Sundays With Ingrid
They sat down to dinner: spring rolls, dun dun noodles, orange chicken, Szechuan shrimp with onions. Nigel woke up. Ingrid got out the chopsticks—Chinese food always tasted better with chopsticks.
“Where’s Dad?” Ty said.
“Working late,” said Mom. “Anything interesting happen today?”
Ty shrugged.
“Ingrid?” Mom said.
Ingrid, chopsticking up a slippery shrimp no problem, like she hailed from Haiphong, said, “Not that I can think of.”
“What’s happening in English?”
“We’re reading poems.”
“Such as?”
English was Ingrid’s favorite subject, by far, but today’s class seemed long ago. She realized she was tired too, the whole family tired at once. “There was one about daffodils.”
Mom’s eyes brightened. “‘I wandered lonely as a cloud,’” she said, “‘That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils.’”
“Hey,” Ingrid said.
Ty paused in midchew. “How do you know that?” he said; midchew of an orange chicken ball, Ingrid saw.
“I just do.”
“But how?” Ingrid said.
Mom looked a little embarrassed. “Don’t laugh,” she said. “But as a kid, I wanted to be a poet. My poetry was terrible, so I decided to memorize great poems in the hope it would rub off.”
“Like how many?” Ty said.
“How many poems?” said Mom. “Oh, I don’t know, lots. I got good at it—I guess that was my talent, memorizing poetry.”
“Say some more,” Ingrid said.
“Of ‘Daffodils?’”
“Something else.”
Mom thought. Then she said:
“That sunny dome! those caves of ice!
And all who heard should see them there,
And all should cry, Beware! Beware!
His flashing eyes, his floating hair!
Weave a circle around him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honeydew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.”
“What the hell’s all that about?” said Ty.
“Something scary,” said Ingrid. “What is it about, Mom?”
Mom didn’t answer the question. Instead, she smiled a wise sort of smile, and in a quieter voice, recited:
“I say that we are wound
With mercy round and round
As if with air.”
“Hey,” Ingrid said.
Mom didn’t look so tired anymore.
Tags: Echo Falls Series
This entry was posted on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 12:04 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.
2:57 am on October 3rd, 2010
Wow, even Igrid's mom is into poetry! I wonder if she writes haiku???
So today's the big day — Spence meets the Plunderers, and the Plunderers meet each other!!! I hope you all have a great day!!!
3:12 am on October 3rd, 2010
Bee – Do you know who wrote those poems? They are remarkable! (I am shivering)
3:12 am on October 3rd, 2010
(In a good way)
3:23 am on October 3rd, 2010
Melanie, how is Dan? I cannot wait to read his new book!! Thank you thank you thank you.
Okay, everyone, cross your paws and close your eyes and make a wish…..go GIANTS!!!!
(I really want Dad to go to the playoff game on Thursday. He has been Bummed lately.)
3:38 am on October 3rd, 2010
Ingrid appreciates her mom's knowledge of poetry, but Ty doesn't.
Can't wait to hear the reports after the book signing. Also, can't wait to ge our copy!
3:43 am on October 3rd, 2010
Wolfie: GO GIANTS it is!!!
3:58 am on October 3rd, 2010
Samuel Coleridge's Kubla Khan is the poem.
Mom's not an English major for nuthin'.
Have a good week, everybody.
4:05 am on October 3rd, 2010
Mom said Kubla Khan was not one of her favorites, but those last lines recited she loved. Mom had to refresh her memory from years ago. That was Hopkins – she had to look it up. Some of that good stuff stays with you forever.
4:34 am on October 3rd, 2010
Sam – another favorite: T S Eliot, Four Quartets
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time
4:57 am on October 3rd, 2010
Wolfie: Ingrid's mom is reciting three different poems. The first is "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" by William Wordsworth; the second is "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; the third is by Gerard Manley Hopkins and I've forgotten the title but it's about the Virgin Mary being compared to the air that we breathe. In the last one Ingrid's mother is saying something about the importance of motherhood.
I thought that both Ingrid and Ty were impressed but because he's male Ty doesn't want to show it.
The poets on the blog have influenced today's post I think. Have a great time at the book event Macy and G&BB and Spence.
4:59 am on October 3rd, 2010
Okay Ears at Alert! I need a poem to find out just who has my INGRID BOOKS! I need to read them again!!
