Borders
“No more Borders,” says Spence.
“Not good,” says Admin. “Remember that Q and A they did with Bernie?”
Borders: Having read Dog On It, I have the feeling we may not get much out of you in this interview.
Bernie: Oh?
Borders: This is just an impression – by the way, are you armed right now?
Bernie: I’d rather not say.
Borders: Just an impression, and no offense, but would it be fair to say that your approach to people is guarded?
Bernie: Fair to whom?
Borders: Good point. But what I’m leading to is the idea that the only being you really open up to is your dog Chet.
Bernie: I don’t think of him as my dog.
Borders: How do you think of him?
Bernie: We’re partners, Chet and I.
Borders: In the Little Detective Agency?
Bernie: That’s part of it.
Borders: Tell us about the Agency – how you got started, what kind of cases you take on, the highs and lows.
Bernie: I worked in law enforcement here in the Valley after I got out of the Army, and after a few years went out on my own.
Borders: You’re a graduate of West Point?
Bernie: Yes.
Borders: And you played baseball there?
Bernie: Uh-huh.
Borders: What position?
Bernie: Pitcher.
Borders: Did you harbor any dreams of playing in the Majors?
Bernie: Not realistic ones.
Borders: I understand you fought in Desert Storm. What can you tell us about that?
Bernie: I came back in one piece.
Borders: Let’s get to Chet. I take it you first encountered him on that notorious final day of his at K-9 school.
Bernie: Notorious?
Borders: The day Chet flunked out of the program. Perhaps we can say “eventful.”
Bernie: All right.
Borders: What were the circumstances?
Bernie: I just happened to be there, as a guest of Lt. Stine of the Valley PD.
Borders: A close reading of Dog On It suggests that a cat and blood were involved in Chet’s failure.
Bernie: I wouldn’t use the word “failure.”
Borders: But were a cat and blood part of the story?
Bernie: I couldn’t say for sure. It all happened very fast.
Borders: And you took Chet home that night?
Bernie: Yes.
Borders: You were married at the time. Reading between the lines, it’s my impression that your then-wife Leda didn’t bond quite so closely with Chet as you did.
Bernie: Now you’re getting into personal territory.
Borders: This is a promotional-type interview, after all.
Bernie: Maybe for you.
Borders: Uh, could you talk about your finances a bit? It’s repeatedly suggested in Dog On It that they’re “a mess.”
Bernie: We’re doing all right.
Borders: But what about the problem of those private school tuition payments you’re obligated to pay for your son Charlie even though you’re not the custodial –
Bernie (interrupting): Nothing about my son is a problem – and he’s off-limits for the purposes of this discussion.
Borders: No need to get up, Mr. Little. That’s better. Mind if I ask you your height and weight?
Bernie: six-two, two-oh-five.
Borders: And you seem to keep yourself in pretty good shape.
Bernie: Not really.
Borders: I’d imagine Chet’s in good shape, too.
Bernie: The best.
Borders: What makes him such a good detective? His hearing? Smelling ability? Strength? Endurance?
Bernie: Chet understands people. That what makes him such a good detective.
Borders: What’s the best thing about your job?
Bernie: Solving cases, missing children’s cases especially, when we bring them back safe.
Borders: And the worst?
Bernie: Seeing what some people will do to other people.
Borders: You seem to have taught Chet many things. He can open certain kinds of doorknobs, for example, and find buried evidence.
Bernie: Chet picks up some things pretty easily. But what I’ve taught him doesn’t compare to what he’s taught me.
Borders: Oh? Like what?
Bernie: The most important thing Chet taught me – and it’s something I’m still working on – is to get everything you can out of life. But that’s him barking outside. Nice meeting you.
CD’s Bernie is currently listening to:
Lady Day: The Best of Billie Holiday (Bernie gets the feeling that Chet especially enjoys Roy Eldridge’s trumpet solos.)
The Steeldrivers
When I Stop Dreaming: The Best of the Louvin Brothers
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music: Ray Charles
Gently Weeps: Jake Shimabukuro (Bernie plays the ukulele a bit himself, but not like this.)
Books on Bernie’s bedside table:
Lincoln’s Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words, by Douglas L. Wilson
Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West, by Hampton Sides
How To Be Your Dog’s Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners, by the Monks of New Skete
Tags: Billie Holiday, Borders, Lincoln, Monks of New Skete, Ray Charles
This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011 at 8:03 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
8:21 am on July 27th, 2011
Bernie: I remember that interview. Borders will be missed.
I’m off to get something out of life.
8:28 am on July 27th, 2011
Love that interview. First time we saw it. We never heard of the Mons of New Skete, but looked them up just now. “How to be your Dog’s Best Friend” sounds like a great book, but we already think Mom & Pop are our best friends, and leaders of our pack. We didn’t know they had to learn that.
Dawson, how can Mom get everything we can out of life when it seems like she is always working? Hmmmm….she tells us she is taking a 2-week vacation beginning Friday 4:00 ! WOO Triple HOO !!
