Asta La Vista Baby

Klaus, LuLu, and Bogart: our condolences

2009-03-02T04:39:00.000-08:00

Although I was ecstatic to see my mum weturn last night at 1am, we are all saddened by LuLu and Bogart's loss. There is nothing that can replace Klaus, but we can remember that he gave love and happiness to our friends Bogart and LuLu, and celebrate his life. Even though the power of the paw could not save Klaus, LuLu and Bogart should know that the power of all of us is behind them as long as they need our support.
Louise and Asta

Westewn Wall Again & Mum's Return

2009-02-26T14:12:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals, Mum will be home in just 3 mowe days. As you can see Dad, PG, and I awe busy pwepawing the house fow hew retuwn. We will be so excited it may take 10 days fow me to post again. Mum has had busy last few days in Israel packing hew massive amounts of stuff. Hope spwings etewnal that she's bwinging me some old bones. She took time out fwom hew wowk to take another handful of pwayews to the Westewn Wall. She left pwayers fow are family, fow world peace because she wants the hoomans of the Middle East to get along, and she left anothew spawshel pwayew fow Klaus, Lu Lu and Bogart.

Sad News, Bogart's Dad/What's a Westewn Wall

2009-02-20T02:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Pals, Thanks fow youw touching messages. We awe all pwaying vewy hard. Norwood asked what a Westewn Wall is. It's one of the most impowtant religious places in the Jewish religion, but it's also impowtant fow Christians and Muslims. The wall supports the terrace whewe the temple of Yahweh, or god the father was in ancient times. Aftew the Romans destwoyed the temple, the wall became all that was left of this sacwed monument. You can leave your pwayews thewe and it's a direct line to god! Some people even fax thewe pwayer! Latew, the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock above the wall, because it's the point whewe the Prophet Mohammed twavelled to heaven and met god pawsonally. That must have been quite something, pals. The spot whewe the Dome is, is also impawtant to Christians and Jews, because they believe it's whewe Abraham, a gweat holy man was to sacrifice his son to god and pwove his gweat faith once and fow all. The Jews believe Abraham was going to sacwifice his son Issac and the Muslims believe it was his othew son Ismail. Issac is the fathew of the Jewish people and Ismail is the fathew of the Arabic people. So, they awe all cousins. Whichevew son it was, this is a vewy impowtant and vewy holy place whewe people believe god is close. So, it's the bestest place to pray fwom.

G'day Pals, We wewe vewy sad to learn that Bogart's dad is vewy sick. PG 2 and I awe pwaying vewy hawd fow him and his family, and mum has one mow week in Israel, so she has gone back to the Western Wall to pway fow him too. I want to thank my Twinny for pwodoocing this bootiful cawd.

Happy Valentines Day Furprise, Mates!

2009-02-14T14:28:00.000-08:00

Myspace Glitter Graphics

G'day Pals, It's Valentine's Day and I want to intwoduce you all to my sweet sissy kitty Pussy Galore II. I know you all have waited a long time fow this moment. You can see how I love hew so much I let hew sleep on my bed. If we can get along this well, then maybe thewe is hope fow world peace.

Although some of the fiewes awe still buwning things are looking up in Melbowne. Sam the Koala who was injuwed in the fiwe stowm has found a new love, Bob and they awe hoping to live happily evew aftew eating gum (Ooooocalyptus) leaves. Thanks to evwyone who donated to the RSPCA. Mum and dad donated cat and dog food, and blankets and I have donated some of my pig eaws.

I also got another friend award from Gussie! I want to pass it on to those pals who contributed to Victowian pets &/or checked on us: Lorenza, Snowball, Twinny, Maggie, Mitch, Joey, Tanner, Fleas Gang, Huskey, Hershey, Simba, Jazzy, Eric, Molly, Taffy, Dewey Dewster, Asta Marie, and Toby, Jax, Twinkle, Bogart, Eduardo, Noah and the Leurdales, Bae Bae, my sweet Nessa, Stanney and Stella, the Barkalots, the 4 Musketeers, & the pawents of Lacy and Freda. Thanks fow thinking of us!

And, to top it all off, my Twinny Asta up over sent me this weally cool and pawsonal Valentine, and mum is coming home in 2 weeks!

Melbowne Infowno: RSPCA Donations

2009-02-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

Pals, you can help Vicowian animals by donating to the RSPCA:
http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/news_bushfires.htm

G'day Pals,I've leawned fwom my pawents what an infowno is and it's pwetty bad. Tewwible fires have been wavaging my now home state of Victowia, and some 5000 people and doggies have lost thewe homes, and over 100 hoomans have died. You can help my mates by donating to:
http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/
owr http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp
xxx Asta

Heat Wave! Melbowne on Fiwre

2009-02-07T11:08:00.001-08:00

G'day Pals, I had really planned to reveal my sissy Pussy Galore II today, but we have some sewious pwoblems in Melbourne. Yestewday was the hottest day hewe in 150 yeaws! It was neawly 120 F/ 47 C and my sissy went into hiding, and I have been spending the week keeping cool in my pool. The heat is vewy sewious fow our state. The whole state of Victowia is pwactically buwning down, and the fiwes wewe vewy close to my pals Opy and Chawlie. I wish I could help them, but I can't leave my house because the pavements awe all melting. All of ouw cwops awe dying fwom the heat. Thank dog, pig eaws aren't a crop. Mum says its an infewno. I don know what that is, but I know it's hot. Please dad, give me some mowe cold water.

Message From Asta's Neighbor: Furprise News!

2009-01-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, friends of Asta. My name is Oscar and I've been Asta's neighbor for the last few years. And Asta getting her furprise has everything to do with me. I'm from Michigan and I moved to Melbourne about 10 years ago with my servant, K.O. My servant works with Asta's hooman, and sometimes when my hooman goes to the US, Asta and her servant feed me and care for me, which is what they live for. I've known Asta since she was a puppy, and we get on pretty well considering she's a dog. Last year, Asta's mum had to take me to the vampire vet for some blood tests and when we were at the vampire den, she saw a cat up for adoption. Obviously, this creature wasn't as wonderful and handsome as me, but Asta's hooman was gaga, claiming this hideous and scraggly mop of hair and bones was the spitting image of a cat she had 20 years ago back in California, so she took her home on a misguided impulse. She was obviously suffering delusions. Anyway, this pathetic animal had been given the embarrassing name of Big Mama Puss by the vampire's assistant, but Asta's mum had the good sense to rename her after her previous incarnation, Pussy Galore. Here are her paws and you will see the rest "soon."

Nursie Dweam Team on the Move & Help from Mum

2009-01-29T09:21:00.001-08:00

G'day Pals, Our fwiend Axel's mum is sick, and us Asta's awe back in action as the Nursie Dweam Team. Asta NYC is making lots of food to help out and I'm giving expewt Nursie attention.

Mum is also doing hew best to help by pwaying fow Axel and his mum at the western Wall in Jerusalem. Mum says you can leave notes fow God in the wall and he listens. We hope Axel's mum is feeling bettew soon!

Happy Austwailia Day & Dad Gets Citizenship!

