10, 100, a million nis

Honestly, why does she do this? What's happening to her? Please, somebody break this periodically appearing madness - I beg the world and all who think kindly of me - please!

 

What I am talking about? Do you need to ask? It's tennis time, and not the usual burden on me, but double the madness and you aren't even close.

 

Of course, we live in the livingroom for two weeks while Chris keeps waking up at night, turning on the TV and watching the ball being tossed, smashed, spun, served, volleyed, sliced, chipped, hit and played across the net. Hm, and to me all of that is happening in a rather small window she calls TV. And the funny thing is, which is natural if your eyes don't work, that Chris doesn't even care about the window. She lies on the couch and watches with her ears. She records important points and interviews, as always.

 

What drives me crazy is when she shouts out of the blue, and I don't get it. I gather something unpleasant has happened, so every time she yells I get up from my place, try to comfort her and regularly get sent back to my place with a calm, relaxed voice and a reassuring pet. Then why does she shout in the first place, when nobody but I can hear her?

 

And now comes the second evil. Chris must have added another tennis joy on her computer. Sometimes the ball noise comes from two sides: one is the usual recorder above her head, and the other is the large speakers at the other wall. Usually they release music by the music man - not these days, not a single musical note, except for yells squeeks, whistles and Chile Chile chants. What Chile has to do with tenis I don't know, but Chris pretends to be the smarter one anyway.

 

So now that she has two threads to follow, she hardly moves away from the couch. She times the Hapoo walks so she won't miss out on alything important. And when it does happen, she can call up the missed drama any time she likes, usually through the large speakers.

 

I should strike back, so I should! I should sneak into the kitchen and see if there's anything I like. Oh, bad idea - I hear Chris laughing meanly. Go ahead Hapoo, there's nothing in there you could access - or have you managed to open a fridge where the grip is only bent inward and shows upward on top of that? Or have you, despite all your cleverness, managed to open cans? No I haven't, darn it!

 

And then you tell me the world around me is normal? Chris has been playin a lot on her computer. she has dropped a line or two on the music man-related sites, but she's also found something cool about the bestest tennis man currently, tennis Rafa. So many tennis man, you don't know where to turn to first. She wants to chat with him like she used to with Shadow. Hey, why don't you just pick up the phone and talk to him instead? I know that you prefer the natural voice to that stupid computer voice of yours.

Ah, I hear you, Chris! You'd love to, but he doesn't have your phone number, nore do you have his. And even if he had yours, he wouldn't call because you are too old for him, or because he's too busy?

It's such a shame! Or why don't we go to the tennis courts and you try to introduce me as the speediest ballgirl on the entire planet?

Of course, you and the tennis Rafa would have to train me so I hand the balls over to him, but apart from that I would fly over the court like a rocket for as long as I can! And since I can flirt so well, maybe he *will* talk with you rather than chatting?

 

...

OOPs

...

 

What am I doing here? What on earth am I doing? Am I using my royal brain and my creativity to help Chris in her madness? Somebody get this tennis toy away from her, or else I'll be equally infected! Or if it's not tennis Rafa, then maybe tennis Nicolas, or tennis Alex, or tennis...

O help, I'm doing it again! I mean Chris even sleeps during the day. She took holidays to watch tennis, we aren't going on major travels or anything, she is just watching tennis from night toll day, and from day till night she sleeps. She says she loves five-setters where her favourites win, or straight three-setters where they're done fast and can relax soon. Now what does she love? Drama or efficiency? Well, I guess she loves it when her favourites get far, and tennis Rafa is the strongest one of them all, she hopes.

I even hear her talking about going to Spain, which is the land of claycourt tennis, like Hamburg where we have been before, and there she can see all the tennis men again. Will I get one of the balls then, or will Chris keep them all for her own memory? Can somebody, please, step in and help me fight for my interests? I myself like her too much, I just cannot be tough on her. But please, at least tell her not to scare me with her random displays of excitement!