Dan is in the hospital again. Boy, did that freak us out. But the docs are saying he'll be going back to rehab very soon. It's that pneumonia thing. They've replaced all sorts of things: Both hips, and elbow, parts of hearts . . can they replace lungs?
I've heard of iron lungs, but that's not a good way to gain weight. snicker.
So the docs at rehab caught it in time and the docs in the hospital are feeling good about this.
5:01 am on October 3rd, 2010
Also, Rosie Gray's new magazine is great. I've read one article and a short story called "Lost Causes" Excellent. I think I'm going to do a couple of things a day. Don't know if this is a weekly or a monthly or what. BUT it's good.
http://millennialsmag.com/blog
5:02 am on October 3rd, 2010
Wishing I was Macy or Gus and BooBear's friends!
5:18 am on October 3rd, 2010
From Macy's mom today: I don't twirl but if I did I would be doing it now!
I am about to go down to breakfast here at the hotel in Houston. Am trying to stay calm , to early to get all tizzied up.
I am really starting to understand the allure of "text speak". As one with a bad
left thumb I am left with just finger available for typing on my new phone.
Please excuse any strange words. as autocomplete sometimes has it's own ideas about what I meant to say.
From the posting time I am wondering if spence is experiencing some jet lag.
No poetry on this phone. Pointer finger has had it.
Barb and Maggie I have it written in my notes to ask for tatting inscription. Rat not tat.
5:19 am on October 3rd, 2010
B-Kat, I just read your post to my family and they love it. My Girl especially.
5:26 am on October 3rd, 2010
Macy, I am starting to feel like Rio with all my special requests, but ratting is for Maggie, tin futures is for Barb. Thank you, thank you!
Apologies to Rio!
5:29 am on October 3rd, 2010
This is a very exciting day in Houston. We will eagerly await reports later although I've never been good at waiting.
5:31 am on October 3rd, 2010
This post makes me wonder if PA wanted to be a poet but settled for prose, or discovered prose, instead.
>^..^<
5:32 am on October 3rd, 2010
Good luck to the Plunderers in Houston. My and Dawson's books are being signed today.
YaHOO!
5:43 am on October 3rd, 2010
Macy, are you going to the bookstore early? I would. Maybe PA will be wandering around looking at books. I would be.
Gosh when I think of all the great hours I have spent in bookstores I worry that they will go away when everyone starts reading on their Nooks and Kindles. Sort of like the daily newspapers are going under. It is not the same to browse on your computer for a new book. I like to touch them, and feel the paper under my hands and open them carefully the first time so you don't crack the spine.
But I am an odd person who actually buys hardcover books. I guess we are becoming a rarity these days. I do that for all my favorite authors.
Staff, who is waxing nostalgic this morning. Must be all the poetry.
Who hath a book hath but to read,
And he may be a king indeed.
His kingdom is his inglenook.
All this is his, who hath a book. W.D. Nesbit
5:48 am on October 3rd, 2010
I think that it's easier to write poetry than it is to write prose. It can be difficult maintaining a storyline and even more difficult coming up with interesting plot ideas.
The post is Eastern time isn't it? I think one of the hardest things about being a writer would be traveling around as Spence is doing now. I admire him.
My book was signed yesterday. Again, Plunderers in Houston, have a great time.
5:48 am on October 3rd, 2010
Melanie: Please let Dan know I'm thinking about him. We're all looking forward to reading his book.
6:00 am on October 3rd, 2010
I think that I shall never see
A billboard lovely as a tree.
In fact unless the billboards fall
I'll never see a tree at all!
6:01 am on October 3rd, 2010
Macy: LOL–I nearly spilled by cup of espresso.
6:04 am on October 3rd, 2010
Sorry to hear about Dan's setback. Hugs and doggy kisses coming his way.
Staff, We don't think you are odd at all. Maybe because we feel the same way. We much prefer hardcover books, and books are our favorite gift item. Barb still remembers her great aunt Tunie giving her 3 books for her 9th birthday: Grimm's Fairy Tales, Secret Garden, and Heidi. She cherished those books!
6:06 am on October 3rd, 2010
Macy, who turned on the computer for you? I certainly hope that all of you ladies are behaving yourselves.
Yes we are going to the bookstore early. I am buying all three books today, and also want to explore, plus hoping to meet PSQA beforehand.
