Tin Futures For Fun And Profit
“Couldn’t help but notice,” Bernie said, “that you talked about Astrid being a reader in the past tense.”
“Did I?” said Foster.
Bernie gave him a look.
“Didn’t mean anything by it,” Foster said. “She still is, far as I know.”
“I’d like to confirm that,” Bernie said. “Any idea where I can find her?”
“Not off the top of my head,” Foster said. “What’s your interest in her, don’t mind my asking?”
“I’m working for a client.”
“And who would that be?”
“I’d love to tell you, Foster. But it would make me an idiot.”
Bernie an idiot? No way. He was always the smartest human in the room.
“Okay,” said Foster, “then tell me this: any way this client of yours would be willing to pay for information??”
“Information about what?”
“I think you know,” Foster said.
Did Bernie know? I sure didn’t. How were we doing on the case? Not sure about that either. I tried to remember who was paying. Our finances were a mess, in case I haven’t mentioned that. The Hawaiian pants! And then the tin futures! What were tin futures again? Bolivia? Something had gone wrong, but what? An earthquake? Or some farmer had made a big discovery. Is that in To Fetch A Thief? I opened my mouth very wide, just about my widest. That did the trick.
Tags: Astrid, Foster, tin futures, To Fetch A Thief
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 7:26 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.
5:02 am on May 12th, 2010
As always, I'm with you Chet. Information about what? That is the question.
5:20 am on May 12th, 2010
Mom is really looking forward to 35 more days of Tin Futures! She just finished Reality Check last night (loved it, goes without saying). The other guy, Mr Abrahams, mentioned a hedge fund that had gone belly up, due in part to "heavily leveraged put positions in precious metal commodity futures". Mom said that sounds supiciously like tin futures to her. Me, I was lost on that one. Anyway, Mom thought that after these next 35 posts, Spence could post another 37 days about put positions. Wouldn't that be fun!!!!!
5:29 am on May 12th, 2010
Good Morning, Chet! And everyone else.
Have to catch up on yesterday. Still confused on Ethyl Ready. I googled that name under fiction and came up with a silly theater script with that character in it. Had to do with Frankenstein and Dracula and a girls' hockey team.
I did notice there is more of an explanation in yesterday's posting. Will have to take time and read.
Glad 00Wolfie and Lexi the cyber wiz are back.
Oldest tattoo artist son went back. We had a blast. He has NO problem with all 10 Newfs. He (and youngest struggling artist son) just summon their inner Dog Whisperer.
5:30 am on May 12th, 2010
Barb&Maggie: Was the hedge fund thing in Reality Check? I must have blocked it out. I probably won't understand, but what are "put positions"?
Rio: I am never "just being polite." Your story of the adventure was very funny. Woof, yip…bark, whine all the while Rio is watching baseball and drinking beer. And those poor hired actors…
5:32 am on May 12th, 2010
Oh yes, instead of offering money to talk, maybe Chet could just grab a pants leg or two. But if CB can afford it, the money might let Foster get out of Albie's clutches!
Such a dilema.
5:40 am on May 12th, 2010
Wolf Wolf! I forgive you for not remembering I'm a Maltese (like Princess). On our last mission we played and napped together so maybe you will now think little white dogs can be fun.
I accept your offer of chicken jerky; love that stuff. My family cuts them in smaller pieces for me but I don't know why. I could easily eat a whole one.
6:05 am on May 12th, 2010
OK, Bee, you asked for it. A call option is when you pay a fee for the right to purchase something at a set price in the future (hoping it will go up in value). A put option is the opposite-you pay a a fee for the right to sell at a set price in the future ( hoping it will go down in value). You can exercise your option any time during the set period (usually 2-6 months). If you are wrong you don't have to buy. You just loose the amount you paid for the option, so your loss is limited. Pegasus Partners was the hedge fund run by Nedland DeWitt, Townes father. This was on pages 295-296, hard cover.
