A LETTER TO MY MARLEY

My Dearest Marley,
I was a lone in a new city, in a new flat, with no friends. No one would speak to the tall white stranger. I cried out to God and He heard me. I asked for a black and tan dachshund to keep me company, and within two weeks, a call came that would change my life. I had not told a single human about my prayer. They told me you were in desperate need of a new home. Your family left China, and left you with the house helper, who could no longer care for you. When they told me your were a black and tan dachshund, I knew God had heard me! You were exactly what I prayed for! Little did I know then that black and tan dachshunds were a rare find in our province. You were not quite three years old when you became my fur kid. And from the moment we first walked in that new neighborhood, you opened doors to relationships and friendships. Humans spoke not to me, but to you! You have made the difference in not just that city in China, but in Bangalore, Shimla, and New Delhi as well, helping me break the ice and make new friends. Because of you, I have not been lonely. Because of you, I have not been afraid at night. Because of you, I get the exercise I need. You are a constant reminder that God hears my prayers. He knew what I needed, who I needed, and He gave me you. 
So many humans love you, Marley. Because of my frequent travels, you have timeshare families who take you home for awhile. You are so adaptable, and you never forget feet! You are just the way you need to be. You bring joy to so many.
You will be 14 in a few months, and your body is slowing down. You don't have the energy you used to have. Well, that's okay. I want you to enjoy your senior years. Your heater can run up our electric bill. You can still have the carrots, hummus, dip and chips you love as long as we can balance it with your special chow. You are my love, my joy, my partner, my friend, my baby boy. I treasure our time together. It is my joy to share today what you mean to me.
Love,
Mom, AKA Lady

IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING, THE OLD DOG IS SNORING

 I put it off as long as I could. I didn't want to leave the warm bed and my heater. When it finally let up a bit, out we went, reluctantly.

 Hmmm, the news is all wet. Can't read it. Looking for some place close to take care of business. Lady bought this raincoat for me in Hong Kong in 2004, right after I was re-homed. Okay, it's a bit snug but I can still snap it!

 Lady says I am not allowed to pee on our neighbors' tires. Can't reach anyway. I don't hike anymore.

 Done. I want to go home. It's too cold for me.

 I have to remove my muddy raincoat outside. My muscle shirt is a bit snug as well. Do I look buff? Our doormat says "WIPE YOUR PAWS HERE," so I did. My ears fly.

Lady won't let me go in until I've cleaned my paws. It rained all day long. No complaint, just fact. We worried about the puppies. Lady didn't see them. She stayed home today. It's very messy out when you travel by auto rickshaw in the rain. Back to my warm blankie and heater.

STREET PUPPY UPDATE

Sad news. One of the three puppies we shared with you on Lady's birthday got deaded by a car in the night. It was actually the one drinking milk with the mom. This is a common occurrence as the drivers can't see the little guys, especially at night. Well-meaning neighbors penned up the remaining two puppies in a small area of an empty house on the corner. Problem is, they penned the mom out.

 Lady has been getting them out to play. Erin and Brooke (one of my timeshare families) came home from church with Lady to hang with me and see the pups. Lady calls the light one Duke and the brindle one Bo. They love to be held.

 Mom dog didn't mind. Other folks are afraid to pick them up when she is around.

 Remember the biter? He tries to bite tires as cars go by. He doesn't seem to mind either. See his tumor on his side? It's getting larger.

 I took the girls to the play on the playground. I used to slide by myself but those days are history. I'd rather go with Brooke.

Erin and I went to read the latest pee mail. She gave them a couple of my gently used toys and something soft to sleep on. We feed them puppy chow in milk. The neighbors just give them milk.
The neighbors finally decided to just pen the pups at night when the humans in cars coming home to park couldn't see them. We think that is a better plan. When they see Lady, they come running. She had to out-run them to get to the store to buy milk.
We love puppies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LADY

No balloons -I don't like them. No signs- I can't reach and scotch tape is challenging. No flowers -I don't have a wallet. No cake -I am culinary-challenged. But, I have lots of love for Lady, and friends to help me celebrate!

 Tate, Elizabeth and Micah's parents provided a pizza pawty. The best part? THEY'RE NOT VEGETARIAN! Lady got veggie and we had PEPPERONI from PIZZA HUT! Where's Tate?

 Little Katie really liked me, and in true toddler form, dropped lots of pizza!

 Tater tot is always good for scraps, but he won't share his milk.

 After Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa, and Uncle Roger, I took Lady out for a quick walk. It's impawtant to make sure older humans get exercise.

