Sundays With Ingrid

Admin says this scene came up at the talk; he can’t remember why.

Ty poked his head in the door.

“Got a minute?” he said.

“What?” said Ingrid.

“Need a safety,” he said.

“What about Dad?”

“They went to bed.”

“Why so early?”

“Do I look like a search engine?” Ty said. “You gonna help me or not?”

Ingrid went to the basement with Ty. They had practically a whole gym down there—StairMaster, treadmill, slant board, bench press, and machines for leg curls, leg extensions, leg presses, ab crunches, delt thises and pec thats, none of which Ingrid ever used. She’d read in a magazine—on the letters-to-the-editor page, actually, just a letter from some reader who didn’t even have an MD after his name, but it did get printed—that thirteen was too young for weight training. No sense taking chances.

Ty went to the bench press, slid a forty-five pound plate on each end of the bar, then added two twenty-fives. Forty-five plus forty-five was ninety, plus fifty made one thirty, and don’t forget the weight of the bar itself, forty-five more: 185. Wow. The most she’d ever seen him do was two twenty-fives on each end—one forty-five—and that had been only a few weeks ago. Those iron plates: so big.

“What are you looking at?” he said.

“Nothing.”

Ty lay down on the bench. Ingrid stood at the end, ready to help if he had trouble raising the bar back up to the cradle. But what kind of help could she be with one eighty-five? Ingrid weighed ninety-four pounds.

Ty gripped the bar, his fingers wriggling around for the spot that felt right. He planted his feet on the floor, first wriggling them a bit, too. Then he took a deep breath, jerked all that weight up out of the cradle, lowered it to his chest, pushed up again.

“One,” said Ingrid.

Down. Up.

“Two.”

He grunted.

“Three.”

The grunts got louder. His face got red. His eyes bugged out. He looked like a freak. But he did ten. Ten at one eighty-five, and lowered the bar into the cradle with no help.

“Hey,” Ingrid said.

Ty lay on the bench, chest rising and falling, the muscles stretching his T-shirt. RED RAIDER FOOTBALL it said on the front. BIGGER, FASTER, STRONGER.

“What was Sean doing over here?” Ingrid said.

“Nothing,” said Ty, reaching up for the bar. He took a few deep breaths. “Ready,” he said, and lifted on the last exhale.

“One,” said Ingrid. This was what being a slave master in a Roman galley must have been like, easy work but boring and a bit smelly. Ty grunted louder, got redder and more bug-eyed, but did ten more.

“Good job,” she said.

He got up, rubbing his shoulder. Ingrid turned to go. “One more set,” he said. He fetched two tens from the weight stack, added them to the bar.

One eighty-five plus twenty? That made—“What are you doing?” Ingrid said.

“Just three reps,” said Ty.

“Whoa,” said Ingrid.

“Did I ask for your opinion?” said Ty.

He lay on the bench, grasped the bar, planted his feet, took a huge deep breath, pushed. The bar lifted off the cradle. Ty lowered it to his chest, grunted, tried to heave the weight back up, a vein popping out in his neck, all blue and throbbing. Slowly, oh so slowly, the bar rose. Ingrid heard his teeth grinding, got ready to say one. But at that moment, the bar still maybe six inches below the cradle, Ty’s arms started shaking and the bar stalled.

“A little help,” he said, almost in a normal tone of voice.

Help? What was she supposed—

“Help!” This time not normal at all.

Ingrid stepped forward, grabbed the bar, her hands between his, his upside-down face, purple now, right under all that iron. She bent her legs, drove up with all her might. The bar didn’t budge, except for the quiver from the way Ty’s arms were shaking.

“Damn it,” said Ty. “Lift.”

Ingrid found a little extra. Now she was grunting too. They grunted together, fighting the weight of that bar. It rose, inch by inch, up to cradle level and clanged into place. For a second she felt lighter than air, as though she could float up to the ceiling.

“That was lucky,” Ingrid said.

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Ty said.

“Huh?”

He sat up, pulled off his T-shirt, mopped his face. “I’m so damn weak.”

“Maybe mentally,” Ingrid said.

His voice rose, that deep man voice he sometimes had now. “You’re such a jerk,” he said, throwing the T-shirt at her.

Ingrid ducked. For just a second, a scary second, she thought he might hit her. They’d had an incident or two like that in the past. Instead he turned and drove his fist into the padded bench, very hard, making a sound that boomed through the house. He was acting so weird. What was wrong with him? And his back: Ty has always been one of those lucky acne-free kids, and his face still was smooth and unblemished. But under the ceiling lights, she could see dark-red pimples all over his upper back. He rose and started stripping off the weights.

