No Post Today

Because it turns out to be real busy. Why, I’m not sure. And where’s my breakfast? Here’s something from the Extras as the end of the paperback of Reality Check.

Enid’s Laws (by Enid, circa 1957; annotations and #7 much later, not by Enid):

1. Organization is everything.

If the story isn’t organized, what have you got? A mess. To be organized, you have to make some big decisions from the get-go, such as: What’s the POV? One character? Multi? Tell it in first person? Third? How about the tense? Tone? I’ve got a nice beginning but will it lead to an end? Getting stuck without an end is bad. Make sure an ending is possible, and “the world blows up” doesn’t count. There are maybe 10,000 decisions in writing a novel. Accept that.

2. Fiction is about reversals.

Just like high school or college wrestling (meaning real wrestling). It’s much more fun to watch a back-and-forth match than a blowout.

3. Torment your protagonist.

Or, flipping it the other way, don’t fall in love with your characters. And the main one – perhaps hero, perhaps not – needs to be tested.

4. Push everything as far as you can without contriving.

Get everything you can from your ideas – don’t leave the gold mine only partly dug. But stop before you do anything that makes the reader feel your behind-the-scenes presence and think that terrible thought: That couldn’t happen.

5. Always advance the story.

Sometimes when you’re writing you’ll come up with a lovely little passage, a description of sagebrush at sunset, say, and a white dove gliding low. Does it move the story forward? No? Then out it goes. Shoot that dove!

6. Be original.

On every page! In every paragraph! No boilerplate! Ever!

7. (added much later) Be playful.

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 28th, 2010 at 8:11 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.

103 Responses to “No Post Today”

  1. B. Stover
    3:57 am on May 28th, 2010

    I have Reality Check on my Kindle so I don't know who Enid is or why the list is at the back of the paperback. However, this is excellent advice for writers. Excellent.

    I do have a few comments (and I assume no one will mind since this is expected of me by this time): Number 4 leaves out metafiction which reveals the writer's presence constantly. That's part of the fun, though many people are completely irritated by metafiction. Number 5: Don't kill the dove. Some description is enjoyable and helps the reader to "penetrate" the scene. (Note that I said some description. Flaubert, for example in Madame Bovary, did get a bit carried away.) Number 7 needs three words added: "especially in blogs."

    Hope you get your breakfast soon Chet. Wonder what is causing the busy-ness.

  2. Riö - The Evil
    4:36 am on May 28th, 2010

    Crap!….Another Chet-less day….snort!…. Hi Stover! I liked your comments about Enid, whoever that is… grunt!

  3. Melanie
    4:39 am on May 28th, 2010

    Good Morning B. Stover and All and especially Chet who needs some breakfast.

    Enid is some guy's (initials PA) mother.

    This is what PA said, in the paperback . .

    "My mother was a writer and taught me a lost when I was very young . A few years ago, I wrote down what she'd taught me in the form of Enid's Laws. There are six of them:"

  4. Melanie
    4:43 am on May 28th, 2010

    PA goes on to talk about his addition of "Be Playful." The example he gives is that wonderful scene from "Into the Dark" in which the question is "Where was the Boston Tea Party held?

  5. Melanie
    4:56 am on May 28th, 2010

    A couple of funny things this morning. . . First, funny but not, Riö all missions using the van must be put on hold. The starter quit. Or the Quitter started. It's not working.

    Second, is funny. YSAS is in an upcoming production of Love's Labour's Lost (July in NYC) and the director has decided to do it as a reality show setting! Will's language though. YSAS has to dress as a boy band member. SNICKER. That is so NOT YSAS.

    Costume: black and electric blue high top. Tight black jeans. Pyramid studded black belt. Shirts: either tight fitting black button up, short or long sleeve or a black sleeveless tee shirt with or without checkered suspenders. And the HAIR!!! Both of my guys go for wash and wear hair. This "do" takes 30 minutes! Jelled hair, then straight down on both sides and then somehow poofed up in the middle like a wall.

    CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE THIS!

  6. B. Stover
    4:56 am on May 28th, 2010

    Thanks for the infor Melanie. Good morning to you and Rio.

  7. Melanie
    4:58 am on May 28th, 2010

    Whoops, she didn't teach him lost, she taught him lots. Though with as many names as that fella writes under ? ? ?

