Putting Our Heads Together
“A guy like Foster doesn’t leave money on the table,” Bernie said. We were sitting in the car at the empty housing development; a big scrap of pink insulation blew by. I didn’t like the smell of insulation, not one bit. And the wind was also carrying this other scent, very faint, but –
“I mean, money’s his raison d’etre, right?” Bernie said. Raisins? Were raisins coming out? Not my favorite, but I was pretty hungry at the moment, would settle for just about anything. But Bernie didn’t reach into his pocket, or the glove box, or anywhere else raisins might be. Also, did I smell raisins? No.
“On the other hand,” said Bernie, “there are probably underlying psychological motives with the Fosters of the world. And certainly with the Albies. Although maybe not the Nuggets Bolliterris.” Hey! I remembered Nuggets. Did he actually eat that light bulb? Hope he was doing okay now in his orange jumpsuit.
“Sure would be interesting to know whether Foster’s really headed for L.A.,” Bernie said. Would it? Didn’t seem interesting to me, but if Bernie said it was then that was that. “But the only way to approach that problem is to check the one place he definitely won’t be if his story is straight up.” Bernie sighed. “I just hate going there, that’s all.”
I waited to find out where, or to find out what he was talking about in general, or for a snack of just about any kind. There’s a lot of waiting in this business.
Tags: Albie Rose, Foster, Nuggets Bolliterri, snacks
This entry was posted on Saturday, May 29th, 2010 at 10:08 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.
6:04 am on May 29th, 2010
Wowie!… There’s some real stuff to ponder and speculate about today… snort!… Too bad we are going to be outside working in the yard for most of it…grunt!… I have to help, I have to know what is going on at all times out there in my yard… sneeze!
Bess!… I never really thought she would lie to me on purpose…sniff!… I have trouble with numbers sometimes too… snorkel!
Nuggets!… Bolliterris … HA! …Is he is teaching tennis in the big house these days? … heh!
6:06 am on May 29th, 2010
Wölfie, just caught up. Under no circumstances will I let Riö near the pups! Not for their sake but for his. Eight pups at 3 weeks old would smother him! Not only that all eight's birth weights together would even top his weight now.
Otherwise: They took the promo pictures and as soon as I can (they don't move fast enough for me) I will post a pic of YSAS as boy band member. Can't think how to get the Newfs down to see him though. The van is broken and the last time I was on the train, the conductor said he was thinking of through us out. That idea might have to remain in your mind.
Riö, you need to give Wölfie another chance. It is sort of mind boggling to think of you as a nursemaid, but it was Friday night. You just have to let Wölfie catch a few butterflies before the mission.
6:20 am on May 29th, 2010
It seems to be that the one place Foster would not go "if his story is straight up" is Albie's in Vegas.
6:36 am on May 29th, 2010
Bee, that was my first thought. Especially when Bernie mentioned that he "hated going there."
However, Foster said that Astrid was dancing (present tense) at the Club Utopia. If it were me, I would head there first; and either she's there or she isn't. If she is, case closed. If not, then Bernie could pay Mr. Rose a visit.
Wait a minute! I'm not ready for the case to be closed!
6:36 am on May 29th, 2010
I agree B Stover, I think the dynamic duo would have to check out Albie's. Yuck.
6:44 am on May 29th, 2010
(Ahem)
A formal apology to Mr. Rio:
I, Wolfie Wigglebutt of the Wild, Wild West, do sincerely and humbly apologize to Mr. Rio for speculation regarding the imagery of the said Mr. Rio in the Role of Becoming a Nursemaid to the offspring of Ms Gracie Newf.
I am willing to grovel in whatever manner necessary to redeem myself to the good favor of the afore mentioned Mr. Rio.
With a grand and chagrined bow,
I remain, your Abashed Butterfly Chaser,
Mr Wolfie (Tail Between My Legs)
of the WWW
6:47 am on May 29th, 2010
Also. One of Woflie's boys is in Solitary Confinement at his school because he tried to Run Away.
