Sunshine and friends

Some of these pictures were taken some time ago. But I think we could all do with some cute today.


This was taken early last year at JK's place where Sunshine had a play date with Winston (the other labrador) and Bessy (the rottie puppy). Bessy is now bigger than Sunshine. And probably, Winston.


Frolicking with Zombie, daughter of KC. The first picture gives new meaning to the term 'bitch slap'.


She loves her joyrides, especially with dad.


That's her terrorising my brother. Bwahahahaha...
Love her floppy ears.


Here she is begging for treats from my mom. Failing which, she goes to her other side, probably thinking a different angle would make her look cuter. Mom succumbed.


The manja pot.


Treat! Treat! Treat!


Her shiny head after she snuck into the car when I wanted to get something.
She's so cute. How I love her so...

Early X'mas for Sunshine

Gimme gimme gimme... heck, I'm jumping for it!

Thank you Bessy & Aunty YL! :D
They smell and taste so good, even my human wanted to eat it.

Sunshine is TWO today!

Happy birthday preettty girll!!
Wish I could throw you a birthday party this week but it'll have to wait cos you're on heat. Wouldn't want your virile buddies like Winston and Dumdum to make you a mummy so soon.

You're such a big girl now, but still a puppy at heart.
How I love you so! Especially when you do that manja thing of crawling under the crook of my knees when I'm sitting outside with you. Or when you taunt me with your ball, hoping for a game of catch. Or when you run to gate to bark at nothing (no strangers, dogs or cats in sight) and then run back to us, as if to say "Look! I'm doing my job! So where's my treat?"

Everybody loves you sweetie!
Can't wait till I get home tonight to give you a good belly rub.
*kiss*


This is her in the car, totally buggered after the MRDO last week.

Responsible Dog Ownership Day

It was Sunshine's day out in the park.
She got so excited the moment she saw me putting on my shoes and throwing her leash into the car. She knew she was going somewhere!

We hopped into the car with mom (Sunshine in front - I really should get her a doggy seatbelt!), then D and SM arrived and we were all on our way.

When we got there, the sun was quite high in the sky, but it wasn't scorching - yet. She went about her business sniffing butts and privates. Then we saw alot of Sunshines. Her Purina banners were everywhere. But Sunshine being Sunshine, she was absolutely oblivious to them. Of course, we had to take a picture.

We finally met Natasha, though Cleo wasn't there at that time. We met Sunshine's sister Happy and Chili, another labrador, as well as Tiny the Newfoundland. Her buddies Winston, Bessy and Dumdum weren't there though. She missed them dearly. Well, I missed them dearly.

It was a good turn out, and it's so wonderful to be able to take our dogs out to a park that's normally off limits to them. Of course, there were some idiots who took this for granted.

There were little signages in the grass reminding people to "Scoop The Poop". Common sense would tell you to scoop, then dispose of the poop into the many bins provided. But no... some people actually HUNG the bags of doggy poop ON the signages. Stupidity. Really. Stupid humans shouldn't breed. They should be neutered and spayed!

What's the point of good Canine citizen training when the humans are in greater need of manners themselves? Geez.

Anyway, we had a good time. Sunshine had a go at the filthy pond. Mom was quite impressed to see her swim. I, on the other hand got quite anxious when she (Sunshine, not my mom) decided to play with the rottweiler which was also swimming in the pond. Well, it's a very fine line between play and cari pasal when it comes to Sunshine. Hahaha! Good thing her greedy self agreed to come out of the pond when I held some treats and called her name. At least she's got her priorities right. How I love her...

Then she tried her paws at this:

It's the only thing she would agree to do, apart from the low hurdles. She was terrified of the long slim plank and would not go up. One of these days I'm going to sign her up for agility classes. Maybe next year lah!

*Photos courtesy of SM! Thanks! Arf!

My girl

Some of her latest photos taken over the weekend.


"Any mail for me?"
Taken after her bath on Sunday, so her fur is still a little damp. It was dry in no time with her prancing about in the sun.


So unlady-like
Nap time in her kennel while my mom did laundry in the front yard.


"Arf! Arf! Who are you?"
The resident kepohchee barking at contractors doing some renovation work next door. That's her favourite pink ball on the floor from aunty JK.

50 years and ho hum...

31 August
I spent the Merdeka weekend catching up with friends and running errands. Managed to go for a facial on Friday, only to have the lady at Dermalogica tsk-tsking at me for missing my appointments for the past 3 months, hence my splotchy, dry skin.

At night, there was MH's housewarming. He's the guitarist in the band I play with and he's got this awesome pad at The Maple in Sentul West. I've heard alot about this place but I've never been inside before, and whoa. Very nice. The party started at the poolside next to the landscaped gardens and we later adjourned to the apartment upstairs.

