Counting My Blessings

It's Thanksgiving Day and Lady says I should count my blessings. As we took our walk this morning, I noticed the street dogs I usually try to ignore. They were sleeping in the streets, in dirty holes by the road, and in garbage piles. A mama dog Lady feeds (some of my dogfood) is already searching for food. Her ribs poke out of her skin. She looks so tired. I am so thankful I have a nice home, a huge bed, Lady to take care of me, filtered water, good food (even though Lady doesn't give me enough meat to suit my fancy), lots of friends, toys, a rug, my own chair, and coat to wear on cold mornings. I see the street dogs shivering in the cool air. They are scratching. I am thankful Lady puts that strong medicine on my back to keep the fleas from multiplying. I am thankful for my chair, from where I can survey the street and all who come and go, including the water buffalo. I am thankful for the medicine Lady shoves down my throat when I have a cold. I am already feeling better. I had a fever and I was sneezing. When the street dogs get sick, they die. Just last week the little white puppy got sick and died. Yes, I have many blessings. I know I will be fed and taken care of. I know where to find clean water. Lady is always telling me to be sweet to the street dogs and not bark at them. They can't help being poor. And when she gives some of my treats and food to the poor, I shouldn't try to snatch it back.
May God richly bless my readers this day, and may you count your blessings. It's hard to be grumpy when you're thankful!

Still Diwali Time

I can't believe there are even MORE fireworks tonight! They've been going on all day but the big stuff is tonight. Lady says she has only seen these kinds of fireworks done by professionals on the Fourth of July and at the theme parks - not in front of private homes! Huge fireworks burst into several colors high overhead. They also roll out yards of firecrackers and set them off. They take almost thirty minutes to finish popping! My landlord's son said there are 50, 000 crackers in them. Some have 10, 000 or 1,000 crackers. The people across the street are rich so they are setting off the expensive fireworks, and LOTS of them. The neighbor two doors down is also setting off the huge ones. They are so loud! Lady says it sounds like bombs going off. They are so close! They are being lit just 15 feet from our home.
I am glued to Lady and shaking like a leaf. Auntie Al went to church, but Lady wouldn't leave me. I am so glad. She already took me outside before all the loud stuff started, so I am in for the night!! There are NO dogs on the street now. Even cars have to wait for the huge strings of crackers to finish! What a night!

I hate India

Well, I hate India- today anyway. It's Diwali Festival time. You may remember that I am not fond of firecrackers and fireworks. I am a little afraid of them. Okay, they terrify me. Well, they began last night and went on ALL DAY today. Tonight is a really big night for firecrackers and bombs and other kinds of explosions. Festival of Lights? What's wrong with candles? The Indian schools were out today. Lady's kids jumped out of their skin whenever the bombs and crackers went off. Made for difficult learning. She doesn't know why on earth they had school today. The streets are littered with remnants of the fireworks. The street dogs are hiding. Even the water buffalo stayed home today. They didn't walk our street past the early morning. Lady stepped in evidence on her her way to school and tracked it into her classroom. She had to clean it up before the kids came in and noticed the awful smell. Her day didn't start off very well. Then, all day long, "BOOM! KaBOOM! BANG! BANG! BANG! POP! POP! POP! SIZZLE SIZZLE BOOM!" I was so happy to see Lady come home from school. She tried to take me for a walk but I didn't want to go. She had to drag me out the gate. We walked to the end of the street and turned around. I couldn't get back to my house fast enough. Last night I went as far as the bush outside my gate and wouldn't go any further! Inside, I stay glued to Lady's heels. While she is on the bed, I am UNDER the bed. It's safer. The landlord's van is right outside our window- inches from my chair. The car alarm has gone off three times in the last hour. I hate this day. Auntie Al felt sorry for me and gave me some of her hamburger for dinner. Lady gave me some leftover paneer masala. Lady has earplugs but I don't. They help a little but not much. You can't imagine how bad it is. When India won the cricket championships, we thought we were under attack! Well, this is WORSE. Lady says it is twenty times worse than their fourth of July celebrations. Well, this little dog is staying inside and under the bed.

Buying Flowers for Dewalli Festival

The marketplace was so crowded! Not a good place for short dogs.

A Few People

More Flowers

In the marketplace

Lady passed temples and mosques of all kinds.

Festival Time at the Market

Yesterday, Lady left me home and went with friends to the huge city market area. She said a little dog would get stepped on. Looking at her pictures, I agree. It is near festival time, so many people were out buying parafin lamps, firecrackers, and flowers. Lady went to the flower market and couldn't believe all the flowers!

