Sundays With Ingrid
“Where’s the Mongolian ribs?” Ty said, peering into the cardboard containers.
“They didn’t have them tonight,” Mom said. “I got the crispy duck instead.”
“What do you mean they didn’t have them?” Or something like that: hard to tell with Ty’s mouth stuffed full of egg roll, those delicious Ta Tung egg rolls, blackened at the ends.
“Eat what you’re given,” said Dad.
After that there were just chewing sounds, Ty’s dominating. Was he having another growth spurt? He seemed bigger than he was just last week, or even yesterday.
“Try the crispy duck,” Mom said, passing it around the table. “It’s really good.”
Dad helped himself and said, “Any results, kids?”
Results meant grades on quizzes, tests, exams or papers.
“Nope,” said Ty.
“Nope,” said Ingrid. Not strictly true, if you were counting today’s seventy-one on Ms. Groome’s math test, but a test wasn’t really a result, not if result meant final result, and weren’t final results what counted? Bottom line, walk the walk, just win, baby: wasn’t that the American way? Therefore bringing up this little matter of the seventy-one, one of those neither-here-nor-there grades that could only lead to lots of bothersome speculation, was almost un-American. Algebra, week after week, month after month, this dogged quest for X, bound to be fruitless, like all those other quests, Loch Ness monster, Holy Grail, origin of the – Whoa. Dad was eyeing her in a way that suggested some follow-up question might be next.
From Into the Dark.
Tags: Echo Falls Series
This entry was posted on Sunday, June 12th, 2011 at 8:12 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.
8:16 am on June 12th, 2011
Good morning all.
8:18 am on June 12th, 2011
Good Morning B.
8:29 am on June 12th, 2011
Hey, Mollypop!
8:32 am on June 12th, 2011
Good morning, y’all!
8:37 am on June 12th, 2011
By the way, did anyone else notice the Facebook thingy up on the side there? Chet gave away frisbees to people on Facebook. What about us? I hang out here, not on Facebook! And I like frisbees — at least I think I do. I have all kinds of toys and balls and things, but I’m not sure I’ve ever played with a frisbee. Pondering….
8:44 am on June 12th, 2011
There is a picture of a dog with the frisbee on Facebook. It’s orange and says “The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series” around it and “Spencer Quinn” in the center. I can’t read the small lettering but it also has Chet’s blog address. My comment yesterday was “grumble.”
10:03 am on June 12th, 2011
Good Sunday Morning B, Mollypop and KT:
Kirby: I agree with you. I’m not on Facebook either, and I like Frisbees! What are we…chopped liver???
SNORT, GRUMBLE, and WUFFLE!
10:20 am on June 12th, 2011
Good Morning: B, Kirby, MollyPop, Rose and All
My take on the Facebook frisbee giveaway is that Chet is trying to attract more friends to the site by way of bribe (?) the first 4 “likes” getting a prize.
Like Ingrid’s comment: “…the dogged quest for x, bound to be fruitless”
10:26 am on June 12th, 2011
Dawson: We read a couple of books by Temple Grandin, including the one you mentioned, “Animals in Translation” Also, the dvd is very good. Claire Danes is in the starring role as Temple.
11:00 am on June 12th, 2011
BearSpiritDog: Animals in Translation has been on my stack of books to read for almost half a year but keeps getting pre-empted by others. I saw a show on t.v. a couple months ago and it is this book. I hadn’t put the two together until I started reading. Had only heard of Temple from the blog and must admit I didn’t know who Claire Danes was either but I thought she was very believable in the role.
11:15 am on June 12th, 2011
Double grumble, in regards to the frisbee thingie,
I do like chopped liver, though, but I hardly ever get any. Mom hates the smell.
11:19 am on June 12th, 2011
Sky High Advanture Park opened recently here in Ellicottville. People put on harnesses and go up in trees. My next post is Sam’s girl doing this scary thing.
http://www.holidayvalley.com/HolidayValley/info/skyhigh.aspx
11:20 am on June 12th, 2011
I think Spence likes face bookie better than us.
