Rodney and Stella

Rodney and Stella have been adopted! Finally! They've been with me for 3 months and have gone to 2 open days where they were always overlooked. I'm glad someone decided to adopt them and to give them their forever home.

I have complete trust that Julie, their adoptive mom, will take good care of them. Though I'm going to miss them terribly, I know that from now on their lives are going to be better. Julie's friend Lucy told me that it is guaranteed that they will both be spoiled rotten. Spoiled rotten is good! I told Julie she can change their names if she wants.

They've come a long way - previously, Rodney was lord of the garbage bins around my apartment building. Stella, presumably his sister, would follow him around his haunts. One day, Rodney followed me home, scruffy and begging for food. I took him in and that night I didn't get any sleep because he was jittery and yowling all the time. The next morning I set him free ( I was thinking he didn't want to be cooped up in an apartment and was a true feral cat). I started feeding him by the garbage bins and discovered Stella. That was the reason why he was yowling the whole night - he was worried for his sister.

So I took them in (no yowling this time), told Feline Friends I'm fostering them, got them neutered and vaccinated, brought them to 2 open days and fell in love with them over time. It was hard to see them go but I'm happy for them.

So tonight, instead of snoozing on my armchair, they will be sleeping in a posh high-rise apartment. I'll definitely visit them someday.

Who is Harrison?

I've noticed that I've been posting a lot of dogs in this blog lately. So to even it out, I'll take the opportunity to post a photo of my wonderful cat, Harrison. And yes, he's also the one featured in this blog's banner.

This is him:
I love this cat so much it should be illegal!

Need Some Cheering Up?

This video should do it. It sure lifted up my spirits.

Bridgestone Ad

I've had this video for a long time and it still makes me smile.

Loyalty

The pictures say it all. No words are needed.






Images from www.modernpooch.com

From An Animal Rescuer's Heart

I Found Your Dog Today...
(author unknown)

I found your dog today. No, he has not been adopted by anyone.
Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want,
those who do not own dogs do so because they choose not to.
I know you hoped he would find a good home when you left him out here,
but he did not. When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house
and he was alone, thirsty, thin and limping from a burr in his paw.

How I wish I could have been you as I stood before him. To see his tail
wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you
would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the
forgiveness in his eyes for the suffering and pain he had known in his
never-ending quest to find you...but I was not you. And despite all my
persuasion, his eyes see a stranger. He did not trust. He would not
come.

He turned and continued his journey; one he was sure would bring him to
you. He does not understand you are not looking for him. He only knows
you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more
important than food or water or the stranger who can give him these
things.

Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile; I did not even know his name. I
drove home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned
to where we had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering
under the tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to
rest. You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him, you
took away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he
travel during the day. He doesn't know that the sun and heat will claim
his life. He only knows that he has to find you.

I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build
an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his
paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him understand that the part
of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at
dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You
must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog.
Some would run him off, others would call the county and
the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted
by his suffering for days without food or water.

I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again early the
next morning only to find the food and water still untouched. If only
you were here to call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him. I
began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt
overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search for you was desperate,
it could take him many miles in 24 hours.

It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I
have found your dog. His thirst has stopped, it is no longer a torment
to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his
paws bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens,
you see, your dog has died.

I kneel next to him and I curse you for not being here yesterday so I
could see the glow, if just for a moment, in those now vacant eyes.
I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think you hoped
he would find.
If only you knew what he went through to reach it...
and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment,
and (if) I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and
his tail would wag with forgiveness

Pet Friendly Hotels in the Middle East

Make a quick Google search for a pet-friendly hotel in the Middle East and there's a 99.99% chance that it will turn up nothing. Almost every other hotel that opens up usually offer the same boring thing - sweltering luxury ad nauseam. This may work for the Middle Eastern high rollers who demand extravagance at every turn but the ubiquity of it will prove tiresome to every one else after awhile.

It is a growing trend among tourists and short term expatriates to travel with their pets. It is a fact and it happens. Over breakfast at work this morning I was appalled at the narrow- mindedness of the supposedly seasoned hoteliers I work with. Our General Manager has already stipulated that pets are allowed in the hotel I work for as long as they sign a pet waiver form and agree to its conditions (no noise, no dirt and pay for any damages). But no! They don't agree. They said that cats are the only animals allowed because they are mostly quiet, clean and fastidious creatures. I wondered aloud, why not dogs? One self-important manager said, we should not accept any animal that barks (is there anything else besides dogs that barks?). I asked, how about snakes and iguanas? They don't bark. How about an elephant? I was answered by a withering stare.

Good thing our GM isn't as narrow-minded as they are. She reiterated that any animal may be allowed into our hotel (within reason of course - I didn't mean the elephant thing) and they should be subject to our rules and regulations. Very reasonable, I think. Compared to what the reasons the other pompous farts have given why animals should not be allowed in our hotel.

