India - I miss Muzak

That's a statement I never thought I'd say.  But, like many things, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.

Last night (Thursday) we met some colleagues at a nice restaurant for dinner.  When we arrived, they were playing instrumental, modern, Indian music.  Forgive me for that description if you're a music person, but it's the best way for me to describe it.  I sat down and thought to myself, "oh no, I might not be able to do the blog posting I'd planned about missing Muzak," as the music they were playing was appropriate to the atmosphere in the restaurant.

This lovely music continued in the background until we were nearing the end of our main course.  Then I was vindicated.  Suddenly, the music stopped.  When it re-started it was house and dance music.  My colleague (also from the US) turned to me and asked, "when is the disco ball going to drop?"  Now I like house music, (and part of me was tempted to throw my napkin on the table, shove back my chair, and start to dance)  but house music is a bit incongruous in the middle of a nice business meal.

During similar meals I've also experienced: 
'80's pop music (not so bad), Eminem and hard-core US Rap (this one's my favorite, as it occurred while dining in the ballroom of a 5 star hotel), and other various combinations of 70's, 80's & 90's pop.

I have to just smile at the disconnect between music and atmosphere and say "sure I'll have another drink.  Oh, and will you pass the naan?"

India - Nice pictures and a nice story

Nice pictures

Ok, so I realize that my trash/litter post probably didn't contain the photos of India that one might hope to see, so today I'll share some photos that I think show some of the interest/beauty of India that I captured on my last trip here.

A procession walked by our hotel. In the middle of the day. Complete with well-dressed people, flags, and a fancy cart & horse

Beautfully dressed women carrying a grass/plant of some sort

Roadside stand with vibrantly colored produce

Marigolds!

Boys selling fruit to passengers on the bus in front of us (we were stopped at toll for a long time)

Nice story

There are a few feral/stray dogs that live across the road from our guest house.  You might remember from my last India trip (in October) that there are quite a number of these dogs in India.  Occasionally we hear a kerfuffle between them and other strays.  Today on the way to work we heard barking.  When we got to the road one of the dogs looked at my colleague and I and started to follow us.  (To provide a visual for you dog people, he looked like a basenji pointer cross).

The dog continued to travel along with us - sometimes ahead, sometimes behind, sometimes to the side.  Once he even walked right up to us, stopped, looked at me, and gave a sweet doggie smile.  He continued to follow us the entire 1/2 mile to work - including crossing a 4 lane road right by our sides.

When we started to approach the office (30 yards away) he looked at us, smiled, turned, and walked away.  

What a great way to start the day!

India - March trip: day two (or is it 3?)

Ah, the joy of jetlag.  To bed at midnight.  Wide awake at 4am.  I'm really looking forward to a full day of meetings, followed by a dinner w/ my company's India leadership team.  I ought to be on great form by the time dinner starts at 8pm. 

Caffeine.  My friend.

I promise a longer post later today or tomorrow morning when I'm up at 4am.

Here's my "random India picture of the day"

Who would litter if they had such cute trash cans? 

Oh, wait a minute.  Maybe it takes more than just cute trash cans.

At least the pigs are helping with cleanup.

India - March trip: day one

I arrived safely in India this morning at 3:00 am (local time - 3:30 pm in Iowa).  There was a long line at customs, so I didn't arrive at the guest house until 4:00.  Of course I couldn't get to sleep immediately, so I decided to read.

Which brings me to Ken.  Ken is great.  Lightweight, easy to read, held his charge.  The only problem I had is with the book I decided to read first.  "Izzy & Lenore" by Jon Katz.  One of my fellow Cardi bloggers recommended this book to me.  It's a great book, but NOT a book for a plane.  Why not a book for a plane?  Because it's a tear-jerker.  I've done the sobbing on public/mass transport thing before, and I've got to tell you, it's not for me.  Not only is this a tear-jerker, it's so good that I didn't want to put it down.  But, after the second tissue and some concerned looks from my fellow passengers, I just had to do it.  The joy of the Kindle?  It took me no time at all to find another book to read.  No rummaging through my carry-on.  No cursing because I left the book at home.  Just back to the "home" menu to choose another book.  I think this relationship with Ken is really going to work out.

