Things have been moving at their usual brisk pace around here. Life went a bit crazy because we had to deal with tenant move in and other responsibilities that go with it. On the fun end, we had Johan’s and Tanya’s birthdays in August. Both were nice celebrations.

School began in August. Tanya and Leena are going to the Delta program this year. Tanya is now a senior at high school! We are bracing for the changes to come. Leena just began sixth grade and is very happy in her new school.

I have been busy with lots of the usual stuff. House, gardening, my work with rentals and staying on top of kids’ schoolwork.

Johan bought a new old Mercedes! He and I decided to go by ourselves to get it. Of course, along the way he had to stop to look at another car, a Land Rover. As expected, he liked it and we bought it, adding to our ever growing car collection.

Tanya has been involved with the Bus-Mog, for the lack of a better name. This is Johan’s pet project where he is using a Unimog frame and a school bus body to create a camper!

My animals are telling me that they have many interesting observations to report, so over to them.

Kylo Ren the dog: Did I ever tell you that humans are strange? Well, they are. The thought occurred to me the other day when I was browsing the news. Let me prove it to you.

Ever since I joined this family, I have been undergoing rigorous behavior training. Why, you may ask? You may also look at me suspiciously, thinking something is wrong with me. But if you do, I may look back, snarl a bit (oops!) and say, I disagree. I strongly believe it is the humans that are wrong. My training is to control my so called aggressive behavior. Truth be told, I am an alpha. I bark at passerby to prevent attacks. I bark or even lunge and dogs and suspicious humans. Does this make me wrong? No! I will tell you humans are a lot more wrong and exhibit alpha behavior in strange and often horrific ways.

While I try to resolve the situation by a direct one-on-one confrontation, that may result in some blood spill, a few bites and angry exchanges with a dog (or even with a human), the conflict is resolved right then and there. We may actually even reach an understanding bordering on a cautious friendship.

Compare this with what humans do. They have a conflict. Not over something relevant such as a bone, but over something that doesn’t even exist. They fight over an idea that some believe and some don’t. It’s called religion. Now that’s already strange. But what’s stranger is that they don’t resolve it with some fist fighting and simple form of conflict. No! They take out massive weapons that are a lot bigger and scarier than my modest jaw and claw! With these weapons they proceed to wipe out large groups of people who had nothing to do with the conflict! And I am not talking about a pack of dogs (or a group). We are talking thousands! So now you tell me. Who needs training? Me or humans? Kindly mull over before you respond, while I chase that rabbit.

Rosie the dog: (Wakes up). Huh? Yeah, war, no good. Look at me. I scold, and then when the human extends his or her hand, I immediately become friends. Actually, all I really want to do is to nap in the sun. I think humans can learn a thing or two about life from me. A little spot in the sun, eat, rest, save your energy. Play in water, leaves, snow, anything you find. Life will be good. (Nods off).

Daisy the chicken: (cuddles with Rosie and falls asleep using Rosie’s paw as a roost).

Crazy Cookie the chicken: Kylo Ren the dog speaks the truth. We don’t often agree, but we do agree on this point. Let me tell you how conflicts go in the chicken world. If you have read my earlier blogs, you may know that the pecking order is everything. Now, in this respect, we and humans are similar. They care about pecking order too, a lot. But the way we solve it is by bullying each other and figuring out who goes where in the order. The order also keeps changing. We chicks get along well together. If there is a rooster, he can occasionally stir things up and be aggressive trying to protect his girls. But, in general, everyone lives.

Humans, on the other hand, go on this killing spree with no thought in their heads. They kill by the thousands. They threaten to use weapons that would destroy their own selves alongside their enemies. That would be akin to me pecking Daisy and myself during the pecking order war. Or using the help of a rooster who indiscriminately hurts all chickens including myself. Why would I do that? I am no fool. So are the humans fools? Hmm. Let’s roost over that.