Vet Visit

I cried a lot this morning. Lady was glad we were headed to the vet. Tinku, the taxi driver, picked us up. I whined the whole way. Lady had my coat on and wrapped me in my black blankie to keep me warm. She paid 4 cents (2 rupees) to see the vet. We didn't have to wait too long. Two huge, aging  retrievers were getting shots. My regular vet wasn't in, but this guy spoke English well. Lady told him the problem and he basically said "he's old." He didn't even examine me!! But Lady persisted and told him that just recently I have been crying in pain up around my shoulders. So, he had me get on the cold metal table and he poked around. He pointed out my curved spine. He said it puts pressure on my joints. He told Lady he would give me an oral pain med for three days, and Vitamin B complex for 10 days. Done. Lady was wishing she had called my regular vet, but we'll try the meds and then see. My meds cost $2.00, and the taxi ride cost $4.00. Tinku stayed with us so he could go get the meds. You have to go to a chemist in the lower bazaar to get them. But we ended up going to three different chemists before we got both meds.
Baby Wyatt came over to play. His dad played tug-of-war with me and my new girlfriend. She's pretty much shredded now, and it looked like snow all over the living room. The baby liked it. Now I'm just hanging out with Lady trying to stay warm.
Lady's been talking to my uncle. He wrecked his motorcycle and his little dogs had to go pick him up and take care of him. They had to go on a very long car ride and stay in a hotel. Cousin Pepper walked into the pet-friendly hotel and promptly did what he shouldn't have. Cousin Casey knew better. Guess who got crated and who got to sleep in the bed? Lady wasn't happy when she found out I had been riding a scooter in Bangalore while she was in the US. So you know she wasn't happy that Uncle rode so far in bad weather. I had to give up scooter riding because it stresses Lady out too much. Oh well. Bangalore was very flat but this city is on a mountain. Our roads are very steep and windy.
Thanks for praying for me. I will keep you posted.

A Day later...

                                                   OOPS!

No Vet Today

Lady called our taxi driver and he told us that all government offices are closed today. So we have to wait until tomorrow. Lady bought me a new friend that won't chew on my ears.

Ow

I'm having a hard time. I hurt so much this morning. I cried and cried when Lady picked me up and put me down. I can't tell Lady where I hurt, but it seems to be around my shoulders. I do better after I am warm, but before that, I holler pretty loudly! Lady didn't give me a feel better pill (Carprophen) because she says I gotta go to the vet tomorrow. They may want to stick me with steroids or drugs and I can't have both. Lady thinks I may have hurt myself jumping on furniture when I was at the Home, because that's when the pain started. Or, it may be arthritis. Lady put me in the small bedroom with the heater so I couldn't jump on anything. So, I get to go on a car ride tomorrow! I like that, but I don't like the getting stuck with needles part.
You may be wondering if my wheelchair will help again. Nope. That was for my hind legs. I am hurting up near my front legs.
It's gonna be a long winter.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Well, I just won't peepee in the house unless I just can't control myself...which is like, never. Okay, maybe on occasion when I was drugged and in pain. So, I have to don my sweater or coat and brave the elements. And it is not even that cold yet! ButI like to get out early. We're never alone. This one toothless old human totters along with his monkey stick, wrapped snugly in a woven wool shawl, and asks Lady the same questions every time he sees us. What's your name? Where are you from? Where do you stay? What do you do? What kind of dog is that? At first, Lady couldn't understand all his questions, but now she can, and she can reply. He smiles his toothless grin, nods, and mutters on his way. Another old man we often see has his head wrapped in a woolen scarf, and looks dapper in his patterned sweater. He speaks English very well, but he also forgets what he has asked us. And it is a good day when nobody yells at me for doing what dogs do, uh, doo. Hey, I perform a public service by watering the trees and bushes! There's no poop pick-up law here, but Lady makes sure my business isn't where someone can step in it.
PTL, we didn't see my ex-girlfriend this morning. Yes, ex. I am totally fed up with her chewing on my ears despite my vocal protests! It's so annoying! She won't let me dance with her, so what's the point? She makes it extremely difficult to take care of personal matters. She just won't listen. She wags her tail and thinks she's so cute. Well, she is, but sometimes cute is annoying! She hasn't figured out that I broke up with her.
We had house guests last night. Bill, from Apple Country called and said he, his brother-in-law, and his mother-in-law were in town to see a doctor and needed to stay the night with us. Lady said sure. No Pallu though. She and Rae stayed home. Rae's mother has been having pains for awhile, and the doctor three hours away from them can't seem to make a diagnosis and help her. So they had to make that long journey here to go to the local hospital. Lady made pancakes for them this morning. Of course she made some for me, but I don't use syrup. I like them plain.
After I come back from my walk, I settle in for my morning nap. I got up to say good-bye and my blankie came with me.

Play Date

Baby Wyatt is much for fun to play with than my girlfriend. She is getting soooo annoying. A guy can't even take care of business without a girl chewing on his ear and jumping all over him. She IS taller than me. I walk right under her to try to escape. When enough is enough, I look up at Lady and she rescues me and picks me up.
Baby Wyatt is so cute! He is a good baby. He doesn't throw tantrums like that other baby who comes a lot. I am a good boy. I don't lick him too much, I don't take his toys, and I stay off of his blanket. I let him pet me and I didn't even growl when he tried to take my toy. That's really good for me.
While the baby was here, the TaTa Sky man came to change our TV box. I was soooo good! Most of the repairmen make Lady put me away. She won't. She says it is my house. But she does put my leash on me and hook me to a chair so they can see where I am. Good grief! I am just a short dobie!