I am hoping for help, understanding and empathy, Yours, Hapoo (frustrated back to my royal bed)

thinking about the snow

Hi everybody:

I have had a kind of a flashback in my thoughts. The sun is shining brightly iinto our window, and Chris' mood is picking up as the beams warm her face. I, however, keep longing for more snow.

 

As the new year, as Chris calls it, had started with snow, I thought of some of the people Chris might have thought about.

the first thought was of mom and what she might be doing in snow. I have found out that mo doesn't like it either, because she doesn't like the cold weather and freezing water. That makes her life difficult as far as feeding the poltry and her cat goes.

Chris herself doesn't like the snow, because she hates cold feet. But then again she says I make her life easier, because she just needs to hold on to the harness, and I take her to work safely. She says that is relaxing to know and makes her only half as nervous about the snow as before. I told you, having a dog like me is wonderful.

 

Then the Music Man came to mind. Has he ever sung in the snow, or is that too cold? Would he like to go skeeing, for example?

And what about the tennis man Alex and the tennis man Nicolas? Okay, they might want to use an orange ball or so, so they can see it better than the yellow one, but could they play in the snow? Hitting the ball should only be feasible when it is really cold, so the thing doesn't get too wet. Or if not the snow, then what about scater tennis on ice? Has anybody ever thought of that? I wonder if they have ice in Ecuador, where the tennis Nicolas is from - wherever that's located.

Chris is a little sad, because he has lost his match today. But Rafa will play, and she'll keep her fingers crossed. Honestly, I wouldn't care, if it weren't for Chris. When we go to watch tennis the next time, I think I'll ask if I can play with the tennis people. Chris could train me to pick up the balls, and I'd be a really bouncy and quick ballgirl. But if it gets too hot, I want an ice jacket to wear. And when I get bored, maybe Chris can try to find the balls

 

<hahaha> that'll be fun to see, she never finds a ball, unless it is really close to her - I mean, after all that is why she has taught me to pick up the balls for her. She hasn't played against the wall ever since we have moved into the apartment. She says the neighbours won't apreciate the bounce against the wall at all. Quite a pity, if you ask me, but I'll see if I can persuade her to throw ten or twenty bounce balls for me.

I think I'll ask her to go out with me now, for later she won't go, when big Rafa is playing. Cheers, Hapoo.

When it hits you...

it really comes down on you all at once.

 

Have I told you that life with Chris is not boring?

This morning she stood in front of her wardrobe again and tried on a piece of clothing H had not seen her wear in ages. t is that particular thing she wears when we go to the sea or the lake - which, again, we have not done in years. She tried it on, was satisfied and took it off, pulled out a large towel and stuffed them both into a plastic bag. Then she went about her usual lazy day business, which meant having breakfast, watching sports TV and sometimes talking on the phone.

Then mom came, Chris put my flexible leash on me, and the three of us left. We arrived at cousin Anne's place, where I ran around in the kitchen and sniffed out everything. Then suddenly, as the man gave me pets, the door closed and Chris was gone. It all happened so fast that I couldn't even protest or run to open the door. Besides, through the window I had spotted a cat and chased it away with my scary appearance, so it did not bug me again.

The man gave me scratches and food and let me run outside in the yard. Well that was wonderful of him, because I could toss and turn and roll in the hard frozen snow and runrunrun as much as I wated. And finally, after he had picked up the little girl who is not so little anymore, he and I settled down to watch TV. When finally after hours Chris and mom and the cousin returned, he let me see who was at the door, and I jumped up at all the three of the ladies and ran around them in circles. Chris smelled of something I had never smelled on her before. She says it is the clorine they use to keep the indoor lakes clean, and that she had a great day in the saunas and the large pool. The saunas would have been too warm for me, and I would not have liked the pool, that much is certain. Chris must have had a lot of fun there, for she calmly let me run in the backyard again, and mom also came and we played runrun, and I rolled in the snow some more. Finally Chris put me on leash, and we took the car home.

