Cleo Plays with the Mouse on the iPad

Cleo(patra) is the cat who took care of Daddy while he was away visiting Cebu.  I don't like cats - but since he gave Daddy love when I was too far away to give love to him,  I guess I can make her an exception ( even her brother Imhotep ).  Can I just say I don't understand cats?  Why is she playing with the mouse on the iPad?  For the record - I like using the iBone --- and I don't think I will ever have any interest in using the iPad.

Blogger's note:  A guest post by Midori the Beagle.

A Pack of Jack Russel Terriers

After accompanying daddy on his shoe-shopping,  we decided to hang around Bonifacio High Street.  It was a busy night with a lot of people and their canine companions.

Daddy made us walk around the mall twice before taking us inside the park to make sure that we burn off excess energy.  This was a good idea because Char Siew ended up well behaved.

Here in this picture you will see Char Siew on top of a rock and he was spotted by a Chow Chow.  I think both of them wanted to play.

While we were at the park, we spotted a pack of Jack Russel Terriers.  They seem to be in training.

I count four JRTs in this picture.  How many do you count?   They are of different coat varieties.

One of them spotted us and wanted to approach.  Daddy doesn't want us to interact much because he knows that Char Siew doesn't like small dogs.   He tells the handler that Char Siew bites - but that's a lie.

This pair seems to be whispering something really interesting to each other.

Hmmm ... hey Mr. Jack - are you trying to show us that you can do a down-stay?  We can do that too you know.

This dog is doing a sit-stay.

It was a fun night and we can't wait to go back.   BTW - I ended up showing off and doing all my tricks: Beg, Play Dead, Roll-Over, Sit-Stay, and Catch the Treats.  

The Beagle Pack in Twitter

Flowers for @JDogJosie

Midori has a twitter account.  You can follow her at www.twitter.com/MidoriBeagle.  She along with thousands of Beagles have twitter accounts.  As dogs, Beagles are known to hunt in packs.  When they are not hunting ( which is the case for most beagles now ), they still tend to stick together.   So in the Twitter universe - the beagle accounts tend to stick together.

Flowers for @JDogJosie

When you read Midori's twitter stream,  you read about the common experience of beagle owners.  You will read about Beagoating - which is an appropriate term for the beagle's tendency to eat anything like what goats are known for.  You will read about them running away from their humans to track a scent.  You will see cute pictures of them sleeping ( because they love sleeping all day ).   You will read about the noisy baying that they are known for when they find something interesting.  For Beagle owners like me,  it had been a great way of enriching my relationship with my dog by reaching out to other owners who share my experience with my own beloved Midori.   By the way - Char Siew is a Shar Pei - but in this world - he is an honorary Beagle.

Flowers for @JDogJosie

Unfortunately - like the real world,  it is not always fun and games.  Yesterday was an example.  One of Midori's twitter anipal - @JDogJosie - at the ripe old age of 16 ( that's 112 in dog years ) crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.  As I read through Midori's twitter stream,  each of the Beagle account expressed their sympathy for Josie's family.  Everyone expressed crying over the sad news.  I admit - I cried when I read it.  I sent my own love to Josie and her family during this difficult time.   While I cried - I approached Midori - sharing the news with her because she really could not read the tweets on the iBone.  I really had to read it to her.  She looked at me with her puppy dog eyes looking puzzled.  Then - it seems like she understood and felt the grief - and she nuzzled closer and we hugged.  We hugged for a very long time.

Twitter has definitely given a gift to all of us.  That gift for me and the hundreds of Midori's friend - includes the feeling that we are not alone in facing the joy and the sorrows that the real life has to offer.

Meet the Pits

I will call these Pit Bulls - Angelina and Brad Pit Bulls.  I'm sorry - I forgot what their names are. I can only remember their scents.  You know us dogs - names don't really matter to us as much as how other dogs smell. Char Siew and I met them last weekend at Bonifacio High st.   They are not brothers and sisters --- they are mates.  I think Mr Brad Pit Bull goes to dog shows.  He does stand and sit like someone who goes to beauty contests.  BOL.

Borrowing an expression from my friend Bolo - Sniff you later.

A Blog post from Midori the Beagle

Doggie Love at Mercato Centrale

For regular readers of my blog, they all know that they can find two famous categories of blog entries in the House of Queens:  Food and Dogs.  Today - we merge these two by writing about Mercato Centrale's Doggie Love weekend which happens every fortnight.  The last one was on July 31 - so the next event will be on August 14.  

We were at Mercato the night before and it was so crowded that we didn't think it was a good idea to go to the dog event the day after.  However - RJ Ledesma - one of the owners of Mercato Centrale tweeted back at my account indicating that it had wide enough  passage ways for dogs.  Char Siew, Midori and I decided to go to the Doggie Love weekend.