8:52 am on July 27th, 2011
Good morning. We love that interview too. Didn’t that author who has a new slant on dog behavior (link here the other day) say that the Monks are a little harsh in their training?
Goodby Borders, we will miss you.
We just learned something interesting the other night. We were watching Rozzeli and Isles on TNT (great show BTW) and someone said they had gotten “gyped”. Isles says “Don’t say that, it’s a racial slur”. Barb NEVER uses racial or religious slurs so she looked it up and it looks like it is one. Originally a slur on gypsies, and means to be taken or overcharged. Barb has used that phrase before, not realizing its origin. Guess she won’t use it again. What you youse guys think?
9:07 am on July 27th, 2011
Good Morning to All You Early Risers:
I loved that interview! I’ll miss Borders very much. There was a large Borders in Mount Kisco, where I used to live. Even though I’m more of a B&N shopper (you know, the Nook and all), Borders always seemed to have the one or two hard to find books that were not in the B&N inventory.
The Prof and I went to that Borders just last week, and it was sad to see it looking like a skeleton of what it was. We did, however, take advantage of their sales.
B&M: I did not know of the origin of the word “gyped”. I don’t use the word very much now. Usually I’ll just say “We wuz robbed!”
Beautiful here in Westchester! Everyone enjoy your day!
9:28 am on July 27th, 2011
We use the word gyp as in … “no gypping in line”. We honestly never gave a thought as to its origin, but now that Barb has enlightened us, we will refrain from using it.
We have never heard of Rezzeli and Isles…what kind of show is it?
9:32 am on July 27th, 2011
Interview!….This is the only interview I’ve ever read where you get more information out of the Interveiw-er than the Interview-ee. …heh!snort! ….That Bernie!
9:34 am on July 27th, 2011
I used to go to the original Borders in Ann Arbor, opened by the Border brothers. It was always fun to be there. (Ann Arbor is fun.)
Good morning all.
9:43 am on July 27th, 2011
Ann Arbor!…snort!….My friend said she has visited Ann Arbor before. One of her very good friends used to live there. They went out one night to a Comedy Club and actually ended up meeting one of the Comedians….heh!… That guy wasn’t all that funny in real life, she says….sniff! …What a hard job – being a comedian…grunt!
9:48 am on July 27th, 2011
My favorite restaurant in Ann Arbor is Zimmerman’s. They have tables outside (they also have the most delicious sandwiches…they make their own bread and I’ve never seen such a collection of cheeses…some I’ve never heard of) and it’s fun watching all the people–many of whom are students because the restaurant is near the residential area where houses have be turned into apartments. Ann Arbor always makes me feel young.
10:03 am on July 27th, 2011
We, too, are sorry to see Borders go. There are/were two stores in Buffalo, and one of them was always a destination whenever we made a trip to Buffalo. Sometimes a visit to Borders was the sole reason for the trip. Originally when they started closing stores, it was thought that the Buffalo stores would remain open because they were strong , thanks in part to the great numbers of Canadians who patronized them. We’ll have to do some searching to find the B & N stores there.
10:05 am on July 27th, 2011
Thanks to the bloggers who purchased my dad’s work during the auction for Showhook. He got your emails and is happy that you are pleased with your purchases.
I hope that you’ll enjoy looking at the photographs for a long time.
10:08 am on July 27th, 2011
Hi Riö! Glad you’re back!
I know that OTAS read the Monk’s training books. He’s definitely not harsh with his dog. Hmmm.
I love that interview. Who ever did it with Bernie had a great sense of humor. I hope they are still employed somewhere.
Morning all!
10:20 am on July 27th, 2011
Rio! Where were you? You were greatly missed.
We are wondering if Dawson started reading White Wings yet. We really wanted that book. We love books about sailing.
10:22 am on July 27th, 2011
I must need more coffee–Zingerman’s and Zimmerman’s.
10:22 am on July 27th, 2011
Mom’s first ereader was the Sony Reader from Borders. She picked that one because she could choose 100 free classics to put on it.
10:37 am on July 27th, 2011
We love that interview!
Mom has read that book by Hampton Sides. Mom has also read Ghost Soldiers by him. I bet Spence has read Ghost Soldiers.
Mom has read the Monks’ dog training books and mostly rejected them. I, myself, believe in positive dog training where treats keep getting stuffed in my mouth. Mom still believes in the pack leader theory, though. I let her cling to that illusion.
Bernie is described in that interview. Mom has always thought Bernie looked a little like Todd Helton (witout the facial hair) even before the Rockies games were shown in our area. Helton plays first base for the Rockies. He fits the description of Bernie in the interview.
Glad you are back, Rio!
10:45 am on July 27th, 2011
Book-Store!…They better never ever , ever close The Tattered Cover or my friend will commit suicide…grunt!… Not that she gets to visit much these days, but just knowing it is there is comfort enough….chorkel!