 

It seems we also have a new neighbour. Chris rang the doorbell and the lady was really nice. Chris asked her to take her replacement key and do something on one of the days while we are at work. And the lady didn't even seem to mind me. Cool, isn't it? Maybe I get to know her a little better, it is never bad to have one more friend.

Allright, but I must tell you that I am happy to be back home, even though mom is gone. Chris says we will be back at work tomorrow, and I'd better finish the post, because she wants to sleep. So goodnight everyone and sleep well under the full-moon sky, Yours, Hapoo.

at the end of a busy day

I can tell you that I am satisfied for the most part. Read the details yourself, dear unknown friend:

 

As always, Chris begins the day with her suspiciously normal and quiet routine, only to be able to pick up speed, or maybe to leave me guessing.

Okay, it must be the weekend or the day off work, ecause she took time getting up, and we went out for the morning walk later than in the mornings when we have to go to work. But that is part of life.

 

Around lunchtime she picked up speed, ran around, changed clothes, took me for a walk and -

 

and sat down and did nothing.

My goodness Chris, what's this all about? The phone rang, and then she started getting ready in one minute. The doorbell rang, out of the door we dashed, down the stairs, and out the main entrance, to greet Ilka enthusiastically. Yippee, we are going somewhere, Chris is forgiven!

 

We took Ilka's car and arrived at the train station, where I safely lead Chris through the entrance door. And out of the blue appeared mom. And from there we started running.

First we took the car into the city, right into one shop, where Chris and mom gt hold of a young man, who brought a box with paper in it. I wanted to know what that was, plus he was near me on the floor to watch as Chris put on that shoe. I asked for pets, and he happily answered. I liked this man, and he and Chris had fun talking, I think. Mom and Chris walked around the shop, Chris in various shoes, and he made sure I stayed where Chris put me. Well, we left the place not having bought anything, but we went into another shoe shop, where another young man took on both tasks, that of petting me and that of showing Chris shoes. Again she didn't buy anything. Instead we went back to the big store, where Chris ended up buying one pair of shoes she had tried on. Then we walked back to the bank. On the way I walked directly up towards a tiny dog, and he didn't avoid me either. So he or she (doesn't matter) and I had a row, in which I growled and he squeeked. Ey you, I am the boss, in harness or not, you can step aside!

I had that nogo again later with another dog, this time not so bad, for he just barked and I woofed at him. Man, those tiny yappers are a pest in my face!

From the bank to the store of horrors with zillions of different extremely strong smells, of which I find a few on Chris' skin when we leave for home. She bought something, then dragged mom into the shop where she sometimes buys coffee. And then we went into the big house with the fish place. I know that fish place from the times we used to go there with Shadow. Chris was fun. She told me to find the fish place, and I certainly did. Had mom trusted me, we would have taken the right turning. I know what I know, that's for sure. I received some Hapoo water, and the nice man came to greet us. Then we went back into the store, bought some paper and then finally I spotted the car. That always means home.

O yeah, home! Mom dropped us off at hime, and there I saw a huge car in front of the door. Chris says that such cars help people move, and Anne's husband has a big truck, too. Well I wasn't there when he parked it here, because the day when we changed apartments I was at work with Petra.

We saw mom off, and then finally Chris took me on the evening route, which I really needed. O I love busy days, but I love it just as much to go home and to put my aging bones down on one of my Hapoo mats.

Have a magnificent weekend everybody, cheers, Hapoo.

moved once again

Hi all:

 

you think life with Chris is boring, right? dead boring, makes you yawn and want to sleep!

 

Wake up, wrong Chris, wrong film!

 

Life with Chris bares surprises when you don't at all expect them! this morning everything looked really normal. We went to work, I plopped down on my mat, and some time i a break Chris gave me my morning carot. She did not work on the phone, but on the computer all the time. Suddenly she went into the kitchen with me, where we found cousin Anne. Chris just picked up some hot water, and then we went back. Chris worked some more, and then Daniel in the weelchair came to give me pets. I like the fact that he moves around sitting, for it is perfect for me to rest my head on his leg or pass him the occasional Hapoo kiss. Chris doesn't like it when I do it, but Daniel doesn't seem to mind. He must have told Chris that he is going for lunch, so she decided to join him. We didn't stay in the kitchen for too long, but we returned to our place, and Chris started packing up and shutting down her computer. Hey, it is in the middle of the day, what's up?