 Sarge and Ranger, this is the culprit -the face biter. He's the street dog on our lane, basking in the sun in our park, acting like he didn't bite me. Well, I should have stayed away from him. In the daylight, he doesn't bother me.

 In India on your birthday it is traditional to pass out chocolates. Lady likes me to tithe my treats. Well, the red female had three puppies! We just found them last night. She has been hiding them. I LOVE puppies. In celebration of Lady's birthday, we took them breakfast.

 And I ate a yogurt frosted dog cookie!

She's a bit snarky, but loves Lady. Street dogs don't stray from the neighborhood. They stay on their street and run off any other dogs who try to come on their street. According to our neighbor, who feeds them every day, people feed them to earn merit with their god. They also feed the squirrels and birds every day. They hope the dogs will keep away intruders. The dogs know who belongs and who doesn't. They chase cars and bark a lot. They are not inoculated or neutered. I am not allowed to play with them, but I LOVE puppies.
Lady was given TWO birthday cakes, and ONE isn't chocolate! It is another tradition to feed a bite of cake to your mom, dad, honored guests. I got a tiny bite of the vanilla cake!
Well, I think I've done a pretty good job of insuring Lady had special day. Of course, every day with me is SPECIAL!

HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOGSVILLE FAMILY!

It's 2015 in India, so I wanted to be first (except for maybe Bella, Roxy, Dui and my Downunder friends)!
My Highlights for 2014:
*  Summer Camp in Shimla, out of the Delhi heat
*  Friends from Shimla coming to visit me
*  My pawsome birthday party in May
*  Road trip back to the mountains
*   Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa
*   Meat
My New Year's Resolutions:
*   Eat more meat
*   Share more with the poor dogs on my street
*   Sleep more
*   Lose the extra weight so I can eat more meat
*   Make more friends in Blogsville 

 Lady served my favorites (except for meat) at our party!

 Lady had a moustache party. I look ridiculous!

 Aunty Gretchen looks funny!

 Aunty Delena and Sabra came to our party! They are one of my timeshare families. They brought cookies!
Happy New Year!!

THE MEAT EATERS ARE GONE

I love Lady, no doubt, but she's vegetarian and I am not. So, I am a happy boy when meat eaters come to visit. We Lady got up at 5:30 to help them get off to the train station. Lady bought my little buddy Pallu her own window seat on the train. After all, she is a big five now. They will ride the train for four and a half hours, then go by bus for an hour and a half to where their car is, then they have another four and a half hours to get to where they live now in HP state. Pallu took the huge Santa balloon. Whew! I do not like balloons. They move around and scare me. Lady made her keep it in the guest room while here. 
Our flat was the only one in the 'hood with lights and a star. Christians hang these large stars outside. Some of our neighbors came by to wish us a happy Christmas. All of the workers came by. Normally, people give the garbage collectors, street sweepers, night and day lane guards, stairwell cleaners, iron wallas, and their helpers a bonus at Divali, the Festival of Lights. That is the biggest Hindu festival which many faiths also celebrate. Lady doesn't give bonuses then. It is not our main festival. So, they all come by at Christmas to get their bonus. Lady gave them all a very special Christmas card that friends in America gave her to give out. We like to share the real meaning of our festival. We gave the guards gloves this year, as well. Our helper, Mani came to our party. She was thrilled with her new shoes. She let Lady know that her shoes from last year were too tight, so Lady bought her new ones. 
I gave the two street dogs on our lane doggie biscuits. I think they like Lady's scratching better. I am still not allowed to play with them. They are not inoculated. They are very dirty. They will act all nice and then try to bite me in the face. I try to bite back. 
The malls and big markets where the foreigners live were all decorated so many people spent their day at the malls. But mostly, you couldn't tell it was Christmas. The fundamentalist Hindus chose December 25 to forcibly reconvert Christians to Hinduism. It was all over the news. They want India to be a Hindu State. But, the Muslims, Jains, Buddhists, and Christians remind them that India is a democracy with freedom of religion. And there's no caste system any more, so they say. Balabir had the news on any time Pallu wasn't watching Nickelodeon channel. I prefer the news. Her programs are annoying. 
When I woke up, I went looking for my friends. Gone. Lady says that next year, we are going to HP to spend Pallu's birthday and Christmas in their home. We'll have to take a taxi all day. She doesn't want me to ride in baggage on the train. 
Well, I didn't lose any weight this week, but Lady says that's okay -it's Christmas! I guess I'll get some exercise helping with the mountains of laundry, dishes, and wrapping paper!
Happy Sunday.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Blessings to our Blogville furrends! 