6:15 am on October 3rd, 2010
To Fetch a Thief; thereby hangs a doggonit tail!
6:21 am on October 3rd, 2010
Staff: I'm a Kindle owner but like you I love hardcover books and have a house filled with them. I love going to bookstores too. I don't miss the messy ink-stained hands I always got from the newspaper. On the computer you can read the paper, listen to podcasts and look at slide shows. But also, the ability to do research online in "libraries" that make their books available is wonderful. It opens up all of that material for anyone with a computer…much less hassle and expense than traveling.
And my Kindle is also wonderfully convenient (a built-in search engine and dictionary!). To me the best would be to have both eletronic and paper versions of books.
6:22 am on October 3rd, 2010
I remember when we went to Hay-on-Wye in England. The used book capital of the World!!!
I could have filled suitcases of books. As it is I took home a 2 inch diameter piece of wood from the ocean in Wales, got stopped in the airport security area in England. They took me off the line with the suitcase, I waved goodbye to Dan and Zoë told them I hoped to see them in a few years. Had no idea why they were searching me.
After the search, the very polite officers put the suitcase on the x-ray machine and wanted to know what that pipe thing was . .
Boy, did I turn red. When I explained, they laughed, shook their heads, looked in the suite case and let me go.
I would have been better off with the books!
6:26 am on October 3rd, 2010
Yippee!
Gus and BooBear and Macy MinPin's mom's get to meet Spence today. And Staff and I get our books signed. That is my collecter's copy. I'm reading the working copy now. On Chapter 11.
Melanie: Good the rehab people caught the pneumonia early. The man in this house just had pneumonia. He's thirty years younger than Dan. It wasn't caught early and he suffered for it.
Wolfie: Go Giant's! I've seen them play in Candlestick Park back in the day.
6:26 am on October 3rd, 2010
Have fun all you Plunderers in Houston. I'm excited for you and Spence. It's a lovely day in Billings and it will be a lovely day in Houston too.
6:36 am on October 3rd, 2010
Dawson: It's the pits, isn't it? Zoë has gone to see Dan. He had told her they weren't going to do anything today because it was Sunday. She was NOT pleased. I told her to take Rose and say, "Rose, fetch the doctor!" I bet she'd come up with 17. . .
Zoë said, probably but no.
6:38 am on October 3rd, 2010
Trail of angry beavers. Their path up the 20 foot drop off had been used last night and they had really roughed it up. We think they didn't like the wire mesh skirts. No tree eaten last night.
Thinking of getting OTAS to take out Mac and Frank and have them pee at the top of the path.
7:02 am on October 3rd, 2010
"Have fun all you Plunderers in Houston. I'm excited for you and Spence. It's a lovely day in Billings and it will be a lovely day in Houston too."
I posted that for the Librarian. She's trying to get on the blog as herself but of course she needs to be moderated. Ha ha!
Give those beavers what-ho, Melanie. Do you think the Newf "calling cards" will work?
7:05 am on October 3rd, 2010
Finally!…The next Big Day is here!…snort!…Two of our own will meet and greet Spencer!… wooooo! … How exciting is this? We will get two different view points on the whole experience (hopefully)….grunt! ….It will start at 1:00 our time today!
Photos!… Please take some photos that are in FOCUS!!! Please!…sigh..
Questions!…Ask some questions for Pets's Sake!…grunt!…Why am I always the one sitting at home??????
7:07 am on October 3rd, 2010
Argh! The Librarian is annoying me. She changed the settings and thus I posted under her moniker and am now being moderated.
What I was trying to say:
“Have fun all you Plunderers in Houston. I’m excited for you and Spence. It’s a lovely day in Billings and it will be a lovely day in Houston too.”
I posted that for the Librarian. She’s trying to get on the blog as herself but of course she needs to be moderated. Ha ha!
Give those beavers what-ho, Melanie. Do you think the Newf “calling cards” will work?
7:23 am on October 3rd, 2010
Fatty Kitty the first part of your post could be a poem!
RIO: You get ONE question. Make it count!
7:42 am on October 3rd, 2010
Dawson, We are on chapter 14. The book arrived on the 28th, so we have been doing pretty well with savoring, up till now. Having a hard time staying away from reading it today.
Several people have recommended a non-PSQA book titled "The Help". Has anyone read it?
