My husband has recently become obsessed with a dog in our neighborhood who up until this morning was called "the white dog" but today has evolved into "White Fang." "White Fang" is a misleading name, since "Fang" implies something evil, but quite the contrary, Steve loves Fang.

White Fang is a big white dog, resembling if not actually a Great Pyreenes. It is an unmistakably beautiful dog, made even more striking by his hugeness. Make no mistake: we own a large dog, so when we meet a dog that's even bigger, it causes quite the scuttlebutt. It was like the time we were out walking around and passed by a house where a teeny tiny chihuahua ran out to greet us. We fussed over the dog when an even TINIER, baby chihuahua ran out. Seriously, you have no idea how small it was. It almost didn't exist, it was so minuscule. It was the most amazing day. We still talk about it, even though it happened about five years ago. Anyway, where was I?

Oh, so anyway, the dog is big and pretty and he and our dog seem to get along so that's nice. End of story, right?

Except lately the white dog has become Steve's white whale. Each time he comes back from a walk he reports on whether he ran into the white dog or not. I told him a few days ago that I saw the white dog from afar but we never caught up to him. "What!?" Steve said, visibly upset.

Today I decided to interview Steve about what it is about the white dog that's so special. I am recreating this interview from memory but this is pretty close, and keep in mind that I am married to a 32 year old man who possesses all his mental facilities:

ME: What do you like so much about the white dog?

STEVE: White Fang? He's nice.

ME: What makes him so nice?

STEVE: He's beautiful.

ME: That's it?

STEVE: And he's big. And it's fun when he and Briscoe play together. And his owner seems nice.

ME: Anything else?

STEVE: And I love him.

So anyway, owner of White Fang, if you're out there, please be advised that we walk our dog at approximately 7:30 AM, 5:30 PM, 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM, in case you want to be around so your dog can be appropriately admired. Or so you can stay far away.