Guan Le Jiu Hao

There is a common chinese saying that parts the darkest clouds and make rainbows appear on the dreariest and weariest of days. I love people who answer me with a "guan le jiu hao". It means "it's ok when you're used to it". A load seems to lift off my shoulders and and my whole body relaxes. When I have to clean every tile in the house of dog shit and tears are hovering I cheer myself up by saying "guan le jiu hao". When Coco pisses a pool for the third time after I've mopped the floor I tell myself "guan le jiu hao" and I can even smile and stroke her head and tell her it's ok. When you've lost an arm, a leg or a loved one -- just say "guan le jiu hao" and then you will be able to shrug it off your shoulders and carry on with (a hint of) a smile.

Mr. Big Bully

This is Mr. Big Bully, a stray male who will always reach the food first and snarls off all the other dogs. Everyone has to wait until he has had his fill. I shooed him off after he had swallowed two thirds of the food so he is looking at me and wondering why I won't let him eat. However, he has his endearing side. He is the bravest among all the strays, coming near me, whining softly, wagging his tail and lately touching my hand for an instance with his nose. Signs of appreciation. He seems to have put on a little bit of weight and I haven't seen him scratching his back that much. He used to scratch so hard with his teeth until he bled. I tried pouring calamine lotion but he didn't like that at all. Village folks say coffee powder is good for drying up wounds quickly - must remember to try that on him.

The Magic Cooker

Cooked a whole pot of chicken legs and innards for the stray dogs last night. The thermal cooker left behind by my sister is not called Magic Cooker for nothing. It saves energy and time and is a great blessing for busy people. Bring pot of soup to the boil, take it off the stove and leave it in the thermal cooker overnight. It is still hot the next day and the chicken legs are so soft the dogs swallow even the bones.

Best Friends

We're best friends, mother and child, brother and sister --- when we're not fighting.

Please Give Us Some!

This is the kind of pressure I get each time I sit down to eat. 2 dogs with great expectations. Wawa will jump in and out of the crate, Coco's paws will be at the edge of the table and there will be a symphony of whines from both.

My Crate

I got this crate for free when I bought Coco and almost wanted to give it away. Lucky I didn't because now Wawa uses it. He will jump into the crate for 2 things - food and toilet needs. What a good little puppy. Never had to train him. Once he jumped off my lap and ran into his crate. I thought he wanted to piss - he ran inside to puke instead. Good dog!

Bliss

The dogs are sleeping blissfully at my feet while I watch tv after a delicious breakfast which will last me till dinner. What a beautiful Satuday. Thank God for Saturdays.

Beautiful Saturday

Today is a beautiful day -- all golden sunshine, blue sky, cotton clouds and green, green grass. As I prepare breakfast someone is cleaning the blue, blue pool (sigh..not mine). Everything is so w-o-n-d-e-r-f--u-l-l-y peaceful.

Dog Vs People 5

Dog runs far, far away when I look upset. So do people.

Dog Vs People 4

People won't do this to my couch. Dog does - constantly.

Dog Vs People 3

Dog stays by your side, regardless. People leave you, regardless.

Dog Vs People 2

Dog : When will you be home? I miss you (and I'm hungry).
People : I'm leaving home now cos I got my own life to live....bye and oh by the way, thanks for the free food, free rides, free accomodation, free cash. What, parents have to be repaid? You gave birth to me!

Dog Vs People

Dogs don't lie or deceive -- people do.

More Goodies

A client asked her granddaughter to send us some Hari Raya cookies yesterday - what an extremely nice gesture. And she seemed to have given us the best. Nowadays traditional delicacies have been largely replaced by cookies so Hari Raya delicacies are nothing more than just cookies in different shapes, sizes and colors. I was given two tips for melt-in-the-mouth cookies. One, don't use egg whites, just the yolk. And two, don't use a roller for the dough. Just press it briefly with your fingers before shaping them. Apparently, too much rolling toughens the dough and hardens the cookies. I don't know if an extra post about the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive will bring an extra bag of food for homeless dogs but there, I've mentioned it, so I hope it works! Can't just be me having good food, the poor homeless dogs must have their goodies too!

Not Too Late

Thank goodness I didn't miss this opportunity to feed a homeless dog - thanks to the PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive. Ah well, this poor puppy will never get to eat Pedigree's Healthy Longevity Food For Dogs but some poor homeless puppy will at least get a full bowl of it.

Snoozing Together

Will Coco miss Wawa when he leaves? I sure will..... :(

Wawa's Sleeping Positions - 3

Snoozing among Coco's possessions....zzzzz

Not Again??!!

Another cd wrecked....... :( :( :(

Coco's Suitors

The vet said Coco must be having some kind of hormonal imbalance because she shouldn't be bleeding again after 3 months. A dog has its period once in 6 months. She has been attracting a couple of suitors which didn't pose any major problem until yesterday when we went for our morning stroll. We were mauled by an over amorous dog. I know he didn't mean any harm but I had to lift Coco away from him and he had his paws on me instead. The guy who jogged with him daily wasn't the owner and the dog was unleashed and I suspect no one actually owns that dog. I was so annoyed I had visions of poisoning him, have him shot or run over with my car. All my sympathies for strays flew out the window because he almost pulled my pants down trying to get at Coco and when I reached home my attire was stained with mud and there were scratch marks on my thigh. While the tussle went on I noticed Wawa hiding under the bush in fear and watching us. If it wasn't so horrible I could've laughed at his expression. I had to leave him behind while I ran into the house with Coco in my arms and the lustful dog howling behind. I deposited Coco in the house, went at the mad dog with my fly swatter (he left in a hurry) and rescued Wawa all in one breath. No more strolls for the time being!

Sayonara....

A day after the little puppy reappeared at my workplace, a young couple asked me about its adoption. I was reluctant and told them it wasn't feeling well, how about waiting a week? I wanted to spend more time with it, see it get well and transform into its old sprightly self before saying goodbye but the couple seemed pretty adamant. I showed them where the puppy was and that was that. At least you came to say sayonara before leaving for your new home. I hope you will be well looked after and showered with lots of love.