What Chris has to say

Hi all woofers and wooferesses:

(and anybody else reading...

Chris says if I type what she is trying to say, I will leave out the good parts about humans helping her, because they are not important to me. So I have agreed to let her insert her own report of the things we have done, so you get the full picture. Enjoy the read, and everything she says about me and the suitcase (and the traffic lights - I admit) is correct.

Now here's Chris:

 

Hi all:

I think I should tell you about all the things that have happened to me during this short period of time, so I don't forget.

Yesterday was a day of good news triggering in. So even though I was tired, I was kept awake and cheerful all the time. First I was told that I could shorten my route to work considderably if I did not even attempt to take the streetcar, but walked a different route. The driver that is taking us to wlork these weeks had given it a thought and promised to look at the details if he had time. Then later the day I found out that so far five volunteers had said they were ready to help move my stuff, meanng loading and unloading everything. I think they will be dead tired by the time they have loaded the truck here and unloaded it over there. But it is going to be really wonderful, I promise!

Then on the way back the driver told me that he was driving some 2.4 kilometers from my apartment building to work, but I as a pedestrian was able to shorten that route quite a bit. I only had to cross two major streets with non-audible traffic lights. I thought that was really good ews.

Finally I ordered a washer-dryer(no larger than a usual laundry machine) via phone with the kind help of the office worker over there, despite the fact that he had initially told me that orders were only taken online. That was a great day full of news, don't you think?

The night ended with me taking Hapoo wor a walk in heavy rain. I had to put her raincoat on her and use an umbrella myself, but Hapoo decided she did not want to walk too much - just down the street reluctantly and back up with no speed limit.

This morning then after breakfast we went to the city and looked at the route to work. Hapoo needs some serious work on traffic light location. She has never liked it, but if she doesn't find them reliably, we won't manage the route. There is no signal helping me to locate the lights at all, and at least one is in the middle of the street with no other indication.

After a quick bit of shoping and delicious lunch I continued packing. Since all the boxes were used up, I continued with the huge suitcase of mine, which made Hapoo feel quite uncomfortable. She dreads that when I handle a suitcase, it is kennel time for her and travel time fr me.

I like packing the things that are easy to pack, like books, tapes and CDs and clothes. But the other stuff, like kitchen technology and all the stiff in the livingroom, that's certainly not interesting. I am sure mom will have a solution for these things as well. So far I have gone through all my print books (4.5 boxes), my DVDs and a few CDs (0.5 boxes), some of my dishes (1 box) and most of my clothes (huge suitcase). There'll be at least one box full of CDs, at least three full of tapes, two more of dishes and one more of other textiles, not counting blankets and pillows etc.

On October 3rd we have a day off celebrating the re-unification of Germany, and guess what I'll do then!

Cheers for the moment, and thanks to Hapoo for the generous permission to post,Chris:-)

The past two nights

Hi all:
Two nights ago when Chris and I were leaving the office, I spotted mom
near the entrance and immediately ran to greet her. It's really fun to
see mom! We went for a small busy route and then got into the car. We
got out at a place I have sure not been before. We walked around the
house until we found the entrance, and there a lady was waiting for us.
I laid down, and the ladies sat down, and then the lady and Chris talked
while mom was reading something. The nap was wonderful, and not much was
going on. A couple of times somebody arrived and left, but generally
only paper was moved back and forth on the table. Chris says she gave
about ten signatures that night. Well I don't know what would have been
so good about this session, but when mom returned home later they had
sparkling whine, and Chris said that she had rented an apartment now.
Allright, I cannot see that yet.

Then yesterday as we left the office, Chris told me to go to the exit
gate, and on the other side of the street I saw mom and the sister. We
went for a little Hapoo walk before we got into the sister's big car. We
got out at a huge store I have surely seen before, and there we stayed
for the next three hours. However, the ladies didn't come out with much.
First they stood around stoves for a while and kept a man busy, but they
only got papers out of that standing session. Then they walked all
around, looked at things and only picked up two packages. But they also
went to eat, while I sure took a nap. Chris insists she bought a gass
stove, but I surely can't see when that should have happened. She
certainly did not return with it.
Allright, I think I have to go to work now, cheers and have a good day,
Hapoo.

More and more to come

So we went and it was all new...

After we had gone for a short Hapoo walk, Chris computered a little, and
then mom called Chris that the car was there. We went outside, and there
was really a car there, which Chris first got into, and then I sat in
the front at her feet. The driver was a person I hadn't seen before, but
Chris immediately started talking with him right until he stopped and
let us off. A lady was there greeting us, and when the driver left with
his car, she took us upstairs into an empty room, where there were
chairs. She left, and Chris discovered something under her chair, a box
or sho, the content of which she tried to explore.

