The Slice Spokane’s Got Nothing On The Tri-Cities

If you think Spokane residents are defensive, you haven’t spent time around people from the Tri-Cities.

Name density: At Car Works, they’ve got lots of Roberts.

A Peggy Raymond’s business, there are only three other employees and one of them is another Peggy.

The East Side branch of the Spokane Public Library has more than its share of clerks named Susan.

At A Distinctive Edge, just about everybody is a Mike.

The Spokane County Juvenile Court has three Bills, three Rands and two guys named Tom Davis.

At Conley’s Place, they’re loaded with Jennifers and Lindas.

In the payroll office at the Moses Lake School District, there are three Cheryls and one Brenda. Two of the Cheryls are married to guys named Don. “The third Cheryl is currently unattached,” reported Brenda Brittain. “But it has been heavily suggested that she only date men named Don.”

Another reader noted that, at places where employees are summoned over intercoms, Shawns, Johns, Dawns and what-have-you might as well have the same name.

Things former Seattle-area residents miss: Kellogg’s Janice Karst misses, among other things, the radio stations, men and ethnic food.

The Grays of Cusick miss digging clams and smelt dinners but aren’t nostalgic about the rain or traffic.

Another reader said she missed the quality of the Spokane-bashing.

Percentage of local parents who think their kids are too good for the community colleges: “It’s the same percentage of people that dress their little tots up for the fashion show the rest of us call K through 12th grade.” - Rick Nelson, Mead

When you think about it: “Sweater” isn’t really an especially appealing name for a garment.

Spokane would be better off without: Soccer parents who pressure kids’ coaches to abandon everybody-gets-to-play philosophies in favor of a “winning is everything” approach.

Just so you’ll know: Most readers suggesting definitions of “a Spokanehead,” offered decidedly unflattering perspectives on good old Lilacburg. But here’s ours. “A person who thinks newcomers’ gripes prove that this city is terrific.”

Today’s Slice question: When will we know that Scott O’Grady’s 15 minutes of fame are officially up?

, DataTimes MEMO: The Slice appears Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. The one good thing about abs obsession is fewer references to people’s “buns.”