2009-01-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals, Happy Austwailia Day! I'm celebwating by wearing my True Blue Aussie Digger Hat! Fow you Seppos (if you don't know wha a Seppo is check my rhyming slang dictionary) out thewe, Austwailia Day marks the beginning of English colonization of Austwailia, so it's like Columbus Day, 4th of July, & Thanksgiving all rolled into one!

Austwailia Day is a good day to shawe some important news. My dad got his Austwailian Citizenship last year. Mum got hewes 2 yeaws ago: the Prime Minister rushed it thwough fow hew because hew work is so impowtant.

Aftewards mum made my dad weaw this ridiculous hat, just like she made me weaw. She said it was to show dad was fair dinkum, but I think mum is unfair dinkum!

Aftewards my pawents went wif the Figgs to a pub to celebwate being fare dinkum Aussies. I'm spending Austwailia day weekend wif the Figgs to give dad a chance to west and pway pooter games nonstop.

My Furprise has Eyes!

2009-01-23T13:14:00.001-08:00

G'day Pals, We are getting closer to revealing my furprise to the world. Just a little while longer and you will know all!
Muwahahahahahahah, Muwahahahahahah

Enjoying the Summew & Nessa's Friendship

2009-01-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals, I'm enjoying my summer, while dad slaves away to buy me pig eaws. I love my pool. I know some of you awe cold like poor Koobie. I wish you could all come down hewe and have a pool pawty wif me. The pool also serves a pwactical puwpose. I love water so much that I tip ovew my water dish, so this is too big to tip over. When I get a break from all of this fun, I'll tell you more about my furprise!

Guess what Pals, I stopped swimming long enough to collect this award from Nessa, my Hovawart pal in Slovenia. The coolest thing is that Nessa made this award herself. I could never do that. I learned that Hovawart means "estate guard dog." Nessa's blog is really bootiful and it's bilingual. I want to encourage evwyone to visit sweet Nessa.

A Little More Furprise and a Gift!

2009-01-14T13:49:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals,
I'm taking a bweak from my pool, which is soooo much fun, and which I will tell you more about soon, to reveal a little mowe of my furprise. Many of you have a pwetty good idea what's coming, but this gives you a just a bit more idea of things to come. I will soon tell you about how I helped mum acquire this wondrous creature for our household amusement.

Also, pals, I got this friend award from Nessa, my really cool pal in Slovenia.
I’m passing it on to Twinny, Snowy, Taddy, Ronin, Normie, Joey & Dooffus, Dewey Dewster, Goofy, Sophie La Brador, Jax, and Koobie.
xxx Asta

The Happiest Day of My Life!

2009-01-10T09:50:00.000-08:00

I have a small confession pals. Another one of the weasons I didn't blog last year is that I got this exciting pwesent: my own little pool. And, while mum was slaving a way working, I've been having a good time.

Oh boy, dad, fill it up I can't wait. And, because it's summew now, I'm enjoying it again.

Get the hose, get the hose, get the hose, hah hah hah hah hah!

Yes, yes yes yes, I can't wait, fill the pool, fill the pool, fill the pool!!!!
Dad and I go through this evwy 3 days!
Ok, pals, you have to wait fow the next installment on the pool, and a little mowe info on my furprise!

I've got a Furprise Coming Pals!

2009-01-05T14:53:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals, I'm going to be updating you on my recent activities. As I update you about them, I'm going to gradually reveal a furprise to you! Those of you who come to weekly chat know what I'm talking about, but the rest of you will just have to keep checking back!
xxx Asta

New Year's Kisses 2009 & Up Date

2009-01-02T12:06:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Pals! Sowy I haven't been keeping up my blog, but my mum will offer an explanation below.
Mum has been wowking in Israel since November and gets back on 1 March. My dad is taking good cawe of me meanwhile. Fow Kwiznuz, I had a nice big steak wif my dad and his two fwiends that he bar b q'ed wif and they came back for dwinks and cawds fow New Year's Eve. As you can see, dad liked the big wet sloppy kiss I gave him at midnight. He said that having a bootiful (and modest) girl to kiss him on New Years (yours truly) made him fowget all about mum being away. He says he like the way I stick my tongue up his nose, but enough of the kinky stuff. He was also gwateful I didn't take any kitty "tootsie wolls" fwom the cat's treat box - more about her soon! I think the I-phone mum bought him fow Kwiznuz also helped put the smile back on his face. In the next weeks, I'll be bwinging you up to date on my recent adventures!

Message From Asta's Mum

2009-01-02T10:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends of Asta, I just want to apologize for the delay in helping Asta update her blog. My blog is also behind, but I do have some recent photos up and plan to add more. This has been a busy year for me that has involved publishing 2 books, writing some articles, organizing a conference that brought 48 speakers from 14 countries to Melbourne, seeing Asta's dad join me in getting dual Aussie/US citizenship, going to a conference in Cyprus, digging in Israel in July, then returning to Israel for 4 months in November, breaking my toe (oh toe is me!), and teaching my students. Look for more photos of Asta, her new cat Pussy Galore II, and updates on her life in the coming weeks! Asta's mum.

My New Year was Totlly Pawsome

2008-01-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Pals,

I had the bestest New Year ever here. It happened after mum and her booz soaked associates sampled beers and ate pizza at a local bar. Evwyone came back for me and took me to a pool pawty wif one of mum’s students. Yes, a real swimming pool! It was in the middle of a big apartment building just like the TV show, Melrose Place. It was over 40 C (over 100 F) hewe - the hottest ever NYE in Melbourne! At midnight, all of the pawty peeps jumped into the pool. I got soooo excited! I ran round and round the pool bawking. Finally I mustered my cowage jumped in. It was sooo cool, it was pawtastic. I swam round and round the pool - mum could not keep up wif me, and then I rode on a boogie board, and then I swam some more. There was also another doggie there - a cocker spaniel named Elton. He kept dunking my head under, but I swam longer than him. Then I wan round the pool and bawked some more and swam some more. It was gweat. Stupid mum didn’t bwing her camewa, but she came in swimming wif me. I hadn’t been in a real pool since last NYE when the Figgs took me swimming and I messed up the Ph balance. I’m zausted now from all of the laps I swam.

And later, I joind the round the World International Chat Pawty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This was held by Dogs with Blogs. I stawted chatting about noon on New Year's Dav and got to ring in the New Year and talk of my exploits to my best buddies: Bussie, Gussie, Jax, Butchy and Miss Snickers, Asta NY, Momo, Ruby, Precious, Snowball, Jaffe, Opy & Charlie, Ruby, Joey, Faya, and too many mowe to count. I feel we've gotten 2008 off to a gweat start!

Meeting Opy & Charlie's Mum!

2007-12-20T21:07:00.000-08:00

Me and my pal, Brooke in the Patio

Guess What Pals?

