Sunday Again

It's Sunday again. Technically, Lady can sleep in a bit longer because I go with her to church. But, I can't tell time. I wake her up about the same time everyday, school or not. When I find out it is raining, however, I return to the warm comforts of my bed. We've had quite a bit of rain lately, here at the tail end of the monsoon season. It's rather chilly for a short-haired dog.

Rain or shine, the buffalo wander by, leaving the evidence behind. I am not allowed to poop where anyone can step in it, but I guess the buffalo mommies aren't as strict as mine.

Lady, Auntie K. Auntie Al, and the whole school went on a neat field trip Friday. Little dogs couldn't go. The kids went to an environmental education center to learn more about God's world and how to take care of India's resources. Saturday, Lady, Auntie Al, Auntie K. and the others had a fun day welcoming new Americans to the city. Lady knows one family from China. They weren't in my city so I don't know them. Their two kids are going to Lady's school. She is so happy to have them in her same city again. Lady was going to take me but thought that I'd be too high maintenance with all the goings on. They had carnival activities for the kids, and sack races. There are a lot of street dogs around, but I met them when we lived out there. I don't know why she couldn't take me. I would have been a good boy (mostly). Milly got to go. Lady says she and Milly's mom have arranged a marriage for us when Milly grows up some more. That's the way they still do things here in India. Arranged marriages are common. Lady wanted me to be with my own kind. Milly is a black and tan wire-haired dachshund. I hear she is quite the looker, but I haven't met her yet. Her family fell in love with me when I went to visit their home, so they searched and searched for Milly. I can't wait! I can't wait! But Lady says I have to. She is only three months old.

Shopping

Auntie K. and Lady went shopping yesterday but didn't last long in this 'hood.

More Tent Kids

Tent Kids

Photos from the 'Hood

This is another one of the tent kids we pass most mornings and evenings.

In the 'Hood

This little guy runs out whenever we walk by. They live on the backside of our block. Lady took her camera out this morning, and all the kids wanted their photo taken. This little guy always cries out, "Auntie, bye! Auntie, bye!" over and over again. It rained and poured yesterday and last night. I didn't want to go out, so I peed on the landlord's car tire. Lady washes away the evidence. I woke Lady up very early again. Ha! She thought she would be able to sleep late during her week off! Well, this little dog needs to go take care of business whether it is vacation time or not. I know just how to get Lady to get up. I Stand on her chest, pull the covers off her face and lick her until she relents.
The humans here aren't used to little dogs like me. The street dogs are big, the dogs humans get are very big. So, they actually ask Lady if I am full grown! They ask how big I am going to get! Yeah, like I am going to grow long legs and become a doberman!
Lady loves me. I know because she bought ground chicken for me and cooked it for me!! She has a special pan for cooking meat, and a special spatula as well. I know she loves me because she gave me some cheese pizza from Domino's last night. Auntie Al and Lady were trying to make the most of the last days of their holiday. I am atAuntie K.'s now and will wait while they go to big church. Somebody's got to hold down the fort!

Holidays

Lady has the whole week off! Yipeee! She took a day trip to a nearby city to see a palace. She left very early in the morning and didn't take me. She did take me out to take care of business before she left. The Landlord's sons came down to take me out later in the morning. I hid. I am not supposed to leave my house without Lady. I love Sucil. She gives me chicken parts. So I followed her upstairs, hoping for some chicken. Every morning I run up the stairs in search of chicken. Some days I am rewarded and some days rejected. After a while of lounging around on the porch, I took the boys for a walk around the 'hood. They carried Lady's stick, that reminds the street dogs not to mess with me. We saw my friends Doe and Dino. And, of course i had ot dodge the buffalo piles. The are huge and very green!
Lady came home about 9:00 pm, so I took her out for a walk. The little tent children run and greet us and grab Lady's hands to walk with us. She sings songs with them as we walk. Children's Day is Nov. 14th. Lady's students are planning to do something for the tent kids. They are learning to speak the local language. So am I. I will learn whatever gets me meat. The students will sing some songsthey are learning. They are preparing gifts for the kids. Yesterday, Auntie Al, Lady, and a friend gave away some used clothing to the boys on the street. They were so happy to have Spiderman shirts, jeans, and plaid boxers. The girls got candy and stickers. Lady doesn't have enough clothes for all the girls yet. She is trying to collect some baby clothes because they either have on a shirt or nothing at all. The moms came out and begged for the tee shirts even though they swallowed the little boys. One of the older boys really wanted this hooded red jacket that was too small. He wanted ot try it on so Lady let him. He was convinced it fit him. He was so happy to have htat jacket! His mom was so happy she made a funny trilling sound. Lady felt bad she didn't have more clothes, but she is working on it. We see them every day and do what we can. I donate treats and dogfood, and flea treatment to my friends on the street. I try to set an example and not poop where humans can step in it, but the street dogs and the humans still need improvement in that area. Lady has paintings in our home painted by the kids on day - on Gandhi's birthday. The loved the watercolors and used up the whole palette! Lady bought them nice brushes but is not sure what they did with them. Now they come up to her and say, "Auntie, paint?" Or they say, "Auntie biscuit?" "Auntie, chocolate?" And most recently, "Auntie bate?" That means clothes. They need clothes.
Lady found out that a government school picks them up at 10:00 am and takes them to a school and feeds them. They come back at 2:00pm. Some of our neighbors are very kind to these poor kids, and give them leftover food, and cookies. The children sweep the driveway and get some treats for their work. Lady thinks the children are beautiful. She says God loves them so much. But they don't even know it.
I like having Lady home, but she stays busy. I go with her as much as possible. For some reason, I am not allowed to do my own shopping here as I was in China. I don't know why. Oh well. After all, I am just a little dog.