Goodbye Frodo

It's been three weeks since Frodo passed away. I finally had the courage to write a little about it here in my blog without being too sad. 

My baby boy died after a long battle with chronic renal failure. He was put to sleep on a rainy Sunday afternoon. The weather that day reflected my feelings and more. It was difficult to get through the day. I was difficult that day, and Frodo was in a lot of pain. I don't even remember how I managed. 


He was only 4 and half years old. I miss him terribly....

Okay, I thought I wouldn't be too sad. I lied. I can't even see the screen as I'm typing this. He was the sweetest cat... 

Frodo, you'll be missed. I love you.

Banana Thief

Our adorable dog did it again. He stole, more like grabbed a banana, skin and all, during breakfast. And I have to say he was fast! 

You see that this is his favorite fruit. He will zone in and block out all things around him, so he can have a glimpse of the most precious yellow fruit god has ever created, and hopefully have a morsel of it too.


Beware. The images you are about to see are quite graphic. Please brace yourself.

The thief was caught red-handed! 

The thief vehemently struggled for freedom with his plunder.

The thief resigned to the fact that he was in BIG trouble.

Yep, he got spanked and detained in the bathroom for a couple of minutes after the last shot was taken. And my dog being an asshole, shitted in retaliation to his uncompromising owners. 

Oh, how I love my dog!

House Warming

Oh, the city! Oh, the beautiful city! I'm finally here and I'm loving it! 


A couple of days before Chinese New Year, kindred spirits flocked to Wan Chai, preferably to my new digs in the city for a house warming party. And boy was it warm! Just look at what I was wearing!

Winky feeding me with her giant chopsticks.

The ladies came prepared and brought a lot of yummy food. This was after experiencing being fed by yours truly canned artichoke and bottled pesto at a certain birthday party not long ago.

My make shift dining table was brimming with beautiful fruits, scrumptious cold cuts, bubbling cheese and chocolate fondue, divine croissants, and exquisite red wine. I was pretty much eating non-stop for several hours, oh and drinking as well. More on that later!

Proud, shiny faces! Winky hoovering non-yogic food!

It was a great afternoon, thanks to the never-ending chatter these girls were making. The stories were endless!  But the story that stole the show was....... 

Listen! 

The tale of the yogini who wanted her money back

Wendell and Lizzie came around dinner time, after which the house warming was taken to the street and onto a bar for bar warming, where we consumed more intoxicating drinks and danced, more like hopped to band's energetic songs. Too bad Wendy and Lizzie went home early.

Wendell and Lizzie. Love hunters.

Ah yes, life is good. 

Even better with good friends, yummy food and firewater!

The Move

For the longest time I have always wanted to move to the city, to Wan Chai specifically. Now we are finally here! It took 5 years, two homes in Lantau, many animals and tons of accumulated furniture before the fortuitous event finally happened.

My parents were in town when the move took place. They were very helpful, but at the same time drove me crazy. The other already crazy family member, Barney, was on the other hand quite happy. Food was falling from the heaven and my mom was  his God. Barney relished all the attention and the food so much that he started having that crazed look in his eyes and started misbehaving... again! Barney! OFF!

He peed and pooped in the house because he was literally full of food. Mama thought he's such a poor thing and that he's always starving. Mother! OFF!

The over-feeders and the dragon dog.

On the day of the move, amidst all the spectacle, poop and pee, Frodo was quite relaxed. Sita on the other hand was M.I.A. The movers swooped in with their brawn and bubble wrap, and commenced dismantling our worldly possessions and carted all the boxes which contained pieces of stuff that represent our material life.

I love boxes!

It's been 6 days and my helpful parents flew back home. The apartment in the city is finally quiet and feels settled. The cats all adjusted quite nicely and Barney has been spanked and put back to his place in the hierarchy - bottom. 

New adventures are looming. Now to get back into the groove.....

It's Cold!

Barney: Hey buddy, can I squeeze in? It's soooo cold!

Frodo: You need a bath. 

Keep warm everyone!

Last Class in Chianti

Here we are. It finally happened. My last day teaching in Chianti. Suddenly it's very quiet in the room and very quiet in my mind. More space has been created perhaps? I'm not even sure if I'm sad or happy, and the space in between my eyebrows, I feel narrowing. 

I built the classes here from hope. Hoping somebody will come in the door. Hoping somebody will send me an email. Hoping that they will stay. Hoping that they will like me. Hoping that they will pay. Hoping that they will bring their friends. Hoping that they enjoyed. Hoping that I can teach more.

In between the hoping was a lot of learning, and in between the learning was a lot of scary emotions. These waves of different emotions either pulls me high up with the birds, or drags me down flat on my face with the hermit crabs, leaving me bemused and frazzled. Facing the class became an integral part in grounding me, keeping me away from the crazy.

I learned who I am building the classes here. I also learned so much from my students, good and bad. I especially learned how much I love yoga. That my relationship with it has blossomed and has become uncontrolling and forgiving. 

2009 was all about change. 2010 is about moving forward with the changes. Let's see where my next class will take me.

Can't wait!

Serena

After walking around the market in Moalboal, Larry, Lotte and I ended up in this store to score some orange soda. It was quite warm and we needed to drink something cool especially after playing with some firecrackers. While we were hanging around the store, we came across this very cute kitten. The three of us were instantly enamored!

Please take me home.

A debate soon followed on whether or not we should take her home. We stated the pros and cons, and more importantly how Mr. Shock would react. In the end, of course we all agreed that taking her with us is the best decision. 

Lotte and I discussing

Now that we have a new kitty, we have to name her. Janice recommended the name Cuchina. We all thought that it sounds like kusina or kitchen. So that was scrapped. Lotte, after naming all her dogs after the Power Puff Girls and outgrowing that era of cartoons, appropriately named the kitty, Serena. After one of the lead girls in Gossip Girl. No more Power Puff Girls for this teenager!

Serena!

We took Serena home and Mr. Shock wasn't shocked or angry at all. He was even quite protective of Serena (the dog was trying to eat her). Here she is showing off her Halloween move on Bubbles, our Power Puff named Labrador Retriever. 

Don't you dare dog! I've got moves!

Welcome to the family Serena!