I used to take Polka out for a walk to nearby Mt Emily Park. The dogs owners that we came across were rather unfriendly types. They would see us and tug their dogs in the other direction. I'll admit Polka isn't the most well-behaved of mutts, but how can one walk away from that cute face? Hubby gleefully suggested, "It can't be Polka. It must be you!". "But how can they walk away from this cute face?", I retorted. Nonetheless, I began frequenting Fort Canning Park from then on.
One pleasant cool evening at Fort Canning, and the park was surprisingly empty. A black dog was sitting with his owner in the main lawn. Seeing Polka, the dog came running to us. Gideon was a sweet dog with beautiful, gentle eyes who turned out to be a shelter dog from Salem, Massachusetts. I got chatting with the owner - Jim had recently moved to Singapore and was elated to see another dog so eager to play. He was feeling guilty about moving to an urban landscape from a green, wooded, suburban place. Polka and Gideon ran furiously in the big empty lawn, chasing each other, jumping and having a good time. Gideon and Jim were back in suburbia - albeit for a short time. As a passerby aptly put it, "these two dogs are made for each other!". Polka now has a new play date on weekdays!
------------------------------------------------
That same evening at the park, I met a couple with two little dogs, a black and white pair. The dogs smelt the treats I had in my hand (I blackmail Polka with treats all the time) and stood in front of me with pleading eyes - their paws reaching up to my knees. How could I resist? Soon, Polka was in her game position egging them to play. They were shy at first, but eventually opened up and were as friendly as the couple. Polka had a wonderful time and so did I. We exchanged phone numbers and since then meet on a regular basis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
As I walked back home, I realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by such wonderful people. Karmic connections don't you think?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Karmic Konnections - part 1
I'm not a believer in Karma and don't believe 'things happen for a reason'. Actually I think everything is random. But there are times when good things happen in succession and I wonder if there is something more to it .. Maybe it's karma - the good karma that Polka brought with her. Karma is a bitch indeed in that case. Haha.
----------------------------------------------
We had moved to a new place just a couple of months before Polka happened to us. We were as anxious about Polka adjusting to the new environment as we were about our next door neighbour's disposition towards her. Soon after, I met them in the corridor and casually mentioned, "We just got a dog, she usually doesn't bark but we're not sure what she does when we go out. I hope she's not been disturbing you..." The elderly gentleman - presumably the grand-dad visiting from overseas - laughed and said "No. Not at all. We have one at home too - hope he is not disturbing you. Haha."
There's a dog next door and I've never heard or seen him? The patios are adjacent but fenced .. and guess we're not the neighbourly kind. I felt a tinge of guilt at not knowing my neighbours, at not making an effort to introduce myself or calling them over. All this wasted time! Polka could have had a playmate and could be going for doggie walks .... but hey wait a minute - they are at fault as much as me aren't they? Anyhow, I decided to call them over for tea.
Like all good ideas that go nowhere - I never went ahead with the invitation. After a month or so, the fences were gone (the fence was on their side of the patio) and there was a flurry of activity. That was the first time I'd seen the family together. A 3 year old boy, mom and dad. No dog! The grand-dad sure had a sense of humour. The little kid was delighted, the parents loved dogs and Polka was happy. It was perfect. Unfortunately for us, their stay in Singapore was coming to an end, and they were leaving at the end of the month.
Soon they were gone and I was back to square one. What if the new neighbour didn't like dogs?
--------------------------------------------
My hubby, being the paranoid type, decided to get a fence immediately. "We need a fence right away. Imagine if she jumps onto the other patio! Polka is over-friendly - she will stand at the edge and that might annoy them especially if they aren't dog lovers. If they complain, we may have to look for another apartment! We have to get a fence right away!"
If the neighbours' don't like dogs - they can get there own darn fence! Why should we hurry? But after two weeks of daily reminders from hubby - "did you go get the fence?" - I couldn't take it anymore. I got the fence and we promptly fixed it. Our new neighbour moved in but we never saw them and it was business as usual. As luck would have it, the building was getting painted and the fences had to come down! And we (read hubby) started worrying again.
One evening when we arrived home, Polka came running, wagging her tail, smiling and dragging us to the patio. There was a small cute dog next door - Curio! Polka had already made friends with the neighbour, who turned out to be a friendly lady who actively volunteers at the local shelter and fosters dogs. She had fostered Curio, a rescue dog, for two months and then convinced her friend to adopt it. Both ladies were gushing all over Polka and feeding her avocados, asparagus and other healthy stuff. I could not have asked for more! Soon Polka was dispatched to their side of the patio and beer cans made their way to our side. The dogs were playing and having a blast while we were drinking and chatting. A wonderful Friday evening indeed and a great start for many more!
----------------------------------------------
We had moved to a new place just a couple of months before Polka happened to us. We were as anxious about Polka adjusting to the new environment as we were about our next door neighbour's disposition towards her. Soon after, I met them in the corridor and casually mentioned, "We just got a dog, she usually doesn't bark but we're not sure what she does when we go out. I hope she's not been disturbing you..." The elderly gentleman - presumably the grand-dad visiting from overseas - laughed and said "No. Not at all. We have one at home too - hope he is not disturbing you. Haha."
There's a dog next door and I've never heard or seen him? The patios are adjacent but fenced .. and guess we're not the neighbourly kind. I felt a tinge of guilt at not knowing my neighbours, at not making an effort to introduce myself or calling them over. All this wasted time! Polka could have had a playmate and could be going for doggie walks .... but hey wait a minute - they are at fault as much as me aren't they? Anyhow, I decided to call them over for tea.
Like all good ideas that go nowhere - I never went ahead with the invitation. After a month or so, the fences were gone (the fence was on their side of the patio) and there was a flurry of activity. That was the first time I'd seen the family together. A 3 year old boy, mom and dad. No dog! The grand-dad sure had a sense of humour. The little kid was delighted, the parents loved dogs and Polka was happy. It was perfect. Unfortunately for us, their stay in Singapore was coming to an end, and they were leaving at the end of the month.
Soon they were gone and I was back to square one. What if the new neighbour didn't like dogs?
--------------------------------------------
My hubby, being the paranoid type, decided to get a fence immediately. "We need a fence right away. Imagine if she jumps onto the other patio! Polka is over-friendly - she will stand at the edge and that might annoy them especially if they aren't dog lovers. If they complain, we may have to look for another apartment! We have to get a fence right away!"
If the neighbours' don't like dogs - they can get there own darn fence! Why should we hurry? But after two weeks of daily reminders from hubby - "did you go get the fence?" - I couldn't take it anymore. I got the fence and we promptly fixed it. Our new neighbour moved in but we never saw them and it was business as usual. As luck would have it, the building was getting painted and the fences had to come down! And we (read hubby) started worrying again.
One evening when we arrived home, Polka came running, wagging her tail, smiling and dragging us to the patio. There was a small cute dog next door - Curio! Polka had already made friends with the neighbour, who turned out to be a friendly lady who actively volunteers at the local shelter and fosters dogs. She had fostered Curio, a rescue dog, for two months and then convinced her friend to adopt it. Both ladies were gushing all over Polka and feeding her avocados, asparagus and other healthy stuff. I could not have asked for more! Soon Polka was dispatched to their side of the patio and beer cans made their way to our side. The dogs were playing and having a blast while we were drinking and chatting. A wonderful Friday evening indeed and a great start for many more!
Polka Talk
Taking Polka out for a walk in the central business district is always an adventure. It garners interest from the tourists as well as locals. She is a big dog for Singapore.
Overheard in Singapore:
Overheard in Singapore:
- She looks like a cartoon character. Funny looking thing.
- So tall. She is a pencil
- What a fierce looking dog. Put a muzzle lah!
- Such a kind and gentle face
- Ma, look the thinnest dog ever! (My vet assures me she is the right weight. Singapore dogs in general are overweight)
- She looks like a dingo mate !
- She is so loong - like a sausage.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Polka Talk
One day some aliens chanced upon the planet Earth. After a keen observation, they concluded the rulers of the Planet Earth are ... drum roll ... DOGS!
'Humans work to provide for their masters - the dogs. They clean up after them, shower them and ensure there's always food and water available. Some confused beings also take them for spa treatments, hair color treatment and dog yoga. Dogs are seen playing, running but mainly sleeping and relaxing. Hence we conclude: Dogs are the rulers of Earth.'
