Hazards of Having a Dog

In his short life, Hiro has already chewed up and thereby destroyed 5 pairs of our shoes. Something about me is that I love my shoes dearly. Luckily, the shoes that Hiro have preyed upon and killed have been ones I was only half-heartedly attached to, the ones I truly cherish are hidden in safe high spots. Here's my sequential thought process when I discover the useless carcass of a plaything that was once a shoe: 1. "Oh my gosh, I hope Hiro didn't swallow something bad and having internal bleeding." 2. "Oh well, I guess I'll just have to buy more shoes." 3. "Ohhhh, he's so cute, I have to forgive him."

However, it was different when Hiro broke a key off of my laptop! My precious laptop! Let's just say he was in one of his super-charged hopping mad episode (pun intended)... he jumped then landed hard on my laptop which he mistook for my lap since the said item was on my lap. The letter "K" flew off my keyboard like a mini UFO. Luckily, what's left of the key still works, and luckily, the letter "K" is not a often used key (never mind the fact that I just typed it 6 times!). Aggg, he's too cute, I forgive.

Anyone knows how to repair a broken key off of the keyboard?

My Day Off

The good thing about having weekdays off is that when you visit places like the park or store, it's not overcrowded. The downside is of course going to work on weekends, :( Here's our recent picnic and frolic at White Rock Lake. Yeah, we always go to the same spot.

"Too much sun in my face!"

Car ride home, "I'm pooped". . .

. . .Maybe not.

Hiro the Ominvore

I admit, I have been having fun feeding Hiro various non-dog foods. Not to mention that he seems to love it too. I just feel bad that his main sustenance consist of dried nibblets out of a paper bag. I mean, how natural of a diet is that for a dog? Over the summer, Hiro would devour watermelon with us everyday. Now that watermelon season is over, he's been crunching on apples and Asian pears every time I eat them. He also likes the occasional carrot, boiled eggs and cheese. In fact, he's got a sweet tooth so that makes most of the fruit family. He's not too much a vegetable guy but loves the really special occasion turkey leg bone and pork ankle bone. And our latest bon appetit adventure? Steamed acorn squash! I love it, too, so I'm going out to get some more.

Down with Step 3

I'm done, I'm done! Finally, took Step 3 today, a beast of a test that's 400 questions and 8 hours long. Now, there's that dreaded waiting period of "did I pass??!"

Dog as accessory? It's all the rage in Hollywood, just google Paris Hilton, Ashley Tisdale, Rihanna, Blake Lively and on and on. As for Hiro, he's too big, he's no micro mini maltese or teacup poodle, he won't fit into the palm of my hand or handbang. But he's a full 10-pounder piece of lovey-dovey!

Hiro Turns One

Different looks of Hiro, chronologically.

Puppy wonder. He was darker colored then.

So small, so cute back then, but sure don't miss the house-training days.

Hiro had "battle signs" (tear stains) underneath the eyes but it disappeared with time.

Getting hairy.

So fuzzy with long floppy ears, like half lamb, half bunny.

After his first grooming at Petco's. Still had those long floppy ears.

Let's never get this haircut again. (2nd grooming at Petsmart's.)

Hiro today. Finally his hair is growing back. Can't wait for those ears to grow again.

Sabotaging my studies by napping on my book.

Hiro turns one today. Hooray!

Zen Master Ceasar Millan for the Dogs

This guy is my new hero.

We recently got cable for our new big screen TV. Hubby has been TiVoing my would-be new favorite TV shows. Yes, he knows what I like. Two words: Animal Planet!! Victoria Stillwell is a British dog trainer who goes to people's homes and train little spoiled yappers into obedient lapdogs. Her show is aptly called, "It's Me or the Dog." I love her British governess ways and smart training techniques for really bratty dogs.

But what Victoria of Animal Planet does is almost comedic compared to what Ceasar Millan can do. He is the self-proclaimed "Dog Whisperer," which is also the name of his show on the National Geographic channel. This Mexican native has no formal training but had a love for and profound connection with dogs since his childhood. He illegally crossed the Mexican-US border in his 20's, lived on the streets of San Diego for a month before finding a job as a dog groomer. The rest is history, as they say. Today, he owns the Dog Psychology Center in Los Angeles and is the host of a #1 show. His specialty is rehabilitating some of the most violent and troubled dogs from shelters and abused situations. For example, he's worked with pitbulls from dog fight rings and displaced dogs from Katrina. In some instances, he will bring an unsociable dog to his psychology center where a pack of successfully rehabilitated dogs live and let the "power of the pack" do the work. It's amazing watching him handle dogs. Ceasar Millan's techniques are not without controversy, but whatever, I love the show. He's fond of saying "I rehabilitate dogs and train people." It should be no surprise that many dogs are violent, unsociable because of their human counterparts. As one dog lover once told me, "there are no bad dogs, only bad human owners." I believe that, like many other things wrong with our world, humans are usually at the root of the problem.

I'm so grateful for Hiro who has none of the troublesome characteristics of the dogs on the shows. He is just an amazingly happy and lovable little dog without an ounce of aggression or dominance. Sometimes we go on walks and will come cross a dog that wants to jump out of his leash barking at Hiro half a mile way, but all Hiro wants to do is go up and give a nose kiss with a wagging tail. I don't understand why some dogs are one way while others are not. Perhaps we just got lucky with Hiro. Perhaps some of my early rudimentary training to exert myself as pack leader during his puppyhood worked. But Hiro is not perfect, and watching the animal training shows have motivated me to do more training with Hiro. For example, he gets way too excited when visitors come, jumping up and down, and he's not a perfect leash walker, liking to pull on the leash for the amusement of his nose.

Hiro's New 'do

Obedience.

Don't worry, it'll grow back. . .

