Readers And Us
“Sometimes,” Spence says, “a reader identifies the engine that drives the story. I know, Admin, that that’s a concept you talk about sometimes with people who want to write.”
“Going somewhere with this?” says Admin.
“That was my intention. An Amazon reviewer named Margaret Phillips wrote this about our e-story, A Cat Was Involved: ‘Finally, we find out why Chet failed the police training program. He was even better than the test he was supposed to pass.’ The engine, right?”
“Vroom vroom.”
Welcome Finnigan, ballplaying dude.
Tags: A Cat Was Involved, story engine
This entry was posted on Friday, September 7th, 2012 at 9:50 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.
10:09 am on September 7th, 2012
Meow?
10:18 am on September 7th, 2012
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/2012-09-06
10:18 am on September 7th, 2012
I meant
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/2012-09-06
10:25 am on September 7th, 2012
Yes, that’s a brilliant analysis by Margaret Phillips.
Good morning all.
10:41 am on September 7th, 2012
Yay! A puzzle to start the day.
Alice, B & All,
Good Morning to Yooouuuuuuu!
10:42 am on September 7th, 2012
Abbie: I quite agree.
10:52 am on September 7th, 2012
That is wonderful. My brain can not process it. But if B.Stover says it’s brilliant, I will have a go at it later. Maybe in a month or two.
Nurse comes today.
Little cabin in the Woods
Snowbella by the window stood.
Saw the Beausmobile passing by
Riö shouting “Hey!”
“Stop here, stop here” Riö yells,
“Or we’ll pass Showhook Kennel.”
“Come little Pugs, come inside”
Safely to abide.
10:56 am on September 7th, 2012
In honor of our Southwestern Detective Duo.
Wish I could see this. Bryce Canyon photograph by Munish Singla
11:00 am on September 7th, 2012
How do you find the review? Do you go to Amazon then look up the story? Does it then show reviews just like B & N does for books?
Oh and good morning everyone. Sunny and nice right now but they are talking about storms later on.
Carpet guy came and measured for the master bedroom. Now waiting for the dishwasher delivery, then Barb is off to buy four beautiful bird pictures at Interiors Anew. Another fabulous resale shop on the Woodstock square. It is fun finding great pieces at bargin prices.
Hope Rio’s friend is having a better day at her Crazy Land.
11:08 am on September 7th, 2012
This morning I finished Mockingjay which is the last of the three Hunger Games novels. I read the first, The Hunger Games about a year ago on the recommendation of my sister, A Catty Librarian. I bought the book and then, because I knew just enough about the plot to stop me, I didn’t read it for about 5 months.
It was spectacular.
So then, although I thought I knew what the next two would be like, I again bought the books. And didn’t read them. I have been holding them since last March. On Monday I was out of books. I didn’t read for one whole day. On Tuesday I broke down and started Catching Fire, book two.
It was even better than book one which I didn’t expect.
The only thing that blew me away was the ending of book two. I don’t know what someone reading that book would have thought at the ending but I thought..”What a bitch”. It was a real cliff hanger and if I had to wait a year for the next book I would have, well I am too polite to say it on the blog. It would have been painful.
Luckily I had book three Mockingjayin the car with me and could take a few moments and some deep breaths before I dived into it. I read the last 20 pages this morning and all I have to say is that if you are hesitating about reading these books then stop that and start reading.
They are great books. They are not what you think they will be when you know the basic premise.
Put away your preconceived notions and let the books show you what a great adventure epic a book (or three)can be.
11:26 am on September 7th, 2012
Staff, I totally agree. I downloaded all three books and ended up reading for 3 days straight.
11:55 am on September 7th, 2012
Think about Chet and why we like him. (What is the answer to that?) He represents something that is “better than the test he was supposed to pass.” (Sorry if this sounds too much like an English prof.)
12:05 pm on September 7th, 2012
Morning all. Pretty day here so far. Fingers crossed for a good weekend. Mama is being dragged kicking and screaming…..ummm- make that, Mama is going to an outdoor concert with Dad tomorrow night. Rain or shine. There is an Elvis impersonator, a Roy Orbison impersonator, a Beach Boys tribute band, an English Invasion tribute band, and a rock and roll band. whoopie
Nothing like HunkaHunka Burning Love, in the middle of a mud field. His sequins will tarnish, and THEN where will we be?