What tv channel featured TFAT the other day?
8:16 am on October 3rd, 2010
Wolfie: Go Giants! I am afraid to watch. My boy says to hope the Braves do not win today.
8:23 am on October 3rd, 2010
Hi everyone! We have had company. That can happen during the Balloon Fiesta…people get in town and then call.
Today we are packing to get ready to go to southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. We'll be gone a week or so…leaving in the morning. I'll have a lot of catching up on the blog to do when I get back.
Best of luck to the Plunderes and Spence in Houston! I'm looking forward to reading your reports.
Melanie, I'm sorry Dan has had this setback, but very glad to know that the doctors are not worried and that he will be back in rehab soon. Please let him know that he is in all our thoughts and prayers. I know he is anxious to get home.
Be good cats and dogs while I am away. I'm probably going to get to see SNOW! (aww, a little anyway, in the high country of Colorado)
8:32 am on October 3rd, 2010
SH: Good to hear from you. Have fun on your trip.
8:49 am on October 3rd, 2010
Have fun Siber, we will miss you!
9:05 am on October 3rd, 2010
MagPie! Mom read The Help and didn't care for it all that much. It was on the bestseller list for over a year.
9:07 am on October 3rd, 2010
Melanie – We hope Dan improves quickly. The important thing is that it was discovered so early.
9:09 am on October 3rd, 2010
I Am here!!! He is not here yet we are visiting with other fans. Barb they did not know which book is yours . Right now it says " you rock
9:12 am on October 3rd, 2010
Gus@boo bear's mom is here!
9:48 am on October 3rd, 2010
Min Pin!…Too bad you don’t read this here blog…grunt!…Yesterday I threw out a few questions for you guys to ask but apparently you did not see them…wheeze!… Ask something interesting!…sneeze! …Ask him about the Title Contest, or what the next book will be about!…Ask him what he thinks about the Plunderers!….golly! (she won’t read this so it’s a waste of time)….growl!
9:51 am on October 3rd, 2010
SiberH!… I’ve missed you pal!…grunt!… I’m glad you are okay and nice to hear you will be visiting my state…heh! …No polluting you hear!!!…snort!
10:04 am on October 3rd, 2010
They should be starting. Too bad we can't view it live.
Rio: I watched both episodes of Hawaii Five O and like it. The main character was in Moonlight (I think that's the name). If he was the one swimming at the beginning of the second episode, he is a very good swimmer.
10:20 am on October 3rd, 2010
Stover!… We here thought it was very well done….snort!…Plus we love the music and seeing parts of Hawaii! We have not seen the second episode yet….sniff!
10:31 am on October 3rd, 2010
Rio: Did you ever see the original tv series? I remember it vaguely. I was a kid when I watched it but I'm pretty sure that the opening music is the same.
Just read Alice and Wookie's reviews of TFAT. Good job! And, Wookie, thank you for the apology. I started laughing immediately.
10:32 am on October 3rd, 2010
Rio: I forgot to add re: Hawaii Five O that the second episode does a good job in establishing the group rapport.
10:34 am on October 3rd, 2010
In honor of Gus, Boobear and Macy MinPin meeting Spencer, maybe right now, I'm going to read a chapter or two of TFAT.
11:13 am on October 3rd, 2010
Macy, That's sort of our fault. When Barb first ordered the book, she told the man to tell SQ to write whatever he wanted for Barb's part and "Maggie, you rock" from Chet, with the paw print. Maybe the guy only wrote down the You rock part. Fooey!
12:47 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Melanie: I'm glad they caught things early — early is always best! I hope by this time next week Dan is up and dancing a jig!!!
12:52 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Barb has totally lost control today. She is up to chapter 20. Savoring seems to have gone by the wayside.
Where are the traveling Plunderers?
1:05 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Barb: When you get to chapter 24 you will have to read to the end.
1:06 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Mom is back from the book signing and she had a great time meeting both SQ and MacyMP's mom and dad. It was a small venue with worked out great as it is a small, old fashioned book store. Macy's mom and dad sat on the front row and Mom was is the row right behind them. They had time to meet and visit before SQ came on. He flew in from Phoenix this morning so wasn't there to talk to before the signing. All three of us had on our badges and immediately found each other.
