No Post Tomorrow
Special traveling day. But for now, a blog exclusive – the very beginning of book 5 in the Chet and Bernie series:
“Heard you drove another one off a cliff,” said Nixon Panero. He spat a thin brown stream of chewing tobacco into an empty paint can, or maybe not that empty. Yellow paint, the yellow of egg yolks, now with a brown swirl in the middle: there’re all kinds of beauty in life.
“You heard wrong,” said Bernie.
Tags: book #5, Chet and Bernie mystery, Nixon Panero
This entry was posted on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 at 6:05 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.
7:21 am on December 15th, 2011
You must have gotten up before breakfast today. I’ve been trying to catch your opening for the last couple of weeks to remind everyone to vote for AJ, and I notice your starting earlier each day. Have a safe trip wherever you’re traveling, but vote before you leave. Today and tomorrow are it. I wonder how long it will be before we know the results.
7:52 am on December 15th, 2011
Hoping for the best for AJ. Vote early and ofter – hey, what can I say, we’re from Illinois!
I bet the group is going to an island again for the holidays. They did that last year, right? Hope they are surrounded by family and love, and have safe travels, too.
Barb has work today. She has decided 2 on, 5 off is not a bad gig, so she is going to stop complaining about it.
We had rain; they said if it were 10 degrees colder, we would have had 15 inches of snow. Molly’s Mom would like that, but not us. Have a great morning everyone. BBL
8:00 am on December 15th, 2011
MagPie – If our weather had been colder for the last 3 weeks, all that rain we had would have made 15 feet of snow!
8:22 am on December 15th, 2011
Good Morning Mollypop’s Mom, Barb And Maggie and Tyb, Have to go off for training today. It was supposed to have a ‘wintery mix’ last night but it looks like it wasn’t too bad.
Off to vote before breakfast.
Don’t get into any trouble while I am gone.
8:23 am on December 15th, 2011
Oh, Mollypop’s Mom, I had 13603 updates last night. Can this be right? (Microsoft auto updates)
8:50 am on December 15th, 2011
Greeting Everyone!
Nothing like a cliffhanger before a vacation….
No snow here in Westchester. Looks like our Halloween storm was it. It is not even very cold yet. BAH HUMBUG.
I hope all of thos Plunderers who were under the weather are feeling tip-top!
I voted already! GO AJ!!!
Oh, any word on YSAS????
8:59 am on December 15th, 2011
Chet, I will leave you to find beauty in tobacco spit and paint.
No word on YSAS as of yet.
Staff: Had to laugh at you having to go buy lunch. Good luck today.
Dawson and The Royal Mum check your SDD.
I’m off to go get punctured and then to do errands.
BBML
9:12 am on December 15th, 2011
Safe journey to all who travel this season and may all the presents get wrapped and the cookies bake evenly.
(whisper) how can they be away from Pearl?
Bee – we’ll be your students; now you can educate us. Congratulations on a career well done.
I voted.
Get well, Everybody and stay well, Everybody else!
9:19 am on December 15th, 2011
I don’t think Chet and I have the same definition of “beauty.” Have a safe journey Spence et al.
Thank you Bluecat!
Good morning all.
9:23 am on December 15th, 2011
Yuck!
That beginning makes me kinda nauseous.
I slept in so I have to vote and run.
Enjoy the day everyone.
9:38 am on December 15th, 2011
Nixon Panero. What a great name! Spence always has a way with great names, although the best is still Chet, pure and simple. Good morning everyone. Beautiful day here in Chevy Chase. May get up to 60 degrees by afternoon, and a possibility of a spot of rain later, but right now looking good. Wookie
9:38 am on December 15th, 2011
I wish I knew how Abbie got tied up in a shopping bag.
B&M: I may teach part time…depending if I feel like it. I mentioned that yesterday during the cake party and said that sadly most of the students in that class (it was the elective class) would not be needing another literature elective. One student said, “I’d take any class you teach.” That was a wonderful gift!
9:41 am on December 15th, 2011
That’s what I forgot to mention: It’s 57 degrees here…in the middle of December! I never remember it being this warm at this time of year.
9:51 am on December 15th, 2011
Gone!…. Spencer and Admin are gone!….grunt!… No post tomorrow…sob!…..I hope their plane doesn’t crash into the ocean. I know Admin can swim, but Spencer’s little short legs won’t do much good in that kind of water….wheeze!
#5!….Book #5 sounds wonderful right off the bat!….wooooo!….Now we have the beginning and the ending….sniff!….Somehow we have to get our paws on the middle part….wuffle!
9:55 am on December 15th, 2011
Another sampling of Book #5 what could be better!
