Huckleberries: Sending sky lantern aloft not welcome, on two fronts

Coeur d’Alene Councilman Dan Gookin has a message for whoever launched a sky lantern that landed, deflated, behind a rear car tire in his Fortgrounds ’hood: “Now if you and your guests don’t mind driving around Coeur d’Alene today picking up your mess, it would be appreciated.”

Firefighters who battled wildland fires (known in the old days as “wildfires”) in steep terrain near Avista’s dam at Post Falls and the Mica Bay area on Lake Coeur d’Alene recently would appreciate your support, too.

Cuppa joe & thou

What quality moment did people watcher Kevin Taylor experience with his coffee recently? Facebooks Kevin: “A woman in a little black dress and ankle-strapped black pumps comes striding briskly past, one hand cocked up and fondling the back of her up-do, a tracery of tree branches tattooed over her left shoulder and back. Grabs her order and just as briskly strides out. ‘Thanks, baby,’ gets one worker. ‘Hey, biscuit,’ gets the other.” Such things happen when you stop and smell the French roast … Mary Souza, a critic of all things Coeur d’Alene City Hall who’s known for harsh attacks on political foes, expects “absurd personal attacks” in her run for mayor. So said she in a recent newsletter. File that one under “What Goes Around Comes Around” Dept. … State schools Superintendent Tom Luna received a tea party razzberry of sorts when he arrived late at the Coeur d’Alene Library on Thursday to address an audience hostile to Common Core education standards. “Hey, Tom!” Constitutionalist Ray Writz yelled out. “You’re late and you’re pushing something we don’t want.” And that was a high point.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: The Bard of Sherman Avenue honors “Sparrows” with this rhyme: “The sparrow is a humble bird // but his progeny are many, // and thus you’ll often see a bunch // – but you’ll rarely see not any” … In the ultimate exercise in futility, anti-Obama zealots will man/woman I-90 overpasses from Post Falls to Wallace on Tuesday, calling for the impeachment of President Barack Obama. Two shifts are available – 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. for early birds and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. for afternoon commuters. Seems the Overpassers have gotten over their obsession with prez Obama’s birth certificate. Or not … That wasn’t Muzak in the air at the Post Falls Car Wash Plaza last week when Leah Sottile of the Inlander visited. The speakers blared The Doors’ “The End.” Tweets Leah: “Wasn’t expecting that.” Jim Morrison’s music lives on more than twice as long as he did … Separated at Birth – Amy Evans, Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership president and City Council candidate, and Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan? … Idaho is first in the percentage of breastfeeders, 10th in imprisoning its residents and last or almost last in too many categories involving education and dealing with poor people. Anyone care to read the tea leaves? … A man really was walking a ferret in a pet harness on the Centennial Trail near the Highway 95/Spokane River bridge Wednesday morning. You weren’t hung over … Popular Hudson’s Hamburgers in downtown Coeur d’Alene has earned two more media accolades – from The Elucid Gent (one of five best burgers in USA) and Sunset mag (“Top 77 road food spots”). Elucid Gent, with 11,248 Facebook fans, reports Hudson’s is a terrific antidote for Idaho’s “cultural desert.” TEG probably doesn’t like redneck jokes either.

Parting shot

In the Unclear on the Concept Dept., the Dog House in St. Maries offers a variety of “dog turds” – or hot dogs/sausages wrapped in flour tortilla and deep fried. A “giant dog turd,” for example, is an 18-inch German dog for $5. And a “giant runny turd” is an 18-inch German dog with chili and cheese. Hungry?