Sundays With Ingrid
Grampy lifted Ingrid’s bike into the back of the pickup—tossed it in, really, with an easy motion like a young man. They crossed the bridge, the river flowing fast beneath, black and ripply.
“Anyone ever warn you about falling in a pigpen?” Grampy said.
“No.”
“And you’re how old again?”
“Thirteen.”
Grampy shook his head. “Stereo medicine to give you pimples and not knowing about falling in a pigpen. This country’s in big trouble.”
“What happens if you fall in a pigpen?” Ingrid said.
Grampy turned onto 392, followed the river north. “Pigs are smart and always hungry, just like us. Only difference is they’re short.”
“You’re just trying to scare me,” Ingrid said.
“Wouldn’t do that, kid,” said Grampy. “Run that stereo thing by me one more time.”
Ingrid tried to think of the right place to begin. The answer came all by itself. “I got kidnapped, Grampy. But no one believes me.” The next moment she was crying, really sobbing like a little kid, out of control. Grampy looked over in total alarm.
Ingrid got it together.
“Uh,” said Grampy, “might find a rag in back you could wipe your face with.”
“I’m fine,” Ingrid said, and she wiped her face on her sleeve. Then, in a voice that sounded lower than her real voice, she told Grampy the whole story, leaving out nothing except the Ty part. Of course, the story didn’t really make sense without the Ty part, but maybe it wasn’t making sense to Grampy anyway. His face didn’t change from beginning to end, except for darkening when the name Kraken came up. Was he keeping up with the story? Did he believe her?
“That’s it?” he said, turning up the long drive to the farm.
Ingrid nodded.
“One thing I don’t get,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“How come you didn’t tell the cops about this motive?”
“The steroids?”
“Yeah.”
She glanced at him. Face still expressionless, but he’d followed the whole story. And his not getting just that one thing had to mean he believed her. She loved Grampy.
But what could she say? Ingrid made a tough decision, a decision that meant breaking her code, the code of kids in Echo Falls and maybe everywhere. “Promise not to tell?” she said.
Grampy shook his head. “That’s not a real question,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
“Because you’ll never get a real answer,” he said.
That rang like a bell in Ingrid’s head, completely true. “It’s about Ty,” she said, and gave up the rest of it. “So that’s why I can’t tell Chief Strade. Ty’d have to go to court. He’d be kicked off the team and maybe worse than that.”
“The law of the land comes first,” Grampy said. He drove past the barn. The little pig was in its pen, head poking out one of those round windows Grampy had cut, looking cute and harmless. “Except for stupid laws, of course,” Grampy added. “Goes without saying that family comes before stupid laws, and Ty getting in law trouble for these pimple pills would be stupid.”
“He just wants to be stronger for football,” Ingrid said.
“Football’s not his game,” said Grampy.
That pissed Ingrid off. “You’ve never seen him play,” she said. “He’s the only freshman on the varsity.”
“Doesn’t matter,” said Grampy. “If football’s going to be your game, you got to love to hit. Really love it, like the rest of the game is just an excuse. And that’s not your brother.”
Ingrid thought back to Ty’s games. Grampy was right. Ty was very brave about the hitting, but he didn’t love it.
“Wasn’t your father, either,” said Grampy, parking by the house.
“Huh?” said Ingrid. “Dad was the star of the team.”
“Because he was a real good athlete,” Grampy said. “Lots of athlete genes in this family, kid. But he wasn’t a hitter.”
“Did you tell him that?”
“Course not,” said Grampy. “What good would that do? Can’t make someone a hitter.”
“Did you play football, Grampy?”
Grampy, reaching for the door handle, got a faraway look in his eye. He nodded slightly.
“For Echo Falls High?”
“And after,” Grampy said.
“After?”
“In college.”
“But you didn’t go to college, Grampy.”
“Hmmm,” said Grampy.
“What do you mean, hmmm?”
Long pause. “This is one of those things not too many people know about,” Grampy said. “Most likely none.”
“So I have to promise not to tell?” said Ingrid.
Grampy gave her a long look. “Too bad there’s not football for girls,” he said.
“Are you saying . . . ?”
“You’re a hitter, sure as shootin’,” said Grampy. “Takes one to know one. Come on in the house. I’ll show you something.”
From Behind the Curtain
Today at 1: Spencer Quinn, Cornerstone Books, Salem MA.
Tags: Echo Falls Series
This entry was posted on Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 8:04 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.
3:26 am on September 19th, 2010
OK, now that the quilt has been properly hung — I hope — and Ingrid has had her say, maybe we can get back to Astrid next week? Pretty please, with lots and lots of bacon on top? And maybe even a Slim Jim or two???
3:27 am on September 19th, 2010
Oh, and have fun in Salem, Chet. Too back I can't be there — everyone says my ears would be a clear winner! What prize am I missing out on?
3:45 am on September 19th, 2010
That's it! I'm getting my Ingrid Books back or ELSE!
Salem. . . I wonder if Spence is going in costume. Or is Spence a costume? Or is PA the costume? Pondering here. . .
YSAS's SO is in NYC for sure. Haven't heard a thing from him since Friday. That means no getting her over to Salem for a book and a gander at Spence. Bummer.
Those Interior Decorating posts inspired us here. We have given in. The family room is now official The two legged, four legged Pack room.
