BOOOOOO ... tomorrow is Halloween (and the REAL Nevada Day), so everyone be on watch for the little ghosties and goblins as they prowl around your neighborhoods. And a warning to the ghosties and goblins ... watch out for cars, and BEARS! M had one Thursday night (in the Catholic school area) trying to get into her garbage (the bad news is that the bear is still around ... the good news is the bear couldn't figure out the garbage can ... or maybe there weren't any "goodies" in it), so forewarned is forearmed.
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The Nevada Day parade seems to have gone off without a hitch. It was a great day, and Carolyn's 46th anniversary of moving to CC. Weather wise, no rain or sleet to muck it up. The Calendar Girls had a great ride and sold a lot of calendars, thanks to Roger Maillard and Pat Josten at Mom & Pop's. The crowd was great ... so was the food. We had time to get off our convertibles (thanks to Garth Richards, Carla and Wayne Wilson, and Rhonda Knox) and view the rest of the parade. M was particularly struck by the lone 1918 WWI cavalryman with his sword ... what a wonderful entry (he won two of the awards, so the judges agreed with her), and the Burning Man entries were top-drawer, creative, interesting and exciting. Just a fun day, and congrats to all who put it together. It does NOT come together "just like magic," but is the result of many hours of hard work to make it all happen. We didn't get to see the Budweiser Clydesdales, but their trucks were sure gorgeous (and M DID wear her tiara ... thanks again, Bill, finally). Carolyn met a motorcycle patrolman who "really, really, liked her leathers." Now let's hope she doesn't start wearing them all the time. 'Til next year ...
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Another story from Al Nicholson: "A man and his wife were celebrating 50 years together, so their three very successful kids decided to hold a dinner in their honor. The eldest son arrived a little late, saying, 'I'm sorry I'm running late, but I had an emergency at the hospital with a patient, and didn't have time to buy a gift.' 'Not to worry,' said the father, 'the fact that we're together is all that matters. Son number two arrived stating that he was late because of some depositions and also didn't have time to get a gift. 'No problem,' says the father. Just then, his daughter arrived. She explained her boss was sending her out of town on business, was packing, and she, too, didn't have time to get anything. Once more the father said, 'At least the five of us are together today.' But after dessert, the father said, 'There's something your mother and I have been meaning to tell you children for a long time. When we first started out, we were very poor. Despite this, we were able to send each of you to college. Your mother and I loved each other very much, but we just never found the time to get married.' The three children gasped and said, 'You mean we're bastards?' 'Yes,' said the father, 'and cheap ones, too.'"
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We see that the city is paying millions to beef up the old Wal-Mart for new businesses. We agree with publisher John DiMambro that it would be nice for that money to be used to help businesses who have shown loyalty to Carson City and have been here for years. We would also like to offer our help, and volunteer to accept and drive new cars, bought by the city, to help beautify the streets. It's just another of our sterling ideas whose time has come. Right!
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Lots of things going on in and around Carson this week: Proscenium Player's production of the fantasy/farce, "Wonder of the World" opens on Friday (along with the opening night party) for three weekends at the Brewery Arts Center at 8 p.m. Call 883-1976 for tickets and information. Wild Horse Productions and the CMNN present the talented Celtic harpist and storyteller Patrick Ball in "The Fine Beauty of the Island," at the Children's Museum, for one night only, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Call 887-0438 for tickets. This is a show for adults, but is enjoyed by families, too. WNMTC will present the musical favorite, "Guys and Dolls," beginning Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center (445-4249). John Vettel is in it, and says he wants to win the ticket contest, so you can call him at 886-6023, and he will see that you get your tickets. Is that a plug, or what? And finally, the Dakota Organization, is showing Larry Shue's "The Nerd," a wonderful comedy, for only one weekend beginning Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. It will be at the CVIC Hall in Minden, and tickets can be obtained by calling 265-7694. Don't even "dream" of being bored the next couple of weeks!
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Paul Cote tells us this story: "George was going to bed when his wife told him he'd left the light on in the shed. He went outside to turn off the light, but instead saw some burglars stealing things from it. He called 911 and they asked, 'Is someone in your house?' 'No,' he replied. They told him to go inside, lock up, and a patrolman would be by when they weren't busy. He waited about 30 seconds, then called again and said, 'Hi, I just called a while ago because there were people stealing from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them anymore because I've just shot them,' and hung up. With five minutes, three patrol cars and an ambulance showed up and they caught the burglars red handed. One of the policemen said to him, 'I thought you said you'd shot them.' George replied, 'I thought you said you were busy.'"
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Lynn and Ralph Capurro celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary last week. Many congrats to them. Liz Mitchell and Tom Strekal celebrated their wedding Sunday ... dare we wish them many children? Ohhhhh, the fleas of a thousand camels will probably infest us now. But, we are very happy for them. And Gerry Ruggeri is REALLY OLD now ... so, Maria O'Neill, Zach Hudson, Steve Zigler and Michael Pielmann will have a lot of catching up to do. Happy Birthday's to all.
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A nugget of information: Did you know that when you're in a new or a rental car that you can look at the dash, see the gas pump icon, and whichever side the handle is located, that's the side the gas tank is on. Wow.
Again ... watch out for trick or treaters tomorrow night. Have fun.
• Carolyn Tate and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Write to them at carolynandmaizie@yahoo.com.