Meet the pack
May 20, 2009
Note: I’m slowly trying to get my blogging mojo back, so please excuse the lack of words.
One of the things I miss about my trip are the NISA dogs.
Rob’s mom is the founder of NISA (Northern Illinois Samoyed Assistance). What NISA basically does is rescue Samoyeds that are either abandoned, from abusive homes, or puppy mills etc. You get the point. Most of the NISA dogs are temporarily fostered at various homes by members and volunteers until they are adopted to a permanent home.
Princess Naomi, her royal huffness
Taking pictures of Naomi is easy because she’s a camwhore and it does help that she is always following me around. Rob’s mom calls me Naomi’s “human”, as opposed to Naomi being my “dog”. Naomi apparently took a liking to me the first time she saw me in 2006. When I went back last year it took her a few minutes to kinda recall who I was. There was that sparkle in her eyes when she realized who I was, at least that’s what Rob said.
Anyway during this last trip I started calling Naomi “Princess”. She likes to huff, hence I came up with the name Princess Naomi, her royal huffness. I was very tempted to get her a plastic tiara and take a picture of her but Rob said the dogs may end up chewing on it, which would be bad for them.
I find Naomi a very sweet dog. She’s very particular about getting my attention. If I start petting Nikki (another female dog) she gets jealous and starts barking at me, as if to say “HEY!!! YOU’RE MY HUMAN!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH HER??!!!” Then I would move my other hand to pet her and she’s satisfied. However, when I give attention to Pete she doesn’t seem to care at all.
Occasionally her and I would go into huff mode. I would say “huff” and she would huff back. Repeat the process for about 5 minutes or so. I have gotten her to huff so much now that she constantly does it to Rob. The reason why she does it so much now is because when I was there, every time we go into huff mode, she gets a really good treat from me.
Naomi was rescued from a puppy mill. She has been living it good ever since.
Pete the singer
Pete is Naomi’s brother, also rescued from the same puppy mill. Unfortunately when Pete was adopted years ago, he was abused by the family. He gets nervous around new people. During my first trip over, he wasn’t as clingy to me. He would usually just watch Naomi getting my attention.
This time around he really let loose and followed me around a bit more. Pete knows how to sing, thanks to Rob. Not the conventional “singing” but in doggy terms, he sings. Every time he sang, he got a “Good boy Pete!” from me and then a treat, which explains why he goes around the house “singing” all the time now. He loves being praised.
Spirit the English gentleman
When I give out treats, Spirit is always sitting behind the rest of the dogs waiting patiently for his turn. He doesn’t push and shove to get to the front for his treats. He just waits quietly. Hence why he is called the perfect English gentleman.
Spirit is also always playing with his sister Nikki and it is hilarious watching the both of them go at it in the backyard. They chase and pounce of each other like there is no tomorrow.
Spirit is young and active but at the same loves snuggling up to whoever is on the couch. I love that he rests his head on my thigh when I’m on the couch and I can pet him while he wags his tail.
Nikki Wigglesworth
Rob came up with the last name Wigglesworth because Nikki is a hyper dog. She wags her tail like crazy and it just wiggles her butt like crazy. She and Spirit are always poking people with their cold noses and every time it happens, I just can’t help going “Oooh. Cold wet nose!”
Nikki has a favourite red ball that’s constantly in her mouth. The funny thing is she can go “Wooo wooo wooo” with the ball in her mouth. I know it’s hard to believe but it is true. I just don’t have a video to prove it.
Schizo Radar
Radar is somewhat anti-social with humans because he was from an abusive household. I guess he doesn’t trust humans much. He’s skittish most of the time and its ironic because he is the biggest dog in the house.
I did get a chance to pet him but I thought it was kinda cruel (but funny) how it was staged. Radar is always sitting and laying down next to Rob’s mom at the dining table in the corner of the room. One day Rob’s mom got up from the chair and I sat on it. The look of horror on Radar’s face was funny but at the same time it made me feel kinda bad. I petted him and he still looked terrified.