It's one of the those rooms where there's a kitchen, eating area and then space for the family to be together. Which meant dodging dogs constantly!! They like the eating area to keep an eye on the kitchen area. They are not allowed in the kitchen area. So we put some chairs outside with free on them. Kept one small sofa, that's easy to wash off, put the dining table in the sitting area, the sofa in the eating area and now there is ROOM! The dogs have an easier time watching the kitchen. We don't trip as much and we can spy on the street and the neighbors.
Thanks Chet!
3:45 am on September 19th, 2010
Oh, GM Kirby!! Any games for the family today?
3:47 am on September 19th, 2010
We just read all that yesterday, cause we just finished Behind The Curtain (2nd reading). Hope Spence has a good day in Salem.
Rio, We were thinking about that dry cottage cheese in your Case Noodles. If you can't find it, couldn't you substitute ricotta? Mixed with the green onions and egg it would be very close.
Barb thought your comment about making the dough from chicken scratch was a hoot. We throw out chicken scratch every day for our little feathered friends.
4:01 am on September 19th, 2010
It's TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!
Waaaarrrggghhhoof!
4:15 am on September 19th, 2010
Ahoy, matey!
Avast, ye scurvy dog!!!
4:25 am on September 19th, 2010
Melanie, Your room makeover sounds very spacious, as well as practical.
4:38 am on September 19th, 2010
Aye MagPie! The Pack has much more room to stretch out and it makes it easier for us two legged to get around them.
Especially Mac, who tends to get up just as you have put one foot over him to get by.
What do the rats do in the winter? Is the coop heated? Do they spend more time there?
4:50 am on September 19th, 2010
We haven't had a rat problem before, but if they are still here, they will definitely winter over. They do not hibernate. They probably have a warm and cozy nest built under the coop.
No, the coop is not heated and chickens do fine in the cold as long as they can get out of the wind and snow. Barb does have a small electric "milk house heater" that she will hook up when it gets down around 0 or below. Keeping them supplied with fresh water is a pain – Barb has to carry water out 2 or 3 times a day because if freezes.
5:06 am on September 19th, 2010
Have a good day Spence. Hope we can hear about the winners tomorrow.
5:09 am on September 19th, 2010
Melanie: Why is it "talk like a pirate day"?
B&M: Did you get the website I posted yesterday with the recipe for tomato pie?
Captain Jack Sparrow is an example of a trickster.
5:11 am on September 19th, 2010
Crap!…What’s so hard about taking a photo??….grunt!
5:20 am on September 19th, 2010
B.Stover: Zoë asked me the same question. Here it is from Wikipedia . . .
"International Talk Like a Pirate Day (ITLAPD) is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur (Ol' Chumbucket) and Mark Summers (Cap'n Slappy), of Albany, Oregon,[1] U.S., who proclaimed 19th September each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate."
5:32 am on September 19th, 2010
We were all asleep last night when you were picking on Dawson. Such good fun! I remember when her name got changed to Yppiz – by her dear sister perhaps.
5:42 am on September 19th, 2010
Sam: Such a good memory, but do you remember this one?
5:42 am on September 19th, 2010
Oh, it isn't anonymous with my photo up there, duh.
5:43 am on September 19th, 2010
Oops, forgot to change back. Coffee…
5:45 am on September 19th, 2010
Bee, Yes, got the recipe and will try it this week. Thanks so much. Did you make it?
5:46 am on September 19th, 2010
Oh I do remember Noswad. Great name. I think that one ended all the names for you. Couldn't top that.
5:54 am on September 19th, 2010
"Noswad"…chortle. (B. can tell me if that is punctuated correctly.) "Nose Wad" is what I think of – which is more like our dear brother Chris, who used to keep tissue wadded up in his nose when his allergies got bad.
5:55 am on September 19th, 2010
You guys are word painting some really weird pictures in my head!
5:57 am on September 19th, 2010
Speaking of pictures – I'm still trying to picture the new furniture configuration in your place. I'll probably have to read it a couple of more times.
6:04 am on September 19th, 2010
Staff thought that Dawson's name spelled backward (she never actually used it) was a great nickname until she realized what Rio would do with it.
6:06 am on September 19th, 2010
Barb: I have not yet made the tomato pie. It's supposed to get hotter here so I'll probably wait until later this coming week. Let me know how you like it.
6:16 am on September 19th, 2010
Lib: btw, I love that excerpt from BTC…the relationship with Grampy, and the subtle reminder that our parents and grandparents have accomplishments, loves, disappointments, etc., about which we know nothing. Ditto for our children.
6:59 am on September 19th, 2010
FattyKitty: I totally agree. In fact, there are times I wish I knew nothing of some of my children's accomplishments.
7:03 am on September 19th, 2010
Brilliant!….We just finished To Fetch A Thief , love that name by the way, it is one amazing adventure…snort!…Definitely one of the best so far of the series. Try to imagine that if you can!…sniff!sniff!…Well, I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone so I will quit talking about it till all of you guys have read it…heh!
Kitchen!…Today she is making lunch for her mom and also making cabbage rolls…snort!… Lets go, I’m starving!…yeep!
7:37 am on September 19th, 2010
Since we are talking about name changes, I have a question? How do you change your name on this blog? I want to be Siber-H, not Siberian Husky.
I have already told the dogs at the dog park to call me Siber-H instead of Caleb. Mom said at the vet clinic to just keep my mouth shut and stay with the name of Caleb. She is afraid their computer would get confused.
7:54 am on September 19th, 2010
SiberH!…{{{{sigh}}}}… See below where it says “Leave a Reply”? The next line under it is Your Name….grunt!… Change it to whatever you want – It’s not down there in permanent ink or anything… sigh!