10:46 am on July 27th, 2011
Oley, Rozzoli and Isles is on Monday nights on TNT. Think this is 2nd season, and it was a hughe hit last season. Angie Harmon plays sort of a no nonsense, tom-boyish detective, and Sasha Alexander plays a sexy, smart Medical Examiner. The two personalities play off of each other beautifully, and it is sort of a tongue in cheek detective/mystery show. We like that better than some of the really dark, graphiclly violent shows out there. The other night Sasha’s character wanted to bed down this really hot Italian mechanic, who she really didn’t want to talk to. She was just physically attracted to him. In the end she couldn’t do it, but there were some LOL moments in the show. At one point she says I LOVE Italians, whick was pretty funny, because she is Sophia Loren’s daughter in law!
10:52 am on July 27th, 2011
Rizzoli and Isles is based on the series of books by Tess Gerritsen.
10:55 am on July 27th, 2011
Rose, I didn’t know that. Do you like the books?
We really enjoyed The Help, and now see that it is coming out in movie form in 2 weeks. Looks like it will be good.
Couldn’t sleep this morning, due to loud storms, so got up at 5:00 and watched Cape of Good Hope, recommended by BSD. Really liked it, thanks Nana.
10:57 am on July 27th, 2011
From last night:
Rebecca, Mom and I don’t know how to post a picture on the blog. We did it once a long time ago and mom was so traumatized that I cannot even mention computer and camera to her in the same breath or she will run screaming in the opposite direction. We would have never gotten it done then if it weren’t for Mollypop’s help.
Mom has so many tags on me anyway because she is afraid I might do a Whitey-Lance that the Iditarod dog tag wouldn’t stand out from the other tags in a photo.
I do look very dashing in my Iditarod tag.
Have you goteen help yet with getting Snowhook’s video to the casting director?
10:58 am on July 27th, 2011
Thanks Barb & Maggie. Sounds like our kind of show too (Cagney and Lacey-like?)
But when one of the characters is played by someone named “Sasha”…well we wouldn’t want to be missing that. We have added it to our DVR.
10:59 am on July 27th, 2011
Siber and Rio, did you see the link we posted this a.m. on the end of last night’s blog…a fantastic inside-the-park homer !
11:03 am on July 27th, 2011
Fellow Siberians, We also love the movie, The Journey of Natty Gann. Snow Dogs is still our favorite Siberian movie. We know. It is a stupid movie.
Buddy and TC, We watched your video. What a home run and slide into home plate!
11:03 am on July 27th, 2011
Siber-H – How are the stuffed husky toys doing today? Are they still in hiding?
11:06 am on July 27th, 2011
Mollypop, Yes, the stuffed Huskies are still in hiding. Mom says she is still thinking about this…in other words, how to outsmart me. ha
How is your mom feeling?
11:08 am on July 27th, 2011
Oley, Yes I would say Cagney and Lacey would be a good comp. We always loved Tyne Daley (sp?) too. Liked her in Judging Amy as well.
Little work update. CL interviewed one person and hired her. Barb made the comment to one of the agents that she and Sheila had the ability to turn CL’s emails and letters into well written pieces that made her look professional. The agent said “Lisa won’t do that – she’ll send um the way she sees um”. Lisa also has several tatoos on both forearms. Guess CL just needs a warm body in the chair!
11:15 am on July 27th, 2011
B&M: I’m laughing. We’ll be hearing more about CL and the new hire….LOL!
Has anyone used coconut oil? I’m making granola and using it instead of vegetable oil. It smells lovely.
11:22 am on July 27th, 2011
Bad!….Was someone speaking of really dark graphically violent shows?,….snort!….This reminded me, do any of you new guys watch Breaking Bad?….wheeze!….The first 2 episodes so far have not disappointed us …choke!gasp!
11:25 am on July 27th, 2011
How about those Howlers…trying to pretend it was their idea to post that great homer !
Thanks for watching it Siber. We kats know a thing or two about baseball.
11:28 am on July 27th, 2011
Buddy is getting on our nerves.
Natty Gann! Snowhook named a dog after Natty! Mom has always wanted to name a girl pup after her too!!!! Unfortunately, her 2 girls are rescues and we came with our own names (altho Sasha’s got “slightly changed”).
We have never watched Snow Dogs because it looked too goofy. But now that we know Siber-H liked it, we will have to check it out.
B&M: We liked Tyne Daley and Sharon Gless. Now Gless plays Westin’s mom on Burn Notice and she is wonderful.
11:32 am on July 27th, 2011
B&M:
I did start the series many moons ago, and remember liking them very much. I don’t remember where I stopped. Life and too many books on the to-be-read pile getting in the way!
11:35 am on July 27th, 2011
Fellow Siberians, To say Snow Dogs is goofy is an understatement, but the Sibers are great in it. It is the only dog movie my dad will watch because the dogs are never in any real danger in it.
11:35 am on July 27th, 2011
Can’t wait to hear about those emails and letters. Not that I have a problem with people with tattoos! The more they want them the better!