He has followed me around once or twice and most of the time I didn’t know he was. One time a wet nose poked me from behind, I turned around thinking it was Nikki but it was Radar. He was curious! Anyway, when I turned around and he saw me looking at him, he sprinted to his corner and hid.
Glutton Lexy
Lexy is always craving for attention which at times drive some of us nuts. But I think she is a sweet dog too. It’s just that she doesn’t understand when to “stop”. I heard she is bad influence for the other dogs. I didn’t get to bond with her much though so I don’t really have much to write about her.
Last but certainly not least, the apple of Rob’s eyes, his cat Baby Kitty.
Yes, I know. She’s fat pleasantly plump. I like calling her the tuxedo cat because of the white fur down her chest. I told Rob that his cat would scare all the scrawny stray cats in Kuching away and claim Kuching her territory. The thing is, according to Rob, there are cats there BIGGER than Baby kitty.
Short and stumpy (Heh)
Rob rescued Baby as a kitten, abandoned near an apartment complex. One day he took her home and she’s been a brat ever since. She’s spoilt rotten, that’s why. Her dish bowl is almost NEVER empty. She sometimes drinks from Rob’s cup because she prefers the FRESHEST water available. Oh she also loves boxes.
I cannot deny that Baby kitty is a friendly cat. She’s a happy cat, purrrrrrrrrrs like crazy when given attention, especially from Rob. She is afterall living a great life.
I have more pictures of Naomi and Pete because they tend to follow me around the house when I go over. Rob calls them the “two seniors” so they are allowed to go in his room. That’s where all the treats are. Pete and Naomi know that too.
Some pictures of the dogs playing in the backyard.
Radar
Spirit and Nikki
Nikki with her favourite red ball
Nikki and Naomi
Pete sunbathing on the deck
Radar and Spirit
Naomi and Radar
Pete eating whipped cream straight from the can
Happen to catch Princess Naomi during her royal squat
Pete, Naomi, Spirit and Nikki hovering… waiting for treats
Pete and Naomi waiting for a treat from Rob
Pete and Naomi still waiting for a treat from Rob
They’re still STILL waiting
This is probably my favourite picture of Naomi
Similar picture of Pete
Spirit, again the gentleman look
Nikki saying “HI!!!”
Pete and Naomi posing
Pete and Naomi again
Le sigh~~ I miss the pack.
My first mini adventure
September 16, 2008
This is my first time travelling alone and being somewhere without family. I was excited to say the least. So that’s why I consider this my first mini adventure. I have travelled myself to Australia before but I was picked up by family and stayed with them. This time was different. I stayed by myself for a night in a hotel room, even after hearing all those horror stories. I’m pretty proud of myself. =D
My journey started with the earliest flight out of Kuching to KL at 6am. An hour and 45 minutes later, I arrived in KLIA and had less than an hour to get to my gate for Newark International Airport (EWR) which is in New Jersey, about an hour from New York. I called my parents and Rob, who was really excited for my arrival.
Fast forward 24 hours later (with a stop in Stokholm, Sweden), I arrived to this…
If you look hard enough, you can see the Statue of Liberty in the middle of the River. It is indeed quite a site. I waited for my cousin to pick me up to go to dinner. After dinner, I checked in my free room (which I am still very proud of) at Howard Johnson. I wasn’t expecting much for it was a free room but imagine my surprised when I saw my room.
It was HUGE (for the price they were asking), with a king size bed and a full bathroom. I was really impressed. My flight the next morning was 8 so I woke up around 5.30am to get ready and take the free shuttle to the airport.
Me all glammed up *giggle*
I arrived at the airport a lot earlier then I expected. Then my flight to Chicago was delayed around an hour or so after everybody boarded the plane due to traffic congestion. When the plane took off the excitement I felt was more intense because I was just that much closer to seeing Rob.
I thought the little clouds looked cute
But all was well when I arrive at O’hare International Airport just before 11am. It was my first time arriving at O’hare so I’m sure I looked like a lost puppy to people there. I kept walking and walking, and in my mind I had wanted to go check myself out (as vain as that may sound) in the bathroom to make sure my face was okay etc etc before I see Rob for the first time in over a year. The first bathroom I past by had a line forming so I figured I would go to the next one I see. Unfortunately the next bathroom was closed for maintenance and that was the last bathroom along my way.