Game!…Starts at 2:00 today!…yeep!..Which ryhmes with Sweep!…yeep!
7:59 am on September 19th, 2010
Rio: We're just getting ready to start Chapter 24 — we just finished the part where Bernie gets…well, maybe I'd better not say. (Sorry everybody, I couldn't resist!) We are really enjoying it so far, although we'll have to wait for our final review!
8:00 am on September 19th, 2010
Siber H, I bet Rio can tell you how to do it. He knows all when it comes to techno stuff.
Barb finished BTC yesterday, and now for a change of pace, before she starts the last Ingrid. She is going to read "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana deRosnay. It is fiction, but addresses the real life Vel d''Hiv roundup by French policemen. It takes place partially in Paris, 1942, with an interwoven story in Paris, 2002. I think it has been a best seller. Did anyone read it?
8:02 am on September 19th, 2010
By the time I posted and refreshed, Rio had already answered the question!
8:02 am on September 19th, 2010
Melanie: We lost Friday night, we lost two games last night. Now Dad says all we need is for the Panthers to lose their game to make the weekend officially bad!
Gotta go — we're doing a movie and dinner. At least I heard Mom and Dad talking about it — wonder if they're taking me???
8:02 am on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H – Yes!! That is certainly you, no question. Hopefully you don't need to see the vet more than once a year, so your Mom is right, as usual, to leave well enough alone.
It is official!!! Siber-H !!!!!
8:04 am on September 19th, 2010
Except he didn't do it yet. Almost official …
8:06 am on September 19th, 2010
Test to see if Rio's instructions will work. First, I had to finish laughing at his instructions.
8:12 am on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H is awaiting moderation. This will take forever. You little pug, you didn't tell me I would be moderated.
8:17 am on September 19th, 2010
Dawson did a quick name change this morning.
8:18 am on September 19th, 2010
Heh!…I almost told you and then I knew I would have more fun listening to you gripe while you waited for it…heh! snort! heh!
8:21 am on September 19th, 2010
Nose Wad!… That’s because she used to be Noswad. The computer remembered that name associated with her email account….snort!…I sure wish she had kept that name, the fun we could have had…sigh…
8:22 am on September 19th, 2010
Siber H — I owe you an answer from last night on James Doss. The series he has written is quite unusual in that, in the early books (generally described as The Shaman Mysteries), the main character is the police chief Scott Parris of Granite Creek, Colorado, and the supporting cast includes an elderly Indian woman named Daisy Perika (who is the shaman referred to in the titles) and her nephew Charlie Moon, who was then a tribal police officer. The early books in the series all have the word Shaman in the title — The Shaman's Game, The Shaman's Bones, The Shaman Sings, and The Shaman Laughs. By about the fifth book in the series (The NIght Visitor), Doss has come to realize that Charlie Moon is much more interesting as the main protagonist than Scott Parris, and basically Doss shifts characters, and the series from this point on is known as the Charlie Moon Mysteries, with Scott Parris relegated to the lesser supporting role (although Aunt Daisy is still central too). All are good, although the Shaman series is written more or less as straight fiction (meaning that Doss's wicked sense of humor has not truly emerged), but his sense of humor and his interjection of himself as an occasional first person omniscent narrator really does not come to light until the series morphs into the Charlie Moon mysteries. While you don't absolutely have to read them in chronological order –especially the Shaman part of the series — although it doesn't hurt, especially once you get into the Charlie Moon mysteries. Also, if you don't want to go back to the very beginning, you can start with The Night Visitor and move forward from there. As you can probably tell, Doss is one of my favoritemost authors (after PA/SQ of course).
As to Margaret Coel, I really don't have a favorite — all are very good and, although there is a back story that does progress from one book to the next, again it is not essential to read them in chronological order. They are set on the Arapaho Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, and the main characters are a priest, Father John O'Malley (who heads a mission school on the reservation) and a native Arapaho lawyer named Vicki Holden.
Wookie the bookman
8:24 am on September 19th, 2010
Rio –Glad you and your friend have finished TFAT; it was just wonderful, wasn't it. What did you think of the last chapter. If you don't want to respond on the blog (some spoiler problems may arise), use the secret decoder device instead. Wookie
8:29 am on September 19th, 2010
Thank you Wookie…your post is a big help. Mom is sure she would like his books after reading your review.
Siber-H, still posting as Siberian Husky
8:36 am on September 19th, 2010
Heh!heh!…snort!
8:38 am on September 19th, 2010
Wookie!…I’m watching someone juggling plates and food in the kitchen right now, so I will have to meet you later at the designated top secret place to plan our strategy!…snort!snort!
8:42 am on September 19th, 2010
and to think, my mother rescued a pug last Friday…well, not really. She had to go to animal control for Husky Rescue and found an adorable pug there with a wonderful personality. Animal control assured her the pug would be adopted. Mom called pug rescue anyway to come bail out the pug, because she knows a rescue group would be much more careful about finding the dog a good home.
8:49 am on September 19th, 2010
Bookie the Wookman!
Ahoy Fatty Kitty. I must protest that Kats are not allowed to chortle. Sorry, rules are rules.
Oh Mr. Husky, I am learning so much about you. First I find out you have a dad, and now I find that you have an alias. Wow what secrets are yet to come?
Maggie, which scurvy dog were you avasting? lol
8:51 am on September 19th, 2010
What fun Sam and I just had! Mom took us for a walk near the woods where all the good smells are. Sam was on her retractable leash so no hawks could get her. Boy, we found more good stuff to roll in! We could each get a good roll before Mom got us. Ha ha.
