snow snow snow

Hi everybody:

 

Yesterday in the morning Chris and I walked out of the house door, and a wall of cold snow flakes greeted us. We walked down the stairs, and Chris only took me for a small break. She says the weather was horrible, and snow was drifting all around the place.

 

It was even on our balcony, and Chris had to clear it off the railing, so the window could be opened. There was ice even on the outer side of those windows. Chris says she has never seen snow drifting so high up. Around lunch we walked again, and a man had to help Chris find the way, because you had to walk deep in the snow. Chris even walked on the street, because that was the easiest, and I showed her how to get back on the pedestrian walkway, in order to reach the stairs. It took her forever to climb down those, because they could hardly be walked by a human. Had she let me go off leash, i would have had loads of fun, of course.

 

In the evening Chris decided to try another route along the street. There were small walks wher humans can walk single file, and I made sure to show Chris where to walk, even though I was on flexible leash. But when it's so rough and bumpy, you've gotta help her, right? Well, I forgot to do my business, and when she finally got up this morning, she seemed to know, because she immediately took me for the walk. I felt that Chris now was walking a little more securely, so I did take a little break for the necessary. But boy is that snow deep. Cats cannot hide under cars, because there is no space for them. I surely sink in up to my belly, and when we come in, Chris has to remove ths snow from my paws. I think we are going to work tomorrow, but I am wondering how I shall guide Chris when there is no space for both of us to walk beside each other. Or maybe we won't get to work at all. Yesterday Daniel called and said that he couldn't go to work, because his car was stuck in all that snow. I love it, I want to romp, but Chris doesn't let me.

Cheers, Hapoo.

back to normal

Hi woofs and talks:

 

I think the tennis state of exception is coming to anend. Chris turned the bed in the livingroom back into a couch, and the bedsheets moved back into the bedroom. We even slept in the bedroom last night, and Chris slept very long. But she says they are starting in the middle of the morning now, so that she can get up at a more usual time than before.

 

Two nights ago mom came, and we went shopping. There was a blizzard outside, so mom joined us on the Hapoo walk around the block. Then we went shopping, and I was so happy to be out again, that at first Chris had to remind me not to sniff at everybody that walked towards us. But after we had come out of one shop I had settled down, and food shopping went by without any more problems. And when we came out of the shopping center, the wind was blowing really strong, and Chris was freezing while she was helping mom put the grocery back into the car. I really like mom. When we returned home it was quite late, and I went to sleep almost straight away. But Chris and mom sat in the corridor and talked a little more before mom left. Chris says for her age she is really fit and doing extremely well.

That night Chris re-arranged her office, but I don't know what that is good for.

 

Well I could ramble some more, but Chris needs the computer to keep track of the tennis scores. So goodbye and tailwags, Hapoo.

They say girls do that...

Hello everybody:

 

now that I have been with Chris for such a long time, there will always remain things about her that I cannot quite understand.

 

Allright, I have gotten used to the annual arrival of tennis times, one being around now, where she wakes up in the middle of sleeping time and watches and watches until in the middle of the day she collapses on the bed to sleep, even though the sun might be shining brightly. Sometimes she will play with her computer while they are playing, and sometimes she will turn all her attention on the TV, especially towards the ond of that strange Australian time. Sometimes she will shout out to support somebody. That is when I feel obliged to get up from my bed and remind her that nothing's wrong and that I am still here. Sometimes she will be unhappy with the way things turn out.

 

I have discovered that for some reason you either like tennis Roger, or you like tennis Rafa. You and I know by now that Chris is among those who prefer tennis Rafa. She says tennis Roger is too boring with his constant breaking of all records, and he should leave some for Rafa. She says she admires Rafa's way of fighting and the way he presents himself so shy and so very full of respect for the sport and for the others.

 

So I guess I should not be surprised that she cried a tear or more over tennis Rafa today. He had to retire during the match with the English Andy (there's an American one, too), who had been playing extraordinarily well, but Rafa was feeling his old injury again. Chris says he should take the time and listen to what his body says, not what success and pressure tell him. She said she so wanted to go hug tennis Rafa and offer him a shoulder to calm down. But why does this make a human girl cry?

 

Daniel, Mr Wheelchair, sure wouldn't cry over such thing, neither would Shadow. Shadow used to say that only girls do this. Well I beg to differ, I don't cry tears. I would, if I ever hadthe chance, walk up to tennis Rafa and put my head on his knee, so he'd notice and pet me. It sure keeps Chris from shouting and makes her smile, and others like petting me too, and it distracts them for a little while.

 

So if anybody knows whether I could help tennis Rafa, please tell Chris and tel her that we should travel to see tennis Rafa, so I can comfort him. After all, that might prevent Chris from having to worry about him, right?