The woomers you heard about are twue! I had a visit fwom Brooke - Charlie & Opy's mum! I met a weal DWB celebwity! And I am only the second DWB doggie to meet hew. The first was Hammer. She bwought me this bootiful rope/stuffie/ball fwom Opy and Charlie also! And, I sent Charlie and Opy some of my famous giant pig eaws that mum buys me in the Victowia Mawket. She had the bootiful smells of Charlie and Opy on her.
My Thin Twin Asta up over was so excited that she sent this e-mail to me: "That is so vewy excitingTHE Bwooke???wow she's like the most famous doggie Mom of them all..I'm vewy jelly!... That is so cool that she came to see you and bwought you goodies fwom Opy and Charlie."
I not only met Bwooke, but I got to go out to lunch with Bwooke and mum. They went out for Lesbian food (mum: that's LEBANESE food, Asta) and I got to twy the Lesbian cheese on pee-ta bwead! (mum: that's LEBNE and PITA, Asta).
Mum says that ouw daddies are going to get together also and pway wif their compooters. I was sowy not to meet Charlie and Opy, but Bwooke says they are home-bodies. I'm looking foward to meeting the whole family!

Woe Is Me!

2007-12-15T22:45:00.000-08:00

But I have been vewy bad. Mum took me for our regular 2 hour walk and I wrolled in a pile of vomit that I found in the pawk. It smelled so pawtastic - it was even better than the dead bird I wolled in a couple of weeks ago and my usual bat poo and possum poo perfume, but mum was weally upset. She said my behaviowr was enough to make hewr sick and she took me stwaight to the public bathwoom and washed it all off, but it didn't get wid of that pewfume-like awoma, so she gave me another bathf. She is making a face because of the fwagwant awoma. She just doesn't have any taste! No, don't wash it away.
Oh, woe is me!

All Is Forgiven

2007-12-15T15:33:00.001-08:00

I guess I'm going to have to forgive mum fow ignoring me and my blog. She bought me some belated bawkday gifts: a big bag of pig eaws, a new pink rope toy, and 4 of my favowite rope kongs! Then she suwpwised me wif this wope ball. I think it will become my new favowite! And, she says another suwpwise is coming, plus she is still pwomising me some ice cweam.

Mum Cheats On Me

2007-12-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals,
Mum told me she abandoned me fow 3 weeks to go to confewences, but these photos tell another stowy. It seems that she was weally pawtying it up dwinking pawtinis and cheating on me wif other animals - including hew fwiends dog, Tommy and all of these stwange cweatures. I don't know if I can twust her anymore. Boo hoo hoo.

Back Home Again

2007-12-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals,

Mum picked me up and bwought me home on Dec 6. I was weally tiwered fwom all of my mischief as you can see. I had a gweat time at the Figgs house. You know I love water and I was vewy bad there. I tipped over all my water buckets and played in the mud. The Figgs weren't vewy happy and kept punishing me wif lots of baths. Mum is just now helping me wif my blog because she took lots of photos in California and was busy wif her own blog. You can see them at lahconfidential.blogspot.com and I'll post a few here.

Another Cawd Fwom Jax

2007-11-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals,

Thanks fowr all of your bawkday wishes. I got another cawd fwom Jax and when I'm not rolling in the mud, I've been enjoying the pawtini's, bikini's, and surfboard sent by my Thin Twin, Asta up over. Mum says she is going to take me out for Ice Cweam when she gets home next week!
xxx Asta

1-2 Days Till My Bawkday!

2007-11-21T19:51:00.000-08:00

Ellen Figg looked up my barkday on my blog so they are going to make make me a pawty hat tomowow. Of couse it's 2 days till my bawkday in Califownia, but just 1 day here in Melbourne. I'm going to be thwee! My thin twin Asta up over has sent me a bootiful bawkday carwd. Meanwhile mum is having a good time in California.
Mum's first conference ended a couple of days ago and the next one starts on Friday. In between, she says she has been catching up with old friends and eating lots of Mexican food. I'm glad that hewr twip is already half over. Brian has been spending half of his time with his 86 year old mother, so he's not having as much fun as mum, talking about hewr bones all the time.
We have had some hot weather in Melbourne, in the high thirties (93 F!) and now it has plummeted to below 20 (68 F) again - welcome to Melbourne.
My Cairn pal Judah is getting old, he is not at all interested in playing wif me anymore - he shudders when I come neaw him. His legs are really sore, so I have to amuse myself wif tipping over the water bucket and running around the back yard until I am completely black. Mandy has been punishing me wif daily bathing! I haven't suffewed this much since mum gave me a bath aftew rolling on a dead bird. I smelled so much betew. I just don't understand these hoomans.

Figg Time

2007-11-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

G'day Pals,

The fiwst photo shows how I helped mum mawk hewr enowmous pile of papews and now I'm staying wif the Figgs fow 3 weeks while mum goes to confewences in California. Mum has been working pwetty hawd and needs a bweak. I'm going to be enjoying life wif my pals Mandy (holding me hewe) and Ellen and thewe dog Judah. Mum comes back in December, 2 weeks aftew my bawkday.

Where Is Asta?/Asta's Routine

2007-10-28T04:58:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals

Mum has been working so very hard these last few weeks - late nights evwy night and she has bad insomnia. She still finds time to take me for 1-2 hour walks/runs evwy day. She says it helps hewe sleep better. I can't believe she hasn't had time to work on either of our blogs for almost a month!

We always walk or jog a mile to Princes Park where our beloved Blues used to play. Then we visit the dog section of the park. Here you can see me with my pal Axel - he's a massive and with my other pal Conor, who is a Cavy. Cavy's are popular here in Oz. Then mum and I go running through the middle of the fields and you can see the skyline of Melbourne in the backwound. We do this almost evwy day, so life is pwetty routine.

About the only blog I've had time to visit is the one of my thin twin, Asta up over. And we didn't even have time to watch all of hewr clever videos - we just wead about her fun activities. We do always twy to make the weekly chat that Bussie has to keep up wif my pals.

Mum is going to Los Angeles in 2 weeks and she has so much to do to get weady. She says she has to write a confewence paper, whatever that means????

Plus she has to mark papwews and final exams and theses. I offewed to mawk them fow herw but she says that wouldn't help. I don't know why. We'rew weally sowy we haven't been awound lately. Mum hopes to catch up on evwything duwing the Chwistmas times.

Happy Halloween pals!

Melbourne's Full of Cats!

2007-09-29T04:28:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

Today was the Grand Final: that's the Aus Footy equivalent of the Super Bowl, except tickets are a lot cheaper, but our team was out weeks ago - in fact, we came in next to last. Still, this was the fiwst time a Victorian team has gone to the finals since my pawents moved hewe. So, instead of taking me fow my usual 2 houwr walk to the dog pawk, mum went acwoss the stweet wif dad to the pub to watch the Geelong Cats crush the Port Adelaide team by mowe than 100 points. They dwank a bottle of champagne to celebwate a Vicky team winning - any excuse to dwink! So, Melbourne is full of Cat people this weekend. Meanwhile, I laid low and waited fow mum and dad to come back. I guess I'll get my usual walk tomowow.

Bestest Pawty - Asta's All Gwowed Up

2007-09-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

I just woke up after pawtying hard wif Asta and all my pals.

What a day ow 2 days, maybe it went fow 3!

It stawted when Ruby picked me up in her jet fow the long flight to New Yowk. Things got weally interesting after she picked up Jackson in the UK. That Indian blanket was pwetty good fow snuggling under - He He He. Jackson, he got some heap big wampum thewe!

