CHRISTMAS SURPRISES

The doorbell rang before 7:30 Christmas morning. Lady thought it must be the night guard wanting his Christmas bonus. It wasn't. It was Nancy and Vicky from our old city! They had ridden the bus all night to get here! We were so so happy!

 My Nancy!

 My buddy, Vicky!

 We gave her the hat set!

 Our helper brought her daughter and granddaughters for Christmas!

 Ho! Ho! Ho!

 I love opening gifts!

 Grandma sent me a Harley Davidson dangle for my leash, and a Harley Davidson patch for my tee shirt! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

 They had lasagna, rice and dal. I had fat chow, hummus and pita, carrots, and decorated doggie biscuits from the Barkery.

 We always have a birthday cake for Jesus. After all, it is all about Him. I like to think it is all about me, but I just get to come to the party! And with a houseful from the mountains, we had a great Christmas party! I am a blessed little hot dog!

 

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!

OH, THE SHAME... FAT CHOW

So I am at 27.4 and need to lose more. Lady bought me this at the vet's suggestion. Oh the shame!

 Pallu took me out for some exercise.

Okay, I'm done. I'll just rest a bit and catch some rays.
Waiting for the blood test results from the vet. Supposed to come today but on Indian time, maybe by Friday.

NO GOOD VERY BAD DAY

Furrends, I apologize for not writing for so long. Here's an update. Lady's been in five cities since I last wrote. We're home now until the end of the month. I'm still pudgy. We've been trying really hard, too. Lady has restricted my table food and treats and put me on (oh the shame) Obesity Chow. Last week after her trip, she noticed my hair was thinning, and I still have spots. My energy level and enthusiasm are limited. And my hearing is bad. So, to the vet's we go. I had a medicated bath. It cost more than Lady's pedicure, foot massage and head oil massage put together -$20! 
So, yesterday, I had to go back to the vet for another bath and a blood test. The vet suspects I have hypothyroidism. The symptoms fit. So, the bath part is not so bad, but the blow-drying drives me nuts and scares me. Then the nail clipping. I tried to pull off the muzzle and tried to nip the vet assistant. Another assistant and Lady had to hold me. She kept apologizing. So, that's not enough, we had to go into "the room" and lie on my side on the cold hard table. Lady fussed at the vet because he couldn't find the vein and kept sticking me. On my third leg he had success. I think Lady scared him. He slowed down and took his time before he stuck me again. Lady kept apologizing. We should get the results back on Monday.
Lady felt so bad for me that she broke my diet and gave me cheese.
I'm home in my own bed with my Lady. I have forgotten my no good very bad day.

MOTA BACHA

Mota Bacha means "fat baby" in Hindi. Lady and I both are too big in the middle, but our diet isn't going so well. I need to lose five pounds. I'm not getting extras (much), but it is too hot to exercise. Normally in August, the rains keep the temps down around 90 degrees or less. But not this year. All week it's been 103 plus. It's 90 in our living room. So we hang out in the guest room. The AC in our room isn't working well. The AC man is coming tomorrow. 
The vet said I can have 140 grams of dog chow a day. I am on Royal Canin Adult mini, plus some supplements for my bones. He suggested a weight reduction dog food, but I don't like my food changed unless it is my idea. I like this chow. 
Any ideas furrends on helping me get my buff bod back?

HOME FROM SUMMER CAMP!

Vicky, Nancy, their Dad and I took a taxi down from the mountains -a nine hour drive! But I love car rides. It was slow going in the mountains due to fog. We were two hours later than they told Lady and she was busting at the seams! Yep, she missed me. I waddled right into her arms. Yep, I might have put on a little weight. Lady put me on the scales today and I gained 1.4 kgs at summer camp. Well, they are omnivores! They gave me eggs, chappattis, meat and cheese! Yum! 
One evening, Nancy and her mom were walking me on the mountain and they heard a low roar. Nancy asked her mom if she heard it. She did. They heard it again and we took off running home! Remember I told you have a leopard that took care of all the stray dogs in the area? 
It is still hot in Delhi. I like the AC. I will have to get used to this heat again. I sure liked being in my own bed with Lady. I followed her around all evening! My little buddies Dee, Erin, and Brooke came over to welcome me home. We all had noodles together. 
Home again. Lady says home is where we are together. 

HELPING NANCY

Life is good in the mountains. It is a lot cooler than Delhi. Nancy is hard at work studying for her finals. She is finishing her second year in her Bachelor of Technology program. I help her study -make her stay on task. I give occasional licks of encouragement.

Nancy told Lady not to worry about street dogs here -the leopard took care of them! She reminded them I am NEVER to go out without my harness. Even I know that! 
Lady went to a meeting in Thailand, and now she is on her way to Nepal for another training. She has a large territory. She misses me, but is glad I am cool and loved.
The vet was out of Royal Canin mini Adult, so Lady bought Adult Pug. Do you think my nose looks shorter?

BACK IN THE MOUNTAINS

We had a pretty good trip up, despite our annoying driver.

 This is like an Indian road stop where you can eat, go poop, and exercise. Lady had to pay a guard 20 rupees to watch me so she could go in and take care of her needs.

 Made it to Wyatt's house!

 I love playing with Wyatt on the balcony.

 Baby Nolan came over to see me. I gave him a Marley stuffie so he can remember me when he moves to the US.

 I think he is saying thank you.

 We're having a chat.

Tate likes to go naked like me. His mom made him wear a diaper. I am waiting for ice cream.
Nancy and Viki came to see me, too. It is so nice and cool here!!
 

OFF TO SUMMER CAMP!

Our bags are packed and by the door. Tomorrow we're getting out of this heat and head to the mountains. Nancy said it is hot there, but it's 35 degrees cooler there than here. Another day of 115. Lady had to go to an embassy to pick up a visa. Over an hour in an auto rickshaw. She wouldn't take me cuz of the heat. Her feet got sunburned and baked -in the auto rickshaw!
We're going to see our little buddies Wyatt and Tate! Lady's got lots of work to do, but she can do it better out of the heat.
We have an all-day trip tomorrow, so this little dog better hit the sack.

OW

Lady picked me up from my time-share family's last night. I was so happy to see her. Of course I had fun with the Critters, and I like riding in the elevator. But I was ready to get in my own bed with my Lady.
My back end is wobbly. I walk like a drunk. I lose my balance when I pee. So, it's off to the White Coats today. Lady leaves again soon, so she wants to see what we should be doing. I am not currently taking any supplements. In June, I am going with Lady back to our old city in the mountains to stay with Vicky and Nancy for Summer Camp. The government vet there is very good. He helped me more than the Delhi vet did.
That little white tart that lives above me is teasing me and causing me anguish. I have unmet needs. Lady says she'll be glad when I leave again and we don't have to listen to that yappy white fluff who teases me. 
Yes, it is still very hot in Delhi -over 110 for the entire last week, and those temps continue this week. We were out by 7:00 am this morning. Our low is 84 degrees. But I am not complaining. I have nice cool tile floors, AC at night, and a nice breeze on my balcony.  
UPDATE: Lady took me to Max Vet's. I had my annual immunizations and my nails trimmed. He watched me wobble. Basically said I'm thirteen and a dachshund. He put me back on joint supplements for life. I didn't bite anybody so I get a treat. I didn't cry with my sticks either! I got to ride in the auto rickshaw, which I like.