Dear Al E

Dear Al E,

This is your daddy. I am not sure if you have fully understood, but I am going to be away at least until middle to end of May. I am working in Netherlands.

I will unfortunately be missing your 1st birthday and really hoped that I could be there. At the same time, everyone will be missing my 40th birthday.

I have been reading about your antics and giving Dada a big headache. I do hope that you will behave yourself a little more and take it easy on Dada. He is the only person taking care of you for another 2 weeks or so.

Mommy will be back on February 11 and take care of you after that.

However, we are hoping that Dada will come and take care of you again during your birthday so that Mommy can visit me.

I really miss you a lot.

I wish I could bring you here in Netherlands. You will really love it here because dogs are allowed pretty much everywhere, in the hotels, in the shopping areas, in the trains, trams and busses, in some restaurants and shopping areas.

There are many types of dogs here but most are very well behaved. As such, you have to behave yourself as well.

I promise to bring you some nice toys from this country, maybe some clogs and windmills for you to play with.

Until I see you in a few months, please always remember that I love you so much and you will always be in my heart always, next to Mommy and Dada.

Take care and be well.

Yours always with a million hugs and kisses,
Daddy

Gained Weight

Spoke with one of AL-E's young and pretty godmother today i.e. Ms. Jo Udang. According to Ms. Jo, our boy, AL-E has gained weight (a lot) and is really heavy to carry.

Ms. Jo went over to see/play with AL-E.

Oh well...I guess Dada has done his part in making AL-E into a Guju puppy...wonder if he fed AL-E any tepla or rotli or bakhri....

Dada's tired

Spoke to dada this afternoon. Poor thing, his crown dropped and an appointment is scheduled with the dentist tomorrow.

AL-E has been monkeying around and keeping dada too active. Apparently, all these small adventures and AL-E's antics has taken a toll on dada (Note: On the phone dada complained of palpitation and mentioned that he somewhat is not able to play with AL-E all the time. AL-E is too darn active for dada....Oh well, managed to assure him it is alright, as long as he gives some attention to AL-E.)

The Culprit

According to Dada's findings & report, all evidence points to our little imp, AL-E Baba.

Well, AL-E is getting really smart, cheeky and naughty at the same time. I suppose he is also a little restless because mommy and daddy is away (and wondering when will they both be back).

New antic

Dada decides to go downstairs but guess what? The house key is no where to be found.

Poor dada...He was getting really anxious looking for the house keys (otherwise cannot get out of the house. Not only the front door & grill needs key but the alarm must be turned off too). So, dada was really sad and thought that he was really getting old, being forgetful, loosing his mind etc. etc.

Nevertheless, dada searched the whole house and after an hour of so found the keys hidden behind the curtains (in-between the railings in the living room. It was right at the back behind the side table).

So, guess who's the culprit? (Clue: There are only two persons living in the house, dada & AL-E). Go figure.

Dada and Al E

I left Miri for KL yesterday. Already missing Al E for the past few days and very glad that Pappa or Al E's Dada (grand father) is there taking care of him.

Sarah will be back to Miri in mid February but I will only see him in May/June time frame.

So, what antics has my boy been up to while with Dada.

Dada left him upstairs while he went down to do some laundry. Maybe it took max 45 minutes or so. When he returned upstairs, there was torn paper everywhere, torn paper from Al E's toilet, torn paper from the table and money flying everywhere, thankfully not eaten.

Al E gets very very anxious when left alone, and I guess he saw mummy leaving with big bag and daddy packing big bags and he just went berserk.

Last night, after arrival and settling in the KL home, I called my dad around 9:15 to see what they (Al E and dada) were up to.

Apparently Al E was sleeping and Dada was also going to sleep.

This morning I found out Al E was just pretending to sleep. He did not let Dada sleep until past 1am and wanted to play. I guess Al E also wanted to watch Obama's inauguration - after all Al E being black would be a staunch Obama supporter.

So, they stayed up till past 1am watching history unfold.

This morning, Dada was smart enough to take Al E downstairs with him.

Oh well, another day in the chronicles of Al E and Dada. I wonder who is the master and who is the servant.

Think about it?

Melancholic

Sigh, sigh .....more sigh............missing my AL-E so much.....

I wish I could speak to him over the phone. Oh well, at least he is with dada.

Such is life...

Missing our boy

Being back in the city has its perk(s). However, missing my little AL-E does not gather me any perks. The house feels cold and empty. I am feeling rather miserable, lost and melancholic.

