I really did not mean it that way

Gary and Peggy and I were sitting on the couch last night watching The Office. Peggy has been allowed up on the couch by me recently because it is now officially Snuggling Your Dog on the Couch Season in Minnesota and with whom does she choose to snuggle? Mr. Bickerson who, if he had his way, would not allow her on the furniture.

So there she was all cozy with her head smushed against Gary's lap when he lets out a gargantuan sneeze, scaring the crap out of her and me. Peggy looked up at him and then put her head back down.

I said, "I wonder if dogs can catch bird flu?"

"Well, I'm not a bird so she doesn't need to worry."

Me again, "I wonder if she can catch the swine flu?"

It was the only other flu I could think of at the moment.