From Behind the Curtain

Share

Tags:

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 11th, 2010 at 9:14 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.

107 Responses to “Sundays With Ingrid”

  1. B. Stover
    4:35 am on July 11th, 2010

    Suzie was correct in what she told Bernie about the age difference between men and women. Ingrid would agree.

    I like the line about the slave master on the Roman galley.

  2. Melanie
    4:58 am on July 11th, 2010

    Good Morning B. Stover: remind me, what did Suzie told Bernie?

    I remember reading this in Behind the Curtain and thinking "steroids."

    Just yesterday I was listening to NPR about sport camps run by corporations for not only high school age but now for middle school children. Run faster, jump higher, go longer, be tougher . . . They are trying to make "rules" so college coaches can't make verbal contracts with MIDDLE SCHOOL children to come to their colleges to play sports when they graduate high school.

    Jeez. And we wonder why steroids are a problem?

    Can't wait for the word of the day.

    Alice: I thought Kats never needed excuses.

  3. B. Stover
    5:20 am on July 11th, 2010

    Hi Melanie. Men reach puberty and don't mature mentally thereafter. That's me but it's what Suzie meant. I don't remember if it is from the blog or one of the novels, but she tells Bernie that men will never catch up with women.

  4. Melanie
    5:26 am on July 11th, 2010

    snicker and snort!

  5. B. Stover
    5:29 am on July 11th, 2010

    Found it–the post of March 30. Bernie tells Col. Bob:

    “Suzie says that if men lived to a hundred and fifty or so they still might not catch up.”

  6. Alice Johnson
    5:29 am on July 11th, 2010

    Kats never admit an error. We seldom make excuses, but we can complain. That post was an excuse for the Twins recent poor play, and a complaint.

    I do have a theory though, sort of on topic.

    My theory is don't ask permission, just do it and apologize later. This was learned by watching staff who always wants to do the right thing. Always asks and almost always was told no. She is getting smarter about it though.

    She says it is because she is older now.

    I think it is because she is becoming sneakier.

    She says 'older' ladies can get away with stuff because people don't expect it of them.

    That is why when she swears at work they all laugh instead of tsk'ing. They think she is such a 'goody two shoes.'

    Hey BStover. Where did Goody two shoes come from?

    Alice, who is waiting for the word from Rio.

  7. Alice Johnson
    5:32 am on July 11th, 2010

    My favorite line was:

    "Maybe mentally,” Ingrid said.

    Heh heh heh

  8. Sam
    6:06 am on July 11th, 2010

    Today will be much better than that awful dog-neglect day yesterday. Aunt Mollysmom made me my special kong filler with crushed up treats and topped off with peanut butter. Yummy!

    I also got a piece of cheese and so now my tummy's full and I don't have to eat my kibble. Hee hee.

  9. Riö - The Evil
    6:08 am on July 11th, 2010

    Wow!… That Ty is really a dumb kid….snort!… But I have to sort of blame his dad for the whole steroid thing…grunt!…I have not read that much of the Ingrid books but from what can tell, their dad really pushes them to over-excel in all things…wheeze!

    Word!… Of the Day!… snort!… I actually came up with a couple….cough!…So if Stover does not mind I will put out two words of the day today to kick-off our new exercise…heh!

    Now!… I think it would be fun for everyone to guess what the words mean before you run off and google them… heh! …With that said, here they are…grunt!

    Words!… Rugous and Rectalgia…..snort!… I find these both very interesting and descriptive words to live by…heh!

  10. ÄbbietheKitty
    6:09 am on July 11th, 2010

    Abbie wonders, What is a kong filler?

  11. dawson
    6:13 am on July 11th, 2010

    Hmmmm.

    Rugous: strong, rugged.

    Rectalgia: a pain in the butt.

    This reminds me of the Dictionary game we used to play when we were kids. Great fun.

  12. ÄbbietheKitty
    6:14 am on July 11th, 2010

    Alice is totally guessing here:

    Rugous: A plant that is characterized by a deeply ruffled leaf.

    Rectalgia: An illness caused by hemorrhoids.

    Note, my computer doesn't think these are correct words.

  13. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:17 am on July 11th, 2010

    Reminds me of a story about Georgia O'Keefe. Years into a marriage to a man who did not like to travel west, she moved to New Mexico for much of the year. Someone asked her if Alfred minded, and her reply was something like "I wouldn't know, I never asked him."