Nevertheless, I know our boy is in good hands. AL-E will have all the love, care and activities with his dada (granpa Kishor is in Miri, taking care of AL-E and enjoying the sea-breeze-hopefully.)

I also hope some of our regular friends will find time (in their ever busy schedule) to pay a visit to our humble home in Miri. I am sure both AL-E and dada will be thrilled.

Oh well...

My favorite chewables

Our little boy, AL-E Baba is very fond of taking his vitamins. Upon recommendation from his vet, we feed AL-E the following items on daily basis:

1. Vi-Sorbits by pfizer (The label says chewable meat flavored tasty vitamin-iron tablets for dogs.)
2. Coatex capsule (This capsule mainly contain fish oil, borage seed oil, vitamin A & D3.)

Item 1 is his utmost favorite and item 2 being his least favorite. Initially, we had to push item 2 down his throat. However (good news), my dear hubby managed to teach this little fella to download item 2 without being forced. How he did, makes me wonder.....even when I was a little girl, I used to hate taking fish oil (Scott's Emulsion) - both my parents had a hard time getting me to even like fish oil with orange flavor (Harlyborange-I am not too sure of the spelling here!).

Apparently, the trick is to ONLY give AL-E item 1 (Vi-Sorbits), if and when he finishes up his Coatex Capsule. And this, AL-E does with lighting speed. Within split seconds he swallows his Coatex Fish Oil Capsule and will be begging for his Vi-Sorbits.

Well done to both of you (Note: To both AL-E and hubby).

CSI: Luak Bay

The crime: An innocent victim was mauled and torn to pieces. Survived the attack but badly mauled beyond recovery even with cosmetic surgery.

The victim: A book

The crime scene: Luak Bay

The perpetrator: Al E Baba

The punishment: A scolding, taking away toys and some sulking

Pictures paint a thousand words...

I love you, but who is going to take responsibility for this?

Caught red handed, or is it red mouthed?

Who, me? It wasn't me Daddy, I swear, I am innocent.

Ok, Ok, it was me, I am sorry :-(

I am sorry Mommy for tearing your book, I miss you and daddy.

I love you Mommy, I love you Daddy, please forgive me, please don't be too angry with me.

The evidence, bagged up.

So, another day, in the life of Al E the Ripper. A dog who suffers from separation anxiety and loves to tear things to pieces when he is anxiously waiting home alone.

The perpetrator escapes any major punishment and he apologizes for his behaviour by apologetic looks, hiding his face under his paws, licking me all over my face and giving me this "I am so sorry" look.

Al E Baba and his 40 antics.

Posing for Mommy

Al E: Daddy, take some pictures of me and put it in my Facebook as well as Mommy's blog.

Me: Ok Al E. But come and kiss me 1st and tell me how your day went in the kennel.

Al E: Oh Daddy, when will you stop wanting me to kiss you. It is getting embarrassing.

Me: You will never stop kissing me cause you love me so.

Al E: You're absolutely right and I'll never stop jumping around and play with you as well. But I do miss Mommy.

Me: But you never want to speak to her on Skype or the phone?

Al E: I hear her, but I don't see her. Take my pictures lah Daddy. I want to pose for Mommy and also all the uncles and aunties that I miss so much.

Me: Who else do you miss apart from Mommy?

AL E: I miss Aunty Mack, Gandut, Joanne, Shirley and Yani. I also miss Uncles Muniandy, Kuppu, Chandran, Jo and Roehan. It's so funny because Uncle Kupps is still scared of lil me.

Me: Yah, Kupps is funny in that way, but you got to stop biting people boy.

Al E: Ok Daddy, now quick, take pics of me.

Missing AL-E Belly & Kittie Cat

I am really sleepy, tired and worn-out (after only having slept for one hour and half). The flight back was alright except for landing. Very bumpy dumpy landing!! On top of that I have to deal with two luggages, take a train ride (had a good 28 minutes siesta) and very lucky to get a cab at KL Sentral (within 5 minutes). I was back home by 10.00 am.

It was nice to see my housekeeper. The house smells fresh, clean and nice. Made a pot of coffee, read the papers, watched some TV (the on-going US Presidential Election) and at the same time nice to be in my backyard (garden) - the flowers blooming, some vegetable plants are starting to bear fruit, squirrels jumping about and the neighbours cat(s) doing their acrobatic movements on garden wall/corner.........

Sure nice to be back BUT missing my loved ones terribly especially hubby and little AL-E. I know from previous experience, the next few days (or a week or so) is going to be tough.....

Well, I will be back and the music starts, again and AL-E gets to do his belly dance (although that is an on-going activity with our AL-E). Life will be good. Until then, this is my somewhat nostalgic post!!!!!!!

