Before I begin I would like to say, "Hey Mindy, did you catch the Daily Show today?  Jon devoted a whole segment to bloggers and the blogging phenomena.  Of course, he was talking about cutting edge political blogs and their effect on mainstream journalism — but it won’t be long for the knit blogs!"

Do you know any mothers who say they love all their children equally?  Do you believe them?  Do you have more than one child?  Do you harbor a secret?  Do you feel somehow different from these simpering women who claim to be as blind as justice when it comes to loving their children?

Well, I don’t love my daughters equally – they move in and out of favor depending on their behavior and my mood.  Of course, being a nurturing, wonderful mother, I make every effort to conceal these whims from my progeny.  sometimes I am successful.  sometimes they like The Boar better than me.  it’s okay.

I do not extend this courtesy to my dogs. 

It has come to my attention that I have not devoted enough attention to my pack of slathering beasts  dogs.  The full extent of my canines.  That I have readers out there who have no idea that I have many dogs – too many dogs.

I have five dogs. 

I have favorites.

Everyone knows it.  Including them I think!

The ones you read about here, no matter how much I bitch and moan about them, are my favorites.  I love them best.  Do not assume that this means they are my best dogs – indeed, they are not.  My best dogs are the ones I ignore — they are faithful, loyal, basically well behaved.  They are in good health.  They are no trouble at all.  These dogs represent all those ‘nice’ boys we should have dated.  These dogs would make great husbands!  They are wonderful – everyone should have dogs like these.

So here they are – the dogs you never hear about – the best dogs in the world!

I pet them, I feed them, I take them to the vet. I throw the ball for them. Their only sin? they don’t have smushed in noses and bulging eyes – they aren’t high maintenance!