6:11 am on May 12th, 2010
Grunt!… what a morning!…snort!…. You guys should see our front yard!… groan!…Tree limbs all over the place… wheeze!… Great big windy snow storm last night – trees limbs down all over the neighborhood…. And now more heavy snow coming today and tonight….cough!…. No baseball for awhile me thinks… drat!
6:25 am on May 12th, 2010
Rio, We had 2 of those big wind storms this year, straight-line winds they called it. Trees uprooted, branches everywhere. The first one created a 36 hour power outage along with it. This weather is crazy. Global warming?
6:27 am on May 12th, 2010
Poor Rio, you need to learn how to snow board. My girl does that and she would love to have all your snow right now.
6:45 am on May 12th, 2010
Wow!…Barb sure knows her stuff when it comes to puts and calls!… snort!… I bet she has well educated chickens!
Chickens!…. That’s why that name Ethel has been bugging me!… snort! … We used to have an old chicken named Ethel… heh!… I’m sure I told that story already.
Snow!… I should be used to these spring storms, but when it messes up the baseball schedule… snort!… I get a tad irritated … grunt!
7:01 am on May 12th, 2010
Rio. Sorry about the weather and the baseball interruptions. It may just mean some double headers later in the season, with double the treats and double the celebrations. By the way, your cover story was great and I don't think anyone even detected that i had snuck off at one point to install and deploy you know what. Everything is now set just as you planned.
The one thing that I am sure of is that you are the supreme commander of this crew. With your leadership and guidance, anything is possible, and we will always succeed in whatever endeavors we attempt. Yours loyally and faithfully, PFC Wookie (aka 00Wookie)
7:15 am on May 12th, 2010
Barb&Maggie: Your explanation is superb! I think I almost understand!! And I remember Pegasus Partners, because of the name, of course.
7:20 am on May 12th, 2010
Speculation: Astrid is still alive. Foster knows something, even where she is ("Not off the top of my head") and because he wants to be paid for information, he must not be romantically involved with her. Because Foster is "not really there," Albie must have something to do with Astrid's disappearance. The information that Bernie wants is her location and I think he's doing this out of friendship for Col. Bob. Your finances are probably still a mess Chet.
7:49 am on May 12th, 2010
Hmmm!… At this point the information Foster is trying to sell could be anything…. Snort!… He may be selling Albie out or someone else who is involved that we haven’t heard of yet ….wheeze!… If Albie knew Foster was selling information to a PI about anyone, I doubt he would be employed very long. Or even alive… heh!… Unless of course Albie himself sent Foster over to Bernie’s….
Wookie!… Glad to know you were able to install and deploy the you-know-what …snort! … But I have a feeling Chet may be getting tired of our missions being posted on his page… wheeze!
7:57 am on May 12th, 2010
Wolfie: Chet didn't exactly think much of Princess to begin with. But later they got along great with the respect flowing both ways. Glad to see you and Sam are seeing eye to eye, even if you have to bend down a bit to do so.
8:10 am on May 12th, 2010
Rio, The chickens are not at all interested in investments, way too much for their little pea brains. However, they LOVED your idea of a BYOC party. Will you be attending, by chance?
8:14 am on May 12th, 2010
Albie sending Foster over….that's an interesting idea. I did like Albie in some ways. (Anyone who marries…seven times?…must have insecurities that he's trying to overcome through "love." That probably means that he did care for Astrid. But again, this is all speculation…what fun!) Why though would Foster say he isn't really there?
Rio: I don't think Chet minds mission stories on his blog. One of the purposes of the missions and the you-know-what (and, of course, I don't), must be to get you an advanced copy of TFAT. If I were Chet (or Bernie, or Spence, or Admin, or PA) I'd feel flattered.
8:36 am on May 12th, 2010
Hmmm… The whole “I’m not here” could be a ploy to get Bernie to believe he was selling the information under the table for his own financial gain … snort!… if indeed Albie is involved in Foster's actions….grunt!