Have added The Journey of NG on the Netflix line.
I am hurting today. Third day of the fall . . . so moving slow. I went out and looked at my fuchsia and no matter what the guy who sold them to me said, they are getting sunburn. They are no hanging up under a tree.
This afternoon I’m hanging out in the pool!
Wookie, I’m writing you in a minute to ask about the stairs.
11:43 am on July 27th, 2011
Our mom was talking to a woman on Sunday who found out she was a member of a Siberian pack. She asked her if Mom saw the movie 5 Below. Went on and on about how great a movie it is !!! All the while Mom was trying to stop her to tell her the movie made her grieve at the time, and sick even now thinking about it. Mom says that movie critics consider it “good”. Mom and Pop considered it a horror movie.
11:50 am on July 27th, 2011
On a lighter note of 5 Below. There is a new store in this area called that. For months I thought it had to do with winter clothes.
Nope, everything is $5 or below. Jeez
11:53 am on July 27th, 2011
Melanie, Not trying to take away from your son’s liveyhood…Barb’s son Josh has a multitude of tats, and DIL has a couple as well. Josh always said he wanted to be able to cover them up if he is looking professional, since he is a business owner. Therefore, he has none on lower arms or neck. In a business shirt, you couldn’t tell he has them. DIL has a couple that can be hidden too.
That being said, I don’t like tats on women’s arms or necks. A cute little one in semi-private areas, or on the legs and ankles is alright, just personal taste, I guess.
11:53 am on July 27th, 2011
LOL Melanie. We have some of those stores too. When we saw the “Grand Opening” signs, we also thought it was an outfitter that sold cool winter clothes, and couldn’t wait to shop there.
11:57 am on July 27th, 2011
Siber-H: Luna and Tenzing would watch Snowhdogs and White Fang when the were younger—at least they watched when the dogs were on the screen. The learning curve for driving a team is straight up and so being drug by your team isn’t uncommon.
Rio: Good to see you on the blog today. After speculating last night where you might be I started to wonder if you, having thrown the ‘don’t leave the yard’ rule to the side decided to head to Willow to teach my Rio how to play the harmonica…
12:01 pm on July 27th, 2011
Fellow Siberians, We have never seen Eight Below and will never watch it. The critics did like it and it did well at the box office. If a movie has a dog or dogs in it, mom always goes online and checks out peoples’ comments on the movie and that is how she knew not to watch the movie Eight Below.
BBL
12:08 pm on July 27th, 2011
Siber-H – Mom is not any better. She will see the doctor on Friday and has cancelled her plans for the Garden Walk on Saturday.
We’re leaving for Sam’s house now.
12:09 pm on July 27th, 2011
Melanie, We would have thought the same – 5 Below sounds like an outfitter, not an upgraded dollar store.
Barb’s daughter, Kelly is the birthday girl today. Barb has a pet sitter lined up to be here all day Saturday, for me and the critters. Plan was to meet at Lake Geneva and go to an annual Steak/Lobster cookout. They already got the tickets. Now her MIL has been taken in to Hospice, and one speculation is that she would not last a week. She has been terminally ill for a very long time, with almost nothing left of her former self, so this will be a peaceful blessing.
12:13 pm on July 27th, 2011
Hair!….Speaking of Michael Westin…heh!… Have you noticed how they are wonderfluffing his hair a bit so it doesn’t look so Dorky…snort!snort!…Now it is growing on me….fluffle! …My friend was especially sad when Michaels CIA partner bit the dust….groan!
12:20 pm on July 27th, 2011
Westin looks rather handsome with his new do. But we don’t like it because he just isn’t our Michael. Still love that show tho. Best show on T.V. ioo
12:25 pm on July 27th, 2011
So it was 8 Below? O.K. Well, our mom & pop were so excited to see that movie that they went to it on Opening Day…they never do that! They had no idea that it would be so terrible. Mom was traumatized for many days afterwards. She now knows not to go see any dog (or horse or cat or any animal) movie before she finds out if its “safe”.
1:02 pm on July 27th, 2011
8 Below was certainly a tough movie to watch and not one that you would ever want to see again. Regarding Borders, it will definitely be missed. Particularly after the two mystery bookstores in the DC Metro area both closed down a few years ago (one in DC near Dupont Circle and one in Bethesda), the closest that came as a possible substitute was the mystery book section at Borders. My dad was always torn between Borders and Barnes & Noble; he thought that Borders had a much better selection although the affinity program at B&N was always a lot better than at Borders and we think that may have contributed to its demise. THe B&N closest to where we live has a decent mystery section, but the one downtown nearest to where dad works is pretty abysmal in that regard. We have always tried to buy as many books as possible at real bookstores, although as quality deteriorates, Amazon looks better and better. Wookie
1:19 pm on July 27th, 2011
Wookie!…One day when you are zipping around in your Wookiemobile, you should stop and get me…snort!….We could go downtown and check out The Tattered Cover (because the one downtown is the best) and then catch a Rockies Game….wheeze!… Tattered is within walking distance of the ballpark…wooooo!