"If we are alone in the Universe, it sure seems like an awful waste of space." -Carl Sagan
'Humans work to provide for their masters - the dogs. They clean up after them, shower them and ensure there's always food and water available. Some confused beings also take them for spa treatments, hair color treatment and dog yoga. Dogs are seen playing, running but mainly sleeping and relaxing. Hence we conclude: Dogs are the rulers of Earth.'
"If we are alone in the Universe, it sure seems like an awful waste of space." -Carl Sagan
Floating in Space
I love to jump. Bounce high up in the air and come down. No control; floating in air; the adrenaline rush. High on life.
I jump high and momentarily stay at the top and then let go. Something ain't right. The excruciating pain. I am on my back. Gravity sucks.
Hysteria and panic everywhere. A shot in the body. Out like a light.
Half opened eyes. On a bed. Lots of faces staring. Sleep.
The smell of sickness and medicines. A dying dog close by. Still groggy. Where am I?
The non-stop moaning. She is dying for sure. Caged in like animals, stacked up against each other. Closed spaces. Feeling doped.
Surrounded by sickness and depression. Attendants come in to check. Hard to keep eyes open. Tired.
The stench. The blazing eyes; She's struggling to stay alive. Drifting in and out.
Less dopey today. There he is with tears in his eyes The doctor comes in 'Couple more days. He needs a lot of rest'
Couple more days in here? NO! Take me home right now! Pat on my head, kisses on the forehead, the neck massage. 'Everything will be alright' says he. I feel better already.
The smell of death. The whining. Penetrating eyes continue to stare. She's half dead for sure. Feeling sick. Couple more days..
A flick of the switch. Green men everywhere. Cages been cleaned. Drugged weak dogs. No struggle at all.
Cold eyes. A sudden blink of her eyelid. Still not dead. Trying to say something but no sound..
White light. Silence. No movement. No stench. Nothing. A teardrop glistens. I see a rainbow.
No pain anymore. Floating in space. Let this last longer. Feeling high once again.
I jump high and momentarily stay at the top and then let go. Something ain't right. The excruciating pain. I am on my back. Gravity sucks.
Hysteria and panic everywhere. A shot in the body. Out like a light.
Half opened eyes. On a bed. Lots of faces staring. Sleep.
The smell of sickness and medicines. A dying dog close by. Still groggy. Where am I?
The non-stop moaning. She is dying for sure. Caged in like animals, stacked up against each other. Closed spaces. Feeling doped.
Surrounded by sickness and depression. Attendants come in to check. Hard to keep eyes open. Tired.
The stench. The blazing eyes; She's struggling to stay alive. Drifting in and out.
Less dopey today. There he is with tears in his eyes The doctor comes in 'Couple more days. He needs a lot of rest'
Couple more days in here? NO! Take me home right now! Pat on my head, kisses on the forehead, the neck massage. 'Everything will be alright' says he. I feel better already.
The smell of death. The whining. Penetrating eyes continue to stare. She's half dead for sure. Feeling sick. Couple more days..
A flick of the switch. Green men everywhere. Cages been cleaned. Drugged weak dogs. No struggle at all.
Cold eyes. A sudden blink of her eyelid. Still not dead. Trying to say something but no sound..
White light. Silence. No movement. No stench. Nothing. A teardrop glistens. I see a rainbow.
No pain anymore. Floating in space. Let this last longer. Feeling high once again.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Day Polka Went Missing
Polka was 4 months old but her vaccinations were still not done. So she had to stay confined in the apartment. We used to put her in the playpen, latch it and leave the house. That way, we were sure she wouldn't hurt herself or destroy the furniture. But Polka was getting bigger and soon outgrew the pen. It was time to let her free in the apartment.
The first time we left Polka alone was actually to spy on her :) We went out by the front door and made our way to the garden outside our patio. We stood behind the bushes and waited patiently. Polka was sitting at the door for a long time. After confirming she had the house to herself, Miss 'busybody' went on an exploratory trip. She looked around, climbed the bar stool, sniffed at the scotch on the bar table, walked to the TV stand, stared at the CD case for a while and then suddenly entered the patio. We ducked down - she was small at that time and couldn't see beyond the patio walls but she heard the movement. We stayed down, trying not to breathe - like the paparazzi, hiding, waiting for the coast to clear and then slowly made our way back to the front door. When we opened the door, Polka jumped at us angrily and went back to the patio to investigate!
After that, we started leaving her alone for longer periods. One evening, we went out for dinner at 7pm and arrived back around midnight. We had a bottle of wine and were feeling quite light headed. We opened the door - expecting Polka to jump - but there was no sound! Polka wasn't there! The nice 'after drink' buzz was gone in an instant and we went into panic mode. We rushed out to the patio, looked outside in the little garden, screamed her name at the top of our voices but nothing! Silence. All the doors except the one to the patio were closed - but we went to every room, calling out her name, hoping she will magically appear. When we returned back to the front door, we realized we'd walked into the house without actually using a key! We hadn't locked the main door when we left the house!
Hubby screamed, 'POLKA MIGHT BE STOLEN! She's not microchipped as yet. How will we find her ?' I didn't want to think about that possibility. I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind, 'She's a stray. Nobody will steal her. What will they do with her ?' Hubby stared at me in disbelief ', How can you talk about our Polka like that!' We glared at each other, but as time was precious, we decided to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Our apartment is on the 5th floor which also has the swimming pool and the gym. The main door leads to the elevator as well as swimming pool. The patio is enclosed with a 4 foot wall and the other side of the garden overlooks the tennis court 2 floors below.
It was impossible for Polka to turn the knob and open the main door and at the same time it was highly improbable for Polka to jump out of the patio. But get out she did! Maybe she entered into the pool or jumped the high wall into the tennis court or followed someone into the elevator! It didn't make sense but nothing did. How could Polka get out of the apartment in the first place? Hubby and I decided to split up and search for her.
Hubby jumped over the patio walls and disappeared while I rushed out of the main door. I called the security guard. Had he seen a dog running around in the building or the lobby ? Maybe someone called to complain about a dog? The guard had heard nothing and was skeptical, 'Ma'm how did the dog get out of the apartment'? I couldn't explain. I went outside the building - there were people stumbling out of the many bars across the streets, teenagers smoking at a corner and and an occasional car whirring by. I called out to Polka and I thought I saw her running towards me. Alas, my eyes were playing tricks on me.
I walked back disappointed. Hubby and me were dejected, blank, trying to think of what to do next. We decided to call her name once more. POLKA! And voila, she appeared! Polka came running towards us from the pool side, with her ears pulled back, eyes shining brightly and a happy, smiling face!
We were relieved and thrilled and confused! Am still not sure what happened that night. Maybe, someone opened our front door by mistake and Polka sprinted out? Maybe, the door was slightly ajar and she got out closing it behind her? And where had she been all this time? It's all still a mystery! But one thing is for sure - Polka had thoroughly enjoyed her 'solo' night out!
And yes the front door is now locked at all times!
The first time we left Polka alone was actually to spy on her :) We went out by the front door and made our way to the garden outside our patio. We stood behind the bushes and waited patiently. Polka was sitting at the door for a long time. After confirming she had the house to herself, Miss 'busybody' went on an exploratory trip. She looked around, climbed the bar stool, sniffed at the scotch on the bar table, walked to the TV stand, stared at the CD case for a while and then suddenly entered the patio. We ducked down - she was small at that time and couldn't see beyond the patio walls but she heard the movement. We stayed down, trying not to breathe - like the paparazzi, hiding, waiting for the coast to clear and then slowly made our way back to the front door. When we opened the door, Polka jumped at us angrily and went back to the patio to investigate!
After that, we started leaving her alone for longer periods. One evening, we went out for dinner at 7pm and arrived back around midnight. We had a bottle of wine and were feeling quite light headed. We opened the door - expecting Polka to jump - but there was no sound! Polka wasn't there! The nice 'after drink' buzz was gone in an instant and we went into panic mode. We rushed out to the patio, looked outside in the little garden, screamed her name at the top of our voices but nothing! Silence. All the doors except the one to the patio were closed - but we went to every room, calling out her name, hoping she will magically appear. When we returned back to the front door, we realized we'd walked into the house without actually using a key! We hadn't locked the main door when we left the house!