Macy's mom took lots of notes so she will have alot to add, we're sure. He did talk alot about the blog and how it had taken on a life of it's own. The diversity of the "plunderers" and how they are from all over the country. He told the audience about the quilt and how much it meant to him. He only works on 1 project at a time, so has not started the 4th book yet.
The contest for the title of the next book is still in the works and you won't BELIEVE what he is thinking of for the possible prize. He has to get publishers okay on all of it first. Do you want us to post the possible prize or wait and hear about it if it gets approved? We don't think he would mind us posting it since it is really cool that he even thought of doing it.
[img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1286143592-DSCN3322.JPG[/img]
1:09 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Another picture
[img ]http://chetthedog.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/1286143789-DSCN3321.JPG[/img]
1:11 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Sorry, Rio, we didn't take the picture so the quality isn't very good. Hopefully, MacyMP's mom and dad did better.
1:11 pm on October 3rd, 2010
G&BB's Mom – TELL US!
1:14 pm on October 3rd, 2010
OMG!…Finally Puss N' Boots puts me out of my misery!…snort!…I've been waiting all freakin' afternoon to hear from one of you!…grunt!
POST-IT!….I vote you post the awesome prize!…snort!…And Thank You Puss N' Boots! Thank you!
1:16 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Wow, that is so exciting. We vote 2 votes for spilling the beans on the possible prize. Tell us more!
1:19 pm on October 3rd, 2010
His idea for the prize for the winning title for the 4th book in the series is…………….
1:19 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Puss N' Boots!…Thats a great photo when you enlarge it by clicking on it!…snort!…A real Keeper!..Yea!…I'm so happy for all of you guys!…whoa!…Spencer has his tennis arms around your gal!…Wooooo!Wheeeee!…It looks like a great bookstore too!…wheeze!
1:25 pm on October 3rd, 2010
His thought is to actually go to meet the plunderer who has the winning title, present them with the new book and possibly go to dinner. He still has to work out all the particulars and of course, get the publishers approval. But how cool is that????
1:28 pm on October 3rd, 2010
That is too great. Mom and I, and Sam and the rest of the family, just aren't good at this stuff. OMG – we will not ever get a wink of sleep over this. Thinking, thinking, thinking.
1:29 pm on October 3rd, 2010
GASP!…
1:30 pm on October 3rd, 2010
OMG, Mom forgot to mention…the were 2 pugs in attendance at the signing!!
1:31 pm on October 3rd, 2010
CHOKE!… It’s like a Fairy Tail!…WHEEZE!
1:32 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Puss N’ Boots!…Was one of them me???… snorkel!
1:35 pm on October 3rd, 2010
G & BB, Two pugs, oh no, here comes a connip!
There are some very talented and creative Plunderers out there, so someone may be getting to go out to dinner with The Charming Mr. Q. Plus the honor of it all. It doesn't get any better than that!
1:37 pm on October 3rd, 2010
No,Rio, but it give Mom and Macy's mom a start for a minute or 2! We wondered why you hadn't mentioned you were coming!
1:37 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Now I'm twirling and I haven't even won anything. Great job G&BB and great pictures.
2:03 pm on October 3rd, 2010
WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!
OTAS wants to come up if I win! He loved the audio!
Okay, Zoë took Dan nine of the books to sign today. As he signed them, she read your e-mails. HE LOVED THEM!
Tomorrow OTAS and I go to see him and take the rest of the books and e-mails.
Riö: so far we've been unable to get the card to him with the pugs on it. He wants to see it! He said if he has to wait until he's home, it will get him home that much faster.
2:21 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Gosh guys,
You all look really good. I am so proud of the ChettheDog ID's. One of these days I will have to print one up for Alice and Abbie.
Oh NO! You shouldn't tell the 'maybe' prize. Now if he isn't allowed to do it people will be so disappointed. Well, too late now. C'mon guys. Promise to not be mad if he can't do it OK?
Well, unless he gets to come to NORTH DAKOTA! Wow I would never expect him to get way out here. Heh He wouldn't be able to stay in our town, POP 51. The nearest motel (and restaurant) is 18 miles away. Of course you only have to stop three times and it takes only 20 minutes.
Of course Dawson might win. Or CJ Harris. Whoooheee, way up North (North to Alaska)
This is an all baseball afternoon here. The Giants seem to be doing quite well.
2:27 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Even if he doesn't get to do it, the idea is great. No one (except maybe one someone) would be mad. Too bad we are not better at this creative stuff!