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.

Suitcases Again

I moped around this morning as I saw my guests all packing their suitcases. Lady has her suitcase out as well. At lunch time they all headed out the door. I wouldn't even eat my breakfast. But Lady asked me if I wanted to go to lunch, too, and I said YES! We went to the Home for lunch. Aunty fixed a very special lunch for my guests. She was very happy to see me. She said, "Oh Marley I have something special for you!" I had rice and chicken! She asked if I were going to stay with her. Lady said no. Aunty Sheri is staying with me while Lady takes my guests back to the capital city to fly home to America. Lady says she is bringing even more friends to visit us. They arrive a few hours before these friends leave. Then, we're all going back up into the mountains to Apple Country. Yippee! I get to go!! And I am taking my new winter coat because it is cold there. We're staying in a hotel this time. I'll take photos and tell you all about it.

We're All Safe

Some friends have e-mailed asking if we were near the bomb blasts or recent earthquakes. No, we're not. We're all just dandy, but thank you for asking!
Lady's friends brought tons of stuff. It was all over my living room. Looks like when Lady plans for Christmas events. But, my snooping paid off! I found a Slim Jim beef jerky. No one could figure out why it was in there. I know why. My grandmother in America sent it to me! She also sent me my new winter coat from Dachshund Delights! Everyone here thinks I look so handsome! I had to seek shelter under the table or I might have been lost in the piles or stepped on. I finished off my chicken Mac Nuggets today. Yum.

Home Again Home Again!!

I'm home! I'm home! Lady's back and she brought with her some old friends of mine! Sheri visited me in South India, and Sylvia visited me in China. I never forget a friend. And guess what they brought me? Chicken McNuggets! There's one a couple of hours from here. I did my happy dance. Lady made them lasagna for dinner but I had Mickey D's McNuggets!!!!! Happy boy. My other friends will arrive tonight. And, I have a new friend, Susan, who really likes me even though she is a cat person. Oh happy day!!!

Back to the Home

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I standing here beside my door
I hate to wag my tail and say good-bye.
But the kids are callin' they want me to come,
The taxi's comin' for Lady soon.
Already I'm so lonesome I could whine.
So kiss me and give me a treat,
Tell me that you'll be back quick,
Scratch me like you'll never put me down.
You're leavin' on the next train
I'll be here when you come back again
Oh,  Lady please don't go....

Animals Died, Too, on 9/11/2001

Lady and the other Americans are all remembering the terrible, awful day when their country was attacked by terrorists. Many humans died that day. Lady and other Americans are also remembering those left behind. But don't forget, animals died that day, too. A bomb-sniffing yellow Lab named Sirius died in the World Trade Center. After the first plane hit the North Tower, Sirius's partner, Sargeant Lim, put him in his kennel in the South Tower and ran to check out what had happened. He told Sirius he would come back and get him. The rest is history. Many tributes have been made to Sirius, including a dog run in Battery Park, a dog memorial in his honor in Canada, and some web sites remembering him. His remains were found on Jan.22, 2002, and they were treated with the same honor as the other victims. Sirius's partner called him a "big mush," a 92 pound lap dog -not your typical bomb dog. He said he was a very methodical worker, and he enjoyed watching him work. 

So, as you are remembering those who lost their lives on that tragic day, I hope you take a moment to remember Sirius, and other animals who lost their lives that day, and the people who loved them.

Monkey Watch

 Marley the monkey-watcher...

 There's one....

 and another...

 Ha! I can still see you behind the plant!! The most common monkey in north India is the Rhesus Macaque. They are smaller and more aggressive than the black-faced Langurs.

Marley the Monkey-watcher at rest.

Oh Happy Day

Oh happy day! (Oh happy day)

Oh happy day! (Oh happy day)

When I get pizza (when you get pizza)

Oh when I get pizza (when you get pizza)

When I get pizza and jiaozi on the same day!

Oh happy day! (Oh happy day! )

For those who don't know, jiaozi is a filled dumpling. I used to eat them in CHina. Here, they call them "mo-mo's." The mo-mo man brings them to our door. Lady and jerry don't particularly care for his mo-mo's but I do. Lady feels sorry for the man when he comes all the way here, so she'll buy a plate of 8 for me for $0.65. 

Today, the neighborhood ladies came and learned how to make pizza dough. They made a pizza and some bread sticks as well. After they left, Lady made a pizza just for me for my lunch!! Later on, the mo-mo man came. Oh, happy day!!

It's My Walk by Marley and Diana Ross

I can cover up my poop if it's on the path
I play it safe and walk with a harness
And if walking for myself is what I'm guilty of
Go on and punish me-
I'll still be free!

It's my walk!
I'll go just where I please
I hope you'll understand
This time is just for me,
Because it's my walk!
With no apologies
I've given up the heel
To wet bushes and the trees.
 But now it's my walk
If I don't walk so straight and steady
At least you know
I'll move when I'm good and ready!

So I'll let it rain
Cause the rain ain't gonna hurt me
I've got my raincoat on
The rain can't stop my peepee.

It's my walk!
With no room for compromise
Unless you're running late,
I'll hurry up and rise.
And now it's my walk!
Just let me choose my way
But you can keep me safe,
To walk another day.
It's my walk!
It's my walk!