Happy Halloweinie!

Beach Bum

Diwali Aftermath

Man! It's hard to navigate around all the mess, so I just pee on it. I think the worst is over. Here are some photos from the night, and the morning after.

View from my balcony

View the other way

Those decorations are made with sand and are called rangolis. There are also clay oil lamps that the landlady's grown-up kids lit. They set off soooo many crackers and bombs right under our living room window!

You can see the mess it leaves. My girlfriend came by to visit.

I like her, but it is annoying when she bites my ears. I just want to dance.

The whole street looks like this, but the sweepers will come and clean most of it up.

Here is another example of a rangoli. all of the homes have them somewhere.

Hmmm. Good place to mark, but Lady won't let me because they recycle.

Shake Shake Shake

That's me. My nightmare continues. The sky is exploding. Bombs are going off right below my balcony. Thousands of firecrackers are popping. I hate Divali. Our neighborhood is all lit up like Christmas. Seems like everybody is outside popping crackers and shooting off fireworks. I'm wrapped in my new double-thick blankie, and cuddled up with Lady next to the heater. Still shaking. Lady doesn't know what else to do for me. We ate our dinner on the living room floor so I could sit with her.
I hate Divali. Festival of Lights? No, for me it's a festival of frights!

Bang! Pop!Pop!Pop!Ka-boom!

Yep, it is festival season again -Diwali -my most dreaded time of the year! It's worse than New Year's. Fireworks are for sale on every corner. Kids are practicing for the big festivities tomorrow and the next day. It will be non-stop crackers and fireworks for three days. Hard for a little dog to take care of business. I go out, I hear a cracker, I turn and run back to my gate-finished or not. This festival is as big as Christmas is for the Christians. They buy all kinds of new stuff, give gifts, and visit their families. Lady made treats for our landlady's family. She gives me a treat when I hear a loud BOOM! It doesn't really help me stop shaking, but I enjoy Beggin' Bacon Strips anytime. Sometimes though, I am so nervous I can't even eat. 
I've been at the Children's Home again. Lady went on a trip. I jumped too much there and was crying for a couple of days, but I am feeling better. It's really cold, so I think my arthritis is kickin' in. Lady gave me a feel-better pill. At least we have a lot of sun. When I lie in the sunbeam I feel good...until the BOOM Pop bang!

See Ya Later, Aunt Sheri!

Well, it was off to the home for me on Monday. Lady took Aunty Sheri to the capital city to fly back to the US. She wanted to take me with her but Lady said no way. Aunty Sheri really likes me a lot. I was a good host. Lady came back this afternoon, dropped her suitcase and came to get me. I was ready to go home right then. I kept running to the door, back to Lady, to the door, back to Lady...you get the idea. Well, apparently Lady didn't. She stayed for tea! She said it would be rude not to have tea with Aunty. Pearly carried my bag for me and visited for a bit. She missed the school bus today so she stayed home and played me with. I was mopey because Christy went back to boarding school last evening. But I am home now, with my Lady, where I belong.

My Trip to Apple Country

I'm back home now! Lady and I rode in an apple truck with Bill, Rae, and two friends from the US. Six other American friends rode in a brand new van they bought for Bill and Rae's school! Cool! They came all the way from Kentucky to help the school. We left really early on Saturday morning. It took forever to get there over super bumpy and winding roads. We didn't stay with Bill and Rae like we did last time. We stayed in the best hotel in the village. Well, it was the ONLY hotel in the village. They didn't even give us towels or soap -we had to bring our own. There were a bunch of insects in our room, but it had its own terrace and the view was spectacular! The terrace was closed off so I could roam as much as I wanted! I loved it. We were right on the river and could hear the rushing sound of it. The carnivores in the group ate chicken for dinner so Lady brought me some!
Sunday, we went to school to plan for the work to be done until time for church. Lady and I helped Miss Julie, who is a teacher trainer. She's really nice. The others started preparing to build the much-needed fence around the school. I have snagged my new sweater too many times on that awful barbed wire. While the others climbed up the hill to another village, Miss Julie, Lady and I rode in the new van to Uncle's house. We ate dinner at the hotel.
Every day I rode to school in the van and helped watch the kids, supervise the work on the fence and the ceiling, and keep the cows from coming on the school grounds. Rae fed me rice and chicken for lunch. Uncle Chuck brought me my favorite treats -Beggin Bacon Strips!!!! I helped him hook up the five new laptops and the wireless network. He also hooked up a new printer. Bill was elated to have all this new stuff for the school! He even wrote "Praise the Lord" on the new van. The children were so excited about all the great new stuff. They held a parents' meeting and they were so happy about what the friends were doing for their school. It was pretty cool when some of the neighbors came to work with the Americans.
Wednesday, we made the long bumpy ride back to our house. Pallu threw up. I didn't. I don't get car sick. Everybody stayed with us -eight more humans! More people to scratch me, I always say.
When we got back to our city, the temperatures had dropped! The humans went out for dinner. I stayed home.
 Lady made me pancakes this morning for breakfast. I shared. She also baked some apples for them. Our guests left this afternoon. Sheri is still here. She stayed with me while Lady went to get this bunch of friends. She's going to hang out with us for a few more days. She likes me a lot.
Today is Dusheera. Soem people lit firecrackers. I shook for hours. I refused to go out to take care of business. It is quiet now, so maybe I will go out in a bit. Maybe.
You can see some photos from my last trip on my April 15th post.