 

Besides, she says it would only be fair if the English Andy managed to beat tennis Roger, or the Russian man who speaks an excellent German. Chris says she knows some Russian, but she has never spoken it, so I haven't learnt it. And then we have the tennis Djoko still running for the title, she likes him, too, and the tall guy from Mr tennis Djoko's neighbouring country. But Chris says he has been playing for too long, the English Andy should manage to beat him in the next round. No more Spaniards in action, where last year this time there were two, and last year tennis Rafa had won the turnament. This year, Chris has decided to host a tennis brunch, with the guys' final being the center of attraction, and some food for people to have. I heard her say that Daniel's parents' little dog Basti is coming. Fine with me, as long as he leaves my Hapoo bed alone.

Allright, the lady of the house wants to sleep, and she says congrats to Mrs Kohlmann for reaching the doubles' semis (don't know much about that man), cheers, Hapoo

Mom, the restaurant and tennis

Hi everybody:

 

Have I told you that mom was here? She picked us up one day from work, and we walked home. I didn't need to wear the harness, because mom was guiding, that was really nice. We only went home to leave mom's and Chris' bags, and then went to the supermarket to do some shopping. It was so nice of mom to stay over night. She gave me many pets and scratches.

 

In the morning Chris and I left her sleeping to go for the morning walk. And when we came back I wanted to wake her up with my Hapoo song, but she was already awake and said hello from the bathroom.

The humans had breakfast, and then Daniel took us to work by car - so nice of him. At work I saw sister Suse with the tiny dog, and I thought we'd go for a trip with her. But Chris told me not to follow her and mom, but to stick to Daniel, and we went upstairs for work.

 

After that normal day we were picked up by the lady who always comes, sits on the floor by my side and pets me. I think this was the first time we went somewhere with her. We went to the furniture store, where the humans had lunch or dinner, and then we strolled around and Chris finally bought two little packages. Finally we went into a Hapoo store, where Chris ended up buying nothing, not even a treat for me. The friend bought strange things, she says they are for her rabbits.

 

If I remember correctly, we had rabbits at mom's place, but I don't remember what happened to them. I never got a hold of them, although I took several attempts to chase them, they were in a cage.

 

The following day we stqayed at work very late, and Daniel, one of the funny boss people and Chris and I went to another kind of bar restaurant.  First the humans talked and talked, and at one point I had some water offered to me. The lady had a saussage in her hand, but Chris asked her not to give it to me, because t was too salty. Rubbish, I say, of course I would have loved to have it! Since what Chris says goes, I didn't get the saussage, but I also didn't touch the water. When the serious talking was done, Chris talked with another man, who also took us outside, where I could do my small business and romp i the snow. Finally we went home, and I sure was glad to get to sleep.

 

From then on the days were packed for Chris. The first two days she spent in the bedroom listening to a CD book or scanning books in the office room. She finished one about a tennis man whose name I have never heard. The Sampras man appears to have been a great champion before I arrived to stay with Chris, and she respects his achievements a lot. And once that book was scanned, she took another one, a story about a vilage at the sea, which couldn't be compared to our city, because if it has ever existed, then it did so a long time ago.

 

Then she suddenly got up in the middle of the night to turn on her TV and the computer, and guess what she's doing most of the days now: watch tennis. She has turned the couch into a bed, and that's where she spends her time now. She wakes up at night and watches tennis, goes out with me a few times and sleeps at times she usually is wide awake.

 

Her favourite tennis man Nico has already lost and probably left the place, but Chris isn't too disappointed. She says he will have to be fit for the daviscup in two months. Tennis Rafa is still going strong, but she doubts that he will manage to defend his title. She says the little Russian and his constant rival the Suiss are going strong, but she keeps her fingers crossed. Me too, my paws I mean, for then she is going to be really happy in the end.

 

Yesterday somebody rang the doorbell, and I know that Chris received a lot of Hapoo food, which she stores in the tiny room in the basement. But when we returned from the Hapoo walk, I got a few snacks to chew on

 

Allright, time to let Chris have the keyboard back, she wants to see who is worth watching on the second screen - she can follow two matches at the same time and is having a lot of fun doing so.

 

On another quick side note, apparently there has been a great desaster somewhere unknown to me with the earth furiously shaking, thus destroying houses, roads and many lives; they set up a charity event spontaneously before the tennis turnament, and many top players joined to make it a huge success. And apparently the Mr music man also performed at one such support event yesterday, but Chris says she had to sleep in order to wake up again this night, so she didn't watch. I have never experienced the fury of the earth, but Chris says they have to do a lot of tidying up and rebuilding down there, and very very many people have died. I think I should go there to try and give all the sad hearts some comfort, if they'd want it.

