Nobody asked us, but ...

A little known military secret is being revealed here today ... so secret, in fact, that we don't think the military is aware of it. Now, there have been many brave souls who've fought for our country, but have you ever heard of the midget divisions?

We hadn't either until we found out about them at a wedding reception in the VFW hall in Reno.

A friend, all 6-foot-5 of him, remarked that "you'd have to be a midget to fit in that hall."

At first glance, the building looks only slightly taller than the surrounding ground ... and he thought he'd be stooped over the whole time ... until he got closer and saw it was a basement without a first floor ... no problem. No "little people" divisions, no mystery after all ... darn, we thought we were onto something ... ssssssh, RH, you need new glasses ... (in the interests of national security, we are only using initials).

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Short news flashes: Donald Trump ... get a haircut. Michael Jackson and Kobe Bryant ... who cares?

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Way to go, Luke Schober ... he's the 18-year-old Albertson's employee who discovered and returned over $88,000 in money and checks to someone who'd left them in a cart at the store. He made lots of people feel good, knowing there are honest people out there, when most of the time we only hear about the bad ... A really good guy...

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And our hearts go out to the Blank and Smith families of South Lake Tahoe.

They met tragedy on a St. Teresa's eighth grade basketball trip to California, when a rogue wave knocked Michael Blank, Jr., 14, into the sea and Phillip Smith went out to get him. In doing so, Smith did save another student, Jonathan Camello, but was drowned by another rogue wave as he went after Michael.

Michael was described as a great kid, and Smith was a true hero, giving his life for others ... it shows we should never take life for granted ... and that people we love can be taken from us at any time ... maybe take a moment, drop those families a note (c/o St. Teresa's Catholic Church, 1041 Lyons Ave., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150) ... and appreciate the people in your life ...

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If you're tired of football and couldn't care less about the Super Bowl on Feb. 1, call Mary Thorson at the Greenhouse Garden Center at 882-8600 to have a good ol' time on that Sunday by attending "How to Spruce Up your Home during the Winter." It's free, and both ladies and gentlemen are invited to reserve a seat ... Don't know why they'd think of us, though ... they want "ladies" ... Not sure we always fit into that category ... somebody told us "broads" would be more appropriate ... phooey ...

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Do you know where your child is? We had a report that several teenagers hang out after curfew (15 and under,10 p.m.; 16-18, midnight ... per Carson Municipal Code) on school nights, smoking and wandering around downtown ... bet they're the straight A students who'll end up being doctors ... care to wager?

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Thanks to Nancy and Rex Johnson for their kind words (yeah, some people like us without being paid) ... It's also nice to hear that Betty Ryser's back in town ... Thanks to MSNBC in Seattle for the story on the streakers who left their clothes in their warm car when they went streaking, only to find out their car was stolen when they ran out to get in it... giggle, giggle ... tickled our fancy ... probably theirs too ....

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Who says we're not on the cutting edge with "how to" suggestions? When Carolyn's girls, Kim and Susie, were little, Carolyn would make raincoats out of garbage bags and galoshes out of bread bags, held up by rubber bands ... which the girls would tear off immediately when they got around the corner. Absolutely no appreciation for great ideas from a great mind ... See if she dresses you in flour bags for work this year ...

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A tip for restaurants in town ... it's nice you keep your glass table tops clean by disinfecting them after each guest leaves ... but please don't spray the adjoining tables at the same time ... a dusting of "409" or "Mr. Clean" on our food is not considered an extra "topping."

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"Gung Hay Fat Choy" (have a happy and prosperous new year) to all our Chinese friends this week ...

Carolyn DeMar and Maizie Harris Jesse are longtime Carson City residents. Contact them at editor@nevadaappeal.com.