I think Jax was pwetty tiwed by the time we weached the wanch, so I did lots of sqwawe dancing wif Bussie and Asta up over and Stanley.

Then thewe was the aftew pawty.Melbouwne will nevew seem the same now that I've tasted life in the big city!

Happy Bar B Q Barkday Asta Urbanista!

2007-09-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Whoops, I almost fowgot my cowgirl boots. Ruby picked me and all the pals up fow the long flight to NYC.

What a gweat Bar B Q. There's nothing us Aussies love more than a good bar b que, except a pawty. My thin twin Asta up over is now all gwon up and can she pawty.

Jackson gave me the fiwst dance - he looked so dashing in his heap big chief costume. And, we had tons of food - she even supplied guacamole & mawgarwitas. And thewe is still the aftew pawty to look foward to.

Lock and Load!

Getting Weady for Pawty No. 2!

2007-09-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

I'm getting weady for Asta up over's pawty. I know it's still early, but it's a long wide to New York - the Big Apple - I'm sooo excited! I just have to find my shoes. I'm also bwinging some pig eawrs fow the long dwive wif Ruby.

Dancin' the Night Away!

2007-09-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Add Glitter to Pictures

Stanley picked me and my mates up in his Pawty Bus to go to Penny & Lola's Disco Pawty. Stanley's a real smooth opewatow. You should have seen him on the dance floor. How he had all of that enewgy after dwiving to Austwalia, Asia, and all over America, I don't know! As you can see I am all blinged up. I had a gweat time dancing wif all of my fwiends!

Now I have to get weady for Asta up over's Bawkday Pawty!

Getting Weady for the Pawty!

2007-09-22T05:34:00.001-07:00

Dad took me to see Sarah my gwoomer to get all pwetty for the big round of weekend pawties I'm invited to. I soooooo excited!

Mum and Dad took a bweak and went on a tour of 4 wineries in the Yarra valley.

The Yarra valley is bootiful and just 1 hour away. This photo was taken at the Domain-Chandon winery - that's mum's favowite. Today I got a bweak fwom being the designated dwiver.

This is my gwoomer Sarah, who makes me look bootiful evwy 6 weeks! Now I'm weady to Paw-tay!

Let Another Dogg Into Australia!

2007-09-21T06:21:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

Sowy I've been MIA fow a while. Mum has been working evwy night till almost 2 am. She has lots of students and they keep giving hew papews to wead. I know I could do a bettew and fastew job of mawking them. Asta up over says just to chew them up, but I think mawking them would be fun too!

Meanwhile, I've become awawre of a sewious pwoblem in Austwalia. They are twying to keep dogs out of Austwalia. Thewes a dogg called Snoopy and they won't let him come hewe. They say he's a cwiminal. I'm not suwe what that is, but mum says that it used to be a requiwement for moving to Austwailia. This is so confusing! I'm suwe Snoopy could be rehabilitated if he just had some help fwom the Dog Whispewer, then went thwough quawentine. Snoopy wants to live in Melbouwne like me and my mum. I figuwe if they let mum into Austwalia, they can let Snoopy in too! You can vote fow getting Snoopy out of the dogg house and into Austwalia at:
http://www.mtv.com.au/snoop/

I'm planning to spend my weekend getting weady fow Asta up over's Paw-ty and will post again soon!

SCATTERGORIES: Wanna Play?

2007-09-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Mum has been working late evwy night weading her students work. So, I need to get my pals to pway wif me a little.
I’ve been tagged by Gussie to pway Scattergowies. I’m tagging Agatha and Archie, Girl Girl, Hammer, and Toby. I think I'll tag Koobie, too!
Here are the rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the questions. They must be real places, names, things ... nothing made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. You CAN'T use your own name for the boy/girl name question.
My name: ASTA
1. Famous Singer: Al Jolson
2. Four letter word: Asss
3. Street: Avenue of the Stars (Century City, California)
4. Colour: Aqua
5. Gifts/Presents: Antiques
6. Vehicle: Aston Martin DB 5 (told you mum is a Bond fan)
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop: Animal Keychains
8. Boy Name: Alden (my mum’s dad’s name)
9. Girl Name: Anne (my mum’s mum’s name)
10. Movie Title: After the Thin Man (of course)
11. Drink: Absinthe - It’s legal in Australia or Absolut Citron - Shaken, not stirred
12. Occupation: Archaeologist - what my mum does!
13. Celebrity: Audrey Hepburn
14. Magazine: Archaeology (published by the Archaeological Institute of America!)
15. U.S. City: Anaheim - where my dad is fwom
16. Pro Sports: Australian Rules Football (Go the Blues!)
17. Fruit: Apricot
18. Reason for Being Late for Work: Attitude
19. Something You Throw Away: Advertising
20. Things You Shout: Ahhhhwooooooooooooo!
21. Cartoon Character: Astro Boy

A Fun Weekend

2007-08-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

The weekend started out on kind of a bad paw. Mum decided that I've rolled in so much possum poo the last 2 weeks that I needed a bath. She always takes me into the shower. It would be fun if not for all of that icky soap!

We had our usual 2 hour walk at the dog park. I will show photos of the dog park another time. It was the warmest day here in several months - about 68 F (20 C), so mum and dad decided to go to mum's favowite outdoor pizza place in Carlton and I got to come along! Mum always eats this weally gawlicky pizza, so I didn't get too many tweats, but it was a good 2 miles of walking after our 4 mile walk at the pawk. At the end of my day, dad gave me a tummy rub and he got a big kiss in return. We all had fun even though the pathetic Carlton Blues lost by 82 points! Australian rules football is played on a round field wif 3 sets of goal posts at each end: you get 6 points for getting the ball thwough the middle and 1 point for getting it twough the end posts. The same team pways offence and defence, and they can move the ball by running wif it, vollying it, or kicking it, so there is lots of scowing, but losing by 82 points is too much! Mum will take me on another long walk tomowow. 2 hours after we got home it started raining.

Tagged and Bagged

2007-08-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

I've been tagged by the Airechicks to tell you something about myself using my middle name. Since my full name is Asta La Vista Baby, I guess La Vista is my middle name, so here goes:

L for LA: This forms an acrostic & tells you where Mum comes from
Aussie: I’m Fair Dinkum

Victoria is the state I live in
Impish - Koobuss says this is what WFT’s are
Stubborn - I’m a real Terrier
Terror - short for Terrier
Adorable is what lets me get away wif Terrier Mischief

I have to now tag a dog for every letter of my middle name, so I tag: Asta up over, Koobie, Bussie, Gussie, Ruby, Tad, and Ben Ben

Another Footy Loss

2007-08-19T05:19:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals, I apologize for my long absence from blogging. Mum has been sick for 2 weeks and foolishly going to the Uni to teach when she should be home in bed cuddling yours truly. She finally went to the vet last week and got some pills to make her better. Yesterday she was clearly feeling better because she went to the football game to drink beer and eat meat pies, but her pathetic team lost again. The Blues were ahead for the entire game, then lost to a team that has a mosquito for a mascot - how sad is that? So it was up to yours truly to try and console her. In return, she FINALLY took me for a decent walk today. Mum's blog got an award this week - it's the Expat Blog of the Month - it's still not enough to get her blog more hits than mine. I am clearly more interesting than all of this archaeology stuff she does, but at least her job keeps me in pig ears.

