Classic Inland Northwesterner Easily Able To Shrug Off The Slush

It’s just a theory.

But for some time now, we have believed that you can tell how well-suited a person is for life in the Inland Northwest by observing that individual’s reaction to slush.

It’s pretty simple, really. If someone takes slush more or less in stride, chances are he or she is sure-fire INW material.

But on the other hand, an individual frustrated and flustered by slush might want to consider relocation. Or at least wearing different shoes.

Calling ‘em as she sees ‘em: “Every once in a while (especially when mom is gone) our family will have what we call ‘Fend for yourself’ dinner,” wrote a man we’ll just refer to as Amy’s dad.

You know the drill. Fix whatever you want for yourself.

The one exception in their household is that the father in question prepares something for the aforementioned Amy because she’s still pretty young.

Anyway, one recent night when her mom was not around, Amy had a question for her dad. And it made him wonder if she was commenting on his culinary skills. “Is tonight defend for yourself night?”

Hearing things: We were in line at a Spokane grocery store over the weekend when a guy who was one of the sackers strolled up and addressed a young woman at a cash register. “So,” he said, “you don’t get high anymore?”

That got our attention. We were all ears.

But in seconds it became clear that the young man had actually said, “You don’t say ‘Hi’ anymore?”

And we felt free to resume minding our own business.

Most overused words in Spokane: literally, awesome, you bet, pothole, if only, money, critic, Spokane, Cougars and naysayer were among readers’ nominations.

Learning “guy talk” from someone named Amber: Every once in a while, we seem to forget that it’s the ‘90s. Here’s a case in point.

On Sunday, we needed to purchase a bulb for a car headlight. So we drove to an auto parts store. And as we headed into that establishment, we envisioned a testosterone-fueled world of man talk and guy stuff.

But once inside, we were waited on by two young women. Both were cheerful and knowledgeable. And we felt utterly no urge to compete with either of them in the realm of car-parts expertise.

We would have lost.

Today’s Slice questions: What would happen if a Spokane area lawyer dressed for work like TV’s Ally McBeal?

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Drawing

MEMO: The Slice appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098. There’s nothing like travel to remind you of this area’s strengths and shortcomings.