  8. B. Stover
    5:01 am on May 28th, 2010

    Melanie: I love the description "wash and wear hair"! I've never watched a reality show. Is that the kind of "look" on a reality show? Wish directors would just do Shakespeare without all of the French pastry.

  9. Melanie
    5:08 am on May 28th, 2010

    My thought is that at least they are leaving the language alone.

    Reality show. Do you know that ask for actors on reality shows? Jeez. And they certainly are scripted. I learn a lot acting as YSAS's manager.

    Reality shows are not reality, they are stereotypes picked by casting directors to fill what the producers think will sell the program.

    I don't watch them either. I'm not watching TV that's on right now. Though I'll have to change that when Eurika comes back on. I'm catching up on TV shows that are on instant Netflix.

  10. Riö - The Evil
    5:13 am on May 28th, 2010

    Bess!… We will have to put our long weekend plans on hold …. Sob!… This couldn’t have happened at a worse time… crap!

  11. B. Stover
    5:20 am on May 28th, 2010

    What couldn't have happened at a worse time Rio?

  12. Riö - The Evil
    5:40 am on May 28th, 2010

    Why!…. The starter quitting on the van!…snort!… Maybe Mac The Newf can fix it???… grunt!

  13. BARB & MAGGIE
    5:48 am on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, We agree with you on Koontz's books – tried to read one that a friend loaned us, and never could read the whole thing. Don't understand the popularity, not one bit. Also, Rio, we are all dying to know what your friend does. Busy season must involve a golf course, garden center, swimming pool, landscaping business or something seasonal like that. Can we have a guessing contest? Maybe a signed copy of one of Chet's books for the winner, if Admin. is feeling generous. You could give us daily clues. Sounds like a fun time to me. Wags, Maggie

  14. Riö - The Evil
    6:01 am on May 28th, 2010

    MagPie!…. I have no clue what she does all day long at busy season….snort!… I emailed her and asked what she was doing and she emailed me back and said, “Get off the damn computer, OR ELSE!” ….grunt!

  15. ÄbbietheKitty
    6:08 am on May 28th, 2010

    ~Rio,

    In defense of my Koontz reading, I have only read one, and I only read the doggy part. The doggy part reminded me of a Sci Fi novel. The other part was too icky to read. However he had it all nicely sectioned off so I could just start skipping whenever we got to the icky parts. Didn't take me long to read at all. (snicker)

    Please (sob) don't hate me.

    Abbiethekitty

  16. Riö - The Evil
    6:21 am on May 28th, 2010

    AbbieTheKat!… I could never hate you even if you confessed to reading Jackie Collins… snort!…Please don’t though… sniff!

  17. Melanie
    7:08 am on May 28th, 2010

    Riö, we were wondering why Bess was so upset about the van.

  18. Riö - The Evil
    7:22 am on May 28th, 2010

    Bess!… We were going to r-u-n-n-o-f-t together this weekend and never come back!…. snort! … It’s all ruined now because of the starter not starting… sob!

  19. ÄbbietheKitty
    7:25 am on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, You shouldn't have told Melanie about you and Bess running off. Now you can never plan it again as Melanie will be carefully watching Bess.

    Poor Rio.

    You have to think these things through!

    Alice Johnson

  20. Riö - The Evil
    7:38 am on May 28th, 2010

    Alice!… You are right!… Whenever I let my emotions rule I screw everything up!… crap!…I’m sorry Bess for blabbing about our secret plans!….sob!

  21. B. Stover
    7:39 am on May 28th, 2010

    I just got back from the pool. It was lovely. It's finally cooled off a bit here.

    Rio: Why doesn't your friend want you to be on the computer?

  22. Riö - The Evil
    7:50 am on May 28th, 2010

    Stover!… She’s afraid I will hack into the Wall Street computer system and bring about global financial ruin….grunt!… Just because of that one small incident a long time ago – best left unmentioned for legal purposes….wheeze!

  23. ÄbbietheKitty
    7:55 am on May 28th, 2010

    Of course Rio! What else could it be!

    However you seem to be very good about the financial stuff lately thank goodness!

    Off to lunch out! Homemade cream of tomato soup and rhubarb pie!

    ~Staff (who is predictable)

  24. Melanie
    8:53 am on May 28th, 2010

    There's a movie that Travolta was in where he sings about pie. I sing it to Patsy, because her nickname is Pumpkin.

