Stopping at nothing for a good cause

Well, the Carson Calendar Girls have been "outed," and their 2008 calendar, to benefit Danielle Conway, will be available Sept. 1. An order form will show up on the Web site www.carsoncalendargirls.com soon. Calendars will be $20, or, if you want to come to the "signing" party at the Bliss Mansion on Aug. 25 at 6 p.m., you can pony up $30 for wine, food, lovely harp music by Mary Law, and a calendar and autographs from the "girls." For a good cause, some people will do anything.

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It's been quite a very difficult ride for Danielle, with all her treatments and surgery, and it's been a privilege for all of those people who have donated their time and money to this cause. Many thanks go to Jay Aldrich, our photographer, who can make anyone look good; Joyce Harrington, for allowing us to use the beautiful Bliss Mansion for background and the party; and Jean Kvam, of the Sewing Store, for making our "banners." Rob Haddix of Data Graphics, and Tara Burke, our graphic designer, and attorney Kevin Karp have been ever so helpful, too. Not to leave out all of you who've said you're going to buy one or more of the calendars. The "smiley face" on C Hill says it all ... "What a great place to live." Thank you all for your great comments and support.

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From M's perspective, the following from Annie Kelley is apropos: "They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine isn't all that communicative, but I heard from it the other day after I said, 'Body, how'd you like to go to the six o'clock class in vigorous toning?' Clear as a bell my body said, 'Listen fatty ... do it and die.'" She also followed with: "Reason to smile: Every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring." Time for a nap.

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It was great to have lunch with the Rev. Nate Walker the other day. He is thrilled to have just been transferred to a church in the older part of Philadelphia. Many people knew Nate as a very talented singer, actor and dancer in many WNCC and CHS shows, but, now it's God's turn. What a great person and friend.

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Carolyn was complaining about the big pothole on the corner of Highway 50 E and Stewart, but she didn't complain long ... it's now fixed. However, Maizie's found a goodly bump in the southbound lane of N. Division St. at Caroline, and wishes someone would fill it up. It's a real waker-upper.

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Roberta Rutledge just came back from her 8th grade reunion in San Mateo. St. Matthew's School got all but 10 of the still-living graduates of the Class of 1953 to attend the festivities (we're glad they didn't invite the "departed" ... we know, we're bad). Bert had a wonderful time.

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Hot news (from Bruce Smith): "Stunned scientists confess an embarrassing error. They suddenly realized that the two whales they were tracking who were lost in the delta near San Francisco Bay were not a mother and her calf, but Rosie O'Donnell and Ted Kennedy, who apparently wandered off course while visiting the Bay Area. 'This is a little embarrassing,' said Gary Barnakel, a marine biologist helping with the rescue effort. We should have recognized them right away by their sheer size and erratic behavior, but they weren't responding to our rescue attempts, and now we know why. A boat loaded with pasta and vodka has been deployed to lure them out of the delta, so Rosie and Ted will soon be safe and back on course in their natural habitat, talk shows and the Senate.'" In the meantime, the pod of whales waiting outside the Golden Gate was told about the error and asked to move on.

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There are so many birthdays in July, it makes us wonder what made October so attractive to their parents? Happy birthday wishes go to Maizie, Rett Jesse (her son, not her twin), H Bentley Hawley, Gene Butler, Jody Crews, Jerry Neilsen (all of the prior born on the 16th), and Kati Sherwood and Andy Harvey. Belated ones to Dianne Williams and Mike Ryan.

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Congratulations to Commander Bryan Heller, who was just promoted to that rank by the U.S. Navy. His wife, Kristi, and family, will be in Carson City while he serves a year in Bahrain. Oh, goody, now we have someone to visit there (like, yeah). And many thanks to the Telephone Pioneers, who make the delightful "Hug-a-Bears" for little children. One of their 4-year-old recipients ran around the other day clutching his bear and saying, "Mi osito, mi osito (that's "my little bear" for the Spanish impaired)." What a joyful thing.

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The pelicans are back at Washoe Lake or soaring gracefully over the Railroad Museum (about 35 of them ... looking for the duck ponds, we suppose. Too bad they're not there anymore). They are so funny when they're in the water at the south end of the lake ... they all get in a circle and dip in at the same time, leaving pelican butts sticking up in the air. Cute and funny at the same time.

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Sen. Harry Reid made the comment, after the immigration bill didn't pass, that it would be up to the next president to tackle the problem. Excuse us? What are you all doing in the next two years? Seems to us two years should be enough time to get your act together, and not leave it for the "next" president. What are you all getting paid for?

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The Carson Valley Community Theatre will be holding auditions for "Steel Magnolias" tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Minden Inn, 1594 Esmeralda Ave., Minden. They need six women, and also are looking for set and lighting designers for the show. For more information, call director Lucille Rao at 843-3493.

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Cathy Robinson saw this quote by Oscar Wilde and sent it to us: "Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same." Mercy. Have a great week.

• You can reach Carolyn and Maizie by e-mail at carolynandmaizie@yahoo.com