Santa Paws 2011

The kids had a great time at the SPCA-organized meet up today.

You check me out...

We check you out...


Everybody was busy sniffing each other.

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Marathon Week 2

I've been working from home quite a bit recently.

Usually, I'll send my boy for daycare after his nap at 3pm because he spends his quality time (walking) with his granddad in the evening So, he knows he needs to be at daycare for it. My girl will always follow me home after the send-off. Some nights, I was unable to pick the boy up (due to work)...so, he had spent two nights at daycare last week. In the evenings, granddad walks him over to my place and each time, my foster boy is around with us. I wonder whether Ruki figured he has been re-homed especially some nights, when it's time to leave, his grandma asks him to stay behind.

One thing's for sure, each time my boy comes home from his over-nights, he has been a little needier. He started to sit on the living room couch and on the bed.



Meanwhile, I figured my girl cannot be an only child ever. The few days when I was working from home and Ruki did not come home with us, she looked totally depressed. She just moped about. She didn't want to eat at all. One night, she vomited stomach acids and still, she didn't want to eat a single kibble (even by force). Also, she kept following me about the house like velcro dog.

When we finally went over to daycare, she was truly excited. She could not contain her happiness - leaping for joy and tail-wagging as she greeted her brother...as if she had not seen him for years. As predicted, she finally ate...like a horse!

This is how the kids are tonight. The boy had a very light dinner (a.k.a still hungry...and looking moody). So, the kids had a butter cookie each before bedtime.



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My sweet girl - Year 2 Report Card

Mariko - baby then, still my baby now...

Still worships the ground her brother walks on.

Loves sitting in the car.. moving or stationary.

Had her period.

Then, gave up her ovaries because she wants to always be the baby in the family.

Still sleeps on the bed as she did the first time she came into the bedroom.

Still as mischievious as ever but has learnt that pink panties is not a toy. She has the ability to be sleeping soundly on the couch to barking at the gate in 10 seconds.

Always distracted at meal times.

Sometimes, she has to be forced to finish her meals before playtime.

She still hates bath time.

But loves going for her walks.


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Marathon week

I've been having crazy sessions at work and at home for the past weeks. This week, it has reached to "marathon" status. Every waking moment is about work.

In the home front, we've been having rainy nights the whole week. This has made the evenings super cool and relaxing. Well, it has super great especially for my boy. His normal walks typically takes about half hour....which is when he starts to "overheat" and would gladly head home to dip in his pool. However, with the extra cool nights, he has been extending his walk time.

Last Monday, he walked me for an hour and a bit. Every time I tried to "short-change" him with a shorter route, he will notice and steer me back to the long-cut. When he noticed that he's approaching home, he will quickly move to the opposite direction.

On Tuesday, he walked me for a record 1 hour 45 mins! During the walk, we had 3 stand-offs - the first and second times, we stood at the sidewalk refusing to budge unless we were going in our own preferred direction. Mid-way through our stalemate, he decided to sit and wait at the roadside until I give up. And, I did (give up) and followed him. So, he took me round his route. The third stalemate, I was so ready to tie him to the nearest tree, come home and get the car to take him home. Finally, when we were close to home, I dropped the leash and told him that I was going home. He got the message and slowly prodded home (with a few deviations to the nearby bushes) too.

On Wednesday, he stayed overnight at daycare because I was too tired for another marathon. Typically, when this happens, he'll be the first to jump in the car when it's time to go home. This time, he has also started to climb into bed with us. Something he never does even as a pup. The only times he's on the bed is in the morning, when he wants me to get up to feed him pronto.

Thursday, we were walking in the steady rain in the night. Friday, we were walking in drizzle in the night. The neighbors must be starting to wonder about that psycho-woman in hoodies wandering about in the night.

Rain - very good for him, not for me.




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My baby girl turns 2 today

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FOR GOD SAKE.....get a grip, lady!

My girl got her neck bitten by a 7-year old Golden Retriever yesterday.