Hubby screamed, 'POLKA MIGHT BE STOLEN! She's not microchipped as yet. How will we find her ?' I didn't want to think about that possibility. I blurted out the first thing that came to my mind, 'She's a stray. Nobody will steal her. What will they do with her ?' Hubby stared at me in disbelief ', How can you talk about our Polka like that!' We glared at each other, but as time was precious, we decided to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Our apartment is on the 5th floor which also has the swimming pool and the gym. The main door leads to the elevator as well as swimming pool. The patio is enclosed with a 4 foot wall and the other side of the garden overlooks the tennis court 2 floors below.
It was impossible for Polka to turn the knob and open the main door and at the same time it was highly improbable for Polka to jump out of the patio. But get out she did! Maybe she entered into the pool or jumped the high wall into the tennis court or followed someone into the elevator! It didn't make sense but nothing did. How could Polka get out of the apartment in the first place? Hubby and I decided to split up and search for her.
Hubby jumped over the patio walls and disappeared while I rushed out of the main door. I called the security guard. Had he seen a dog running around in the building or the lobby ? Maybe someone called to complain about a dog? The guard had heard nothing and was skeptical, 'Ma'm how did the dog get out of the apartment'? I couldn't explain. I went outside the building - there were people stumbling out of the many bars across the streets, teenagers smoking at a corner and and an occasional car whirring by. I called out to Polka and I thought I saw her running towards me. Alas, my eyes were playing tricks on me.
I walked back disappointed. Hubby and me were dejected, blank, trying to think of what to do next. We decided to call her name once more. POLKA! And voila, she appeared! Polka came running towards us from the pool side, with her ears pulled back, eyes shining brightly and a happy, smiling face!
We were relieved and thrilled and confused! Am still not sure what happened that night. Maybe, someone opened our front door by mistake and Polka sprinted out? Maybe, the door was slightly ajar and she got out closing it behind her? And where had she been all this time? It's all still a mystery! But one thing is for sure - Polka had thoroughly enjoyed her 'solo' night out!
And yes the front door is now locked at all times!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Il Cani D'Italia
The first thing that struck me about Italy were the dogs!
Beautiful places, ancient ruins, modern cities, pastas and dolces, throngs of tourists .. it was all what I expected but surprise surprise - dogs! Everywhere in Italy!
Traveling 2 weeks sans polka was hard - I missed her terribly but the sight of these four-legged creatures was comforting. One could see them in the metros, buses, trams, walkways, malls, high fashion stores, cafes... It was crazy! Soon it was easy to tell a city by its dogs.
Milan - the fashion capital of the world. A cute little dog waiting patiently with its owner at the metro station was the first to catch my attention. A small bundle of fur looking in the direction of the train - fashionably groomed, stylish, quiet, but with an air of confidence - like the Milanese. The train arrived, the owner picked the little creature in her arms and into the train. No one blinked an eye. It was the most normal thing to see in Milan - a dog sitting on the arm of a Dolce & Gabbana coat! Or was that just another fashion accessory ?
Florence - the birth place of Renaissance. Dogs walking freely, unleashed in crowded piazzas - soaking in the atmosphere - oblivious to the tourists taking pictures of Donatello's sculptures, lifting their legs up at the corner of Palazzo Strozzi, window shopping on Via De'Tornabuoni, admiring the latest fashions from Salvatore Ferragamo, looking down their nose at the tourist pasta places near Il Duomo, sitting on the steps of the Uffizi gallery and contemplating life. The 'Dantes' & 'Michaelangelos' of today's Florence!
Rome - ancient ruins and modern city; chaotic traffic and tranquil alleyways; The rich, the haughty and the 'gente commune'; vespas and ferraris; beggar-dogs and fashionista ones!
The beggar dogs lie on the footpath with a bowl placed in front of them, trying to charm passers-by with their droopy eyes and shaggy looks as they wait to hear the clink of the coins. A loving look, a pat on the back and some change please! The fashionista dogs walk by into the Prada store to check out the latest designs. The polished floors, the glass walls, the minimalistic look, the demure lighting -' Shoes for you and his royal highness?' Rome - where everything and everyone goes!
Naples - the city of contrasts and contradictions. The sturdy, rugged dogs with the 'seen-it-all' look; they have braved many storms, faced harsh realities, survived and thrived in hostile environments. They roam freely on the streets, in the castles and galleria with a swagger, staring right at you as if to ask ' what can you do for me ?' A city where its 'every dog for himself'.
But after a while, its easy to see beneath the hard exterior; the beautiful eyes despite the 'crusties', the royal walk albeit on litter-strewn streets; the vitality and excitement but no rush to reach any destination; the hesitant enjoyment at a gentle stroking of the head. These are the dogs of real Italy - Naples - a city everyone loves to hate and hates to leave!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Polka Talk
A vacation within a vacation
Lots of doggies and lots of fun
Summer camp for Polka and Italy for me
From hectic days back to relaxed ones!
A vacation within a vacation
A little dose of education
Hiking and eating and new sights to see
And now its back to Polka and me!
Lots of doggies and lots of fun
Summer camp for Polka and Italy for me
From hectic days back to relaxed ones!
A vacation within a vacation
A little dose of education
Hiking and eating and new sights to see
And now its back to Polka and me!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Citizen Polka
Recently, a cab driver asked me, 'Did you get the dog from your country?' I responded, 'No she's local. I am just a resident here but my dog is a citizen. Haha'
Polka is a Singaporean due to the fact that she was born on this piece of land. But neither Polka nor I can answer the question, 'Where is home? Which place do you belong to?' My childhood was in India, I came into my own in USA and currently enjoying my time in Singapore. I long for each place that I've lived in and am part of every place I travel to but I don't feel I belong to any one place.
So who am I? A global citizen? Traitorous to no one and patriotic to myself! But what does it really mean to be a patriot? As Samuel Johnson famously said. 'Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel'. As the world gets flatter, the physical lines that tend to divide and categorize us continue to blur. We are getting closer to becoming citizens of the world or at least citizens of the Internet.
The Internet has made us realize that we are very different and yet very similar. We are now all part of this global village - connecting instantaneously to anyone in the world, seeing places we never dreamt of, signing petitions across borders for causes we believe in, playing games in a virtual, fantasy-filled world, getting a second and even a third life - traveling seamlessly between the virtual and the real world with no passport or visa!
That begs the question - Is reality virtual or the virtual reality?' Are we global citizens or citizens of our own mind? Maybe we are the figment of our own imagination, residing in our own heads, creating and re-creating boundaries as we please ....
I am sure Citizen Polka would agree!
Polka is a Singaporean due to the fact that she was born on this piece of land. But neither Polka nor I can answer the question, 'Where is home? Which place do you belong to?' My childhood was in India, I came into my own in USA and currently enjoying my time in Singapore. I long for each place that I've lived in and am part of every place I travel to but I don't feel I belong to any one place.
So who am I? A global citizen? Traitorous to no one and patriotic to myself! But what does it really mean to be a patriot? As Samuel Johnson famously said. 'Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel'. As the world gets flatter, the physical lines that tend to divide and categorize us continue to blur. We are getting closer to becoming citizens of the world or at least citizens of the Internet.
The Internet has made us realize that we are very different and yet very similar. We are now all part of this global village - connecting instantaneously to anyone in the world, seeing places we never dreamt of, signing petitions across borders for causes we believe in, playing games in a virtual, fantasy-filled world, getting a second and even a third life - traveling seamlessly between the virtual and the real world with no passport or visa!
That begs the question - Is reality virtual or the virtual reality?' Are we global citizens or citizens of our own mind? Maybe we are the figment of our own imagination, residing in our own heads, creating and re-creating boundaries as we please ....
I am sure Citizen Polka would agree!
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Dealmaker
A week after we got Polka home, I was looking at her - trying to understand what she must be thinking - and I guess she was doing the same. Suddenly her quizzical expression changed and she looked at me as if to say something and that particular look reminded me of my grandma.
My grandma was in India. It was almost 10 months since she was bedridden. Polka didn't even exist then! Some days it was better and some days it was worse. I had gone to see her 6 months back. She seemed small and fragile but was attentive and happy to see me - 'You better have kids soon. I will not die before that' I responded, 'Sure! Its a deal. You are not going anywhere in that case as I don't plan to have any'. Its fun to watch her expressions when I say things that are 'outrageous' !