1:37 pm on July 27th, 2011
To those of you in Texas, I’m praying that this tropical wave does come your way. Preferably not as a hurricane, just lots and lots of rain were it is needed.
1:55 pm on July 27th, 2011
Wookie: I think that you’re correct. The reward program at B&N is much better than Borders’ was because they apply each time you buy a book. At Borders you had to accumulate enough points.
I love going to B&N but the book selections don’t compare to the books available at Amazon. I’m going to Royal Oak tomorrow (it’s about 25 miles away…too far) so I’m going to check out the B&N there–it’s a two-story store.
1:58 pm on July 27th, 2011
Rio: I may have told you this before: My nephew can always hear the Rockies’ home games from his apartment. I’ve told him about The Tattered Cover.
2:44 pm on July 27th, 2011
Rio –That sounds like a great plan. Who knows, maybe we will make in onto the Jumbotron again as well. Opening day was a great day, especially with you by my side. I just wish the Rockies were doing better this year, now that I have become a fan. Did you see that Giambi is now on the disabled list as well. And who knows what is going to happen with Ubaldo; I hope they don’t trade him though.
Wookie
2:55 pm on July 27th, 2011
Trade!… Crap! The Trade deadline is coming up quick….grunt!… I hope to hell they trade Ian Stewart and Aaron Cook instead of ANYBODY ELSE!…snort! ….Those guys are making me crazy….sniff!….I couldn’t bear to see anybody else go…sneeze!…If they trade Ubaldo and keep Cook I will be beside myself…grump!
3:26 pm on July 27th, 2011
Re to gyp, Admin says that another one like that – meaning an unknowing slur – is to welsh or welch (as on a deal).
3:54 pm on July 27th, 2011
And “Welsh” is derived from Old English “wealh” meaning “foreigner” which is interesting since the Anglo-Saxons were referring to the people native to “Britain.”
4:04 pm on July 27th, 2011
YSAS has more extra work as a college ROTC student in “Boardwalk Empire”.
He had his fitting today.
Works one day next week and then two the following.
He is dressed just like the following picture. The picture is of his Great Grandfather McKey before he was shipped out.
4:16 pm on July 27th, 2011
the Steeldrivers. YES!
One of Mr.Staff’s favorites. Here is a song about running to freedom during the Civil War. Gives me shivers every time I hear it.
Can you Run?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrLYDcIMT7w&feature=related
4:18 pm on July 27th, 2011
How would you like lacing up those boots?
4:24 pm on July 27th, 2011
YSAS sure is busy! Thats great!
Abbie, thanks for posting the video of the Steeldrivers. We never heard of them, but we love Bluegrass. We looked at their show dates to see if they’d be at Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA) per chance. They are not, but they are at Gettysburg the following week. Mommy says maybe she and Daddy can make it out there (without us).
4:49 pm on July 27th, 2011
Gyp!… Whenever I use the word Gyp or Welch it is in conjunction with someone by the name of “Rockie the Undercover Squirrel”…grunt! ….Shyster is also tossed in there with his name on occasion….gruffle!
4:57 pm on July 27th, 2011
Melanie, Love that shot of the first McKey. What a great old photo!
When we were looking up “gyped” this morning, they referred to another one that originally started as a slur, that no one thinks about. “Paddywagon” – evidently it was originally a slur against the Irish.
5:04 pm on July 27th, 2011
Sentence!…How would you say Paddywagon(ed) in a sentence?…grunt!
5:24 pm on July 27th, 2011
The cops are sending the paddywagon to pick up the drunk and disorderly in the park.
5:25 pm on July 27th, 2011
I believe a paddywagon was a police vehicle, and so refers to taking the person away by horse drawn police wagon. “That Sean O’Malley, he ended up getting thrown on the paddywagon again last night, after drinking too many pints at the pub”.
5:32 pm on July 27th, 2011
I always thought it was called a Paddywagon because so many Irish are policemen and firemen in Boston and NYC. Didn’t realized it meant they were being picked up by the coppers. Barb’s Irish ansestor will roll over in their graves!
5:42 pm on July 27th, 2011
Paddy!… I thought it was from the old rhythm, Knick-knack-paddy-wagon give a dog a bone….heh!
6:00 pm on July 27th, 2011
Your welcome Buddy and TC. I guess Abbie and you and I are Kool Kats!
Heh heh heh
6:02 pm on July 27th, 2011
Does anyone else think the interview with Bernie sounds a lot like the interview with Grampy?
Not all of it, but some…..the off limits family parts esp.
6:05 pm on July 27th, 2011
2 cents!… I think the whole interview was written by ole pointy head himself…heh!snort!…Knick knack paddy-wagon give a dawg a bone!…snort!….This old pug is going home…wheeze!