It was a long, long week for Wolfie and mom and dad.
"Nuff said.
7:10 am on May 29th, 2010
A chagrined bow and tail between the legs….even Rio must be touched.
When Foster mentioned Pine City Bernie's reply was about the casino that is being built….meaning not yet done. Club Utopia could exist except utopia is not a place, or no place…..Pondering….
7:34 am on May 29th, 2010
Rio, please reinstate Wolfie. Not only is he sorry for whatever, but this stuff with his boys is just awfully hard. I know, because we went through this a few years ago.
We need to cheer him up.
7:53 am on May 29th, 2010
Dear!…Mr. Wolfie Wigglebutt, I completely forgive you. Consider yourself part of the team again… snort!… Sorry to hear about your boy….sniff!
8:04 am on May 29th, 2010
Eight!… Is enough!…snort!… Melanie, do you really think Gracie could have eight puppies??… grunt!… That means you would have eight plus ten Newfs in the house all at once… golly!…Where will they all sleep?… cough!
8:24 am on May 29th, 2010
Foster!… Looks like another road-trip to Las Vegas to see that smelly Albie… snort!….This is gonna be good!… sneeze!… I wonder if Albie has hired a new body guard?…grunt!
8:49 am on May 29th, 2010
Do not eat raisins, Chet. Bernie, get rid of any raisins you might have.
RAISINS KILL DOGS!!!
I don't like insulation either, Chet. My folks were messing with some yesterday. I wasn't allowed to supervise. They made me go outside, which was fine with me.
Chet needs some food. Ribs would be nice for a holiday weekend.
8:52 am on May 29th, 2010
I was kinda hoping that we would get to go to Pine City.
9:16 am on May 29th, 2010
Well, I think we figured it out. Bernie hates going to Vegas, and he said, "I just hate going there, that's all." And Foster said before, "And you can trust me, too. I'm oughta here-headed for L.A. right after we're done. Got a new gig." and "…Like what I do now, only working for someone more saner than Albie." That could have been a lie, maybe. I don't know. Just spitballin' here. But, maybe Bernie IS going to Pine City-Utopia-and we just got it wrong. Well, I'm not a good guesser. Leave it to Bee and Melanie. How about you, Rio?
10:20 am on May 29th, 2010
Chet, you sure have alot to ponder today…trying to figure out what Bernie’s thinking. Perhaps he could let you out to stretch your legs, take a little (ahem) personal break, and then you could check out that faint smell that keeps drifting your way. Perhaps a bark or two is in order to let him know?
10:33 am on May 29th, 2010
Gus & BooBear, We’re with you. Chet needs to let Bernie know he needs to get out. The Pack is always letting us know they want to get out of the van, or in the van, or out of the van. You should see trying to fit five of them in the Subaru Outback. You CAN get all of them in there, and then they sort of pop out of the seams when they come out. It’s just difficult to drive.
Chet, I understand where you’re coming from on that pink insulation. I get near it and start wheezing (just like Riö) and then break out it red blotches. In fact, once . . . wait I better keep that story for another day.
Don’t eat any “raison d’etre” Chet. Someone here down under said they weren’t good for dogs : ) Anyway, everyone knows that dogs don’t need “raison d’etre” The Nation within the Nation just are . . or is . . MORE COFFEE!
10:34 am on May 29th, 2010
Aside to Riö, Bess did NOT lie. She’s dyslexic. 6 and 9 are difficult.
10:45 am on May 29th, 2010
So, I take it that Bernie is headed off to Club Utopia?
10:47 am on May 29th, 2010
I always whine and give mom a big, sad Wolfie look when I need to go out.
I’m not worried though. Bernie won’t let Chet down. He knows what Chet is thinking before Chet even thinks it!
10:49 am on May 29th, 2010
Melanie – did you read my posts from last night? I had some great ideas!
(Okay, maybe the one about Rio becoming a nursemaid was a dud.)
But the others were pretty funny, inho. Especially the one about YSAS!