 

She grabbed the working material box and her headsets and the note taker and the footrest, held on to my harness and then told me where to go. Angelique, the queen of pets, followed with my royal Hapoo bed and Chris' backpack and then brought my water bowl and Chris' drink. chris got all set up at the computer where she started to work an eternity ago.

 

Oh yes, I think we are going to stay there for a few days, otherwise Chris would not have moved even my Hapoo bed. It is quiet back there, but I think I woudl rather go back to the front office, where the motion is going on and everybody can see me and I can see everybody. But this place was nice as well, because Max was sitting next to us. chris thinks he is nice company, and I think he is kind to me. I also like it when Chris and Ilka the boss have an appointment to speak English. They go into a private room or office and talk and talk, and I am allowed to lie by Ilka and she loves to scratch and pet me, as long as she doesn't have to write or type anything.

You see, work is not boring at all, Chris always comes up with moves that I haven't at all expected or foresniffed. My life is fun, I really think I couldn't have a better Chris than the one that I call my Chris. We have grown together as a tea in the past million years, it is great. I know what she wants when she moves, and she is understanding it when I feel relaxed or uncomfortable. I think I should grow old by her side, and no other dog should be with her for as long as I live. And I will certainly live longer than Chris, I believe.

Have a good time everybody, Yours, Hapoo.

The snowy new year - part two

Hi everybody:

Believe it or not, Chris has managed to grant me computer time before this year is over. I owe you the second part of our journey, so here it comes.

 

One evening we had somebody coming into the friend's apartment, someone I had never seen before. He first was sceptical when I barked to greet him, but pretty soon after he found out that I had the softest fur on earth, and that I love pets. From then on this new friend joined us on all Hapoo walks. and Chris and I walked with him. Once he even held my leash until I found out. And then Chris had to takke over from him, because I would not walk on the left side of the road anymore.

The following day started normally, but in the evening outside the noise started picking up. When it was slightly quieter, we went outside for a really early Hapoo walk, and I got my food very late that night. In between the walk and the fod the humans took care of themselves. They all sat around a pot and put tiny forks into it, on which they had put delicious meat and vegetables. Of course, I didn't get a single bite, only a carot the day before, thanks to the friend. the humans' meal took a long time, and from lamps and doors and handles paper was dangling down. I wonder what that's good for. I didn't trust it enough to play with it, it looked pretty flimsy - plus paper is nothing I would like to eat. Useless, if you ask me, especially since the next day it all was torn down again and put into trash bags. Excuse me, what a waste of time is that?

 

Well, that same night the noise outside picked up as the night progressed. The humans played a board game and talked, and soon the mom came over with a drink. They all stood up and said somethhing about a happy new year and hugged each other. Then the three others went ooutside into the noise. Chris says they created lots of it themselves and had great fun, but she doesn't like the sound of fireworks when they are extremely close. Neither do I, if she means the explosions by fireworks. I stayed with her and laid down by her feet to be close to her. She was talking on the phone with mom and wrote texts on the phone, of which she received a lot back herself, which again she answered.

When the noise outside and the random flashes in various shapes and colours got less, the humans came back inside. They said they were freezing, for it was really cold outside. Snow was on the ground, and one morning Chris had eve n let me run free to toss and play and jump and bark in the snow. You know that I love snow, right?

 

Chris soon went to sleep, and so did I, of course. When Chris woke up she was so nice to remember that I needed to go out. So she and the friend and friend's mom came and walked with me - what a relief! nd there were no more explosions outside, very relaxing for chris, and I didn't need to be all tensed up either. I am not scared of them, but I prefer the silent routine of the days, that's for sure.