First, he takes away Astrid, and then we get shut out on the frisbie giveaway.
Not that we miss Astrid or anything. Not that we are laying awake at night worrying about her and her suitcase. Sigh.
11:22 am on June 12th, 2011
This is Sam’s girl and a friend on the platform – the friend is behind the tree. They got there by a zip line that came from the platform on the left side of the picture. Yikes!
11:38 am on June 12th, 2011
Mollypop!
How did they get down?
That looks scary!
11:44 am on June 12th, 2011
Wolfie: Didn’t Spence mention something about frisbees here on the blog? It has been a while, but Chet also made some comment about it and nothing has been said since that time. Some of us would “like” to have frisbees also.
MollyPop: Brave girl, that one!
11:58 am on June 12th, 2011
I want a frisbee and I want it Nowwwwwwww!
12:02 pm on June 12th, 2011
I just saw an advertisement for a Mosquito Repelling Plant. Hmm…wonder if it works.
12:04 pm on June 12th, 2011
(just kidding)
My desk is piled a foot high with paper and the chair beside the desk is piled a foot high with paper and the huge desk in my room is piled a foot high…you get the message. I have meetings this week in which I might need a piece or two of that paper. The time to procrastinate is not now. Wish I had a frisbee to throw to lessen the stress of all this paper!. I’m going for a walk because it’s not raining for a change.
12:11 pm on June 12th, 2011
Wolfie – There are 8 different courses and 4 levels of difficulty. They go from tree to tree and through many obstacles, with the final one being a zip line to the ground. Here’s a picture of an easier (relatively speaking) part of the course.
12:40 pm on June 12th, 2011
Hey,y’all! Mom just got back from church with spaghetti, so I got some bread crusts! The kids at church are raising money to go to a big youth conference, so there are going to be lots of things like this during the next year. Last week they had a kitchen gadget party. Mom didn’t bring home anything to eat, so obviously it wasn’t a very successful fund-raiser. The ones with food are better — I say bring ’em on!!!
12:41 pm on June 12th, 2011
Mollypop: Mom is scared of heights, so she wouldn’t let me look at those pictures very much. I hope the girls had fun!!!
12:47 pm on June 12th, 2011
3 or 4 days of heavenly weather. We are enjoying it while we can.
1:28 pm on June 12th, 2011
I was expecting AJ to return home sometime today, but very late last night I heard the rumble of our dog truck coming up the driveway. What a surprise! I ran out to greet him and true to form Luna and Belle Starr began to complain how they were forced to work all week, had to endure the constant attention of strangers and were only given table scraps at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Poor girls.
1:44 pm on June 12th, 2011
Mollypop: I’m very impressed with Sam’s girl. That looks like fun. Ah, youth!
1:45 pm on June 12th, 2011
I have the skeleton of the auction page built and have received seven auction items so far—thanks Mollypop, Staff and Princess Sam!
1:54 pm on June 12th, 2011
Mornin’, sort of, ok, not really,
Wolfie, you can still vote for Patrick until tomorrow morning.
Is he not just the cutest patootie! And singing to his sister…sigh…
Mom was ooing and ahhing about the adventure park, so dad asked what was going on. Mom said that she wanted to try it. Dad said something like, “you don’t like heights, you don’t like exercise, you don’t like bugs, and you do not like for nature to touch you. Exactly what is it that you like about this?” What he seems to forget is that mom can put up with a lot if it means checking something off of her bucket list. Of course, she would only be doing it when the temp. was under 50. She also does not like to sweat.
1:55 pm on June 12th, 2011
Aannndddd now for a…
2:21 pm on June 12th, 2011
We had an earthquake this morning. Mom did not feel anything, but she is not as sensitive as I am. My yard was all rumbly and all… nervous-like.
3:01 pm on June 12th, 2011
I seem to be in trouble but I’m innocent. They think I caused this problem just because I like to rooch around when I’m getting ready to lie down. I do dig a little because, actually, I’m part husky.
