Moving on. Quick updates: Asher is good and well. My dad has retired (happy retirement, Daddy, like, months ago). My brother is engaged (Congratulations, Lauren and Jarod!)! Still in grad school on class #3. The new expansion pack in World of Warcraft was released and it is so cool! We got a new kitchen table and a little bookcase that we're hoping become family heirlooms (thanks Harry and Melissa!). I think those are the high points.
Hunter, one of my dogs, got sick, we thought he might die sick, but then he got better. Will keep you updated on his recovery. I think we need to visit the vet again at the beginning of next week to make sure all is headed in the right direction since he is still so skinny from getting sick.
Ok, to the point of this blog. Did I ever tell you how we think JJ is an alien? It's true. I'm pretty sure when we told my dad the reasoning behind our thoughts and he laughed, he laughed in such a way as to seriously consider how true it may be.
First, JJ's alien name is Megular. If I can find the audio that originated that name, I will. Just suffice it to say Brandon and I thought it was funny and as soon as he heard the name Megular, he knew in his heart of hearts that JJ's alien name was Megular. JJ plays it cool when we call him Megular, but he still has this sort of scared hint of recognition, as if he cannot figure out how we know his true name. His eyes definitely hold a different light in them when we call him Megular versus when we call him other names on purpose.
Our theories about JJ being an alien stem from just how smart we feel he is. He is too smart. Our theory is that the aliens wanted to learn more about the human race so they placed one of their kind on Earth, but in the form of a dog, so the alien could easily infiltrate a family and learn from them. JJ is clearly an other.
Evidence against him is more prominent the more time you spend with him, but the fact that he seems to clearly understand English (and I'm not talking about the usual, or even less than usual, commanwds but ALL English spoken around him) is the biggest. Of course you could argue his "understanding," but we feel it is very apparent. Especially when he changes his pitch, length, cadence and amount of barks at you when he's trying to get a point across, we realize he cannot speak English, but he most certainly has a language and it is our stupid human faults for not figure it out yet.
Example: JJ was out in the yard at my parent's house staring at God (and the aliens) knows what. My mom wanted him to come inside so she yelled at him, "JJ, come back in the house already!" JJ responds by turning his head quickly, looking her right in the eye, replying "Bark!," (a very short, staccato, forceful response), and turned back to whatever held his attention. Mom came inside, dumbfounded, and said, "I'm pretty sure he just told me to shut up... Yep. He did. He was busy gathering information or sending a report and had no time for our human insistence to come inside.
Also, Brandon feels that his transmitter (you know, so he can stay in touch with his mother planet) is located in his paws. He has always had a severe and unnatural fear of having his paws touched, so much so that he can't have his nails clipped unless he is sedated (like the vet won't do it anymore unless he is sedated, this wasn't my decision!) and he will growl and snap at you if you touch his paws too much or even pretend to use a nail file on them. (mind you, I've NEVER hurt him when I clipped his toe nails!) It is clearly a protective mechanism for fear of his transmitter being damaged.
And, really, have you ever seen a dog with such clean feet ALL the time?
So, needless to say, we harbor an alien from outer space. The only dog who almost never uses the bathroom in the house. Who prefers his comforts of a bed over a couch, a couch over a mat on the floor, a mat over the ground. Who fears when the weather gets bad. But rarely does exactly what we want for fear of being too obvious.
We're on to you, JJ. And aliens.
This was only written in jest to highlight my wonderful JJ.
...sorta.
