So 5 years have passed...

And in a blink of an eye we are at 2017. Things I couldn't have imagined happening 5 years ago include:

* Pepper worming her way into the hearts of all my humans and well, even me.
I wouldn't go as far as to call us besties but I'd say we are pretty tight. I mean, I'd put us above the partnership of Simon and Garfunkel but definitely below Thelma and Louise - you won't see me driving off a cliff with her.

This is us at a doggie event. She made quite an entrance by
pooping at the moment we got there. -_-'

* Me getting all fuzzy. I'm not quite sure when this happened. It kind of just crept up on me, it's almost like I woke up one day, caught my reflection in the mirror and I could hardly recognise the dog looking back at me. I seemed to have developed a fuzz all around my face. Now they call me "The Little Hobo Dog That Could" at home. Joke's on them though, I can see myself spinning my character into a bestselling children's book!

Deep in thought as per usual.

I know it looks like I'm asleep but I assure you that

this is how I formulate my thoughts best.

* Donald Trump as president.
Let's not beat around the Bush here (pun intended), as a politically aware dog, the biggest shock to my system was saying President Trump and knowing that in 2017, this actually means something and it isn't a joke. I kept a close eye during the 2016 election campaign and while I see a lot of myself in Clinton - under appreciated competent female who may not know how to have fun (but fun doesn't steer the country out of an opiate addiction crisis or help with stamping out ISIS or improve relations with other countries - hello North Korea, Syria, Iran and pretty much, the rest of the world!), I'm actually a Bernie Sanders dog. I don't know, it could be his socialist leaning policies but I think it has more to do with the fact that his hair reminds me of my fuzzy face! But in the face of the Trump era it has taught me one thing - anything is possible. So I am going to consider running for political office, I have strong views on taxation (tax credits for people with pets. I think we can agree that in this day and age, pets are family!), migration (it really should be easier for pets to travel with their humans!), universal health care (without a doubt, everybody should be covered by universal healthcare and this includes pets with pre-existing condition. We cannot make this a choice, the only way it'll work is if everybody buys into it.). So Vote Vicky for 2020!

Top 5: Heroes and Sidekicks

As the saying goes, No Man is an Island. This also rings true for dogs which live in packs and for the last 3 years I've been the only dog in my pack. The addition of Pepper has elevated my ranking in the pack. Upon assuming the role of (kick ass - I mean this literally) mentor to her, I've decided to reflect on my Top 5 Super Heroes and their Sidekicks. Because let's face it, at one time or another, an extra pair of hands (or 2 extra pair of paws!) comes in handy.

5) Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee

Imagine how scenic their photo montage must be! Hobbiton, Rivendell, Lothlorien.
Sure Mordor and the Mines of Moria are a bit dour but it's like driving through South Central
to get to Santa Monica - a bonding experience that gives Samwise more chance
to be all protective (in a creepy stalker-ish way) to Frodo

4) Lone Ranger and Tonto

I've always wondered why Lone Ranger had a sidekick.
I mean, his name insinuates that he should be keeping the wild west safe by his LONE-some self.
Maybe his humans made him adopt Tonto...I feel you man, I really do

3) Captain Kirk and Spock

I'd have thought that In a future where we have Universal Translators,
Transporters and Replicators we'd be able to do away with sidekicks.
But Captain Kirk would be lost without Spock. Humans...ever so needy!

2) Han Solo and Chewbacca

I've always had a soft spot for Chewbacca. Misunderstood and a shadow to
Han Solo when he is clearly the brains behind the operation.
Plus he is just so dreamy, that luxurious fur and gorgeous colouring.
I think my coat quite complements his!

1) Batman and Robin

I've always wondered why Batman dressed Robin up in a
red top and green short shorts.Surely this gives him away when they are
trying to blend into the night fighting crime!
I suppose since Robins come and go Batman must have thought he
is easy enough to replace. 

And now:

Vicky and Pepper. The latest super hero and sidekick in Bukit Jelutong.
And like Batman, I think all sidekicks are replaceable (I'm talking to YOU Pepper!)

Bring It!

So let's see, it's been about 6 months since my last post. I know, I know, I've been very tardy with updating my blog. But since my human's back, a lot of my time is spent keeping her in line - I don't know how she does it without me when she's away.

I celebrated the 3rd anniversary of my joining this household 6 days ago and I sprained my toe about a month back which saw me limping around the house...but wait, those aren't even the biggest news of what's happened in the last 6 months. Oh no, not even close. You see, I've always prided myself on being an exemplary dog, I keep a close watch of the are outside our compound and alert my humans to any strangers lurking about, I keep watch over my human when she naps (although she's also caught me napping during this time...I said exemplary not perfect!),  partake in family activities as long as it doesn't involve me walking on grass. So an all round easy going family dog; so good in fact that my humans decided to...sigh, I can't bring myself to say it but I'll have to: adopt another dog. I know, there really isn't any reward for being good.

Introducing the newest addition to my pack: Pepper

Pepper joined our household about 7 weeks ago. My humans took me to see her before they brought her home and I thought I made my feelings perfectly clear then by refusing to indulge in her playful antics but lo and behold they brought her home 2 weeks after! The pack dynamics have evolved since so I've been trying to figure out where I sit in this new structure. I've therefore appointed myself as my human's second in command - whose duties include but are not limited to: enforcing the rules of the household on Pepper and showing her the ropes. It's hard being middle management, I feel under appreciated at times and the work load can get a bit burdensome (Pepper is a handful!) but I'm really gunning for that big promotion that will see me escalate to being a pack leader!

Get in line newbie. Everybody wants a piece of me!

