The long day

Hi all woofies and humies <grins>
Yesterday started off nice and easy. The humans had breakfast, and then
Chris went to play on the computer. She also took out the vacuum with
the really noisy brush to clean up. As I had said earlier, the friend is
coming over, and Chris wants at least the floor to be clean.
Then she disappeared in the bedroom and came out with clothes that at
least I had never seen before. They had a long lunch still, and Chris
says it was delicious fish, and then Chris and I went for a walk. She
took an extremely quick shower, if you ask her, and then we left by car.
We ended up at the place where Chris doesn't usually like to go.
However, she seemed to have a lot of fun talking to a lady I had never
been with before, and with a man who had even visited us here at home,
and with mom, of course. It was an office, so no food or drink for any
of them involved. When we finally came out, the car was gone, completely
gone.
The humans knew where it was, so they went back insicde the building and
made a phone call. The man was nice enough to give us a ride in his nice
big car. I was allowed on the back seat and sat there like my queen
self, head leaning against the human headrest, enjoying a wonderful look
out of all windows. We ended up at a place where those evil people keep
all towed cars. And you only get yours back if you pay a huge amount of
money. Mom was raging, and Chris and the man were calm. Once we had the
car, the man left, and we went shopping. First the ladies had ice-cream
to get rid of their frustration, they say, and then they bought new
outside chairs to put outside not far from our entrance. And then came
food shopping, and by the time that was done I was really tired. So you
see, it was a long day after all. I just don't understand why anybody
would tow our car away for money when it could have been driven away by
mom...

And then folks, listen up! It's my birthday and Theresa, the little
girl, hasn't shown up yet. If she showed up, I'm sure I would get a cow
ear for my birthday. But with Chris nothing happens. We went for a late
morning route, because Chris had to talk with Shadow again, and now she
is sad again. I thought Shadow was there to make her happy? What has
changed here that slipped through my spying floppy ears? I will ask
Shadow when he comes. And if he doesn't want to tell, I will jump all
over him and give him huge Hapoo kisses all across his face and hands,
so I will, until he tells. I think that torture can be justified, given
that we both want to make Chris really happy, I assume.
Cheers for now, Yours, eight-year-old Hapoo.

The spontaneous travel

Hi again, we are back:
Like I had suspected in my previous post, Chris and I went on a travel
after the really long phone session with Shadow. Mom took us to the
train and gave Chris a really big hug. I think both of them were sad in
a way, but I never found out why that was. I had offered Chris a nice
cuddle, and she took it, of course. On the train ride she first played
computer, like at home, but not for long. For some really unusual reason
she was not up for listening to the music man much, for she says
sometimes there is poison in every song and she didn't want to die. So
she sat there and pretended to look out of the window and not, as usual,
at the people oposite. I did my job of blocking two of the four seats
most of the time, until three really brave people decided to go sit with
us anyway, given that the train got really crowded towards the end.
There was one man who liked me, and Chris even told me I could go ask
for pets.
When we finally got off the train, the friend and her mom were already
waiting for us. It was on a bus that the mother found out it was the
wrong one, so the kind driver let us hop out at a stop he wasn't
supposed to stop at. Yippee, this meant a really long Hapoo walk for me,
and I loved it.
Then basically what happened was the usual Chris and friend meeting
routine of talking, having loads of coffee, talking, eating loads of
delicious food, allright petting me every now and then, walking me and
feeding me, talking, coffee, eating, talking... You get the pattern!
However, one of my Hapoo routes had a surprise waiting. A wonderful male
dog had escaped his equally wonderful owner lady, and she said that I
could play with him. I tried hard, but he didn't want to go runrunrun
with me. I got to run off leash anyway, and that was just wonderful. Too
bad we didn't see the woofer again, he was such a gentle kind dog. Chris
also got to pet him, she liked his short thick fur she says.
After that the routine of Chris and the friend changed slightly, for the
weather apparently was so good that they decided to shift their talking
location to two comfortable chairs on the friend's balcony. That thing
is so so tiny that it only holds two stretched out comfortable chairs, a
small round table between them and me lying by the door. Nothing more,
no running around or so. One night they stayed outside really late. That
same evening I did finally get a small share of their food, that being a
bone of the meat they had barbecued for dinner. That bone was really
delicious.

