The Slice Thursday, Friday, Happy Days

Not everyone buys it.

But it’s our theory that for people working traditional job schedules, the weekend starts, psychologically at least, on Thursday.

Face it. The T-shirts aren’t the only make-believe aspect of Friday.

When Marilyn Trail realized that getting what you wanted didn’t guarantee bliss: “It was 1953,” she wrote. “My annual clothing budget: $75. I knew happiness would be mine if I could have the sage green Pendleton pleated skirt and matching cashmere sweater in the window of Moscow’s Parisian. Decision made, budget blown, my anticipated joy melted into misery as I wore it on the first day of school in 100-degree temps.”

Just wondering: What would be a good name for co-workers you encounter infrequently but who never fail to refer to some dumb conversation you had five years ago?

Still dead: Call (601) 232-7282 to find out about “In Search of Elvis,” a conference at the University of Mississippi starting Aug. 6.

Four things to remember: A lot of people didn’t have time to read everything they wanted long before the advent of the Internet. Lou Gehrig will always be in a class by himself. Beach Boys concerts don’t make you young again. And adults who mimic the language in the movie “Clueless” will sound foolish.

Protect and serve: More than 20 million Americans played table tennis at least once in 1994, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. And 19 million of them think that, with a little practice, they could be terrific.

Regarding “Spokane is Loserville”: “Maybe, with the recent influx of folks with ‘an attitude,’ we should have more bumper stickers with the same message.” - Allen Page

There’s a right time and a wrong time to say: “You’re soaking in it.”

Today’s Slice question: What’s the surest sign that someone doesn’t want to hear about your vacation?

, DataTimes MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098.