Sam didn't look so princessy when we got back, but she was very happy.
8:52 am on September 19th, 2010
Actually I think it should be "I must protest, as Kats are not allowed to chortle. Don't want the grammar police to get me. Bad enough that the D-O-G police got me, but if they had not, I would not be here, so, alls well that ends.
8:52 am on September 19th, 2010
Wow!…Min Pin the Pirate!…snort! …I don’t know if I can snort like a pirate or not!…sniff!sniff!
8:58 am on September 19th, 2010
Pirates!…She tried to dress me up like a Pirate one time and I let her know that by No Means do I wear Costumes!…heh! grunt!
9:00 am on September 19th, 2010
Molly!…Don’t get me started on Rollin’ in Stuff!… yeep!…Especially that Kat Voodoo crap!…zow!…What fun is that!?…grunt!…Out! I want Out! NOW!….snort!
9:41 am on September 19th, 2010
Ahoy, a scurvy dog here. Miss Thang went to sleep, so I thought I would pop in to send a big wet lick to the River dog. *smooch*
9:45 am on September 19th, 2010
I met a female pug yesterday. She was a sweetie. She was eleven years old! Not as much to her as to a pug who will remain nameless.
9:54 am on September 19th, 2010
Riö, I want to thank you for introducing Rocky the Undercover Squirrel. YSAS's birthday is coming up and he'll be getting three in a row!!!
He thinks I'm nuts. Love it!
9:59 am on September 19th, 2010
Wha!?…. Are you hiring Rockie to do birthdays for you Melanie???… snort!…That guy! Soon he will be rolling in dough…dammit!…Just because he can talk and I can’t….grump!
10:01 am on September 19th, 2010
Yeah, Macy, Rio is the one that gave me the name Siber-H a long time ago. I suppose we have to give our creative little pug credit when credit is due.
Way to Go, Sam!!! ummmm I think she just went to the groomer last week.
10:15 am on September 19th, 2010
Macy, I was not calling Chet a scurvy dog! That sounds too much like a mangey dog, and you remember how we all got upset over that remark.
Barb has read 80 pages of Sarah's Key, and she has mixed feelings. It is well written to be sure, but the subject matter is sad, horrific,and difficult to read about.
She said another great thing about this blog is all the great books she is learning about. Now we have added Tony Hillerman and James Doss to our list. Barb had better start reading faster is all I have to say.
10:17 am on September 19th, 2010
Books – Gus&BooBear: I read Speak of the Devil by Richard Hawke.
Rio: I read Fool's Puzzle by Earlene Fowler
Siber H: Have you read author Michael McGarrity? He lives in Santa Fe. He writes about Kevin Kerney who is an ex Santa Fe Chief of Detctives and solves mysteries in Santa Fe and other parts of New Mexico. His first book was Tularosa. I have read all of his books. I love hearing about New Mexico.
10:23 am on September 19th, 2010
When I was younger (some might refer to it as my misspent youth) I really loved to roll in deer poop. However, for some reason after I did it, I would immediately get a bath, which I really do not like, so I gave it up. Still tempting though.
As to pirate talk, not too good at it, although one of my favorite songs is Jimmy buffett's A Pirate Looks at 40. Wookie
10:28 am on September 19th, 2010
I think it would be fun to see a picture of Sam after her roll in whatever.
10:34 am on September 19th, 2010
I'm reading C by Tom McCarthy. It's been shortlisted for this year's Man Booker Prize.
10:39 am on September 19th, 2010
MinPin: what shall I call it when I chortle? I'm rotund and dignified and I think I chortle. If you doggies want me to call it something else, you must think of a suitable word.
And I of course, shall be the final judge. Harumph, (mumbling) fellow can't even spell Cats.
10:54 am on September 19th, 2010
Rio, We are assuming you put the kabosh on the she-pug?
Also, did you see our ricotta cheese question from this morning?
11:00 am on September 19th, 2010
Barb is in the kitchen putting things together for her short ribs. Beef ribs, fresh garlic, chopped onion, a dash of EVOO and red wine, sprinkle a little kosher salt on top, and roast in a slow oven for about 3 hours. Serve with polenta or garlic mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. Yummy!
11:02 am on September 19th, 2010
Barb- when mom told dad about the dry cottage cheese he said it sounded like ricotta to him, so….
Wookie it is hard to imagine a fellow as dapper as yourself rolling in…whatever.
KittyKat- maybe murffle/
Rio, while I was asleep Belle posted to you, but I see it is being moderated.
11:04 am on September 19th, 2010
Barb- when mom told dad about the dry cottage cheese he said it sounded like ricotta to him, so….
Wookie it is hard to imagine a fellow as dapper as yourself rolling in…whatever.
KittyKat- maybe murffle/
Rio, while I was asleep Belle posted to you, but I see it is being moderated.
Oops, I forgot to change back to my name, so this post was sent under Belle's name to. So sorry. also being moderated so no telling when it will show up.
11:12 am on September 19th, 2010
Mollie (ABP) Mom read McGarrity when his stories took place in rural NM, but then she gave up on him when his stories started taking place in Santa Fe. Mom will only read mysteries if they are very outdoorsey. It was Hillerman that got her started on those kinds of books.
Santa Fe has become a place that mom and I avoid, but if anyone here is thinking of visiting it, don't let our opinion stop you because you will find it interesting. Santa Fe sets in a beautiful location.