 Every year for the past four years, Pallu and her family have come down from the mountains to spend Christmas with us. We love it. She drops food.

 I lost 1/2 of a pound. Lady let me have a doggie Christmas cookie!

 My friends Brooke and Erin dropped by to bring me a sqeaky doughnut!

 Earlier this week they came over to make ornaments.

 Our Advent candles. We light one every Sunday.

 Our Jesus tree

 Lady let me have my Christmas blankie early. I love it. 
Our neighbors will come by tomorrow so we've been busy. I can't wait to see what Santa Paws and Lady brought me!
MERRY CHRISTmas EVERYONE!!
LICKS,
Marley
and love from Lady

HOME AGAIN and STILL FLUFFY

My secretary has been sleeping busy since returning from the USA. She's upside down or something like that. I gained 2.2 pounds while she was gone, and I really tried. But somebody had to clean up after Ezra. My hormones are out of whack. My hair is still thinning and I am lazy lethargic. It's not my fault. I weighed in at  28.4 pounds! Lady says we're gonna have to try the thyroid meds. She drug briskly walked me around the block three times a day and I'm still a mota batcha.
But I got a new blankie from Wal-mart in the US!

 This is how I roll in the taxi coming home from Ezra's house. See the unsightly spot? 
Well, Lady got the heater out for me because it is 65 inside. It's about the same outside but really cold in the mornings and evenings. And I am wearing sweaters. 
We're all decorated for Christmas. I'll post some photos when I get get my secretary back under control.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING BLOGSVILLE!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, BLOGSVILLE! THANK YOU!
Lady and I are so thankful for our friends in Blogsville. We've been blogging since 2006 when we lived in China. Now, we live in New Delhi, India, but through the pages of Blogsville, the distance is nothing! We have furrends all over the world, and we thank God for you. We appreciate all the efforts of the humans to help with the networking and organizing. We appreciate the good advice, getting to see all the latest products (we can't get here but can order), and all the support. We like sharing about our life in Asia, and we hope to get even more friends! 
To my beloved timeshare families who provide a loving home for me when Lady travels and can't take me with her,  THANK YOU! We love you and appreciate you!

LIFE WITH EZRA

I know my Lady and my Blogville furriends are wondering how I'm doing with Ezra and my timeshare family. So, Mel sent some photos for my secretary (a.k.a. Lady) to post.

 My little human buddy, Ezra giving me a bath. I stand still like a good boy.

 

I like the attention.

 

Helping Aunty Mel with decorations. 

I'm supposed to be a good guest when I stay with my timeshare families, so I help with clean-up. Especially on pancake day. I just love toddlers! They're messy eaters!
So, see Lady? I am just fine.

HANGING OUT WITH MY TIMESHARE FAMILY

I like hanging with my little human bud, Ezra.


I like hanging out on their pillows! Aunty Mel says I am behaving myself. I keep her company while she has her quiet time with Jesus in the mornings.










 I  like hanging out in the sunshine on the balcony. Don't worry about me, Lady.

HAPPY HALLOWEENIE!

Hand over the meat treats and nobody will get hurt!

Update on my vet visit. Lady researched hypothyroidism in dogs and found out that below normal results do not necessarily mean I have hypothyroidism. To know for sure requires another kind of BLOOD test. And if I go on the meds, I have to be monitored by BLOOD tests. So, Lady is not so keen on putting me through that. We're looking for alternatives. She's not going to start me on a new medication and then leave, so we'll see how I am in five weeks. 
HAPPY HALLOWEENIE EVERYBODY! 