Anyway, I'm glad that I'm working for a pet-friendly hotel even if it's not generally advertised. I think it would be a great selling point.

Five Cats

At present I live in a small-ish studio apartment. Officially I have one cat and I have committed into fostering a maximum of 2 cats for Feline Friends Dubai. However, circumstances have snowballed into me having 5 cats at one time! I have Harrison, I have the 2 cats from Feline Friends and I have 2 cats I rescued from the dumpster outside my apartment building. I'm trying hard not to be overwhelmed and I try to keep things in order but it's not easy! Phew. I need a break, I need some levity!

And I got one.

Super Cool!

I've seen a lot of great videos recently about animals. Here's another one made by the LA Animal Services promoting pet adoption. Super cool! Click here

Grateful Lion

This video made me cry. Apparently this lion was raised by humans and then later released into the wild. A year later the humans returned to see if he was doing fine. The reaction of the lion upon seeing them just warms the heart. Goes to show that animals have feelings and emotions too and it's not "just an animal".

If I Had 6 Months To Live....

I would:

- tell my mom and my brother I would not be able to send money anymore and they would just have to find a way to fend for themselves.
- sell all my stuff, except for a few necessities.
- find a new parent for Harrison.
- quit my job.
- find an animal welfare organization where I can spend the my last days helping animals.
- organize my funeral.
- try to go to Italy.

I'll add some more if I can think of something else.

My Fostering Experience

I've been active in animal welfare back home in the Philippines but when I moved to Dubai I did nothing of that sort and it ate away at my soul. I think as long as I do something for animals, then my life will be worth living.

So last month I decided to volunteer for Feline Friends Dubai once and for all. Since I don't have the 2 day weekend I had when I was in Manila, I opted to be a foster parent/home of cats waiting to be adopted.

After much anticipation, I received news that I was to become a foster parent of a tiny tabby kitten. I vowed not to give him a name to prevent myself in being too attached. But as soon as Princess saw him, she christened him Troy (from Dr. Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck) . So Troy it is. This is him:Don't let those sleepy eyes deceive you. Troy whizzed around my apartment and turned it upside down like he was this tiny hurricane. Harrison took to him right away and soon they were playing games that cats play. It was so fun to see. Troy was also easy to care of. He adjusted right away and he made friends with everyone. Such a sweet little boy.

A few days later, I brought him to the Feline Friends Dubai Open Day. He was adopted almost immediately. When I saw the young couple finalizing the adoption proceedings, I felt like crying. A part of me didn't want him to get adopted so I can take him home again and wait for the next Open Day. Anyway, on my way out I congratulated the couple on making the right choice and I told them that they won't regret ever adopting Troy. I didn't say goodbye to him because I was afraid I would burst into tears.

I would have to learn how to control my emotions if I want to continue to be a fosterer. I think I will be stronger on my next fostering assignment.

Twenty Questions

1. What is your favorite holiday memory?

This question left me stumped.I wish it was white snow and hot chocolate by the fire but it's not. I never liked any holiday - even Christmas (especially Christmas! The source of one of my worst memories). Holidays are overrated anyway.

2. What’s the most shocking thing you ever did?

I think the answer to this one is best relegated to my journal which I hide somewhere inside my apartment. I can mention the 2nd most shocking thing I ever did - it was when I left home when I was 19 because I was fed up with my mother.

3. What would you like to have a “do-over” on?

That shocking thing I did which I will never mention here.

4. What’s your favorite place in nature?

I'll take the mountains over the beach any day.

5. What is your favorite “bad” thing to do?

Sleep in and binge on my day off. That and leave my dishes unwashed.

6. What's your favorite thing to cook?

I love tofu. It's so versatile. It tastes like cardboard by itself but when mixed in a creatively prepared dish - delicious.

7. What is something you do every day?

Impossible to leave the house without taking a shower.

8. What’s your favorite thing to do in summer? Winter?

Summer: stay indoors and watch DVDs ad nauseam
Winter: take long walks

9. What do you always do before bed?

Say good night to my cat, Harrison, and then thank God for the day that has just passed.

10. What are you most scared of?

Drowning, crocodiles/alligators and being jobless.

11. What are you most proud of?

My print-ad for Powerbooks featuring PAWS and animal welfare.

12. What is your favorite word? Least favorite?

Favorite: Book
Least Favorite: Queue

13. What one thing do you want to change in yourself?

To stop being so cautious all the time.

14. What do you do to cheer yourself up?

Either of the three:

Chat with Aggie.
Eat something sweet.
Play with Harrison.

15. Do you want to have children?

Sometimes - when my maternal instinct rears its head up. But most of the time, no. The world is crowded already.