10:23 am on May 29th, 2010
My vote is Albie in Las Vegas. Bee reads things the same way I do.
Have to shower and then go to a graduation party tonight Lots of food there! I wonder if there will be any pie?
~Staff(who has been out in the garden and is now all hot and bothered.)
11:30 am on May 29th, 2010
I also think that if the scent Chet keeps smelling were important to the case, he would jump out of the Porsche, run around to find the origin of the scent and then start barking to get Bernie’s attention….as he’s done in the past.
11:08 am on May 29th, 2010
AbbieTheKat!…. I’m all hot too!…snort!.. It’s a very warm day today and even lying in the shade on the grass is hard work… grunt! …We came in to cool off a little and have something cold to drink… gulp!
What!… about me Lexi?…. sniff!…. You want me to second guess You?….heh!heh! …. I do have a hunch Bernie has a place in mind that we have never been before or even heard of yet….grunt!…That would be fun!
11:17 am on May 29th, 2010
I vote for Vegas too, but I actually have more important things to cogitate about. Just because of a slightly unauthorized plunge into Rock Creek earlier today while on our morning walk (absolutely no big deal at all), I was subjected to the greatest indignity imaginable for any well-bred dog — a bath. I really, really, really do not like baths at all (although getting blow dried with the hair dryer afterwards — I refer to it as spa day — is actually quite nice; with a coat like mine, you really need a hair dryer to get dry). And I thought I smelled just fine too, there are some really great smells in Rock Creek that mix very nicely with eau de wet dog. The only saving grace was a trip to Dairy Queen afterwards. Also SiberH is absolutely right, raisins are deadly for dogs, they can shut down our kidneys. No raisins! Wookie
11:25 am on May 29th, 2010
Wookie: How can a plunge be "slightly unauthorized"? You are funny! Sorry about the bath but you probably look beautiful.
It's hot here too Rio…to hot to make pies.
11:33 am on May 29th, 2010
Yippie!!! Wookie is a water dog and he hates baths. Mom is gonna hear about this.
I am sure that you smelled very nice. Humans have got so many things wrong.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to you, Wookie. I hope the rest of the weekend goes much better for you.
12:00 pm on May 29th, 2010
Chet, Don't eat raisins or grapes or onions or avacados. All bad for the nation within the nation. I'm happy that there are going to be 8 puppies. I also had 7 brothers and sisters and we reallly had fun together. If we had known Rio back then, maybe he could have been a nursemaid for us(toned down from wet nurse, hee, hee). We are not as big as newfies either.
12:07 pm on May 29th, 2010
As has been mentioned before, but well worth mentioning again, everyone in my family has Lynn for a middle name. Naming all 8 Newf puppies with Lynn as a middle name could simplify things for Melanie.
12:27 pm on May 29th, 2010
Wookie!…Somehow I can’t imagine you in a bathtub all soaped up!… snort!…You are such a big guy, how in the world did they manage to hold you down for the dunking? ….grunt!…Are you all fluffed up now?… snicker!
MagPie!…Watch it with the Nursing references!… grump!
Pups!… Maybe Melanie should just name the puppies Molly1, Molly2, Molly3…etc… If they are boys she could use Lynn1, Lynn2, Lynn3…etc… She could have an Array of Puppies … heh!
12:58 pm on May 29th, 2010
When we were born Barb gave us all bird names as temporary ids. There was Bobwhite, Wren, Finch, Blue Jay, Lark, Chickadee, Robin, and me, MagPie. Barb thought she was very clever. My name stuck and I am now Maggie, the MagPie. Wren's new people kept her name, too.
1:01 pm on May 29th, 2010
You could also do flowers – tulip, zinnia, cosmos, etc. Or nursery rhyme characters – Peter Piper, Jack and Jill, Little BoPeep and so on. What do you think?
1:06 pm on May 29th, 2010
Rio – Now you're speaking my language!
1:33 pm on May 29th, 2010
Molly!…. I knew you would like that one… heh!
