The Slice: That’s a lot of reading to digest

Let’s start with a salute to the dog days of summer. Julianne Dickelman and Larry Maes have a 10-year-old black Lab named Mick. This pooch doesn’t like being left behind when the couple step out for a rare evening on the town.

“Occasionally he shows his displeasure by eating something he shouldn’t,” said Dickelman.

In the past, he has consumed financial papers, lipstick and money, among other things.

Well, the other night Dickelman and Maes went out. And as a protest, Mick did his thing.

“He consumed all but 10 pages of a 40-page booklet on colon cleansing,” said Dickelman.

There’s more.

“It seems to be working.”

•When the words come out wrong: Spokane Valley’s Gordon and Judy Landberg were watching TV and heard Irish actress Roma Downey tell a talk-show host that she might have a “wee drop” of spirits to celebrate a special occasion.

The next night, the Landbergs had company over for dinner. And Gordon got up, raised his glass and declared, “I think I’ll have a weenie drip.”

OK, but there’s really no need to announce it.

•More misspeaking: North Idaho’s MaryBelle Thompson has a friend who described a groom as wearing “a white tux with a blue concubine.”

The bride must have been pretty open-minded.

•Slice answers: Among the things readers would like to be able to routinely buy in Spokane are Romero’s tortillas, Green Mountain Coffee, Martha White and White Lily flour, Wisconsin-style Danish kringle, greater variety of fresh seafood, Popeye’s Chicken, Canadian magazines, Butte-style pasties, Sister Schubert’s rolls, Streets of New York pizza, “a ticket to a GOOD Broadway production,” “a decent house in a decent neighborhood for under $80,000,” several things at In-N-Out Burger, sauerkraut as a pizza topping, “tickets to a good zoo or aquarium,” wider variety/more accessible gluten-free items, dinner at a Red Lobster that doesn’t require crossing a state line, Corky’s BBQ and Dunkin’ Donuts.

•Whadja say: “Pat and I are wondering if other couples carry on serious conversations while brushing their teeth with Sonicare toothbrushes,” wrote a reader named Margie.

•Slice answer (visually impaired swimming): “I am very nearsighted, with the blur starting at about arm’s length,” wrote Dennis DeMattia.

Several years ago, he went snorkeling at a Club Med in Tahiti. The conditions were perfect, but he couldn’t really see much.

The fact that it was a topless beach only heightened his frustration.

“As soon as I got back, I purchased a swim mask with prescription lenses,” he said.

•Today’s Slice question: What changed at your workplace while you were away on vacation?