A good morning to everyone!
Safe journey Spence & Co.
Lazy day for B?
10:02 am on December 15th, 2011
Snort!….heh!heh!snort!….I just read what happened to AbbieThe Kat last night….chorkel!…. I laughed out loud, and I never laugh….grunt!…. Those Goats have some nerve. But I have to wonder how the heck they were able to lift that 2-ton Abbie and swing her around 10 times!…heh! ….Boggles a pugs mind it does…sniff!
10:20 am on December 15th, 2011
Staff – 13603 updates sounds wrong. Did they update or just download? Is there a list that you can choose from? This seems suspicious.
I switched to Apple in September and I love it. I should have done this long ago.
10:36 am on December 15th, 2011
To Mollypop’s Mom,
I hate people who say, “I told you so.” but I told you so.
10:41 am on December 15th, 2011
The dvd of the other night – Larry Crown – was one of those light feel-good movies. Only thing is…we didn’t care much for the Tom Hanks-Julia Roberts combo. But, guess what Rio? Bryan Cranston was in it! Although, he played a part that was so unlike the character we have come to know (and love?) that we barely recognized him. Guess that is the mark of a good actor.
Speaking of which…hope we hear something about YSAS today.
Abbie: How in the World? (whispering) It had to have been those dam goats! Thank Dog Staff was there to get you out of it!
10:43 am on December 15th, 2011
Bear: I have a set of papers to grade and on Monday I’ll be getting two sets of finals so no lazy days yet. But just wait!!
There is an insect flying outside my garden door wall. This has to be a first for December in Michigan.
10:43 am on December 15th, 2011
Blog!….Not this blog but someone else’s blog…sniff!….The Wrangler, and you will know who she is once you see her blog, wants to put my friends quilling up on her blog…heh!….When and if this ever happens I will post a link to her cute and very wranglerish blogging….snorkel!
10:53 am on December 15th, 2011
Rio: Me thinks your friend will be VERY busy once her work is up on the Wrangler’s blog for many to see and admire. Thing is, she may have to soon quit her job at the Busy Place to do her quilling full time.
Tyb & MollyPop’s Mom: Yes, I have heard tell that Apple is superior. We knew of one gal in California that insisted on having a Mac at her work station. And, she got it!
10:56 am on December 15th, 2011
Rose: Are you enjoying the warmer weather, or are you wishing it was more of a Winter Wonderland?
I voted!
10:58 am on December 15th, 2011
Maskers!….Nothing would make her happier than not ever having to go to the busy-place again…sniff!….But she says Quilling would not pay the bills and it doesn’t carry medical insurance….snort!
11:18 am on December 15th, 2011
No 401K either..sniff.
11:37 am on December 15th, 2011
Denied!….She said I cannot and will not post a link to her co-workers blog….grunt!….Too much information would be leaked about her. She says that along with my big mouth would be way too much….wuffle! …Sorry I even said anything…grump!
11:47 am on December 15th, 2011
Drat! Foiled again. What about selling on EBay?
Speaking of selling…hope Golinka and Co. are having a Big sales day!
11:50 am on December 15th, 2011
This is a link I got off of Facebook. It has photos of the 25 “Most Beautiful College Libraries in the World.” I’ve only been in two: The Beinecke at Yale and, of course, the law library at the University of Michigan. They are beautiful.
http://flavorwire.com/240819/the-25-most-beautiful-college-libraries-in-the-world
11:51 am on December 15th, 2011
Wait! That’s coming up this weekend, right T&G?
12:01 pm on December 15th, 2011
If you are going on Holiday Vacation, have a great, fun trip Spence and family.
Our temperatures have been running below seasonal normals…fine with me.
The goats have been picking on one of the littlest of us, even if Abbie is a bit fluffy. The MGs are cowardly goats…every last one of them.
I think TYB does his test today, so best of luck guy. I know you’ll do fine,
12:15 pm on December 15th, 2011
Mr. Tibbs!…I hope those dastardly Goats do not thwart Mr.Tibbs test results…grunt! ….Good Luck Mr. Tibbs!
12:17 pm on December 15th, 2011
Hey Masquers and all my other great friends!
Sorry that I’ve been MIA for a bit. I’ve been very busy training Kat the Dog so that T.C. Can finally come out of hiding. She is such a scaredy cat.
Good luck to Tyb for his test! Mommy voted today, and I’ll make sure Daddy does too.
12:44 pm on December 15th, 2011
Masquers, not that the weather we’re having here is bad, but it is SO wrong for December, especially 10 days before Christmas. Some snow would be nice. I am a winter baby, so snow and I have a good relationship.
