Kennedy shifts jobs for a spell

You missed the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre stage debut of Councilman Mike Kennedy & Son, if you hung out at Car d’Lane rather than attending “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” production June 19. I was center stage, fourth row, when Mike, Will and two other audience members were called to the stage to spell words for the mock bee along with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre cast members. Mike and Will bounced, danced (term loosely used here), and spelled as part of the fun play based on – as the name indicates – a spelling bee. Mike nailed his first two words, including “Mexican,” before he tripped up on “muntjac” (a small jungle deer of Southeast Asia and the East Indies). Will outlasted his dad by a coupla words, including “cow.” But couldn’t figure out a made-up one that started with “hippo” and proceeded for 12 to 15 letters shortly before intermission. Dad bought Will a cookie for his efforts during the break. But reneged on the $50 that Will said they’d bet on the outcome of the bee. As far as Mike’s acting goes … ah … he should stick to his day job.

Ring loses shine

Ryan Brodwater, of Coeur d’Alene, joined his buddy Boggs to search for music gear – and maybe the meaning of life – at Axel’s Pawn Shop on Spokane’s Sprague Avenue recently. A couple in the shop had more pressing needs. The guy approached the man behind the counter, holding his motorcycle helmet. Sez he: “Any chance we can sell this helmet? We need to get milk. And cigarettes.” The clerk wasn’t interested because the shop was “loaded up on helmets.” After exchanging a frantic look with her partner, the woman interrupted: “How about my wedding ring?” The clerk gandered at the gem and agreed to the sale. Which prompted the husband to exclaim: “That’s perfect! Now I can still ride my motorcycle!” Seems that diamond ring didn’t shine for them any more.

Huckleberries

’Tis hard to beat the Father’s Day gift that Keith Erickson’s wife gave him – a $5 Idaho scratch ticket, with an Aerosmith theme, that won him $500 at a local convenience store. It certainly beats a necktie. (And for those keeping score at home, an Aerosmith tune was playing on Keith’s radio when he picked up his loot) … Shelly Cunnington considered herself doubly blessed on her 44th birthday this month when she spent two hours by herself on the Fernan Lake dock, watching the sun rise – and a moose, a doe and two bald eagles across the way … Mike Freeman, meanwhile, considered himself doubly blessed on his 41st birthday last weekend as he invited family and friends to help him eat 75 pounds of crawdads, shipped from Louisiana for the occasion. Hold your “ee-yews.” Freeman, the co-owner of Caruso’s in Post Falls, has Louisiana roots, and the family Freeman considers the “mud bugs” to be a mouth-watering delicacy. BTW, a true Louisianan sucks the crawdad’s head after he’s eaten the meat. Now, you can “ee-yew” … Huckleberries Online poll: 85 percent of my online readers disagreed with the Post Falls mother who thinks that the Idaho Meth Project billboard on Spokane Street is too graphic … Quotable Quote (from Dustin Ainsworth): “I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.”

Parting shot

Scofflaws aren’t getting away with as much as they once did, in this era of cell phones. Take the three punks in the passenger car who hit a Ross Point Road jogger with a water balloon as they passed by this month – please. Before the delinquents had reached Seltice Way, the jogger had called Post Falls police with the description of their vehicle and license plate number. The police knew the identity of the registered owner and where at least one of the punks lived moments later. They were waiting for Larry, Curly, & Moe when they arrived home. Book ’em, Dano.