Korrect Kollar, Katnaps, & Kristmas

Aloha!  I hope you mainlanders and those across the northern hemisphere are keeping yourselves warm these days.  I think only my Aussie mates are as warm as I am right now.

Time to show you how the collar looks when it's on properly.  Mom put it on reverse to take good photos.  I was kind of skittish the day it arrived since my staff were putting a giant fake tree where Isabella and my cushion belongs.  Weird.  Anyway, I'm feeling a bit better about this green plastic monstrousity so it's photo time again.

Even though I feel better about this tree,
Madeline still helps me stay put.
No worries.  I look mighty handsome in my Kolchak Kollar.
(Mahalo nui loa again, Carol.)



Moms on the floor. hee hee

 

Yes, Madeline?
(She sure conned me into thinking she wanted
to chat, but she just wanted Mom to get a better angle.
I paid her back by breathing my bad breath on her.)

Mom just ooos over this one.  Strange lady.
Although I must say I am awfully cute in this shot.

"mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi mi..."

"Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
fa la la la la la la la la..."

Lest you think I take myself too seriously with my trés chic collar, here's some photos of me napping.  It's kind of a hobby of mine.  I nap in the most strange looking ways that my family takes photos while they are snickering.  They think I can't hear them, but I do.

Matthew sees this as he walks down the hall.
He knows there is a big furry lump once he turns the corner.

My family thinks I run in my sleep and stop mid-stride.

I'm also comforted by the smell (rank odor) of
my dad's dirty PTs (Physical Training uniform for you non-army types).



What creature lurks behind this paw?



My favorite place to nap is on the cool tile.
During school I sleep bordering the school room so I'm near my family, but cool.
Folks say its winter, but it's still in the 80s I hear.

A photo of my more photogenic end.
My family cannot figure out why,
when there is so much space available
 for my leggy self to stretch out,
would I put my legs up the wall.

Finally, I'm getting into the Christmas spirit.  Last year I was just a teenie weenie baby so this Christmas thing just passed me by.  Apparently, I look like one of the Christmas icons called a reindeer.  Haven't seen one out here so I'll just take the family's word on it.  You tell me what you think.  Can I pass for one of these sleigh-pulling beasts?

Mom says I'm the cutest reindeer
and my nose beats Rudolph's for cuteness any day.
I'm just thinking this is less than dignified. 

Dad's on his way home so Mom is going to cook.  That means it's time to counter cruise.  I wonder what she's offering tonight.  She's trying so hard to teach me the command "go" but I'm being a stinker about it.  Why do I want to "go" when there is food right at nose level?  Or when they are eating a meal and snacks randomly drop on the floor?  Sometimes, I "go" out one side of the kitchen and come "in" the other.  hee hee  I'm no fool.  I'm obedient and clever.  That's a Borzoi boy for you!

Kolchak Kollar

Mahalo nui loa to my Auntie Carol for the most handsome Borzoi collar a military man could wear. 

Is that for me?
My first mail!!!

What do I do now?  I don't have thumbs, you know.

My sister smelling my new collar to make sure it's OK.

Isn't this beautiful?!?
This will match my Kolchak Kape to a tee.

Side view. 
It's sort of embarrassing that I'm just a PV2 (Private Second Class).
I hope I get promoted soon so I can trade in my mosquito wings.

Mom just can't stop taking photos.  My kollar just looks so good.

My Kolchak Kollar without me in it.
Did I mention it is fuzzy lined? And it comes with the leash attached.
Carol made the lining velcro open on one side so we can change my rank.
(hint, hint Uncles Dan and Royce)

Mahalo nui loa and lots of aloha, Auntie Carol!

Holy Family Home gift wrapping

As many good Wolfhounds do, I support Holy Family Home.  Here we are wrapping gifts that some two-legged Wolfhounds will deliver to the orphans so they know that, even after over 60 years, we still love and support them.

On my way to post.  I like to sit in front, lounging in the sun.

Hello back there! 
My sister is not quite old enough to sit up front.

Uncle Royce and I mingle with the crowd.  This one is cute!

I love you too, Uncle.  Now don't you have some gifts to wrap?

Mrs. Banogan gives me some love.

The littlest and cutest Banogan and I are eye-to-eye.

The more hugs, the better.
I love being loved.

Posing with some of the gifts and
 some of the hard-working wrappers.

Many hands (and paws) made light work.

And here is our goofy shot.

A link to information about the Wolfhound tradition of helping Holy Family Home in Osaka, Japan :
http://www.kolchak.org/HolyFamilyHome/holyfam.htm

Mrs.Yuko O'Reilly - Wolfhound Mom

Many followers of my blog don't know Wolfhound history which is how I got Yuko O'Reilly as one of my moms.  (I seem to have a lot of moms!)  Please check out these links that show how Yuko became the Regimental mom.


http://www.wolfhounds-peacebridge.org/history.html#bio tells about Hugh O'Reilly and his involvement with Holy Family Home in Osaka, Japan.  It was in Japan that he met Yuko and she married into the Wolfhound 'ohana (family).  She's still stuck with us and we're blessed by her.

The movie "Three Stripes in the Sun" (1955)  would now be called a docudrama as it is about Hugh O'Reilly and the Wolfhounds with a bit of cinematic license taken here and there.  Yuko's character is in there too.  The movie was based upon the article "The Gentle Wolfhound" by E. J. Kahn published in the May 9, 1953 issue of The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1953/05/09/1953_05_09_075_TNY_CARDS_000240692 .

School is pau (done, over)!
Goodnight.

I meet our Wolfhound Mom!

