The Slice: The good, bad and ugly of Spokane d’Alene

No doubt you read about Spokane and Coeur d’Alene being combined statistically to form one of the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country.

Sure. But it does make you wonder. How many junk cars, unlicensed dogs and mountain-man beards do they have in metro areas 101-200?

Of course, as someone who occasionally wears jeans to work, still can’t figure out the River Park Square elevators and hates every airport except ours, maybe I should just pipe down.

Sunday contest: I’m not a dancer, at least not since I was about 14. I am not bragging about this. It’s just the way things are.

But this spring, when going from my back porch to the trash barrel or to the detached garage, I have found myself on several occasions doing a few extemporaneous rumba steps.

You see, I’d rather not tromp on any slugs.

So here’s the thing. Slug season might be about over. But if we have another rainy spring next year, I want to be prepared. And by that I mean I want to be able to quote a few lines from movies about dancing as I hop and stumble from the porch to the garage.

So I will send a coveted reporter’s notebook to at least one reader suggesting a line from a film that I can recite as I traverse the patio.

Good luck. I can tell you right now, though, you won’t win by submitting “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” from “Dirty Dancing.”

My goal is to entertain my neighbor’s cat, not make the slugs roll their eyes.

Just wondering: Are lifeguards like cops in that the job almost forces them to adopt a somewhat cynical perspective on human nature?

Street names as destiny: “Our granddaughter Madelynne was sure her ‘Papa’ bought our home on Madeline Lane because it was named after her,” wrote Bekki Sherwood. “ Papa’ would do just about anything for her, so I guess it makes perfect sense. Especially if you are 4 at the time.”

Today’s Slice question: In the Inland Northwest, is a farmer tan a reliable predictor of how someone will vote?