'Off the cuff' just doesn't mean what it used to

Why was anyone surprised by President Bush's "off the cuff" rehearsals with our troops in Iraq? The cameras caught his representatives "rehearsing" all the "spontaneous" questions to be asked the president ... so they were not "off the cuff" at all.

Just like the ticketed Republican campaign stops around the country prior to the elections where Democrats were not allowed in because then there really would have been "off the cuff" questions, not ones that were prepared and rehearsed for ahead of time. It's "business as usual" by this administration ... so, why was anyone surprised?

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A friend of Carolyn's, whom she had not seen or heard from in 25 years, recognized her picture in the paper and wrote to her. Now if they can just get together for lunch to relive their riotous times together ... good stuff ...

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"Elizabethtown" starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst is making the rounds as the next best blockbuster, if you are to believe the ads. But as Maizie can tell you, the people of Elizabethtown, Ky., are probably groaning already ... they all call it "E-town," never Elizabethtown. Maizie knows these things, because Fort Knox always played E-town in basketball (in the "old days" when she was a cheerleader there) ...

Speaking of basketball (loosely, that is) ... Vern Manke was mulling over old age the other day and came to the conclusion that it's "when you still have something on the ball, but you're just too tired to bounce it."

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Hooray ... Adam Houghton (a candidate for Homecoming King at CHS this past weekend) will be coming to the town's rescue and revitalizing the "C" on C Hill. He had the idea before we mentioned it and will do it for his "C-nior" project (sorry, we can't help ourselves) ... Thanks, Adam, we can hardly wait to "C" it ... (save your boooos for Hallowe'en)

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And the fans at the recent CHS vs. North Valleys and South Tahoe football games should be congratulated. Good sportsmanship was shared by all ... everyone clapped at the homecoming queen and king candidates, as well as the floats. And for our homecoming game, the stands were full ... so, fans, you are appreciated for being there and supporting your team.

Wooster is here at home this weekend at 7:30 p.m ... .so come on out and enjoy the fun (and the Boosters' and Penny Reynolds' classes good food) ... PS: we love the dancing tuba team ... and the cheerleaders this year are actually leading cheers ... rah!

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Bits and pieces ... you can feed the birds again without fear of spreading diseases ... just rinse the feeders with a bleach solution, dry, and fill the feeders again. The first frost kills off the bad stuff and it's safe for the birds now. The OH is looking good on the outside ... but the inside is still empty ... did the pyramids take this long? Mary Ann Jennings wants to know what became of peoples' sense of humor? She (and we) think people are losing theirs all the time. Too bad ... pretty soon, nothing will be funny because its not "politically correct."

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More of same: Do people who chew gum know how they look in public? Sort of like a cow chewing its cud. All they need is a piece of hay sticking out of their mouths to complete the picture. Carolyn found a new coffee shop, "Cafe Rico Coffee Roaster," in the Frontier Plaza ... good coffee and nice people. And Happy 18th Birthday to Ryan Jesse today, and his "Aunt Hallowe'en" in three days ... (NOT her 18th) ... they'd better go Trick or Treating together if they want presents ...

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Mel Rappaport sent us some advice on "How to Treat a Woman" ... "Wine her, dine her, call her, hold her, give her jewelry, buy her flowers, go to the ends of the earth and back for her (to name a few) ... " He also sent "How to Treat a Man" ... "Show up naked, bring chicken wings and beer, don't block the TV ... "

Sooooo, while we're on the subject of "romance" ... we heard the tale of a young lady here in town who is smitten with an "older" man (14 vs. 17) ... seems he told her he really adores her, she's a hotty, just his type, etc. When her mother checked into his blog on the web, she found he had written the same things to about 10 other girls. When she confronted her daughter, the daughter looked at her and said, "Well, he MEANS them when he talks to me." Right. Guess some things just have to be learned the hard way ... aaaaaargh ...

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The Carson City Symphony is presenting "A Celebration of Horses" concert on Sunday at the Carson City Community Center at 4 p.m., starring Lacy J. Dalton. Tickets are $20 general; $15 seniors, students and CCSA members 16 and under free. For information (including a "Meet the Soloist" party) call 883-4154.

The CC Symphony is also sponsoring a "Strings in the Schools" program ... they provide after-school, tuition-free, beginning violin lessons for students in grades two through five, plus a string orchestra for more advanced students in all grades. Again, call 883-4154 for information. They had expected about 25 students this year, but, already enrollment is up to 83. What an opportunity for aspiring musicians ... and kudos to the Carson City Symphony and instructor Sue Kitts ...

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We want to urge the Carson City School system to take Nevada Appeal publisher John DiMambro's suggestion that they paper every school with the "before and after" pictures of meth users, showing what it does to people after using it. Particularly, look at their mouths, "meth mouth" ... red gums, rotting teeth, smelly breath ... just what everyone wants to look like ... want a date, babe?

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Sherry Hester sent us questions about why, in movies, you can always find a parking place in front of the place you are going to ... or if you decide to dance in the streets, everyone you bump into will know all the steps ... (more next week) ...

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