Wait...I'm not ready!

(Daniel here): Our dog Jay is quite the handful. As many of you know he is a treasure. Right now he is chewing his hind end up and so wearing one of those cones. We'll just add that to the list of "Jay accomplishments"! But over the weekend he was the catalyst for the following conversation. Thanks a bunch Jay:

Ellen: "Dad why does Jay have an "N" on his tummy?"

Dad (unaware of impending unpreparedness): "That means Jay got neutered."

E: "What is noooooootered?"

D (Arianna now tuning in): "Well they go in and cut out some of Jays 'organs'."

E&A: "Really, why?"

D (sheesh): "Well, dogs and cats breed really well and so there are too many around. In order to prevent them from doing so any dog or cat that makes it to the pound has his or her organs cut out so they can't make babies."

Ellen: "How do they make babies?"

D (shuffling, hesitating, uncomfortable): I'll just skip the X-rated content explained in the most simple and easy to understand format I could muster on the spot with as little detail as possible. Something about all mammals and eggs and little swimmy-guys with tails and the miracle of life...

E&A: "REALLY?" (with contorted faces and quite a bit of surprise THEN far-off looks quite the signs of internal work rendering external appearances dim and blank).

D: (Looking around, sun still shining, birds singing, all appearing well). "Hey who wants to water some plants?"

There it came and there it went. So much of life happens without my approval.
Seriously, thanks Jaydog.