Chet The Dog

Posts Tagged ‘New Mexico’

SATs and US

Recently we got an email from a puzzled reader not knowing what the following exchange from Tender Is The Bite (between Bernie and a school janitor) was about. A few pages earlier, when he and Chet crossed the state line, Bernie seemed to be musing about the differences between the two states. And so now:

Hector came back outside. “She runs a little place outside of town.” He handed Bernie a scrap of paper. “One other thing. That possible cop fellow? Might have been a redhead. Hard to tell with the cap and all.”

            “You’re an excellent observer,” Bernie said.

            Hector shrugged. “Had nothing else to do for a spell. Eighteen years, seven months, eight days, to put it in numbers. Took the time to educate myself a little bit.”

            Bernie’s eyes got bright. “Then maybe you can help me,” he said. He cleared his throat. “Arizona is to New Mexico as … “

            “Donald Duck is to Daffy Duck,” Hector said, without the slightest pause. He went inside and got back to mopping the floor.

I wrote back saying remember those SAT analogies? Music : Love :: and then would come 5 choices like River : Thirst and Rice : Take-out … etc. But no! The SAT had no meaning for her. She was Australian! Something else I now need to factor into my work. And now I find out the analogies are no longer part of the test. I remember kind of liking them – wacky fun, a bit like Jeopardy.

New Mexico

Today our thoughts are with a Plunderer* we were lucky enough to meet at Alamosa Books in Albuquerque on the tour for The Sound and the Furry in 2013.

*Plunderers are a wonderful sub-group here at the blog.

Tucson

“Back from the Tucson Festival of Books?” says Admin.

“A great time,” Spence says. “A wonderful festival – and there are lots of Chet and Bernie readers out there. Also the sun shines and it’s warm! Met so many very nice people.”

“Plus you were in New Mexico as well?”

“Yes.”

“Have a chance to sample any of that Tractor beer in Albuquerque?”

“All too briefly. Many thanks to the Festival people, all the volunteers, the panel moderators – Tim Hallinan, Cara Black, and Mike Hayes – and those two fine AZ bookstores, Poisoned Pen and Clues Unlimited.”

Welcome new Tucson friends Sadie the Aussie sheep and Little Mo the orange tabby.

 

 

Rez Dogs Of New Mexico

“Not a happy story,” Admin says.

http://www.daily-times.com/ci_22024477/temperatures-dropping-conditions-worsen-rez-dogs

Welcome Barnie the leaper, two Xmas greeters (first Xmas photo of the season!).