C.J. Box is another mystery writer that mom reads because they usually take place in the Wyoming wilderness.
Mom will read anything that PA writes because he is such a good writer.
11:19 am on September 19th, 2010
So Siber-H, has your Mom read the Anna Pidgeon mysteries by Nevada Barr? They all take place in National Parks. We haven't read them though, so don't know how good they are.
We keep meaning to read the next CJ Box story.
11:23 am on September 19th, 2010
OMDog..I've just been gassed! Our neighbor across the street just shot a skunk in his front yard. We heard the 22 and then immediately smelled the skunk. This neighbor would never go hunting and shoot anything…this is how tired we all are of the skunks around here.
11:26 am on September 19th, 2010
FK, Mom tried to read them and decided she didn't like them. I won't tell you why because it would be giving something away. She does know a lot of people that have read every one of those books and loved them.
She thinks the newest C.J.Box book is his best.
11:33 am on September 19th, 2010
Siber H: Oh no! You'll have to go to the groomers again.
FattyKitty: I can't believe you tattled about our bro – the original Nose-wad.
11:37 am on September 19th, 2010
I will be painting a wall today. Cantaloupe-coloured in honour of Melanie who discovered a cantaloupe-coloured wall in her old house.
11:43 am on September 19th, 2010
Books, again – Author is Craig Johnson. He lives in Ucross, Wy. population 25. His ranch is adjacent to the Crow & Cheyenne Reservations and he has friends from there. He writes mysteries about a Wyoming Sheriff named Walt Longmire. Walt's friend is a Native American named Henry Standing Bear. His books have won a lot of awards.
11:51 am on September 19th, 2010
Hey, yeah, Mollie, Mom has read all of those. She likes them and had to order them from Amazon because they are not in our local bookstores and should be. We don't understand this because, as you said, his books have won a lot of awards.
Dawson, I was in the house when it happened so I didn't get sprayed. My neighbor might have to go to the groomers, though, hee hee. One skunk down and probably 99 to go.
12:10 pm on September 19th, 2010
Books again Mollie…There is a series by Stan Jones that feature an Inuit State Trooper named Nathan Active. The books are mysteries and take place above the Arctic Circle. Recommend by Mom and I, and probably have to be ordered from Amazon.
12:14 pm on September 19th, 2010
Barb: Your short ribs sound delicious.
12:48 pm on September 19th, 2010
Uh oh!…Rockie doesn’t want to miss Talk Like A Pirate Day….snort!… So I agreed to put his link out here for you all to watch…grunt! …Why isn’t that guy working??….sniff!…Oh, its Sunday, he has the day off….wheeze!
http://www.americangreetings.com/ecards/view.pd?i…
12:49 pm on September 19th, 2010
Yeah, Siber-H, I did go to the groomer a few days ago. However I really do look fine so I don't know what the fuss is all about. I might have been a little wet and muddy after my walk, but what the heck, it was great fun. I's sure I smelled fine too.
12:53 pm on September 19th, 2010
Barb!… Ricotta cheese is no where near dry cottage cheese….snort!…We both hate and despise ricotta cheese…gag!… No she-pug at this time I guess….sniff!… No more talk about her anyway – I dodged another bullit by this much!…grunt!
1:12 pm on September 19th, 2010
Rio – I think your friend is watching the Puglette to make sure she gets a good forever home. Dogs like you, well not like you exactly ha ha, get adopted quickly. I think your friend is watching.
1:22 pm on September 19th, 2010
Rio, You never know, you might have enjoyed sharing your bed and your baseballs with that little girl!
1:31 pm on September 19th, 2010
Barb!…Get over it will ya!…snort!… I have… grumble.
1:32 pm on September 19th, 2010
Mollie — If you like mysteries set in New Mexico, there are two other authors, perhaps not as well known, that you might want to consider. The first one is Judith Van Gieson, who hasn't published any mysteries for a while, but had two series, one featuring Neil Hamel (female protagonist) as a private eye and the other Claire Reynier as a rare books librarian. Both are good (some of the books may be out of print now) and the Neil Hamel series in particular has got some humorous undertones, especially commentary about male/femaie relationships woven into the plot. The second author is Connie Shelton, who has written a number of mysteries featuring a private investigator named Charile Parker (also a female protagonist) based in Albuquerque. The books by both authors are very readable and enjoyable.
There was also a short series (only four books) written by Robert Westbrook that was set in the fictional town of San Geronimo, New Mexico, featuring an Indian (Howard Moon Deer)who was educated in the East but has returned to his roots to work for a detective agency headed by a retired and blind police officer (Jack Wilder). Very well written and good mysteries too; its a shame the series ended after four books.
Rio — you had asked about the quilt mystery series by Earlene Fowler. For whatever reason, my mom did not find them all that interesting, so she has only a couple. They do fall in the genre known as cosies, and she does like that type of mystery generally, with such authors as Mary Daheim, Joanna Fluke and Susan Wittig Albert among her favorites.
We also do like the Michael McGarrity series, and have read them all, even the ones set in Santa Fe, although we would agree with SiberH that the settings for the earlier ones were probably more interesting.
Wookie
1:40 pm on September 19th, 2010
Wookie!… I know my friend read a few of Earlean Fowler’s books and then tired of them….snort!… I brought them up because of the Quilt business…grunt!…. She also tired of Diane Mott Davidson. I think she gave her a shot because she lives in Evergreen, CO…grunt!