The day was normal again in that Chris packed the bag and the Hapoo food, which meant that we would go home soon. We did, the friend of the friend took us to the train station in his car, and we went home. Chris was so tired that she decided to take a taxi. Chris was really tired, but she prepared for the next morning before the two of us finally settled in the bedroom.

 

O yes, and since then work has had us back. We went to work in the snow for two days, and I love running and playing in the empty space behind the office building. Chris praises the fact that she has me for her guide, for she just needs to hold on to the harness handle, and I take her through the snow safely right up to the entrance door, and the same back home. She just has to remind me to slow down when the ground is too slippery for her feet, for I want to runrunrun until I am where I am supposed to go. She says the colleagues with the canes have a much harder time finding their way in the snow that covers everything, and I am a really great help which makes her feel really relaxed.

 

Allright, yesterday I spotted an interesting animal in the bushes along the road, and I wanted to go there, but Chris kept me on track, of course. And today i wanted to go and find that animal again, but again Chris didn't let me. But in return she let me greet many people in the service center, and after she had had a quick word with Ilka, she called me over and told me I could ask Ilka for pets. I love Ilka, she is a fine person. In the afternoon even Max was allowed to stroke me, and afterwards Chris even permitted me to see my most favourite Petra, who was sitting next to him.

 

You see, it doesn't matter which year it is, my problems and pleasures are the same. Well, if the folks want to count things, let them have their pleasure, why not? Have a most wonderful time and a happy snowy new year, Yours, Hapoo.

the snowy new year

Hi all:

I know I have to update you, but before I do, I hope you have had a great start into the new year. I surely had a weird one, but I will start telling you all about it from the beginning. I will probably update you in two mails, for otherwise it would be too long.

 

One night Chris and I went outside in the middle of her work, and we met the friend Bianka who is quite a nice person. She came upstairs with us, and then all the three of us walked home.

Chris and I didn't go to work for a few days, but then we did, and Bianka joined us. I don't think she was bored, as she was hammering away on her tiny keyboard.

the next morning the streets were so quiet that the major traffic light immediately switched to green when Chris pressed the button. And at work there was a nice breakfast set up, and there were not many people and not too many phone calls either. So Chris and the man who was our backup talked, and I was allowed to go ask for pets and to lie down at his feet after having received a lot of pets. We went home earlier than usual, and the friend greeted us at the apartment door. Chris loved that a lot. And since there was some time left until we had to take a taxi, Chris brought a smaller bag from on top of the wardrobe and packed that one instead of the larger one. And then it was time for the taxi to take us to the train station, and from there we took the train to the friend's home.

 

Her mom met us at the train station, and we walked home. I was allowed to walk the route on the flexible leash, that was fun. Chris says it was cold, but I didn't care. We spent the evening at the mom's place across the corridor, where the ladies had fish, there was a Christmas tree and what they call Christmas music. And Chris gave away presents and got a mug, too, a square-shaped one she quite likes. The was relieved when she found out that the friend was happy about her present from Chris as well.

 

At the service center, at work that morning, a friend had made Chris promise that she'd bring something nice for me to chew, and she kept her promise, for I received a nice chewing bone. I kept that for that night and even a bit for the day after, it was great fun. Christmas is the time where all humans give presents to one another and have Christmas trees in the middle of their rooms. No dog is supposed to touch them or eat the chocolate off the twigs. Are there woofer Christmas trees with bones and yummy treats and cow feet and chicken necks, I wonder?

 

the days that followed were pretty quiet and uneventful, just the friend got a little ill and decided not to fly away. And that meant that Chris and I stayed at her place for longer than expected, and that meant that she had to go Hapoo food shopping. I am not a picky eater, I will eat just about any food, as long as it's food. I hope the friend liked our company and that was the reason why she felt better soon. Chris admits that she had to remind the friend to drink a lot and keep herself warm, but she obeyed very nicely.

And the snowy part follows soon, I have to go to sleep now, cheers, Hapo.