Drumroll Please

Just Harry and I are pleased to introduce two new members of our household.

Professor Jacques Maigret (pronounced May gray) And his young partner,

Justin Herkimer Clouseau (pronounced Clues oh). Professor Jacques is the unsung younger brother of the famous French detective, Inspector Maigret, made famous by George Simenon. After years of being unappreciated, despite his PhD in underbush research, the Professor decided to leave the Continent and make his way to America to explore the mysteries of life.

Justin Herkimer is also the younger brother of a famous detective, the beloved Inspector Clouseau, renowned for his unusual, some might say bumbling, approach to crime-solving. Like the Professor, young Justin Herkimer felt unappreciated in the shadow of his famous brother -- and he too decided to seek fame and fortune in America. In a wondrous stroke of serendipity, these two curious lads met in a little town in Georgia and decided a partnership was in order. Answering an ad that we Barkalots ran for two gentlemen to share our home and take some of the pressure off, with free room and board, the Professor and Justin Herkimer traveled from Georgia to Florida. With their professional sleuthing DNA, we anticipated they would uncover many mysteries of life in these parts and perhaps come up with some good alibis for the things we are always being accused of.

When they arrived, we were shocked to discover that they looked just like us!!! What an amazing coincidence.

And, like us, never ones to shy from expressing their feelings, both the Professor and young Justin Herkimer consented to an interview with our Mom.

Mom: Professor, Justin Herkimer, what are your first impressions about your new digs?

Justin Herkimer: Digs? We luhve, luhve, luhve to dig!!! Where, where, where can we dig?

Mom: No, no, no, Justin Herkimer. Digs, that’s slang for your residence, your place, your new home. There will be no digging.

Justin Herkimer: Oh. Well, rien n’est parfait. (Nothing is perfect!!)

Professor: Don’t mind him. He still has a lot to learn. But these digs are very fine. I notice you have excellent bushes around the property. And, as you must have heard, I am an expert in underbush research. Justin Herkimer: But we see you have much stuhff inside these digs.


Mom: Stuhff?

Professor: Yes. Stuff. Birds. Camels. Seahorses. Lighthouses. Books. Paper. Photographs. Paintings. And lots of what some might call tchotchkes. And, oh yes -- more stuffed creatures that look much like us. What does it all mean?

Mom: Well, gentlemen, I've been wondering the same thing myself. How about using those professional snooping genes to explore all that stuhff, I mean stuff, and tell us what it all means. OK?

Professor: OK. Give us one week and we will make our first report.

Justin Herkimer: Oui, oui, oui!!! I luhve, luhve, luhve to make reports. Is that a nice rug over there?