Bowled over

Huskies would have played in it: We're in the thick of the NCAA football bowls, which peak on New Year's Day with classic tradition-steeped games such as the Rose Bowl.

But bowls earlier in the week struggle for big name sponsors. Here's a quick quiz. Pick out the bowl game that is not actually played: (A) Chick-fil-A Bowl, (B) Mineke Car Care Bowl, (C) Outback Bowl, (D) Papajohns.com Bowl, (E) Ty-D-bol Bowl.

Rhymes with merlot: Lake Stevens joined the list of cities that have recently fattened themselves on new residents. Marysville added 19,000 people, and Lake Stevens is now home to more than 10,000 new residents with annexations that go into effect Thursday.

Seeing an opportunity, town officials in Verlot (pop. 183 and some deer) moved last week to annex Lake Stevens, Marysville and Everett, and rename the county's new largest city Port Verlot.

Wouldn't count on a second date: A Stanwood woman is charged with possession of stolen property after police allege she talked her date into getting into the shower while she made off with his wallet, car keys and his Ford Mustang.

The moral of the story: If someone you don't know well talks you into taking a shower, be prepared to take a bath.