This is the second time this happened. I didn't blog about an earlier incident with my boy. The first time, my boy was off-leash at night at the park. Out of nowhere, the lady and her dog came by. Yes, being off-leash has its risks and my boy is totally bad on recall command. So, he goes running off to meet (confront) him. Next thing you know, the silly lady start screaming and her dog takes a bite at my boy's neck.

My boy wasn't even fighting back. The other dog just continued sinking his teeth of into my poor boy. That stupid lady kept screaming and yanking the leash from the other end. FOR GOD SAKE, GET A GRIP!!

I had to run over and pry her dog's jaws out of my boy (and he didn't want to let go) and that stupid woman just stood there.

The same thing happened yesterday. My girl ran out the gate to the same dog. The stupid woman started screaming. COME ON....this is not a ROTTWEILER....and she's not ATTACKING YOU or YOUR DOG!

I had to once again pry open the Goldie's jaws...and he really didn't want to let go. So, I had to coax him first. That didn't work. I stuck my fingers in his mouth to pry his jaws open. Nada. It became more urgent when I saw blood. So, I had to hit his head a few times until he let go. That woman just stood at the end of her leash the whole time.

I really don't blame the dog. There was so much anxiety caused by her screaming. She didn't even bother to come over to calm her own dog. STUPID WOMAN.

I bumped into her son taking out the dog (Max) after he bit Haruki. He told me that Max was a rescue and they took him in this year at the age of 7. His past wasn't good...and is poorly socialize. So, I can understand.

But, her mom really needs to stop screaming and come to calm her dog. I don't think she knows that it's her dog that bit mine in the end!

I really need to have a word with her. I know it's wrong to have my kids loose for a moment... but, if it happens, they are not the killing type...so, for God's sake, don't freak out!

My kids, especially my girl, doesn't know danger at all. She'll just run towards any dog she sees. Yesterday, she came out of it with neck scrapes and teeth marks. I wonder whether she's still traumatized.

Which reminds me, my boy had gotten loose one time when he was less than 1 year old. He ran towards the rottie down the road and got nipped. It's fair...he learned his lesson. Another time, a black lab that we used to bump in our morning rounds came out of the bushes and attacked (bit) Ruki. My poor boy was stunned...and he didn't fight back. At least those times, I didn't have any issues with the dogs or their owners.

Dogs are after all, dogs...

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Strange bedfellows

This is one of Ruki's favourite sleeping position. Bent hind legs against the nearest wall. Few nights ago...

This morning...

The kids lounging around...last week.

My foster, last week. Positioned closest to my desk ... but lying low and undetected...not to be at risk of getting sent out.



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Look momma... POO!

Last night, my girl was on a scenting streak (which is sometimes normal). Unfortunately, she got overly excited at one point and picked up some dried poo in the process. She looked up at me as if saying "Look momma...POO!". I must say she looked mighty proud of a feat. She dropped the "cat caviar" and licked her own mouth gleefully. I think it was cat poo....and I'm glad she spat it out (my boy would have gobbled it down without a thought). Needless to say, she was shocked by everything I tried to do for her. She stay hidden in the bushes for some time!

We headed straight home thereafter. I tried to clean her mouth with water but she refused to open her mouth. She ran straight to the bushes to hide from me because I was armed with the water hose. Finally, toothbrush-in-hand, I pried open her mouth and gave her a good cleaning with dog toothpaste.

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Taming the mongrel

It now seems that Brownie spends his weekends at our place. He checks in every Friday night. After breakfast, everybody naps. When we go out, he goes off wandering until evening when he comes back to sleep.

At breakfast, I'm still training him to sit and wait for the command to eat. I think he's slowly getting it. At least, he has stopped lunging for his bowl or growling at my kids when they are near his bowl.

Last weekend




This weekend
I've decided to feed him at the porch now because he's getting the notion that there's food indoors and wants to get into the house any chance he can. One good thing so far is he has been polite...maybe too polite... having his meal sitting down! Well, that is not normal so I have to correct him once he starts eating.





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TICKS!!!!

I noticed that there were tiny dots on the floor last Friday each time the girl get up. My worst fears returns....TICKS!!!! So, everybody (including Brownie) had a bath this morning. Everybody got a dose of Frontline (tick) serum. So, I hope it goes away fast.