Lookin' Spiffy

2007-08-07T05:07:00.000-07:00

G'day Mates,
Some of you have commented on my shaggy appearance. My regular groomer, Sarah, was on vacation when mum got home. I was scheduled to see her last week, but her plane was stranded in Singapore, but today mum was able to take me in. Sarah grooms me at the Carlton Vet, which is just 3 blocks away. I'm weady now for summer, but it's still cold here. I'll have to snuggle between mum and dad tonight to stay warm! Wight now I'm sitting in mum's study wif some of my favowite toys neaw by.

Footy Day!!!

2007-08-04T04:10:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals, Mum has been taking me for long walks and runs evwyday, but at night she has lots and lots of student work to read, so she hasn't had much time to help me blog. But, today, mum went to see her favowite Austwalian Rules Football team pway. Austwailian football is played on a round field and mum likes it because the players wear tight little shorts. She supports our local team called the Carlton Blues and she likes them so much (even though the are almost in last place) that she makes me wear a Carlton Blues jumper. Mum says that the footy is fun because they drink beer and eat meat pies. I would rather pway wif my water bowl, but the meat pies sound good.

Where Are the Bones?????

2007-07-29T06:31:00.000-07:00

I figured that because my mum found boxes upon boxes of bones she would bring them back to me for my pain and suffering of being abandoned for 8 1/2 months. But what does she bring me? She brings a rock from the Philistine hearth she excavated. She is a excited about this stupid rock. Tell me, have you ever eaten or chewed a rock? She said the bones had to be studied, and analyzed and put into a putter. So, Putter is getting all the bones???? Then she says she has a special gift for me. But it's even worse than the rock!

Even worse than a rock!

2007-07-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

Mum said she had a really gweat pwezzie for me, but it turns out she bought this humiliating hat in the Bangkok airport! Oh, the Shame! She said it was cute and that she was inspired by all the clothes that Tadpole's massah buys for him. If you've read Tad's blog lately, you'll know he twied to mail himself somewhere to stop massah fwom buying those clothes! Dad says that this hat makes me look like a CHAV. I am soooo disappointed!

A Real Prezzie for Asta At Lasta!

2007-07-29T04:43:00.000-07:00

Mum didn't forget me after all! Look at this giant bag of pig ears she is holding for me. Oh, the joy, oh, the bliss! My dawg! Have any of you ever seen such a big bag of pig ears? Maybe she'll give me one soon!

Gotcha!

2007-07-29T03:47:00.000-07:00

I managed to get one of those scrumptious pig ears away from mum when she dropped one. She doesn't give them out evwyday. What can I do to cherish and pwotect it? Of course, I took it stwaight to the garden and buried it! How can I thank mum for this blessing? Maybe I'll dig it up in a few days, then bwing it in the house and shake the dirt all over the living woom! I know mum weally likes this because evwy time I do it, she gets soooo excited. Hooray! I'm soooo happy now! Especially because mum did wemember to get me a good prezzie.

Goodbye Friend Oscar: 28th May 2006-28 July 2007

2007-07-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

We were very sad to learn of Oscar's death yesterday. Words escape us. He was a typical terrier: smart, mischevious, and full of life. He was too young.

Bogart has posted a beautiful tribute to Oscar on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAs23lf1gFg

Why Mum Hasn't Been Helping Me Blog

2007-07-28T06:22:00.001-07:00

G'day Pals,
I thought after months and months of weading about Mycenaean Pottery and Philistine Pottery my mum would be giving me her undivided attention, but now she just seems to spend all of her time reading about Harry Pottery! Can you tell me what to do?

The Reunion!!!!

2007-07-20T04:59:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

Sowy it took me so long to post these photos of my big homecoming after my mum being in Israel for 8 LONG months. Mum has been weally tiwered fwom her twip and digging and she had to go back to work today. She has to give a lecture on Tuesday. I don't know what that is, but it doesn't sound as much fun as a pig ear.
Mum is in the middle as Grant and Mandy Figg pose wif us. They are weally gweat people for taking good cawe of me for 8 months.
The first thing I did when they put me down is pee! I was sooo excited, but mum just thinks I was marking my spot.
After that, I played wif my favowite rope toy, I showed mum I still wemembered my twicks like laying down, I had some dinner, and then I layed down and took a west while mum and dad went acwoss the stweet to the pub to celebwate mum's and my homecoming.
I'll have some pictures of our fun weekend soon!

1 More Day/Halfway Home!/My Favowite Book

2007-07-19T05:10:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

Mum just contacted me from the airport in Bangkok. She is leaving for Melbourne in just 5 hours and she will be home on Friday afternoon. She says she is sorry she hasn't been able to help me blog much in the last 2 weeks, but she only had about 15 minutes for internet because she was busy with all of those wonderful bones. She says most of her internet time was taken up with something called spam. I don't know what it is, but it sounds like food!

Asta up over asked me to list my favowite books. I'm not as cultured as her, so I've only read The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett. My mum reads a lot of this deconstwuction stuff but I don't understand this. I like it when she shows me pictures of old bones!

Asta

THWEE MORE DAYS!!!! & My Bones

2007-07-17T06:37:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

Mum will be home in just 3 more days on Friday! And, best of all: look at all of the swell bones she dug up with her friends at the Philistine site of Tel es Safi. I'm not sure what a Philistine is, but it seems like they sure enjoyed their food! I just hope mum brings all of those bones home to compensate me for my pain and suffering of being away fwom her for 8 1/2 whole months. I'm soooo excited, I've just peed again!

6 more days!

2007-07-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals,

I'm so excited. Mum left her dig at Kibbutz Revadim and Tel es Safi to go back to Jerusalem and pack to come home. Because of her packing, she could not help me send out as many messages as I would like. She says she's finding lots of dried up bones on the dig and she also helped to uncover a Philistine hearth! Absence makes the hearth grow fonder. She has some photos on her blog at www.lahconfidential.blogspot.com
I'm sooooo excited, I peeed again!