6:24 pm on July 27th, 2011
Hey Spence and Staff, Thanks to Spence for mentioning the Steeldrivers and Staff for giving us the video. We watched more of their videos and really like them. Next time we order from Amazon…Ya Hoo
Melanie, That is a handsome guy in that photo and YSAS will look just as great in the uniform. We love old photos.
6:25 pm on July 27th, 2011
Staff: I was going to say that this morning. Gramps and Bernie are related. loved the Steeldrivers.
Snail Mail: I haven’t received any of my auction winnings yet. I have received some instructions on how to start Mollypop’s needlework. Gulp. I will let everyone know when I get something. Especially the you-know-what.
6:39 pm on July 27th, 2011
Yeah, you ought to get the you-know-what soon!
Have to go eat dinner. And feed the parents. We are having a bean and salmon pasta salad, with artichokes. YuM
6:41 pm on July 27th, 2011
Dad is listening to an Audio Book by PG Wodehouse. One of the Jeeves ones. He keeps laughing out loud.
He says he has read it before but I say that only makes them funnier.
6:47 pm on July 27th, 2011
Melanie: Great grandfather is a very handsome man.
Is your knee better from your fall the other day?
6:48 pm on July 27th, 2011
Quick check in with you all – Mama is out straight trying to get her things finished in time for the shipping deadline. And tonight, she gets to go play clay with her new mentor – for a short session anyway before coming home to finish a beaded necklace.
Its good to see Rio back – grumpy little pug butt that he is.
Bee – we used the solid coconut oil and love it. It is a natural reducer of cholesterol and it can add some very nice flavor to some things. Granola with it sounds lovely. We also like a Mexican fish and papaya dish when it is done in coconut oil.
Have to say we have never been in a Borders. Rarely even get to B&N, and don’t think there is a Borders anywhere close by.
On the subject of the day – innocent sounding racial comments – there is speculation that the original term of “Indian giver” was a reference to the fact the the US government would “give” land to the Indians by treaty” for as long as the grass shall grow and the rivers flow”(real quotes from many treaties) and then the same government would take the land away when gold, oil or rich farmland was discovered there. Hence, the Indian giver was actually the anglo. But over time, the phrase has been reinterperated to slander Native people;implying that they give things and then take them back.
(Bee – I apologize to you right now for my less than impeccible spelling – it must drive you crazy)
And now, back to the rush – hope to check back in tonight. Have a good night all.
7:05 pm on July 27th, 2011
The coconut oil on the granola is very good. It was also good on the toasted bagel I had this morning.
It usually takes a great deal to drive me crazy.
Hope the show goes well Royal’s mum.
7:07 pm on July 27th, 2011
The explanation of “Indian giver” is interesting.
7:21 pm on July 27th, 2011
We are just reading the final Tony Hillerman book in his series. He talks about that very subject of treaty breaking. He mentions some tribes that were “relocated” to Kansas, then when the whites decided they wanted that land, they relocated them again to Oklahoma. Gen. Zach Taylor was responsible for some of the mistreatment, then we go and name a mountain after him on their Navaho reservation. Mt Taylor. What an insult!
7:32 pm on July 27th, 2011
Barb and MagPie, sounds like you are reading the one we just finished. “The Shape Shifter”?
Good book. I thought I had read all of his, but The Royals’ Mum gave that one to me and I
didn’t remember it orhadn’t read that one.Yes, my knee is better. Looks like carpola. I just showed it to my sister and she sort of turned green. Guess I won’t wear shorts to NYC! snicker
What hurts is every other joint and muscle in my body. Really jolted myself there.
Tomorrow morning is acupuncture again! Going to get stuck and ask about Patsy.
7:44 pm on July 27th, 2011
Speaking of television, do you guys get ‘Inspector Rex’? An Austrian tv series about a police detective and his doggy offsider, it’s quite old (from the 90s i think) but it’s really cute. Rex is a german shepherd.
7:44 pm on July 27th, 2011
Hey, y’all! Mom is feeling a little sad about the demise of Borders. Years ago she worked for Waldenbooks in New York and Maryland. After Mom stopped working there, Waldenbooks was bought out by Borders. Even now, Mom can’t help “cleaning up” books that are in the wrong place whenever she goes into a bookstore. She has been stopped and asked for help more than once!
As for Tess Gerritsen, Mom discovered her even before she started writing the Rizzoli and Isles books. She’s read all her books, and is actually in the middle of the newest Rizzoli and Isles book, The Silent Girl, right now. If anyone wants to read them, she says you should start at the beginning because the characters definitely develop as the series progresses. The first book, The Surgeon, actually features Rizzoli on her own, since Isles doesn’t join the team until later. Despite liking the books so much, Mom has never seen the series. I guess she was afraid the tv show would ruin the books for her.
7:59 pm on July 27th, 2011
Just checking in to say hello. Arrived in Seattle yesterday afternoon. The family left for Norway this morning. Nine hour flight to Amsterdam, then on to Oslo.