9:14 am on May 12th, 2010
BStover, we don't think Albie married all those times looking fo a missing piece of his heart. We think he just uses women like fast food…instant gratification A
and then throw away. He just isn't bright enough to realize he doesn't have to marry to get it. Or maybe marriage is a control device for him.
10:30 am on May 12th, 2010
MagPie!…. I never miss a chance to party!… snort!… I will BYOB though instead of BYOC…. Heh!….Do I have to wear a chicken suit??….. wheeze!
10:34 am on May 12th, 2010
Gus and BooBear: I'm not sure why, but I think Astrid was too smart to be used.
10:37 am on May 12th, 2010
Actually, I do know why: She changed her name to Tiffany. I think that was her way of controlling Albie.
10:38 am on May 12th, 2010
Roger, Commander Rio. It's ixnay on the issionmay stuff. PFC W
10:45 am on May 12th, 2010
In the posts of April 20 and 24, Albie is jealous because Foster knows Tiffany's name was Ethel; his eyes narrow and he turns red. Those to me are signs of insecurity.
Wonder why it is nix on the mission stuff.
10:50 am on May 12th, 2010
Agent Wookie!… Absolutely No more issionmays!…snort!…. At least until I ecoverray from the rainingtay issionmay….grunt! …
[inkway inkway odnay odnay !]
10:53 am on May 12th, 2010
Maybe Albie is using Foster to find Astrid. Might be some conveluted thinking, but at times . . .
Albie has a last known address, gives it to Foster to give to Bernie. Bernie and Chet are great with missing persons and with that info might be able to find her. Foster follows Bernie and Chet. Forgetting Chet's magnificent nose.
What I find interesting? We still have no clue why Ray hates Bob.
11:05 am on May 12th, 2010
Rio: Why would you have to "recover" from the training mission? You were watching baseball (with Bess) and drinking beer throughout.
11:06 am on May 12th, 2010
Melanie: Should we speculate more about why Ray hates his father (Col. Bob has to be his father, right)? It's a very interesting psychological situation.
11:16 am on May 12th, 2010
Stover!… Issionmay ecoveryray imetay is estimated to be around one to two months. … snort!….Not sure why….cough!… It’s always very stressful for me to send my agents out into the field….grunt!… Even if it is only a rainingtay issionmay…. wheeze!
11:30 am on May 12th, 2010
What does Wookie mean by "nix"?
11:37 am on May 12th, 2010
Ray!…Wouldn’t it be interesting if the information Foster has is about Ray?…. snort!…. We haven’t heard about him in a awhile, have we?….. grunt! ….and wasn’t there some talk of him being missing early on in this Col. Bob story?…. wheeze!
11:58 am on May 12th, 2010
Melanie!… Regarding your actor son… snort!…. I think I forgot to tell you how awesome it was for him to be singled out and told how talented he is by the play write…. Grunt!… or was it the director, can’t remember which… mmmm… He may be on his way to stardom soon!
12:18 pm on May 12th, 2010
In the post of March 17 we learn that they are looking for Astrid "also." Ray is the other missing person. In post of April 12 we learn that the last time Col. Bob saw Ray was when he gave him $300 from his ATM.
12:59 pm on May 12th, 2010
Gosh BStover you are really keeping track of this story. I am impressed!
~Staff
1:09 pm on May 12th, 2010
So, is Ethel-or whatever her real name is-the good human or the bad human here? Because, she is using Albie…But, that jerk sure does deserve it, though…
And Ray, huh, where is he now? Will Chet and Bernie be able to find him? Wait, why did I ask that last question? Of course they will! They're Bernie and Chet, after all! They're the best team.
1:30 pm on May 12th, 2010
Riö, thanks for the thoughts for actor son. He likes working. I like him working, because he thinks of things he wants me to do for him when he's bored. (I'm his manager, looking forward to when he's a star so I can give it up)
B. Stover, why Ray hates CB. Interesting isn't it. CB has no idea he has a son from a one night stand with a woman who has "interesting" relatives and then seems to have had some connection with a loan shark. Who has been telling what to Ray about CB?
