I've wrestled all weekend with the question posed by Steve. As usual, I expanded the question: not only do I wonder if Mastandreas descended from the bulldog, I wondered aloud what other animals hang on the not-to-distant branches of our family tree.

Alane volunteered the mule.

"Aaggggh, yer ass," is something I might have said in reply.

Of course, Cookie and Mojo have very distinct simian characteristics -- and when we take them to the pool (as we did last evening) they display some of the traits of sea mammals. Even as a baby, Cookie made a strange hum up in his nasal cavity that made me think of a whale's oil-filled head (unlike Alane, I have read Moby Dick).

And then there's Steve with those coyote legs. Are coyotes closely related to the bulldog?

We went to the batting cages again yesterday -- yes, I have regained my confidence. And my schwing. The boys did pretty well too on the slow-pitch softball. Then they went on the bumper-boats.

Later in the evening we went to the local outdoor pool. Cookie and I practiced jumped off the diving board while Mojo and Alane treaded water in the main part of the pool. I like the pool -- the water in it tastes better than the gel that oozes from the household tap.