The newbie's been acting like an apple polishing, over eager intern/new graduate who is after my role (you guys know the type I'm talking about) but like all newcomers, she's been messing up (I mean this figuratively and literally) so I intend to take full advantage of this time - where us, upper and middle management, chill in the house while the new help scurries around guarding the house during the day shift. She's taken it upon herself to act as my mentee but I'm still contemplating if I should take this role up. It is a lot of responsibility and I don't have time as it is (after napping, grooming myself and bone chewing there really aren't that many hours left in the day)...plus once you get to middle management with sights set on being the pack leader, you start looking over your shoulder to see who's coming up behind you with a choke chain.

'Tis a big responsibility taking someone under your wing but like Spiderman said: With great power comes great responsibility. And to Pepper, if you are reading this: Bring It!

New Year Audit

I know, my blogging attempts last year were shameful. A whole 12 months, 365 days and I only managed 2 entries. To be fair my human was away most of last year so there wasn't anyone to translate my thoughts. I also gained a fair bit of weight which makes doing anything remotely physical tiring - this weight gain thing is a vicious cycle, the bigger you get the less likely you are to do any physical activity. sigh...

Let's do the 2011 audit in numbers then:

4 number of humans currently doting on me at home. My human came back late last year - which was about time as 4 people's unconditional adoration is better than 3.

24 inches. That's how big my chest is now. To put things in perspective, most supermodels have a 24 inch waist. Some may say I'm losing my shape, but honey if it works for those Victoria Secret's angels it will do for me.

A bird's eye view of my newly enhanced chest.
Eat your heart out Katie Price/Jordan/Scary lady with enormous chest and strange nose

2.5 years. The number of years I've spent in this household. How time flies. I've graduated into an indoor dog, got my own corner with my own bed in the TV room, staked out my new sleeping position above the shoe cabinet near the back gate and trained mum to give me daily lunch treats. To think that I spent my first 2 nights here in my human's bathroom to having the run of the house in 2 years. This is equivalent to starting out in the mailroom and becoming CEO of GE in 2 years (ok, maybe 14 years given we need to apply the 7 multiplier when thinking in dog time) - Jack Donaghy would be proud.

Speaking of which...when is 30 Rock coming back on TV?

6 months. This was the number of months my human spent away from me. But with weekly video Skype calls it was like she never left and I still manage to showcase my new tricks to her via Skype. Technology really is amazing. Now if only they make paw friendly keyboards.

3 new tricks. Mum taught me new tricks last year (which explains my ever expanding chest. New tricks = more treats! I don't know what body shape I am but I seem to gain all my weight round the chest area. I suppose most glamour models would wish for this ability).

One of the new tricks I picked up in 2011. Assume Play Position!

1 very happy dog. All in all 2011 was a great year and it had a tremendous end. I spent New Year's Eve on the rooftop with my bed and my blankie. There may have been fireworks going up all around which scares me silly but at least I was with all my humans and a strong pack is a happy pack.

Downward facing dog! Am going to lose weight in 2012 - Year of the Olympics!

The Terrible Twos

It has been a little over 2 years since I joined this household. I didn't have big plans nor any expectations when my human opened the car door to the garden on the 6th July 2009.

But 2 years on and I've settled into my role in the family: companion, motivator, alert dog, comedian - I'm multi-faceted. =) And with my human having gone away for work again, I've got extra shoes to fill in the family (thankfully, I've got 4 legs, which makes things slightly easier).

I've put together a little video for my 2 year update. Enjoy!

Viddy

My human picked up my license from the council yesterday and it looks like I'm dog #50 to get one in our area!

A new addition to my collar...it is starting to feel like some kind of charm bracelet

My humans think that having 50 embossed on my license is akin 50 Cent wearing a big "50 Cent" necklace around his neck. So say hello to "Lima Puluh Sen" (How we Malaysians call 50 Cents). You can call me Viddy (not to be confused with Fiddy which is what 50 Cent calls himself these days and VD which is an STD...).

Here is picture of Fiddy looking all tough at a concert:

And this is me rocking it at home:

It isn't easy keeping this pose. (One of my numerous yoga poses)

I have also decided that I can just as easily rock the Fiddy and Ali G look. Here is Ali G with his swimming goggles:

And here I am with mine:

It is a tad too big but this is equivalent to men wearing low slung jeans

Looking a bit granny like here. Not very P.I.M.P like...

There you go, my ears just needed to be up to support the goggles

Look out peeps, there is a new dawg in town.

Freaky Friday

Remember that movie Freaky Friday where mother and daughter switched bodies and they have to live in the other person's shoes until something was resolved? I had a near Freaky Friday experience (but I am no LiLo yo!)...well as near an experience as I can get through my human.

It was raining yesterday and like all dogs I get a bit nervous when there are thunders about, so my human camped out in the room downstairs to have a nap with me while it rained in the afternoon. She dreamt that we switched bodies so that I can experience life as a human. Which btw I think is highly over-rated. As a dog I've got 4 humans fussing over me and all I have to do to earn my keep is bark whenever there are strangers about. I get free rein around the house, fed daily and copious amounts of belly rubs throughout the day. A pretty good deal if you ask me! So I think it is my human's subconscious that wants to experience life as a dog. 

Anyhoo, in her dream, after a few hours in my paws, she decided that she wanted to switch back to a human but she couldn't. Any attempts to scream for help came out as whimpers and her only way to communicate with the world was through...(get this)...Facebook message! I guess she must have found my doggie keyboard - the one with the keys widely spaced to accommodate my lack of fingers and size of my paws (I can type 75 words per minute btw).

This whole thing sounds like a nightmare to me. I can't do all the things I enjoy if I am human. For instance, I don't think other humans look fondly at fully grown people who request belly rubs in public, I can't lick smelly feet, smell butts and imagine the looks on people's faces if they see a human scooting on a carpet!

Nope, I wouldn't want to be a human ever. I am very happy being a dog thank you very much!