Shopping for AL-E

Here I go again. Shopping. Shopping. Shopping .........

I got a little carried away on my last trip back in KL (at Pet Safari). Got AL-E some dog collars, little cute colourful bells, big-bells, oven-baked biscuits,munchy bone treats, food containers, turquoise colour wool blanket (with paw prints), a huge red pillow and etc. etc. etc.

So far, AL-E enjoys eating the nutritious oven-baked biscuits. But am not so sure about the munchy bone treats (vegetarian bone) although he used to enjoy it when he was about 2 months old.

My next mission to KL will be to get a good pair of harness and dog seat-belt.

Alternatively (if not available in KL), hubby need to source out for a doggy car seat-belt during his trip overseas.

Conversations with THE Dog

Sarah just started a Cocker Spaniel fan club in Facebook and I decided that it would be cool if Al-E was part of the club. So I had to create a Gmail account for Al-E in order to create a Facebook account.

So, now Al-E is on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1625554377&ref=name.

Of course, I could not resist an email from Al-E to us, so, here it is with my reply.


Subject: Hi Mom and Dad
------------------------

From: Al-E Baba
Date: Fri, Oct 31, 2008 at 11:39 PM
To: niltimbadia@gmail.com, nilsar88@gmail.com

Hi Mummy and Daddy,

This is Al-E, I am doing fine here. Had some food poisoning with all the rattan that I have been eating and had a big throw up yesterday but I am in good spirits nevertheless.

Furthermore, this things that keep popping out of my mouth, bloody white hard stuff... what do you call them? Teeth I think. I am in great pain because of this. So, my sincere apologies if I hurt you sometimes by ending up in chewing your arm, please forgive me.

Apart from that, life here is great, the beach is nice but it has been bloody hot and raining cats lately, only thing I can't catch these cats.

I've had some skin problems due to the heat and humidity.

On top of that, do you remember this girl I like, that bitch gave me ticks. She is a no good arrogant bitch.

I am dreaming that you are here and I am writing to you this amazing letter, it is like daddy is in my head and typing out this email ... or is it a dream.

Oh well, I hope you are both well. I love you so much but I am going back to my nice slumber sleep and will dream of you.

Love,
Al-E

Woof Woof.

AL-E's new diet and the aftermath

Our boy has a new diet which he sourced himself - rattan pieces.

Yes, our rattan sofa's are being chewed and swallowed bit by bit daily. Normally, it will end up appearing on his rear end. However, our little fella got too carried away last night. He ate way too much rattan...

So this morning, just as I was drifting off in my dreamland, heard hubby's loud yell (calling out to me), more like an urgent SOS. I jumped out of my bed and was presented with part of living room with AL-E's 'dhall curry' - all dried-up with lots of rattan pieces. Sigh! The boy must have had a tough night, vomiting and all.

Clutching my disinfectant solution, rubber gloves, paper towels, I got to work (Me, the clean-up crew). Then, fed AL-E. We both took him for a walk (more like a morning run). Now, he is sleeping soundly - while this blog is being written.

Nevertheless, the most AMAZING part is that we were not disturbed or woken at all last night/wee hours of the morning. AL-E is so considerate of our well-being too. I suppose he understands that we need our sleep since we slept so late..........The boy can be an idiot but yet intelligent at the same time.

We need to desperately find a way to stop AL-E from chewing and eating up our rattan furniture. I have sprayed the 'bitter bite' spray on all our rattan furniture. See if this works!

On top of that, AL-E still gave us the usual standard facials this morning!

Sometimes, I wonder where AL-E gets the energy to greet us good morning with gusto despite probably having a tough time last night with all that purging.....

Red Pillow

AL-E gets a new gift every now and then.

Sometime last week, I got him a brand new red pillow - to be a cushion for his sleeping basket.

The reason being, some parts of the basket is really being chewed-up by our little monkey. AL-E has lots of soft toys, bones, munchy stuff etc. etc.

However our little fellow here, really looks forward in biting up (or to pieces) rattan chairs, rattan sofa, rattan basket, my study table (the legs) and my favorite chair (the legs as well). Must be really yummy and soothing for a teething dog!

I wonder how long this red pillow will last (especially since he loves to chew on the corners of the pillow as well - from time to time). Sigh!!

Drama Queen

AL-E reminds us of someone very close and dear to us, my mother.

Why? My mom gets ill every now and then.

