When it comes to building integrity, forewarned is forearmed

KABOOM ... Carolyn knew it was an earthquake ... Maizie thought it felt like a sonic boom. There was a sharp clap, and it seemed like the buildings were leaping off their foundations. Mother Nature, no doubt, is keeping us on our toes and reminding us to be prepared, a good idea after seeing what other tricks she had up her sleeve in the form of Katrina and Ophelia. Contact your local fire department for details on how to be prepared in an emergency ... it's never too early to be ready for a big one. Then the newspaper reported how edgy it made the workers in the Kinkaid Building, and it reminded us of when it was built. and an earthquake hit, the builders all ran out of the building ... so much for building integrity ... forewarned is forearmed ...

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Then we had the "mercury scare," wherein a teaspoon of mercury was released in the nurse's room at Carson High, causing the school to be shut down for a day while it was decontaminated ... Holey Moley! ... no telling how much that cost. Yeah, we know that continued exposure to mercury, whether inhaled or ingested, is extremely dangerous (ditto asbestos), but the government has gone over the edge on some of these things ... remember when you played with mercury as a kid? Watching it roll about and "silvering" quarters and nickels with it. And have we croaked for doing it? No (although now, come to think of it, maybe that's why we're all warped ... hummmm?). Oh well, the cleanups have sparked a "cottage industry" ... we certainly wouldn't want anyone to be put out of work cleaning up that teaspoonful, would we?

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This seems a good place to put in a couple of "uncommon common sense" items ... "Don't name a pig you plan to eat." And, "Don't skinny dip with snapping turtles."

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Della Harmon wrote to us to tell us that Antonia Suarez had her 102nd birthday on Sept. 2 this year (she was born in Mexico in 1903). She still crochets and cross-stitches beautiful items. We hope her birthday was a happy one, and that cake was involved. Maggie Jesse also celebrates a birthday in four days ... Happy birthday, Magoo ...

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We were sorry to see Championship Speedway (formerly T-Car, with the late great Ted Walker, and Silver State Raceway) hold their last races on Saturday ... they were a staple of the community for 42 years, and are being replaced by 500 new homes. Somehow, we don't consider this "progress" ...

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Vern Manke writes that his co-worker Patrick Dillon gave him this one ... "No baseball field will ever be named 'Immodium AD Park.'" Why, you ask? "It would stop the runs before they start." Arrrrrrrgh ...

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Two things coming up this week you might want to go to ... the Sierra In-line Hockey League is holding its signups from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Pony Express Pavilion in Mills Park. For information, dial 882-RINK. Leagues range from 8-and-under up to age 17. Also, the UNR national champions practice at the pavilion on Wednesday evenings ... they're fast and fun to watch ... and you're invited ...

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The Carson City Democratic Women's Club is hosting a Steak Fry & Rally to kick start its 2005-06 campaign season ... $25 per person from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1001 Arrowhead Drive. Space is limited. They will also be collecting items for the 113th AVN "D" Company fueling unit, currently serving in Afghanistan. For information, call 885-9917 or 841-6355, then go and have a good time ...

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We were given a terrific cookie recipe for all to try ... "2 C. butter, 24 oz. chocolate chips, 4 C. flour, 2 C. brown sugar, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt, 2 C. sugar, 1 8 oz. Hershey bar (grated), 5 C. blended oatmeal, 4 eggs, 2 tsp. baking powder, 2 tsp. vanilla, and 3 C. chopped nuts (your choice).

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls, and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes over 100 cookies." Feel free to send us some ...

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"The Foreigner," Proscenium Players first play of its 40th season, is sooooo funny ... first-week patrons loved it, laughed, and said they were coming back. Be sure and call for reservations (883-1976) as they're sure to sell out ... this in spite of a call to the Brewery that "how dare you extol the KKK?" Sorry, lady ... obviously you haven't seen the play ... they're the bad guys ...

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The new Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center is "loooking goood" ... so much so that they're making new commercials ... and Suzanne Lequerica (one of its labor and delivery nurses) is getting to be in one ... can Hollywood be far behind, Suz?

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Speaking of the hospital ... we received some information about new drugs for women ... "Damnitol ... take two and the rest of the world can to hell for up to eight full hours. Emptynestrogen ... suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out. Jackasspirin ... relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number or to put the toilet seat down." Nuff said ...

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