We usually discuss on the happenings in the family - what each one of us is or rather should be doing - the younger ones should be studying, the unmarried ones should be looking for the right partner and the married ones need to make babies.. But this time it was different. She wanted to talk about her life, her past, her unhappiness. I'd never heard my grandma frustrated or disgruntled other than the occasional complaint about the maid or the food. It must have been the illness .. She talked incessantly about the unhappy times. The verbal abuse her mother had to endure from her grandfather, the sickness and curses that killed her mom when she was 7, her marriage at the age of 8, the hard life and the expectations from the new bride, the uncles and aunts who were looking out for their own good, the inconsiderate neighbours, her daughter who had to work on the farm, the black soot from all the cooking, the dark evenings... Her voice changed, her language changed; she was remembering the events vividly and re-living them. The picture I had painted in my mind was quite different - the mango trees, the quaint house, the friendly neighbours, the well where her sons went swimming, the fresh village air, the real taste of 'zunka -bhakri' - it was all gone. I could only see a small girl longing for a childhood she never had; conflicts she never could resolve; a closure that she so desperately wanted.
She became irritable and screamed at everyone who tried to help. Nothing could calm her mind. The illness, the smell of medicines, the attendants, the bedridden existence, the helplessness - it all made it worse. She became stubborn and didn't wish to listen to what we thought was 'reason'. Everyone was prepared for the inevitable including me. As her condition deteriorated, I was hoping she'd die sooner than suffer a prolonged, miserable, death.
I looked at Polka - she continued looking at me in that peculiar way. I was trying to hold on to that moment - to get some clarity - when the phone rang. My grandma had passed away.
My grandma! She'd dance so that I would eat one more bite and sing the weirdest village songs. She'd walk softly to spy on the maids so that her heavy anklets didn't give her away. She'd let me teach her how to write her name and would give me 'ladoos' for not failing any subjects. She'd proudly proclaim to anyone ready to listen - 'my granddaughter works in America!'. She'd wear the Wallmart slippers I'd got for her only on 'special' occasions and would circle a broom around me to keep the evil spirits away. She loved all of us grand-kids equally and loved me a little more!
I did not cry that day. I was blank and numb. I tried to make sense. I knew this was going to happen and had even wished for her suffering to end. But somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping for her to get better, stronger, laugh once more and then bid farewell on a high, healthy note. I reasoned - she was a fighter and had a desire to live - she had let go on her own terms.
A week later, I noticed Polka looking with that same peculiar look and I thought to myself - that's the dealmaker - Polka was my baby! And then the tears wouldn't stop.
My grandma was in India. It was almost 10 months since she was bedridden. Polka didn't even exist then! Some days it was better and some days it was worse. I had gone to see her 6 months back. She seemed small and fragile but was attentive and happy to see me - 'You better have kids soon. I will not die before that' I responded, 'Sure! Its a deal. You are not going anywhere in that case as I don't plan to have any'. Its fun to watch her expressions when I say things that are 'outrageous' !
We usually discuss on the happenings in the family - what each one of us is or rather should be doing - the younger ones should be studying, the unmarried ones should be looking for the right partner and the married ones need to make babies.. But this time it was different. She wanted to talk about her life, her past, her unhappiness. I'd never heard my grandma frustrated or disgruntled other than the occasional complaint about the maid or the food. It must have been the illness .. She talked incessantly about the unhappy times. The verbal abuse her mother had to endure from her grandfather, the sickness and curses that killed her mom when she was 7, her marriage at the age of 8, the hard life and the expectations from the new bride, the uncles and aunts who were looking out for their own good, the inconsiderate neighbours, her daughter who had to work on the farm, the black soot from all the cooking, the dark evenings... Her voice changed, her language changed; she was remembering the events vividly and re-living them. The picture I had painted in my mind was quite different - the mango trees, the quaint house, the friendly neighbours, the well where her sons went swimming, the fresh village air, the real taste of 'zunka -bhakri' - it was all gone. I could only see a small girl longing for a childhood she never had; conflicts she never could resolve; a closure that she so desperately wanted.
She became irritable and screamed at everyone who tried to help. Nothing could calm her mind. The illness, the smell of medicines, the attendants, the bedridden existence, the helplessness - it all made it worse. She became stubborn and didn't wish to listen to what we thought was 'reason'. Everyone was prepared for the inevitable including me. As her condition deteriorated, I was hoping she'd die sooner than suffer a prolonged, miserable, death.
I looked at Polka - she continued looking at me in that peculiar way. I was trying to hold on to that moment - to get some clarity - when the phone rang. My grandma had passed away.
My grandma! She'd dance so that I would eat one more bite and sing the weirdest village songs. She'd walk softly to spy on the maids so that her heavy anklets didn't give her away. She'd let me teach her how to write her name and would give me 'ladoos' for not failing any subjects. She'd proudly proclaim to anyone ready to listen - 'my granddaughter works in America!'. She'd wear the Wallmart slippers I'd got for her only on 'special' occasions and would circle a broom around me to keep the evil spirits away. She loved all of us grand-kids equally and loved me a little more!
I did not cry that day. I was blank and numb. I tried to make sense. I knew this was going to happen and had even wished for her suffering to end. But somewhere in the back of my mind I was hoping for her to get better, stronger, laugh once more and then bid farewell on a high, healthy note. I reasoned - she was a fighter and had a desire to live - she had let go on her own terms.
A week later, I noticed Polka looking with that same peculiar look and I thought to myself - that's the dealmaker - Polka was my baby! And then the tears wouldn't stop.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
To kill a mocking bird!
Everyday I go for my walks in the evenings. Its not at regular times and its hard for me to plan my day but what can I expect from her. She has no discipline, no structure! She does not even wear a watch! But I digress - I will leave that for another day.
We usually walk in front of our house. Its a nice, huge green lawn in the middle of the city. I walk in the grass, look around, say hello to unsuspecting strangers and try to chase the birds. It was wonderful - till recently ...
A small black bird has decided to make my lawn his home. He perches himself atop the trees and awaits my arrival. Every time I step into the lawn, the tiny bird glides from one tree to another and into the open lawn. He soars high up in the sky and dives low to the ground. He flaps his wings and circles in the air over and over again and goads me. I pull and tug at the leash as I watch his every movement, every flap, every turn. My heart beats faster and I start panting harder. I growl in frustration and stare in anticipation of a fall. But the dance continues! The black bird flies away and comes threateningly close; and twitters and sings and mocks me - 'Come get me!'
Aah what a pleasure it would be to kill the mocking bird!
We usually walk in front of our house. Its a nice, huge green lawn in the middle of the city. I walk in the grass, look around, say hello to unsuspecting strangers and try to chase the birds. It was wonderful - till recently ...
A small black bird has decided to make my lawn his home. He perches himself atop the trees and awaits my arrival. Every time I step into the lawn, the tiny bird glides from one tree to another and into the open lawn. He soars high up in the sky and dives low to the ground. He flaps his wings and circles in the air over and over again and goads me. I pull and tug at the leash as I watch his every movement, every flap, every turn. My heart beats faster and I start panting harder. I growl in frustration and stare in anticipation of a fall. But the dance continues! The black bird flies away and comes threateningly close; and twitters and sings and mocks me - 'Come get me!'
Aah what a pleasure it would be to kill the mocking bird!
Monday, August 16, 2010
'FUR'IOUS !!!
My understanding of the fur trade was shaped largely by PETA's sensational 'I'd rather go naked than wear fur' ads. I'd spent as much time admiring the models as I'd spent pondering about the animal killings. If all the folks, especially the guys out there, were doing the same, I think PETA definitely succeeded in raising awareness.
I don't wear fur and I never gave the fur trade much thought - till recently. I was forwarded this disturbing video on the dog fur trade. It was horrible to see dogs and cats been mistreated and skinned alive. That's when it hit home. Dogs ? Fur ? Really ? For me, mink coats, leather items , 'medicines' meant seals, foxes, crocodiles. elephants, tigers, rhinos - wild, exotic animals.. However deplorable these killings are, they happen in far away places - in the cold waters of Alaska or the jungles of Africa. Poachers, hunting traps and custom crackdowns are almost out of a movie scene. But dogs and cats - these are domestic animals, man's best friend! This is very close to home and very close to my heart. I am furious. It's disgusting and sad. Are we really capable of this level of cruelty ?