Cheersfor now, this time really, and thanks for Chris' patience, Hapoo

A night out

Hi again everybody:

 

the snow is not leaving us, it keeps staying. It is nice when we go four our in between walks at work, because where Chris lets me run free, there is clean snow and no salt, and I can toss and turn in it, sniff and play as much as I like. It is surely great fun.

 

However, yesterday quito's name was used more often than usual, and I heard Chris throwing dates into discussions. I think something not so pleasant is coming up soon.

 

chris also had a talk with the boss, she says it was great, and the boss is going to study English with her. Chris and i are going to travel soon once again, but that will be after the tennis holidays.

 

At night after work Mr Daniel picked us up. And when Chris opened the door for me to get into the car, I saw the Mr furniture man sitting there. I thought I'd say hello, but somethig was wrong. He held his hand high, and I thought I'd ask him for pets. Chris had a good laugh. She says she knows he is afraid of me, but he refused to go sit in the front. so there he had to deal with me until we arrived. We went into a restaurant, where I surely behaved. I received water before the others got their drinks, even though we had never been to that place before. The humans say they liked the food, and they had great fun talking and laughed a lot. on the way back home Mr furniture man was distracted, because he talked a lot, and he finally gave me pets - good Mr furniture man, I just love pets. And when we arrived at home, chris nd Daniel talked before she and I got out of the car, as always.

 

This morning she woke up late, and i duscovered that it had snowed again. O that snow snow snow, it will never leave, and I think I am going to like it. Chris says she is so happy she has me to guide her through any condition outside, so she can follow me quite relaxed without having to worry that she might get lost. We are a great team after all.

Have a good time wherever you are, and don't send any more snow, it's plenty here, Yours, Hapoo.

the end if the year

Hi folks and woofs:

Not long after I had written to you for the last time, mom arrived and spent an evening with us. The next morning Daniel picked us up and took us to the train station. That was so nice of him, as it saved Chris the money for the taxi, and I had somebody to greet. When I get into his car, I always give him a kiss to say hello.

We stayed on a train forever, and when we got out, the friend greeted us, the one who is nice but doesn't like me too much. But Chris likes her, and that's allright. The friend carried an entire tree home - why was that?

They spent some time taking it into the apartment, and later I found it standing in the livingroom. As if the livingroom was a forrest!

 

Well I don't think so, because in forrests they don't put glass apples, gold glitter, birds and stars on it, let alone lights. That same picture was to be found in the friend's mom's livingroom, and I think the trees belong into forrests, where i can run underneath them, sniff and occasionally leave a mark of my presence.

 

Well the days were spent being lazy, many candles were burning, and a lot of food was put in front of Chris, of which I did not get a single piece, although it smelled so delicious.

 

A few days later Chris and I returned on our own. The plan had been to take the friend with us, but since her mom had a few problems with her knee, the friend preferred to stay at home. I also think that she was in love with that poor tree in her livingroom - I really feel sorry for it.

This time we took the streetcar home, and it was good to be back.

 

The next two days we went to work, and I met Gina, the larger dog. I really lke her, but I just don't get it why she does not want to play with me. She always goes exploring the field, but she never plays and runs and jumps with me - pretty frustrating if you ask me. But apart from that she is fun to be with.

 

Then we stayed home, but one day we walked to work late at night - something I cannot recall having done ever in the years that we are here. Well Chris did not work, but we picked up Daniel, who took us to the city and into the restaurant Chris loves. The humans had food, and after they had finished, I received a Hapoo treat from the nice waiter. And then the friend came, who we had visited in Spain. She is sooo wonderful, and I think she loved seeing me, too. She was accompanied by another colleague from work, who also has a dog but did not take her with her.

The humans talked, I slept, and soon we all left for home. i forgot to mention that that morning we had gone to the post office with Daniel, but Chris was too late for the package, it was on its way back to the lovely lady who had sent it. But they had breakfast at a bakery, and talked a lot, of course.

 

the next day Daniel picked us up again, this time accompanied by a friend of his, who kept me company on the back seat of the car. We went to a potato place, where the humans talked, and the friend took my leash to walk from and to the car. O that was strange, but Chris says he did a good job.

Then we stayed at home, Chris watched TV, and outside the noise started - many little explosion and flashes of light. Chris soon went to bed, and so did I. When the noise got too much, she woke up, but fell asleep again. She calls that New Year's celebration, but she was too tired to wait until the years said hi and bye.

 

When the new day started, the noise had mainly gone, and outside it was crisp and clear. Walking was fun, and it was so quiet outside!

I think now it is work time again, so I'll say hello and nudge Chris to get going, cheers, Hapoo.