ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation.

RASPBERRY (raz'ber'e) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer.

We hereby deliver:

• ROSES to sending scenic images of home to soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard who are serving in Afghanistan with the 41st Brigade Combat Team, supporting Task Force Phoenix V. Such images - on postcards, Christmas cards and calendars - were the number one Christmas request that Gov. Ted Kulongoski relayed when he returned Dec. 3 from his trip there.

Kay Fristad, a National Guard spokeswoman, said "this could be an effort supported by every citizen interested in bringing a touch of home to our citizen soldiers."

Address Oregon images for distribution to any Oregon soldier serving there to Lt. Col Dan Hokanson, 201st, 41st BCT, Camp Phoenix, APO AE 09320. It might be helpful to provide an idea of the image inside, so Lt. Col. Hokanson can distribute according to appropriate locale.

You can find plenty of local images at gift stores, book stores and many local businesses downtown. They will be treasured.

• RASPBERRIES to a foul wind that grounded a fair and noble project: The weather balloon launched by students studying nuclear engineering and radiation health physics at Oregon State University.

We're not only talking about a little mishap here, but after the balloon was launched a week ago from Florence, it landed 70 feet up in a Douglas fir that is on private property in between Falls City and Dallas.

Of course, finding the balloon involved navigating some steep, wet, treacherous countryside.

The balloon stored some important data, including electronic dog and bird trackers and a device that the students had created to measure atmospheric radiation.

Nobody said the road to scientific understanding was easy. They just didn't say it involved battling the elements. The students aren't done yet. If the stormy, hurricane-like weather expected this weekend fails to materialize, the students plan another attempt Sunday to retrieve their class work from the tree that's holding it hostage.

• ROSES to the Corvallis High School Spartans football team, its coaches and supporters. Last Saturday, they fought back from a two-touchdown deficit to rally for a triple-overtime 17-14 win and the 5A state championship victory over the first-ranked against West Albany High School Bulldogs.

The game at Autzen Stadium is still the talk of the town, and a fitting event in a year that saw so many championship teams from Corvallis.

• RASPBERRIES to a mistaken calculation. That's apparently what tripped up a man who thought that the best place to steal a gun is … a gun show.

After all, when the authorities asked infamous bank robber Willie Sutton why he robbed banks, he reportedly replied, "Because that's where the money is."

The man casually placed a .45 caliber Taurus handgun, worth $450, in his waistband.

What the gun-seeking thief may not have figured on is that the people who attend gun shows tend to be very savvy in matters of self defense and emergency response.

As the man began to casually saunter out with the gun, four men attending the gun show who saw his less-than-smooth attempt gave chase,

according to Oregon State Police.

The man attempted to brush past a security guard, but his pursuers caught him and wrestled him to the ground until officers arrived.

Richard Straub, 53, of North Portland, who was still on post-prison supervision on robbery and aggravated theft convictions, was arrested on theft, being a felon in possession of a firearm, third-degree robbery and second-degree burglary.

• ROSES to the kindness of those who rescued an abused little dog from horrific conditions and gave him a second chance - and the rest of us a feel-good story to repeat:

Eddie, a Lhaso apso/poodle mix of undetermined age, underwent surgery Wednesday to correct a deformity of his back legs related to the neglect and abuse he had suffered.

In March, members of Senior Dog Rescue in Philomath made Eddie an honorary poster dog. They've raised money for his surgery, and Dr. Scott Gustafson of Oregon State University's Small Animal Hospital performed the surgery. Eddie's stunted and deformed back legs now move much better, a good sign that walking will now be easier for him.

Eddie was adopted in March by Susan Faria, a receptionist at Ark Animal Hospital and a founding member of Senior Dog Rescue. She plans to employ Eddie as "poster dog" for the group. Looking at his fuzzy little muzzle, we can't imagine a more charismatic choice.