2:08 pm on September 19th, 2010
Riö: YSAS isn't feeling well, so I sent him the link to Rocky's link for Talk Like a Pirate Day. I love the poem, very "poetic".
2:12 pm on September 19th, 2010
Wookie & Siber H: Thanks for the suggestions. the Stan Jones books remind me of the Dana Stabenow books about Kate Shugak which I think are pretty popular. I have read some of the Nevada Barr books, but I have not liked her latest ones very well.
2:18 pm on September 19th, 2010
We are feeling more and more illiterate as the day goes by!
2:19 pm on September 19th, 2010
Hope Spence had a good day in Salem. Barb is going to visit the library tomorrow.
2:30 pm on September 19th, 2010
Melanie!…Clarkson isn’t feeling well…oh my!…snort!…This makes me anxious as all get out!…grunt!….Or could it be this very close game bottom of the 9th. Rockies ahead by ONE…grunt!…Dodgers up to bat..sneeze!
2:34 pm on September 19th, 2010
MagPie! I'm with you. I feel very illiterate today. I think we're running with a tough crowd.
2:37 pm on September 19th, 2010
Mollypop, Back at you!
2:38 pm on September 19th, 2010
OH NO!…The game is tied up!…wheeze!…And still only one out for the Dodgers!…crap!
2:40 pm on September 19th, 2010
Giants won..why couldn't they have won when my boy was at the game he says. Those panda hats are funny. Did the rockies win?
2:45 pm on September 19th, 2010
OMG!…Huston Street saved the inning!…grunt!…We are going to the 10th inning now…snort!….She is going to start baking her lovely cabbage rolls and try to calm down…YEEP!… NOT ME! I’m ALL Wound up right now!!!…Twirling Time!…yeep!…And Yeeping Time!….Wooooooo!
2:48 pm on September 19th, 2010
I have broken into my special stash of chew strips.
2:48 pm on September 19th, 2010
Crap!…We really needed the Giants to LOSS today!…dammit!…OH NO! Two outs already for the Rockies!…gulp!
2:50 pm on September 19th, 2010
Books revisited: Did anyone like Shogun? I read all of James Clavell's books. If so, I would recommend the series by Laura Joh Rowland. Start with the first one which is Shinju.
2:51 pm on September 19th, 2010
OMG!…Now the Dodgers are up!…snort!…Huston has to do it again and save the inning!…yeep!yeep!
2:54 pm on September 19th, 2010
Gnawing!… I am totally gnawing on the couch cover right now!….eeeeeeeeeeee!…woooo! … ONE OUT! need two more!…eeeeeeee!
2:56 pm on September 19th, 2010
Mollypop & Magpie, we're with you about running with a tough crowd. We thought Mom was a super reader, but haven't heard of ANY of the authors mentioned above. She ordered a Kindle yesterday and see how that goes. Hopefully, she will be able to use it. She is pretty techno-stupid. Her IPhone is way beyond her. She is able to make phone calls and check the blog while at work (if her boss isn't watching) but that's about it.
Why hasn't SiberH's name changed yet?
2:57 pm on September 19th, 2010
Jeez, I'm beginning to think I should never watch the Patriots play. Ever. Every time we watch them, they lose.
2:59 pm on September 19th, 2010
Interesting! …The guy at bat for the Dodgers is from Sydny, Australia….snort!…but we will have to think about this later!…YEEEP!
3:01 pm on September 19th, 2010
UNBELIEVA BLE!!!… Double play by the Rockies!…Wooooo!… We are now officially in the 11th inning!…Yeeeep!….gasp!
3:01 pm on September 19th, 2010
Gus&BooBear, I don't think the moderator came to work today, or is it because I erased Siber-H and put Siberian Husky back in there. It is beyond me.
3:12 pm on September 19th, 2010
G&BB: I hope you enjoy the Kindle. Let me know.
B&M and Mollypop: You know that you aren't illiterate. There is a book by Sara Nelson titled, So Many Books, So Little Time. That says it all.
3:15 pm on September 19th, 2010
Loaded!…Bases are loaded for our Cargo!…Wooooo!…snort!
breath! breath! breath!…wheeze!
3:18 pm on September 19th, 2010
SiberH!… {{{{{sigh}}}}… You are Hopeless!… snort! … No wonder your freakin’ name has not changed…grunt!…Go down there and change it to Siber-H for Pete’s Sake and LEAVE IT ALONE!…. Slap!Slap!Slap!….Back to the game!
3:19 pm on September 19th, 2010
Rio, There was a young baseball player that impaled in the chest with a broken bat today. He is OK but done for the season.
3:20 pm on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H – If you go back to 1:12, when you said your new name was now awaiting moderation, you should see that is still the case. We won't see it until our sleeping moderator says it's okay. I hope he didn't go on a week's vacation. Keep using your old name until SOMEONE okays this.
We are unsupervised!
3:20 pm on September 19th, 2010
That should be was impaled or got impaled
3:22 pm on September 19th, 2010
Oh, that's what I did wrong, sigh I'll try it again tomorrow. I'm glad I mentioned what I had done, but you didn't catch it either, hee hee
3:25 pm on September 19th, 2010
okay and thanks Molly. I often wondered if our moderator was a computer, but I guess not.
unsupervised is good!
3:27 pm on September 19th, 2010
B. – Thanks for trying to make us feel better.
Illiteriter and illiteriter.
3:30 pm on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H – Our first-line moderator is a computer, but your name change kicked it out until a real person can say it's okay.