2:36 pm on October 3rd, 2010
That was our thought too, Barb and Maggie. Even if it turns out to be something that is impossible to do, he thought of it!! But, who knows, maybe it can be worked out. Now we just wish Mom was a WHOLE LOT more creative than she is. Rio says he already has a pretty good idea, but we've just drawn a blank.
Maybe inspriration will strike!
2:37 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Staff: The Chetthedog IDs look great! That does look like an interesting bookstore.
2:39 pm on October 3rd, 2010
And, Staff, thank you so much for the badges. It made it really easy to find Macy's Mom and Dad, and SQ saw them too. When Mom got to the table for her turn, he stood right up and hugged her! Then he hugged Macy's Mom.
2:41 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Oh boy! Mom just got back from a thing at church so I'm catching up on the posting — what a prize!!! And no, we won't be disappointed if it doesn't come off. It's the thought that counts! Let's see…if we win there are a bunch of nice bed-and-breakfast places, and some good restaurants. It's a quaint little town, with maybe an hour's worth of sights to see. So now we've just got to put on our thinking caps, Mom and me, and see what we can come up with!
2:48 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Bee, Barb finished chapter 20 a little bit ago. She said she thinks she will quit until tomorrow, expecially after what you said about getting to chapter 24.
How many authors would let a fan title their book? Not many, we think! He really cares about us too, which is so special.
2:50 pm on October 3rd, 2010
G&BB: How cool is that!
2:54 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Let's see…To Bark, Perchance to Bite…nah, been there, done that! Still thinking….hmmmmmm.
3:03 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Gus&BooBear: Thanks for the picture. You all look great.
Wolfie: Giants won! I was holding my breath. I think my boy is going to the game on Thursday. He is so excited.
3:03 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Well, ahem, I just happen to live 15 miles from Niagara Falls. Could be a nice spot for a certain author to visit.
3:07 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Puss N’ Boots!….What does Spencer smell like?….sniff!sniff!…When he hugged your gal I mean…heh! heh! …What did he say when he first met her?…snort!
3:18 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Mom has a very poor sense of smell, Rio, so she couldn't tell us what he smelled like. One of the 1st things he said to her was to thank her for a video she had forwarded to him last night about elephants rescueing a baby elephant from a water hole. It made her think of how smart Peanut was. Of course she was just babbling like an idiot so who knows what she said (she's not the coolest at times like this)
3:24 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Oh Dear!…So no more details from you guys then?…crap!…No quotes?…No stories?…nuthing?…grunt!
3:31 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Rio: You're just going to have to go to one of these events yourself.
There is a new Masterpiece Mystery series on tonight: Wallander with Kenneth Branagh.
(And I still like To Bark Perchance to Bite.)
4:08 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Schedule!… Going to an “Event” would be a lot of fun but with her schedule probably impossible to jet off to New England for the weekend…grunt!…Not to mention – I don’t fly anywhere! I’m not supposed to leave the yard….snort!
4:20 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Rio: My mom didn't jet off to New England for the weekend — she just drove to Georgia! Patience, little pug. Perhaps he'll be somewhere you can get to sometime. Like maybe you can win that contest and he'll come visit you in your very own yard!
4:22 pm on October 3rd, 2010
I'm watching Rubicon. This episode is very good.
What is the next event?
4:23 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Kirby!…Get Real…snort!… My friend says that will Never Happen. Because if it did she would die of something….grunt!
Gromit!… Someone on this blog said they liked Wallace and Gromit!…snort!…Was that MagPie I wonder??…sniff!…Anyway we watched The Wrong Trousers tonight, that’s the one with Feathers McGraw in it!…hooo!hooo!…Now we are watching A Grand Day Out….grunt!….I’m thinking this is one of the first ones made because Wallace looks a little different…sneeze! ….We love these clay animations first created by Nick Park. They are brilliant!…wheeze!…And he is a genius!…sniffle!
4:33 pm on October 3rd, 2010
The last show of this season's Ice Road Truckers is on right now.
4:36 pm on October 3rd, 2010
I'm watching A show on CNBC that Bernie and Chet would like. I't called Liquid Assts and is about WATER and lack thereof.
