Winnie, the Albino Mutant Alien Rat

Once every three months, something magical happens at the Winiferd house. Every three months, Winnie gets a haircut, and New Daddy professes that he maybe, sorta, kinda likes Winnie.

You see, Winnie's haircuts strip her to the core, revealing a severe lack of "dog" in her DNA.

Winnie with long hair looks like an adorable puppy. Once sheared, she morphs into something...reptilian. Something cartoonish. Something mythological. Something like Falcor, the Luck Dragon, from The Never Ending Story:

Ian dislikes dogs, but he loves Luck Dragons.

The only time I've ever heard him say "awww!" over the dog was when she trotted into the house after a haircut, looking like an albino mutant alien rat, and jumped into his arms. Or perhaps he scooped her up.

Either way, he melts over having a Luck Dragon in the house.

Ian: "You should keep her in this haircut all the time!"

Laura: "That would cost a lot of money."

Ian: "She's so tiny! Spottswood looks like a giant next to her. She looks like Lady Gaga. No, wait, she looks like Splinter, the rat."

Laura: "She looks like Falcor."

Ian: "Yeah! She looks like Falcor."

Laura: "How come you only like her sheared?"

Ian: "Because then I can see her eyes, and they look so expressive. Her long hair hides her eyes, which creeps me out."

On Sundays nights, Winnie grows lethargic, exhausted from a weekend with no naps and too much bacon. This past Sunday night, Winnie the Luck Dragon lounged around sleepily, occasionally gazing up at us through alien eyes.

Ian: "Look at your dog."

Laura: "What about her?"

Ian: "Just... look at her." <contented sigh>

I'm reveling in New Daddy's brief adoration for Winnie. Next week, she'll be just another energetic puppy at the receiving end of New Daddy's high-decibel threats.

But, for now, we're both in love with this angelic face.