The Slice: Cue that old National Geographic theme music

Here’s something I wonder about at this time of year.

Perhaps you do too.

What percentage of Spokane area cats believe they are mighty snow leopards?

Feedback: Wade Griffith had a response to the possible reasons certain toys fell out of favor with some of us as kids (Monday’s Slice). Well, actually, his response has to do with the list of toys.

“How COULD you leave out my Big Bruiser Tow Truck?”

Here we come a-caroling: “One year, the carolers were greeted by Duncan, our golden retriever,” wrote Catherine Short. “The group included a toddler in a stroller. We were enjoying the singing and were chuckling over how friendly the dog was being toward the baby. Then we realized that he’d stolen the cookie out of her hand and was foraging for crumbs in her stroller. Fortunately, we were able to provide her and her family with more cookies.”

Another reader told about a time years ago when some carolers arrived while he was trying to rest. The singers were about 30 seconds into a song when the resident emerged from inside and pointed with both hands to his ears.

The group leader interpreted that to mean the resident was hearing impaired and so called a halt to the singing. Then they slowly said “Merry Christmas,” making sure their lips could be read.

Whatever works.

Bedtime routine: Patty West had to “punch the boogeyman’s lights out” each evening before her preschool daughter would go to sleep.

How exactly Patty accomplished this is a bit of a mystery, but her air punches seemed to satisfy her daughter during the nightly thrashing.

Fan mail: Here’s a sample from the self-nominations for Slice Reader of the Year. (Still time to enter yourself.)

This comes from Jack Vines.

“In the past couple of weeks, not only did I snort, roll, sputter and continue, but I said, ‘I remember his columns from earlier years as being a lot better.’”

And Chuck Booth noted that SROTY is one unappealing acronym.

Today’s Slice question: Years ago, I used to run column items that started “You know you’ve stopped rockin’ when …”

I offered some of the answers. Readers provided others. You know, stuff like “… you start to obsess about your garbage/recycling barrels.”

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about another one. I have to say, it’s more depressing than amusing.

Have you come to realize that you don’t really like driving at night?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. You could be the one to write the rodenty Spokane Christmas story, “The Littlest Marmot.”