    SH – Have you ever been to Ghost Ranch? It's an amazing place.

  14. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:18 am on July 11th, 2010

    Melanie – How's Dan?

    And when is the Great Puppy Weigh In? Loved the photos, by the way!! They are adorable!

  15. Staff
    6:19 am on July 11th, 2010

    Dawson, I was thinking of that game too!

    Dad was such a pain. He always knew the meaning of the words. We had such a hard time finding a word he didn't know. And we looked in the Websters (3 volume) Dictionary too. It was handy that it had three volumes because that gave each of us enough time to find a word that Dad didn't know.

    Guessing the meaning was the best part. I had one friend who always would guess "The name for the rubber bumper on the bottom of a toilet seat". He was always wrong. I don't think he really liked that game.

    Staff

  16. B. Stover
    6:21 am on July 11th, 2010

    I like both Dawson and Alice's guesses. Wonderful!

    Interesting words that I have never heard of.

    Rio: You know that I can't possibly guess about something as important as words. I have to look them up but I won't give anything away.

  17. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:22 am on July 11th, 2010

    Rugous: the process of laying heavy carpeting

    Rectalgia: of or pertaining to rectangles

  18. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:26 am on July 11th, 2010

    A kong is a hard rubber ball, hollow, with lots of holes. The idea is to fill it full of yummy treats and it keeps doggies busy trying to work the treats out of the holes. My mom bought me a kong but I thought it was too labor intensive, a cheap ruse to distract dogs. I always ignored it. I think Baxter took it over to his house.

  19. B. Stover
    6:36 am on July 11th, 2010

    Can't find "rectalgia" in either the Latin dictionary or the OED.

  20. Riö - The Evil
    6:39 am on July 11th, 2010

    Stover!… I would not put out a Word of The Day that was not a word…snort!… Just ask Dawson, she knows what it means…heh!

  21. B. Stover
    6:39 am on July 11th, 2010

    Okay I found it. I won't say which dictionary because it would give it away. I'm laughing.

  22. Älice Johnson
    6:40 am on July 11th, 2010

    ~Wolfie, That was my other idea for Rectalgia!

    ~Heh, Stover, I have the 3 volume Websters here. I will look them up in it….

    Maybe Rio made up words for us……such a sneaky dog! I admire that in him.

    Älice Johnson

  23. Staff
    6:52 am on July 11th, 2010

    BStover,

    Both words are in my Webster's New (very old) International Dictionary of the English Language. Second Edition, Unabridged. published 1947, copy-write 1934, Volume 2, H-S

    TeeHee,

    Staff

  24. Riö - The Evil
    6:59 am on July 11th, 2010

    Off!… We are off to her mothers house… snort!… Apparently, there are big heavy things that need moved out to the trash… sigh… And her mother has been rooting around in her dad’s garage and tossing out all kinds of stuff…grunt! … I wish that old gal would just sit down and read a book or ten before she starts in on all the “stuff” … wheeze!

  25. Sam
    6:59 am on July 11th, 2010

    When I mentioned the kong, I forgot that Kats would not know or even care to know about them. Alice likes to catch her treats while they're still running, unless she's tired and then a mouse on a silver platter would be nice. She is a Diva, you know.

    Woooolfie's rugous is the best!

    Rectalgia means a yearning for four-sided shapes from the olden days.

  26. dawson
    7:12 am on July 11th, 2010

    Hey!

    Words for Rio to live by. A pain the butt. A perfect match. Do I get a prize? Your soon to be delivered paw-printed copy of TFAT comes to mind.

  27. B. Stover
    7:24 am on July 11th, 2010

    Alice: There was an 18th century children's story with Goody Two Shoes as the main character. Here's a site that gives info on it:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goody_Two_Shoes

  28. B. Stover
    7:40 am on July 11th, 2010

    I'm reading Lot (about southwest France) by Helen Martin. She writes that Pope John XXII, who was from Cahors, used its vine-stock to plant a vineyard around the papal castle in Avignon (14th century). The result was Chateauneuf du Pape, my all-time favorite wine.

  29. Melanie
    7:57 am on July 11th, 2010

    Riö, what wonderful words!

    And the guesses are marvelous. Hmmm. I guess I cheat because I just googled the words.

    Dawson, such a "nice" way to define rectalgia. I was telling Zoë when I looked them up but I used a different word instead of butt.

    Wöölfie! and Sam! Wonderful!

