we got a dog a few weeks ago. a cocker spaniel puppy that is the cutest, most loving little creature that ever walked the earth. she's also rather annoying, too, because she likes to trip people, bark at nothing, and chew on pencils. of course, this is not unique or unusual behavior for puppies. but she is different. we are convinced that her spine is double-jointed. she bends like gumby and can twist and move in ways we didn't think possible. one of her favorite ways to stretch is to slide head first off the couch, leaving her back legs on the couch but standing upright on the floor with her front feet. when she's done stretching, and she leaves, letting her back legs plop onto the floor behind her. it's like she's part snake. since she slids around so much, we gave her the nickname "randall," the name of the slithery villain monster from "monsters, inc." another alter-ego is "madam query," a pirate that invades my sister's barricades and steals rawhide sticks for treasure.