Well actually, Mariko had a thorough wipe-down last night. She absolutely hates bathing (yet she smells great all the time). Once she gets the hints of this impending detestable act, she's the first to "side-step" slowly away from the scene to hide. Seriously.

She'll eventually (always) end up under the car. Yes, far enough to be "unreachable" and "safe from my hands" but close enough to watch in full view, her brother performing the detestable act.

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Bed and breakfast at 6 Haruki

This is the second weekend that Brownie decided to stay overnight. Last night, we met him during our night walks. He was locked out of his house. Nobody seems to be at home. He followed us back. It rained during the night and so, there wasn't any point to send him home in the rain.

After last week's bad manners, he was fed at the porch every time he came over, while the kids were fed indoor. Aiyoo...his heart-wrenching stares from the windows...

So this morning, I decided to try feeding them indoors again. When the food was put down, he initially lunged forward. I held him back and I think he got the picture that he needed to behave himself at breakfast indoors. So, he sat down like the rest of the kids and waited. Then, I signaled to eat and he didn't move an inch. I tried a few times until he felt that the coast was clear to eat . At first, he ate sitting down! Poor kid...really like a street urchin.

So, now everybody has eaten and are sleeping again at 6 Haruki.

My boy was sent outside to keep him company. He is napping and occassionally swatting flies.

Our guest is sleeping too.

My girl is the most pampered. She prefers to nap indoors.


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The Big Breakfast

So, the morning after, I served them all breakfast in the kitchen.

Brownie looks emancipated in broad daylight. He couldn't wait to have his food. Food comprised of premium dog kibbles, long-grain basmati rice, beef bits, chicken feet (from my lunch doggy bag yesterday) and two omelettes (which my kids didn't touch from their dinner last night). Meanwhile, my boy was waiting patiently on the side, despite being served his food an hour later than usual. After Brownie finished his breakfast, he started to growl and snarl at Ruki having his breakfast next to him. My boy was oblivious about what he was doing...courtesy of privileged upbringing, probably. The food guarding behaviour didn't stop. So, the house broom came out and Brownie was led outdoors.

After that, my kids were hanging around the kitchen looking rather "snooty bored". Riko decided to skip her breakfast. I guess she has never experienced food scarcity a day in her life. We still have to coax her to eat at every meal time! And my boy...well, my boy was "looking after her food". This meant when no one is looking, he'll steal a few bites from Riko's plate.



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The night Brownie slept over

Ever since Riko found out where her BF lived, she'd make sure we passed his street every time she goes for her night walk. The good trade-off for these visits is that we go round the block and come straight home. The kids will have their play date.

However, Riko got smart in our next visit. She decided that we first head for her BF's place. Pick Brownie up and walk home. Then, leave him at our front gate while she continues with her walk. Serious. She stays rooted to the ground unless we head in any direction except homewards:D

Tonight, we found him standing outside his home while another black lab-like dog was behind the gate. I did hear from my neighbour that Brownie was disfavoured after the owners got another dog. But, I never saw that other dog until today. Anyway, I didn't think much of it because I was happy that some nights he was found behind their gate and one night, he was having his (scrap) dinner. I was somewhat grateful that he's still has a home and being "fed".

Since I found out that he has an owner, I normally let him go home around midnight... so as not to be rude. It's customary that I feed him a cup of dog food just outside the gate (like giving him cookies and milk) before sending him off. He normally quite anxious to eat and go home.

Tonight, I served him his usual dog food outside. For the first time, he stayed firmly behind our gates. He refused to go home and is now sleeping on my (recently-destroyed) zen gravel garden.

It's as if the boy didn't want to go back to his (broken) home. Rather disheartening.

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Back to basics

My boy has been sleeping outdoors for most of August. For a while there, I thought he may have successfully influenced his sister to do the same. But luckily, Riko only lasted a few nights outdoors. That too... she slept mostly on the cushioned patio bench. One blessing for the new sleeping arrangement was I needn't get up at the crack of dawn to let them out to wee. However, my full privilege to sleep in was quickly revoked when my girl decided to whimper incessantly outside my bedroom window every morning like this.