Slowly people came in and introduced themselves to Chris. At one point
there were three ladies, and then Chris allowed me to come out from
behind her chair, and they all said hello to me, too. The last one to
arrive was a man who came to sit beside us, and he said he wanted to say
hi to me, too, which he did. When the ladies all came up to introduce
themselves to him, too, I thought it was my turn as well, but not this
time, unfortunately.

The humans talked, and I lay flat, watching from between the chairs. The
lady beside Chris trains dogs for the otherwise disabled, like therapy
dogs and so - she eventually paired up with us to show us around. We
then walked out of the room and strolled through one room into a smaller
walkway and into another room, and then into a cafeteria. I sure know
what that is, it'll be Chris' favourite place I know. But I am wondering
if she will take Shadow and mom along once?

We stayed at a particular place with chairs and desks then, and once
Chris and I had to move to the back by a wall. She told me that was our
office, and we spent the next few minutes walking back and forth between
cafeteria and office, and between passage way and office - me guiding,
Chris following.
We also discovered a really neat Hapoo place with two couches and a
fluffy fluffy carpet between them. I wonder if that was designed for
me... She explored the ladies' room with the coach (a man), she looked
at the machines in the cafeteria, she had food there, and then we went
for a Hapoo walk with the nice lady. The rest of the day was spent
talking again, and finally the driver came to pick us up again.

I have to mention that at one point Chris took a huge ball (as high as
me or higher) and rolled it along her side, while I had to guide her
back to the office. I was confused at first, but then I guided her well.
The good thing about the office, the cafeteria and all those things is
that I get a click and a treat when I find something correctly. Cool,
eh? And after we had walked the full distance once, I took Chris back
outside without a problem. I just love backtracking when she has to
rely on me <yippee>
I do believe, anyway, that I am the new star, not Chris. People want to
take me home and compliment on my work and all that - they sure don't do
that with Chris!
Cheers for now, off for a new day, Hapoo.

The morning in the city

Hi all:
What followed the next day, after the empty rooms, was equally
interesting. Mom parked the car, and we got out into the sun and walked
through the city: Me in harness and mom ahead of us. But I always walk
so that I run Chris into mom, because I want to wak kind of behind and
beside mom to make sure I follow. So mom finally got the message to stay
behind and let Chris and me walk ahead. That means I have to do the job,
but Chris says that is what I need. We went to the restaurant that
Shadow also loves, where the humans always get themselves so much to
eat. Usually it is me, mom, the cousin, Chris and Shadow, but this time
Shadow was missing. And the cousin was not there yet, so we sat at a
small table, the ladies ordered drinks, and finally Chris could convince
mom that the table was too small. So when the cousin came and had
offered her hellos to all of us, we moved to the center of the room.
There Chrs attached my leash to the table, so she could go pick up her
food without having to worry about me. I also got water and took the
chance to offer a lick to the friendly waitress lady. What followed were
food and talks until it was time for us to go. In the meantime another
waiter came and asked for the permission to pet me, and they talked
about dogs. Apparently, he has a dog that has been blind from birth. Do
you think that dog needs a guide dog, too? He could hold on to the
handle with his strong teeth, if the handle was shaped like a dog rope?
And the other woofer should have a nice soft pull, so the blind woofer
could follow nicely.
When all the money had been payed we left and said goodbye to the
cousin. We walked all along the busy shopping street, where I ran Chris
into something I had not noticed. It was some candy hanging from
upstairs so low that Chris' head hit it. She made me turn and rework the
spot, and after I had managed correctly this time, I got praise from mom
and a lady who had been watching. Cool, eh, when you can finally show
off. Just wondering if Chris would make the music man and the tennis man
rework high obstacles, if they got it wrong, too.
We walked into that office where we had been before. I knew we were
supposed to walk in somewhere, but I was always too early and took the
wrong doors.

Finally we were right and out came the master of the empty rooms, the
lady from the previous day. She brought another lady, but they both
ignored me. Mom filled out something for Chris, Chris wrote her name,
for that's the only thing she can write in the others' way of using a
pen, and then they talked a little more and we left. We walked along the
street some more till we arrived at a shop where the two received a lot
of jewelry. And after that it was no more work for me. Chris just took
me on leash and made me heel, which I did. I was quite happy when we
arrived at home and I walked the short field route to do my business.
That was yesterday.