There is no real person watching us – we are UNSUPERVISED!!! Woo hoo! Par-tay!!
3:34 pm on September 19th, 2010
okay, Molly Let me make sure I have this straight. I just keep on using my old name and don't try again, and it will eventually be okayed?
Oh boy, we are really unsupervised, aren't we
3:51 pm on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H – Once your new name is approved, when you post with it, it will appear to all of us. If it is not yet approved and you use it, it will say awaiting moderation.
I just looked at your post at 1:06 and it's been approved!!!
It's official! You're Siber-H! Congratulations!
3:58 pm on September 19th, 2010
I'm back! Mom and Dad didn't take me to the movies — but I can't feel too bad. They didn't take my boy, either. But they did stop at a drive-thru — not In-and-Out Burger! — and get him some supper. They didn't get me anything. Snort! (I hope it's OK that I borrowed that, Rio.)
Anyway, Mom turned off the computer as usual, and my boy was hogging his laptop, so I'm just now catching up on everything. Congratulations, Siber-H! I saw the moderator decided your new name is acceptable. Whoo hoo!
4:02 pm on September 19th, 2010
Thanks for your help, Molly!!!
I am just not going to puzzle over how the moderator got it done so late on a Sunday. Thank you moderator!
4:06 pm on September 19th, 2010
WELCOME SIBER-H!!
4:13 pm on September 19th, 2010
Now that Siber-H has joined us, maybe we should make it Cyber-H, just to put a computer spin on his name!!!
4:14 pm on September 19th, 2010
Brother!…So much fuss over SiberH changing his name (((Finally!)))… grunt! … We here HATE the Dodgers and anyone related to them tonight…grumble!… sob.
4:14 pm on September 19th, 2010
Kirby!…No!
4:18 pm on September 19th, 2010
SiberH!… He is so far from having the name of "Cyber" it's pathetic…snort!…Think in terms of a Light Years Away …sniff!…That's how far. Not that we don't love him, but he is no 'Cyber' anything yet….wheeze!
4:43 pm on September 19th, 2010
Rio: Since you're feeling so grumpy, I'll try to soothe you by answering a question I didn't have time to answer earlier. Mom said to tell you she had a great time at the Decatur Book Festival. The highlight, of course, was getting to meet the great SQ and PA — both! But aside from that, she got to meet — and listen to — all sorts of wonderful authors.
The only "adult" author she met was PA. The rest — including SQ — were YA or children's authors. Probably the most well-known was Ridley Pearson, who said, "I kill people for a living — luckily, only on paper." Although he's written many books for adults (which Mom and I have never read), he actually was there to speak about his children's books, including the Peter Pan series he does with Dave Barry. He also talked about a series he does for Disney — and the card he carries in his billfold that gives him unfettered access to Disney parks around the world. He was very entertaining, and Mom has now vowed to read some of his books!
Another author she enjoyed was Tom Angleberger, who wrote a children's book called The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, a story based on the Star Wars character. He was a great speaker, and passed out pieces of green paper to the audience members so he could teach them how to make an "Origami Yoda." Mom has decided to do an "Origami Yoda" storytime at the library. When she had Angleberger autograph a book "to Patrick," he asked who Patrick is. Mom explained that Patrick is her nephew, and because she works at a library and is a big advocate of children's reading, at Christmas she gives books to all her nieces and nephews — who now number 8, with number 9 due any day now! Angleberger proceeded to draw Yoda with a thought balloon that says, "Patrick, your aunt is cool!" Mom says she's taking a picture before she sends that one off!
Other authors were Anna Dewdney, who writes about Llama Llama (and drew a llama with her autograph); Jeanne Birdsall, whose book about the Penderwick family won the National Book Award; Bob Shea, who writes great books with a dinosaur character; Deborah Wiles, who was a National Book Award finalist; Shelia P. Moses, another National Book Award finalist; and Josh Lewis, who writes graphic novels about a character called "Super Chicken Nugget Boy."
What a line-up!
(The downside was that although the children's book authors had their tables under a tent, the line to get their autograph was out in the open. Mom waited in so many of those lines that she got a sunburn!)
4:45 pm on September 19th, 2010
I'll never be a Cyber anything. Remember, we are a primitive breed, and I will always be a bit of a luddite at heart.
I'm hating the Dodgers also tonight. The Isotopes are the farm team of the Dodgers so maybe that is why I have Isotope issues.
Mom gave me some bacon to make me feel better about the ball game.
5:03 pm on September 19th, 2010
Bacon!…Maybe that’s what I need too, official Siber-H!… grunt!
Kirby! … I do appreciate all your stories of “other” authors that I have not read and have no connection with, but what would really cheer me up is more stories about the Decatur Book Festival with Spence and The Charming Mr. Abrahams…sniff!…That’s all I really need right now to cheer me up tonight, or any night…grumble!
5:09 pm on September 19th, 2010
Barb signing off here. Maggie is in the coop and refusing to come back in. There must be strong rat smells out there tonight. Will give her 20 more minutes and then she has to come back in, success or not. Enjoyed the blog today, as always. Good night, all.
5:14 pm on September 19th, 2010
MAGGIE!…MAGGIE!…MAGGIE!…MAGGIE!… Get that rat Maggie!…Get that rat Maggie!… you go girl!!!…
[img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1284948869-clap!clap!.gif[/img]
5:20 pm on September 19th, 2010
I wish someone would give me 20 minutes unsupervised in a chicken coop.