3:05 pm on June 12th, 2011
My family, oh they’re so smart, they fixed the problem perfectly.
3:09 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sam! You might want to join the midget Iditarod with Kirby.
Macy MinPin: I wonder if your Mom would feel the earthquake if she was on one of those zip-lines when it happened. Stay safe.
3:09 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sam: You must have been framed for the misdeed—it’s not right, but it has been known to happen. A lady would never tear up her thrown like that, would she? Your family did a great job fixing the problem and you cuteness distracts from anything that might be amiss.
3:11 pm on June 12th, 2011
Macy: Glad you are safe. We get a lot of earthquakes in our area; the dogs always bark and fuss, stop immediately and then the ground begins to shake.
3:50 pm on June 12th, 2011
Well, catch up on last night and today’s later. Had a great time. Probably 50 Newfs!
Browns, Grays, Landseers, Irish Spotted and of course Blacks.
I did the driving to make sure that Zoë rested. So not sure when I’m getting back on. It was 5 hours total.
We did see one of the Cyber – dog – puppies! JOY! That’s her name and her attitude!
3:50 pm on June 12th, 2011
Thanks everybody, ours was more of an “earthquiver” 2.7. Mom wants to feel a real earthquake. Once. Just a little one. No damage.
Anytime you want to cover something up, put a dog on it. Sam, people should just realize that dogs have to rooch.
3:54 pm on June 12th, 2011
SnowBella: You have your own early earthquake warning system.tee hee
4:04 pm on June 12th, 2011
Thanks Macy for sticking up for me. Maybe my family will listen to you.
4:32 pm on June 12th, 2011
Finally!…Everybody has left. Dinner was wonderful, what little bit I got of it…grunt!
Frisbees!… I can live without them, but the fact that the Plunderers are being neglected really ticks me off….grump!… We could boycott the blog. Then where would they be? …dammit!
Bright!… On the bright side, we now have our TV over here from my other house. It is downstairs where it is nice and cool. It has a DVD player in it, so once again we can watch our Netflix movies…Wooooo!… Next thing she is moving is my computer. Right after I type this up we are heading downstairs to watch the Rockies game in the cool, wonderful, peacefully quiet basement…Bliss!
4:59 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sammie!…If I had done what you did to a piece of her mother’s furniture, I would be stuffed in that hole and the pillow would be on top of me…wuffle!
Basement!… I don’t like those stairs one bit….wheeze!cough!…. There is no room in the chair for me either…grunt!… I have to lay on the rug like a low-life….sniff!… We didn’t think her mother was going to go upstairs there for a moment. She sat down and started talking to my friend while she was trying to set up the computer and then when she turned the game on she just kept talking. She likes to talk, a lot…snort!… Now we are down here alone finally…heh!… I need a cushion. Sammie! Can I borrow one of your pillows?…sniff!
5:02 pm on June 12th, 2011
I have to say about the Sky High Adventure – I say “four on the floor” and notice Mom is taking the pictures and not up in the trees. Mom’s granddaughter came with a friend and had a great time, at a much lower level that Sam’s crazy girl. Mom’s daughter-in-law tried it and had to be rescued. She went on a zip line between two trees, didn’t make it up on the next platform and then went backwards. She was hanging there in her harness and the rescuers came and got her back up on the platform. Priceless, I say.
5:05 pm on June 12th, 2011
Rio, what are you saying? I didn’t do that to the furniture. I was framed, I tell you, I was framed!
5:26 pm on June 12th, 2011
tee hee,
You look good in a frame Sam.
5:27 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sam, I will vouch for you, my perfect little princess!
5:29 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sammie!…I know exactly what you feel like…grunt!… I am always being framed for stuff….sniff!
5:30 pm on June 12th, 2011
Gus puppy ate a big hole in the arm of the living room couch. Not me. Gus.
He is so immature!
5:39 pm on June 12th, 2011
Framed!….One of these days she is going to have to move that big plant in the living room at my other house…snort!….and I will get blamed for all that back there too….huffle!