Getting Ready for Mum & Meme

2007-07-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

Some of you asked me about what kind of welcome home pawty we are planning for mum. She's going to be pretty tired from the 20 hour flight and the 10 hour stopover in Bangkok, so we're just doing something simple. Something else that I haven't told you about me is that we live across the street from a pub - the Brandon. Dad likes this aspect of Australia a lot and mum says it's like having our own pwivate beer tap. Mum and dad met the Figgs here. So the Figgs are bwinging me home on July 20 and we're all going to the pub to celebwate! Mum will be packing next weekend, so she won't be helping me post, but she may have time to help me visit some of my pals. In the meantime you can read some more about me:
1. Your age? 2 1/2 years
2. Your age when came to live with your people? 2 months
3. What color is the collar you’re wearing right now? Blue for the Carlton Blues, my favorite footy team
4. Who is your favorite person other than the people you live with? The Figgs who are taking care of me till mum comes home
5. How much do you weigh? 8 kgs
6. Most expensive thing you’ve ever chewed up? My mum’s 1 gig memory stick
7. Do you like other Dogs? Yes
8. Who is your best non-human friend? Asta up over & close to home, I play with Judah
9. Squeaky Toys or Tennis Balls? Tennis Balls!
10. Do you like to be brushed? No
11. Peanut Butter or Cheese? Cheese! Some Gruyere & a nice chianti
12. Do your people cut your toenails? The Groomer does it
13. Any formal education? Puppy pre-school
14. Couch potato or Energizer Bunny? I’m a Fox Terrier, draw your own conclusions
15. Five nicknames your people call you. Asta No, P-Asta, Pain in the Asta, Girly Girl, Asta Baby,
16. What is your best trick? I can roll over
17. Do you like kitties? They’re delish!
18. What did you have for breakfast? Chicken necks
19. Can you hunt (aka have you ever killed anything living)? I shake my rope toy till its dead.
20. When & why was the last time you went to the V.E.T.? About 2 months ago for vaccinations
21. Where do you sleep at night? In between mum & dad or in Ellen Figg’s bed
22. Do you like to swim? I love to swim! Check out my surf cam!
23. Can you make puppies? Make them do what?
24. Your favorite place to visit? The Park
25. Do you give kisses? Smoochie kisses to Asta and Jackson!
26. Can you potty on command? Yes, when they say “ hurry up” I pee and then I go to my treat jar & wait for my tweat
27. To Cuz or not to Cuz? Cuz & Kongs Bore me, I like rope toys & pig ears

Countdown to Mum

2007-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals
Happy 4th of July. Being a true blue Aussie girl, I don't get these things, but mum is a yank (we call all Americans yanks), she sawys it's weal important. That's when she & all her mates got freed fwom the Bwitish. They just sent all of us to a big pwison.

Mum hasn't been helping me blog much cause she's been packing to finally come home. She's going to dig up old bones on Sunday for 10 days at a Philistine place, then she's coming home in just 16 days! She leaves Israel on July 18 and reaches Aussie land on July 20 - I'm sooo excited, I could just pee! I hope she at least brings me some of her dusty old bones. Mum and her mates are digging in the photo.

Meanwhile, my best pal, Judah the cairn, hurt his foot. Crikey! you should have seen how big and swollen it was. My poor little mate was very upset. The vet thinks that he's either been bitten by a bug, had an allergy, or sprained his foot - maybe playing too much wif me! And, then because it was sore he licked it so much that it became infected. Poor Judah has been on 2 weeks of antibiotics and some anti-inflammatories and he is good as new. Mandy Figg - who takes care of me till mum gets home noticed I was a bit put out because Judah wouldn't play chasies with me around the house. I love chasies almost as much as playing nursie wif Jackson! I kept going up to him and sniffing his foot and then giving him a dirty look - cause I only give nursie cuddles to Jackson and I wanted to Judah to play. Everyone thought it was vewy funny. You can see Judah in the picture wif me.

Jerusalem Gay Parade & Doggie Tummy Rubs

2007-06-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

G'day Pals,
Last week my mum went to the gay parade in Jerusalem to show support for her friends and for human wights. She said it was her scawiest experience of 20 years working in the Middle East, and she's wowked in Sywia, Egypt, and Lebanon! Thewe were 9000 police to pwotect 5000 marchers. In the middle of all of this there was still woom for a doggie to get a tummy rub! She took the photo cause every time she sees a dog she thinks of me and she misses me. I pwoud of my mum for standing up for wights, even though I'm not suwe what they awe. My mum says she's a little jealous because she's had a blog for 9 months and I've had one for 3, and I have as many hits as she does. If you want to visit my mum's blog it's at http://lahconfidential.blogspot.com/
She's coming home in 3 weeks! Hooray!

Ready to Pawty for Maggie

2007-06-29T01:13:00.000-07:00

Ben Ben & Girl Girl invited me to a really cool Pawty for Maggie, Queen of So Cal. My mum is still not awound to help me come up with a weally good costume. You should see my pal, Asta up over, she looks like a queen herself. So, I'm stuck wearing my sexy, smokin hot nursie outfit. I'm catching a ride wif Girl Girl in her car on the way to pick up the other Asta in New York (I hope Asta's dwess will fit in the car) and then we are off to California. I'm weally excited because I've never been to California, but my mum and dad are fwom there. I didn't know how Girl Girl would fit all of us in herw car but she managed. Girl Girl, took this cool photo of all of us in the cawr & put it on her blog. There's nothing like a woad twip! I'm hoping we can swing by Jackson's and pick him up to be our date!
Pawty On!

Jackson's Dweam Team

2007-06-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

G'day Pals, Those of you who have kept up on our fwiend Jackson's medical pwoblems know that the 2 Asta's had to get him away fwom hussie nurse Clarissa. Jackson came to his senses and now the 2 Asta's and Janie are taking good cawe of him! Doesn't Janie look gweat in her nursie uniform? We wait on him hand & paw. Janie gives him cookies, and the 2 Asta's give him smoochie kisses and cuddles. Doesn't he look gorgeous?

Me & My Dad

2007-06-17T13:45:00.000-07:00

G'day pals, this is me giving some licks to my dad in our patio. I know he loves me, but he has a hard time taking care of him self with mum gone, and more trouble taking care of me, so I am still with the Figgs (not to be confused with Tad's mean sister Fig) where I'm getting runs and tummy rubs from Ellen and playing with my 4 cairn mates: Zarra, Judah, Violet and Jasmine. My foster mum Mandy says that Ellen has been a good influence on me, and I like to be cuddled more now (Jackson, where are you?), instead of jumping around all the time. That's good because my mum is coming home in just over a month, and that means I get to come home too!

I'm Ready for my Close-Up Mr. DeMille!

2007-06-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged for celebrity look-alike by Goofy, so I have to show myself next to a famous celebrity that I look like. This was really a difficult choice. My first thought was to choose Anna Nicole Smith or Marilyn Monroe, but I think I most look like Skippy, who played Asta in the Thin Man movies. Can you tell which is which?
I'm tagging Opy, Bogart, & Toto, too!

Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me!/Improving the Aussie Cork Hat

2007-06-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

G'day Mates, My mum just returned to Jerusalem from her week in Cyprus and is tired from partying with all her friends. However, we were distressed to read that my cultured pal, Asta Urbanista in New York (New York City?) has had some trouble with flies, and one of them was so gigantic that she was pewtrified with fear and had to call for help! Crikey! Mates, we have lots of flies down here, and to help keep 'em away we wear these cork hats. So, I got my pal Asta urbanista to try with of these beauties. Don't you all think she looks Faire Dinkum? And, cuter than the funny man. The dangling corks scawe the flys away, but the only problem is that the corks are more annoying than the flies, but at least they aren't scawy! My new cairn pal Scruffy had a weally good suggestion for impwoving the cork hats. He thinks we should have treats and bones dangle fwom the hat instead of the corks. Snicker's Ma suggested dangling vermin would be fun for us doggies. And, Fee suggested having dangly treats on the anti-itch cones. I think that all of these ideas could be a big impwovement!