    Dan is doing a weird thing he does after every surgery. He's having very vivid dreams that are real to him. This time it dealt with Michelle Obama, school children and a large storm and getting everyone safe.

    After the appendectomy he knew we had a house on the ocean, right on the beach.

    I like that one better.

  30. Melanie
    8:02 am on July 11th, 2010

    Just weighed Mr. Teal.

    Reason? He was awake. .

    7.128 pounds.

    5 weeks old tomorrow.

  31. Siberian Husky
    8:02 am on July 11th, 2010

    Wolfie, I haven't been to Ghost Ranch, but mom has. I have just riden shotgun through that part of the state. It is very pretty. It's no wonder Georgia O'Keefe chose that as a place to live.

    I'm not crazy about Kong toys either.

    Sam, I am glad you are feeling better today, but, I agree, leaving you and Molly home, while they went to the beach, was dog abuse.

    Rio, I made it to the end of the game yesterday. They started at a more civilized hour and didn't go into extra innings. The All Star Game will start at 6 our time.

  32. B. Stover
    8:22 am on July 11th, 2010

    My dad experienced the same thing after surgery Melanie. There was this recent article in the NYTimes about "hospital delirium."

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/science/21delir

  33. Siberian Husky
    8:24 am on July 11th, 2010

    The puppies are going to weigh more than Sam, and if a few don't, they soon will.

  34. dawson
    8:39 am on July 11th, 2010

    Yikes!

    Hospital delirium is a way different thing than vivid dreams that seem real. Likely Dan has a reaction to his anesthesia. Many medications can cause side effects of very vivid dreams that seem real.

  35. dawson
    8:59 am on July 11th, 2010

    Wow! The puppies have gained a pound a week times 12. No wonder Gracie was worn out. Go puppies go!

    B.Stover: I'm no expert except in rectalgia. I got scared reading that article. If it is delirium the doctors will treat it.

  36. Kirby T. Penworthy
    9:11 am on July 11th, 2010

    I don't think Rugeous and Rectalgia are words at all — they're people, like Remus and Romulus. Rugeous and Rectalgia were boy-and-girl twins who were found in the wild and raised by a childess couple — a math teacher and her floor-store-owning husband.

    Oh, rats. Mom's turning off the computer now because she wants to go shopping. Something about a new dog bed for my big brother, because his got messed up and he keeps trying to fit into my little one. I keep trying to tell Mom and Dad that's OK, I sleep on the couch anyway, but I guess they get upset when they him all squished up!

  37. B. Stover
    9:36 am on July 11th, 2010

    Dawson: The delirium is what my dad had. Dan's dreams are probably, as you say, related to the anesthesia.

  38. Riö - The Evil
    9:36 am on July 11th, 2010

    Eleventh!… Today is July 11th…heh!… I dodged a bullet for sure…grunt!

  39. Melanie
    9:48 am on July 11th, 2010

    Whew, B. Stover, that's scary. Dan's dreams don't go that far. Thank goodness. He's calming down now. I think he should go back to the one where we're all living together at the beach. 🙂

  40. dawson
    10:06 am on July 11th, 2010

    Dreams…of living at the beach. I do have that dream and next week it will come true…at least for a week. I visit my in-laws who have moved to a house on the beach. I hear I will be made to go kayaking.

    B.Stover: Now that we know what rectalgia is…which dictionary did you find it in?

    Rio: What bullet?

    Kirby T. Penworthy (not the 3rd). I think you have the most imaginative definitions to Rio's words of the day.

  41. B. Stover
    10:26 am on July 11th, 2010

    Melanie: At the time that my dad went through it–years ago–the hospital didn't recognize the problem. According to that article they now do and can treat it. I'm glad Dan's is just dreams. The one about the beach sounds very nice! Are the Newfs there?

    Dawson: I found the word in the online medical dictionary. Have fun on the beach…and wear sun screen.

    Staff: That three-volume Webster dictionary seems to beat out the twenty-volume OED!

    Yes Rio, what bullet?

  42. Siberian Husky
    10:27 am on July 11th, 2010

    What bullet, Rio, and do you know that the game has started?

  43. Riö - The Evil
    10:35 am on July 11th, 2010

    Party!… Here are what my party favors would have looked like…snort!… if there would have been a puppy-shower party!… heh!heh!… You guys forgot all about it didn’t you?…snort!

    Rockies!… Yes I know the Rockies are playing right now!… 🙂

    [img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1278876876-party_favors.jpg[/img]

  44. Riö - The Evil
    10:37 am on July 11th, 2010

    Party!… Mother Boogar and her friend were all ready to party at the party!… snort!…But no one even mentioned it yesterday… heh!heh!…grunt!