4:37 pm on October 3rd, 2010
I have a really good idea for the book title. I was in bed last night and I thought of it and got out of bed to write it down. (Mr Staff thought I was crazy)
I just checked on ABE and Barnes and Noble and it isn't already a title.
YaHOOO.
4:41 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Staff!…That’s a good idea, checking to see if the title has been used before…snort!…Thanks for the heads up!…heh!
4:46 pm on October 3rd, 2010
You'd be amazed at how many book titles are used over and over again. Just the other day someone came in to pick up a book she had requested, and whoever requested it for her didn't check on the author and requested the wrong one. I hate it when that happens. This particular title had been used by at least ten different authors!
4:46 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Wöökie's gone to New England.
Staff: I haven't thought about checking to see if my title has already been used. Thanks.
4:49 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Is Wallendar the Henning Mankell character?
I am excited about the maybe-prize, even if it doesn't come off. If it did and if I won, I would have dinner in Minneapolis so some other Plunderers could come. >^..^<
4:49 pm on October 3rd, 2010
If C.Harris wins the contest, I'm going with Spence. He will need a guide. (Hope mom doesn't read this)I'll just tell her that Staff started this North To Alaska stuff. That is a wonderful idea that Spence came up with for the prize, and even if it doesn't work out, we will know he tried.
Great reporting Gus&BooBears' mom and thanks for the picture. It is a good photo of all of you.
Good luck to our two Giants fans here, Molly (ABP) and Wolfie. I was really impressed with their pitcher (Matt Cain?) that almost threw a no-hitter against the Rockies. That guy has the focus of a Border Collie.
Rio, you will have to keep an eye on Rockie while I am away. Shouldn't Rockie and his hillbilly gang be thinking about putting nuts away for the winter? Instead, I thought I saw them in news video from the Balloon Fiesta. I didn't know that hot air balloons have bed bug problems. You had better check on Rockie.
snowdog
out
4:49 pm on October 3rd, 2010
I've just started a new game called Pictowords, or something like that. I am further along than I get in Bookworm, but I have a problem in this one too.
My brain is wired to see a word and then stick with that sound. So trying to add letters that change the sound of the word I'm looking at??? It ain't easy.
OTAS is watching the Red Sox. I'm off to bed. Patsy has warmed it up for me. Now if I can just push her over to make some room.
4:55 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Staff, I'm wtching the last episode of Ice Road Truckers, and then we are going to watch the new Ice Road Truckers series…Dangerous roads or something like that, then it is off to sleep.
5:02 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Wookie!…Has he really gone to New England??…snort!…Did I miss his vacation plans again?… grumble!
Sherlock!…Holmes is just starting so we are settling in for that story on PBS…sniffle!yeep!
5:04 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Siber-H – I'm going to miss you while you're on this vacation. Hurry back.
5:05 pm on October 3rd, 2010
There are only two more episodes of Rubicon left this season.
5:13 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Stover!…What the Hell!!!!…snort!…You are kidding aren't you>?…sob!sob!sob!
5:15 pm on October 3rd, 2010
FK: I don't know what books Wallander is based on. He is Swedish and in the police force.
5:15 pm on October 3rd, 2010
SiberH!… I hope he keeps a diary or he will forget what happened while he was on vacation and we will never get to hear about it…snort!…Sort of like the Book signing today with Spencer….duh!
5:16 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Rio: That's what it said tonight just before they showed previews for next week.
5:19 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Rio, We have never watched a Wallace and Gromit, but we did mention that we would like to.
5:26 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Since it is late, Mom will post tomorrow, plus she has to figure out how to get her pixels from the camera to the blog.
Mom here> it was Unbelievable! And when taking the picture, SQ actually hugged me over closer to him. Rio, he smells clean. I am sure that you could have detected many more scents, but I am a two legged with limited sniffing capabilities.
He is amazingly gracious and listens intently to everyone.
He and admin have never actually had a knock down fight and if they did he is sure his family will have him put away.
Rio, I got pictures of your stand-in. There were two pugs, but one was definitely you!
My brain is tired from the 5 hour drive home. But it was worth every mile.
5:30 pm on October 3rd, 2010
MagPie!…. If you want to see Wallace and Gromit order the CD from Netflix called Wallace and Gromit Three Amazing Adventures or individually if you have to. …snort!… And watch them in this order.