I wouldn't want this kind of fate to befall anyone - even the people brutally skinning alive helpless creatures. After all, in all likelihood they're just trying to survive. It's because of demand and supply, because of glamorizing and branding and because of me and maybe even you. Aren't we responsible for being unaware, for being complacent, for patronizing these products and companies? I have to do something, get active but before that I have this sudden urge to give a tight hug to my dear Polka!
I don't wear fur and I never gave the fur trade much thought - till recently. I was forwarded this disturbing video on the dog fur trade. It was horrible to see dogs and cats been mistreated and skinned alive. That's when it hit home. Dogs ? Fur ? Really ? For me, mink coats, leather items , 'medicines' meant seals, foxes, crocodiles. elephants, tigers, rhinos - wild, exotic animals.. However deplorable these killings are, they happen in far away places - in the cold waters of Alaska or the jungles of Africa. Poachers, hunting traps and custom crackdowns are almost out of a movie scene. But dogs and cats - these are domestic animals, man's best friend! This is very close to home and very close to my heart. I am furious. It's disgusting and sad. Are we really capable of this level of cruelty ?
I wouldn't want this kind of fate to befall anyone - even the people brutally skinning alive helpless creatures. After all, in all likelihood they're just trying to survive. It's because of demand and supply, because of glamorizing and branding and because of me and maybe even you. Aren't we responsible for being unaware, for being complacent, for patronizing these products and companies? I have to do something, get active but before that I have this sudden urge to give a tight hug to my dear Polka!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
To (Ba)Be or not to (Ba)Be
After Polka arrived, there has been a lot more vocal interest in our family life. 'So what about a baby? ' 'Now that you take care of Polka, you are equipped to take care of your own' 'Your biological clock is ticking!' 'whats wrong with you - raising a dog instead of your own kid??' I used to be ready with a canned but honest reply 'I don't feel the need to have a baby.' But this is usually followed by 'Hmm.. Is there a medical problem?'
One of the most common comment I get is 'You will be a wonderful mom!' Now, I agree that makes me feel good. I am affectionate. loving and full of infinite wisdom :) I wish I could retort, 'I also have a good body maybe I should become a stripper?' (Note to self: Join a gym)
Its hard for most people to fathom that some us don't want/need kids. Most of my family and friends mean well and do believe that a baby is necessary to feel 'complete'. How can one say no to an experience of a life time, unconditional love, the support for old age, mid life crisis, maternal instinct, peer pressure or atleast the need to propagate one's genes?
For me, its hard to fathom that people would want to have kids for these reasons. I believe if you are having kids for any reason other than maybe maternal/paternal instincts you should not be having one. Those genes need to go nowhere. Get a life or better still get a dog!
With a 6 billion and bulging population, more than half the world below the poverty line, life expectancy rates moving upwards, the doom and gloom about climate change - do we really need another small, cute, tiny little baby to occupy space on this planet?
Evidently we do. Because there's a baby born every second or so.. I don't understand this urge to have your own when they are so many out there who need a home. Nature will balance it for sure but it won't be pretty. Like dinosaurs, one day we might be extinct too. The universe is expanding and soon might go up in flames. Why not make it better for everyone today? right now?
Be it pets or kids - why not adopt?
One of the most common comment I get is 'You will be a wonderful mom!' Now, I agree that makes me feel good. I am affectionate. loving and full of infinite wisdom :) I wish I could retort, 'I also have a good body maybe I should become a stripper?' (Note to self: Join a gym)
Its hard for most people to fathom that some us don't want/need kids. Most of my family and friends mean well and do believe that a baby is necessary to feel 'complete'. How can one say no to an experience of a life time, unconditional love, the support for old age, mid life crisis, maternal instinct, peer pressure or atleast the need to propagate one's genes?
For me, its hard to fathom that people would want to have kids for these reasons. I believe if you are having kids for any reason other than maybe maternal/paternal instincts you should not be having one. Those genes need to go nowhere. Get a life or better still get a dog!
With a 6 billion and bulging population, more than half the world below the poverty line, life expectancy rates moving upwards, the doom and gloom about climate change - do we really need another small, cute, tiny little baby to occupy space on this planet?
Evidently we do. Because there's a baby born every second or so.. I don't understand this urge to have your own when they are so many out there who need a home. Nature will balance it for sure but it won't be pretty. Like dinosaurs, one day we might be extinct too. The universe is expanding and soon might go up in flames. Why not make it better for everyone today? right now?
Be it pets or kids - why not adopt?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Polka Talk
Email from a friend:
Welcome to mommyhood - handling Polka must be just as challenging as handling an infant - except that Polka will always be friendly, welcome you wholeheartedly, be loyal and be with you forever
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I am coming up so you better get this party started!
We were invited to a 1 year old's birthday party. My first reaction usually is 'oh its gonna be a bloody screaming affair'. To be fair, in Singapore that is usually not the case. The kids are in the play area with their nannies while the parents are in the party hall making small talk. Not my kind of a party really. But this was a special 'one' and I was actually looking forward to it!
We were among the first to arrive. The party hall was wonderfully decorated with balloons, confetti, streamers et all. The little one - Miss T looked pretty in her new outfit. Soon the other guests started arriving and after the initial introductions, the place was taken over by T and her friends. I found myself sitting alone, just soaking in the atmosphere and loving it. Good food, good music and good company!
T had a great mix of friends - different cultures, background, age groups and races! Some came with their nannies, others with their parents. Quite a few of them were meeting for the first time. That did not deter them. They went around the room, started 'networking', making friends and having a good time. If it were me, I would have been standing in a corner - gauche and awkward - trying to make eye contact and thinking of something brilliant to say. But nah! No awkward moments for these new kids on the block. They were dancing to the groove, moving from one friend to the next, eating donuts, striking up conversations and actually enjoying every bit of it. I could visualize each one of them singing:
The cake cutting was nice. T and her parents cut the cake while all of us sang. The kids were enjoying the cake, grabbing from each other's plates and asking for more. Even with all the chaos around, the adults were not hassled. We were happy, relaxed and did not feel the need for a conversation to keep the party going. It was the best kiddie party ever!
PS: Needless to say - Miss T, Polka and the whole gang had a whale of a time :)
We were among the first to arrive. The party hall was wonderfully decorated with balloons, confetti, streamers et all. The little one - Miss T looked pretty in her new outfit. Soon the other guests started arriving and after the initial introductions, the place was taken over by T and her friends. I found myself sitting alone, just soaking in the atmosphere and loving it. Good food, good music and good company!
T had a great mix of friends - different cultures, background, age groups and races! Some came with their nannies, others with their parents. Quite a few of them were meeting for the first time. That did not deter them. They went around the room, started 'networking', making friends and having a good time. If it were me, I would have been standing in a corner - gauche and awkward - trying to make eye contact and thinking of something brilliant to say. But nah! No awkward moments for these new kids on the block. They were dancing to the groove, moving from one friend to the next, eating donuts, striking up conversations and actually enjoying every bit of it. I could visualize each one of them singing:
Making my connection as I enter the roomIt could have put any MBA networking session to shame!
Everybody's chilling as I set up the groove
The cake cutting was nice. T and her parents cut the cake while all of us sang. The kids were enjoying the cake, grabbing from each other's plates and asking for more. Even with all the chaos around, the adults were not hassled. We were happy, relaxed and did not feel the need for a conversation to keep the party going. It was the best kiddie party ever!
PS: Needless to say - Miss T, Polka and the whole gang had a whale of a time :)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Of Music and Dance
"Polka and Sufi are cousins after all' I quipped.
Prior to this, I hadn't noticed the connection in names. Music and dance, scale and steps, pitch and pirouette, melody and moves, jazz and waltz, Sufi and Polka!
But the cousins may never see each other - at least not very often. One is in Singapore, the other is in India. Sigh! But recently, thanks to the Indian newspaper, The Hindu, Sufi and Polka made their news debut together in style! Surprising they have a lot in common and are more alike than we sisters. We are usually out of tune!
She likes pop music, I like rock. She likes sitting in the back seat, I love to drive. She likes all things neat and tidy, I thrive in chaos. She is soft spoken, I am loud.
Earlier, the only thing we agreed on were our dead end jobs and mundane routines but now its all about taking time off and getting a life - it's about Sufi and Polka, of Music and Dance.
We are dancing to a different beat!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
spay * neuter * sterilize ??