5:59 pm on June 12th, 2011
I tell you guys, I have to dig a sleeping hole. I’m part Husky and that’s what we do. I don’t know what all the fuss is about.
6:03 pm on June 12th, 2011
Husky!… Speaking of Huskies and digging out of holes, I sure hope SiberH and Wookie are watching the Rockies game this afternoon….snort!…Its another really exciting one so far!…heh!
6:32 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sam, I’m confused. You were framed AND you have to dig a sleeping hole. Hmmm.
Bella, Glad Luna and Belle Starr are home and safe. Oh yeah, AJ too!
Love the Dramatic Paws!
Zoë says to say that I’m a wonderful person. I think that’s because I drove the whole way. Snicker. What she doesn’t realize is when she was taking a nap, I put the car on cruise control and took a nap too.
My sister who was here with Dan and Dogs, has decided that she is taken Dan to go see our brother (in Maine) at the end of the month. Dan gets a vacation!
Now if he just doesn’t push himself so he doesn’t get sick . . .
Wow, look at the time 6:31! I’m going to bed! YEA!
6:37 pm on June 12th, 2011
Bed?….geeze!…We still have alot of work to do today…sniff!…After the game we will be going over to my other house and water some stuff…snort!…That’s hard work going in and out, up and down stairs. Then there is the whole trying not to get wet part. She likes to see me run away from the hose from time to time…grunt!
6:46 pm on June 12th, 2011
Melanie, Melanie, Melanie, that hole is bigger than I am. Too much for me to dig. What if I said cousin Molly dug that hole?
6:50 pm on June 12th, 2011
Blame!…Agent Molly would never do something like that with those long nails of hers…heh!snort!heh!
6:57 pm on June 12th, 2011
Cripes!… Are you kidding me?….grunt!…We are off to go water stuff and cool down…growl!
6:58 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’ve been watching Monk on dvd. I’ve only seen one or two episodes on tv. It’s good. I understand that the eighth season was the last.
7:24 pm on June 12th, 2011
Um, Sam, I don’t know how to tell you this, but you do not look husky to me.
7:37 pm on June 12th, 2011
Macy: Love the Dramatic Paws!
B: We watched most of the Monk episodes on tv, but didn’t see the last couple of seasons. Just finished the second season of Damages with Glenn Close. Really like the show. It was completely different than expected. Now must wait for the 3rd season to come out on dvd. We are looking for another series to grab our attention. Didn’t you and Rio say Justified is very good?
Some of you guys are really on the ball. According to Rebecca she has 7 auction items. We’d best get that picture(s) to Melanie asap.
7:43 pm on June 12th, 2011
Bear: I’ve never watched Justified but Rio has.
7:50 pm on June 12th, 2011
Sam, I think you may have a touch of Husky in you because I do the same thing before a serious nap. I turn in a circle several times and sometimes dig before flopping. The only difference between you and I is that I don’t get on the furniture. My folks don’t care if i get on the furniture, but I just don’t. Mom got me a huge dog bed that is covered in tough denim that is so far standing up to my bear claws. I have impressive toenails, if I do say so myself.
7:52 pm on June 12th, 2011
Rio, did you watch the innings that Ubaldo pitched? sob, sob, sob, It was, NOT GOOD
9:08 pm on June 12th, 2011
TONYS!…. My friend is so excited because we got home just in time to turn on the Tony Awards… WOOOOOOOO!…She loves The Theater…heh!
9:11 pm on June 12th, 2011
B Stover: We only have a few channels, but AJ and I watched Monk on DVD. It is one of our favorite shows. The series did end a couple of years ago and as far as series finales go, I think it wrapped up nicely.
9:19 pm on June 12th, 2011
Wow!..Wow!…Wow!….We just saw a live performance of One song in How to Suceed In Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Ratcliffe…heh!…How to get tickets?…sniff!…How to get to NYC!!??…grunt! …This whole show is going to be great!…Plus, I have a feeling I will not be going on that long walk while it is on…heh!heh!heh!heh!heh!heh!