    [img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1278877048-ReadyToParty.jpg[/img]

  45. Melanie
    11:12 am on July 11th, 2010

    I love the party favors Riö!!

    Zoë may be in Boston, but since this thing never seems to disappear, she will be attending but later. I think.

    Tomorrow: Puppy Shots!

  46. Mollypop
    11:55 am on July 11th, 2010

    Did we give Siber-H the assignment of reminding us about the puppy shower? Oh no.

  47. B. Stover
    12:01 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I thought Wolfie, the party planner, said July 16.

  48. dawson
    12:06 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Crap!

    The only one with a memory is Rio!

    Gawd-awful tasting tequila would give me a headache and then firecrackers to make sure I feel that headache to the max!? Plus half the nation will be quivering under beds. The only one with a memory has lost his ever-loving mind.

  49. Siberian Husky
    12:07 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Thanks goodness, no, Molly..that wasn't my assignment. I was suppose to do the ice cream once I figured out how to make it.

    I feel so bad. We disappointed the puppies and the Newfs. What kind of Siber-Godparents are we, anyway.

    Rio didn't remember it either until today.

  50. dawson
    12:08 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio the rugous, rectalgiatious pug.

  51. Riö - The Evil
    12:10 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rockies!… Woooo!….They are on top 6 – 3 bottom of the 6th!…snort!… I see that some people brought their brooms to the game for the Big Sweep!… heh!… If the Rockies win they will be tied for first place in their division….grunt!

  52. Riö - The Evil
    12:14 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Stover!… I distinctly remember July 10th being the party date… heh!…Too bad, so sad!…snort!…Glad those party-favors piss you off so much Dawson….grunt!… My favor are a success! …heh!…SiberH you are assuming I did not remember until today, but you will never know for sure… snicker!

  53. Siberian Husky
    12:15 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Stover has a good memory, maybe she is right.

    It's okay, Dawson. I do not do firecrackers and I would not allow them around the puppies. There will be NO firecrackers.

  54. Siberian Husky
    12:17 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I agree, Rio, I will never know for sure, but I do know that some of us fell for that "what bullet did you dodge, Rio?"

  55. B. Stover
    12:21 pm on July 11th, 2010

    July 16 was mentioned by Wolfie after July 10 had been mentioned by Melanie. I think July 16 was mentioned when it first came up.

  56. dawson
    12:26 pm on July 11th, 2010

    What the..!

    What a rectalgia! Chicago White Sox have taken over first place from the Tigers.

    Siber H. et al: I feel bad we forgot too, but we could not have a puppy shower without Dan and Zoe, so it's just as well. Should I order the food for tomorrow or next weekend (when I have to work the 12 hour shifts). Phooey.

  57. Melanie
    12:29 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I have it on the calendar as JULY SIXTEENTH!!

  58. Riö - The Evil
    12:30 pm on July 11th, 2010

    SiberH!… I just realized you will finally get to see Ubaldo pitch during the All-Star game!…snort!…I’m not sure but I think I have heard he will be pitching the first 2 innings…grunt!…Will have to check on that to be sure though…heh!

    Puppies!…They are almost weaned, do we really need to have a puppy shower now after so long?… grump!

  59. Riö - The Evil
    12:33 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Sixteenth!….What a rectalgia…snort!…good grief!… Me and my big rugous mouth anyway….crap times 12!

  60. Siberian Husky
    12:36 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I figured that one out about Jimenez and the All Star Game quite awhile ago. I have gotten to see a bit of his pitching in the videos on the Rockies' website. It's a minor miracle that the MLB doesn't blackout those videos for me.

  61. Siberian Husky
    12:38 pm on July 11th, 2010

    We can't have the puppy shower without Dawson, so someone figure something out. Where is Wolfie, the party planner?

  62. Riö - The Evil
    12:41 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Missing!… Where is Lil Lexi, Queen of the Bobs? ….snort!… Wookie is missing too…dammit!… He is off reading I am just sure of it….grump!…Damn his furry hide!…grrrrr! K

  63. dawson
    12:42 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I'm okay for the 16th. It's a short shift. I will order the food NOW! Oh boy oh boy oh boy.

  64. Riö - The Evil
    12:42 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Grump!…Somehow my 😐 was transformed into a "K"…weird!

