IT'S ALL ABOUT GRASS!!!!

You should have known. Preferably with no noisy cars around to distract me and definitely without that damn leash. I mean, how can anyone tee-tee with that thing around their neck? Didn't take Susan long to figure it out, so now we get to spend a lot of time in the parks every day.

Normally, I am quite happy to be on my leash. Nice is such a busier place than Stacey's backyard! I sometimes get scared that my French mom, Susan, might lose track of me, so I am very alert to always keep my eye on her and I follow her everywhere. Still when we are trotting down the street, I always wear my leash and I prefer it.

The city noise can be a bit disconcerting, sometimes, and I am getting used to the cars. But the sirens! Ouch!! And all these people are always coming up and petting me--just like that--without even asking. Can you imagine? The nerve! However, I've been good and never nip, though once in a while I just have to act like I might if they don't respect my boundaries. Like Snoopy, I sometimes suffer from "itchy teeth" that always make me want to snap. But if I do, Susan makes this loud "ah-ah" noise which I hate, so it's not worth the fun. But I do have to say that I am getting used to all the hoopla over Chihuahuas. Whenever we go out people stop to admire me. It does wonders for my ego--which as you all know wasn't hurting too much to begin with. Then again, let's face it,......"What's not to like?"

The Carnival parade today was great. Wild costumes. Clowns as tall as buildings and beautiful girls on floats throwing flowers everywhere. My new friend, JoJo, was sharing my bag, but she's small enough that she doesn't bother me much. I try to get her to play but she is a bit of a stick in the mud--sort of an old maid it would seem. But I'm working on her. Susan says it's cause she's tired from having to switch houses and different routines. I say, "Yeah? Well, what about me? I've been on airplanes, trains, cars, camping out in Preston's apartment, haven't seen my Stacey and Jenna for nearly two weeks, spent a day at stupid PetsMart and now am having to get used to all these new sounds and stupid frizzy little dogs, and I'm still cool!"

Then again, I am Hoolie the Juli as in "Jewely"--so I have to try to understand that everyone is simply not as cool as I am. But JoJo sure does sleep a lot I have to say. Susan says I'm gonna get quieter too when I grow up, but I say--in your dreams!, "Long Live Never Never Land and the Lost Boys!!"

When we went by train to Frejus to get JoJo, I got to look out the window and that was fun. What a beautiful coast--little inlets and villages. More sand and rocks than grass--and I sure do like my grass--but it was still pretty. The best part about JoJo coming to live at my new house with me is she brought this great squeeky toy--this old stuffed thing Susan calls "Red Devil. " It's really too big for Jo, but she's had it since she was little so Susan keeps it for her. It only took me two minutes to find the sqeeky part and boy do I love to throw it around and then pounce on it. I throw it up in the air so that when it lands, it bounces and I catch it on the rebound. In fact, I can throw it anywhere--up on the couch or the bed--and then I jump up after it. So far, I've been playing with Red Devil more than with JoJo, but she's coming round.

Well, this is mostly just to give you an update and tell you that I miss you. At night I always dream about Jenna, whom I will always hold close to my heart. And then when I wake up in the morning, I feel all sweet and snuggly and happy. There is nothing so sweet as one's very first girlfriend! Thanks for finding me such a good second home. But most of all, thanks for getting me away from that awful place where they were starving me. And thanks for seeing the promise in my big brown eyes and taking me to the vet and feeding me turkey and rice and cottage cheese so I could get big and strong and have a second chance. I wish I could be a poster Chi for rescue pups. You're the best and I promise to stay in touch. (Isn't the internet great--no digital camera yet, but I hope to have one soon.)

I'm happy to be in France (Susan promises the weather will get warm and there will be lots of sunshine in the apartment.) but I'll always be a Mexican American at heart. Hey--what's wrong with tri-lingual?

Big nose nips from Julio le beau, 
And some ear licks too.

Love, Juli

P.S. Hey, I forgot to tell you that one day this week I got to see ole' Randy boy. We spent a few hours together and had a great time. I chased him mercilessly which was good for him because he is such a serious guy. I think I better go by a few times a week or he's going to become as sober as an old Buddhist Monk or something. We did go by two other days but he hadn't come to work. I think we will see him Monday, again. I definitely miss him. They call him "Toy"? CAN YOU IMAGINE? How humiliating! But I still call him Randy which makes him feel good.