ANOTHER BAD DAY AT THE VET'S

So, I told you about my no good horrible very bad day when I had to have a blood test for hypothyroidism, right? Read that post. Well, the vet never called Lady back. So, she took me back to check. After talking with a vet and two assistants, the lady vet said that on the day I had my blood drawn something very bad happened and there was a lot of confusion. A vet assistant was in a resting room and had a severe asthma attack and died. They had found him that morning. The police came, and such. But by the time we were there, it was over. Anyway, that is the reason they gave for my test not being done. So Lady Vet says, "we'll have to do it again." Lady says, NO! and proceeds to tell Lady Vet what I went through the last time. Lady was quite upset. I thought she was going to bite her! I gave Lady a lick. She calmed down. Lady Vet assured us she would try to get it in the first time. Lady scowled.
Down I went on that cold table again. Lady didn't muzzle me. It was indignant enough already. Lady Vet got the needle in but said the blood was too thick and wasn't coming down. Crap. Another stick. Another vet. Legs tied down. Two more assistants, more apologies. I didn't cry but Lady did. She told Second Vet that this was so uncalled for. Lady Vet told Second Vet that my blood had been drawn on THAT DAY. "Oh, velly solly m'am. It was confusion that day, m'am. "They neglected to clean up the pee mail left by a very large golden retriever and Lady not only stepped in it, but the leash fell in it. The assistant picked it up and handed it to Lady dripping in pee. Lady glared at him and he took it to get washed. It came back wet. Another leg, another stick and we were finally finished. Doxies veins are very narrow m'am. Mah-ley's blood is t'ick, m'am.
So, the first vet who lost my sample called to give the results. He started right off telling Lady that if I started right away on the pills, my hair would grow back in 30 days and I would have more energy. Woa. Hold the phone. Give the results.  Oh. Solly, m'am. My FT 4 is 0.6. First Vet said normal is above 0.7. My FT3 is 1.5. Normal range is 1.4-4.4. But Vet said the FT4 result is more important. 
So, furrends, Lady would not commit to drugs yet. We want your opinion. He wants to put me on Eltroxin 100 mcg. twice a day forever. I'm 13 1/2. Lady leaves Thursday night Oct 30, so please be quick with your opinion. One more question. They were out of my HD tablets so they sold us Flexadin (Vetoquinol) 90 tablets for $30.00. Is it cheaper or more expensive in the US? Are these tablets a waste? My hotmail account doesn't work but you can write me at beautifulfeet2008@gmail.com 
Lady needs chocolate and I need meat. We settled for some carrots and hummus.

SUITCASES ARE OUT AGAIN...BIG ONES

Well, furrends, we know what that means. Lady has a trip. She has two weeks of meetings in Virginia. After that, she will fly to Florida to see my human grandparents. They will drive to Atlanta to see Uncle Roger for Thanksgiving. I have two cousin dogs and two cousin cats. I've only Skyped with my dog cousins. 
I am going back to stay with the little human, Ezra. He is  cute little dude who loves me. His human peeps love me, too, and invited me back to stay with them for all of November. Lady has packed my Halloweenie costume (big whoop) since she leaves on Halloweenie at 3:30 a.m.! So I will go the night before. When she comes back, we'll have to decorate for Christmas! I wonder what she'll bring me? I am not showing any interest in my toys. And I don't want any new clothes. Well, it does get cold in Delhi. I just want meat. Bring me some beef jerky, Lady! Maybe I will forgive you for yet another trip.

BOMBS AND CRACKERS AND SCARED LITTLE DOGGIES

This is Diwali. The vet was handing out sedatives for the dogs. Lady thought it would do more harm than good, so none for me. You can't imagine the sheer volume of the bombs and firecrackers. Well, with 18 million people celebrating at the same time it gets noisy. This is my least favorite day of the entire year. The bombs and crackers have been going off for two nights now, but this is the big night. Sounds like a war. It will go on all night. Our landlord and his family came over last night to bring Lady gifts. She got a lovely box of chocolates (not for me), a box of Indian sweets, and a Buddha head incense burner. Our upstairs neighbor brought us a huge box of biscuits (cookies). Lady and I give out biscuits and sweets at Christmas. All the workers (iron wallas, street sweepers, guards, house helpers, garbage collectors) all expect a bonus at Diwali, but now they know Lady gives at Christmas, and no one came with their hand out. Another tradition along with the giving of gifts, the loud noises, stringing lights, lighting candles (I think they'll set the neighborhood on fire there are so many candles lit everywhere on our lane), the visiting friends and family gatherings, is to paint rangolis outside your door. In the past, well-meaning friends have painted Hindu symbols in front of our door. We're not Hindu. So Lady buys the colored sand and "paints" our own rangoli. I tried to help but Lady says I messed it up.

Lady brought home take out fried rice and spring rolls. We were watching (or trying to) TV. I helped myself to the rice and spring rolls. Lady didn't scold me. I am so scared she feels sorry for me. So, with my big warm blanky, I am headed for bed.

LIGHTS and SCARY NOISES -IT'S DIWALI

 This is our building. Thursday is Diwali, or FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS. I call it "THREE DAYS OF SHAKING AND BEING SCARED." Lady wanted to take more photos in the 'hood, but I wouldn't let her take me off our lane. But, you get the idea. Lady's photos didn't turn out so well.

This is the entryway to my house. The ground floor humans lit up the trees in our hallway! I take care of business in record time during Diwali. It's too loud and scary, but the lights are pretty. To our Indian friends, Happy Diwali!