Before I knew it, I could see red and white balloons in the air…
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IT WAS ROB!!!
Excuse the bad picture. I was laughing while taking the picture.
He set up his little own station to welcome me to Chicago. I was so excited to see him and at the same time laughing because of what he did. After I snapped a picture, I ran towards him and we embraced for a minute. In his hand was a little teddybear holding a heart which said “I love you”. He gave it to me and “Here, have a bear with a PINK hat” while smirking.
He had made the signs a few days before I arrived but the night before something happened to the signs and he had to make new ones all over again. Here is a closer shot…
It’s pretty obvious what the first sign says. Now the second one says “Hi Honey Bwoo!” and other little pet names. Let me explain what “Bwoo!” means to us. One night while Rob was telling me some good news, I wanted to said “Woohoo!” but what came out of my mouth was “Bwoo!”. So from then on, “Bwoo!” has been the official substitute of “Woohoo!”.
The other four words in there are Shinnie, Ice cream girl, Pandagirl and the last one (blocked by my watermark) says “Summer Chai”. Now the origin of “Summer Chai” can be found here. Its just a little insided joke with my friends. I told Rob about it before and the smartass in him decided to include that in the sign.
We got my luggage and headed a lonnnnnnnng track to the parking lot. When we got to the car, he surprised me again with a single pink rose. I was touched.
Off we went to IHOP for brunch. I have been planning this first day for months. I ordered my all time favourite; the Breakfast Sampler which consists of everything I love from IHOP, french toast, pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs and bacon and a side of HASH BROWNS!!!! Rob ordered Strawberry pancakes which were heavenly as well.
After eating, we checked in the motel we would be staying in for the next 4 days before going on the roadtrip. Rob went in to check-in because they charge extra for 2 occupants in a room. The cheapskate me wanted to save like USD10 per day. That’s USD30 ok! Which means we saved over RM100.
As I stayed in the car and looked around the surroundings, I was relieved. It felt good to be there. It’s hard to describe the feelings. I felt complete being with my soulmate once again. It felt right. It felt as if everything in my life was coming into place. Suddenly reality hit me and I realized that I would be leaving in 5 weeks. I was extremely happy to be there but at the same time sad because it meant that eventually I had to leave. A minute later, I saw Rob walking towards the car and I smiled. The feeling of sadness disappeared.
We unloaded the car that had my luggage and other essentials which Rob had prepared e.g. toiletries, extra pillows, snacks etc. After some snuggling and cuddling, we took a dip in the pool for an hour and then headed to Woodfield Mall for Baskin Robbins ice cream! We walked around the mall a bit and surprisingly I didn’t buy anything at all. I was probably saving up for the Mall of America. HEHEHEHE
Oh-so-happy with my Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream
Before going to dinner, we stopped by Rob’s house to say hi to his parents and for me to reunite with Naomi the Samoyed. She instantly remembered me and was following me all over the place. I now call Naomi “Princess” and I think she loves it. I miss her.
Isn’t she just SO adorable?
Dinner was at one of my favourite places, Chili’s. I have been craving for Molten Cake for over a year. We ate light for our meal, sharing an appetizer of buffalo wings, chicken nuggets of sorts and egg rolls.
Rob had told me about the new Molten Cake at Chili’s called White Chocolate Molten Cake months ago. Instantly I knew I MUST try it no matter what! So we order one of those and the classic Molten Cake.
Chocolate cake with drizzles of chocolate syrup and caramel, topped with vanila ice cream and more chocolate!
Moist vanilla cake with melted white chocolate and strawberry sauce, topped with vanilla ice cream and chunks of white chocolate chips!
MMMmmmmmMMMMMmmmmmmmmMMMmmmMMMM
Both were DELICIOUS!!!! I can’t pick a favourite. The classic Molten cake was fantastic as always and the White Chocolate one was equally as good. I gobbled the White Chocolate Molten Cake
This is what was left of the Molten cakes. =D
That’s it for my first day in Chicago. Stay tune for the roadtrip post!