Barb – we want to go shopping with you!
Rio – tell your friend she has a lot of courage and fortitude. Raising you and Beau must have given her lots of experience in that.
Melanie – Bryce Canyon is truly magnificent, and humbling. Thanks for the beautiful picture.
12:18 pm on September 7th, 2012
Melanie: Both poem and photo are wonderful!
Staff: That is a very good recommendation. We are going to order the trilogy.
12:18 pm on September 7th, 2012
Barb: You can go to Amazon and read the review. There are only two more sentences to it: “No wonder all the mysteries after this incident are so interesting. Love these Chet stories, so keep them coming.” She gave it five stars.
1:03 pm on September 7th, 2012
Good news…we can borrow for free at the Kindle Lending Library. So nice to have a Kindle!
1:19 pm on September 7th, 2012
B.Stover, we love you Prof! sniff.
2:02 pm on September 7th, 2012
Checking in and then taking off. Doing an afternoon of Grandma babysitting. Picking up the kids at school and then taking them to their own house. That will be easier and there is more for them to do.
Barb bought the 4 custom framed bird prints for $24.00 each and found a great women’s consignment shop on the square. Good Chino or Coldwater Creek jackets were in the $20-$30 range. All drycleaned and in plastic bags. Not thrift storeish. Anyone is welcome to come shopping with Barb. The town square is awesome, with the old jail turned into a restaurant and the Opera House is breathtaking. The do musical events there but not sure if they have any Elvis impersonators.
2:08 pm on September 7th, 2012
Maggie: Sounds like Barb is enjoying herself buying new furniture and appliances, painting, carpeting and shopping the town square. She must be feeling lots better.
We are so happy the gal who bought your farm loves it as much as you did. It was just waiting for the perfect owner.
Tupper&Gilly: Tell your mama to enjoy the shew.
2:13 pm on September 7th, 2012
Thank you Melanie!
Sounds like Barb is having fun.
I’ve been swearing at Amazon. I bought the first audio volume of Remembrance of Things Past (Proust) that is narrated by Neville Jason. It’s downloaded onto my computer but I can’t get it on my Kindle even though, according to Amazon, it IS on my Kindle. I’m going to start throwing things shortly.
2:19 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: We have a question about the Amazon Cloud. Is anything downloaded into the Cloud available on both PC and Kindle? (perhaps this is a bad time to ask…..)
2:27 pm on September 7th, 2012
Where’s our friend Rose this morning?
2:28 pm on September 7th, 2012
Barb, please take pictures.
Let us know when you start throwing things B.Stover. I will want to know when to duck.
BearSpiritDog, I am trying to keep my head out of the clouds.
2:31 pm on September 7th, 2012
Royals, there is no way our Mom could be dragged to that concert! Hope it is better than it sounds. Staff, we had no interest in the Hunger Games trilogy but will get them on the Kindle now. Still can’t be persuaded to read the Twilight series because Mom just is not into vampires.
Barb, sounds like u are having fun setting up the new house. Glad the lady who bought your farmette loves it too.
2:39 pm on September 7th, 2012
G&BB: Farmette. Heh.
Although Vampires can be kool (Ann Rice) Twilight is not our thing either. Some on the blog may disagree.
2:56 pm on September 7th, 2012
I read the first Twilight. TOO MUCH Teenage angst and un-requited love for me.
2:58 pm on September 7th, 2012
Success!! Swann’s Way is downloaded to my Kindle. Yes!! (Have no idea how I did this.) I won’t be throwing things at this time Melanie.
Bear: I have things from Amazon Cloud on both my Kindle and my laptop. (Does this answer your question?)
3:24 pm on September 7th, 2012
Hello All! Busy busy times around here, so we only have a minute.
Wose, so far we really like “I Thought You Were Dead”, altho ve have had precious little time to read this week. The weekend doesn’t look any less busy.
Are we holding anyone up from reading the book, or are we last on the list?
We forgot to tell you that Shiek ran out of the pasture one day this week, while Mom was taking Chato’s halter off. He proceeded to trot, then canter on down the driveway, and around the bottom end of the pasture. He was having a good old time doing his thing and wouldn’t let Mom catch him! Now, you must understand, that is not his way at all. He thought he was very funny, showing Mom that all her worrying and coddling were a big waste because he is still The Man !