Now one will think that Ruki will have a default comfortable sleeping place outside. Nope. Some nights, he'll plonk himself in the middle of the garden. Other nights, he'll sleep glued to the gate or randomly in driveway. But lately, I noticed that he had settled for my Japanese gravel pit...much to the destruction of the zen-look I tried to achieve in my garden.



After weeks of sleeping in the wilderness, my boy Ruki decided to spend tonight indoors. Why? Because it's a hot night....and he needed the air-con! And, I guess he was too sleepy to walk to his regular nook by the window, he just plonked himself right at the doorway.



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The night my girl took me to her boyfriend's house

My girl and I have always taken the same walking route every night for the past few months. I found that this routine worked the best with the kids because I'd know where the cat zones were, the default Haruki poo plots and cat poo caviar buffet stretches were. For Riko, her route had less houses with dogs and street cats because she tends to react to them by jerking on the leash a lot.

Two things happened in the nights before tonight. For the past week, strangely her toy boy Brownie hasn't been around the block. Gone missing. Riko has been trying to sniff out scents on certain stretches of streets. The night before we had did an extended route which we passed by the house I suspected to be where Brownie lived. No Brownie. There we were standing right in front of a stranger's gate for the longest time because my girl refused to leave.

The next night, we headed out the gate as we always do for months. As usual,my girl zipped a few feet ahead up the road until we reached the first right turn.

There, my girl made an unscheduled right turn and charged forward. I stopped her and tugged her back to our usual direction. Her feet stood rooted to the ground. She refused to budge unless I was going where she wanted to go. So, I followed her ..... to her boyfriend's house.

When we arrived at his doorstep, we found Brownie tied to the gate. She was mighty glad to see him. Tail-wagging and all. Brownie's owner told us that he was in detention for biting someone. She was kind enough to release him and he followed us back home to play for a couple of hours. I think my girl was very happy that night. And I (in a way) meet my in-laws.

Images: "Walk the dog" from my 2011 Sketchbook called "Make mine a double"

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After the nap

It's the long Independence day holiday week...and I'm loving it. It's giving me the time to catch up on my work (unfortunately), my art, my inspirational resources and my kids.

Things are rather simple with the kids. After breakfast, they usually doze off for hours.




It's great because I get to enjoy most of the day peacefully until they wake up.

My boy is usually patient after waking up from his nap. He'll watch me intently until he thinks it's time to go to grandma's.



Notice he moves a couple of feet every couple of minutes until he reaches my feet to nudge me to go.

Romeo and Juliet ..... and the lamp post

Things with the kids have been pretty much routine lately.

Wake up.
Hang around the garden while I water the plants.
Bark at neighbor's dogs.
Chase each other around the garden.
Wait for food. Eat food.
Get into car to daycare.
Say bye to momma.
Sleep. Wee. More sleep.
Wait. wait.wait.
Go for walk with Grand dad.
Eat dinner.
Wait for momma to come home.
Come home.
Go for scenting walk. Poo.
Dip in pool.
Roll on ground.
Momma turns on air-con in bedroom.
Wipe bodies and pep talk.
Sleep.

Only thing different these days is that we have a "Romeo meets Juliet" scene every night.

My uptown girl is rather smitten by her downtime boy, a scrawny mongrel with suspected flea issues. Despite this, I let them have their fun chasing around the garden and wrestling each other on the ground. Sometimes, my boy feels like a lamp post during these visits.

Yet another lazy (yellow) Saturday

Yes, another lazy post from me.

Lazy (Yellow) Saturday

We are waiting for the maid to finish cleaning our house.



An hour later, I look down at them. Seven little dots were on the floor near my boy.

FLEAS! They were on the floor, rapidly moving away from my boy. My boy wears a flea collar...maybe the fleas found out too late they were poisoned!

Soon, they became seven bloody dots on the floor. They were baby fleas or ticks. I can't tell. This means it is a recent contraction.

Emergency flea control ensued. Looks like we had too much of "brownie" this week.

My gay boy

I was asked this week why my boy is still a virgin.

This is the answer.