Names!… I think my brother’s name was Franco… snort!… But I haven’t seen him in years….sniff! … He was bigger than me when we were pups but I bet I’ve out-grown him by now… grunt!
1:37 pm on May 29th, 2010
I hate to disappoint you guys . . .
We don't name the pups. We call them Miss Red, Mr. Blue and so on after the color collars they have on. For some reason, the new parents like to name them.
They learn to come to Pup, Pup. That way the pups have learned to come when called and the new parents then add their chosen name . . . So "Come pup, pup, Molly Lynn!" Then gradually they can do away with Pup. Though in this house if you say pup pup, the Pack goes "Where?"
1:47 pm on May 29th, 2010
We have been working on the garden: the garden on one side of the fence and the Newfs on the other. My garden is small. I have a raised bed. I used some old tires stacked two high and in a row of four. Last year, I had two different kinds of squash, peas and beans. This year, I've enlarged it. In front of the tires I now have impatiens and strawberries. I planted squash, cucumbers, peas and soon peppers.
I got tired and ended up getting the rest of the pack of Heritage peas wet, sooo, I planted the rest. I told Dan and Zoë that if peas started growing up one of the lilac bushes and one of the peach trees, it was okay.
Speaking of peaches . . . Our two trees are full of inch long peaches! Didn't get a one last year.
1:58 pm on May 29th, 2010
Melanie, Our names were just temporary, and were for identification purposes only. But with English Shepherds, there was a lot more color and marking differences, so it was easier to tell the difference in pups from early on. Barb also did the "Puppy, puppy, puppy" call, and everybody would come running, after we got to a certain age. Barb's daughter has newfies, and her dogs were always color id'd when they were first born.
2:06 pm on May 29th, 2010
For some reason we have kept a female, we have always kept a Miss Red. Don't know if certain vibes come in on the color of the collar, but they are always the sweeties. And the loudest!
2:24 pm on May 29th, 2010
Colors!…That makes ironic sense…. snort!… Since Newfs are mostly black all the time!… grunt!… Or are they? Do Newfs come in assorted colors?…grunt!….Audrey is all black, she has to be part Newf somewhere along the line… heh!
3:01 pm on May 29th, 2010
Colors!… Made me think of a classic movie by Quentin Tarantino…snort! …Reservoir Dogs!….Boy, we haven’t watched that movie in years and years… grunt!… Mr. Pink, Mr. Orange, Mr. Brown, Mr. White…heh!
Wooo!… Rockies are on in ONE MINUTE!… Manny gets another chance to do something – anything… heh!….They cannot let the Dodgers win again tonight and that’s final!…wheeze!
3:09 pm on May 29th, 2010
Hot!
Lucky there is a breeze.
Melanie: Was Rosie a Miss Red?
Rio: I'm glad you took Wolfie back. I was going to plead his case because there are times when you need that great imagination even if occasionally he gets carried away.
And on Bess: I get 6's and 9's mixed up sometimes, too.
3:16 pm on May 29th, 2010
Dawson, Rosie was a one pup litter. We could tell her apart from the Pack.
Yes, Riö, the pups can be hard to tell apart. Except when they are male and female, we can usually tell those apart, also we had one pup that when she was born we laughed like crazy. She was an Irish Spotted Newfoundland! A mismark. She had white socks, a big blaze on her chest, a blaze on her head and the tip of her tail was white. We called her Socks, but the owners changed it to Maddie. This particular mismark is a regressive gene. Both parents have to have it and then it's a one in four chance (if I'm remembering correctly) to have a pup with those markings.
Have fun tonight all!
3:29 pm on May 29th, 2010
Goober!… Heh!.. Manny let a ball bounce off his glove and then he kicked the ball into the stand!!… HEH!HEH!…what a RIOT!… HA!… Now the bases are loaded with Rockies players … wooo!
3:45 pm on May 29th, 2010
Melanie, We saw Socks on your web site. She was darling. Reminded me of a PWD. Is that mismark at all linked to the Lancier Newfoundlands? We have 2 newfies in our extended family. One is all black, and one has a little white spot on his chest.