Polka got sterilized at 6 months. I made a list of 'pros' before making the decision:
In short, this was good for Polka and the world at large. Nevertheless, I agonized over the decision. Will she grow to her full potential? Will she experience all the joys of life? Will she remain her bubbly self? Do I have the right to do this to her?
A friend of mine commented:
If we can take this decision for dogs as an obligation and responsibility, isn't the responsibility tenfold bigger when it comes to humans ? After all who is causing more harm to the environment ?
- If she has a litter who would take care of them?
- We adopted her to take her off the street - not to put more out there.
- Statistics show that sterilized dogs are less prone to certain types of cancer.
- Singapore AVA authority advocates sterilization.
In short, this was good for Polka and the world at large. Nevertheless, I agonized over the decision. Will she grow to her full potential? Will she experience all the joys of life? Will she remain her bubbly self? Do I have the right to do this to her?
A friend of mine commented:
We interfered with nature thousands of years ago when we made dogs and cats our companions. Now we have a responsibility to protect them. That means fresh food and water, love and shelter and yes spaying and neutering. The crisis is due to human interference and its our obligation to fix it.The surgery went fine. Polka recovered soon and was ready to play and jump the very next day. It's been over a month now and she looks healthy and strong but sometimes I still wonder ..
If we can take this decision for dogs as an obligation and responsibility, isn't the responsibility tenfold bigger when it comes to humans ? After all who is causing more harm to the environment ?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Whats in a name ?
I never talked to so many strangers before Polka came into my life. Dog walking usually leads to good conversations with dog lovers. The starter usually is ' how old is your dog? what breed' ?
I have tried different answers - 'stray', 'mixed breed', 'mongrel', 'singapore special', 'adopted' 'its a mix between a lab and a fox' and so on .... My answers don't have that punch that one would have while saying lets say 'German Shepherd' or 'Shetland Border Collie' or 'Doberman Pinscher'.
The reactions vary from 'what does that mean ?' to 'oh that's so kind of you to adopt' to 'i only talk to pure breeds'.
Polka does not mind. She wags her tail at anyone who cares to stop by. But I am not happy. For her sake, her respect, her confidence I need to think of a special name. The name has to be classy and should have at least 2 words. It should convey that Polka is a queen, a warrior, a great soul and at the same time it should be a reminder of her humble background. It has to have panache !
The conversation next time ..
DL (dog lover): what breed is it?
Me: Its a 'Royal Roadesian'
DL: Oh I have never heard of it
Me: Yes. Its quite exclusive. They are bred in absolute natural surroundings. The organic equivalent in dog breeds :)
I have tried different answers - 'stray', 'mixed breed', 'mongrel', 'singapore special', 'adopted' 'its a mix between a lab and a fox' and so on .... My answers don't have that punch that one would have while saying lets say 'German Shepherd' or 'Shetland Border Collie' or 'Doberman Pinscher'.
The reactions vary from 'what does that mean ?' to 'oh that's so kind of you to adopt' to 'i only talk to pure breeds'.
Polka does not mind. She wags her tail at anyone who cares to stop by. But I am not happy. For her sake, her respect, her confidence I need to think of a special name. The name has to be classy and should have at least 2 words. It should convey that Polka is a queen, a warrior, a great soul and at the same time it should be a reminder of her humble background. It has to have panache !
The conversation next time ..
DL (dog lover): what breed is it?
Me: Its a 'Royal Roadesian'
DL: Oh I have never heard of it
Me: Yes. Its quite exclusive. They are bred in absolute natural surroundings. The organic equivalent in dog breeds :)
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Moonwalker
Last Sunday, Polka had a lunch date with two cute king charles cavalier girls - Bella and Toby. This was the first time the girls were meeting and it was fun to watch them interact.
My friend had hired a trainer for her girls and it was his weekly session that afternoon. The trainer had decided to bring his dog, Saber along to show(off) how well dogs can be trained. As soon as Saber arrived he went to each of the dogs individually to say hello. (Am Serious!)
And then the show began. Lights, Camera, Action! Saber come, Saber walk, Saber go, Saber tree, Saber talk, Saber talk louder!!! Saber listened, Saber performed. Then the trainer asked Saber to reverse, reverse left, reverse right, reverse, reverse, left, left, right, right .. It was one of the best moonwalks I have ever seen (RIP MJ). Saber was smooth, had rhythm and Billy Jean was playing in my head. It was fascinating! All of us including Toby and Polka were watching with our mouths open and tongues out:)
Except for Bella. She decided to snub this 'charade' and turned her back to it. She wasn't impressed. And that made me wonder - what was she thinking? what were they all thinking? Were they impressed with Saber? Would they like to be like him? Or were they happy to know that they will not be pushed, made to work harder, compete with other dogs to meet expectations, to reach the top spot in doggie schools.
Or is that just bad parenting on our part?
My friend had hired a trainer for her girls and it was his weekly session that afternoon. The trainer had decided to bring his dog, Saber along to show(off) how well dogs can be trained. As soon as Saber arrived he went to each of the dogs individually to say hello. (Am Serious!)
And then the show began. Lights, Camera, Action! Saber come, Saber walk, Saber go, Saber tree, Saber talk, Saber talk louder!!! Saber listened, Saber performed. Then the trainer asked Saber to reverse, reverse left, reverse right, reverse, reverse, left, left, right, right .. It was one of the best moonwalks I have ever seen (RIP MJ). Saber was smooth, had rhythm and Billy Jean was playing in my head. It was fascinating! All of us including Toby and Polka were watching with our mouths open and tongues out:)
Except for Bella. She decided to snub this 'charade' and turned her back to it. She wasn't impressed. And that made me wonder - what was she thinking? what were they all thinking? Were they impressed with Saber? Would they like to be like him? Or were they happy to know that they will not be pushed, made to work harder, compete with other dogs to meet expectations, to reach the top spot in doggie schools.
Or is that just bad parenting on our part?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The Dog Lovers' Club
There are 3 kinds of people in this world. The non-dog-lovers, the toy-dog-lovers and the real-dog-lovers.
The non-dog-lovers are easiest to find in a crowd. The moment they see a dog, they look startled and fearful and try to keep as much distance from you as possible.
The toy-dog-lovers can be seen with cute, adorable, protected small creatures. Its not easy to notice them. Its usually a quick jerky movement, a tighter grasp at the leash that gives them away. The moment they see a normal dog, they walk hurriedly in the other direction to avoid any dog communication.
Then there are us. We approach all dogs, pat them, let our dogs mingle, share doggie tips and look at each other with that all-knowing look which seems to say 'We are superior. We are the real deal'
The non-dog-lovers are easiest to find in a crowd. The moment they see a dog, they look startled and fearful and try to keep as much distance from you as possible.
The toy-dog-lovers can be seen with cute, adorable, protected small creatures. Its not easy to notice them. Its usually a quick jerky movement, a tighter grasp at the leash that gives them away. The moment they see a normal dog, they walk hurriedly in the other direction to avoid any dog communication.
Then there are us. We approach all dogs, pat them, let our dogs mingle, share doggie tips and look at each other with that all-knowing look which seems to say 'We are superior. We are the real deal'
Friday, June 11, 2010
My guru, My philosopher
It's been 3 months now and I can't imagine life without Polka. I wake up in the morning and Polka comes wagging her tail. When I get back home she jumps, ecstatic to see me.
The other day someone asked me "It must be nice to feel so loved and needed". Well no. It isn't nice that someone can love you so purely and be happy to see you always. No it isn't nice that someone can love you even if you scold them, snap at them or forget about their needs. No it isn't nice that someone can live in the moment and be content while you worry about petty issues and inflated egos. No it isn't nice.
It's very overwhelming and humbling!
The more intelligent we get, the less happy we are, the less happiness we share. I wish I am able to learn from Polka and just BE. Polka, my guru, my philosopher :)
The other day someone asked me "It must be nice to feel so loved and needed". Well no. It isn't nice that someone can love you so purely and be happy to see you always. No it isn't nice that someone can love you even if you scold them, snap at them or forget about their needs. No it isn't nice that someone can live in the moment and be content while you worry about petty issues and inflated egos. No it isn't nice.
It's very overwhelming and humbling!
The more intelligent we get, the less happy we are, the less happiness we share. I wish I am able to learn from Polka and just BE. Polka, my guru, my philosopher :)
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Polka Talk
Hubby trying to please me:
Polka is so lucky - she sleeps and eats and stays with you all day.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
childhood, puppyhood, toys, treats
I had a good normal middle class childhood - was loved, scolded, locked in store rooms. I remember having 5 or so toys in total - most of my memories are playing and eating mud. They were happy times!