When we went back yesterday Chris was much more cheerful than when we
started the journey. She joked with the friend, who is apparently coming
to see us this weekend. We entered a really crowded train, but some nice
person offered us a seat in a four-seater with three others - nice
person. They had a good laugh when Chris slided me under the seats -
yeah like I want that! She could have just left ly lying right in the
aisle, then everybody would have been safe and left in peace. But
allright, they wanted no aisle blockage, so down I went. Chris even sat
at the window, spent most of her time listening to the music man's songs
that no longer seemed to have the sadly deadly power, talked to the
friend and mom briefly and sat so that she could have looked at the
people, had her eyes only picked up their assigned function. When we got
off the train at home I was confused. Chris made me head straight down
the stairs and out the back entrance of the train station without
waiting for mom. I was willing to look or wait for her, for she usually
waits for us at the stairs, but Chris wanted otherwise. I have to give
it to her, this time for once she knew better, because mom was waiting
outside the train station. I think this time all the three of us were
happy to meet and go home. But friend is coming, and we will be off for
a few nice long Hapoo walks then with her! Cheers, Hapoo.

Canon balls from the tennis man

Hi all woofers and humans:
I know we are leaving for the friend's place today, because Chris is
really really sad about something. Must have to do with Shadow but I'm
not quite sure yet. I just know that they talked for an awful lot and
then Chris was in serious need of me leaning against her legs. That is
my way of showing affection, you knoow? I'm not a face kisser, because I
know she doesn't like it.
Anyway, the past days we were at the place where they play tennis all
around the place. Everywhere you go you see balls flying, and Chris
loved it. I think she dragged poor mom all around telling her whom to
watch. We started by sitting beside the French man's coach whose face I
had licked the year before. But Chris supported the other one, a short
one from Belgium. Note: We're all talking tennis men here!
Then we went and also saw the weelchair friend. She sits in a chair that
moves her around, and it is perfect for me to put my head in her lap and
she can scratch me for as long as she wants. We sat with the weelchair
folks again, and they all liked me a lot. After we had watched something
there we went to another tennis court and waited and waited there until
the tennis man came. I mean the tennis man who is Chris' favouritestest
tennis man. He crowded the court with three others, and Chris says he
lost.
Bad though, he never gave me a ball to play with. But mom did something
cool! She saw a ball lying on the court before they came and asked a
lady if she could have it. But the lady did not go on the court. She
walked around the court and got mom a ball from somewhere else. Cool,
eh? That was our first tennis ball. Of course, I didn't even get to
touch it! These balls are all Chris' only!
We ended the day watching two others on the huge court with the
weelchair folks, where a guy Chris calls Kohli won and Shadow's
favourite Marat followed in his footsteps.
We went to the outside shop then to buy a few more cups, and the guy
recognized Chris from last year. Cool, eh? They bought three cups for
themselves and nothing for me! We went back home after the Hapoo walk.
This time the hot3el wasn't far from the tennis craze. The only bad
thing was that they left me in the room while they were having
breakfast. But Chris says next time I am going along, because the lady
doesn't mind.

Yesterday then we went to the huge court first thing to see one of
Chris' favourite spaniards winning against someone they call fish.
Didn't smell like fish, unfortunately! Afterwards Chris put mom through
what she calls classical claycourt tennis from the base line. The
Argentinian won over the Spaniard. And then back on the main court we
saw one German player win in what Chris calls a great and dramatic
match, before the tennis man showed up again.
Tennis man, you don't even look where you shoot the ball, do you? At one
point you scared me by smashing the ball in the wall that fortunately
protects me from having been hit by the ball. But the thundering noise
made me jump up. And the point went to the other one, too!
And then later when I thought I could sleep, you almost hit Chris in the
head with one of your canon balls. Now she loves you or likes you - what
do I know - and she said you didn't hit her so what's the drama. But had
you hit her, I would have blamed you for the rest of my life. Chris is
the bestest Chris ever on this planet, and I want to be no other one's
woofer if I have a choice!
You didn't even apologize, did you? And you didn't give us a ball either
- or maybe a racket - why not? She did support you, I heard it! And she
said you lost the second set unfortunately after a nice lead - okay,
Chris is the expert!
And after you lost we went home right away. The man before you the one
she calls Flo(h) distributed balls, and one of the camera people gave
her one. Nice man indeed! And the weelchair friend gave another one to
Chris, too. See, they're all nice, you just ignore us. Why is that,
given my promise to behave myself when I see you?
I love all of you, the Shadow, the music man, the tennis man, and mom,
because Chris likes and/or loves you, and half of you never bother like
Chris back. The world is a strange place.
Allright, Chris shouts she wants to pack the computer, so off we go. Mr
tennis man canon, I am sending you the hugest kiss and tailwags, because
I do forgive you after all, cheers, Hapoo.