Back to my day.  After falling asleep at ~7am, I woke at 10:30 to get ready for meetings all afternoon (thank goodness for caffeine).  Now it's 8pm and I'm going to sleep.

Or maybe I'll read a bit first....

For the next week, the dogs have some time off.

I'm headed to India later today, so it's a week off of training for the Trio.  Not that they like having a week off - they all like to work.  This trip isn't coming at the most convenient time, as I have 2 rally trials with Ziggy in early April.  Nothing like a week off training before our first trial of the year.  Yippee!!

On the plus side, I am looking forward to finally getting some uninterrupted time alone with Ken (Kindle).  I finally get to dive into the books all of you recommended!

I have some India posts in mind that I'll try to do in the evenings.  I really hope the company guest house has a good internet connection!

Trio Off-Leash Decision Tree: A new smell!

Ziggy & Maggie get a fair amount of off-leash time when the bike path near our house isn't busy.  The love to run through the grass and trees, sniffing everything they can.

Having spent years observing their off leash behavior, I would like to share the Trio's off leash "decision tree"  when they happen upon a new smell.

Step one:  Identify new smell

Decide:  Is this a really raunchy smell?

-->    if NO - sniff lightly and return to mom.

--->   if YES, proceed with decision tree

Decide:  Can I eat it?

--->   if YES, eat it and return to mom looking smug and enjoying the horrified look on her face.

--->   if NO, proceed with decision tree

Decide:  Is this something stinky enough to roll in?

--->   if YES,  roll for as long as you can.  Ignore your mom's calls.  You're rolling; it's heaven - who needs her?  When you're finally done rolling (and not a moment before) - return to your mom.

--->   if NO, pee on it and return to mom

Now that you're back with mom, begin to look for something else to sniff. 

 Repeat decision process as necessary.

Trio Product Review #2: LLBean Therapeutic Dog Bed

Denzil wanted me to post a product review for his dog bed.

This is the LL Bean Therapeutic Dog Bed

My mom bought this bed for me a while ago.   She claims that the bed is high quality, and that the bumps on the bed should "eliminate pressure points" and "ease joint pain."  This may be true, but I do not like this bed.  I refuse to lay for any amount of time on this bed.

Here's what the bed looked like for a long time:

It was in the family room but I would not lay on it.  Notice I am not on this bed.

Sometimes I would lay my head on it:

It makes a pretty good pillow.

Sometimes I use it to prop myself up:

It works nicely as a paw rest, but I do not like to lay on it.

So my mom moved the bed to the bedroom and put it into what she calls the "prime sleeping location."  Yes, this location is closest to her, but I would still not lay on it. 

So she tried to put an extra dog bed on top of it.  She claims this makes it softer and better for nesting.

I still will not lay on it.  At night, she sometimes puts me on this bed.  I stay on the bed until she's asleep, then I move to one of the other dog beds.

I find these beds much more appealing.  

Now, I don't want you to think that I am picky about where I lay.

I sometimes just lay down on the floor (it's better than that dog bed).

I love to lay on the sofa.  My mom lifts me up and down so I can snuggle with the pack.

I also love to lay in the Pottery Barn Kids Anywhere Chair.  This is my brother's chair, but he doesn't stay in it all the time.  Sometimes I get my turn.  He loves this chair.  I think he's told you about it before.  

It's nothing against LL Bean.  They make nice dog beds, and dog blankets, and floor mats that I lay on.  We even have another LL Bean bed that's almost just the same.  Without the therapeutic pad.  I love that bed.

I have also been known to lay in mud puddles when I can find them.  My mom doesn't have a picture of that, but she says she'll get one once Iowa thaws out enough for mud puddles.  

You see, I'm not a picky dog.  But I do not like to lay on the therapeutic dog bed.  I do not recommend it to other corgis.