16. What’s your favorite hiding place?

My apartment. That's why I don't encourage visitors.

17. What is your favorite movie?

If I had to mention only one it would have to be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (ok it's 3 movies)

18. Do you like to go camping?

No because I like having a clean bathroom and toilet nearby.

19. What was your scariest dream ever?

I was eating in a restaurant when I saw zombies spilling out into the street. To escape having my brains eaten out of my skull I pretended to be a zombie too, walking and jerking like the the rest of them. But then I noticed one zombie looking at me with interest - he could tell I was faking it! He started towards me...then I woke up.

20. What are you really good at?

I can recite all what I've written (inlcuding this sentence) above in numbers based on their order in the alphabet instantly. (A=1, B=2, c=3...etc. For example: "zombie" would be 26-15-13-2-9-5). I have yet to find a useful reason for this skill.

Aggie answered these questions too.

Charley

Eager for Winter

I'm tired of summer. Six months of it is way too long. But is a foregone reality of this showcase of a city we call Dubai.

Clothing is really a struggle during the summer months. I'm not really confident in showing some skin, even if it's just a simple sundress. Actually I did buy a short sundress - hoping the intense heat would force me to wear it.

It looks something like this, only it's light blue and white:
I did wear it one time when I visited my sister in Abu Dhabi. I wore it with a black shirt underneath though - couldn't bear baring my arms and shoulders for all the world to see. It's either that or look ridiculous. Not surprisingly I chose ridiculous.

I'm counting the days till winter time. During winter I can pile on the clothes and get away with it. I've been looking at some ensembles online (I'm that eager) and here's what I'm planning to wear when the thermostat goes down:

all images from www.delias.com

I've yet to buy the clothes - hopefully when the weather is cooler my closet will be adequately stocked.

I Miss My Dad

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
you tell me of the future that you planned;
Only remember me; you understand
it will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet, if you should forget me for a while
and afterwards, remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
better by far you should forget and smile
than that you should remember and be sad.

By Christina Rossetti.

When I was younger the thought of my dad dying was so unbearable that I refused to acknowledge the inevitability of it. I loved him so much, even with his faults and foibles. I feared that if I lost him I'd lose my mind. He was far from perfect but I was pleased when people see similarities between us, things that cement the fact that I am indeed his child. We walked the same way, the same scattered eyebrows, the same sparse light brown hair. When he stopped working due to illness I went to his house every weekend and just spent time together talking or watching TV. Sometimes if we had money we would go and eat out.

But now he's gone. When news of his death reached me in the early hours of the morning of July 5, 2006, I trembled in shock. Good thing I was far away in Dubai - the distance help cushion blow somewhat. I didn't go home to Manila for his funeral because I didn't want the memory of his death to linger with me. It would have crushed my spirit.

Sometimes I still think about him and I still feel the same sadness. I didn't lose my mind when he passed away but I know I will always mourn him. All I have to remind me of my dad is small dog-eared picture that I keep perpetually in my wallet.

Wherever you are dad, I miss you so much. Until we meet again.

A Day at the Beach

Last Friday, my colleagues and I went to Al Mumzar to enjoy the beach. It is summer after all. Had a lot fun although it was extremely hot.

Word of the Day: Moron

If I had the choice I would really prefer working with animals.

Alas, this world is overrun by humans so there is a 99% chance you have to interact with one - and chances are greater that that one is a moron. Worse, a self-important moron with delusions of grandeur.

I work with different kinds of morons, the worse of which I have just mentioned above. A few are morons who are really nice so it's kind of easier to forgive them. I won't rant about that. I want to talk about the worthless, pathetic loser who thinks so highly of herself/himself just because of the title they carry.

Sometimes I think, are they being insufferable because they know deep down inside they are incompetent fools? They bully people, throw tantrums, order others around and avoid helping others just because they constantly want to instill their superiority. And when they do something remotely nice, they trumpet it around to let people know that they are "special". If it didn't annoy me so much, I will actually find it sad. These people are driven by their need to be on top, to be recognized, to matter. If someone so much as threatens that, they bulldoze that person to the ground.

What an exhausting way to live! It is a bit of a comfort that people who treats others badly to assert their superiority will get their comeuppance. After all, in this imperfect world there is still some justice. The ridiculous, spoiled moron I work with has no real friends to speak of. I'm sure no one is patient enough to suffer all the abuse. Everyone has a limit.

It always pays to nice and to be of service to others. People don't look back fondly at memories of megalomaniacs who do nothing but assert their assumed prominence. They remember the ones who care, the ones who took time to smile kindly at them, the ones who help them in times of need.

Pompous fools are easily forgotten.