12:54 pm on December 15th, 2011
Staff – Microsoft announced today that they were updating the Internet Explorer browser across all platforms. Could some of that be your updates?
1:23 pm on December 15th, 2011
Reporting back from a trip to the Far North.
After an urgent call from Siber-H last night Franklin, Siber & I blurred off to investigate what was reported to be Extreme Counter Surfing accomplishments. We were joined by Whitey-Lance at the scene of the so called “crime”.
Facts: C.Harris thought she heard a thump in the night. In the morning a pan containing 4 dozen cookies had disappeared from the counter. Snowy tracks leading from the kitchen into the garage and out the Arctic dog door provided further clues to the night-time activities. Incriminating evidence found in the dog pen: out of four dozen cookies six remained in the pan.
What has many of the Plunderers concerned is the blatant bragging of the Notorious MGs, who are claiming to have been involved in this splendid adventure.
Not so. It was a fait accompli when, and indeed if, the goats arrived.
It is now neck-in-neck between the Arctic Duo and River Bear Mac. Who will be Top Dog in this Surfing Contest?
1:30 pm on December 15th, 2011
A text from the Oley Howlers this morning: We regret we were unable to accompany you on this amazing journey due to prior obligations.
2:12 pm on December 15th, 2011
Trigger, The Pack is voting for Mac.
Though the Arctic Duo did a GREAT job!
Back from getting puncture and from down the hills. My trip once again proved that most drivers are idiots. Nice thing about where we live? Not much traffic.
Zoë said she rested while I was gone. Right. She is now resting from her resting.
Have not heard from YSAS. He is doing a reading for a play this winter. Not much pay, but since it’s his landlady he said yes. Good thing!
Also that Indie movie that got postponed because of feuding is now back. Filming to be in January.
Come on Roles that pay!!
2:15 pm on December 15th, 2011
Trigger, lol Good to hear from you…excellent mission report. The goats are off their rockers, as usual.
Mollypop’s Mom? Does Microsoft do this updating automatically?
3:26 pm on December 15th, 2011
Siber-H – The automatic updating is set up by the user in Control Panel – so it’s only if you want it to be automatic. If you have an older computer, you need to be careful here.
3:34 pm on December 15th, 2011
Present!….sniff!….My friend just sent me an email saying she and the Wrangler and some other folk just got back from being taken out to lunch by some other dude at the busy-place….grunt!…When they finished lunch my friend asked if they could go into a store called, “Dog.”….heh!….She said she found Beau a new harness and she is going to give it to him for Christmas….grunt!….Damn, I always enjoy seeing him walk around in Grandmas underwear. ….chorkel!
3:51 pm on December 15th, 2011
Tyb – Good luck on your test tonight.
3:58 pm on December 15th, 2011
Thank you all for your moral support.
4:14 pm on December 15th, 2011
Mollypop’s Mom, Thank you …it is automatic on mine.
Rio, That looks like a very comfortable harness. Beau may look a wee bit like a zebra in it, but he will be cute.
4:14 pm on December 15th, 2011
FINALLY!! Finally on their way to Boston! First they overslept, then while reading the paper they saw an ad for EXACTLY the thing they wanted to get her father for Christmas. They called the store and they said they only had 3. And they would not hold one or sell it over the phone. So they dropped everything and made a dash to the store where they got THE LAST ONE!!! Wooo Hooo!!
Once they got home , Mama packed while Dad did post office and bank stuff. He told Mama he had gotten his clothes ready the night before and everything was ready to pack.
Sure
Mama said she should have let him go with the clothes he had gotten ready. He would have been quite the sensation of the show WITH NO PANTS!
The lack of pajamas might not have been so bad, but he also hadn’t packed his dress shoes.
Sigh
And only after they got on the road did Dad mention that he needed gas, and since they were going to go right by the “cheap gas” place they could go there.
During rush hour.
When everyone else was there too
Mama says she will be saving lots of money now. No need to buy shampoo and mousse if she has pulled all her hair out.
She says she would blame the goats – except Auntie Melanie knows our Dad – so she would know anyway.
4:17 pm on December 15th, 2011
FINALLY!! Finally on their way to Boston! First they overslept, then while reading the paper they saw an ad for EXACTLY the thing they wanted to get her father for Christmas. They called the store and they said they only had 3. And they would not hold one or sell it over the phone. So they dropped everything and made a dash to the store where they got THE LAST ONE!!! Wooo Hooo!!
Once they got home , Mama packed while Dad did post office and bank stuff. He told Mama he had gotten his clothes ready the night before and everything was ready to pack.