    The Pie song

    Pie

    Pie

    Me oh my

    Nothing tastes sweet, wet, salty and dry

    all at once o well it's pie

    Apple!

    Pumpkin!

    Minced

    an' wet bottom.

    Come to your place everyday if you've got em'

    Pie

    Me o my

    I love pie

  25. B. Stover
    9:27 am on May 28th, 2010

    What is a wet bottom pie? I'll have to get some rhubarb tomorrow when I go to farmer's market and make a pie.

    I'm reading Lights Out. It's very good.

  26. Riö - The Evil
    9:29 am on May 28th, 2010

    tover!… What part are you reading?…. grunt!… How’s Eddie doing? … heh!

  27. Riö - The Evil
    9:44 am on May 28th, 2010

    Opps!…. I forgot to copy the “S” in Stover!… snort!…. Sorry!

  28. Tweets that mention Chet The Dog : No Post Today -- Topsy.com
    10:56 am on May 28th, 2010

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ChetTheDog, Megan Frances. Megan Frances said: Writing advice from my fabulous brother Peter Abrahams & mother Enid RT @ChetTheDog No Post Today: Here’s something… http://bit.ly/99Lbs4 […]

  29. B. Stover
    10:26 am on May 28th, 2010

    I'm only on chapter 6. It's a flashback. SPOILER ALERT: Eddie just read the letter permanently expelling Jack from USC. I absolutely don't like Jack….the ice-skating incident. They went skin diving and he's just awoken in the cottage. There is someone…probably female…whom he sees in the other cabin. I know that won't be good…because of an earlier flashback. I love the description of the island, and the earlier description of swimming in the pool just before the flashback…at the Y the day he gets out of prison. It's probably Jack at the other end on the phone but I haven't gotten to that part yet.

  30. Wookie of Chevy Chas
    10:33 am on May 28th, 2010

    Melanie — I think the name of the movie is "Michael".

    And Stover, wet bottom pie is generally a reference to Shoofly Pie (a Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish creation), with the wet bottom usually made by a combination of molasses, corn syrup and water.

    (Isn't Google wonderful for just about anything? Although I actually did know the part about Shoofly Pie anyway) Wookie

  31. Riö - The Evil
    10:33 am on May 28th, 2010

    Stover!… Your instincts are good… snort! … I can’t say about the phone, I can’t remember that part…. grunt!

  32. B. Stover
    10:38 am on May 28th, 2010

    Shoofly pie sounds good. (I make a very good Southern Pecan Pie; everyone really likes it.) I'm really hungry now.

    Wookie and Rio posted at the same superstitiously significant time.

  33. Riö - The Evil
    11:38 am on May 28th, 2010

    3.33!…. Is that good or bad?… yeep!

  34. Siberian Husky
    11:42 am on May 28th, 2010

    Abbie, mom has read Watchers by Koontz three times now since it first came out. She reads the whole book, but not much bothers her when it comes to scary. Of course, the dog is why she read the book in the first place and continues to read it. It is different than his other books. It is his best.

    The golden in Watchers was her favorite dog in a book till Chet miraculously appeared. Chet is a real dog's dog.

  35. Mollypop
    11:47 am on May 28th, 2010

    Mom loved Kootz's Fear Nothing. Of course it was the dog she loved. His name was Orson and he drank beer – sounds like Rio.

  36. B. Stover
    11:59 am on May 28th, 2010

    333 and 333…so Rio and Wookie totaled 666. Good or bad depends. In Revelation it is the number of the man who helped the beast and is associated with the Antichrist or devil. In Judaism it is a positive number….but I can't remember what it refers to at the moment. Let's see, where do I go to find out?

  37. Riö - The Evil
    12:20 pm on May 28th, 2010

    666!… The Mark of the Beast!… grunt!…. That is not good at all…. gulp!….Wookie! I hope our future missions haven’t been marked for disaster!…. groan!

  38. Siberian Husky
    12:31 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Stover makes rhubarb pie and southern pecan pie, yummy. On our next trip or mission we need to stop by and visit her.

    Who knows how to fix a starter? It can't be too difficult. Maybe Rio and I could…we are motivated…pie and Bess.

