The Slice: A big day got bigger and bigger

I‘m not sure if this is a hat trick, a trifecta or what.

But North Side residents Earle and Grace Bassett, who are in their 80s, have three children who celebrate birthdays today.

No, they aren’t triplets. The three were born in 1946, 1958 and 1962.

The younger Earle lives north of Deer Park. Stuart is in the Chattaroy area. And Kerri is in Mead.

Five additional Bassett kids were born on other days.

That’s still a .375 batting average for Feb. 27. Any baseball fan could tell you, that is impressive.

“Administrative reminder: It is important to note your number when leaving me a phone message. That’s so I can call back and politely explain that you don’t know what you are talking about. Otherwise I am tempted to waste valuable space in print with declarations such as, “Yes, I know Lou Grant was a Minneapolis television guy on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’ but he was a Los Angeles newspaper editor in the spin-off show ‘Lou Grant.’ ”

“Slice answer: Spokane Valley’s Patty Fay said, yes, kids still make “the crowd goes wild” sounds when playing sports by themselves.

“My brother, now 45 years old, used to do that,” she wrote. “And now my son, 8 years old, does it all the time.”

“Pet peeves: Diana Lawson is not a fan of commercials employing fake Australian accents.

Sidney Blmoquist can’t stand it when people use the word “venue” to describe an agenda or a list of coming events.

“Changing our minds: Foods that readers hated as children but now love included Brussels sprouts, asparagus, green peppers, anchovies and “anything with curry.”

“From Friday: I asked readers to suggest titles for the truth-stretching George Harrison-in-Spokane movie I outlined. Here are some of the suggestions.

“Pre-Fab.” — Deborah Chan

“George in Washington.” — Jim Tate

“I Want to Hold Spokane.” — Mike Gentry

“Saturday’s Slice competition: I’m declaring Pam Stark of Spokane and Betsy Rainsford of Omak co-winners in the contest to see who could do the best job of performing the key lines from that old Anacin commercial.

“Mother, please! I’d rather do it myself.”

Both women were so good it was scary.

An honorable mention goes to Rob Golden, who got in touch with his feminine side long enough to turn in an excellent rendition.

“Today’s Slice question: Do you have street cred?