3:32 pm on September 7th, 2012
I think you have answered our question. If there are any problems will let you know. We started using the Cloud feature as it seemed a way to to have purchases available on PC and Kindle.
Go Shiek!!!
3:43 pm on September 7th, 2012
Bear,
I’ve started my big retirement project of saving my 800+ cds onto the Amazon Cloud. I have 3000 songs loaded now and I’m a very happy customer. I can even listen to the whole library on the train via my Droid. I’d tried several other clouds and Amazon ends up way out ahead. I spent a day wrestling with Apple’s cloud and got 300 songs loaded according to them after needing to put in my password 57 times. No clue how to retrieve these songs, whatever they are. I also worked with Google’s free 5G cloud and can retrieve absolutely nothing – just get a list of what my files are.
3:53 pm on September 7th, 2012
Bear: I don’t know if you have an iPad but you can also have things from Amazon downloaded to that without having to make an additional purchase.
4:02 pm on September 7th, 2012
We have some clouds up here, but I don’t think there are any songs in them.
I see that Shiek has a sense of humor!
4:19 pm on September 7th, 2012
I had a sneaking suspicion that Sheik and Annabelle were up to the same game. It was confirmed when I checked her text messages. Seems there have been plans in the making to cause laughter, head scratching and down right wonderment. Last night AJ and I went down to the kennel to say good night. This was after I opened the front door only to have a mama moose and two calves standing ten feet away from me, but that’s a story for another time. Annabelle, it would seem, decided to do her beat impression of a wild and crazy Belle Starr. Running, jumping, twisting, bouncing, snuggling, paw standing. Did her silliness stop there? No. Our old girl decided she was going to sleep inside the house last night and made herself quite comfortable on the couch. She was, however very unsure of the dog she saw in the mirror.
5:01 pm on September 7th, 2012
I borrowed the second free Hunger Games book – Catching Fire – on my Kindle today. I will have to wait unto Oct. 1 to get the last one, but no problem because a certain book comes out next week and I’m still finishing Watchlist.
5:36 pm on September 7th, 2012
Hunger Games is on Pay-Per-View. Should I watch it? Still haven’t read the books.
I’d love to see Annabelle looking at herself in the mirror.
5:50 pm on September 7th, 2012
YSAS said that the film was good. He hasn’t read the books. Has anyone done both?
SnowBella, you have some interesting stories getting lined up on the side.
We are half way through The Descendants. I keep forgetting what a great actor George Clooney is. We will watch the rest tomorrow.
6:19 pm on September 7th, 2012
Greetings All!
I am glad it is Friday, and I am at home, reading today’s posts.
Hello, Masquers, my dear friend.
OHs: I’m very happy to hear that Shiek was having himself a good time today!
You may hold on to the book as long as needed. Unless anyone else would like to read it, you are the last on the list.
Rebecca, I love to hear all the stories about your doggies!
6:24 pm on September 7th, 2012
Melanie, I loved The Descendants!
I would really like to commission a portrait of Belle Star if GLAD is agreeable.
And if Belle Starr is agreeable to having her picture taken.
And if Rebecca is agreeable to taking a picture of Belle Starr.
6:25 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: How large is Lefty’s portrait?
6:27 pm on September 7th, 2012
I hope all is well with Rio’s friend.
6:45 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rose: Lefty’s portrait is 6 x 9.
6:59 pm on September 7th, 2012
Wose: You’re right…no word from Rio so far today. Hope all is well in Crazy Land, otherwise known as the Busy Place. As well as can be expected that is…
SnowBella: We love, love, love your stories!
7:11 pm on September 7th, 2012
Thanks, B.
7:12 pm on September 7th, 2012
Thank you all for the support for OTAS. He called. Sounds good. He has the one place to take his own clients and it looks like all his clients will be following him!
He is also looking for one more place (maybe 2 days a week) where he can have some walk in work. A way to get more clients.
Wose, I will think about this in the morning when I have a brain.
I am now going to watch something that I started last night. Sort of funny. I just can’t remember what it was.
Oh, and the nurse came. I like her. She’s getting married not this weekend but the next.
7:13 pm on September 7th, 2012
Bear, I worry about Rio when he’s not around….