  39. B. Stover
    12:38 pm on May 28th, 2010

    I would be happy to make pies for the next mission. And Rio, calm down. I looked it up and 666 equals the following in Judaic numerology: It represents the creation of a perfect world…six days to create the world, six cardinal directions (N, E, W, S, up and down), and six is the number of one of the letters in God's name.

    Does that help?

  40. Riö - The Evil
    12:39 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Stover!… No!… yeep!

  41. B. Stover
    1:06 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Sorry Rio. Can you not think of it as superstition? Otherwise, what is the solution?

    I'm watching Avatar On Demand. There was so much hoopla about it that I decided that I should see what it was all about. Interesting so far.

  42. Riö - The Evil
    1:08 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Grunt!… I knew all that posting at the same time would not end good… snort!… I wonder if Admin could change the timestamp for me???… pleeeeese?

  43. Riö - The Evil
    1:10 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Avatar!…That reminds me!…snort!… This blog Still doesn't support Avatars!… crap!

  44. ÄbbietheKitty
    1:15 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio,

    No No No, It doesn't count at all if you only got a 333. Now if you had posted twice at 333 I might worry, but it is still not a 666. You wouldn't freak out if you got a 599 and a 67 would you? NO! You would not.

    And you can't get a 666 so you are just fine.

    Alice Johnson

  45. B. Stover
    1:17 pm on May 28th, 2010

    By the way, my specialty is chocolate cream pie.

  46. ÄbbietheKitty
    1:26 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Oooo Stover,

    My hubbie wants your recipe! His favorite pie is chocolate cream and I NEVER make it.

    ~Staff

  47. Mollypop
    1:29 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Just a reminder here, B. is supposed to come with us on our next mission.

    Pies galore!

  48. B. Stover
    1:30 pm on May 28th, 2010

    See…Alice is correct.

    The special effects in Avatar are really excellent. So much imagination.

    Rio: If pictures were included next to names I think it would clog up the system and take forever to navigate the blog.

  49. Melanie
    1:50 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Taken from the pie of the month club website

    Shoo-Fly-Wet-Bottom Pie

    this makes 2 (TWO!) 9" pies, so you need:

    Two 9" single unbaked pie shells

    Crumb Topping

    4 C flour

    1 C brown sugar

    1/2 C salt

    1 C shortening or margarine

    Wet Bottom

    2 C molasses

    2 C cold water

    2 tsp baking soda

    1 egg, beaten

    mix crumb ingredients together with a fork until crumbly

    combine wet bottom ingredients, add 1/2 of the crumb mixture to the wet molasses mixture.

    Pour into crusts.

    sprinkle remaining crumb topping on top.

    bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 and bake for 30 minutes more.

  50. B. Stover
    2:04 pm on May 28th, 2010

    AbbieKat: I use the Better Homes cookbook recipe for chocolate cream pie, but I put a dab of whipped cream on each piece rather than make the meringue; I use their crust recipe also. Do you have that cookbook or do you want me to post the recipe?

  51. Siberian Husky
    2:11 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Chocolate cream pie!!! Mom just reminded me that dogs can't eat chocolate. Life is not fair! Mom says to tell you that she can eat chocolate, and just between you and me, she does.

  52. Lexi
    2:16 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Hey! Thanks, Chet! This is helpful for Megan. She said so herself. She is in the mid of writing her own story. She has…220 or so pages already. Heh, sounds like a lot to me. But, I don't know.

    Melanie! I WOULD have shown that somehow to my mommy, but she just left today for Germany. Dresden, I think, for her long lost brother and whatever. I just want her here with me right now. I cried before, even.

    Whoa! What a rush! Sasha(neighbor) got out of her house, somehow, and she ran around near our backyard. Daddy opened up the chicked wire thingy and-ZOOM! Out I went! I chased Sasha, and she chased me, and Megan chased me and Sasha, yelling at us to, "Stop running, dammit!" Sasha's mommy and daddy weren't home at the time, for like an hour or two, Sasha stayed in our house. But she ate everything! All of my treats! Ha.

    Megan and I watched Avatar. Man, were those suckers weird-lookin'. I mean, is it just me, or are those blue things just…abnormal? I barked my ass off at those things! I was like, "Put some clothes on, you freak!" Until Megan told me to shut up and, when I didn't, she kicked me out of her room. I didn't get to see the ending. So, how did Avatar end?