1. A Grand Day Out
2. A Close Shave
3. The Wrong Trousers
MagPie!… We guarantee you will LOVE THEM!…chorkel! …There are others but this will get you started!…heh!heh!
5:37 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Min Pin!…. One of those Pugs could have been me, you will never know for sure!…heh!heh!…Thank you Min Pin from the bottom of my heart – I can not wait to hear your Official Report tomorrow!… Yeep!Ouch!Yeep!… My tail is trying to wag and it hurts!…eep.
5:49 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Everyone — Still in Chevy Chase; we don't leave for Vermont until Friday. It's just been so great reading all the postings today; it sounds as though Houston was just a terrific experience for everyone. Thanks to Gus and Boo Bear's folks for the great report and photos and looking forward to more from Min Pin's mom tomorrow. It just doesn't get any better than this. And thinking hard already about possible titles. I just hope SQ/PA is around the home front somewhere while we are in Vermont. Wookie
P.S. Watched Snow Dogs this morning on the television and kept thinking about Siber-H.
5:49 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Rio, We will order it tomorrow. Last time you suggested The Long, Long Trailer and we loved it. Signing off, we are so tired. Will catch up tomorrow.
5:56 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Wookie!…. My brain exploded tonight thinking I missed your Vermont send-off!…whew!….I need to give you some top-secret data just obtained from Rockie and his hillbilly friends…snort!…Please be on Alert!…gruff!….Tomorrow.
6:05 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Alan!…Cumming is the BEST at introducing Master Piece Mystery!…heh! …Gosh we adore him!…snort!….”This is Wallander’s Sweden. That’s what makes it so fascinating!”… gruff!…Don’t know Wallander yet, but I guess we are going to stay up and try to!…heh!
6:07 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Mom says she's trying to come down with something, so she's going to hit the hay and try to ward it off. I don't see any hay in the house, and even if there were any, I'm not sure what good it would do to hit it. Humans! In any case, she's turning off the computer, so g'night, y'all!!!
6:10 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Goodnight!…Kirby! You bad-ass flop eared football fanatic!…heh!
6:30 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Amazing!… After watching Wallace and Gromit, and revisiting the photo at the book signing today, we see the incredible similarity between Wallace’s very large clay hands and Spencer’s hands…Wow!…Spencer also has monster sized hands!…grunt!…Maybe a finger or two more than Wallace, but still very large hands compared to most human beings that I know of…sniff!…No wonder he can’t type very well …heh!heh!…He probably hits 2 or 3 keys at the same time with those sausage sized fingers…Wow!…There is always an explanation! …snorkel!
6:58 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Another great day on the blog. I am excited to hear about the meetings when you can post tomorrow. Thanks for posting what you could today.
Today I was reading in the living room and something bit me just under my left eye. I have no idea what it was but it left a pink/red mark and it itches like crazy. I am NOT TOUCHING IT! But it is really difficult. Hopefully I won't touch it in my sleep. I am bad that way. I think it was a spider because they sneak around and creep up on you. I HATE spiders. There seem to be a lot of them around this fall. I wonder if Rio has fixed his spider problem?
Blessings on Dan's doctors for reacting fast and best wishes to him for a quick recovery. All us Kats are cheering for him.
I am going to bed now also. See you all tomorrow.
The neighboring farmers just drove down the road towards home. It is 11 pm here and they have been combining in the dark since 8 pm. It is sort of eerie to see the lights crawling across the dark fields when it is good combining weather.
>^..^<
7:19 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Ahhh!…Staff!…Your Combining remarks hit home with my friend who grew up on a farm remembering her dad along with her favorite uncle, both dead now, who worked all kinds of weird hours farming and trying to make a living….sniffle!..sob!sob!sob!
Spiders!… Oh that mean spider who bit my friend over and over again this summer must be dead or gone by now!…snort!….We washed everything and sprayed the whole bedroom down one day and there has been no biting on the butt or thighs since!…Nasty ole spider is GONE WITH THE WIND!…heh!…He never once tried his fangs on me!…snort!
8:22 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Dad wants Mom to sit down and watch a movie with him, so we’re signing off for now. Can’t wait to hear what Macy’s M&D report back to her.
10:07 pm on October 3rd, 2010
Giants won!!! Dad gets to go to the game on Thursday too!!
I loved the reports from Houston!
My book was signed yesterday.
Am glad that Dan is better.
I have miles to go before I sleep……