From the balcony, there was a beautiful view of Sentul Park (home to KLPac), the Twin Towers and the city skyline. Just beyond the park was the half-completed Saffron, reason for my lifetime of debt. But that's on the East side of Sentul, where an apartment unit is half the price of The Maple, or less. But I suppose you do get what you pay for. Hahaha!

Anyway, I didn't really know anyone apart from CC and MI from the band, so we pretty much did the anti-social thing and stuck with each other, talking about the current state of affairs in the country (it was Merdeka day after all). They were both lawyers, and even they felt it was hard to stomach certain things they deal with on a daily basis. These days, it's apparently not a question of race biasness anymore. It's all about the money. Even with the right skin colour, it's hard to run a righteous business even if you wanted to. No details were divulged, but they'd seen their fair share.

From there, the conversation strayed to stories they read about the May 13 incident and stories they heard from some actual survivors (the ones who were involved in the riots and not in hiding at that time). They were quite shocking. It may have happened decades ago. But it's not hard to see why the undercurrent of resentment still runs strong today. It seems like we're a broken family putting up false pretenses in front of the neighbours, when it's less than cheery behind closed doors.

I may be politically apathetic at best. But I'm quietly patriotic at heart. And it's sad to think that after 50 years of independence, the country doesn't really have much to shout about apart from some tall shiny buildings and several white elephants. After 50 years, that group of people (or rather, the politicians who represent them) still want to play victim. And after 50 years, the whole rhetoric about racial harmony and opportunities for all is getting a little stale.

Lazy Saturday
Went window shopping and then to the gym with LY for an easy 45-minute session on the cardio machines, followed by sushi. We sat there watching the sushi train go by, in a sleepy daze thanks to the dreary, rainy afternoon. Later, it was a long night of playing Magic the Gathering with D, SM and NT. Still getting the hang of it and it's been fun so far. The artwork on the cards were really cool too.

Catch up Sunday
Spent some time playing with Sunshine. She got a bath and was all sweet smelling and I could bury my face in her neck. I love how she looks without her collar on. All gorgeous and fluffy after a bath and blow dry although she simply hates the hairdryer. It was a wet drizzly day, so it was a must, or she'd be a wet dog scampering about. Good thing about bath days, she gets to come inside. And she'd hop next to me for a nuzzle. My camera batteries are dead so no new pictures of her. Must get the batteries soon. I'll need them for Hong Kong too.

Met up with some girlfriends for coffee. EL's leaving for London in 2 weeks to do her postgrad in Dentistry for 3 years. It was good catching up with the gang cos we rarely spend time together unless someone's getting married or back from abroad or leaving for somewhere. I miss them. Later that evening, D and I went to buy DVDs, made salmon and cream cheese dip and sat down to watch Ocean's 13. George Clooney Dip and crackers. Yummy. Not a bad way to end a Sunday.

For some strange reason, my Streamyx's been acting up at home the past few days. My wireless is working but I get no connection. Or it's super super slow. And Blogger won't load. Neither will Yahoo at times. Realllllly weird.

Sigh. Happy Monday everybody.

When the cats are away...

... the dog comes in.

Everyone's gone out.
And I have the whole house to myself.

It's just me, lazing on the couch.
Sunshine's on the floor next to me (yes, she's in the house! whoopeee! shhhh, don't tell mom).

The TV is off for a change. No incessant chatter from Wah Lai Toi or screaming spectators from Star Sports. The phone's on silent. I hear nothing but the whirring of the fan, the twitter of birds outside and Sunshine's breathing.

We fall in and out of sleep, my left hand draping over the couch to rest on her soft furry shoulder.

Sunshine stirs. Her sharp ears prick up. A neighbourhood stray is trotting by the house. But she's too content to move or bark her displeasure. Oh well. We both go back to our lazy, peaceful Sunday.

I love it.
Every weekend should be like this.

My dog *flash* is a model *flash*

Sunshine went for a doggy photo shoot end of last year, thanks to Aunty YL's recommendation. It was a fun shoot with DumDum kor-kor (the King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, second picture inset) and Uncle JL. And for a few hours, I experienced what it must be like to be a child talent's mom. Hee hee.

The girl was pretty well-behaved throughout. But she wanted to be near me all the time, so she wouldn't 'perform' and pose if I were around. I had to hide in the bathroom while the trainer worked her magic.

So now she's unofficially a Purina One dog, though she doesn't eat Purina One. Haha. But I just might switch her from Eukanuba, since Uncle JL says DumDum is thriving on it.

Here are some pictures from the shoot.