8 Things About Me/ Away for a Week

2007-05-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

First off mates, my mum is going to Cyprus for 5 days tomorrow, so she won’t be able to help me blog till next Friday! 2nd of all, Billy tagged me to tell you 7 or 8 things about me that you don’t know and I've tagged Koobuss, Janie the Painie, and Bussie.
8 things about Asta:

1. This is my “humble” home, a 19th c. church that’s now a house.

2. My dad’s (in the photo) nickname for me is P-Asta, short for Pain in the Asta.

3. When I was a puppy, I chewed up some of my dad’s CD’s.

4. I used to bite my mum and dad’s ankles when I was a pup.

5. My favorite game is rope toss!

6. I have my own door so I can come and go as I please.

7. I can jump from the top of the sofa to the dining room table and get lots of treats!

8. My mum’s nickname for me is Asta Baby.

Tagged By Asta Up Over!

2007-05-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Asta up over and the new game of tag involves posting a photo of myself in a silly situation. The problem is that I'm in Melbourne and mum is in Israel and this is the only photo she has of me that is unusual. I am sitting on Billy's shoulders and he his carrying me around. Mum carries me this way too! Billy is Mandy's son and Ellen's brother. Two years ago, when the Figgs were having drinkies with mum and dad, we all got locked out on the patio and Billy climbed into the house through my doggy door and let everyone in. Now that would have made a funny photo! Since there are two photos here you have to guess which one is of me and Billy and which one is the Moscophoros from 460 BCE Athens. I'm tagging Billy, Tadpole, and Girl Girl cause they're 3 of my funnest pals. xxx Asta

Bronson’s Story: A Happy Ending

2007-05-19T10:13:00.000-07:00

Some of you have asked me about my new pal Bronson. He belonged to a friend of a friend of Mandy, from Mandy’s work. Mandy and her family are whom I’m living with till mum comes home. When Bronson’s mum moved to a new house she couldn't have a dog with her and she looked and looked for a new home for him. Bronson almost became an orphan, but then Mandy found a new home for him with Trevor who works with Grant. Grant is Mandy’s husband and the hooman dad of my 4 cairn mates: Zarra, Judah, Violet and Jasmine. Here Grant is offering us a treat, but I'm getting it cause I'm a fasty. He He. So anyway, Trevor gave Bronson a new home and now he has a big new family of hoomans to play with: Trevor and Jo and their kids Stacey, and twins Tara and Samantha. I hope I will get to see Bronson again in the future, but I don’t know because his new family is keeping him busy!

Billy Tummy Tagged Me!

2007-05-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

My favorite Shih Tzu and Canadian, Billy, tummy tagged me! Mum doesn't have any pictures of my sleeping and she can't take any cause she's still away. This is Ellen, and she spoils me rotten, while I'm waiting for my mum. She takes me running everyday and she gives me these tummy rubs! See how happy I look? Mum is worried that now I won't want to come home with all of these nice tummy rubs. Now, I've tagged Tadpole, coy Sophie Brador, and Luna!

We Will Miss You Fu Fu

2007-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

My mum and I are fairly new to the dogs with blogs world - just 1 1/2 months, and we only got to know little Fu Fu bear a short time ago. FuFu and his blog quickly became our favorite and mum and I checked it all the time. We feel very blessed to have known little FuFu, even for this short time, and it seems like we have known him for ages. He gave so much joy to us and to so many people, and even though he lived a long hamsterrier life, his time here for us was just too short. We were shocked, stunned, and saddened to learn about his passing. We are grateful to have known him for just this little while. He always made us laugh and feel happy. Mum has had a couple of hamsterriers in the past, but Fu Fu was really remarkable: he could drive a car and he was a superhero! He brought many dogs together through his magic. Mum checked his blog even more than I did!

Then Came Bronson!

2007-05-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

G’day Mates,
Mum and I are real excited cause her friend Mandy who is taking care of me while mum digs up old bones sent her some new photos of yours truly. I’m especially excited because in addition to the 4 cairns that belong to the Figgs, we had another dog staying with us for the last few days. This is my new mate, Bronson. He's a Maltese Terrier and he's really cute just like my Malteaser friends Bella, Scrappy, Snowball and Toby! We had a fun few days flirting and playing bitey face. Bronson had a bit of a haircut and he’s looking handsome - don't you think? Now he’s going home.

Happy Birthday Mum!

2007-05-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, mates! After recovering from the wine and cheese paw-ty, my mum took some time to celebrate her B-day yesterday! Unfortunately, I'm in Oz and mum was celebrating with her mates in Jerusalem. Dad sent mum a dozen roses and then she went to the famous American Colony Hotel for a drink (or 2). This photo shows mum last summer (my winter) when she was digging on Crete. She's holding the excavation director's terrier, Hercules. Mum doesn't take me to her digs, because then I would have to go through quarantime for 30 days to get back into Australia. Mum says quarantine isn't much fun. I would like to try archaeology because I dig all the time in the garden. I think I'd be a really good archaeologist - much better at it than mum is, but she says I'm not allowed to chew the bones. What kind of archaeology is that???? So, I'm stuck in Melbourne playing with the 4 cairn terriers and going walkies with Ellen. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention - my mum is jealous that my blog gets more hits than hers does!

My Koi

2007-05-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

Butchy and Snickers named a Koi after me. I'm sooo honored!

I'm A Paw-ty Animal

2007-04-30T14:43:00.000-07:00

Mates, I had a great time this weekend at the Dogs With Blogs Wine and Cheese Paw-ty. I don't know what was better: talking to all of my old friends or making so many new ones. Mum and I are still recovering, but we plan to vist our new friends blogs real soon. In the meantime, I found out that there is a special beer made just for dogs! I hope it becomes available in Australia soon!

Asta's Thin Man Movie Clip

2007-04-25T23:10:00.000-07:00

G'day Mates, Mum found a link to this video of the original Asta on the wire fox terrier list. Thanks to Dean-O and his mum for posting it! Enjoy! Asta

My New Routine!

2007-04-23T11:33:00.000-07:00

G’day Pals,
I’ve been pretty busy, since I’ve gone to stay with the Figgs, while waiting for my mum to return from the Middle East. Although my life has become pretty routine, it’s never dull. When I’m not surfing at Bell’s Beach or Torquay, I spend most of my day in the yard with the Figgs’ 4 Cairn terriers. Keeping them in line all day is pretty exhausting!
My favorite Cairn is Judah because he likes to play. Right now, our favorite game is tug-o-war. Everyone in the house thinks we’re very funny because we both growl very loudly when we are pulling on a toy! So far we’ve only broken one toy, but we will try to do better and break lots more. Judah is getting older and he is pretty worn out, by the end of the day. I think he’s having a birthday paw-tay this week when he turns 8 and his mum Zorah is nearly 15!
I used to sleep on Billy’s bed everynight, but now I’ve made a switcheroo and I sleep on Ellen’s bed because she has been taking me for a run every night along the local creek! Given that Ellen is a teenager with a busy social life, it’s really nice of her to spend so much time with me.
When we walk everyone stops to ask Ellen what kind of a dog I am. I always have a good bark about this because it’s so funny and I love being the center of attention on my walks! I moved to Melbourne from Brisbane because there aren’t many Fox Terriers in Australia.
With all of this activity, I try to sleep in most mornings. Now that it is fall, I will probably stop surfing soon and the mornings are a lot cooler. Mandy, always has to get me out from under Ellen’s doona (comforter) now for my morning pee, but afterward I run straight back to bed and hide under the covers for another hour or so, until the kids go to school, then I start my work day on guard dog duty!