How has whoever it is that is telling Ray about his father, kept up with CB's life OR are is everything told about CB a lie??
1:54 pm on May 12th, 2010
AbbieKat: It's easy. Just go to the tags and click on Col. Bob.
Melanie: Good questions.
3:17 pm on May 12th, 2010
Melanie – Can't help but ask….did Tattoo son give you any tattoos for Mother's Day? I have this vision of 10 newfies and 8 newfie puppys inked on your body. (I'm not a big fan of tattoos although Siber H may want to consider getting some permament eye liner makeup. It would save him time getting ready in the morning!
3:27 pm on May 12th, 2010
Wölfie (love the bling), no, tattoo son will not tattoo mother! That's okay with me.
Acting son is still trying to talk tattoo son into giving him a tattoo. But tattoo son won't do it until actor son is famous. (snicker) One of those incentives for finding work!
3:32 pm on May 12th, 2010
Wolfie!…You son, are a bloomin' comedian!…snort!… SiberH! This is actually a very good suggestion. heh!… More squirrels would be alive today if you had permanent eyeliner….wheeze!
3:52 pm on May 12th, 2010
Wolfie, Great idea on the permanent eyeliner! I'll tell mom. Wish I didn't live so far from Melanie's son–he could do it. I think a tattoo artist that is also a "dog person" should do it.
You are so funny, Rio.
The Rockies won the game for you this afternoon since they couldn't play last night.
3:54 pm on May 12th, 2010
Melanie!… Maybe you should stick with being his manager Especially after he is famous! …snort!… 20% or More baby!…heh!…That will buy lots of Newfs food and toys!
Col. Bob!!… The connection. I have been wondering about that too… snort!… Someone for some reason told Ray about Col. Bob and his squealin’ one night stand with Astrid ….grunt!
Theory!… Astrid knew she was in danger because she saw something Albie was getting up to and he found out! …snort!… She told her son all about Col. Bob and that he was his father…grunt!… “If I go missing, get your dad involved!”… “but be careful!”… Well, being young and stupid, he wasn’t that careful and he focused his anger about his shit life on Col. Bob….wheeze!… He followed his dad around until Col. Bob confronted him and gave him some money… snort!… The guys who were following Ray, now knew about Col Bob… sniff!… Astrid is missing and now Ray is missing and Col Bob is the new target!…wheeze!… So he goes to his trusted friend Bernard for help about the whole damn family affair… cough!
4:11 pm on May 12th, 2010
SiberH!… I love my team!… snort!… I was amazed they could play today, but they have an awesome grounds crew… wheeze!… It was a close one this afternoon, and now they have all the momentum going into tonight’s game….grunt!
Sigh!… I wish they could have played last night, maybe I would not have been in such a bad freakin’ mood. … snort!… Sorry if I was Nipping on anyone undeservedly… grunt!.. I have a bad temper sometimes and I really hate that about myself. … mmmm… Many apologies from deep within my heart….sigh.
4:57 pm on May 12th, 2010
Crap!…. Tonight’s game is postponed cuz of bad weather… grumble… Well, someone bigger than us is in control of these things….bummer!
5:12 pm on May 12th, 2010
Wow! What a day of great posts! I love it when the ideas start flying!
Lots of unanswered questions, eh? Maybe we should have asked for tin futures sooner because Spence is hot, hot, hot! At the rate we're going, we should have all the answers by Flag Day!
I don't like Foster or Albie because Chet doesn't like them. I trust Chet. Foster has to be dirty because otherwise he would not be working for Albie. Remember when Albie tried to recruit Bernie? Bernie almost decked him. So we have to assume that whatever Foster's motives are, they will only serve Foster. It's an interesting question whether or not Foster is there w/o Albie's knowledge or if he is just giving that impression. I'm betting on the former.
