In your comments on our recent videos, many of you asked questions that I thought needed an answer. So here goes.
The first question had to do with our Dogdad's phenomenal and inexplicable ability to let us run on leash without getting all tangled up in a knot, as seen on the second video.
Gussie: And can you have DogDad explain how he keeps you from getting all tangled up?
Asta: How do you get to wun so well on leash????and not get into a knotted mess.
Penny, Poppy, and Patches: We ALSO would like to know how you run so much without tangling DogDad in your leashes. Does he get dizzy?
Jackson: Dogdad deserves some sort of medal for not getting you both all tangled up. How does he do it?
We think it's truly inexplicable, but our Mom has come up with some other examples of his ability that might help explain. Mom, what do you have to say?
Jakey, It's like this. The best way I can explain it is that your Dogdad has a very interesting three-dimensional mind. He's used to planning highway interchanges and ramps, and when he looks at concentric circles on a flat piece of paper, he actually sees cars moving along roads up and over and under!! In addition to its professional applications (i.e., his job!!!), this ability has very practical applications. For example, when it comes to loading a dishwasher or packing a car trunk (as when we stuffed the car full of your and Just Harry's things for our road trip over Christmas). You may have noticed how I often call for help when we have too many dishes and glasses to fit in the dishwasher and he always manages to get everything in.
So, when you and Just Harry are on your leashes and running at full speed, he somehow anticipates how you're going to intersect each other and whose leash needs to go up and whose down and how to keep you going. But, like everyone else -- I see it, but I don't believe it - BECAUSE, as Martha Basset notes:
Martha Basset: Our mum can hardly manage a walk without being strapped to a lamp post.
Martha, It's a good thing no one has a camera on those rare occasions when Mom tries to walk the two of us together!! You would die laughing at the hysterical results. She's been wrapped around a pole. Her arms have been pulled out of their sockets. And you'd hear her pathetically whimpering, "Can't you boys walk in the same direction?" Sometimes we do, and sometimes we even pee symmetrically, but often we just like to tease her by my going forward and JH's going backward. BOL!!!!
Faya: Do you find golf balls sometimes ?
Faya, We've found tons of golf balls -- most of which we've given to our human brother. They aren't fun to play with, so we just accumulate them as a point of honor.
Amber-Mae: That fountain over there looked like FUN! Did you boys get to play in it?
Maggie and Mitch: Did you boyz consider running through the sprinklers and getting soaked??
I love, love, love biting the water in the sprinklers and sometimes Dogdad lets me do that. JH is more indifferent to the water. But sometimes, 'specially when we're with Dogdad, we do get soaked cause he understands what boys like to do.
Joey: Looks like you had as much fun on the golf course as my dad did today!
Joey, Yep!!!! We love your dad's golf course -- but we only go there late in afternoon or early evening after everyone has gone home.
Snowball: It will be great if you are allowed to run off leash, isn't it?
Snowball, We don't think that will ever happen except in a fenced yard or at the dog park. How sad is that!!! We see Eric and other terriers running loose, and we're pretty envious -- but we don't see that happening to us.
So pals, thanks for all your questions!!! Just to give you a glimpse of our next post -- the Heron-Cam has been called up for reporting duty and we hear it may have something to do with Spring Training!!!
Lots of wirey love,
Jake
And, oops. I almost forgot one:
Mango: Why oh why oh why do they ALWAYS ASK if we are hungry? Of course we are! You are very patient.
Jackson: What a silly question! OF COURSE YOU'RE HUNGRY! What dog isn't?
You're both so right -- why oh why does she always ask? In the interest of full disclosure, I think it's because she likes to tell everybody (or show them), what her boy can do and how clever he is to answer her silly question with a little flick of the tongue. She's even taken it to new levels now by giving me a choice sometimes: "Jakey, Hungry? Outside?" So I indulge her by choosing one -- and if I head for the door instead of to my food bowl, she is whacko with joy at how clever I am!!!! Moms, gotta love 'em!!!
Orange impatiens by the front porch. 
A pot of succulents on the front porch table. 
And a frond from the Australian tree fern that Mom keeps nursing along.