Songbird

I've been recently taken by the haunting song "Songbird" by Eva Cassidy. While browsing through the internet to know more songs sung by her I found out she already passed away last 1996 at the age of 33. 33! So young and yet so much to offer to this world.

Much as it is romantically tragic to die at an early age, I don't want to die yet. I want to live the rest of my life furthering the cause of animal welfare. I haven't even started. I want to help animals until my last breath.

Sort of at a Crossroads

I think I'm in a career rut. I'm not unhappy with my current job, it's familiar and comfortable - too comfortable though. I know I must make changes and improvements but I don't know where to start.



One one hand I'd like to pursue my life long dream of working for animal welfare. Like Tata, I want to be a hero for animals. To begin, I would have to start equipping myself for this because the only thing I have to show for it is my 3-year volunteer stint with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). If I want it to be my career, I have to start studying again - distance learning is an option.

For now though, the most practical thing is to continue the path to hotel administration. I have the commensurate experience, all I have to do is to start networking and start sniffing around for openings. Working for a hotel is good - but this is only second best.

I have to think about it and pray about it some more.

My Initiation into Indian Food

I never thought I'd say this but Indian food is good! Last night I had the chance to sample the offerings of Rasoi Indian Restaurant in our sister hotel, Coral Deira Dubai.

I've always had a narrow-minded notion that Indian food is nothing but spice and chilies and strong smells. After all, the only Indian food I'm exposed to is the funky, mysterious looking slop served in the cafeteria. In Rasoi, it was all pleasantly different.

I didn't bring my camera so I got these photos off the net.

First we were served baskets of poppadom to whet our appetite:

Munching on these were so addictive! I just couldn't stop - especially when you dip it in fragrant mint sauce. I also couldn't resist stuffing my face with baby pickled onions.

Then we proceeded to the starters. Since I am a vegetarian, I had to content myself with the cocktail vegetable samosas (below). The chicken and fish tikka looked really good that I had to consciously remind myself why I became a vegetarian in the first place.

By the time I finished my appetizers, my face and scalp felt hot and sweaty. It wasn't even that spicy. No worries - it was now time for a glass of lassi to cool our bodies down.

photo credit: www.myrecipe.com

Lassi is the Indian version of a sweet yogurt smoothie (although i was told that lassi can also be salty). It reminded me of thick Yakult. I love Yakult - ergo, I loved this lassi.

Ok! Now I was really full. But since fullness never stopped me from eating before, I looked forward to the main course: Biryani Rice, Dal Makhani and Palak Paneer with sides of Naan, Roti and Parata.

photo credit: www.angithi.com

I know the Palak Paneer looks like swamp sludge but it's actually a flavorful combination of spinach and cottage cheese. Best served with roti or parata.

Dal Makhani - I ate this with the biryani rice and I wiped the rest with warm roti.

photo credit: www.bombayclub.com

Indian breads:

photo credit: www.indovacations.com

The last touch in this fantastic meal is a serving of Ras Malai, an indian milk dumpling dessert with pistachios.

photo credit: www.indianfoodforever.com

Of course I had to have some green tea to settle my stomach. After all that, it was quite a chore to drag myself back home.

I look forward to my next Indian meal!

Nikon Coolpix L11

Two days ago I finally bought myself a digital camera - a point-and-shoot, 6 megapixel Nikon Coolpix L11:


It's not very high tech but I like it. It was cheap too. It takes decent pictures (already took a lot of Harrison!) and very easy to use.

I'll always be bringing it with me so I can be ready if a good photo op arises.

I Am An Escapist

Yup. Escaping from reality is one of my guilty joys. My form of escape is losing myself to a book or a DVD. Last night I was really looking forward to watching House, MD and the frigging my player won't play the disc! After several minutes of tapping the player, talking to it, cajoling it to read the DVD, I finally gave up. I went to Cheryl's apartment to watch the blasted thing on her DVD player (which worked just fine). Now every time I want to watch House, I'd have to go to her apartment. Oh well. Better than nothing.

Wish I Had A Digital Camera

For the longest time I've wanted a digital camera. It seems like everybody has it except me. Soon I'll buckle and use my credit card to buy myself one. It's just a matter of time.

Besides, I think it would be more interesting to have pictures on this blog, no? Most people are not patient enough to skim through endless lines of words whose subject is only interesting to the writer. I don't know why I think about that since I know that I'm the only one who's going to read this blog. OK then, I'm going to do this for myself. I think it will be nicer to have pictures here, especially if my topic leans toward the prosaic.

So! It's payday in a few days - might get myself one of those cams. I learned from my extensive research that optical zoom is more important than mega pixels. Great! If I were wearing comfortable shoes now I'd go to the mall soon after work. However, I'm limited by my wedge pumps. I can wait till tomorrow.