9:22 pm on June 12th, 2011
Bear!… “Damages”, “Justified” and “Breaking Bad” are some of my favorite high quality shows. Excellent writing prevails…snort!… Monk was also one of our favorites for years and years…heh! …Broadway is back on tv!…wooooo!
9:31 pm on June 12th, 2011
YsuccessfulAS!… Will one day be nominated for a Tony Award!…snort!… I just know it…sniff!…So there! (Can he sing?)
9:38 pm on June 12th, 2011
SiberH!… Regarding Ubaldo’s performance today, we missed most of it…grunt!…Now that the Offense seems to be getting on track the Defense is crumbling…huffle!….What the hell is up with that? Poor Jim Tracey…sniff!…I wish I could sit on his lap and give him a big slurpy pug kiss and tell him everything is going to be okay….sob!sob!sob!
9:38 pm on June 12th, 2011
Alone!?… huff!…Am I all alone again tonight?…grunt!
9:41 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’m here.
9:42 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’m here, too.
9:50 pm on June 12th, 2011
SiberH: I just remembered I owe you a trail recipie for the four-legged.
9:57 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’m here on and off. Heh. The twins won again. Rockies down and Twins up. We have a long way to go up though.
10:02 pm on June 12th, 2011
The Twins clobbered the Rangers yesterday.
10:07 pm on June 12th, 2011
Unbelievable!…The Twins won again?….grunt!…The universe is reversing itself somehow and letting those guys win and the Rockies are losing close games…sniff!… Its all backwards…huffle!
10:11 pm on June 12th, 2011
Mormon!…The play, ”The Book of Mormon” did not impress us at all tonight with the performance …grunt!choke!gag!
Recipes!…My friend says she is working on her last recipe, but probably will not finish it tonight unless there are more performances like the Mormon one so she can continue typing it up…heh!
10:28 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’m here Brother Rio. Sorry to have missed you earlier I was settin out on the porch, rockin and watching the sun go down.
Missed having you here with your harmonica – that would have gone right nice with the crickets and tree frogs singing.
10:53 pm on June 12th, 2011
Dallas Mavericks win it in Miami!!! In your face, Heat! *not that we are basketball fans* Now if we could REALLY beat some heat. Even mom wants to pant….
11:03 pm on June 12th, 2011
I’m not a basketball fan, but I’m glad Texas won. I’m not sure exactly what they won, but I’m glad they won.
Night all
Rio, I will read your reviews of the Tony Awards tomorrow rather than the newspapers.
11:12 pm on June 12th, 2011
Redbone!…Now that would have been a nice way to end the day, yes almighty…snort!…Maybe I can catch you another time one evening…heh!
Reviews!…I’m too tuckered out to write up reviews…grunt!… I’m just listening to all the singing and imagining the dancing as I doze on the floor…buurrp!…Steak! Oh, and it still tastes good!…mmmmm….
11:27 pm on June 12th, 2011
Hey!… Where’s the stairs? I’m down here all alone in the dark!…yeep!… She went up without me…dammit!….Good Grief! Goodnight!…snort!
11:45 pm on June 12th, 2011
Goodnight all, going to try to get to bed by 11 central time.
HA!
12:02 am on June 13th, 2011
We were rooting hard for the Dallas Mavericks too. Great game and great series. Always nice to see the ole guys win one. It was also a nice turn-around to what happened in 2006, when Miami beat Dallas for the NBA championship. We actually rooted for Miami in that series, mainly because of Alonzo Mourning being on the team, but we find it hard to root for Lebron James. Bet there are a lot of happy people in Cleveland tonight as well. Wookie’s
12:30 am on June 13th, 2011
Cleveland, heh heh, they are well rid of the scoundrel.
Wooks, I haven’t sent you any healing licks lately. *slurrrrp*
Nite nite, sleep tight, and may you not have need of the BB sniffing hounds.