8 Things About Me/ Away for a Week

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!

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

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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

I'm A Paw-ty Animal

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

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!

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?

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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.