  53. Mollypop
    2:24 pm on May 28th, 2010

    B. – The avatars won't be slow (if we ever get them). They aren't slow on Facebook or online Twitter chats, for example.

  54. Riö - The Evil
    2:43 pm on May 28th, 2010

    AbbieTheKat!…. Thank you for pointing that out!…snort!… O course we each posted at 3:33 not 6:66… whew!….Sometimes my imagination gets the best of me and I go beserk!… sigh.

    Molly!… Yes! Stover is definitely coming on the next mission, if she gives me her permission slip… heh!… And thanks for pointing out that Avatars will not slow down the blog!… snort!… Photos of Alice do, but not those little bitty ones by our names …wheeze!

    Uh oh!…. Lil Lexi woke up!… sneeze!

  55. B. Stover
    2:45 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Okay…Mollypop knows about these things.

  56. Riö - The Evil
    3:06 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Melanie!…. I forgot to tell you that we saw the episode of Eureka where the whole town was filled with dogs because of the robot dog show contest!… snort!… We really like that show a lot! …cough!.. And that Fargo cheating by using a real dog! …heh! … What a hoot!

  57. Melanie
    3:11 pm on May 28th, 2010

    The Pack and I love that one, Riö!

  58. Wölfie Wigglebu
    3:31 pm on May 28th, 2010

    (Aside to Melanie) (snicker) I think that you should get the started fixed and let Bess and Rio run off. Maybe Bess would have her puppies early. Rio would have to deliver them! And babysit! Plus, no Rockies on tv!

    I just can imagine Rio being a wet nurse for 8 or 9 newfie pups.

    Oh…..I can just hear the complaints……!!!!!!

  59. Wölfie Wigglebu
    3:33 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Did anyone notice that PA has a busy time.

    Rio's friend has a busy time.

    The busy times are at the same time.

    Hummmmm

    What gives?

  60. Wölfie Wigglebu
    3:35 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Has anyone read any of the books by Trixie Koontz? She channels from beyond the rainbow bridge. She is a golden retreiver angel now, and I love her books and I love the stories that Dean writes about Trixie. Especially the last one.

    Made me cry, yes it did. And mom too.

  61. dawson
    3:41 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Shoo-fly pie was originally made to distract the flies away from the 'real' pies. Then it was discovered that the decoy was just as good as the real thing. – a pie aficionado

    No new Chet and Bernie Book yet so the patients/inmates decided to read a Dean Koontz book. We've read one of his Odd Thomas books and it was very good not only because we liked the character but because all the chapters were only a few pages long and so it was easy to stop anywhere when the bells start ringing.

  62. dawson
    3:43 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Ha! Rio? A wet nurse? I don't think so.

  63. Melanie
    3:57 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Snicker, Wölfie! Except it's Grace having the pups. Bess at nine is a tad too old puppies. Just right to watch TV, eat hot wings and drink beer!

    Turned on the live video feed from BP. Strange. They have around seven cameras down there and have put on the one where you CAN'T SEE ANYTHING but wavy things and droplets of oil (?). I would say that it's night but IT'S ALWAYS DARK DOWN THERE!

    Sorry just had to yell. Big globs of green stuff coming around. I don't know . . maybe they've made a mud volcano now.

    Brain leaving now, all I can think about is that song from childhood. Great Big Globs of Greasy Grimy . . . and I forgot my spoon. Hmmm. Is it any wonder that my generation is a bit strange?

    Well, must sleep. The Newf snores can get me tired.

  64. B. Stover
    4:01 pm on May 28th, 2010

    It isn't Bess who is expecting the puppies….I think it's Gracie.

    Lexi: Avatar turns out to be a war movie with the imperialist, greedy humans losing. Here's a website….go to plot to get the details.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(2009_film)

  65. Riö - The Evil
    4:02 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Melanie!… Bess told me she was 6 years old!… snort!… How do you like that?… grunt!

  66. Siberian Husky
    4:08 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, It just doesn't matter what age Bess is. Get over it. Age is a human hang-up.

  67. Siberian Husky
    4:15 pm on May 28th, 2010

    There is the perp himself, old Manny. He is a bit plump for a ballplayer and the hairstyle looks better on a Puli.

  68. Riö - The Evil
    4:18 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Siberh!…That’s actually a flattering photo of him… snort!…. He was just up at bat (OUT!)… and he is really a big fluffy looking guy!…heh!

