The Slice: Music to our ears

Here’s my theory.

Most of those in Spokane who have arguably annoying voices are never considered irritating because they are adored in their circle of acquaintances.

Let’s move on.

How to know it’s really autumn: We hear a lot about fall colors and the dip in temperature. But for Tim Crabb, the real sign that the seasons have changed is the way the air smells at night.

I think I know what he means. It’s not just detecting the scent of woodsmoke from distant fireplaces. It’s as if the last of verdant summer is silently saying goodbye.

Speaking of the seasons: Patricia Speelmon Crawford told me about a columnist in Western Washington who looks to woolly caterpillars for long-range meteorological forecasts.

That sounds good. But what evidence could we consult over here? I’ll let you pick.

A) Count the number of empty wine bottles outside a marmot’s den. B) Chart your cat’s weight gain. C) You’ll know it will be a rough winter when a crow turns to you and says, “Hey Hitchcock, better button up.” D) If you put a huckleberry pie out on the window sill to cool, and a rare borderlands caribou helps himself to it, we’re in for a long winter. E) Other.

Spotting license plates: “I work at Kootenai County DMV,” wrote Sheryl McPherson of Post Falls. “I see a lot of Hawaii, but never the District of Columbia. Do they even have a plate?”

Yes, they do, Sheryl. Sadly, it doesn’t say “The other Washington.”

Today’s Slice question: How would “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game” have been different if all the contestants had been from the Spokane area?

A) More questions about field dressing an elk. B) “Cindy, what would Bob say is the one thing you’ll never do in bed … at least while wearing hiking boots?” C) More questions about camping, B-52s and restoring vintage cars. D) “Carl, when Earlene is at a yard sale, what dollar amount would she regard as ‘too spendy’ for a used set of mismatched snow tires?” E) Apple maggot quarantine jokes and double-entendre references to “the rig.” F) “Bachelor No. 3, if we went to a football game on our date, would you yell obscenities at the referee in an attempt to impress me?” G) Other.

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Rick McCay said the worst thing about the diminishing hours of daylight is having to head your boat for shore so much earlier than in summer.