So why is Foster there? He wants something, either money, information or assistance. I'm assuming that he isn't asking Bernie for some cash. That leaves either assistance or information. OR, he could be seeking money AND assistance so that he could BLACKMAIL Bernie. ding ding ding!!!!
I think Foster wants to hire Bernie. I think Astrid is dead and Foster wants Bernie to nail Foster. Foster is far brighter than Albie realizes. I get the sense that he has been waiting for this opportunity for a long, long time. That is why he has been willing to put up with the crap from Albie. It's even possible that Foster had a hand in her death, but he doesn't seem worried about any implication.
My guess is that Ray knows that Astrid is dead and he blames Bob. I didn't realize that Ray has gone missing. I just thought he was out and about doing Ray stuff. (Whatever that is.)
I am totally stumped by the teeth thing. ******Unless (and this just came to me) the chipped teeth have something to do with moonshine?***
For example….There is the story of Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers. Back in the day, Charlie was playing music for some bootleggers and the joint was raided. In the fight that followed, Charlie clobbered an officer with his banjo and when the officer shot him, he moved his head and the bullet chipped a couple of teeth.
Okay, I'm reaching now. It's time for a Wolfie nap.
5:17 pm on May 12th, 2010
Sam – Will you be my valentine? Even if I am a shy little Wolfie dog?
**blush**
5:18 pm on May 12th, 2010
Ah, now I know what happened to the game tonight. The weather this spring has been wackier than normal, and normal is usually strange enough. I think it is driving us all a little nuts. I snarled at a bug today. I never snarl.
Because of ALL the blowing sand, the vet has mom put eyedrops in my eyes before bedtime. I don't mind and I get a treat afterwards.
5:31 pm on May 12th, 2010
Wow Wow!…. Wolfie!.. The whole part about when:
“Charlie was playing music for some bootleggers and the joint was raided. In the fight that followed, Charlie clobbered an officer with his banjo and when the officer shot him, he moved his head and the bullet chipped a couple of teeth.”
Was this in present tense or past tense? … snort!…When was this??? …cough!… Is it an old time fact that he just used in the Col Bob story, or is it relevant to our story???
Please give Stover a post-it date so she can look it up in a flash!…heh!… This might explain the chipped tooth look-a-like thing….. wow!
5:37 pm on May 12th, 2010
Drops!… Eye drops sound really good to me…snort!… My eyes are always irritated with the wind, dust and just the things I see and read everyday…. Grunt!…All very irritating to say the least!… wheeze!
5:48 pm on May 12th, 2010
It was during the 1920s……..
5:50 pm on May 12th, 2010
Awww!… No Help To Us Then Wolfie! … grunt!
5:53 pm on May 12th, 2010
Well, I can't help it. I'm reaching for straws!
5:56 pm on May 12th, 2010
However….it COULD be that Bob and Ray both grew up in the same environment….
…..or maybe aliens from the Bermuda Triangle punched them in the kisser…..
…….heck. I don't know. It bugs me.
5:57 pm on May 12th, 2010
Goodnight all you guys and girls!
Sam, maybe you should consider taking Wolfie up on his offer. He is a good guy.
We got a quarterly email newsletter from the Iditarod today. There is a picture of Maple with yellow roses around her neck. What a girl!
Goodnight Rio, dear friend
6:00 pm on May 12th, 2010
And speaking of weird things….I can't remember who first mentioned it, but sometimes it seems as if we are somehow driving the story line.
(whispered) If Spence talks about eye drops tomorrow that will prove our theory.
oooooooooooooooooooooo…..spooky………………tee hee
6:13 pm on May 12th, 2010
Good night SiberH!…What a great guy!… snort!.. can't remember shit, but his heart is in the right place!.. sigh.
9:22 pm on May 12th, 2010
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ChetTheDog. ChetTheDog said: Tin Futures For Fun And Profit: “Couldn’t help but notice,” Bernie said, “that you talked about Astrid being a rea… http://bit.ly/dwzMe6 […]