  65. dawson
    12:48 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I hate to be a rectalgia but…could Mollypop assist a certain rugous somebody with suitable party favors? Rio can bring the beer. I'm sure I remember correctly that Lexi said he could have some just on this occasion.

  66. Siberian Husky
    12:51 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Is everyone in agreement that the 16th is the day?

  67. B. Stover
    1:00 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I think I'm supposed to have pies….all different fruit pies since we can't have chocolate cream…July 16.

    We have not actually had the definition of rugous given yet have we?

  68. Riö - The Evil
    1:07 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Stover!… Rugous means wrinkled, covered with sunken lines….snort!… Just so you know, Rugulous means having small wrinkles…. Heh!

    Favors!… Hey!… We have already spent money on these party favors and now you want someone else to make them??… grunt! … What a load of crap!…snort!… I am the only one who has actually “done” anything for this silly party … grumble.

  69. Riö - The Evil
    1:25 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Down!…The Rockies are down by 3….yeep!… The bottom of the ninth is going to start – it is their last chance to win and sweep the first place Padres!….snort!… I am gnawing on the couch cover again!…. yeep!yeep!

  70. B. Stover
    1:26 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Good words Rio. Do you think we should have word-of-the-week (possibly on Sundays) rather than word-of-the-day?

  71. Siberian Husky
    1:28 pm on July 11th, 2010

    yeep! yeep! The Rockies can do it! They have done it before!

  72. Riö - The Evil
    1:31 pm on July 11th, 2010
  73. dawson
    1:36 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio: Since Melanie likes those favors, by all means bring them. Just because I won't enjoy them doesn't mean everyone else can't.

    There will be enough food to keep me happy.

  74. Riö - The Evil
    1:42 pm on July 11th, 2010

    OMG!OMG!..so close!… Dammit to Hell!…snuff!…The Padres win this one by 2…Ouch!…Giambi could not pull it out this time…drat!sob!sob!sob!…Aww well, bring on the All-Star games…heh!… Everybody take a big breather…heh! Because its going to be a wild second half of the season, I can just feel it!…Wooooo!

    Food!…To make us feel better we are off to the kitchen to make some comfort food and lunches for the long week ahead… snort!

    Stover!…Thank you my dear!…cough!… Nice words of praise coming from an English teacher and a good friend…heh!…Yes! I think having a couple of Words of the Day on Sundays is an exellant idea!… snort!snort!… I can come up with the words if no one else wants to do it… wheeze! …Believe me, we will never run out…heh!

  75. B. Stover
    1:56 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio: I think that you should choose the one who should come up with next week's words. (I've already done it so it shouldn't be me.)

  76. Kirby T. Penworthy
    2:10 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I'm back! Mom and Dad just came home with not one, but two beds for Buford, because sometimes he sleeps in the living room and sometimes he sleeps in the laundry room. And they got the kats some kitty litter. And what did they get me? Nothing! Not one thing! But after I told Sam not to whine when she was neglected yesterday, I decided I have to set a good example:

    Dear Mom and Dad,

    I'm glad you got those things for Buford and Bubbie and Possum. Maybe next time will be my turn. I'm willing to wait.

    Love,

    Kirby T. Penworthy

    I'm sure Rio will think I'm being too soft on them, but humans have some kind of saying about flies and honey, or something like that.

  77. Staff
    2:22 pm on July 11th, 2010

    ~BStover, Thanks for the Goody Two Shoes history lesson!

    The dictionaries became mine when my parents bought a new one that was only one volume. (Dawson gets many of Dad's books, but maybe these were too heavy to go up North.)

    I bet they beat yours in weight too! (I am unsure whether to refer to it in the plural or not. 3 volumes, one publishing date??? Each one is about the weight of a puppy. TeeHee

    ~Rio, I forgot that I remembered the 10th too. I was going to make virtual quilts. I guess I have to do something else now because Wookie made real quilts. Hmmmmmm. Virtual quilts don't seem to cut it anymore.

    Do dogs like catnip? I could make them catnip socks. Heh heh,

    If they didn't want them I know someone who does!

    Gosh, Lance Armstrong had a bad day today. He was in three crashes in the Tour de France. But the Twins won so I am OK with todays sports. Besides I really like that Andy Schleck. He is cute cute cute.

    Staff

  78. Alice Johnson
    2:23 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Kirby,

    Maybe they thought they were getting you your bed back.

    Sometimes 2 legged's think differently.

