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President's bathrooms off limits

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By STEVE OTTO Steve Otto

sotto@tampatrib.com sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: October 12, 2009

Lots of mail this week, but here's one I suppose should go to the most-recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Dear Steve, Have been reading you for many years and here's one that needs to be addressed. We had our reunion of the USS Yokes, a WWII destroyer in Washington, D.C. Naturally everyone wanted to visit the White House. Halfway through the tour some of the group, whose average age is 83-93, had to use the potty. They were told no visitors could use the White House potties. We had to walk/run two and a half blocks to the nearest hotel to get relief.

"I hear this has been going on for years. ... A few years ago Congress passed a law that all places of assembly should have adequate facilities for the public. ... It's a disgrace. I would appreciate if you would advise your readers to write their representatives to correct this stupidity. - William F. Veasey, president, USS Yokes APD69 Association.

Happy holidaze

Lots of you were in sympathy over the too-early-for-Christmas column. M. Miller writes "Christmas was long ago hijacked by the retail industry. I don't really care except that I wish they would at least wait until I've finished with the Halloween candy I bought and then ate myself."

•Donna Myers writes "Christmas in Florida is always difficult because it doesn't look like those television movies with snow and sleigh rides. A few Christmases ago we decided to spend the holidays in Tennessee to capture the 'feel.' It didn't snow. It was hot and everything was closed. We had Christmas dinner at a pancake house in Pigeon Forge and the air conditioning was not working. We couldn't wait to come home to Florida."

• Brigitte Jaeger writes "Don't feel bad about Sam's Club already displaying Christmas trees, etc. The BX base exchange at MacDill usually isn't any better. This year, with the BX still being remodeled, six weeks ago they already had their Christmas ornaments. The other day they were already out of Christmas cards.

"Yes Christmas in Florida is different. 1994 was my first Christmas here and I learned the hard way not to buy a real tree. I grew up with real trees and the years we stayed in Europe we always had a real tree. ... Only at Christmas I miss the 'old country' - the cold and snowy days in Germany. Yes, Christmas Day in Florida means sun dresses and pool parties with barbecue and frozen drinks; not walks bundled up and Gluhwein when you get home."

Steve notes: I've tried Gluhwein and it does help if it's 5 degrees outside.

World Cup

Finally, I think most everyone has been asked to sign the petition to make Tampa one of the host cities for the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Former Tampa Bay Rowdies star Farrukh Quraishi is leading the charge. Quraishi looks like he still could play and probably will look the same in 2018, which personally is a little irritating.

Anyhow, if you want to join the bandwagon, log on to www.GoUSABid.com/TampaBay. It will be a kick in the grass.

Keyword: Otto Graphs, for more of Steve Otto's musings.

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