Today I thought something was going to happen, so I stuck to Chris and
mom. And when the doorbell rang, I ran from under the desk, knocked off
something and got sent back to my house firmly, before Chris went to
open the door. But by then Theresa had already left - shame!
Cheers for now, Hapoo.

Looking at empty rooms

Hi all:
Three days ago the ladies put me in the car, and we first stopped at the
shopping center. There they had to go into the store where I was not
allowed in, but they returned after a short while. A man had decided
that I was barking too much, so he talked to me through the window. But
when I was let out, I did not want to go greet him, I preferred to stay
with Chris. Then we got back into the car, and we drove a while. We got
out and walked along quite a bit, always returning to one house.
Eventually a lady came and opened the house door. We climbed up a few
stairs, and the lady opened another door, behind which there were only
empty rooms. Chris put me into a stay by the entrance door, so she could
walk into each single room and look at it. I mean, what's there to look
at in an empty room? She walked the distance of each wall, located the
windows and inquired about sockets. Even though I was at the door, I
could hear it. She was not really happy with the rooms, she told the
lady, and after she told mom that her bed would not fit, mom agreed,
too. And Chris said she did not like the way the toilet was separated
from the bathroom, and that lead into the kitchen. She said the place
had too many doors. Allright, just doors for me to open I would think.
But we left, as Chris wished, and took the car to another place, where
the same thing happened.

The lady opened another house door, and we walked up two stairs. Chris
asked whether the apartment was supposed to be on the first or second
floor, and the lady noticed her mistake, for we had to climb two more
flights of stairs. There she opened yet another door, and more empty
rooms were there for Chris to see. She said that smokers used to live
here. She also says that she liked the size of the rooms much more. The
bathroom was one thing, and the kitchen was really large and had a
sliding door separating it from the livingroom, and the balcony had
glass windows.

The ladies stood in the livingroom and talked. Initially, the folks
didn't want me in the empty rooms, but Chris told them I was a guide dog
and well-trained and didn't run around off leash at all. So finally they
had no problem with me. After that set of empty rooms we left and went
home.

My big nono

Hi all:
Today is Wednesday, not my day. I really tried Chris hard, and finally I
got it - the hugest correction ever.
Allright, so we went for a Hapoo walk, and then we got in the car to go
shopping. First the ladies had t go to the store where I am not allowed
in, so I had to wait in the car. And after that it was harness time.
Chris wanted me to go through the shopping mall right to the entrance of
the supermarket, but as always, I had a mind of my own and thought I
could offer Chris a snack or two by stopping at every food place and
trying to get her to sit down. She made me go straight, until I really
managed to direct her to a table. I thought I'd better show it to her
and put my paws up on it.
O boy, was I off that fast - harness pulled back, and I volunteered to
roll on my back immediately. That is the safest when Chris is really
mad. She checked on me briefly with her hand, took the leash and told me
to get up, which I did. Her voice was amazingly calm but firm. She told
me to walk on as if nothing had happened, and so we found the entrance.
I really made sure not to make a mistake anymore. See, I wanted mom to
lead, nut me, because following mom is so much more fun!
Well I was allowed to follow inside the store, and that got my tail
wagging and I also got praise because then later in the other store I
did a great job changing directions and keeping Chris clear of all
obstacles. I stayed where she put me and even lay really close by her
chair as she finally went to eat something at the end of the shopping
trip.
I guess showing tables is not a brilliant idea, I'd better keep to
chairs and benches only from now on, or at least I will try.
Cheers, Hapoo.

Tech adventure without Shadow

Hello-hello everybody:

Last Sunday something strange happened. In late afternoon Chris joined
mom upstairs, and me, too, of course. She sat down on a chair by mom's
bed, and I lay on my favourite spots. Unfortunately, the birds were not
there to bother. Chris keeps me away from them quite successfully. And I
think they arr in a cage, too, which means I could still bother them a
bit.
Anyway, they had supper upstairs, and then they talked a bit. And of
course, they were watching tennis. Since the previous night, our TV
downstairs had been quiet, quite unusually quiet.
On Monday then after breakfast and a nice but short Hapoo walk we got in
the car and drove to the store where Shadow and Chris used to go explore
all kinds of gadgets and computers and stuff. First we caught up with a
guy by phones and that stuff, and apparently he gave Chris a discount on
a fax machine. I thought we had one, but Chris says it was broken,
because she was trying to feed it with too small a portion, which the
fax wanted to keep illegally. So mom had taken it apart and then the
hungry monster had refused to work. So the new fax box was ours.
Then we asked the man to help us find another person, and that man took
us around the TV sets. Chris finally decided on one, which he lifted
into the shopping cart. When we walked up to the cash register, she was
quite happy with her purchase, and she said for once in her life she
either did not overspend or had just from the start expected a higher
cost. We then went food shopping a lot, and also finally to the meadow
by one store, where I can run. Unfortunately for me, I got in the hugest
trouble ever. I found a pile of old dog do and thought it was a good
snack, but mom told on me.
Now that is one of the worst thing in Chris' opinion I can do, get into
dog business. Chris very calmly put me back on leash and I had to heel
the way back to the car. Since I was sitting in the feet compartment of
the car for the way back, I tried to get pets from Chris, but she hid
her hands from me and made the disgusting noise. I think I will try my
very best to behave from now on, for a no-pets policy is the worst thing
that can happen to me. Even mom couldn't be convinced to pet me!
After she had installed the two new devices (the old TV was banned and
sent to the basement - thank goodness I'm not a TV), Chris realized that
the new TV had a not so good sound quality and was mono (whatever), but
she was still happy about her savings. I think I don't care.
But apparently Chris does, for since that night she has moved into the
livingroom for sleeping, and it is the time of nightly TV sessions with
loads and more loads of American tennis. Cheers, Hapoo.

The huge visit

Hi all:
It is almost a week ago when mom started running around the house like
mad, and Chris didn't participate much. Only one morning she started to
clean the apartment. Mom seemed to be waiting for something, but pretty
late they had lunch together. Soon after somebody knocked on the door,
and Chris recognized a nephew of hers. I don't remember him too much,
but she says we once went on that memorable trip together when I jumped
off the horse cart she and Shadow had decided to take.
The nephew said hi and had brought with him a little quiet girl. Soon
after he came by again, this time accompanied by a little boy I cannot
recall having ever seen. Chris says that's another nephew of hers.
After another little while Chris went upstairs to talk, but she left me
downstairs. She said there were too many children for me to handle. I
saw them all except one. There is the older nephew, two girls, the
younger nephew and a tiny little baby, which is always carried by
somebody. That one I did not meet, but I would have thought it strange
for a baby to be carried all the time. I mean I wasn't when I was a cute
little puppy. Mind you, now I am a cuddly loveable and charming
distinguished senior dog lady!
Chris didn't stay for too long, for she came back downstairs to make a
lot of coffee for upstairs in the huge coffee can, and then she stayed
there for a little longer. She says she had to ignore some remarks from
the sister which were not apropriate, but that generally she was
allright. She and her husband wanted to know all about Chris' work or
what she think is coming soon, but Chris didn't tell much. When she
finally came downstairs to take me for a walk, it was raining, and so
the older nephew came to ask her to look up something on the internet.
Chris says the nephew is a really nosy little boy. She had to remind him
to anounce when he was coming and to tell who was with him, and also not
to walk all around the place. After that he was quite allright she said.
Finally the rain had stopped, and we went for a not so long walk. We
both thought the weather was not at its best. When we returned we saw
one of the little girls, the elder of them. And just as the three of us,
followed by the younger girl (Chris calls them nieces btw) were ready to
go inside after a feet cleaning session, my most favourite cousin
arrived. She said hi to all of us, and I managed to give her a huge
Hapoo kiss across the face. The cousin wanted to go upstairs, and the
younger niece joined her, while the elder one decided to keep Chris and
me company. She's nice according to Chris, calm, alert and very clever.
She was very interested in how Chris manages to live despite her eyes
not working, and she offered to read what's written on the TV screen
when she is older and able to read. Chris and she watched tennis
together and talked, and they prepared a pizza for Chris. Finally Chris
had the pizza and the girl had some cucumber, and I was left with
nothing. Soon the little niece joined, and they shared the pizza. The
nephew didn't like it when he saw that it had pineapples on it, but he
stayed downstairs anyway, and so four folks were watching tennis.

Late at night they were sent upstairs, because Chris initially wanted to
go to sleep, but she ended up watching more tennis and playing the
computer, until the sister came to say goodbye. Soon after the cousin
came, followed by mom, and they had some wine together and talked. Chris
says she really respects the cousin for how she dealt with the sister
and all her negative aproaches and remarks and curious inqueries.
The day was long, but I was allright, since Chris kept me out of the
stress as good as she could.
I think we are up for our morning walk now, cheers, Hapoo.