  69. Riö - The Evil
    4:19 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Bess!…I don't care how old she is!…snort!… I just don't like being lied to…sniff!…I'm an older guy too! (don't ask!)

  70. Riö - The Evil
    4:20 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rockies!…ARE ON FIRE TONIGHT!… 1 – 0 in no time at all!…wooo!.. this is going to be fun!

  71. Riö - The Evil
    4:29 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Break!… Speaking of pie awhile back…sniff!… My friend makes the best apple pie from those little green tart apples… ooooo!… Every now and then I get a bite of it… yum!…PIE, CAKE!.. I can’t decide what I like best!… wheeze!

  72. Siberian Husky
    4:30 pm on May 28th, 2010

    I like your description of Manny, Rio.."fluffy"

    I don't for a minute think that Bess deliberately lied to you. You may have misunderstood what she said. The Newfs are a honorable pack of dogs and Bess is one classy lady.

  73. Siberian Husky
    4:35 pm on May 28th, 2010

    After the posts today by all of us down below, I think we should treat ourselves to some pie and cake this holiday weekend. Chet deserves a special treat also.

  74. Riö - The Evil
    4:47 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Newfs!… I wonder where all those Newfs sleep?… snort!… Do they all sleep together like a commune in one big room…snuff!… Or do they spead out around the house and pick their favorite people to sleep with?… grunt!… That has to be a big house for 10 Newfs to be in with at least 3 people… wow!…golly

  75. Siberian Husky
    4:47 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Wolfie, Mom read that last book by Trixie Koontz. She liked it very much and agrees that it was sad. We're glad that the Koontz

    family decided to adopt another Golden after Trixie's passing.

  76. Riö - The Evil
    4:49 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Bess!… I always wonder where my Bess's favorite place to sleep is…mmmmm

  77. Riö - The Evil
    4:50 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Wha?… Is Trixie Koontz related to Dean Koontz?… grunt!

  78. Siberian Husky
    4:52 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Maybe Melnie will answer your question tomorrow, Rio. I have wondered the same thing myself.

  79. Riö - The Evil
    4:55 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Wait!…Trixie Koontz is dead??… snort!…You know what?… grunt!…Anything related to “The Koontz’s”…. sniff!… I don’t really care to know about. So forget any questions I may have asked…yuck!

  80. Siberian Husky
    4:58 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Yes, Rio, Trixie is related to the author, Dean Koontz. She was his and his wife's first dog…a beautiful Golden.

  81. Siberian Husky
    5:01 pm on May 28th, 2010

    sorry, Rio..I answered your question before I read your post. You can't hold it against Trixie because she was adopted by Dean Koontz.

  82. Riö - The Evil
    5:11 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Grunt!… I just don’t like mentioning “that” guy within earshot (eyeshot?) of the charming Mr. Abrahams, who is a real writer … snort!… And I don’t care if that other guy used to own a lovely Golden Retriever (someone here absolutely adores that breed!) … but that doesn’t change my mind about his type of writing… wheeze!

  83. Siberian Husky
    5:20 pm on May 28th, 2010

    I totally agree with you about his writing. I just like his dogs.

    Rockies are doing it!

  84. Riö - The Evil
    5:35 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Well… No one else is chiming in tonight with a different topic…sooo!… YES!… The Rockies are 4 – 1 top of the 6th… heh!…We are loving it! What a great way to start the looooong loooooong weekend…snort!… Which someone here needs very badly indeed… snicker!

  85. Riö - The Evil
    5:45 pm on May 28th, 2010

    GASP!….That Manny he just hit his first home run at Coors Field ever!.. Crap!… Now the Dodger are up 5 – 4…Double Crap!…gasp!…This is going to be a really good one! … snort!

  86. Siberian Husky
    5:46 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, Fluffy got a home run.

  87. Siberian Husky
    5:47 pm on May 28th, 2010

    How a about triple crap.

