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If you saw a man eating dinner with a napkin
over his head on the patio at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company recently,
chances are it was me. Long one of my favorite Chico restaurants, the eatery
has taken to turning sprinklers on its outdoor diners on warm evenings. OK, the
staff says they’re “misters,” but my guests and I were misted down to the skin
in minutes. My suggestion: Either turn down the deluge or offer a non-soaking
section.
*****
… But I still love the place
because they have great food and a BIG heart. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
will be the scene of “The BIG Event,” a first-class fundraiser for Big
Brothers/Big Sisters of Butte County. Slated for Saturday, September 29, the
event will feature a formal sit-down dinner, dancing to live music by the
Skyliners, and silent and live auctions. Ballots will soon be around town for
BIG Citizen, BIG Professional, BIG Celebrity, and BIG Dynamic Duo, giving you
the chance to buy votes for local notables; winners will be named at the
dinner. Tickets are $75 for the full evening, $25 for just dancing. Votes are
a buck apiece, no attendance required. Send checks for tickets or votes to BBBS,
PO Box 7222, Chico, CA 95927, or call 343-8407 for information. See
www.Brentmorrison.com for details and names of BIG candidates. I thank you, and
so will the kids.
*****
And they do have nice cloth napkins big enough
to cover your head. A greater gripe is the dinky paper napkins at some fast
food places that wouldn’t hide Calista Flockhart’s lap. I suppose this is an
attempt to cut costs or conserve paper or some such, but I find myself pulling
out scads of the things to get enough overlap. Sort of the paper equivalent of
low-flush toilets, less resources per use and three times the usage.
*****
Was thrilled to learn that bridge will be a
demonstration sport at the next Winter Olympics. OK, not really, though it did
take me back to high school when a group of fellow chess team members and I took
an elective bridge class taught by the school’s business teacher; every one of
us turned tail after one lesson. Never thought of old Mrs. Kingsley as the
Olympic type, but wouldn’t be surprised to see her bumping, blitzing, and
barraging her way through Salt Lake City. And with that I have pretty much
exhausted my vocabulary of bridge lingo.
*****
Read that Phillip Morris sponsored a study of
the economic effects of smoking for the government of the Czech Republic. Turns
out it’s positive, surprise, surprise. The study found that early deaths from
the habit saved money on healthcare, housing for the elderly (because there
aren’t any), welfare, and so on. I think folks should be free to smoke if they
choose, but to ask a tobacco company to reduce it to dollars (or koruna) is a
real leap given their Czechered past. Sorry, sorry, it seemed a better pun than
“Czechmate.”
*****
Like most families we have been watching energy
consumption at the Morrison household. Have not had the air conditioner on all
summer, instead using a whole-house fan and other fans. Results: The two
lowest electric bills since buying our home eight years ago. Have been trying
to convince Girl-Child we could afford to turn the air back on if she would keep
her stereo off, to no avail. It was worth a try.
*****
I stopped wearing a watch a while back but
recently bought one to help keep up with a particularly busy day. I was sure
could handle it but I’m off the wagon now, once again a full-fledged watch
wearer. Funny how easy it is to get caught up on counting the minutes instead
of living them, but I’m sure I can quit anytime I want. I think. Give me a
minute to mull it over.
© 1997- 2002 Brent Morrison
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