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The Slice: The classic Idaho-Iowa confusion

Here’s what Frank Werner, a highly regarded artist and decoy maker in St. Maries, has heard more than once when people in other parts of the country learn that he’s from Idaho.

“I got a cousin in Dubuque.”

Let’s move on.

Fishing for fertilizer: “When we moved to Spokane in 1958, my dad ‘Fudge,’ his childhood nickname that stuck, was looking forward to the good fishing,” wrote Barbara Lee. “He came from Utah with a reputation of getting skunked when he fished.

“Our first trip was to Loon Lake. Daddy tied into a big fish and was so pleased with it, but he couldn’t identify the species. When we went back to the marina he proudly marched in holding the fish and asked the person behind the cash register what kind it was.”

The person behind the counter said “Oh, that’s a tench. Cut off its head and toss it back.”

“You have never seen a more deflated look on a fisherman’s face. Mom planted it under her tomatoes, which were great that year.”

Another “elderly” story: “Years ago a co-worker and I went to the pound to see if her dog was there,” wrote Connie Rowland. “We bailed the dog out of jail and returned to work. In the meantime her husband went to the pound and was told that two elderly ladies had claimed the dog. We were in our early thirties! Wonder what he would say now that we are 30 years older.”

Well, maybe he would have wised up by now.

Something I forgot to mention: You know how many computer keyboards have those little flip-down legs at the top that provide a better typing angle? Sure. Well, those plastic legs can be pretty flimsy. Sometimes they snap off.

Time for a new keyboard? Not necessarily. I have found that a hockey puck placed just so beneath the keyboard provides the perfect typing angle. And because it is rubber, it stays in place.

Pucks are available at your better computer supply and sports equipment stores. Or you can always catch one at a Chiefs game.

Don’t mention it. Happy to help.

Today’s Slice question: What event in your past that you would really rather not talk about – because it almost certainly would be dredged up by your opponent – keeps you from running for public office?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Nurses must have to get used to going from being one of the the most important people in a hospital patient’s life to, assuming the patient recovers, being essentially forgotten.

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