8:14 pm on September 7th, 2012
Engine!…So is that the same engine that drives the whole Chet and Bernie series?…snort!… I’m still not too clear on the whole Chet being better than the test he was supposed to pass as the engine. Or I just can’t put it into words, maybe?…sniff!…For some reason it brings to mind Ayne Rand and Atlas Shrugged. But I don’t think that is what Spencer is getting at really, do youse guys?…grunt!
8:16 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rose!…Hi Rose!…snorkel!…I’m okay. I just had to wait by the door upstairs all day for my friend to get back because I knew she didn’t want to go to the busy-damned-place, but did anyways…sniff!…Then she had to go grocery shopping after that so she can make a huge ole honkin’ pasta salad tonight for the Big!Big!BIG! Murder Mystery Party tomorrow at “The Salty Dog”….chorkel!…What fun we are going to have! I get to go along!….WooooOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOooo!!
8:17 pm on September 7th, 2012
Too much brain work for me.
TTFN (the Scarecrow)
8:18 pm on September 7th, 2012
Melanie!…I love!love!love! your Little Cabin In the Woods poem…heh!snort!heh!…No mention of Beau makes it even better…chuffle!…Although, he may have been driving that Beaus-mobile of his….grunt!
8:26 pm on September 7th, 2012
Who is John Galt?
8:27 pm on September 7th, 2012
Stover!…I haven’t thought of that phrase in Ages!!!…heh!snort!heh!… Who is Chet The Dog?…chorkel!
8:42 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rio! I was worried about you.
It sounds like you and your friend are going to have a rockin’ time at the Murder Mystery Party. Do you have to wear a scarf? I think you’d look very cool in an eye patch.
Anyway, I’m glad that you are okay. I hope we get to see some pictures….
8:45 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rio, Mom thought the same thing. Hadn’t thought of that phrase in forever! Poor Beau…has to stay home and miss the party. Hope he behaves himself. Tell your friend to remember that it’s not his fault if he misbehaves tomorrow. He won’t have you there to watch out for him. He will be suffering some angst.
Rio, will Pepper be there?
9:14 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: Perhaps that question will be answered on October 12th when part II of the movie comes out. For anyone who has not read the book that is.
9:38 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: The female—at least I think it is a female for her fine features and beauty—is a curious dog, but seems friendly enough. I wag my tail and so does she. But, i haven’t been able to properly introduce myself. It is difficult to get the measure of a dog without a good sniff and snuffle.
9:46 pm on September 7th, 2012
Barb just got home. After babysitting she stayed and had meatloaf dinner with the fam. What a great comfort food! Evidently she forgot the doggy bag.
Glad Shiek is feeling his oats!
Barb didn’t even seem like she felt bad about leaving me alone. Now we are going to spend a little cuddle time on the sofa before bed. Night all.
9:48 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: Have you seen part I? I see it is on Amazon Prime.
Riö: Will you be wearing an eye patch tomorrow night? Aarr Aarr me hearties.
10:07 pm on September 7th, 2012
Masquers: No, I haven’t seen the film. Let me know if you like it.
Annabelle: How do I explain the concept of a mirror image…..
10:14 pm on September 7th, 2012
B: I’m not sure what you mean by concept of a mirror image, but I do know that I’m flabbergasted that My Lady and My Man have been able to keep this dog a secret for so long. By the look of her build, I daresay she is worthy of a harness and should be on the trail.
10:16 pm on September 7th, 2012
Crap!…First she pulled us out early for a long walk..grump!…Then she stayed upstairs to make that honkin’ huge pasta salad….wheeze!…There will be over 40 people and two of us guys at that party tomorrow. Yes! Pepper will be there! ….snort!snort!…I have not seen Pepper in a very long time for sure…wuffle!…I miss her very much sometimes. Especially when I have to deal with Beau all day long…grunt!
Photos!…There will be lots and lots of photos, but I will not be in any of them, I can assure you….sniff!
Maskers!…First part of what?…snort!… If you are talking about The Hunger Games, I live that everyday. I do not need to see a movie about it…grunt!
10:19 pm on September 7th, 2012
Costume!…None for me thank you very much!…grump!…I will not endure that humilation for any amount of food…sniff!…And there will be a lot of food there I hear…heh!heh!…Pepper and I are going to have a blast!….Wooooooo!….And there will be a Murder too!…Yipppeeeee!
