Long uneventful absence

Well folks and woofers,
I have to apologize once again. Chris was not on the computer for over a
week much, in fact, I think she only touched it three times herself, and
then only to do something really important, and only to do the most
important e-mail jobs. My Hapoo interests are not included in that
category, unfortunately.
But I have to tell you, not much has been going on. The best friend was
visiting, and the ladies talked a lot. But apart from that we walked
about an hour each morning and another hour each night. I love it when
Chris and I take somebody else for a walk, it is boring just the two of
us. So when the friend was gone I made it clear that Chris had better
look for somebody to walk with her, but that did not happen. So it is
back to the two of us, allright.
Mom had also been away on holidays, and when I was finally allowed to
wake her up with my Hapoo song, o I was so so happy, ran back and forth,
jumped up on Chris and went back to check on mom. And mom loves that
morning ritual, I know!
Cheers for now, Hapoo.

Occupying an unknown car

Hi you out there:
Two days ago Chris and I went for our afternoon walk. When we turned
into the Romantic Route, I noticed a car at the side. So I went and
checked it out. And after a few more steps Chris noticed a huge truck
kind of thing. She does not like those big heavy noisy cars, so she
decided that we should return. But a man asked if we wanted to sit in
his car for a moment before the rain had passed, and Chris agreed. There
was only a drizzle, but who am I to contradict?
It turned out that she was really wise. As soon as we were in and in
front of the back seat of the car, a heavy rain poured down from the
sky, driven by some strong wind. Man, it was loud listening to from
inside the car. Chris was really happy and thankful she had a car to sit
in and wait, otherwise both of us would have been drenched. She talked
to the nice man, who ended up taking us right up to the street where we
have to go home.
And you should have seen the sister! She was at first laughing when she
found out that we were out in the rain. But when she noticed that
neither Chris nore I were dripping wet, she got confused. She said Chris
did not deserve to be this lucky, but Chris says she did not mean it as
that. They do talk a lot of nonsense indeed.
We had a little break, and then Chris and I went to the post office,
where I showed all curbs, and after another bit of lazing around we went
shopping. Man that was the hugest shopping trip I have ever seen. And
the sister was so patient, and so was the niece. We even went to the
Hapoo store, where Chris bought me a really yummy treat - a huge kind of
stick to chew on. She broke off a piece and gave it to me. The whole
thing is, as she says, about 80 centimeters long or so.
Here is another news: We have started walking the field route again, but
that also means the toiletting harness is back out.
Allright, if I have to <sigh>
Cheers, Hapoo.

A long day of walks

Hi all friends and non-friends:
If you are a non-friend, why are you reading this, I wonder? <grins>
Can a dog grin? I suppose so, but I don't know if the meanings are the
same when a human grins or a dog grins.
Can a dog be talkative? Yes, just look at me!
And the music is singing this:
"You're the only one here I can talk to".
Have you got a clue who it was that spred this wonderful wisdom? Sure
not Chris, she talks to so many!

Anyway, I was going to talk about yesterday, right? Yesterday started
normally - Chris and I were up early, only the sister was making noise
upstairs. We went for a walk, on which I had to wear the dreadded
raincoat,Chris played computer, and then she collapsed on the couch and
fell asleep. I have to mention that she was out with me during the
night, because she said she could not sleep for quite a while.
When she finally woke up she had a chat with the sister, played some
more computer and then made herself some lunch. And then after another
bit of hanging out we finally went for the afternoon walk, this time
without the stupid raincoat. We walked forever, really, and when we
returned, the sister's Shadow had left. So we had the two kids
downstairs, Chris played the game she had once brought from Shadow with
the boy, and then they watched TV until the sister came, to continue the
same activity - or shall I say passivity?
Then they all of a sudden all got alive, and Chris dressed me and handed
my leash over to the sister! O hell, do I have to? The sister is only
just starting to get nice, because she has food with her and has
understood what it means to talk to me in the preferred way. We went to
the meadows, and the kids played Frisbee. We were out for another hour,
and then I was really trashed. I think I haven't walked this long ever
since the friend has left, the one that shares Chris' craze for the
Music Man.
Cheers, Hapoo.

Strange things happen 'round here

Hi all:
I really think my Chris is not in the best mood these days. She started
thinking recently, whether I would still manage with the stress of
constant guiding after such a long time of relative leisure and quiet
life. She is even starting to contact other Hapoo schools. Do you think
that is fair?

