Drought

There is water shortage and drought in Chihuahua, the Mexican State that has shared its name with the best dog breed there is. 

The linked article about this is interesting. It does not say anything about how the drought affects the dogs in the area. I hope this means dogs get enough water. 

We wish for a lot of rain over Chihuahua in Mexico. 

Dog Show Committee

We attended an on line meeting tonight with the Dog Show Committee of our regional kennel club. The meeting was mainly about the Askersund Dog Show 23–24 August.

Pepe and I will work in the secretariat at the show, with Paula and Daniel. It is important work, but it will be fun. We are looking forward to it. 

The meeting was fine. All of the preparations are on the way. It feels good. 

Snoring

Pepe says I am snoring, when I sleep.

I don’t know about this myself. When you sleep, you are not aware what sounds you make.

If I snore, I don’t disturb myself. To be true, Pepe never said I disturb him by snoring, either. This is a relief. I would not want to disturb anyone and not being aware of it myself. I sleep well, this is what I know. 

The Last Samurai

We watched the American film The Last Samurai on TV tonight. It gave us an interesting view of 19th century Japan, the country where Shibas come from.

We did not see any Shibas in the film, though. This made us disappointed.

The Last Samurai would have been a better film, if there would have been dogs in it, especially dogs of a breed we know. 

Warm Days

We have had many warm days this week. Pepe and I really like this. We figure it can be due tour Mexican heritage. The climate is warmer in Mexico than in Sweden. 

Daniel made us take baths in cold water today, in order to cool down. I think this was a little too much. A bath is no bad thing as such, but I actually enjoyed the warmth, so I think I did not really need it. 

Pepe was less annoyed than I was for the bath, I think. 

We like Daniel anyway. 

Laws Against Smuggled Dogs

A proposed UK law will give the authorities more ways to act against smuggled dogs. There have been too young pups, pregnant dogs, and other horrible things detected. 

It is good that a law like this may be enacted. In a better world, we would not need it. I have never understood how there can be so high demand for smuggled dogs, that smuggling can be an economic alternative for anyone. 

Rain on the Clean Clothes

Paula hung up laundry to dry in the garden today. Unfortunately for her, a rain shower came by and soaked the clean clothes. 

It is so much easier to have your own coat, as dogs have, than to have clothes. We never need to du laundry or hang our coats out to dry. 

Paula kept the clothes hanging. The weather forecast said there would be no more rain. We have to hope the forecast is correct. 

A Month to Go

In a month, we will all go to Askersund and the big dog show there.

Pepe is looking forward to be a co-worker in the secretariat again, like he was last year. I am not so sure what I would like to do. We will have to see. I am sure it will be fun, though. 

We will also celebrate Paula’s birthday in a month. It will be nice to combine these things. 

Club Work

Paula and Daniel went to the Kennel Club house today. There were things to do there for the Club. 

Meanwhile, Pepe and I took care of the house. We watch it, when none of our humans are around. 

Not that I know what Paula and Daniel really did, but Pepe and I believe our job took more effort. Watching the house is serious business. 

A Great Afternoon

Pepe and I visited Paula’s sister, nephew, and niece this afternoon. Paula’s niece Nadja had specifically asked to see us. We gladly went there. We played, got snacks, went for walks, and rested in the garden. Nadja was a splendid hostess, and her brother Arvid was a splendid host.

It is always nice not to walk in the same paw prins every day. This was really different, and really nice. It was a great afternoon. 

Moon Landing

On this date in 1969, humans landed on the Moon for the very first time.

There had been stories about Moon landings before. In the comic Tintin, the Fox Terrier Snowy (Milou) was among the ones to walk on the Moon. In real life, no dogs came along to the Moon. We may in the far future, but nothing is planned yet. When humans move there, I am sure dogs will follow. 

Landing on the Moon was a great thing. More landings followed until 1972. There has been talks about new Moon landings in the near future. I hope I live to see them. 

The Countryside

Paula, Daniel, and I visited some friends on the countryside outside of Örebro this evening. We sat outside and talked, ate, and drank. Then we went for a walk in the area. 

Over all, it was a very pleasant evening. The nice weather added to it. I would like to have more nice evenings like this. 

Bicycles

Daniel’s bicycle is old and rusty. He rides his bike to work and back troughout the year, regardless of weather. This puts a lot of strain on the bike, of course. He had left it for service this week, but they would not repair everything. They said it would not be economically sound, but that Daniel should rather buy a new bike.

Paula has a bike which they left to be repaired today. It is not as old and used as Daniel’s bike. We will have to see what the repair man says about this bike. I hope it can be repaired. 

New Harnesses

Paula and Daniel bought new harnesses for me and Pepe today. 

We don’t think we need any harnesses. A harness is there to direct where we would go, but we always go in the best direction possible, with a speed suitable for the purpose. Why would anyone of us need a harness? 