    Alice

  79. Riö - The Evil
    2:28 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Kirby!… Pal, wrong move completely!…snort!… You will never get what you want that way…heh!…I’ve found that begging non-stop with an annoying yelp! And yeep! and grrrrrouuph –whimper! …Over and over and over and over and over again will get you what you want eventually…heh!…Tiring, but profitable in the end…. Snort!…Take those cookies out on the farm, I eventually got 3 whole cookies over the course of 4 – 5 hours of non-stop begging. I rest my case… grunt!

    YEEEP!…Lightning and THUNDER right over our house for gosh sakes! …yeep!yeep!…I want downstairs NOW! NOW! NOW!… sniff!sniff!

  80. Kirby T. Penworthy
    2:30 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Alice: Good theory, but ever since the flying squirrel died, Mom and Dad don't close the living room door anymore. So now I have my choice of two couches to sleep on. They're even better than my bed because they're bigger and they have pillows. No way am I going back to my bed!

  81. Kirby T. Penworthy
    2:31 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio: Remember, I am being a good role model for Sam. Is she even around? 'Cuz if she isn't, I can go back to being my normal self!

  82. Riö - The Evil
    2:41 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Kirby!…Well, I will tell you something about being a good-role model for these young pups!…snort!… It sucks big time….grunt!… Lil Lexi is off eating all the crappy junk food she can get her chops on and I am sitting here beer-less… grump!… Thats what you get for being a ‘role model’… Molly was right! dammit!…snuff!

  83. Staff
    2:42 pm on July 11th, 2010

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUvo5OHH6o8&fe

    I expect this will be moderated but I found this on one of the other blogs I read. And it made me really happy and it made me cry and so I want to share it with you.

    For all of us who are surviving with joy.

    For Dan and Zoe and Melanie. For Jasper and others working hard to get through hard times. And for me too. Cause I need it.

    >^..^<

  84. Wookie of Chevy Chas
    2:56 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio. Sorry about the Rockies today, but they have had a great run-up to the All Star break, and that should position them well for the second half of the season. And while I may root a bit for the Nats when the play the Rockies, I don't think the Nats have much a chance to go all the way, so the Rockies will remain my team for that. When they do play, I hope that Jimenez pitches against Strasburg — wouldn't that be a great game. Also, if you need to borrow any disguises or costumes for your dress-up party just let me know, I can air express the formal bow tie or the mustache to you if you need either. Just a bit blurry eyed here from all that reading. Your pal, Wookie

    P.S. Am I still on as the m.o.c. for the puppy shower party?

  85. Siberian Husky
    3:09 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Staff; That is a wonderful video. I'm going to watch it again. It is both joyful and sad, but joy triumphs.

    You're the dog, Wookie, our m.o.c. I think we have our act together now.

  86. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    3:12 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Ahem. (Polite cough)

    I did mention the Party a week or two ago and I had figured we had gone one to other things.

    BUT. With Dan in the hospital and ALL, the 16th will be PERFECT!!!

    Great party favors, Rio. We'll need about 2,000 more and oh, don't let my boys see them!

    Let's just have a fun, laid back, kick back kind of shower. Lots and lots of food and puppies and puppy kisses and maybe we'll even give Bess and Rio some privacy when they are watching the game.

    Cheers to all, WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWwwwwwwwwww

  87. Staff
    3:17 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Thanks, Mr. Husky

  88. Siberian Husky
    3:48 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I'm into laid back, Wolfie. Melanie wouldn't want us to get the pupppies all hyper. Can a Newf get hyper? The defination of hyper is a husky puppy.

  89. Sam
    3:55 pm on July 11th, 2010

    T. I heard that. You have to continue to be a role model for me.

  90. Riö - The Evil
    4:02 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Wookie!… Ole battle worn pal of mine…snort!… Yes the Rockies have had a great run-up to mid-season… sniff!…I just hope the time-off doesn’t affect their performance in the upcoming long road-trip ahead….grunt!… They will encounter the Rays at one point! I am very interested to see how that match-up goes… wheeze!…But for now we can all catch our breath and enjoy the All-Star games…heh!…Did you really have to sign a nondisclosure contract??? …snort! … If so, I have a feeling why you were given the grand prize and not me…heh! … Big mouth that I am…snorkel!

  91. Kirby T. Penworthy
    4:27 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Hey guys! Maybe I did get something out of Mom and Dad's shopping trip after all! They were trying to get Buford to try out his new bed, but he's blind and he doesn't like being pushed into doing anything new. So I decided to try it out for him. Boy oh boy is it comfortable. If he doesn't want it, I'll make sure his new bed doesn't go to waste!