And then yesterday she got a call from Shadow, after which she lay down
on the couch and cried - not long but much anyway. I thought she only
cries when she has to leave him or he has to leave her. Well this time
that was not the case, because he had not been with us and we had not
travelled. So I am struck clueless for once - even my Hapoo nose could
not sniff out anything. Just as Chris decided tat lying down was not the
solution, the sister came and wanted her to open a can.
She discovered that Chris was crying and hugged her like Chris sometimes
hugs the little niece. Has Chris turned into a little child now?
They talked a little - but what I don't understand is that Shadow was
the subject of their talk. Why for heaven's sake would Shadow even think
of being the cause of Chris crying without leaving being the reason? I
think I am really wrong here, or at least I am quite confused.

Chris was responsible for making yesterday's lunch, and I took the
chance to put my teeth into the tiny dog's food. But of course, Chris
called me off that pretty soon - too bad.
At night she fed me, and the sister sat on the couch and the two talked
and talked, but this time nobody cried.

This morning, however, I thought it would be nice to tell Chris to give
me more than the usual quick pet, and she really did. I am not the
hugest cuddler, but I do come for pets for sure. Pets are my favourites
- give your kisses to somebody else, as long as you pet and scratch me!
I wonder whether Chris likes pets or kisses more, or how humans show
they like each other. They do give paws a lot, but apart from that...
Allright, and we have gotten rid of the chuch locking duty - so no more
singing for Chris, and no more wandering through the quiet church for
me.
Cheers, I just have to lie down in this heat, Hapoo.

The church adventure

Hi each and all:
Chris has discovered something new to keep herself entertained. Every
night she takes the big key and we take the Hapoo walk towards the
church. We climb up the stairs and go to the church. She only used to
step into the church, say hello, wait for the echo to leave and then
leave herself. These past two nights she did something different. Just
as we were about to leave two nights ago, I decided to show her the
stairs that we sometimes climb. She followed my suggestion, and we
walked up, around the organ, which usually makes music when we go in
here with other humans, and up to the barrier. She helt on to it with
one hand, and I knew I had time to settle. I lay down, and Chris started
to sing all on her own.
She sings all the time, mind you, but this time she sang her favourite
song by the Music Man, in which she tells him to carry her like he would
carry a fire in his heart. I wonder, is anybody tall enough to carry
Chris in their beating heart? Maybe the Music Man is... Well, she sang a
bit and then stopped to listen. It's funny, that church, it gives back
her words and the sounds she makes.
After that heavy weight was done, she still stayed where she was and
sang a song about a boy called Danny. She wanted him to come back, and
she sang that she loved him so. I thought she loved Shadow, or me, or
the Music Man? Maybe her own heart is huge enough to carry herself? No,
sorry, impossible, even I know that! Allright, she loves Danny, but she
says Mr Music Man had sung that one before I was wth her once or more
times. She says it went down very well in the church. Of course it went
down, because we were standing upstairs, right?

Then last night we went to lock the church again, but this time I
suggested to walk straight ahead between the benches. Chris followed
again, until I showed her the steps. She didn't want to climb those -
she rarely does. But she turned as if she wanted to go outside right
away. My prediction was wrong, because she stayed where she was and
started to sing again. This time she sang the song about the sun that
she shares with somebody, and the moon. She says that is the song after
which the Music Man got the flowers from her. O Mr Music Man, I believe
Chris has something on her mind she is not telling me about. She listens
to your voice and smiles, and the world seems to be in a slightly better
mood than before. You still have not met us here to have tea or coffee
with us, and still she likes you? Or loves you? Or what? Well, she
shares a sun and a moon with you and wants you to carry her! I think
only puppies and babies are carried, but not tall Chris, but maybe you
have that strength to pick her up... I thought that was more the tennis
man's task, but she knows better, I'm sure.

Chris says that notes she sings can paint a picture, and especially in
the church when you listen to the ones you get back from the building,
it is fascinating to the sounds all blending and melting in together. I
don't know much about that, I just know that I was happy when we left
and she locked the door goodnight.
This morning we just unlocked it good morning and walked a long round in
the finally appearing sun. Has any of you experienced something like
that?
Then in the afternoon the sister arrived with the tiny dog, the little
girl and a boy I remember having seen briefly - Chris says it's another
nephew. We sat for a while and talked, and then Chris and I went our own
way, meaning into our apartment after a Hapoo walk with the new boy. At
night we took him and the girl to lock the church goodnight. They all
climbed the steps and Chris again sang the song about her boy called
Danny for them, and then she told them a sad story of hungry people in
the Danny's land a few many years ago. The kids looked through the
church, and then the boy had great fun locking the massive wooden door
goodnight.
Cheers, Hapoo.