So I decided Polka could do with the same. Her 5 toys were an old sock, a slipper, a platic bottle, a pillow case and a worn out tennis ball. And she could roll and play in the mud as a special treat.
Hubby was horrified at the abuse! Soon Polka had squeaky toys, biting toys, soft toys, coloured toys, toys for teeth development, brain development, agility -you name it! She was tearing apart the soft toys like nobody's business. I was busy stitching her torn toys (yes I actually tried this with no success) and hubby was busy buying new toys and treats by the dozen!
I started becoming aware of mint bones, doggie toothpaste, pet massages, pet spas, doggie clothes ( I swear Polka will never be seen in those), doggie bakery .... Pet Utopia!
Puppyhood seems wonderful. That got me thinking - was my childhood really happy ? 5 toys and mud !! Time to get on Oprah's couch :)
So I decided Polka could do with the same. Her 5 toys were an old sock, a slipper, a platic bottle, a pillow case and a worn out tennis ball. And she could roll and play in the mud as a special treat.
Hubby was horrified at the abuse! Soon Polka had squeaky toys, biting toys, soft toys, coloured toys, toys for teeth development, brain development, agility -you name it! She was tearing apart the soft toys like nobody's business. I was busy stitching her torn toys (yes I actually tried this with no success) and hubby was busy buying new toys and treats by the dozen!
I started becoming aware of mint bones, doggie toothpaste, pet massages, pet spas, doggie clothes ( I swear Polka will never be seen in those), doggie bakery .... Pet Utopia!
Puppyhood seems wonderful. That got me thinking - was my childhood really happy ? 5 toys and mud !! Time to get on Oprah's couch :)
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Riding in Cars with Dogs
It was time for Polka's first vaccination and as you might have guessed hubby was on a business trip. It was my first time traveling with Polka so pet taxi was the natural choice. I looked into it but cheapo that I am - I didn't like the pricing and decide to turn this into an adventure.
What motivated me to venture out by cab was a cab driver himself. This was a few days ago in a cab sans Polka. I asked the cab driver about the rules. His response in true singaporean style was "Can Can . Dogs are human too". I love Singapore taxi drivers!!
On D-day, I decided Polka should smell nice and fresh and not get an inferiority complex at the vet's. So after a nice bath and after forcing Polka to pee multiple times, I packed her stuff ( poo bags, treats, water, blanket, toys, cash in the back pocket of my trouser for easy access....)and we set out in search of a cab. There were couple of taxis waiting at the taxi stand across the road. I carried her half way but realized she was too heavy and she too scared. By the time I reached the taxi stand I was panting, hassled and full of Polka's hair on my black tshirt. Polka was shedding after her bath!
A hassled owner with a t-shirt full of dog hair and a startled puppy in tow was not a pretty sight. I got turned down by the first and the second and the third and the fourth cab ..
Eventually I took control of my clumsy self. I brushed off the hair from my tshirt, bundled her in a blanket, held her in my arms to make her look small and approached a new cab that had just arrived. Magic! it worked :) The cab driver obliged. I forced Polka and me into the car before he could change his mind and the journey began.
Within 30 secs, thanks to the A/C fan, polka's hair was whirling in the car. I tried hard to ignore the driver's annoyance and did my best to cover her with the blanket. It wasn't working. Eventually, I asked the driver to shut off the A/C and put the windows down to prove how considerate dog owners are. I didn't want to give him any reason to go to the darker anti-dog side.
Polka did fine and all of us(Polka, me, driver, cab) reached the vet's office intact.
The jouney back home was very smooth. After all I was now experienced at riding in cars with dogs;)
What motivated me to venture out by cab was a cab driver himself. This was a few days ago in a cab sans Polka. I asked the cab driver about the rules. His response in true singaporean style was "Can Can . Dogs are human too". I love Singapore taxi drivers!!
On D-day, I decided Polka should smell nice and fresh and not get an inferiority complex at the vet's. So after a nice bath and after forcing Polka to pee multiple times, I packed her stuff ( poo bags, treats, water, blanket, toys, cash in the back pocket of my trouser for easy access....)and we set out in search of a cab. There were couple of taxis waiting at the taxi stand across the road. I carried her half way but realized she was too heavy and she too scared. By the time I reached the taxi stand I was panting, hassled and full of Polka's hair on my black tshirt. Polka was shedding after her bath!
A hassled owner with a t-shirt full of dog hair and a startled puppy in tow was not a pretty sight. I got turned down by the first and the second and the third and the fourth cab ..
Eventually I took control of my clumsy self. I brushed off the hair from my tshirt, bundled her in a blanket, held her in my arms to make her look small and approached a new cab that had just arrived. Magic! it worked :) The cab driver obliged. I forced Polka and me into the car before he could change his mind and the journey began.
Within 30 secs, thanks to the A/C fan, polka's hair was whirling in the car. I tried hard to ignore the driver's annoyance and did my best to cover her with the blanket. It wasn't working. Eventually, I asked the driver to shut off the A/C and put the windows down to prove how considerate dog owners are. I didn't want to give him any reason to go to the darker anti-dog side.
Polka did fine and all of us(Polka, me, driver, cab) reached the vet's office intact.
The jouney back home was very smooth. After all I was now experienced at riding in cars with dogs;)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Dog tired !
This is how my day(s) goes :
2 -2.30am - Take Polka out for pee. Put her back in the play pen after a lot of struggle.
6am - Take Polka out for pee and poo. Clean up after her. Try putting her back in the play pen so I can go back to sleep.
6.30am - Give up on putting the little brat in the play pen. Decide to sleep on the sofa instead.
10.00 - Wake up, brush and get some breakfast while Polka continues to follow me around. Awww that's cute :)
10.30am - Notice the kitchen rug is missing. Grab it back from Polka and hide it.
11.00 am - Time for Polka's lunch. Mix her dog food with some grated carrot. Gourmet food :) the spoilt kid decides to sit on the floor and wants to be fed. Feed her one piece at a time. Patience !
11.30am - Time for poo again. This time Polka skillfully avoids the paper. Pick up poo and clean up once more. Pour water in the patio.
11.45am - Polka wants to play. Play ball. She is a natural retriever so I can sit on my a** while she fetches.
12.30 pm - Make some lunch.
1 pm - Eat lunch
1.30 pm to 3pm - Sleep on the sofa fitfully. Ensure Polka has not brought the house down.
3 pm - Get up and cuddle Polka to discover she has fleas.
3pm to 4pm - Frantically search on Internet on how to get rid of fleas from puppies. Very scary, confusing information !!! (Ex - Burn the house down to get rid of fleas from the entire house)
4pm - Use tweezers to remove fleas till Polka gets annoyed and starts biting.
4.45 pm - Sweep and mop the house as an attempt to get rid of the source of fleas.
6pm - Take a shower at last !
6.15pm - Time for Polka's meal. Give her just the basic puppy food. No time to grate carrots. Polka eats halfway and gets distracted. Add yogurt and she gulps it down.
7pm - Polka wants to play. Throw some toys for her to retrieve while watching TV.
8pm - Realize Polka has peed inside the house. Clean up for the nth time .. Arghhh. Note to self - do not sweep/mop unless under excruciating circumstances. Clean with Clorox, then use pet deodorizer and then room freshener.
8.45 pm - Time for my dinner. Look for something in the frozen section. Microwave. Eat.
9.15pm - Polka wants to go out. False alarm. Nudge Polka back into the house 'Girl ur vaccination is not complete - u need to be inside'. Pull at the leash and get her in.
10pm - Call from SO - I miss Polka. Do you miss me ? Oh yeah. A LOT !!!
10pm -11.30pm - Watch an absurdly silly movie on TV while simultaneously keeping a watch on Polka.
11.30pm - Just remembered to remove Polka's water so she does not pee in the middle of the night again. Too late :(
12am - Take Polka out and force her to pee. aah succeeded ! Note to self - Look into pee trays and poo sucking machines..
12.30 am - sleep .. am counting Z..s
12.40am - Oops forgot to set up the alarm - maybe for 3am today.
12.45am - Zsss .. Poo, Pee, Fleas .. Zsss
I am dog tired !!!!!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Polka Top Six
What would I do without google ? I have no idea how we survived BG (Before google) From the inane to the serious, everything is googled.