How Many Asta's?

2007-04-17T13:13:00.000-07:00

G'day Mates,
FuFu wanted to know how many Asta's there are. There are currently 2 in my Blogosphere, but I know from your e-mail that there are many more. I hope they will all drop in for a visit, but at the moment there's me and another Asta I talk to all the time and she lives in New York. In order to distinguish myself I sometimes use my full name: Asta La Vista, Baby or refer to myself as Asta down under and to urbanista Asta in NYC as Asta up over. I like to jump in my little pool and splash around, roll in the mud, and dig holes in the ground and bury my pig ears - I'm hoping to be an archaeologist like my mum. Asta up over is more cultured. She likes to play the piano and speaks many languages, and she has just decided to become a surgeon! But despite our different interests we are mischief loving WFT's. There is a link to her web site below. We are both named for the WFT called Asta in the Thin Man movie series, and I both of our humans like to drink martini's - just like Nick and Nora in the Thin Man. I don't drink because I'm the designated driver, but mum wants to teach me how to mix a martini - shaken, not stirred, of course.

The Dropbears and the Bunyips

2007-04-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

Mates,
The drop bears have also been a big problem here in recent days. I haven't said much because I know Billy has been worried that they would leave Australia and head toward Canada. The Bunyip's haven't caused as much trouble because they stay in their Billabong's mates, and with the drought here in Melbourne, they just haven't been around. I know they may look like cute lil' koalas, but look at the teeth on this beauty, Crikey!

Action Girl

2007-04-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

G’day Mates,
Sorry I’ve been out of touch. Crikey! I can't believe it's been 2 whole weeks since I've made a proper post. Life is really full on for me. As you know, I’m staying with my mum’s friends until she gets home in July, and I really miss her. My normal household is usually just 2 people, so it’s really easy to let mum and dad know that I’m the boss.
Now, I’m in a house with 2 adults, 2 teenagers, and 4 cairn terriers. Keeping everyone in line has been a full-time job! Sometimes they just don’t understand that wherever I go, I’m used to being in charge. So, I have to put all of these folks in their place, let the other doggies know that I'm the alpha, and guard the house!
I’ve always been a pretty active little gal as you can see in this baby picture of me playing with Benny. Crikey! He's got the same colors, but those aren't terrier ears. Lately, I’ve been getting out and taking lots of long walks with Ellen and Billy, and I've been splashing around in my pool a lot because summer is almost over here. So, it's been working, walking, splashing, and taking charge!

Sign My Guestbook!

2007-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hiya Mates,

I have a new guestbook at the top of the page and it needs YOU!
My mom is still moving her blog from Yahoo to Blogger, but she has some time to help me out!
My Pal, Asta in New York also has a new guest book and it needs more of her doggie friends to sign too!

xxx Asta

Hey Mates, Surf's Up!

2007-03-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Uh Oh! I was clipped and looking very neat and tidy – until I got home, then I immediately plunged my head into a bucket of water and wet my new, very punk looking eyebrows! After a full day in the doggy salon and a long walk by Ellen, Grant and Mandy’s daughter, I was a very tired little doggy.
Mandy calls me a waterdog because I spend hours in my “swimming pool ,” a large plastic container that they fill up, and then throw things in for me to dive in and retrieve. I also enjoy chasing the "hose" when the garden is being watered.
Whenever it is hot out I just throw myself in the water until I cool off!
Last year when Louise was in Cyprus, the Figgs took me to Grant’s sister’s house and when I saw their pool, I dove straight in and joined the game of pool volleyball and even got on one of the surfboards! I asked for a cocktail, but they wouldn’t give me one. Afterward, I played chasy and kissy face with Fergus, the Scotty, and now Mandy thinks we are in love.
As you can see in this photo of Murphy, I’m not the only WFT that likes to surf, but Crikey! Surfing and digging are part of my Aussie lifestyle. I just wish I had a photo of me on the surfboard!

Fluffy, Not Stuffy!

2007-03-27T01:22:00.000-07:00

My friend Mandy, who I am staying with until July, finally took me for my haircut today. Brian meant well, but just could seem to get around to it. I have a lot more fun at Grant and Mandy's because everyone there wants to play with me. I was such a big ball of fur (like in this old puppy photo) that my groomer, Sarah, did not recognize me. Everyone had a big laugh about this at my expense. I get groomed at the vets, so I also got my shots, and now I'm good to go shot-wise for another year.

My Workday!

2007-03-26T15:12:00.000-07:00

My workday normally starts when Louise finishes her coffee and goes off to teach archaeology. The couch is the highest spot I can reach and I sit here most of the time so that I can protect the house and when she gets home we go for our run - at least 4 miles. I'm learning archaeology too, and occasionally I go out into the patio to bury my pig ears in the garden. After they are there for a few days, I can re-excavate them, bring them back in and shake the dirt everywhere- yum!

Graduating Puppy Pre-School

2007-03-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken in April 2005 when I graduated Puppy Pre-School at the Carlton Vet. My people were really happy because they learned some new tricks to get me to behave a little better and not bite their ankles anymore. I'm the cute one in the photo!

Brian Holding Me/Visiting My Friends

2007-03-25T17:03:00.000-07:00

Brian is holding me and my human companion Louise is taking the picture. I was pretty lonely with Louise being away in Israel because she took me for 4-10 mile walks and runs. I have been stopping outside of her office everyday looking for her, but she's not there and that made me sad. Brian plays rope toss with me, but it's just not the same as the long runs and trips to the dog parks to play with all of the locals. So, I've decided to stay with my friends Mandy and Grant, their kids Billy and Ellen, and their 4 Cairn terriers till Louise gets back in July. I have a lot of fun there playing with everyone, even though there is the constant challenge of letting them know that I'm supposed to be in charge. Sometimes they just don't get it! Still, I have lots of fun with so many people and other dogs around, and I get to sleep in Billy's room everynight. On Tuesday they are taking me to the vet for my vaccinations, but I will forgive them.

Asta 6 Weeks Old

2007-03-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Here I am at 6 weeks old - this is just before Dogtainers flew me to Melbourne when I joined my new family at the age of 2 months. Although I rarely sit this still, you can see my determined, patented terrier stare.
I'm a brave girl - I never whimpered once after leaving my mum. My owner Louise always gave me a hot water bottle placed in a plushy every nite to snuggle up to and she took me down to the garden several times to 'go.' When I got a bit bigger, I got to sleep on the bed!

Playing With My Brother

2007-03-25T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here I'm playing with my brother. Even as a puppy I had sharp teeth. Brian believes that I come from such a small litter because I ate the other puppies in the womb.

Baby Photo

2007-03-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first photo, taken the day I opened my eyes, when I was just 2 weeks old. Note, that I already have a determined stare.

Welcome to my blog!

2007-03-25T14:36:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken after my first haircut at age 9 months. Crikey, I'm a little beauty!