"Watcha lookin' at?" says Westie; Border Collie struts his stuff


Sunshine restless; the Border Collie again; yappy Pommie

So far her pictures have appeared on the Purina One website and shelf-talkers at Cold Storage (go see!) and DumDum is on the cover of the Purina One leaflet. I wasn't paying attention to the Purina One banners at the Puppy.com Purina Olympic Day two months ago, or I would have seen her pictures too.

Yes, I'm sounding like a proud mama! Hee hee :)
And yes, Sunshine still owes you breakfast, Aunty YL!

Somebody call the SPCA!

And I thought dogs in clothes were bad enough. Someone should've saved this little Maltese from shame at the Puppy.com Purina Olympic Day in Bandar Utama's Central Park.

It seems to be the rage right now though. I sniffed the butt of a mini poodle who also got her fur coloured the neon way. I wouldn't want to be caught dead looking like this. I mean, where's the canine dignity in that? Good thing my human loves me the way I am.

There was also this other dude of a mini Schnauzer in a Lionel Ritchie-like hairdo. He was a salt and pepper fella, with a curly-dark brown mohawk-like afro. Grr-oss. My human was slow with her camera and couldn't take his photo - AGAIN.

Dogs should look like dogs.
I'd go for this ugly fella any day. At least he's totally himself. Unpretentious. Though he really needs to do something about his heavy breathing. Kinda freaked me out, man.

But of course, I'd much rather go for my own kind. Sigh, like that handsome labrador in the police K9 unit. He looked alot like my 'boyfriend' Winston, who was also at the park. We sniffed each other's butts a little while, then moved on to sniff others. Heard Winston fell for another bitch. Hmmmph.

Anyway, I had fun. Meeting up with my doggy friends (Dumdum the Cavalier Spaniel, Chili the Labrador, Cookie the Dalmation, Skeeter the Beagle, Tori the Goldie, Milo & Lilo the Mini Schnauzers). Lounging about with my human's friends. Getting fussed over. Getting treats. My human didn't let me swim in the pond today cos I scratched an itchy patch on my neck till it bled 2 weeks ago (I had to wear a lampshade which was utter misery. I got used to it, but I think the cat next door had a good laugh).

She said I was good girl today cos I didn't run away even though I was off leash for awhile. Of course I had to follow her around. What if she left without me? Who would feed me then?

- Sunshine
p/s: I'm a NATURAL blonde.

Dog Tag

Sunshine has been tagged by sweet little Bessy, although they probably won't officially meet until she's healthy and strong enough for all her shots.

So here's the doggy meme called Me Doggie, hosted by Cate of Sweetnicks.

Sunshine Ha
(Ha is Cantonese for Summer)

Date of Birth:
18 October 2005

Breed:
Yellow Labrador Retriever

Favourite food:
- Anything but her usual dog food.
- Loves mom's boiled soup meat, cut fruits and potted plants.

Favourite Activity :
Her walks. And sleeping on her back with her legs wide open in the most unlady-like manner.

Favourite Toys:
- A pink squeaky ball she got on her 1st birthday from Aunty JK.
- Unfortunate frogs that make their way into my frontyard. Though she never harms them. Well, not really anyway.

Favourite annoying yet cute habit:
Playing catch-me-if-you-can around the pillars in my porch when
- she knows I want her back in her kennel.
- I want to get her ball from her mouth.
- it's time for her bath.

Sleeps in:
Her kennel pant-house.

Barks when:
- my neighbour's cockerel crows (she imitates the sound quite well too, kinda like a half bark, half howl)
- suspicious people walk near the house.
- it's time for her walk.

Likes being:
Tickled on her belly, and stroked anywhere.

When meeting people, likes to:
Go crazy, and jump in excitement if they are new faces.

Often seen:
Sticking her nose into the grill of our front door, watching TV.

Knows how to:
Sit, down, stay, come, shake hand, heel, pee/poo on command and fetch her ball or bone (yes, she can tell the difference). But her willingness to perform depends very largely on the reward at hand.

Fancies having as a boyfriend:
- the German Sheperd at obedience school.
- Adam, the Cavalier Spaniel.
- the late Midnight, but was last seen cavorting with the handsome Winston.

Has travelled to:
- Geek's house in Ipoh as a little puppy.
- Aunty JK's house
- Bandar Utama's Central Park.
- My aunt's house in Setapak.
- The vet

Scared of:
Very fierce dogs. And of late, thunder.

And now, Sunshine tags:
Dang, Sunshine moves in the same circle as Bessy, Winston and Mandy. No other doggies to tag oredi wor...

Aiyak, no time to take some recent photos for the Weekend Dog Blogging thingy. Will have to do with this old sleepy one for now. Hehe. Next week lah.

Furious

When the municipality of Shah Alam decided to ban dogs in residential areas unless the dog owner gets consent from neighbours on all sides (left, right, front, back), I thought it was just plain stupid and bigoted, and I felt relieved I didn't live there.