A letter

Hello Mr Music Man:
Do you know what we did yesterday? We went to the place where Chris and
cousin (and I (don't tell anyone) are going to see you. I guided Chris
all around the place. And you know what? Just next to where you are
going to sing, there is a little church made of trees! And the park is
so lovely. Chris says it's not as large as the one you have in Dublin,
but since I have never been there, I say it's the most beautiful park
ever. I guided Chris most of the way and hardly ever missed a step or
curb. And what amazed mer most was that I traced back exactly the way we
came, guiding very safely and responsibly. This is the way I like it:
Chris holds on to my handle and I do the work without her having to tell
me. I know where I am going better than her anyway (most of the time).

Cousin had been to a show the night before, and she says they had three
hours of support acts before the top star came on stage, stayed for just
under an hour and left. Cousin was annoyed. Chris told her that with you
she is going to get 2.5 (or sometimes more) hours of Mr Music Man, and
that cheered her up. She was still a little sceptic and asked if Chris
was sure, but Chris was sure, given that she had been to quite a few
shows before that one. She says you are the bestest Mr Music man ever on
this planet. That must be true, because if I remember correctly 1.5 CD
shelves are filled with your voice.

Dear Mr Music Man, you sing that snow is falling - but where? All I see
is sun and all I feel is heat! Chris loves it, she can take her computer
out on the balcony; but me? I want snow! Please send me some of that
falling snow, and I promise not to Hapoo kiss you all that much!
Sincerely, Hapoo.
P.s.: Chris told me to be friendly and business-like with my last
request - oof education is hard! And note - this letter has three
paragraphs as well!

The beach walk

Hi all woofers and humans:
Have I told you that a few days ago we went to the beach again with the
city train? At first it was as usual: We took the car to the station and
then the city train. Of course, it was my task to guide Chris through
the entire station up to the right platform. We got off at the beach
place which was crazy and crowded. So mom helped us cross the square.
Once on the beach walk, Chris and I walked on our own, sometimes
following mom and sometimes taking the lead. There was one dog that I
wanted to greet, but Chris, as always, reminded me to stay focused. And
of course, mom told on me and warned Chris of dogs ahead of us, so she
could keep a close eye on me. But on the way back from looking at the
boring and cold water we took a different route, walking through the
beach city and crossing streets and al that. At one point I had to walk
right through two dogs, and to Chris' surprise I did extremely well.
And back on the train platform the train came in and we still had plenty
of time, so Chris went ahead to show me the button of the doors. You
know, train doors have no handles, but buttons that the humans can push.
So I have to learn to find those, too. And whenever I stopped right in
front of one, Chris made the dor open and gave me a treat. You know, I
love it when a door opens, because a door always means that I can look
what's behind it.
A woman wanted to help Chris and open the door for her, but Chris
managed to stop her just in time for me to be successful, and she told
the lady that we were just training. She also told mom that she was a
good background coach giving her just the right amount of information
and staying back nicely. I have always said that mom is great!
So I do think I am up for new tasks, for Chris lets me guide her a lot
more these days, and I do get rewarded when I stop at curbs and announce
steps correctly. I especially like to ignore the ones down, it is so
easy. But stopping in front of them is nice, too, for that makes a click
and a treat <yummm>
Cheers for now, I will tell you all about Chris' and mom's and my latest
adventures soon, cheers, Hapoo.