Whenever Joe Mauer is mentioned, KSTP-TV's anchor Rebekah Wood has a tendency to forget she's a married mother of two.

"Great article, by the way," Wood said in a voice mail after I left her a message asking whether she'd seen my interview with Joe's mom, Teresa Mauer.

Among other things, Joe's mom told me that somewhere down the line, her MLBer would need an intelligent wife who can handle being a single parent during baseball season.

"I think she's describing me to a T," laughed Wood.

I think Wood's interest is harmless but concluded something else after hearing her admit to MyTalk FM107.1 morning show hosts Margery & Ian that if she, as in Wood, ever got her hands on Mauer, the situation would get "freaky deaky." I almost ran off the highway.

Wood has always struck me as being button-down. She has a commanding presence when reading a hard news story but seemed to me not to have what it takes when making the transition to softer feature stories. How wrong I was.

"I really am more of a storyteller than a hard news person," said Wood.

But does the storyteller really think the innocent-looking Joe Mauer can handle freaky-deaky?

"He's too sweet for that, isn't he?" said Wood. Yeah, I'm not sure he could keep up with freaky or deaky.

However, Ian Punnett noted that Mauer can't be that innocent -- after all, his workplace is a locker room.

"Sometimes [the quiet ones] surprise you," Wood said.

Sometimes anchor people will, too, and I never ask for freaky-deaky details.

"I'm one of those who's completely different off air," said Wood. I reminded her that she has a first name spelled the Biblical way. "I think my parents knew it was going to be an oxymoron."

As for Mauer, "He's a cutie pie, I'll tell you that," she said. "I think what makes him so cute is that he's a true Minnesota boy and the whole family seems sweet," said Wood. Word is Mauer's grandpa bears watching, but I'll save that for another day.

If freaky-deaky is anywhere near your vocab, you might think Wood listens to too much rap music.

"I can shake it," said Wood. A second source, who shall remain anonymous, tells me this is true.

I was starting to get nervous -- for Mauer and her husband.

"He knows about my love for Mauer," said Wood.

K2's ring specsKim Kardashian doesn't think she's getting engaged anytime soon, but if Kris Humphries does propose, the NBA player better be in a very philanthropic mood -- in the 10-carat vein.

That's what I picked up from Kardashian's recent appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show" during a less-than-thorough interrogation. (See * below.)

We should glean much more information once Humphries starts his gig as a co-star on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." Can "Keeping Up With Kim & Kris" be far behind?

Williams' interview with Kardashian was lacking for those of us who have seen Wendy interrogate celebrities like a prosecutor.

"How close are we to this wedding?" Williams asked, because magazines are rushing this couple to the altar.

"I swear, I don't know where, I mean, it's like sometimes we're married, the wedding," said Kardashian, not speaking in complete sentences. "I'm not getting engaged anytime that I know of. Maybe. I hope. I don't know right now."

K2 did explain one puzzling OK! magazine cover -- that of her with her boyfriend, the tireless "philanthropist." Kardashian claimed one OK! cover that showed her and Humphries at about the same height was Photoshopped. Humphries' head had been planted on another guy's body in a picture that was taken, I believe, before she ever met Kris.

"It's so weird. I don't know where all this is coming from," said Kardashian.

The magazine "said you wanted at least 10 carats," Williams asked, sounding somewhat like herself.

"I dream big," said Kardashian, who's "absolutely" fine with Humphries picking out the ring all by himself with no input from her or her mom, Kris Jenner.

Sounds like that's the green light for Humphries to propose any time now. Of course, first Humphries has to pry that rumored STOP sign out of his dad's hands. Word around the Twin Cities is that Will Humphries is all for his son having fun but in no hurry for that boy to get married.

It's a waiting game seeing how long Dad stays in control before getting usurped.

(*Wendy Williams has been slipping! The Kardashian interview was not anywhere near as weak as Williams' chat with the arrogant Isaiah Washington, who got bounced off "Grey's Anatomy" for a very good reason that was never addressed by Wendy. Perhaps the rise of Williams' stature is making it more difficult for her to pry for info. Wendy's becoming overly chummy with the celebs. The Kardashian interview might also have been tame because Williams wanted to make sure Kim stuck around for the end-of-show fan makeovers -- one of which was HORRIBLE. Or perhaps it was because they are really becoming friends. Maybe Williams is angling to get an invite to the Kardashian-Humphries wedding -- if there is one.)

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count. Attachments are not opened, so don't even try. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.