Smiley Anders for May 7, 2008

• By SMILEY ANDERS
• Advocate columnist
• Published: May 7, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:15 a.m.

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In addition to the usual Mother’s Day gift suggestions — flowers, jewelry, cosmetics, clothing — some Advocate advertisers are offering more creative gift ideas.

There’s the LSU football purse, for instance, the gym memberships, the furniture.  One firm offers a Mother’s Day sale on a 12-foot gate — perfect for keeping the kids out.

But Lenora Colledge of Breaux Bridge found one suggestion she’s scratching off her list:

“I just read in a national magazine a list of possible Mother’s Day gifts. One of their tips is to buy a batch of French macaroons, which come in 13 flavors. The company will sell them to you at $72 for 48 cookies.

“If I am sure of anything in this world, it is that my mother would commit me if I bought her $72 worth of cookies for Mother’s Day.”

Job description
Ashley Peak says, “Last week when the president was in town the traffic was horrendous.

“After being late to pick up my son, we were unable to get on the interstate because it was closed for his motorcade and the surface streets were at a standstill.

“I told my 4-year-old we might not make it to swim lessons, and tried to explain the unusual traffic was because the president was in town.

“Afterward we went to visit Maw and Pawpaw, who asked John Bryan if he knew what the president does.

“His response was, ‘He makes traffic.’

“Now every time we find ourselves in traffic, he asks if the president is in town.”

Toothpaste Mechanics?
After a reader pointed out the instructions on a toothpaste tube advising users to squeeze it from the bottom, another reader said we shouldn’t be too harsh on toothpaste manufacturers for doing this:

“I live in a house full of middle-of-the-tube squeezers, and wish they would not only read that fine print, but follow it in practice!