The Slice: Who said meat and chilly don’t go together?

THIS IS THE TIME of year when backyard grilling starts to get interesting. Anybody can cook out in the summer. That’s nothing. But if you’ve ever grilled steaks while wearing a parka, you know that cooking outside in challenging weather can be oddly satisfying. And it gives your coat a nice, smoky aroma.

“Multiple-choice: How does your skin react to the approach of winter?

A) It’s a real-life episode of “Itchy and Scratchy.” B) By doing an imitation of a crustacean. C) Don’t notice any change. D) Prompts the sudden urge to molt. E) By appearing to be in cahoots with the lotions industry. F) Other.

“High-tech terminology takes over: “The other day, my 9-year-old daughter was preparing to take a bath,” wrote Terri Sturgill. “She asked if she could continue to watch her television program while the bathtub finished loading. Cracked me up.”

Maybe when she ejects from her bath, she can grab a towel and log off.

“When trying to seem jocular and/or jaded comes off as stupid: Liz Cox dislikes TV news reporters referring to roadway mishaps as “car vs. pedestrian,” “van vs. train,” et cetera.

“It shows a remarkable lack of sensitivity to those involved,” she wrote. “These are accidents, not lawsuits, political contests or sporting events.”

“Gender studies: Laurelle Gerber recently received a note from her daughter-in-law. It dealt with the arrival of Gerber’s new granddaughter, the first girl in a family of five boys.

Apparently two of the boys, ages 9 and 6, watched their mother change their baby sister’s diaper. And this provided the lads with a lesson in anatomical differences between the sexes.

Their reaction? Well, they kept saying the same thing over and over: “That is so weird!”

(OK, fair enough. But something tells me Little Sister will have a few choice observations on this subject in a few years.)

“Coming Sunday: Santa Claus is scheduled to make several personal appearances in Spokane next week. And in advance of that promotional swing, I’ll catch up with the big guy in a freewheeling Slice Q&A.

“Pet Names Department: When Tom Frisque was about 12, his family had a cat his mom named “Askum.”

“Everyone once in a while someone would fall for it,” he wrote.

The person would inquire about the pet’s name, be told the answer and then turn to the cat: “Well, what’s your name, kitty?”

Another reader told of a young woman who had a dog named “Gramma.” That made it somewhat awkward to step outside and yell for the pet to come home.

“Warm-up question: What Inland Northwest resident is most obsessed with parking perfectly straight in the garage?

“Today’s Slice question: Who around here can be counted on to put on the most ridiculous performance this winter when it comes to wearing flimsy clothing outside in bitterly cold weather?