During the first or second week of residence at Ladouceur, we had some people knock and invite themselves into the house. A little flabbergasted, we admitted them all the same. The two, a man and woman, introduced themselves as the owner's parents. They didn't have the name Ng, so we think James was just a superintendent. But that doesn't matter. The fact is they entered without permission. OK, enough complaining. Up to the hillarious parts. Yes, parts. Multiple. Many. Two.

With them, they brought cutlery. Wow, we were pretty low on butter and steak knives. Hell, any knives would have worked. We could use other cooking utensils as well. Mrs. Whoever opened up the grocery bag and started putting spoons away in the drawer. Spoons? We were already overflowed with spoons, and now more? What else was in the bag? A few forks, no knives. What good were these people. The come bearing gifts - of which were of no use for us! Useless.

But the best part of all was when Maslow came out to meet these people. (It happened before they gave us the cutlery, but it's my story and I wanted to save the best for last. I'm using my creative licence.) The woman was oriental, and in turn, very small. Maslow was a big boy for being nine months old, and probably came up to her waist, while he came up to everyone else's thigh. She was afraid of him. "Nice dog," was her comment to Maslow, as she backed up behind her husband, hitting the hall wall in the process. I'm fairly sure that Andrew suggested that he take Maslow to another room. I never heard such a quick response in my life. I guess she didn't like Maslow jumping up on her. :-) Andrew grabbed Maslow and put him somewhere for the time being. It's just the reaction she gave. If only my memory had a "dump" command so that I could put a picture online. (Don't laugh... it could happen. But then again, I'm a pessimist.)