4:17 pm on May 29th, 2010
MagPie!… What is a PWD?…. snort! … and don’t tell me it’s a Pug With Disorders… grunt!… Or anything to do with Nurses, wet or otherwise… YIKES!
Storm!… Right overhead!… sniff!….Big ole lightning, thunder and wind and its very dark outside … growl!yeep!growl!…. Just glad its here and not at the Rockies game….heh!..growl!yeep!… Its gonna be a big one I think… sniff!
Uh oh! … I am hearing HAIL now!… yeep!…crap!…gotta go!
4:24 pm on May 29th, 2010
Rio, A Portuguese Water Dog, like Bo Obama. I like the Pug with Disorders, too. Anyone we know? Hope the hail is over!
4:53 pm on May 29th, 2010
What!… A disappointment, I thought a PWD would be something interesting…snort!…Hail did not last .. thank goodness… grunt!…It is still dark and rumbling with thunder… aaahhh!… but there is a nice cool breeze cooling down my house now…sniff!sniff!… I will sleep well tonight, being nice and cool…
Rocks!…. 5 – 0, bottom of the 5th, bases are loaded again with Rockies players!….Woooo!.. Something good is going to happen any minute now!.. heh!
4:58 pm on May 29th, 2010
Wow!… A ball just took off the facemask of the umpire behind the batter! Amazing!… snort!.,..It hit him square in the face (mask)…dangerous job, that!… wheeze!
5:01 pm on May 29th, 2010
Interesting. I just reread that post, and my take is that the casino and Club Utopia are two separate places. The casino reference was made (I think) by Bernie just to confirm the locale.
"You know Pine City?”
“Where the casino’s opening up?”
“Yeah,” said Foster. “Astrid’s dancing at a place called Club Utopia.”
The casino is not open yet, but Club Utopia is. And Astrid is currently employed there, assuming that Foster is telling us the truth. (And with Foster, I assume nothing. I don't quite trust him.)
However, from Bernie's description, it does sound like he's going to see Albie.
PA is such a great writer that he keeps us on the edge of our seats!
5:11 pm on May 29th, 2010
But Bee is right. We can't believe anything that Foster tells us.
I did google Club Utopia, to help out Bernie, and there are several, including Las Vegas. None in Pine City, though.
I took a nice long nap and feel better about Things.
I am still sorry about the wet nurse comments, especially when I realize that I actually meant nursemaid, (like Nana in Peter Pan), not wet nurse.
Yikes!
5:12 pm on May 29th, 2010
What's the score, guys?
5:18 pm on May 29th, 2010
Wolfie!… The charming Mr. Abrahams is the best writer ever! …snort!… I have read quite a few of his books and have not once been disappointed. In fact I do not want any of them to end while I am reading them…grunt!… Right now I am reading “Crying Wolf” and I can’t even imagine how this is going to go…sneeze!…He is an amazing talent… sniff!…and I am so glad I found out about him through Chet and Bernie!… gruff!
Score!… Is 8 – 0, Rockies!…heh!.. My boys are finding their way me thinks!.. snorkel!
5:35 pm on May 29th, 2010
Or we could be talking about the score in the first game of the Stanley Cup finals. That's still hockey, folks, but almost done for the season. Chicago vs. Philly and what a game! 5 – 6
Pat Kane plays for Chicago and he's one of our local boys. When he's in town he goes out with brother or cousins and it's usually in the newspapers the next day – since it usually involves the police. They're just young playful things.
5:39 pm on May 29th, 2010
Wolfie – With everything you have going on, it's a wonder you can even post. I enjoy reading what you write!
5:40 pm on May 29th, 2010
Gone!… I think there are a lot of characters on vacation this weekend…sniff!…Out camping in the desert!…snort!… Or off visiting friends and relatives… cough!… Gearing up for big BBQ’s and parties… grunt!… While me and my friend here work in the garden and watch baseball!…sneeze!… Well, actually, to us that is a relaxing vacation, we could not be happier!…hmmmm!…Rockies are still winning! 8 – 2 now. Clap Clap Clap-Clap-Clap!!
