How many dogs do you have?

I hate when people ask me that question. I don't hate the question; I just hate giving the answer. Before I could just say, "two." A very reasonable number for a single person living alone. Then, there was a transition period where I could say, "Well, I have two and then I have these two puppies, I'm trying to get adopted." Then I just sounded like a concerned animal lover looking out for abandoned dogs. But now? Now I have to admit, (and I admit reluctantly) "I have four dogs." And then the person gets The Look that tells me that I'm the girl with four dogs. One dog, cool. Two dogs, animal lover. Four dogs and people look at me like I have serious issues. Four dogs? Sometimes I just have to say it to myself for me to believe it, "Do I really have four dogs?" I can't even believe it and neither can people when I tell them. Then I feel obliged to explain about how these two puppies showed up at my house one day and they were so skinny and pathetic, but happy go lucky that I let them in and then I tried to get them adopted and Randi did get adopted, but then got unadopted the next day and then the person has stopped listening and is just going back what could possibly be wrong with me that I have four dogs. I don't even know what's wrong with me that I have four dogs, except they were really skinny and pathetic and I had to let them in the yard. I'm like the old spinster lady with a bunch of cats, only it's dogs and I'm not old yet.

The Smartest Dogs Ever

Everyone thinks that they have the smartest domestic animals on the planet, but this week, Randi and Earl have proven that they really are the smartest animals, if not on the planet, at least on our street. Yesterday during my absence, Randi and Earl turned on the water in the backyard. Now, some may remember the last time Randi and Earl managed to "turn" the water on in the backyard, the day that they chewed the hose up to the swamp cooler, which produced a water park like attraction with water spraying all over the place. That day was quite extraordinary, especially with the plants that had been over turned and the mud pit that ensued. However, yesterday, Randi and Earl turned the water on, by literally turning the water on. Somehow, (I imagine that this adventure must have involved some sort of wrestling match), they managed to turn the knob on the faucet. Not normally a problem because there would be a hose, but being that Randi and Earl had previously chewed off the hose, this resulted in a mild river and small canine made lake in my back yard. (Note, Sarah's involvement in this shenanigan is unknown. She may have very well masterminded the whole event and explained how to turn the facet.) So you can imagine that I immediately swelled with immense pride at my puppies who have learned to turn on water. Particularly, I'm thinking that this will be much easier when I'm not home, as I won't have to worry about whether or not they have water. In case of doubt of their intelligence, this morning Earl proved that really he is quite the genius. (Note also: my sister says that Earl is a pot smoker due to his vacant and stoned look most of the time. After her observation, I did watch Early pretty closely and he does disappear for bits of time and then come back with a goofy look on his face, but I don't think he's smoking pot. Where would he get the money?) This morning Earl turned on the TV. No really. TV on. You might think, what was Early watching? Weeds? Animal Planet? No, he turned on the TV to listen to music. So all of us were woken up this morning to XM Radio. Freaking Randi and Earl. They're geniuses.