Online at Last

The broadband man finally showed up on India time. It's almost as bad as China time. I've been having to write at Aunt K.'s on Sundays. Lady still isn't very happy because her phone isn't working right. She can't call her mommy. And we aren't going to Aunt K.s this Sunday. Lady's praying she can get the phone to work.
Well, I had a traumatic walk with Lady after school today. That big, black, bully with the stumpy tail attacked me again. Last time he left a small hole by my eye. Lady shouldn't see it until it formed a scab. He bit me again but she can't find a hole yet. I sneezed and pawed at my face afterwards, so she thinks he got me. She whacked him on the nose with a stick and he reluctantly backed off. His mommy came out and called him back, but didn't put him in the gate. Several tent children had been walking with us and they ran back. Just a bit up the road, five more small kids ran up to Lady and took her hand.She was walking along with them when she suddenly realized she didn't have her keys!!! Oh, no. Big problem. Did the other tent kids slip them out of her hands? Did she drop them during the melee with the bully-dog? I didn't know. Lady starts praying to God to help us find the keys as we turned around and dashed back up the street. Oh great. Back to the bully. We were looking everywhere and there they were, in the street where she had whacked that bully on his snout. She was so relieved, and started thanking God! Many people were around but no one had noticed the keys! Amazing! Lady says it was God.
I got extra attention because of my difficult time, but no meat. Oh, well.

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.

Update

Lady's been having internet issues, so I have not been able to update my blog. I've heard my friends are concerned about us. We're fine. Some things in India are about like things in China, such as trying to get anything done! We are on a long waiting list for our internet hook-up. We're told that paying a "facilitation fee" may speed things up. This is the kind of fee you get no receipt for. Anyway, we're at Aunt Kay's using her connection. While Kay and Lady were at church, I held down the fort. When they came back I seized the opportunity to rush out the gate after three cats who had been tauting me. Lady wasn't happy with me and made come back inside before I had a chance to catch one. Speaking of cats, I tried my best to get to the cats that crawled up inside our landlord's vehicle. Lady thought I was stuck, and crawled under the van to try to get me out. She was happy when she discovered I wasn't stuck at all, but just chasing another cat. But, she made me come in anyway. She WASN'T happy about getting down on all fours trying to get me.
We have been having torrential rainfalls. It makes walking difficult. The water in the streets comes up to my chest and i get covered in mud. It's hard to avoid the water buffalo patties when you can't see them. Lady was still at school working on Friday when it began to rain so hard. The playground turned into a lake. Rain blew in her windows and doors and soaked the floors. It comes so fast. I had to wait awhile before I could go out and teetee. I never go inside. I put on my raincoat and went out. It was only drizzling. Lady walked me for quite awhile because she was afraid it would rain again and we wouldn't be able to go outside again before bed. The tent children rush up to Lady and shout, "Auntie! Auntie!"
We ordered pizza from Domino's. I ate the garlic cheese bread and Lady's leftover crust. Aunt Al gave me dip.
I've had a lot of visitors lately. Lady and Auntie Al named the spayed female Doe, because she looks like a deer. Doe really likes me. She tries to climb through the gate. Sometimes she howls to get my attention. She manages to get our landlady's attention, however, and she shoos DOe away. When she wags her tail, it doesn't go side to side but around in a circle! My other regular friend is Dino. Lady says it's a he, but I get confused because some parts are missing. I think it's a girl, and I sniff her a lot. S/he doesn't seem to mind. Anyway, when Dino wags his tail his whole hind end wags. Lady gives them both treats.
So, we're both fine, just very busy. Lady had Open House at school last Thursday. It went very well. All of her students' parents showed up. The students sang some songs. Friday, they had an American picnic for their social studies unt. Lady made potato salad. They had KFC, and apple pie! I didn't get any though.
E-mail me and I will write back when I can. We sure will be happy when we get broadband!

Party!

I hosted a party for the local American ladies yesterday. Lady, Auntie Beth and Auntie Al made the food. I like the carrots with Ranch dressing dip. My friends Auntie K. ,Auntie A, and Auntie Tina all came. They played with me. I had to give up my chair for the occasion because we had sixteen ladies in our home. I was so busy greeting all my guests, making sure everyone felt at home, and cleaning up any food they dropped on the floor. After they left, Lady and I went for a short walk, then I took a nap. I think all had a good time.