A different view of the State of the Union

By Carolyn Tate and Maizie Harris Jesse

For the Appeal

According to President George W. Bush, things were pretty rosy in his State of the Union speech a week ago Monday. "We will spread the hope of freedom" to the world, will "deliver justice to our enemies," will defeat al Qaida, expand the tremendously successful No Child Left Behind act, will have peace between Israel and Palestine, etc., etc., etc. All very nice, indeed. Somewhere, however, he forgot to mention that five of our troops were killed by an IED in Mosul the day before, or that the Taliban is back in force, or that our future generations will be paying and paying and paying for the policies he has formulated during his "reign." He also promised a "balanced budget" by 2012. However, probably nobody cares, since the Mayan calendar and Nostradamus predict the end of the world that year. C'est la vie. Place a bet, George?

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The President of the Mormon Church passed away last week, as did the Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church. If we were the Pope, we'd go into hiding, 'cause don't these things go in threes?

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There was an interesting story in the paper about the volunteers helping the Fernley flood victims. Seems the volunteers are working hard, along with many of the affected families. However, they mentioned that some homeowners there have refused help, and are letting their homes, as well as their pictures and valuables, sit and rot because of "legal advice." So while some people are working hard to recover, there are others who are sitting tight, watching their things deteriorate and get moldy, while they wait for some class-action suit to take place. We hope it's worth it. Guess who pays for it in the end? And a big "hoorah" for the volunteers and those who choose to make the best of things and fix what they can. They are the people we admire. Nina Bailey writes us that they still can use help.

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Patty and Woody Sharpe told us about the following: "After living in the wilderness of Kentucky all his life, an old hillbilly decided it was time to visit the big city. In one of the stores, he picks up a mirror and looks in it. Never having seen one before, he looks at the image staring back at him and thinks, 'How about that? It's a picture of my Daddy.' He bought the mirror, but on the way home remembered his wife didn't like his father, so he hung it in the barn and every morning he'd go out and look at it. The wife began to get suspicious of his many trips to the barn, so, one morning after he left, she searched the barn and found the mirror. As she looked into the glass, she fumed, 'So that's the ugly b**** he's been runnin' around with.'"

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Several theater functions are going on this week. Tonight, Proscenium Players is sponsoring a free "Myth-busting Shakespeare" lecture at 7 p.m. in the Brewery Arts Center ballroom, featuring Eric Rassmussen and James Mardock, both Shakespearean scholars/experts/actors. It's a fun prelude to their "Romeo and Juliet," which will show later in the season (883-1976). Also tickets are on sale for their third production, "When You Comin' Back Red Ryder?" that opens Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. (no late admissions) with their fabled opening night party. This play won many awards, takes place in a diner, and exposes the souls of the people it introduces. It is for adults only, because of the theme and language, but is an excellent piece of theater (also 883-1976). Then Western Nevada College Musical Theater will present "Annie Get Your Gun." It opens this weekend at the Community Center with lots of wonderful and familiar songs ("You can't get a man with a gun," etc.), and this one is good for kids. Call 445-4249 for details and times. Wild Horse Children's Theater presents "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" starting Saturday, Feb. 23. This is an interactive story for toddlers ages 1-5, at 9 a.m. (887-0438 for information). It will take place at the Children's Museum and should be a blast for the tiny ones.

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Good wishes and prayers are requested to go out to Monte Fast of F.I.S.H. who is under the weather again ... we hope he feels better soon. And happy birthdays are wished to Larry Wright, Ron Saunders and Monte Lee ... older and better? Wiser? Who knows? And thanks to Bonnie Ryan, who shared a joke from her husband's veterans magazine ... unfortunately, we'd used it a while back ... but, believe us, we appreciated her keeping us in mind. We have a dearth of jokes sometimes with DeeAnn Parsons gone, so need any help we can get (don't even bother with the comments here).

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JoAnn Gardner came through, however, with the following: "Sister Marie (she's baaaack) opened a letter from her parents one evening and found a $100 bill. As she was smiling, she noticed a very shabby stranger outside the convent window leaning against the lamp post. Without a moment's thought, she wrote a note that said, 'Don't Despair. Sister Marie,' enclosed the note and the $100 and ran outside and gave it to the man. The stranger looked at her, tipped his hat and went off down the street. The next day, Sister was told there was a man at the door, insisting upon seeing her. She went to the door and found the stranger waiting. Without a word, he handed her a wad of $100 bills. 'What's this?' she asked. 'That's the $8,000 you have coming, Sister,' he replied. 'Don't Despair paid 80-to-1 in the ninth.'" She wishes.

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The Carson City Arts Initiative is presenting Galen Brown's "Waves: Lines and Rhythm" in an exhibition preview and reception for the artist on Thursday, 5-7 p.m., at the Carson City Courthouse Gallery at 885 E. Musser Street. This is free and open to the public. Mr. Brown's work will be on display there from Feb. 8-May 23. A treat for all and a great way to meet the artist.

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Barb Gregg, C's cousin from Idaho, sent us this one: "An elderly couple were entertaining two friends for dinner. After dinner, the wives went into the kitchen, while the host began telling his guest about the great restaurant they'd gone to the night before. 'What's the name of it?' the guest asked. The host thought a minute and said, 'What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know, the one that has thorns?' 'Do you mean a rose?' the guest asked. 'Yes, that's the one.' He then turned to the kitchen and yelled, 'Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to last night?'" Have a great week.

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We forgot: Ash Wednesday is tomorrow, Ev Jesse is 26 today, not 25, and the Giants won! Now, have a great week!

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