  88. Barb & Maggie
    5:50 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, I don't think anyone answered your question about the wet nurse. It was originally a term for a woman who had given birth and was nursing her child, but could also hire out to nurse other babies. Guess it was for those "upper class" woman who didn't want to nurse, or for woman who couldn't nurse and would hire someone to do it for them. Back in the day before formula. That's all we have tonight so Good Night, Gracie! MagPie

  89. Riö - The Evil
    6:00 pm on May 28th, 2010

    WHAT!?…. So someone, and I don’t remember WHO, because the game is way too exciting, called me a WET NURSE!???…. snort!… I will do research later – I will find out who called me that name…grunt!… You have no idea what hell you are in for… grump!… I know it was not Dawson…Sniff!… That’s for sure….hmmm.. Game on gotta go.

  90. dawson
    6:20 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Whew!

  91. Riö - The Evil
    6:37 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Ahhhhaa!… It was Wolfie Wigglebutt who called me a Wet Nurse!… snort!… Right before he insinuated that the charming Mr. Abrahams and I are busy at the same freakin’ time for some amazing reason… wheeze!… I do NOT take kindly to this sort of thing Mr. Wigglebutt …. Not at all… growl!

  92. Barb & Maggie
    6:40 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, I know who said you could be a wet nurse to the newfies, hee! That's a lot of lovin! MagPie

  93. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:44 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Rio, guilty as charged.

    It is a moot point (learned that from the big guy, Wolfe, btw) because I was confused about how is preggers at the newf house. But the visual imagery of our rugged, tough guy Rio being swarmed with newf puppies is delightful.

    It's Friday, and it's been a long week. I plead my case!

  94. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:46 pm on May 28th, 2010

    I know the how about being preggers, it was the WHO that confused me.

    Geeze!

    I think that Fluff man overheard the guys dissing him and decided to even out the Karma a bit.

  95. Riö - The Evil
    6:48 pm on May 28th, 2010

    MagPie!… Well, it would take a miracle to get milk outta me, let me tell ya… snort!… grrrr!…wolfie..grrrr!

  96. ÄbbietheKitty
    6:48 pm on May 28th, 2010

    ~BStover,

    I have that cookbook, thank you and I will look up that pie. Crust??? You make the effing crust too!!!???? I am way out of my league. I may have to hire my brother to do the crust.

    ~Dawson,

    You dodged a Rio bullet there sister! Whew indeed!

    ~Rio,

    Twins won!!! Nah nah nah nah na na

    It is too late for me now so off to bed. I'm dodging bullets too.

    Goodnight all.

    Goodnight Gracie.

    ~Staff

  97. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:56 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Oh, and I didn't mean wet nurse in a strictly literal sense. It was more figurative, in a baby sitter kind of way.

    You know, reading them the sports page, feeding them treats, burping the sweet puppies. That sort of thing.

  98. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:58 pm on May 28th, 2010

    And didn't Melanie say the pups were due in early June? I can't wait! We're all gonna be godparents!!!

    I wonder if we'll be invited to a virtual baby shower? We could eat pie and cake and ice cream!!! Yummy!

  99. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:59 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Shhhh…..I just thought of something?

    Maybe we can throw Gracie a puppy shower? Any volunteers??

  100. Riö - The Evil
    7:23 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Wolfie!… All I can say is I am very disappointed in you…sniff!…. I thought you were going to be one of my top new Agents… grunt… This disrespectful nature in you makes me wonder about your ability to ever become a true Agent… snort!…You are now on the ‘other’ list… sneeze! … For now anyway! …. Wet Nurse, indeed???

  101. Riö - The Evil Pug
    8:59 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Wha!?…. What’s a wet nurse?….snort!… What puppies!?… grunt!… No Rockies on TV???… Wolfie, you are out of yer ever freakin’ mind!…woo wee.

    Hey!… The Dodgers tonight!… snort!… Manny Ramirez is going down down down in a pit of fire!…heh!.. Here’s fatso himself!…sniff!…just so you know who I am yapping about.

  102. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    11:52 pm on May 28th, 2010

    Melanie – we have GOT to see a photo of YSAS in costume!! Better yet, maybe you can video tape him reading a few scenes. I have a visual of him standing on an impromtu stage, with 17 or 18 newfs sitting in the audience, watching him. The little pups can sit in front so they can see!

  103. Riö - The Evil Pug
    12:30 am on May 29th, 2010

    Grump!…Rockies Lost to the Dodgers… snort!…..Nothing ticks me off more than that… Except being called, “A Wet Nurse”… Growl!

    Goodnight All!… snort! … Please enjoy a very safe and happy Memorial Weekend! …pug nips!…sigh

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