A while back, I went to work and hung out with Uncle Dan (LTC Wilson).  It was fun doing all that hard work with him!  He took photos and Dad finally remembered to ask for them.  Mahalo, Uncle Dan, for sending these.  I like to remember the day I first met our Wolfhound Mom, Yuko O'Reilly.  She's so sweet.

Upon meeting the esteemed Yuko O'Reilly,
I was so excited that all I could think to say was,
"Your shoes smell nice, Mrs. O'Reilly."

Mmmm, she smells nice too.
(Little shaky, Uncle Dan? Maybe you need to lay off the coffee?)

Local custom: Mrs. O'Reilly and I exchanging ha.

Next?
(Hey, even I can do this job.)

Uncle Dan and I are hard at work. Or is this the naughty mat?

That was a tough day at work.  Meet a pretty lady, take a nap... I don't know how these guys do this five days a week.

It's not all about me

Really, it's not all about me.  It's about Wolfhound hertiage and history that I symbolize.  Here's a sample of Wolfhound pride from 1931.

A life-sized “KOLCHAK” mounted high,

     Above the Sally port,

Gives warning to the passers by,

     When closely they desport;

He stands in proud defiance, calm,

     Collected, full of cheer,

And ready should his pack face harm, --

     A WOLFHOUND without fear.

--H.

     The Bark January 1931 (23 Jan 1931)

     http://www.kolchak.org/research/Barks/193101_Bark.pdf

My mom and I have been studying my history so I can learn where I fit in the big picture.  Using http://www.kolchak.org/ , we found the Wolfhound's The Bark newsletter from January 1931 issue which has a front page drawing of the lifesize Russian Wolfhound (mascot) which hung over the D-quad sallyport (breeze way) facing Eighth Street.  The above poem was written about this mascot.

Inside the Salllyport circa 1935 with awards, medals, and
other artifacts presented to or won by Wolfhounds.
(photo courtesy of http://www.kolchak.org/ )



A modern take on Kolchak.
Photo taken by Mom January 2010 at a Change of Command ceremony.



http://www.kolchak.org/History/museum.htm
link says, "... a stainless steel of Kolchak that was given
 to the regiment by Mr. Akio Aoyama,
a long time supporter of the Holy Family Home
 and an ardent fan of the Wolfhounds."

I hope all Wolfhounds can be that Wolfhound who is calm, collected, and full of cheer yet ready to defend our pack and our nation.

There's our history lesson for today.  Back to napping. (I'm at "work" today and that's my job.)  Maybe someone will write a poem about a napping Wolfhound?  Please post it in the comments if you do.

I'm swimming!

The parents remembered the camera and I was a bit more prepared.  Lots of photos since they tell more than words can.

Really, Lady?  Do I look excited and ready?

This seems far enough and I didn't mess up my fur-do.

I'm not going any where, but it's getting deeper. 
What's up with that and may I go now?

It's good that one of us really loves it here. 
I will too... eventually... in my own time... when it suits me....

Does the photo speak volumes or do I need to tell you
how I feel about this ocean-with-huge-surf thing?
Check out these waves!!

So, Isabella, I'm going out, you want to come in.
One of us needs to get out of the way and you know who is smaller.

The toy thing does tempt me to play.

O.K. You got me. Let's play!

I'm gonna get you!!

C'mon, give me the floaty toy, pleeeezzze.
I'm doing my best cute look with puppy dog eyes.

Not a glamour shot, but I'm having too fun much to care!

Madeline thinks she'll get me to go out farther
if she throws the floaty toy out there.

Thankfully, she loves me no matter what.

And she decides there is more than one way to get me totally wet.
It's hot out here today!

I caved.
I'm swimming out to Mom and she's happier than I am about it.

That was far enough so I'm coming back into shore.

I'm wet. Are you happy now?
I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.

The water feels pretty good. I'll walk out to Madeline and Mom.

Is this really a good time to pose for photos, Dad?
I'm also checking to make sure the shore is right where I left it.

Bunny ears on a dog, Madeline?  Really?
(I think Jane gave me a very strange family.
I love 'em, but they're on the odd side.)

I like it when Mom holds me in the water.
I'm cool and I get to relax.

She gently pushes me toward shore.
I'm doing so well!



Much more graceful than my first few times swimming.
(I may even be smiling.)

Check this out!  Dad caught me on video.

Mom is SO proud of me.

Everyone is proud of me!

Soggy doggy.  This water is not like my dog dish water.

Ah, the dog days of summer... NOPE!
It's Hawai'i and these are the dog days of autumn!
Life in paradise.

Busy afternoon. Need nap. No matter that I'm still sitting.

Cut my nap short to eye a plastic bag blowing down the beach.
Is it worth chasing?  Not today. Maybe another day.
(No wonder I'm always on a leash!)

Posing.

Mom telling me how much she loves me.
We do this a lot.

Needed to stretch.

Hey, what are you doing there?

Since I like to lean on Mom or be right next to/on her,
she found a way for us both to be happy.
I'm really, really close to her and she gets a beach pillow.

This way we both get some rest.

Dad thinks any view with me in it is better than one without.
I agree and humor him by waking up.

How many more photos, Dad?

My furry sister joins the nap.
We help keep Mom warm since the sun
is setting and the wind is picking up.
She says it must be nearly 75 degrees cold
with the wind chill factor and we're wet! bbrrrr...

I'm trying to kiss you.  Why are you making an icky face?
(Answer: You're sandy. Spitty and sandy.)

I smell BBQ.

If I can't eat the BBQ, then I'll go back to sleep and dream about it.

End of my second day at the beach.
Rough life.  Or is that ruff life?

Much aloha to you and mahalo for stopping by...
Kolchak XV, the swimming King of the Wolfhounds!