This weekend - they talked about Doggie nutrition.  Midori and Char Siew get appropriate nutrition - but I realize I need to increase Midori's protein intake.  That's good news for Midori.  However - to make sure that she doesn't gain weight - she has to get a lot more vigorous exercise.  This means that she will join me when I jog.

We met up with other dog lovers.  Some of the dogs that we met were Cash, Hunter, Watson, and Meadow.  

For the food?  I think every dish - I've tried had been really good.   I think we will be regular visitors from now on.

Malunggay Taco Shells

Yakitori Balls

Batchoy

The A-Maze-ing Garden Adventure for Dogs

Blogger's Note: This is a blog post from Midori the Beagle

Char Siew and I had a great and Fun weekend.  Sunday afternoon, at 2:00 PM, Daddy and I went to Ayala Triangle Gardens - to witness the first ever A-Maze-ing Garden Adventure for Dogs.  It's an obstacle course for dogs.  There are 10 obstacles for the dogs.  The rules of the game - the dogs and their humans will have to go through each station.  The humans will have to encourage their dogs to complete the obstacle.  They cannot coerce, pull, scold, or hit their dogs.  They can  use treats or toys to encourage the dogs to complete the task.  If the dog cannot complete the task, the human can complete it.  That sounds fair, doesn't it anipals?  

There were so many dogs.  So many of them are beagles, labrador, shi-tzus, and huskies.  But there was only one Shar-Pei.  That's Char Siew.  The event was held for the benefit of PAWS (Philippine Animal Welfare Society).

Here are the highlights of the event.

The Lucky Arc.  This is the starting and finish line.

And they're off.  See them all run.

The tire obstacle.  You have to jump through the tire.

Sled Dog Challenge.  The human needs to wear the doggie hat and pull the sled while his dog is on the sled.

My friend Pusoy Going over the ramp.

The tube.  Who thinks of these scary contraptions?

The Sandbox.  I think the objective of the game is to find the bone hidden in the sand.  This is a Pawsome challenge.  I know I'll do well in it.

A human who had to take over the task from his dog.

Me in one of the stations. The dog has to go through this area and not touch the toys and treats.  I didn't participate in the race but I stole some of the treats. 

Char Siew having a lot of fun.   We both had fun.

If you want to see the other pictures.  Please check them out in my Facebook Fan page.

Badge – The Chihuahua x Shih-Tzu

Midori has a new cousin.  Badge is one of two puppies born of a Chihuahua x Shih Tzu  lineage.  He’s a bit snappy, noisy and fierce.   Midori and Char Siew met him during my father’s sixtieth birthday party.  I had to make sure that Char Siew stays away from him from fear of ending up with a headless puppy. 

I am Beagoat Queen

Blogger’s Note: A guest post from Midori the Beagle

MidoriBeagle: I am Midori I am a Beagoat. My last successful Beagoat is 16 hours ago. http://plixi.com/p/46880482

BusterTheBeagle: @MidoriBeagle Oops! Better Start hiding now!!

MidoriBeagle: @BustertheBeagle they were worried I swallowed battery. Of course I won't. It was not yummy.

BeagleStitch: @MidoriBeagle http://plixi.com/p/46880482 - Arrroooooo!!! Beagoats rule!

MidoriBeagle: @BeagleStitch BOL. Since we don't have a remote ... I now have to tell Daddy to stand up and switch channel when watching TV

EvietheBeagle: @MidoriBeagle wow you made a stunning job of that one x

Prime_Beagle: @MidoriBeagle Midiri you id a legend! I bet the humans aren't happy about that one! Use the cute faces we all practice in our spare time :)

MidoriBeagle: @Prime_Beagle cute puppy face like this one? Works all the time. BOL http://plixi.com/p/46985024

EvietheBeagle: @MidoriBeagle @Prime_Beagle I'd forgive u. Must practise that face too x

Iamabeagle: @MidoriBeagle hahahahaa. That is fantastic!! That has a beagoats signature all over it.

SleepTyson: @midoribeagle Well done Midori. The beagoats are proud of ya. =) *thumbs up*

MidoriBeagle: @sleepytyson thank you ***blushes***

DaisyDorg: @MidoriBeagle Beagoat of the Week looks like... Well done Midori!

MidoriBeagle: @DaisyDorg thank you. ***bows*** happy to have made you all proud.

Jumpnjoey16: All of @MidoriBeagle 's twitter friends are applauding her for destroying our remote control. It's the second one she destroyed.