At the Veterinarian

Pepe and I visited the veterinarian today. You have to have medical check ups once in a while.

Visits to the veterinarian is not something I enjoy, but it is good to have done it. Now we can go many months before the next check up. This is good. 

Chihuahua Saviour

A man in the Alps got help to survive from his Chihuahua. The man had fallen down in a glacier rift, He managed to ring for help on his mobile telephone, but it was the Chihuahua who guided the rescuers to the right place. The man might not have survived without the guidance from the Chihuahua.

This only goes to prove you do not have to be a big dog, to be a hero dog. All dogs can be heroes. 

A Lot of Rain

We have had a lot of rain this summer. It was pouring all morning today. 

Some people claim all of this rain will not make much difference for the water levels under ground. Wells can still dry out, because there was little snow last winter. I hope this will not happen to our well. We will have to see later in the year. 

Concrete Blocks

Paula and Daniel purchased a few concrete blocks that we put out in the garden. They will add to the looks. 

When working with this, our cat Totte came along. He helped out. This was nice of him. 

You may say that concrete is grey and boring. It is true that it is grey, but it does not have to be boring. This depends on what you do with it. I think we did something good with it. 

Sixth Mowing of the Lawn

Daniel mowed the lawn today. He was finished before the rain that fell in the late afternoon. 

As I have written before, we keep track of the number of times the lawn is mowed this season, by writing about it in the blog. There will certainly be more times, but it is difficult to say how many. 

Double Bagel

Tennis player Iga Swiatek from Poland won the women’s final in Wimbledon today, versus Amanda Anisimova from America. The result was astounding: 6-0, 6-0. Anisimova did not win a single game. A victory like this is called a ”double bagel”, probably because of the double 0’s. It has not happened since 1911 that a final in Wimbledon has been won so convincingly as 6-0, 6-0. This is 114 years ago. It is amazing, a historic event, when you think about it. 

Honouring Morran

Our dear Affenpinscher friend Morran passed away this week. She could not keep up with her cancer anymore. 

We honoured her tonight by eating one of her favourite things: minced meat. It was almost like we sensed Morran’s presence there, as if she would come around any second and take more minced meat from before us. She didn’t, of course, but we remembered when she did. 

Rest in peace, Morran! 

Unnecessary Things

We have spent part of today identifying old things which we do not use any longer. Such unnecessary things occupy space without contributing anything. We will see if we can sell or give away anything. Other things may just be garbage that we will throw away. The main thing is to get rid of these unnecessary things. What will happen to them remains to be seen. 

It would be better to have candy instead. 

Memories

We have talked a lot about memories of older dogs tonight. There are many fond memories to talk about. Life is not just here and now, it is also what we have been through and the dogs who we knew then. It has shaped the current us. This feels good. 

Why?

Why is it that you can be so sad on a beautiful day? 

Angels Crying

Some people say that when it is raining, the angels are crying. This must mean they are sad. There are times when I can really understand the angels being sad, because I am also sad. This is such a day. It is suitable, then, that it is raining today. The angels are crying. 

Suspect Arrested

A key suspect in the investigation of an attempted political murder in Colombia has been arrested. I wrote about this attempted murder in the blog on the 9 June. 

It has turned out that the fifteen year old shooter had older accomplishes who had planned the deed and who had persuaded him to shoot. 

The investigators seem to have made a good job. We can hope that all of the people behind the crime will be sentenced for it and that the victim will make it through. 

Drying Rack

Daniel purchased a new drying rack today. This was put in the bathroom to hang laundry on to dry. 

Paula stayed at home with us dogs, since she did not feel well. We took care of her.

Laundry and drying racks are things dogs never need. We have coats which protect us, so we do not need clothes. I am glad we do not need it, it is much easier not to have clothes. We would not need any drying rack. 

Tacos

We had the best 4th of July dinner imaginable today – tacos. This is originally Mexican food, which has become common in the USA as well. For Pepe and I, who are Chihuahuas, we really enjoyed it.

Taco spices in minced meat is a treat. 

Hamburgers

Paula made hamburgers for dinner. 

The best part of this, was when minced meat was served to us dogs. Minced meat is a blessing of civilisation. Meat is always nice, but it is easier and tastier to eat it, when it is minced already. 

We wish we could get minced meat more often. 

Twentyfive Year Old Bridge

The bridge between Denmark’s capital Copenhagen and Malmö in Sweden was opened twentyfive years ago. This is a long time, especially in the time perspective of a dog. 

I have never been to Denmark. Rumour has it, sausages have a brighter red colour there. This might be interesting to see, but it is the smell and taste that is important. Swedish sausages are good enough, I believe. 

Building bridges is a good thing. It has boosted the economy in the area near the bridge, thus, it has also strengthened the economy of both Sweden and Denmark. It has made it easier for dogs to cross the border too, which is good. I think it is a good bridge.