I bet Maggie will get a big one…rat, that is. GO MAGGIE!!!
5:34 pm on September 19th, 2010
SiberH!… I’m sorry if I said anything to hurt your feelings…sniff!…I hope I didn’t as you are one of my best ever friends…grunt!…But I do get perturbed and short-tempered very quickly especially if the Rockies lose needlessly, like tonight! …Dammi!Crap!…wheeze!
5:40 pm on September 19th, 2010
Mad Men!…That show is just Out-Doing itself over and over again….gruff!…What excellent writing, what excellent acting…wow!Every week it only gets better and better!..sniff!
5:50 pm on September 19th, 2010
No, you didn't hurt my feelings, Rio, You are one of my best friends, too.
That was a difficult baseball game. Maybe the hardest of the season, so far, to lose. We don't need any more like that one. I imagine the Rockies are feeling worse than we are, but they are great at bouncing back.
5:54 pm on September 19th, 2010
Kirby!… The good news is everyone on this here blog will probably have read tons of all those authors books and be very entertained by your detailed accounts of each… snort!… sigh.
5:57 pm on September 19th, 2010
Sob! I hope I don't lose my 'bounce back' mentality this late in the season!….guuurrrrufff!…Every game counts now, every game counts!…snort!
5:59 pm on September 19th, 2010
Heh!… Siber-H, I like your new name plate!… sniff!… It suits you, it always has…snort!
6:02 pm on September 19th, 2010
Well, the name was your invention, Rio.
6:05 pm on September 19th, 2010
Thank you for the card, Rio. That didn't look like a squirrel to me. I always get a gurgle* out of the email because it starts with "riot hee"
*Trying out instead of chortle. Nope.
Ridley Pearson & Dave Berry's books are good! Those are ones we listened to. We still need to listen to Peter and the Secret of Rundoon.
No worries about being illiterate. This is like a reading circle where everyone tells about what they're reading. Even the Librarian hasn't heard of all those authors. Some she's heard of but hasn't read yet. She's going to go for Judith Van Gieson and Craig Johnson on the Plunderers' recommendations. We live just above the Crow and Cheyenne Indian Reservations that Craig Johnson lives just below. We could even go visit some of the places he writes about!
6:07 pm on September 19th, 2010
Heh!…Doesn’t matter. It’s your name – I just spotted it… snort!
6:11 pm on September 19th, 2010
Fatty!…She always seems to get right Splat in the middle of a conversation, doesn’t she!… grunt!… Not nearing the Annoying Factor of Early Dawson in any way, just bad timing…heh!
6:17 pm on September 19th, 2010
I'm afraid I'm outta here, too. We didn't go to bed last night until after 2 — or I guess I should say this morning!!! The Hawkeyes haven't won "out west" in years. It's that darn time change — jet lag for the team, and the fans, too! Gotta get some sleep — tomorrow's a busy day!
G'night, ya mateys!!! (There are nearly 45 more minutes of Talk Like a Pirate Day!)
6:20 pm on September 19th, 2010
We've always been able to keep several conversations going at once on this blog and we don't get lost or confused. I've always found that remarkable.
Early Dawson sometimes liked to get Rio going, which I found (whisper) entertaining.
FK, you will like Craig Johnson, especially since you live so close. I thought his first book was a bit slow, but the others move right along.
6:25 pm on September 19th, 2010
If we waited until someone finished his train of thought, we'd be here all night. Heh heh. >^..^<
6:28 pm on September 19th, 2010
Bed!….I’m up organizing Rockies Bed Bug schedule for the coming week…snort!… He never seems to get around to this sort of thing on his own…huff!…. At the same time we are calming down over the Rockies needless loss this afternoon…grump!
6:32 pm on September 19th, 2010
Fatty… Train Spotting is a good but very unenjoyable movie!…heh!
6:32 pm on September 19th, 2010
We're outta here too. Mom took a couple of allergy pills so she is fading fast. I don't think a person can really be allergic to skunks, sigh.
Good Night Friends! Husky hugs to all! Sleep tight, Rio.
6:36 pm on September 19th, 2010
I think Rockie could learn a thing or two from Maggie about dedication to one's work.
6:56 pm on September 19th, 2010
Siber-H!… Nice parting Snort for Rockie!…heh!…Remember, he is a young squirrel and an up and coming Agent just trying to make his way onto one of the Mission Trips…heh!…hmmm!…..Wookie and I need to start thinking about all that soon!…wheeze!
7:09 pm on September 19th, 2010
We are firmly in the camp of the illiterates. We think that perhaps we should list our favorite cartoon strips, the height of sophisticated reading. We almost always understood Peanuts.
I don't guess Belle's message to Rio ever got on here. Oh well, again I am talking to myself. Nitey, nite blog.
Macy out.
7:10 pm on September 19th, 2010
Good night all!…If the answering machine for the Bed Bug Service does not pick up, please try again tomorrow …snort!…We are having some communication problems, but they will be resolved immediately…so says Mike – One of The Fabulous Baker Boys! ….heh!…snort!
9:07 pm on June 20th, 2011
I definately savor playing “Pirate Stash” Puzzle Game with the new Kindle. This recently remodeled e-reader is flatter, lighter, quicker, and makes learning simpler than with any older Kindle model. Weighing in at merely 8.5 oz.s, the slick designed electronic e-reader is lighter than a paperback,softback,soft-cover book. It’s merely 1/3” thick and feels extraordinary in the hand. This brand-new model is the most flat Kindle still.