My!..Rockies never end up handcuffed in the police department…heh!
5:43 pm on May 29th, 2010
We are reading Lights Out right now. Rio, did you read that one? It's an earlier work from 1994 I think.
5:52 pm on May 29th, 2010
Wolfie, You are being too hard on yourself over the wet nurse comment. Deep down, Rio has a good sense of humor, and we think he has been enjoying all the chatter about it.
5:59 pm on May 29th, 2010
Eddie!… Yes! MagPie!…. We Loved that story so much!…sniff!… I still think about it a lot!…grunt!… It is one of my very favorites so far!… “Lights Out” was nominated for an Edgar award for “Best Novel” that year!… gruff!….Where are you in the story so far???
6:13 pm on May 29th, 2010
MagPie! Barb!… I really do adore you guys, but please do not presume to know how I feel about comments from others…snort!… Deep down I do have a very good sense of humor… sniff!… But! do not ever presume it is your duty to ‘okay’ someone to make comments about my masculinity by calling me a freakin’ Wet Nurse dammit! … growl!… because I "enjoy all the chatter"…snuff.
6:14 pm on May 29th, 2010
Mom is reading "Down the Rabbit Hole" right now, and it is wonderful! We love Ingrid, but we also worry about her safety during her midnight wanderings. Be careful, Ingrid! We just met Nigel, and I hope he fares better than Zippy did!
6:15 pm on May 29th, 2010
Rio, Not too far. Eddie just got to NYC and is looking for his brother. It is really good so far. Now, we have a really DUMB un-related question – will the BP oil well ever run out of oil on its own, or will it just keep "leaking" forever if not stopped? Has anyone ever said?
6:31 pm on May 29th, 2010
Rockies!… Making up for last night they won 11 – 3 tonight…snort!… and I got a good laugh out of Manny’s antics as he was trying to be a baseball player!…heh!
Ingrid!… I have a feeling I will just adore Ingrid if I ever get around to reading that series…snort! … I’m just having such a good time with the ‘grown-up’ books….heh!
6:54 pm on May 29th, 2010
OK, Rio, Now it is our turn to throw ourselves at your feet, asking for mercy. We just didn't want Wolfie to feel so bad, but we would never question you masculinity in any way. Please forgive us and also please read Echo Falls. Love and good night, Maggie
7:24 pm on May 29th, 2010
MagPie N Barb!…. Lots of Love and Good Night to you guys too!… snort!… Wolfie has been completely forgiven, there is no need for you to feel bad for him anymore my dear Chicken Lovin’ Girls!…heh! …. There is a movie with Mel Gibson’s voice that I just adore and cannot remember … OH!…”Chicken Run!”… What a great fun movie!…heh!…Chickens!
Abrahams!… We plan on reading every single thing this guy has ever gotten published…heh!.. It may take us awhile, but eventually we will do it… snort!
7:31 pm on May 29th, 2010
Hmm!…Seems we are going to be up Up All Night reading because the Freedie and Nat characters have gotten hold of us by the throat and won’t let go..gulp!…damn!… We did want to catch up on sleep this weekend…grunt!
8:15 pm on May 29th, 2010
Well!… We’ve been up reading and so tired now what with all the out-doors work today… snort!… Good Night all …heh! .. I’m sure you are already in your REM sleep by now…yawn!
3:57 pm on January 17th, 2011
As far as me being a member here, I wasn’t aware that I was a member for any days, actually. When the article was published I received a notification, so that I could participate in the discussion of the post, so perhaps that is it. But we’re certainly all members in the world of ideas.
1:19 pm on August 26th, 2011
maybe it’s me but it seems like the page layout is a slightly messed up. it might be my version of IE though. anyway cool site. thanks Omar Yasseen