Then there was that big hoo-ha about certain dog breeds deemed as vicious when the cases were often due to irresponsible dog ownership, not the dogs.

And then the case of the poor doggy who got beaten up by scared Muslim migrant workers, who were trying to keep a friendly stray at bay. The poor mutt was left without a jaw. All this thanks to ignorance. Dogs are NOT 'haram' or 'untouchable' in the teaching of Islam. Click on YL's link to read more about this.

Anyway, what's making me boil is this:
Every Sunday evening, the people who run Sunshine's obedience school rent the field which belongs to a private school near my neighbourhood. They've been holding doggy classes there for at least 2 years now.

Even though Sunshine has graduated, I take her there sometimes to run freely in the field, socialise with other dogs and let her do some butt-sniffing and treat-snatching. So I take her there today and lo behold, no doggies. I ask the lady who runs the obedience school "What happened?"

She says the private school told them they cannot have the field anymore. One of their student's parents who happens to be some big shot (apparently an ex-state police chief) does not like the idea of a doggy school going on in the private school's premises. Even though it's only on the WEEKENDS.

It doesn't matter that his kids and other students are not at school when the dogs are around. Or that the dog owners and trainers clean up the place after every session.

So now the obedience school must look for a new venue.
And Sunshine and her friends don't have a field to run in anymore. Bad enough as it is that dogs are not allowed in public parks (for OBVIOUS reasons).

I say before they pick on our loving canine friends, the authorities should do something about the stray cats in the back alleys of our homes. Those who are against dogs don't seem to feel the same way about cats.

They are becoming a nuisance. Their shit stink, and they're always mewing and making noise and expecting a free meal. Of course, life's easy, so they breed indiscriminately too.

Hey. I'm talking about the cats.
Really I am.

She's got a new guy

It's not that Sunshine got over Midnight that quickly.
But hey, Winston's a REAL stud (psst, his balls are intact).

JK's family is still grieving over Midnight, but they welcomed a new family member recently. Winston's 3 years old, and they adopted him cos his expat owner was moving.

He's a real sweetie (the dog, not the expat), and lets Sunshine throw herself all over him (that little harlot). JK's mom is hoping for furry yellow grandchildren, but she'll have to wait.



I'm not letting my little girl grow up THAT quickly.
Aren't they cute together!?

Red hair, rock music & a canine party

That pretty sums up my weekend.

The haircut and colour.
I left it to the stylist to do what she wanted, after seeing the great chop job she did on LY's hair. She asked me how I wanted my hair done. And as always, I liked giving the stylist a creative free hand (I know what it feels like to be stifled by clients). I showed her some references in a magazine but told her she could have fun with my hair if she wanted.

The references I chose were uncannily like my last haircut a couple of months ago (read: boring). She said she'll give me something 'more fun', that is if I'm cool with 'fun'.

I glanced at her blond crop with bright pink streaks and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Erm, OK. But not 'toooo' fun, ok? I don't know if I can take it."

After assuring me that she had a cool style in mind for me, she went to work.

The result - a shorter crop, with sharp angles at the side of my face and nape of my neck. The colour - a light coppery brown with red streaks. For the first two days, my hair looked more orange then brown. Now it's toned down somewhat, and I'm glad I don't look like Garfield anymore. Overall, I like it. Now I look less 'sleepy'.

The band.
We have a gig for a Bar Council event this Thursday. And we're playing mostly rock songs. Although I do enjoy some rock music, I was never a real fan of this genre. But rock is so cathartic. Syok sial!

We're doing some Radiohead, Good Charlotte, Creed, Bon Jovi, Black Crows, Jet, Howie Day, Snow Patrol and Evanescence. As well as some of the older songs we did for SY&HM's wedding from The Police, Wham and Duran Duran.

Doggy Party.
I finally had the very belated birthday party for Sunshine and got a few of my doggy lover friends over. Between 8 two-legged and 3 four-legged guests, we devoured fried meehoon (made by YL) with my Nyonya Curry Chicken (from the Nyonya cookbook I bought), deep fried chicken (from JK), fruit salad and dumplings (from SW), fresh sweet mangoes (frm JL) and drinks from Geekchic and her husband.



Sunshine thanks all of you for the being there. For your gifts. For the food. And for the sayangs. Wuff Wuff!!

Hypocrite

Camwhores never fail to annoy the hell outta me.
But there's one exception.



At least, I make an exception when it comes to this little b%&@#. I can never get tired of looking at her. Good news is, she doesn't think she's hot. She doesn't SAY she's hot. And she doesn't care if people tell her so either (unless you happen to be feeding her treats or scratching her belly at the same time).



Maybe it's love.



Yeah. It definitely is.