This ESCADA Marine Grove sample came in a postcard through airmail this morning. It was a surprise as I have totally forgotten that I have requested for it. And even if I do remember, I would not have expected it to arrive this soon.

Compared to the earlier ESCADA Desire Me and Incredible Me parfum samples that I received in a similar fashion in late November, 2009, this one took just 2.5 weeks to arrive from the day of request. The earlier two samples took something like 2.5 months! That’s a huge difference!

Unlike both Desire Me and Incredible Me, without opening the small Marine Groove sample pack at the back of the postcard, there isn’t any distinct fragrance at all that I could tell but I am just a collector and not a user so these samples will be left unopened, forever.

It is with regret that the first post of the New Year is something sad that I have to share. Trust me, I had every intention to blog earlier in the week but something or other came up and unfortunately, early this morning, Snoopy took his last breath and I MUST write this post before I could rest even though I have been up since 2am this morning.

Snoopy indeed suffered much over the past 7.5 months as he lay incapacitated in my room and even though I felt that I have done my best or at least tried to, at the end of the day, I don’t feel like I have done anything for him at all. I was helpless seeing him being frustrated trying to get up and walk and in the process hurting himself. I suffered along with him as I see him cry out but there was no sound.

While I was complaining that I was mentally and physically exhausted nursing Snoopy 24 hours a day through these months, and endless cycle of feeding him food and water, helping him to urinate and cleaning up his waste, and everyone was asking if we made the right decision to keep him whilst my friends were rooting for me to put him to sleep, it was just beyond us to do that.

Can you imagine the time I devoted to him these past months since he became bed ridden that I had only stepped out of the house once, and it was to purchase the LCD screen for my computer? I couldn’t leave him in this condition and I guess it’s not surprising since I have kept him since he and Dino were only 3 weeks old. I had to bottle feed them. Perhaps they didn’t benefit from their mother’s milk causing all these health problems but it’s self-defeating to keep questioning now.

No one would understand my feelings caring for Snoopy seeing his body riddled with pressure sores. I just counted this morning, Snoopy used up 30 bottles of RowaRolan, a very good antiseptic power for bed sores imported from Ireland. It works well, if only Snoopy wasn’t forced to lie on one side only.

Snoopy had been a darling pet all these years except for a few life threatening illnesses that caused me to lose a few years off my life span. This was the final hurdle that he was unable to clear. I guess I should be consoled that Snoopy lived for 15 years and 2 months, despite the final 7.5 months that, to me, had absolutely no quality.

It’s funny that while I was nursing Snoopy, I would fantasize about all the things that I want to do and all the places that I want to see. But now that I am free from this duty, I still don’t feel like doing anything at all or going anywhere. I guess I am just feeling empty. When Dino passed away suddenly on 6th June, 2008, I was depressed for a month. And then Snoopy began showing signs of aging and needed assistance.

One other thing I am regretful about is that my dear Snoopy didn’t have the chance to wear the set of blue canine shoes that I bought for him which I thought would help him to walk better. Snoopy fell ill and became bedridden less than 24 hours after the shoes arrived in the mail. This morning, I buried the shoes with Snoopy and hope he will be able to show Dino how good looking he is with the shoes when they meet in dog heaven. Yes, I believe they will meet. Dino will be happy to see his big brother again. He wouldn’t be lonely anymore.

While it hurts me to lose Snoopy, I can’t deny that I heaved a sigh of relieve that Snoopy is finally freed from his incapacitated body which trapped his spirit. Now, after 7.5 months, Snoopy is finally able to walk again, just like the numerous dreams that I have had since he was floored by this final bout of illness.

Farewell, my darling Snoopy. And may you, finally, rest without pain.

Finally, I managed to read the book, Penelope, before the New Year arrives! I have had this book, thanks to Elina, for 1.5 years or so but have not found time to take my eyes off the computer screen until a couple of days ago. LOL If I don’t get this completed before 2010, I guess I wouldn’t have the chance for a long while yet. New month, new stress, you see.

If you didn’t read the book or watch the movie, then let me just fill you in. Penelope is a children’s fairy tale about a girl, named Penelope obviously, who was born with a “pig snout” for a nose no thanks to a witch’s curse. Because of this nose, Penelope’s parents had to hide her at home until one day, at the age of 25, Penelope decided that she should venture out to see the world.

You know, a friend used to tell me that I remind him of Rapunzel but after reading this book, I’ll have to say that I am more like Penelope. I don’t mean that I have a pig’s snout for a nose as well, but if you know me at all, you would know what I mean.

Anyway, it’s been such a long time since I read a REAL book, not text on the screen, it’s luxury! I wonder when I would have the chance to read again.