10:21 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rio: I think Masquers is referring to the film of Atlas Shrugged which I understand is in three parts.
Annabelle: LOL! Sorry….
10:26 pm on September 7th, 2012
Part II!…Why have I not seen Part I?…snort!…We here did not know that Atlas Shrugged had been made into a movie…wow!
10:29 pm on September 7th, 2012
Howard use to tell tale of a dog in the bedroom inside the house. I could have sworn he said the dog was an older, grey and white male, but I could have misheard. He did say, and this I remember clearly, that the dog was very shy and only dared peek from behind the dresser. He also said the dog always perked up when My Lady came into the room.
10:32 pm on September 7th, 2012
Mirrors!….heh!…I figured those out a long time ago, but Beau gets scared when he see’s The Other Black Pug who lurks in the bedroom sometimes….chorkel!
10:34 pm on September 7th, 2012
Sneeze!….That other black pug stares at me when I am up on the big bed…wheeze!…He is the ugliest thing I have ever seen!…shudder!
10:44 pm on September 7th, 2012
Husky!….When we were on our walk we ran into a large blue-eyed husky….snort!….Her name was “Rogue” and I know she was a husky because she BARKED really loud when she wanted to get closer to me and Beau…heh!…Sibers don’t bark, so says SiberH…sniff!…Rogue was extremely polite and she even let Beau get a good sniff….heh!
10:46 pm on September 7th, 2012
Sneeze!….That big Sniff! made up for a lot of things today….cough!
11:03 pm on September 7th, 2012
Grump!…The Phillies take game one of the series…sniff!sneeze!…It was a close game right up until the end and then the Phillies went ahead – The Howlers will be happy…grumble!
11:07 pm on September 7th, 2012
Signing off from the Pacific NW.
11:13 pm on September 7th, 2012
Maskers!…Seriously? Without answering my question?…grump!
11:29 pm on September 7th, 2012
We just said goodbye to our company. A fun couple who we have not seen in quite awhile. They recently returned from a cross-country trip to the Pacific NW. They told lots of great tales of the drive thru the country.
Annabelle and Shiek have very similar personalities it seems. Mom says Shiek has always been known for his sense of humor. That, and his dislike of our Pop.
T&G, don’t forget to include our Shiek in Sunday evening prayers. Even tho he is Studly Steed Shiek the other 6 days of the week, there is something about Mondays that gives Mom the nervous shakes.
11:31 pm on September 7th, 2012
Rio, thanks for filling us in. With our company here, we were missing the news of our phightin’ Phils.
11:33 pm on September 7th, 2012
Sundays!….I think lil’ Sammie is onto sumthing with the theory that Shiek sneaks out and goes partying on Sunday nights only to be down and out on Monday’s….heh!…What a racket that guy has going!…chorkel!
11:44 pm on September 7th, 2012
Shiek was always a big party guy in his show years. Mom insists that he wouldn’t party without her. Those 2 are connected at the hips or something.
11:46 pm on September 7th, 2012
Shhh. Don’t blow my cover guys. She is so clingy. A guy has to sew his wild oats, ya know.
12:13 am on September 8th, 2012
Shiek!…I do not usually talk to horses, but you are a Wild and Crazy guy!…heh!snort!heh!…Party on dude!…sniff!
12:17 am on September 8th, 2012
Late!….We are staying up way too late, but my friend says “Ta tail with it all!”…heh!heh!yawn!….Beau is already in his hot hard bed. I bet he has his feet straight up in the air as he loves to sleep on his back…grunt!
12:26 am on September 8th, 2012
Awwww!….I just caught up on Staff’s review of the Hungry Games books…sniff!…I am so behind in reading right now it is pitiful, but she has convinced me to at least read the first book at some point after all the others we have lined up to read…wheeze!…Hecks O’ Fire, we can’t even get to read enough of our beloved and prized possession, “A Fistful Of Collars”…wuffle!
Goodnight!…her mother is concerned about us staying up so late….heheheheheheheheheh!grunt!
1:00 am on September 8th, 2012
Shiek: Is there any chance you have a mirror in your stable?
Rose: I’m to tell you that Belle Starr wants to have her picture taken several times or she is threatening to be in a bad mood. I’m also to tell you that My Lady says the only time Belle Starr stays still long enough is when she is sleeping, but she will do her best to get a picture of your VBFF.
Good and night.