We are turning in early tonight. Bear
8:18 pm on July 27th, 2011
Few things and then I need to go up and clean. (Zoë has been cleaning the attic. Much of it is in my workroom).
Riö: I looked up “This old man . . .” because I remembered it as “paddy wack” and I thought maybe someone was hitting the Irish again. But no, it’s weird.
The origins come from another sone “Jack Jintle” and goes like this.
“My name is Jack Jintle, the eldest but one,
And I can play nick-nack upon my own thumb.
With my nick-nack and pad-lock and sing a fine song,
And all the fine ladies come dancing along.”
So I looked up nick-nack and found (besides the guy on Fantasy Island) that a nick-nack is a bauble. But if you further take it apart, nick is to steal. And why would you being doing that on your thumb?
Pad-lock is padlock. So does song have to do this stealing and jail?
Or is it a counting song for children?
Anyhoo, Patsy went in the pool today without pulling and pushing. She really enjoyed it.
8:26 pm on July 27th, 2011
Before I went upstairs I looked up “Inspector Rex”. Couldn’t find it on Netflix, but on Amazon you can buy Series one 4 DVD set for 95.99.
That’s not happening soon for me! I’m helping with a wedding dress!
8:34 pm on July 27th, 2011
Here’s the Wikipedia article on nick nack paddy whack.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Nack_Paddy_Whack
8:38 pm on July 27th, 2011
That’s too bad. There are a lot of series, i think 7. They show it on our multicultural channel on an endless loop, dad and I know the plotlines off by heart! That is expensive though. You can get series 1 here for $59.99…
There was a documentary series a few years ago about the native americans, they said that all up the American government made over 400 treaties – and broke every one of them.
8:40 pm on July 27th, 2011
Hooray for Patsy!
Now I have to say that “knick knack paddy whack give your dog a bone” sounds just fine to me.
8:48 pm on July 27th, 2011
Tupp’nGill – thanks for explaining about ‘indian giver.’. We are part Native American and so proud about that. Mom wishes that we knew more about this heritage.
8:50 pm on July 27th, 2011
“This old man comes rollin home” is the 2nd line to that.
We read a book recently, now can’t remember the author, but it was Started Early, Took the Dog, I think.. Anyhoo, she is British and she uses the word nick for stealing.
8:56 pm on July 27th, 2011
Big storms here, so we are shutting the computer down before we explode. Night all!
8:56 pm on July 27th, 2011
Kate Atkinson wrote that, I think. The english also use ‘the nick’ for ‘the jail’.
9:12 pm on July 27th, 2011
Good night all.
9:20 pm on July 27th, 2011
Mom read Rio’s post right after work before going to the shelter and has been singing (and she doesn’t sing well AT ALL) “This Old Man” all the way there and all the way home. Thank goodness for the cats at the shelter, she didn’t sing it for them!!
Norway, BSD???? Not the safest place to go right now, is it? It’s awful what that guy did. So many lives lost.
LOVED the interview posted by Chet. For some reason, we have not read it before and felt it was pure Bernie. Can’t wait for September.
T&G, we always thought that Indian giver referred to how things were given to the Indians and then taken away, not that the Indian was the one giving and then taking back. There sure are a lot of ethnic/cultural slurs that are in common vocabulary and not even thought about.
Melanie, Franklin’s picture is hung and he is looking mighty handsome.
10:24 pm on July 27th, 2011
Very interesting reading the origins of some of our terms that we never realized were ethnic slurs. Gyp..Welch..Indian Giver (well o.k. that one we knew was a slur; just didn’t know the origin).
As for paddywack, from that wikipedia link: Paddywhack is a strong elastic ligament or tendon in the midline of the neck of sheep or cattle which relieves the animal of the weight of its head. It is pale yellow in colour.
It is referred to in the children’s nursery rhyme This Old Man.
Dried paddywhack is commonly packaged and sold as a dog treat.
It all comes back to dogs!
10:25 pm on July 27th, 2011
Mom & Pop just got back from their favorite pizza place. This time they didn’t bring a pizza home for all of us to indulge. This time, they took the wine to the pizza instead. We are all kind of perturbed. Ah well, it has been a marvelous day here in PA.
Good nite to all.
10:49 pm on July 27th, 2011
Grump! …I’ve had nothing but trouble all night with this damned old piece of crap computer…grumble!…Why doesn’t she just go buy a nice new one with a big bad-ass screen anyways?…sniff!
Finally!…We are down in the basement watching the Rockies game…woooo!… Tom Hanks is at the ballpark watching the Rockies and the Dodgers play too…snorkel!…Tom is at a lot of the Dodgers games, poor Him!…heh!…Anyways what are we talking about here on this here blog tonight?…sneeze!cough!
Agent Molly!…If you are still up, check your SDD ASAP …heh!…Or when it is convenient for you and your pouffy tail…snort!
