Last week we scratched our head over the absence of Floor No. 9 from the emerging RBC Plaza in downtown Raleigh. Skyscrapers have long avoided the superstitious 13th story, but 9? Was 9 now on someone's list as well?

"In fact," Kelly Maicon, media relations manager with Highwood Properties, wrote us, "there is a 9th floor, depending on your perspective. The 9th floor serves a parking deck on the east side of the building. The plywood panels that you referenced reflect the west side of the building, which goes from floors 8 to 10. I hope that solves the mystery of the missing No. 9."

Sorta.

She also wrote to correct us that the RBC Plaza is, in fact, a 33-story building, not a 32-story building, as we wrote. Which was fine and good -- until Tuesday morning. After dropping the kids at middle school we were stopped on Martin at Wilmington, looked up the still-growing building and saw, spray-painted in plywood on the top floor --

34!?

Kelly?

"The 34 represents the roof."

Ah.

Another reason to pray for rain

Susie in Cary writes: "So I saw this advertisement in The N&O for a product available in Raleigh called 'Poo Pourri.' 'Just spray this all natural oil directly into toilet water before you go. It creates a barrier to embarrassing bathroom odors.'

Hmm.

"With water restrictions still with us (albeit not as severe as before the recent rains)," writes Susie, "this could be a godsend regarding flushing and something every discriminating hostess in the Triangle will welcome."

Hmm.

Home, sweet, elsewhere

Spotted on Walnut Street in Cary, a white Nissan Pathfinder with a bumper sticker reading:

New Orleans

Proud to call it home

The Pathfinder had North Carolina plates.

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