Rifle from a Wolfhound, for the Wolfhounds

Dad is crazy busy with work, so helping me with my blog is about 999 on his list of 1,000 things to do before he deploys.  I've had this waiting for his help since January, but I'm going to be a realist and admit it will never get finished. Please enjoy the photos without the names of those in the photos.  Sorry.  If you know the names that go in the blanks, please comment on the post and I'll add them.

We Wolfhounds have an endless amount of respect for our veterans. That they still take care of us on active duty is a testament to their character. Here, a Vietnam vet gives us a rifle from that war. 

1SG Crump, on behalf of all Wolfhounds, accepting the rifle.

_____________ speaking

Lt. Col. Wilson (my Uncle Dan) is a very animated speaker.
He radiates his enthusiasm and respect for Vietnam Veterans.

My dad listening while holding the rifle.

Still yapping.... 
(I love you Uncle!)

Uncle Dan presents _________ with a _______ coin. 

_______ speaking about _______
______ , rear left
_______, rear right

Uncle Dan and _____ saluting each other.

_____, "Happy it's over?"
Uncle Dan, "Yes, sir. Just looking to see if Happy Hour is set up."

The Wolfhounds and me.
I'm the most lucky Borzoi ever!

Younger Wolfhounds have much to learn from their kupuna (wise elders/teachers).

Wolfhounds getting the honor to shake hands with a hero.

Uncle Dan and ______________

_______, _______, and Dad.

After the formalities comes my favorite part, meet and greet! (pet me time)

I'm baaaack!

Aloha friends!  I know it's been a while since I've blogged.  Even mascots go on leave, you know. 

On the homefront, my dad took leave and we worked on the yard. Here I am, working hard.

My job was to enjoy the cool dirt that my staff dug up. Meanwhile, they laid pavers. What a waste of good weed growing earth.  I did move some of the dug up dirt back onto its ground even though the pavers were there. Apparently, the staff thinks dirt on top of pavers is a bad thing. They keep sweeping my dirt off the pavers. Strange.

Once Dad went back to work, I went back as well. I got to meet two more veterans from the Vietnam War. 

Getting groomed for work.

My staff has a lot of fur to go through.
My fur collects burrs and they try to get rid of them.

Wolfhound veterans Gary Huber and Chaplain Carter Tucker
came to give a class on loss to Wolfhounds leaders.

Kolchak III's memorial marker or grave in the sidewalk outside D-quad.
That's his paw print and the inscription Nov 21. 56

Opposite Kolchak III's marker is this:
Nov. 21, 1956
Constructed by
M/Sgt. (Master Sergeant) Breward
                                     Nay
                                       Clark
                                                       Jarvis (or Jaris?)

I have some big paw prints to fill. I think I can do it.

It's like the Wolfhound Walk of Fame.

My mom and I can't get this to be straight. It's to show you
that I had some help to get these photos. I wasn't exactly sure
what I was supposed to do at first. Madeline helped me (made me).

Reward for jobs well done: run free in the baseball field.
I chased birds, hopped, skipped, jumped, and smiled!

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

When I stopped running on my own, my brother and sister kicked off
their slippers and ran with me. They chased me or ran along side of me.
I only trot when they run.
For all of their advancements, humans are sure slow creatures.

Even Dad got in on the action. I let him think I couldn't catch him.
Yeah, right...

I look like a bucking bronco in this shot!

My sister and I rest after my long day. I think she missed me. I know I missed her.
(I howled and whined all the way to work.)

This last Sunday was beach day for us.
Isabella and I were so dusty from laying pavers that we went to the beach since
we needed a bath anyway. Here I am relaxing by our stuff.
It's a dog day every day in Hawai'i.

As you can see, I swam.
Now I'm just looking cute while Mom reads.

Madeline thinks I make a great pillow.
A little bony, but very lovable pillow.

She's trying to convince me to dig in the sand.
The theory is to teach me to dig here instead of covering up the pavers.

Seriously? Do I look interested in digging a hole for which I have no use?

She says she loves me despite my refusal to dig.
Something about me being a brat too.

Since I won't dig to the cooler sand, Madeline decided to dig to it for me and
cover me with it. Perhaps she should consider this was my plan all along.
Lazy Borzoi need silly staff.

Ah... this is the life.
(There is a Kolohe Kai song by that name.)

Really? Still trying to get me to dig.

What did I hear? Birdies???

My new ginormous kennel. All four of us children fit!

Thank you Wolfhounds for my new, large, and very ventilated bed.
I don't need kenneling as often, but when I do, I will be cool and I can stretch out.
This kennel is not available in Hawai'i and shipping was cost-prohibitive so
we had to buy this and have it delivered to a mainland address.
A Wolfhound on leave to the mainland took it back to Hawai'i as luggage.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring me this deluxe "jail."  ;-)

My humorous two-legged sister named my bed:
Kolchak's Kozy Korner
(Kome in!)

Perspective on size... but I'm worth it!

This is my "love on me please" pose.
Usually I do this on someone's lap, but today I did it while Matt was cuddling me.

Boys like to make faces when they have their photo taken.
We two brothers are no exception.

This is my postcard shot from Poka'i Bay, my beach home.
As any good postcard says, "Wish you were here!"

Field Trip

My brother was assigned to do a report on a dog breed.  Guess what kind he picked?!?  ME!!!  Well, Borzoi really, but I was his inspiration.  Today Matthew presented his report and Mr. Santos, his teacher, invited me to come to the school so the class could meet a real live ME... er... um... Borzoi.  I went on a field trip to see my first classroom.

Aloha to Mr. Santos' 3rd - 5th grade class!
We're checking each other out first.

After cruising the classroom,
I've got to butter up the teacher so Matt gets a good grade.

Yawn, yawn. Matt enough talking about me.
When do they pet me?

You watch Matt. I watch you.

Sheesh... I've waited at least 3 minutes now.

Did you say smile?

Oh, good! Question time so I can roam around and meet everyone.
First this pretty girl that smells like... is that Spam?
There were many questions about Borzoi like how long do we live,
how fast do we run, and do we bite.  Mr. Santos asked how Matthew
got me in his family and he knew the Kolchak history as well as the Borzoi info.
Great job Matt!

Where did I go?
So many hands to pet me... dog Heaven!
(and Mom said I did very well)

Nothing but love for this Borzoi boy!
I love children and their smiles... and
the lunch crumbs left on their shirts.

More hugs, same boy.

PHEW!!!!  I'm home at last.
Fifteen minutes in a classroom and I'm exhausted.
I don't know how teachers do it.

Thank you, Mr. Santos, for letting me visit your class.  Thank you children for petting me.