Midori Beagle’s Twitter Feed

My Beagle Midori has a Twitter account.  When I read the twitter feed, I swear I sometimes think that the Beagles are actually Tweeting.  It’s very entertaining to read the “conversation” the Beagles are having.   Here is a sample of that exchange:

BuddyTheBeagle: The crow just bit my nuts! I was focused on my food; he sneaked from behind, and OUCH! I got so mad! His beak felt like tweezers.

iamabeagle: @BuddyTheBeagle hahahaaa that just fowl! Get it fowl … of forgive me. it was a rough morning at the vet.

iamabeagle: Ok soo never again will I go to the stupid vet.  3 people held me down.  He uses biggest needle I’ve ever seen. Not cool. I cried.

iamabeagle: Screamed. Serious pain. I’ll never go there again. And his cookies suck! Didn’t take it.  Now I’m going to bed so upset I can’t even eat.

sleepytyson: @iamabeagle If it takes 3 people to hold you down.  I think I need 8. I shiver violently every time I go to the vet. :-(

sleepytyson: What jab did you take anyway? Hop you feel better & get more noms later.  It’s fatal when a beagle screams. :-(

iamabeagle: Suprelorin http://tiny.cc/ymque that's what I got today. Sure there r pros & cons. Just happy I could keep my googlies! :-)) c how it wrks.

MidoriBeagle: @sleepytyson @iamabeagle : daddy leaves the room when I get shots.

sleepytyson: @MidoriBeagle Ooh that’s scary. I could never go in alone.  The vet’s scary and I can’t help staying stock still when he’s around. :O

MidoriBeagle: @iamabeagle: Good you can keep your googlies. Just stay away from Crows or you might end up with bitten Googlies like @BuddyTheBeagle.

iamabeagle: @MidoriBeagle BOL...poor @BuddyTheBeagle. For the next days he'll bark like a lady! :-))

Tokyo is Dog Friendly

I am enjoying every minute of my vacation in Tokyo.  However, I do miss my babies back home.  I wish they were with me here in Tokyo especially since I have observed that the city is Dog Friendly.  There are dog friendly restaurants, great accessory shops for dogs and I see many dogs being walked by their humans even around busy business districts.  One of the most popular icons in the city is Hachiko, the loyal dog who waited for his human at the Shibuya station even long after his human was dead.  They have a statue of the dog at Shibuya train station and they even named a train line after him.  I’m sure that a dog with a Japanese name like “Midori” will love it here in Tokyo.

Hachiko the Loyal Japanese Akita

Restaurant Welcomes Dogs

Dogs and their Humans shopping at the Asakusa Market

   

Clothes for Dogs at Asakusa Market (this one Midori will not enjoy)

The Animals we Met in Coron

The trip to Coron brought the House of Queens closer to nature.   We saw exotic creatures and plants in this trip.  However,  we also encountered household creatures like dogs, pigs, chickens, cows, etc.   Throughout town, we see chickens crossing the street.  That always triggers a chuckle – and prompts me to ask, “Why did THAT chicken cross the road?”.   It is customary in farms or rural areas to be awakened by roosters – but from where we were staying, we were awakened by pigs being brought to the local public market.

In Calauit,  I have shown the pictures of the GIraffe and the Zebras.  However – there are other local animals in the reservation.

Here are some pictures of animals we encountered in our trip to Coron.

This cat was roaming the grounds close to the Maquinit hot springs.  Those small stumps that you see surrounding the cat are parts of the root of the mangroves which can be found around the area. 

These brother and sister puppies joined their humans in their Island Hopping adventure.  It must have been a blast to go swimming with them in the twin lagoon.  When I saw them I also missed my babies: Midori and Char Siew.

A Family of deer.  It was hard to get a face picture of the deer because they go away when you approach them.   These are all youngsters and females.   The male deer have horns.

A family of Porcupines.  It was great to have the opportunity to be this close to porcupines.  It was my first time.  They were shy – and apart from one who openly greeted us,  all others tried to hide behind the bamboo found in their habitat.

This is the Palawan Bearcat.  It’s a nocturnal animal which is why it was only found way up the trees.  I had to max-out the zoom capability of the camera to take this picture.

There are two alligators in this picture.  One in the foreground – and you can see the tail and part of the head of an alligator underneath it.   There are half a dozen alligators in the Calauit Conservation park.

We were trying to gently coax the turtle to come out of its shell.

This is a relative of the local Civet (or Alamid).  Like the Bearcat it’s a nocturnal animal so we are actually disturbing it during our visit.  This is something that I’m truly sorry for because I know how it feels to be woken up during the day while I am asleep.

Lovely animals.  Looking at these photos makes me want to go back to Coron to visit them.