Punched by something

    My dog sometimes acts almost human. I know that people who do not have house dogs think we exaggerate these things; but those of you who do have one or more, I figure, understand. My dog has gotten into the habit of punching me with a paw; pretty much like a person punches you with a finger to get your attention, when he wants to go out. This is especially true when I'm at the computer and  8:30 pm rolls around which is his time to go for a walk. Last night, while working at the computer, something punched me twice, just like he does, on the upper leg. I looked at the time on my computer and it was only 7:45 so I turned around and started to say, "A bit early, aren't we?". But I didn't get it said as my dog was fast asleep across the room in the doorway to the den. There was nothing there to do the punching. I definitely felt two punches, just like he is prone to do. I was not even thinking about the dog or going out at that time because I was involved in reading an article on the Fortean Times site. No big deal, certainly, but still a mystery.

Revisited by one of my dogs?

 A couple of days ago the house was very noisey. Not your typical footfalls or loud crashes; just noises. I was busy working in a spareroom over the kitchen. Its a room we have never gotten around to restoring and is used primarily to keep my collection of citrus trees going until I can move them outside in the spring. I was planting seed for tomatoes and peppers in a hothouse fixture I have, for, hopefully, early transplants for this springs garden. Having completed that job I decided to test two of my citrus trees to see if they were in need of water. These two trees are on a table in front of the eastern window of the room. Directly north of this area is the doorway out of the room into a hall that leads past the upstairs bath on the east and the stairway down on the west. As I had just pulled the moisture meter from the soil of one of the trees I saw a schnauzer turn the corner in the hall and disappear down the stairs. I was startled, as our present Schnauzer is not allowed upstairs except at night when we turn in. I was discusted, thinking my wife had opened the gate and let the dog upstairs. Going downstairs to see why; I noticed the gate was up. My wife was working on a craft project in the kitchen. I asked her why she had let our dog upstairs? She replied, "What are you talking about? He's been asleep in front of the microwave for at lest an hour. Was the gate open?" Our talking had apparently awakened him and he was in the middle of a stretch and yawn as I looked on. I said the gate was shut. So who did I see? Thinking back on it, I suspect, a little male I had for 18 years. But who really knows?       Hit "link to this entry", to continue.