Boy! my mom can be quite a 'drama queen' when she is sick (does not matter if it is just food-poisoning due to eating a piece of fruit at 5 pm or a mild-fever due to heat/climate). For some reason, quite a number of anitibiotic pills does not agree with her (I will not make a list here - too long!).

So, why am I talking about mom. Well, our little AL-E is no better. The antibiotic that the doc/vet gave AL-E for his skin issues got him really sick. The side-effects range from rapid breathing, loss of appetite, tired, lethargic and plain non-active.

Gosh! I feel really bad for getting him to take the antibiotic. AL-E was just laying on the floor motionless with heavy breathing - even his favorite games, toys seem not to amuse him. He won't even acknowledge when his name is called. That's it, we decided he's off taking 'Cephalexin'. That's the name of the antibiotic.

We observed him all night. I barely had 4 hours of sleep.

Well, there is a happy ending to this story. Forty hours later, AL-E is his usual 'MONKEY' self. Busying himself with his daily antics. Driving both of us nuts but we are not complaining.

Boy, we are happy to have our AL-E back.

More Works of Art

I left the house for about an hour and half , for my hair appointment. When I got back, guess what's awaiting at home?

AL-E's art work, torn pieces of hubby's favorite calendar (purchased via Amazon.com). Not much remaining pieces left now......The knee pad too went through some ripping process (still in good shape though).

I stayed with the little fella the whole day yesterday (played games with him too).

So, this is AL-E's little payback for being bored and lonely. Sigh!

Frequent bath time and Fish Oil

AL-E has been scratching and biting some parts of his body quite a bit. So, as usual, we being worried parents, dashed our little AL-E to the vet.

Earlier, we discovered AL-E has some 17 spots of dry-flaky stuff on his belly and some parts of his upper body. At the clinic, bought a medicated shampoo and brush for his bathing needs (prescribed by vet).

Plus, doc's order, to bathe AL-E every 3 days till all spots disappear. Doc also gave some antibiotic. The doc started course immediately - more like chuck/pushed one piece into his throat (which of course our AL-E spit out and had to be trusted into his throat). Poor AL-E.

All this abrasive medicated shampoo may take a toll on his shiny black coat. So, we have started AL-E on Coatex (special fish oil for dogs and cats)-recommeded by the doc/vet. It does not smell nice and reminds me of those times when my mom and dad used feed me with 'Scots Emulsion Fish Oil' (yucks). I was on it till maybe 11 or 12 years old.

I bet Coatex fish oil sucks but nevertheless it is going to help AL-E maintain a healthy coat. So be it. How do I do it? How do I persuade a four-legged-fury animal to consume this stuff? Apparently, it will take 2 to 3 months of daily consumption of Coatex, in order to see results. Oh, blimey! Definitely need hubby's help, need to force feed AL-E Coatex (just like the way the doc demonstrated). Not easy with our little monkey.

It's a doggy dog world

One day, about 4 months ago, wifey and I were talking on what name I would give to a pet i.e. dog or cat if we had one.

Somehow, I always thought that a pet of mine would have a fun name, not the normal names like Rusty or Bob or Max etc. Wifey even suggested Maximillium or Augutus.

I came up with Al E Baba, Alladin, Goofy and if female Cinderella, Princess Jasmine, Esmeralda or some other cartoon sort of character if it was a dog.

And of course if for a cat it had to be Liono, Jaga, Tygra, Panthro, Cheetara - Thundercats Ho!

We were not seriously thinking of getting a pet and were talking more in future i.e. when we moved to Australia.

The next day, we went to Imperial for some regular shopping and lo and behold, they had a pet exhibition in the concourse area.

Before our shopping, we saw these 3 dogs in a cage, 2 German Shepherds and 1 little black dog which I had no idea what it was but it was sure as heck cute and charming.

We also saw some lazy Siamese cats laying about in their cage. (I am sure you can guess that I am not a cat person)

Dexter, the person selling the pets (and not the boy with mad scientist instincts with a hidden lab in his house), let these little dog out and straight away he came for me to sniff out and bite my shoes.

I was sold.

After our shopping, I very instintively, irrationally and compuslively decided to buy the little black dog.

And in the same manner, decided to name it Al E Baba - I thought it was unique, cute and a fun name.

Of course, wifey was not happy at all at that time mainly because of my irrationality and compulsiveness.

We have had Al E for slightly over four months now but the joy that he has brought to our lives is truly priceless. Wifey and I love Al E to heck.

Unconditional love and when we are playing with Al E, no thoughts or turbulance in our mind.

Life is beautiful and has been a blessing with Al E Baba in our lives.

It's a doggy dog world.