11:05 pm on July 27th, 2011
Begging!…She must have noticed my dismayed look while I was trying to post something on Chets Blog using this old computer because she told me, and this is very confidential….sniff!…that as soon as we get those renters in there and they are paying all of our bills, then maybe she can go out and buy a new computer…wooooo!…Although, she did caution that this may not be till Christmas – meaning maybe we can get her mother to pitch in for it too…heh!…I don’t know if I can wait that long though. I don’t think this ole piece of crap will even last till Christmas…sniff! gruffle! …What’s a poor Pug to do?… sneeze!
11:15 pm on July 27th, 2011
Last check in of the day.
Bee – Mama noticed that you said it takes quite a bit to make you crazy….but didn’t say that her terrible spelling hadn’t sent you round the bend yet…tee hee.
Miss MollyPop – glad your Mom is going to see the doctor. It does sound like thee is something wrong! And we would love to know more about your background – do you know what Nation?
One more task to finish before bed, so good night all.
11:17 pm on July 27th, 2011
Well Macy, Texas has 3 more outs to see if they can beat the Twins. We are up 7 to 1!!!!
Nope, so sorry… heh heh heh
11:19 pm on July 27th, 2011
Batting!…Stewart is up to bat…grrrr!yeep!grrrr!… Fly to the corner and caught…grrruummp!….I wander if this guy will be traded?…snort!
Crazy!…Tuppers last-one-of-the-day post reminded me that I was going to comment on the fact that I have probably driven Stover over the edge a time or two in the year and a half that I’ve known her…chorkel!
11:23 pm on July 27th, 2011
Crawwrrap!…Now that other guy I want them to trade is pitching…snort!…Aaron Cook!…dammit! Why do they keep him around…sniff!…Game is tied right now – just watch…it will be an uphill climb soon…snuffle!
11:33 pm on July 27th, 2011
good night all
11:42 pm on July 27th, 2011
Style!… Is it the East Coast or the West Coast that drives the younger generations styles?…snort!…We here forget and probably don’t really give a shit anyways…heh!…But as we are watching the Dodgers game in LA it is hard to miss the Hair and Glasses of the teen boys in the front seats…grunt!….Lots of hair piled on top of their heads with the sides cut or shaved short with big thick black glasses to see…weird, but also kind of cute….snorkel! …They look like they are in a Fifties movie – remember “American Graffiti?”…chorkel!
12:01 am on July 28th, 2011
OMG!… Before we go to bed I have to try and post this photo…heh!heh!…Here is what has become of Mother Bogar during the Big Move…snort!… She has been relegated to the end of the hallway inside a small bookcase beside the fan…sniff!…Her face is being crushed by a book and one of her legs is missing!…snort! …Poor Mother Bogar!…heh!…Sleep tight!
12:02 am on July 28th, 2011
If Wookie drives the Wookie-mobile and my ancenstors primary mode of transportation was the paddy-wagon I wonder what would Rio drive? The puggy-wagon?
Rio: What is a pug to do? As I see it you have two options, and one—patience is not really an option at all so the answer is simple. Clearly you have no other recourse than to whine, burp, play the harmonica, plot evil deeds until your friend sees reason and takes you to the high-techie store to pick out your computer. I would recommend letting your friend use your new computer once in a while as a peice offering.
12:09 am on July 28th, 2011
Yipes I see the Rockies are up by one. That is much as I can stay up to see.
Rebecca, I think that Rio is doing that already. Except for the letting his friend use the computer…heh heh heh. Maybe he can make a deal, but I doubt it.
Night all. I hope Liz is working on the cookbook. I hope she is having fun with it. I am planning on taking my pages to a kinkos and having them print it and bind it with the swirly black curls that allow you to lay it open flat. And maybe I will have the covers laminated.
Sweet dreams
12:12 am on July 28th, 2011
Rio. Poor Mother Bogar. But I do believe one of the books she is sharing the shelf with is Last of the Dixie Heroes by the charming Mr. Abrahams. At least she is keeping good company. I hope the Rockies can hold on. These 10:00 pm starts (EDT) are murder for us on the East Coast. Wookie
12:19 am on July 28th, 2011
Did anyone notice that my Angels had a no-hitter today? They beat the Indians 3 to 1 (there was an error on the lead-off hitter that resulted in the Indians score). The pitcher was Ervin Santana. My grandpa’s name is Ervin, but his last name isn’t Santana. Bummer! Ironically, Santana made his major league debut against the Indians in 2005, and the first four batters hit for the cycle (single, double, triple and homer) against him. He had a little better outcome today!!!
12:33 am on July 28th, 2011
Dawson: Has Ruby Jo gotten her package yet? Mom thought she would have it by now.
Mom says I’ve gotta go to bed now. Goodnight, y’all!!!
12:56 am on July 28th, 2011
I just finished dog chores and have settled on the couch with Luna, Belle Starr adn Tenzing to watch a video. I treated myself and rented a movie tonight though I doubt I can keep my eyes open much longer.
Night all.
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