Since Polka's arrival our google searches have increased crazily.
Here is a sample with best answers I found online and some I learnt from Polka:)
1.Buy or adopt a puppy?
Adopt ofcourse. Every time you purchase a puppy from a pet Store, a perfectly adoptable dog loses a home.
No matter what they say, ALL pet store puppies come from puppy mills or irresponsible breeders.
Most puppies for adoption are mongrels. They will love you more than the pedigree dogs and are always full of enthusiasm.
2. What to do if puppy runs into a glass door?
Same thing that you would if you ran into a glass door. Been there. Done that! This happens all the time. It's not as rare as it sounds. Your puppy is probably ok unless (s)he is whimpering in pain. Keep a close watch, check for bumps. If anything is out of the way call the vet. Common sense but I had to google this to feel better :)
3. Can a dog be brought up vegetarian?
Dogs are carnivorous. They need meat but some of the animal food available in stores might not be as good. A well balanced diet, high in protein vegetarian food is better for dogs than Grade K meat.
For Polka we give her doggie food and some of my cooking (I know its dangerous but I give my cooking only in small quantities)
Some of the veggie options I like:
1. Carrots
2. Leafy vegetables
3. Lentils
4. a little bit of yogurt
5. Rice
6. Bread
7. Potatoes in small quantity
8. Bananas
4. What not to give a dog ?
1. Garlic
2. Onion
3. Raisins
4. Peanuts
5. How to stop a dog barking?
It depends. Is he barking for no apparent reason? When you leave him/her alone ? Or when (s)he is scared ?
If it is unreasonable barking or when left alone - IGNORE that should work.
Another thing that a friend of mine tried was shaking a jar of coins to startle the dog and that seems to have worked. The dog associates the barking with the startling noise of coins in a jar and does not like the association.
For Polka, she barks when she is scared. Every time she does that I tell her it is OK and that there is nothing to worry. That soothes her and when she stops barking I praise her. So far it has worked well. She no longer behaves like a scaredy-cat but she still barks if scared.
6. Dog or Baby?
This deserves a full post by itself. Hold on to that thought ;)
Since Polka's arrival our google searches have increased crazily.
Here is a sample with best answers I found online and some I learnt from Polka:)
1.Buy or adopt a puppy?
Adopt ofcourse. Every time you purchase a puppy from a pet Store, a perfectly adoptable dog loses a home.
No matter what they say, ALL pet store puppies come from puppy mills or irresponsible breeders.
Most puppies for adoption are mongrels. They will love you more than the pedigree dogs and are always full of enthusiasm.
2. What to do if puppy runs into a glass door?
Same thing that you would if you ran into a glass door. Been there. Done that! This happens all the time. It's not as rare as it sounds. Your puppy is probably ok unless (s)he is whimpering in pain. Keep a close watch, check for bumps. If anything is out of the way call the vet. Common sense but I had to google this to feel better :)
3. Can a dog be brought up vegetarian?
Dogs are carnivorous. They need meat but some of the animal food available in stores might not be as good. A well balanced diet, high in protein vegetarian food is better for dogs than Grade K meat.
For Polka we give her doggie food and some of my cooking (I know its dangerous but I give my cooking only in small quantities)
Some of the veggie options I like:
1. Carrots
2. Leafy vegetables
3. Lentils
4. a little bit of yogurt
5. Rice
6. Bread
7. Potatoes in small quantity
8. Bananas
4. What not to give a dog ?
1. Garlic
2. Onion
3. Raisins
4. Peanuts
5. How to stop a dog barking?
It depends. Is he barking for no apparent reason? When you leave him/her alone ? Or when (s)he is scared ?
If it is unreasonable barking or when left alone - IGNORE that should work.
Another thing that a friend of mine tried was shaking a jar of coins to startle the dog and that seems to have worked. The dog associates the barking with the startling noise of coins in a jar and does not like the association.
For Polka, she barks when she is scared. Every time she does that I tell her it is OK and that there is nothing to worry. That soothes her and when she stops barking I praise her. So far it has worked well. She no longer behaves like a scaredy-cat but she still barks if scared.
6. Dog or Baby?
This deserves a full post by itself. Hold on to that thought ;)
Friday, April 2, 2010
First day with Polka - All fools day !
1st April 2010, Polka arrived home.
She was unbelieveably hyper active once she was let out of the van. The peaceful puppy that we saw at the farm was nowhere in sight.
Well, have you seen the movie Marley & me ? - she is Marley! Polka is an excited 3 month old puppy who barks, is full of ticks, is partially toilet trained and can follow some commands somewhat.
I signed the adoption papers and I looked at her - a confused puppy and an even more confused owner. Did I do the right thing, did I actually sign the papers or was it just an april fool's trick ?
She ran in and out of the living room into the patio and back. She was going crazy and suddenly hit the transparent glass door with a thud and whimpered ! Oh no the first hour with Polka and tragedy strikes! I was not sure if Polka was ok - she looked quiet and sad. Did she damage her head ? Is her brain intact ? Can she see properly ? Will she be able to run again ? What have I done? I should have kept the door open. I should have put her on the leash. I should have puppy proofed the house. I should have made hubby sign the adoption papers ;) My head was buzzing with bizarre thoughts.
After some google search and basic examination, I realized she was fine. She was soon back on her feet, exploring the new environment. She was calm, cautious and well behaved after the incident. I hope it lasts! Or do we have to repeat the performance ? (Ouch! did i say that aloud ?)
That night hubby and I decided to sleep in the living room with her. She slept fitfully but was happy to know we were around. We survived the first day and so did Polka !
She was unbelieveably hyper active once she was let out of the van. The peaceful puppy that we saw at the farm was nowhere in sight.
Well, have you seen the movie Marley & me ? - she is Marley! Polka is an excited 3 month old puppy who barks, is full of ticks, is partially toilet trained and can follow some commands somewhat.
I signed the adoption papers and I looked at her - a confused puppy and an even more confused owner. Did I do the right thing, did I actually sign the papers or was it just an april fool's trick ?
She ran in and out of the living room into the patio and back. She was going crazy and suddenly hit the transparent glass door with a thud and whimpered ! Oh no the first hour with Polka and tragedy strikes! I was not sure if Polka was ok - she looked quiet and sad. Did she damage her head ? Is her brain intact ? Can she see properly ? Will she be able to run again ? What have I done? I should have kept the door open. I should have put her on the leash. I should have puppy proofed the house. I should have made hubby sign the adoption papers ;) My head was buzzing with bizarre thoughts.
After some google search and basic examination, I realized she was fine. She was soon back on her feet, exploring the new environment. She was calm, cautious and well behaved after the incident. I hope it lasts! Or do we have to repeat the performance ? (Ouch! did i say that aloud ?)
That night hubby and I decided to sleep in the living room with her. She slept fitfully but was happy to know we were around. We survived the first day and so did Polka !
And That's How Polka Happened
I was never a dog person. Actually worse. I was a pseudo dog lover - you know the one who says how cute and pets a dog from a distance but can never really hug a dog - yes that was me. Keeping a dog in my own house was unthinkable.
Few months ago, my sister adopted a little 'local' pup and I flew from Singapore to take care of him. The lucky dog! He gets a dog sitter from Singapore, toys from Dubai and my mom's food!! I fell in love with the silly thing and was ready to give in to my SO's long time wishes for a pup.
After coming back, things moved quickly. We did some research over the internet and decided to take the plunge and adopt from the local shelter. We called a couple of numbers and reached a farm that was the first to return our call. And there she was - my Polka, wagging her tail at everyone. Just happy to be among people and dogs and cats. Actually just happy to be. My beautiful adorable Polka !
And thats how Polka happened to us :-)
Few months ago, my sister adopted a little 'local' pup and I flew from Singapore to take care of him. The lucky dog! He gets a dog sitter from Singapore, toys from Dubai and my mom's food!! I fell in love with the silly thing and was ready to give in to my SO's long time wishes for a pup.
After coming back, things moved quickly. We did some research over the internet and decided to take the plunge and adopt from the local shelter. We called a couple of numbers and reached a farm that was the first to return our call. And there she was - my Polka, wagging her tail at everyone. Just happy to be among people and dogs and cats. Actually just happy to be. My beautiful adorable Polka !
And thats how Polka happened to us :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)