India Vacation - Day 2

Wow what a day :-) 1st - Taj Mahal at Sunrise A very beautiful intricate detailed structure. 2nd - Agra Fort Very big....we were a hit here. Many people, specifically Mom's and children wanted a picture with us. Loved checking out all the rooms and buildings at the fort. It too had intricate detail, but most had been removed due to time/wear & tear. 3rd Kinari Bazar Most of the shops were not opened, but seeing it early morning was a bit sad. The hub-bub takes away for the reality of a situation. 4th Stroll through the shops at the ITC hotel in Agra then back to Delhi (via a 4 hour drive) In Delhi we went to ... 5th Jama Masjid Mosque India's largest Mosque 6th Chawri and Kinari Bazars Then back to the hotel to crash and eat pizzas Video and pics to follow on Facebook

India Vacation - Day 1 - New Delhi

Breakfast - In Room Dining (American) Outing - We went to the Bangla Sahib Sikh Temple. It was so interesting, certainly interesting in learning about the history of Sikhism. We also went to do some quick shopping at Connaugh Place. The we were off for a 3 hour drive to Agra. We saw a lot of the city on our way to the Sikh Temple. Drove by the President and Prime Ministers homes, the India Gate, Parliament, American Embassy, and other diplomatic buildings. Travel to Agra - captivated by the manual labor work in the fields. Only machine used was to grind the grain. Animal siting - dogs (you know I would love to rescue them all), monkeys, cows, water buffalo, ox, horses, camels, peacocks, goats. Diner - Hotel restaurant in Agra (ITC Hotel). Had asian dish with kimchee (a first) for dinner, Rich had fish and chips.

Travel to India

A long 26.5 hours (thanks to 1 extra hour due to France ATC strick) and we arrived in India. No major excitement on the way over. I did realize how reliant I have become on TSA PreCheck....because you don't get leave your liquids in your suitcase through France security. We looked like first time travelers pulling all our bottles out and putting them in a zip lock bag. BLAH Also, metal detectors are more sensitive in France and India. My bangle bracelet did not set the metal detector off in PCB but it did in Paris Airport and India Hotel. That's it for getting here....other than not being able to sleep.

Buddy - Trip back Home

I got to go back home a couple of weeks ago. I saw my old owner,he was so nice to me. I ran right to him and jumped up beside him to get some loving. He took me out for long walks, it was so great to see him.

There was a lot of stuff going on and I saw a lot of new things. Emma finally explained the meaning of Christmas and what all this meant - Christmas is COOL.

I got to ride in an elevator, stay in a hotel, stay inside Pa J's (my old owner)house, run around my old stomping grounds, meet some new dogs and Dad's family.

I got to play with Robbie, Hunter and Brenna. They like me :-)

I got all kinds of treats and toys. This Christmas thing is awesome.

I didn't have the best time at Dad's parents. It was a lot to take in. There was another male dog there - No Face - I decided I didn't like him - no reason just didn't like him. This created some trouble, but all fine for me. I got to hang out by myself some - I needed a break anyway. I did have an accident - I tried to tell Mom I needed to go out, I couldn't hold it any longer. I am an old dog, we have to pee a lot.

Everyone (at all the places we went) was really nice to me. I got all kinds of petting and attention. I have decided we should have Christmas year around!

Christmas in TN

Finally - I get the computer. Time to update you on our Christmas vacation...it was great except for when we left the hotel (I'll get to that later).Mom got a virus on her netbook, so she and Dad have been sharing his....which leave no time for me. Mom puts me first most often, but not when it comes to using the computer, especially since she has joined facebook.

I had to share the back seat with Buddy, that was fun (not). We got to stay at a nice hotel with STEPS - running up steps is FUN. Buddy rode in his first elevator - it was funny he keep staring at the wall of the elevator to open. Silly dog, didn't remember which side he came in. He finally got the hang of it.

I got to go to Daycare the next day and met some TN doggies. (Thanks Mom and Dad, I didn't want to stay in the basement all day.) Dad came and got me and took me back to Pa J's. Because I have been mean to some folks in the past I had to hangout in the basement. Which is just boring - I could hear all the excitement going on upstairs. Buddy was down there with me this time, but he could care less. LOL

That night we had Christmas with Mom and Dad at the hotel. We got to open our stockings and got a box of Christmas Dog Cookies too. Ah the life!

The next day I went with Dad to his parents - yippee (I haven't been mean to anyone here - yet) I got to run off leash and smell horses and all other kinds of crazy country smells. Dad let's me have more freedom. Mom and Buddy joined us later in the day. He was not very nice...he didn't get along with my favorite dog, No Face.