  92. Riö - The Evil
    4:49 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Breed!… Does anyone here know what sort of guy Kirby is??… snort!… Including Kirby himself… snicker!… I can not form a good picture of this guy without knowing…grunt!..And I am sorry if I missed this info in one of your posts Kirby…heh!

  93. wookie of chevy chas
    5:32 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Just watched Murder on the Orient Express on Mystery. Suchet was at his very best. Time for bed now. Goodnight all. Wookie

  94. Riö - The Evil
    5:46 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Good night Wookie!…snort!…Happy dreams!

  95. dawson
    5:58 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I don't think Kirby T. Penworthy has mentioned if he is a certain breed or combination pooch.

  96. Mollypop
    5:58 pm on July 11th, 2010

    How about dem Yankees. Woo hoo.

  97. Riö - The Evil
    6:02 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Hercule!… He will be on here in a few minutes!……snort!…My friend remembers when she was about 12 or 13 years old that she talked her poor dad into taking her to the movies to see “Murder on The Orient Express” when the first movie came out. …sniff!…Now, this was a guy who farmed and also had a full-time job – he worked non-stop to provide for his family…sob!… And yet, he took time to take her to see this movie that he of course, could not understand the accents, and had no idea about Hercuole Poirot or anything…sob!…But the fact that he took her to see this because she really, really wanted to see the movie remains with her today as a very special time with her dad…sniff!

  98. dawson
    6:05 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio: Would you describe yourself as rugulous or rugous? And: Kirby said up above that he sleeps in a smallish bed.

  99. dawson
    6:10 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I too enjoyed the Murder on the Orient Express tonight.

    Chet: Will we meet Astrid tomorrow? Hope so.

    Good night to all the late night tail waggers.

  100. Kirby T. Penworthy
    6:24 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Rio: You can speculate all you want about my breed. We do a lot of that around here! Mom and Dad have seen the ads about DNA testing for dogs, and they say that would probably be the only way to settle it. I can tell you what I'm not: I'm not a pug, or a poodle, or a Siberian husky, or a golden retriever, or a German shepherd or anything else the AKC would recognize. Dad says when God was making dogs he put all his leftover pieces in a box, and then he put them all together to make me! Dawson hit it on the head — I'm a combination pooch. I am smallish (not chihuahua small, but not big, either). I'm mostly black, but my chest and the tips of my paws are white. My right ear stands up straight, but my left ear flops. And my family laughs at me sometimes because my lip gets caught on my tooth — they call it my Elvis look. Doesn't Chet like Elvis? I think he'd like me, too! I even used to sing with my brother and sister, but ever since Missy went over the rainbow bridge, Buford and I don't sing anymore.

  101. Riö - The Evil
    6:36 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Heh!heh!…Kirby, you sound like the kind of pal I want to pal around with!…heh… They say I am a mixed Pug too…grunt!.. I do not believe it, but that’s what they say…hey!… But maybe that’s why I am so healthy and strong too!… wheeze!…Who knows?…. Hercule is on and she is frowning on me being at the computer right now… snuffle!… Hercule is special…sniff!

  102. Staff
    6:38 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Murder on the Orient Express was on here too. We had popcorn while we watched.

    Staff

  103. Riö - The Evil
    6:41 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Goodnight! All!… This remake is not doing it for us!..heh!..too short and sweet!…grunt!

  104. dawson
    6:46 pm on July 11th, 2010

    Wow!

    Kirby T Penworthy: You sound like a wonderful, soulful, happy combination pooch. I meant to ask you about that Elvis look. Now I know. I think your ears are cool. Sleep tight.

  105. Wolfie Wigglebutt
    6:57 pm on July 11th, 2010

    I want to see some photos of Mr T!!!

    He sounds like me….nobody can see for sure what I am either!!!

    FOOD!!! PARTY!!!!

    Yipeeeeee!! Let's party hardy…..

    And it's a good thing that the party is on a Friday – hopefully all the caterers won't be too booked at this late date!

  106. dawson
    3:18 am on July 12th, 2010

    Hey!

    WWWWW: Kirby T. does sound like you except I had you pictured as a bit bigger – not real big. Do you do that Elvis thing too?

    The caterers are pleased that I called back – they thought I'd forgot. We'd worked out a menu long ago and I added several more items because everything sounds so delicious. When I get more time I'll give you all the yummy details.

  107. WilliamSen
    2:43 pm on May 6th, 2016

    Wow, great post.Really looking forward to read more. Want more.

The Books



powered by wordpress | site by michael baker digital