St. Patty's Saturday

I had this Saturday off from work. I woke up to a to-do list of running errands and household chores. Such a beautiful day, I just couldn't bring myself to go to Target and buy Drano for our clogged drain and other such things. I digress but did you know there are different Dranos for standing clogs (water won't go down) vs. slow drains (water drains too slowly)? Anyways, I balked at my list of to-dos. Here's what hubby and I did instead on Saturday:

Hiro, off-leash. Bet you can't outrun him.

At the dog park, Hiro met many new friends.

Dogs take no time to get to know each other.

Run like the wind, free as the birds.

Our picnic by White Rock Lake. I wore Green for St.Patty's Day.

It was a enjoyable day.

Doggone Days

Here's our Sunday excursion to the nearby walking/jogging trail that I discovered yesterday.

Hiro meet the duckies. They are bigger than you!


Hmm, Hiro not as interested in duckies as hubby.

We walked for over a hour.. . and there were still energy left in the little guy!

Hiro, the maltipoo at 7 months old.

Today was also Superbowel Sunday. I was not very invested in it, but go New York Giants!!

Hairy business

Hiro got his first professional grooming session shortly before New Year's. And he really needed it, just look at his before/after pictures. Apparently he was a very problematic client for the groomer. He was squirming, biting, and fighting every step of the way. The groomer had to put a muzzle on him and a usual 30-minute affair turned into a 3-hour ordeal. I suppose it's very hard to make a puppy understand why someone has to clip his toenails, pluck hair out of his ears and all the while he has to stay still. But again, he will get use to this particular quirk of human domination like other unnatural habits and tricks he's now accustomed to.

BEFORE.

AFTER.

Hiro's poodle-ness really comes through, not so much maltese.

And guess who else got a hair cut? Moi!! I was getting so tired of the ponytail hairstyle I've had for ages. Only in the last two years I've adopted side swept bangs. I liked my last hair cut and perm in Taiwain in May of 2007, but since then the perm has grown out. For the first time in my life, I got my hair highlighted. Actually, there are "lowlights", too, but I have no idea what the difference is. You can't tell from the picture, but there are blonde to light brown to red highlights/lowlights in my hair. Hubby calls it my "New York haircut." I suppose he's not used to anything but a conservative undyed pulled back hair on me. Now I understand the craze of Asian girls with colored hair. It's so neat to see the color variations in your hair. Like many other sought-after things in life, it breaks up the monotony. I'm definitely in love with the salon. I went to the Toni & Guy salon in North Park mall.

Before.

After.

I'm so over curls (for now) in pursuit of sleek straight hair. I had a self-tutorial in flat irons over the internet and purchased one. I got the Solia brand as it had the best reveiws. I can't wait for it to arrive! And then there's leave-in conditioners and thermal protectants for the hair. I can't believe how much there is I don't know about beauty products and hair care. There are middle-school girls posting on Youtube about the use of flat irons! I'm such a virgin at this, but I get a feeling that my shampoo-and-air-dry days are over. But if work ever gets too hairy (a pun!), I'll have my pony-tail to fall back on.

In search of beauty knowledge, I came across gel overlay French manicure. Now I'm dreaming of getting a full set. What is that? Before yesterday, I didn't know either but it's the newest technology in artificial nails using dental-grade material, a step above the old acrylic nails. And I haven't even entered the world of facials and spas. I think I've opened a Pandora's box!

I was just pondering of the sheer expense of being a woman in the pursuit of beauty and vanity. By habit and by upbringing, I was the "au naturale" girl, but now I definitely see the light of "artificial" beauty. It's not all about superficiality. I believe the confidence boost we get from a new hairdo or putting on make-up carries over to our family life and our workplace. We all have our boundary of what is too much and each woman need to make that decision for herself and hopefully not judge others for making different choices. Some women draw the line at using a little lip gloss and other women draw the line at getting breast implants. The common denominator is, as women, we need to feel good about ourselves and be proud of our femininity. As the Revlon slogan says (and this is in no way kowtowing to the commercial industry but simplying plucking a kernal of truth from a message), "because you're worth it.

.

This Christmas

I did not expect much from Christmas this year. In fact, I was even avoiding and dreading it since I know it'll be just another work day for me. I had no Christmas cards to send, no gifts to give, no gatherings to attend and our home was totally void of holiday decor. But Christmas turned out to be special anyway. I came home early from work since all non-essential activities were cancelled at the hospital. Hubby and I ate at Tokyo One for lunch. Then we took Hiro to othe dog park and had a long walk around White Rock Lake. So, I'd say we had a rather untraditional Christmas, but it was so nice anyways. In the future, I'd love to totally immerse myself in the Christmas spirit. The Christmas tree, the holiday photo cards, gifts for friends, holiday parties, Christmas church service. . . eggnog, mistole, tinsels, etc., the whole nine yards.

~*~

Christmas day was a gloriously sunny day, a gift from God. Here are some pictures taken around our apartment. Yes, I know the pictures to follow are so canine-centric, but Hiro in his Santa suit is the only holiday effort we have to show for.

Hiro all aglow


"I'm flying!" Look at his ears all up like a rabbit!

It's fun to run.

Santa sighting.

Today is the first day of my week-long vacation. I was so happy getting off work today, like, singing a silly song, swimming in bed, and chasing the dog for no reason -happy. I look forward to visiting Arkansas, shopping a ton, sleeping in, spending time with my mom, watching movies, taking pictures, meeting friends' new baby, playing with dog. . .oh gosh, I wish I had more days off.

Doggy Galore

Hiro is now 5 months old.

The sad puppy look.

Playtime is a dog's favorite time!

Hiro is smiling, can you see? I know he doesn't have lips, but that's a smile!

It's like he's a different dog!