The Slice: Is it OK to ignore this stuff?

I’m wondering.

Does declining an invitation to join an online social/business network tend to end your real-life relationship with the person wanting to include you? Or does no one ever say “no” to these things?

OK, let’s move on.

•Walk-in-prospects: “We don’t give out doggy treats at my workplace, but maybe we should,” wrote Shelley Davis.

She works in an optometry office near an animal clinic. It’s not unusual for people to get confused and enter the vision clinic with their pets.

“We assure them that it happens a lot. But it’s hard to resist the urge to suggest they might benefit from an eye exam.”

•Random act: Colville’s Shannon Hensley was mailing several boxes to a military family overseas. The postage came to $44.

A woman behind her in line asked if the packages were going to someone in the service. When Hensley said that they were, the stranger handed over a $20 bill to help pay the postage.

“I nearly burst into tears,” wrote Hensley.

•E-mail your photo to The Slice: Do you have any pictures of kids in your family freaking out on Santa’s lap?

•Chance of rain: Ever been surprised by a seemingly incongruous weather update when you forget that you recorded the show you’re watching several weeks ago?

•Re: the reader who mistakenly signed “Love” on a Christmas card to her accountant: “I’m an accountant and, hey, we need love too,” wrote Peggy Rolando.

•In case you had forgotten: The official Web site for the city of Trail, B.C., notes that “Full USA and international air service” is available from Spokane International Airport.

•There are loyal readers and then there are loyal readers: North Sider Irma Henricksen does her best to make sense of The Slice, even when words are missing from the column because her little dog, Sammy, has mauled the newspaper.

•Misspeaking: A Slice reader was talking with a friend about reports of middle-aged women getting pregnant and having twins. The friend said she suspected “fraternity” drugs were involved.

She probably meant “fertility.”

•Slice salute: Spokane Valley’s Maybelle Wendler, who is 97, let her S-R subscription expire earlier this month because her eyesight no longer allows her to read the newspaper.

She had been a subscriber for 78 years.

Thank you, Mrs. Wendler.

•Today’s Slice question: Don’t you love teenagers who do not pretend to be impervious to cold?