen. Harry Reid, who was just named the Senate's majority leader. From humble beginnings in Searchlight, Nevada, to one of the most powerful men in Washington, D.C., ... Horatio Alger has nothing on him.

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And now for the dark side: We heard from someone who attended both funerals of the two young men killed in Iraq in October, Pvt. Brandon Williams, of Gardnerville, and Sgt. Kenny Bostic, of Hawthorne. He was very upset that many politicians attended Pvt. Williams' funeral (held BEFORE the election), but hardly any (at least he didn't see any) showed up at Sgt. Bostic's funeral (AFTER the election). HOW SHALLOW AND DESPICABLE IS THAT? You know who you are, and you should be very, very ashamed. Both young men were fortunate in that those who truly loved them were in attendance, and that's what really matters.

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Don't you just love the little square taxis in Carson City these days? All they need is a wind-up key on the back.

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Ron Saunders came up with this one: "A firefighter is working at the station when a little girl in a fireman's hat comes up with her red wagon with tiny ladders attached to the sides. She has a hose coiled up in the wagon, and it's being pulled by her dog and cat. As he looks closer, he sees that she has tied the rope to the dog's collar and the cat to his testicles.

"'Little partner,' says the fireman, 'I don't want to tell you how to run your rig, but don't you think if you tied that rope to your cat's collar, you could go faster?' The little girl looks at him thoughtfully, and replies, 'You're probably right, but then I wouldn't have a siren.'" (This one's for Chief Giomi. Draw evil grin in here ...

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We had a great lunch with Laura and Mike Smith the other day (they "won" us in the Library's Oktoberfest silent auction). They are nice people with neat senses of humor (they're Burning Man aficionados, along with the Care Bear). We enjoyed ourselves and helped the library at the same time, thanks to the Smith's.

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We run jokes from Ken Fraser from time to time, but when Paul Sinnott said Ken denied sending us stuff, he was telling the truth. Seems there is a Ken Fraser in CC whom we DON'T know, and one in Leavenworth, Kan., whom we DO. The one in Leavenworth is the one to blame, Paul ... your Ken is off the hook.

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Bob Herzog tells us about a man flying on Hooter's Airlines: "The attendant approached him at mealtime and asked, 'Would you like dinner?' 'What are my choices?' asked the man. 'Yes or no,' she replied." Oooookay...

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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