Sure
Mama said she should have let him go with the clothes he had gotten ready. He would have been quite the sensation of the show WITH NO PANTS!
The lack of pajamas might not have been so bad, but he also hadn’t packed his dress s h o e s
Sigh
And only after they got on the road did Dad mention that he needed gas, and since they were going to go right by the “cheap gas” place they could go there.
During rush hour.
When everyone else was there too
Mama says she will be saving lots of money now. No need to buy shampoo and mousse if she has pulled all her hair out.
She says she would blame the goats – except Auntie Melanie knows our Dad – so she would know anyway.
4:57 pm on December 15th, 2011
What an adventure your mama had, T & G. Hope she has smooth sailing on the rest of the trip. And lots of buyers. And lots of good food. And nice weather. And…..
5:00 pm on December 15th, 2011
T&G: Kudos on finding the perfect present for Gramp.
Good thing Mum checked to make sure Dad packed his dress “shows” lol. And, they’re off! On another adventure in the world of those who are adepts at their craft. (btw. we can blame the goats for everything)
B: Taking the tour of the 25 most beautiful libraries was a pleasure. Thank you for the link.
TYB: You’ll ace that test!
5:12 pm on December 15th, 2011
I think the new harness will look very nice on Beau.
5:16 pm on December 15th, 2011
Love the new harness!
TYB, Good luck with your test. Is Molly’s Mom going to go watch you?
5:46 pm on December 15th, 2011
TYB, do yourself proud! The Pack has every confidence in you.
Beau’s harness is beautiful.
Hmm, I do know The Royal Dad, also the Royal Mum. She must have been in a good mood to remind him about the pants. snicker
Time for some dinner.
5:48 pm on December 15th, 2011
The harness looks quite stylish!
5:53 pm on December 15th, 2011
Third!….I almost forgot!….snort!…Hens!
http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i=550905823&m=9432&rr=y&source=ag999&c=emag63458
7:07 pm on December 15th, 2011
Beau will look quite handsome in his new harness. However, I have always had a feeling that the elastic borrowed from that article of Grandma’s clothing was a strong factor in calming him down. She works her magic even now.
7:15 pm on December 15th, 2011
Rio: We are loving the 12 Days of Christmas Cards. This last one was great!
7:41 pm on December 15th, 2011
Laughing Very Loudly…at the Royal’s dad forgetting to pack his pants!
Staff: Did mom and dad have their yummy brown bag lunch with fritos and chocolate bars?
7:46 pm on December 15th, 2011
Well, Folks, even with all your good wishes and positive thoughts, I managed to blow the TDI Evaluation big time. I don’t know what got into me tonight, but I was worse
tonight than I have been in any of the training sessions. I just couldn’t stop barking, and I was a bit too curious during “meet and greet” when I was supposed to ignore a beautiful red-headed four legger who was with the examiner who came over to say hello. I couldn’t contain myself; I just had to rub noses with her. That said, I the same Tyb I was this morning and my dad still loves me. We’ll try again sometime. Thanks for the good wishes.
8:21 pm on December 15th, 2011
Beau is at the top…
8:22 pm on December 15th, 2011
Oh dear Tyb. I would say you need to get out more, but I know you have. As we baseball people say.. There’s always next year.
Dawson, Mom couldn’t find it so she got herself a Ensure. Dad was napping and when he got up he brought her the lunch and she had lunch again. For some reason she wasn’t too hungry tonight.
Mollypop’s Mom, I did go check the downloads and there were only 8. I now wonder where the number 13603 came from. These are the updates.
1-Cumulative Security Update for ActiveX Killbits for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2618451)
2-Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool x64 – December 2011 (KB890830)
3-Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2620712)
4-Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2618444)
5-Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2639417)
6-Security Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2619339)
7-Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB2633952)
8-Definition Update for Windows Defender – KB915597 (Definition 1.117.953.0)
8:24 pm on December 15th, 2011
Mr.Tibbs!…. Bad time to let your hair down pal!…heh!… I’m sure you will do better next time. Heck, even Chet failed his test…snort! …So you are in good company ….heh!
Brunch!….Tomorrow my friend is supposed to take something for a potluck brunch at the busy-place….grunt!….When she got home her mother had made the chile cheese dip that she had bought all the ingredients for and had planned to make tonight….sniff!…We don’t know what her mother did to it, but it doesn’t taste quite right….grumble!….Why can’t that women leave things be just for once??…wheeze!
8:29 pm on December 15th, 2011
Tyb – We still love you lots and lots. Who cares about those tests.
