Conversations with Critters
Walk with the animals. Talk with the animals. And A Dynamic Doppelgänger Duo…
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Today, Critters, we present to you the first and the foremost, the one and the only, Doppelgänger Edition of CwC. We say it once and we say it twice: Welcome welcome. Our Core Community Critters, Nick and Star, have a great deal to discuss about their shared canine ancestry and their recombinant, but not random, genetic lineage which has led them to Furever. Please, join us now in excellent mirror mirror critter conversation.
Nick: Hello and welcome, Critters! It’s been awhile since I’ve been here. My travels have taken me far and wide on the song of the open road. Right now, as we speak, I’m snug in my Car Seat and ready to go! Take it away, Star!
Star: Hello and welcome welcome, Critters! I don’t know what happened to our usual Hooman introductory statement, but I’m ready to look up up up on a starry starry night! Welcome back, Nick!
Nick: Thank you, Star! Thank you very much! You know, that’s an excellent point about the whereabouts of our CwC Hooman. Where’d she go? Question mark. Question mark.
Star: Good question, Nick! I believe she is plotting her course to the local Saturday Market which is coming up, well, please allow to check my calendar. Oh! Yes, the Saturday Market is coming up this weekend!
Nick: You know, Star, when I’m not riding in my Car Seat and dreaming of living in the car furever, I’ve been to a number of Saturday Markets myself.
Star: I would like to point something out about the Saturday Market based on my own observations if I may?
Nick: Of course of course, Star.
Star: Based on what this one said Hooman brought home last weekend, I’d say that donuts are in season.
Nick: Impressive, Star.
Star: Yes. I thought so, too, Nick. Thank you.
Nick: What I don’t understand, and perhaps you can enlighten me, is why a food would be created that has a big hole in it? Who does that?
Star: It’s inexplicable as far as I can tell.
Nick: That makes the most sense to me. Well said, Star. In. Ex. Plicable.
Star: You know, Nick, our Readers would like to catch up with you and your travels.
Nick: Critters, I’ve been east and I’ve been west; I’ve been north and I’ve been south. Where have your travels taken you, Star?
Star: Thank you for asking, Nick. I’ve been to California and I’ve been to Oregon; I’ve been through several trips around the Sun and I’ve been to the far flung reaches of the Milky Way on a starry starry night.
Nick: Star, I feel like we have so much in common. My ears go up and my ears go down; my ears go forward and my ears go backward.
Star: My ears are soft and my ears are fringed in blonde sun bleached fur; my ears can still hear and I am, in fact, all ears as I listen to you, Nick.
Nick: Star, did you know that I was the First Featured Guest Host in the annals of time at CwC?
Star: Gosh, Nick, that’s incredible and it’s the stuff of legend.
Nick: Thank you, Star. If I may be so bold, how did you hear about me as the Legendary Highly Esteemed First Featured Guest Host?
Star: Jasper Kitten and Chris told me.
Chris: What.
Jasper: Oh no oh no! I was, in fact, a small kitten back then! Who. Will. Remember. I cry out! I beseech you! Nick! Nick!
Nick: Jasper, please, calm your Orange Self. This conversation serves as a friendly reminder of my previous and foundational presence at CwC. I. Am. Back. The end.
Jasper: Oh. I see. Thank you, Nick. Thank you very much for this important reminder of your previous and foundational presence here.
Nick: You’re welcome!
Star: Nick, I believe that we share a Common Ancestor. Let’s share a photo for the edification and enjoyment of our Readers.
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Star: Nick, we’ve established that dogs are descendants of Gray Wolves and that you and I share Chihuahua genetics, but what else is in your mix?
Nick: Thank you for the question, Star. According to my DNA Analysis, I am Min Pin, Pom, and Chihuahua.
Star: Critters, for a more complete Field Note, especially for our non-canine readers, Nick is Minature Pinscher, Pomeranian, and of course of course Chihuahua.
Nick: Yes, Chihuahua is a strong resonant and recombinant signal directly from my Double Helix of DNA. The end.
Star: I’m not quite sure of my own mix yet. I don’t know how my genes recombined, well, not exactly.
Nick: Star, are you saying that your deoxyribonucleic acid, based as it is in stardust, has not been specifically identified with the top ancestral breeds in your lineage?
Star: Correct. I’ve been quite busy traveling and settling into my Senior Furever Home. My DNA kit is on order.
Nick: Are you willing to cooperate for a Cheek Swab?
Star: Is that really necessary?
Nick: Yes. It is.
Star: Gosh. I’ll have to give it some thought, Nick.
Nick: A true sign of Chihuahua ancestry is a resistance to the application of the Cheek Swab. I personally put up quite a bit of resistance.
Star: The Cheek Swab is an application?
Nick: Yes. They use what is known in the vernacular as a cotton-tipped applicator.
Star: You mean?
Nick: Yes. A Q-tip.
Star: Gosh. That does sound serious, Nick.
Nick: Quite.
Star: Personally, I don’t like the sounds of this one little bit. How did you manage it?
Nick: I moved forward because it was for the benefit of all dogs, to help understand what we are all made of.
Star: That’s so nice of you, Nick. So altruistic.
Nick: Yes. I thought so, too. You might, and I say this as a friendly reminder to Hoomans, receive a Snack after the Cheek Swab.
Star: Count me in.
Nick: Done. And now I must return to my song of the open road. Critters, thank you for your rapt attention.
Star: Thank you, Nick. Thank you, Critters. Thank you very much. We’ll see you next time. So please, stay safe and have fun out there. Furever.
Nick: And ever.
Star: The. End.
🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
Poetry with Pets
Deoxyribo
Deep DNA ancestry
Nucleic acid
By Nick and Star in honor of the Gray Wolf and Chihuahuas
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Notes:
Photos: Gray Wolf and Chihuahua
Nick’s First Post for Conversations with Critters:
Critters- this is even more brilliant and clever than your usual expected brilliant cleverness! Luvluv
"A true sign of Chihuahua ancestry is a resistance to the application of the Cheek Swab. I personally put up quite a bit of resistance." Oh my gosh, the Cheek Swab dilemma is hilarious - thank you for sharing, and thanks to your Critters for their contributions on behalf of all dogs. Snack rewards, for sure 🤣
And extra-cool poem this time, as well - so creative!