Next Day - Christmas Day - Nothing real exciting for me - just a bunch of people and dogs running around. Buddy got in trouble though.....he peed on their carpet. (Poor guy - it was Mom's fault - he went to the door and stood she just missed the sign)

We went back to Pa J's and I got to lounge on the big couch this time. These people are so nice to let us hang out with them.

Ok here comes the bad news - notice I have been an ANGEL to this point....Mom takes Buddy and I out to use the restroom and leave.........and.....I saw a man outside the door...instincts kicked in....I started barking and lunging at him, Mom fell down, who knows what Buddy did, and Mom was screaming at me.....I couldn't stop he startled me and who knows he might hurt Mom. Mom finally got me under control and that's when I realized - SHE IS MAD - MAD MAD - She had gotten mud all over her clothes and she was really mad that I acted this way. At this point I knew it was going to be a long ride home.

We stopped to see Mam-Maw Nina on the way back. She was nice, we got to go in her house too. She gave Mom some food and we were off for the long journey home. Miss you TN.

Emma's Update on our Vacation

Mom and Dad were on vacation this week. You will never guess where they went/what they did...stayed at home and cleaned the house. I don't mean dust and mop clean. I mean floor to ceiling and all outside. I was getting nervous early on that Buddy and I were going to be given away or sold!!! They started walking around pointed at stuff..."sell it" or "trash it" or "replace it" or "give it away"....I took Buddy outside and told him we needed to be really good that they were going crazy and we needed to keep a low profile.

They keep us, thank goodness, but they got rid of my couch. I don't know why. I now have to fight Buddy for a chance to sit beside Mom in a chair. Do you know how hard it is for me to sit in a chair with someone else? Mom did bring my bed in the living room so I didn't have to lay on the floor.

Buddy didn't like that they keep throwing stuff away and he would grab stuff and take it out to his bed. He had a mound of stuff out there by the end of the week. (The cleaners have named him "Buddy the Bandit"...it fits!) He even tried to drag Mom out there. LOL She was putting on some gloves before her garage sale and he grabbed one on her hand. She walked along with him as he pulled her glove and hand to the doggie door. Only problem - he couldn't pull Mom through the door. It was FUNNY.

The first day of vacation, Mom gladly volunteered to pick up a movie. She took me with her too. We went to red box and she must have been so tired from the work she did that she didn't notice she was opening the car door into her forehead!!! She got in the car and had a dent in her head...then it started bleeding. She called her Dad to make sure she didn't pass out. This didn't seem to phase her, she was back at it Tues Morning.

Luckily, I got to go to daycare a couple days. There was so much action around the house that daycare seemed like a break. However....Mom let me of leash and I ran out the door. That was so much fun, I checked out all the local businesses until Mom and Dad trapped me in a corner. Freedom was fun for a few minutes.

It has been a while since Mom has had time to help me post. (She did some traveling in Nov. - To DC, Reston, and Philly for Dad's race). So I feel I have to give you an update for a couple weeks ago. I HAVE TO GO ON A WEIGHT LOSS PLAN. The vet said I needed to lose some weight. So Mom has been taking me running with her and she's stopped giving me treats. UGH Love getting out but no treats is taking it a bit to far...don't you think?

Update from Emma

I had an awesome day today. Mom took me out for a walk/run. I got to corner a cat under a tree and chase two squirrels. I also picked up a tick rolling in the open grass. Mom got it off before it attached to me. She has a eye for those varmints.

Buddy has been a true misfit lately. He ran out of daycare before Mom and Dagny could get them, then tried to get into somebody else's car, and then when Mom grabbed him he bit her several times! She had three cuts that brought blood. When she got him in the he got the ear twist )that is like getting a major spanking in case you didn't know.) I was like you did it now Buddy.

Then when we had company last week (Dad's parents) he tried to eats their plastic can with nuts in it, knocked their camera off the table, and chewed on Pap-paw's hand gripper. He didn't care for Buddy so much, he likes me best. But Miss Teresa did like Buddy, probably because he likes to be petted.

Mom will be posting some pictures later this week, she made us costumes for Halloween and she and Dad took us to Pier Park to show them off. She literally sprayed black hair spray on me. I was Scobby Doo, and the kids loved me. Buddy, was a gangster with a big necklace and tough t-shirt. He was mean like a gangster too. After they paraded us around (for Mom's benefit I am sure) we got to shed the costumes and play at the park. Dad let me off leash - ah it was a nice 10 minutes of FREEDOM. Then he started running away so I had to go catch him.

Mom also has a picture of us sleeping together on the couch, I don't like the picture but Mom thinks it's soooooo cute.

I have to say, as crazy as Mom is with the clothing, she does make sure we are feed and safe. She even gave us a pigs ear tonight - ah we have it made.