8:32 pm on December 15th, 2011
Staff – Your computer is 64-bit so it’s new or new-ish. The updates are all security related and are important.
8:50 pm on December 15th, 2011
Aw Tyb: Tests are over rated and you rate #1 in my books. Also, redheads are extremely hard to resist. Pats and rubs for you.
8:51 pm on December 15th, 2011
yeah, Mollypop’s Mom, I didn’t see anything wrong there so I think I will just run cccleaner tonight and my virus software and try not to worry. I googled 13603 and nothing came up. Weird though. My computer has had really high numbers like this several times before.
9:02 pm on December 15th, 2011
Charlie!….Browns Christmas is going to start any second now!….Wooooo!…..Me and her love love love that show!…snort!….Beau is upstairs with her mother. It doesn’t get any better than this…snort!
9:17 pm on December 15th, 2011
GAH!…. Beau just came downstairs and jumped up on her lap….grunt!…He was surprised to find me there and jumped off right away…snort!…But not before I saw that he has a brand new chew bone….gurgle!…Her mother must have given him that one….dammit!…Now I will have to spend the rest of the evening trying to get that bone away from him…heh!
10:06 pm on December 15th, 2011
My dad always had a thing for red heads. Maybe I caught it from him.
10:26 pm on December 15th, 2011
Sorry TYB, but we still think you’re wonderful.
Rio, assume your friend cannot take the dip to work? Was Mama trying to be helpful?
Going to head off to bed. See you in the morning.
10:40 pm on December 15th, 2011
TYB: As Rio said – you are in the best of company – with Chet the Jet no less! (and who could resist a redhead?)
We are on the heels of Barb&Magpie. Time to watch a movie – Bear
10:41 pm on December 15th, 2011
Dippity!…Do!…heh!….Nope, she says she is taking the dip to the busy-place along with some more cheese and some salsa to maybe fix it up a little…grunt!….The hungry heffers will eat just about anything…chorkel! ….She’s also got two bags of taco chips to take along too….slurp!
11:11 pm on December 15th, 2011
Home at last! It’s been a busy week at the busy place.
T&G: I gave AJ a card for his last birthday that had a crumpled pair of jeans on the front. The cover read something like: I don’t care if it’s your birthday…On the inside it said: You still have to wear pants. Good luck at the show.
Tyb: I’ve been thinking good thoughts for you all day. I also hoped that no cats or MGs dressed as cats would thwart your test as they did Chet’s, but I failed to properly estimate the power of a red head. I agree with all the rest—you don’t need to pass a fancy test to be tops in my book.
Rio: I love the cards! Your cards have made the past few days even better.
I was wondering what those crumbs were doing in Whitey-Lance’s whiskers…Now, I know.
11:35 pm on December 15th, 2011
Kat the dog is a redhead…:-D
A Catty Librarian is a redhead, and so is Mom, Maggie. Well she WAS and I don’t think you ever lose it no matter what.
Bella that card made me laugh. Mr.Staff had to be trained in as to what was a good card for his wife. My girlfriend tried to explain it to him. (His idea is a good card is one that costs very little.) After he was ‘trained’ he gave me a very pretty card that said on the outside. I think it is time to say those three little words that every woman needs to hear.” I thought he had finally ‘got it’.
On the inside it said. “You’re Damn Lucky”
I have never complained about his cards since then. It is just a lost cause.
Night all!
12:02 am on December 16th, 2011
Staff: I’m wondering who exactly was training who?
Rose: Winter baby? When is the big day (if you don’t mind me asking)?
9:04 am on December 16th, 2011
Rebecca: That is information that even Luna and Belle Starr batting their eyelashes at me together, couldn’t get out of me. 🙂
9:22 am on December 16th, 2011
Good Morning Rose! I hope our intrepid traveling group is safe on their trip.
TYB’s Father: Had to laugh here about TYB. It is my firm belief that dogs that are highly intelligent have senses of humor. Not always what we want as TYB proved yesterday. It does remind me of a Water Rescue test that I watched. I had seen this Newf in practice do everything PERFECTLY. The day of the test? Nothing. He looked as his friend as she was asking him to do something he had never heard of, didn’t have the slightest clue. The last part of test, the HARDEST part, where the dog and his friend go on a boat, the friend dives into the water, the dog has to stay on board and his friend gives the order to come in and save her. . . I could tell the friend was upset as she sat on the stern of the boat with her Newf. She was sitting hunched over. Her Newf gave her a look and then licked her from chin to the top of her head. She laughed, he wagged his tail and finished the test PERFECTLY.
Got’a love’m.
TYB: You’ll do fine. I do understand about redheads. Both my guys are redheads.