Difficult to put these into words

Readers were asked to name Inland Northwest moments that have to be experienced to be understood.

Kathy Weber mentioned seeing an outstanding concert at the Gorge.

Others pointed to Bloomsday, the B Basketball Tournament and watching drivers sail through red lights.

One reader said, "Saturday night at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival."

A warm Chinook wind in January, said another.

Sandpoint's Peter Lucht mentioned driving to work and seeing the lake, eagles and snow-dusted mountains.

And Bernadette Haddleton wrote: "Driving down the mountain, having spent the day in warm sunshine filtering through the pine trees. My hands and mouth are stained dark purple as are various parts of my jeans. The air in the car is perfumed with several gallons of huckleberries I have picked today. All is right with the world and I thank God I live in Idaho -- for the mountains, the ability to walk upon them and the `Huckleberry heaven' I found today."

Looking ahead to summer: Here are some results of a national survey, published in American Demographics magazine. Draw your own conclusions.

Percent of adults (ages 30-44) in the past year who went on a camping trip: 26.

Percent of adults (ages 30-44) who, in the future, would like to go on a camping trip: 25.

Three questions not appearing on the U.S. Census 2000 form:

1. "Does anyone in your household try to engage you in conversation while you are in the bathroom?"

2. "In your home, who gets to say `Get a job, ya bum'?"

3. "What's that smell?"

Every office should have at least one NCAA Basketball Tournament Grinch: And here are six things that person should practice saying.

1. "Do you identify with this nonsense so strongly because you recognize that you, personally, are a virtual nonentity who has never merited applause in your entire life?"

2. "Sixteen seconds left on the clock? So, with fouling and timeouts and all, that means the game should be over in about, what, 45 minutes?"

3. "How loud would these announcers scream if something that actually mattered were to happen?"

4. "Hey, with all the attention you're paying to your office pool entry, it's almost like you've got a life or something. That's sweet."

5. "If one more person says `The Dance,' I'm coming up swinging."

6. "Pipe down, bay-bee."

Today's Slice question: Who in the Spokane area has been kissed by the most people?

Copyright 2000 Cowles Publishing Company
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