Don't forget to make a difference on Saturday

Kudos to the WNC crew that went out to Fernley on Saturday to help muck out some of the houses. Organized by Vice President Helaine Jesse, about 35 people (the entire baseball team, the coaches, Pat Devereux and the Dean Heller family) went out there and worked 'til they dropped. The people they helped were grateful, and the WNC crew felt warm and tuckered out. Great day! And, thanks.

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Don't forget the caucuses on Saturday. Call the Secretary of State's Office if you didn't write down where you should go. Republicans start at 9 a.m., Democrats at 11 a.m. This is your chance to state your feelings and make a difference. Big day for Nevada.

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A "military joke" for our military friends from Vern Manke: "On some air bases the Air Force is on one side of the field and civilian aircraft use the other side, with the control tower in the middle. One day, the tower received a call from an aircraft asking, 'What time is it?' The tower asked, 'Who is calling?' "What difference does it make?' asked the pilot? The tower replied, 'A lot ... if it's an American Airlines flight, it's 3 o'clock. If it's an Air Force plane, it's 1500 hours. If it's Navy, it's 6 bells, and if it's Army, the big hand is on the 12 and the little hand is on the 3 (ouch!). If it's a Marine Corps plane, it's Tuesday afternoon, and it's 120 minutes to 'Happy Hour.'" Semper fi.

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And speaking of military planes, Steve Wassner sent M a story on the "Amazin' Maizie," a flying fortress flown during WWII and named after a Maizie Ann Harding of Oklahoma by her husband, the pilot, Maj. Ed Harding, Jr. Seems she had more wing changes than any other plane during the war, but always came home no matter what the damage (and there was plenty during the raids over Germany). In doing so, she had 68 consecutive missions without a turn back due to mechanical failure ... also due to a "good crew and good luck." M thinks it's a great story.

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Well, the crazies are out again. A reader called in and told us about some obscenities scrawled on an Obama sign in town. That, added to the sheriff's log of someone calling the Obama office and threatening it, is a sign that the idiots are out in force again during this campaign season. It's too bad these people don't have a life ... sort of like the ones who are vile and vicious over the Internet. None of them come right out and say who they are, nor do they have a good word to say about anybody ... cowards and destructionists, all. It's one thing to disagree with someone, but quite another to smear him or her just for the sake of "feeling big." Lame, really lame.

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Happy birthdays go out to a lot of people: Mike Greco, the "amazing" Reed Lequerica (per his grandmother, Whatsername),Anna Montagano, Ed Cordisco and, of course, the late Martin Luther King Jr., who was born on this day and died too soon. We wonder how he would see the world today if he still lived. We think his "dream" is still a work in progress.

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Great concert coming up Friday at the Brewery Arts Center's Performance Hall. The Mile High Jazz Band and the Carson High Jazz Band are joining forces at 8 p.m. to benefit the CHS band trip to the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Call 883-1976, be a part of this fun event, and take in some fine music as you do so. There will also be more jazz every Wednesday of this month at Comma Coffee (883-2662) beginning at 7:30 p.m. ... Carson City's answer to "N'Olins."

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You also can see the BAC Stage Kids presentation of "Cinderella" at the BAC Don Reynold's Theater beginning Friday at 7 p.m., and continuing for two weekends, with matinees to boot. Wonderful story and great for kids and adults alike. Again, call 883-1976 for details. Enjoy Cinderella, the Prince, meece (you know what we mean) all singing their hearts out. What fun.

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Connie Lord strikes again with the story of an Amish boy and his father: "Seems they went to a mall for the first time and were intrigued by a silver wall opening and shutting mysteriously. 'What is it, father,' the boy asked? 'I don't know,' the father replied. Just then, a little old lady in a wheelchair rolled up, punched a button, and the 'wall' opened again. She went inside, and the doors closed. The man and boy watched as a series of numbers went up, held a minute, then started coming down again. As they reached '1,' the doors opened, and a gorgeous young blonde came out. Not taking his eyes off the woman, the father leaned over to his son and said, 'Go get your mother.'"

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Auditions are being held by the Carson Valley Community Theatre for an original show called "Sounds of Broadway" Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Minden's Carson Valley Inn, lower level, and on Saturday at 9 a.m. Call Norris Edson at 782-3670 if you can sing and "vant to be a schtar." Auditions are also being held tomorrow night at the Carson Senior Center for their "Senior Follies" at 5:30 p.m. For more details, call Barbara at 883-0703.

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The Madam, and her sister, Dorothy Tate, went to the new Firkin & Fox this past weekend and took in the ambiance (which was grand), and had great crab cakes and fish and chips, delivered by the "charming, fun and sweet" Tom Cook (otherwise known as their waiter). Guess they liked it. Sorta kinda.

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Is there any point in mention the Ormsby House anymore? It looks great from the outside, but, oh, the time it's taking. About the same for El Pollo Loco on East William. A person could starve to death before they both open (fat chance ... although we're betting on the chicken place first).

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Michelle Olson sent us some wit and wisdom from "Larry, the Cable Guy:" "A day without sunshine is ... like night." "On the other hand ... you have different fingers." "Support bacteria ... they're the only culture some people have." "Inside every old person is a young one wondering, 'What the hell happened?'" "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese." And, one to end on, "When everything is coming your way ... you're in the wrong lane."

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