Three Cheers For The Red, White, And Blue!

Happy 4th of July! I hope every animal and human is out having fun celebrating this great national holiday, Independence Day! Here is a special patriotic treat for all my furry, feathery, and scaly friends: 50 Animals Who Love America! You may notice that I am not included. I don't know why. I should be. Anywoof, for those who love music, please enjoy this appropriate July 4th song, "Ragged Old Flag," from the one and only Man in Black, Johnny Cash.

Let freedom ring! Or boom! While you are out having fun please don't forget that a lot of us animals do not like the loud booms and bangs of fireworks. So if you are shooting off firecrackers and/or attending a fireworks show, please be sensitive to your pet and the other animals around you. Take care to put your pets in a safe and secure place where they will be comfortable and where the noise of the fireworks will be at a minimum.

Today is also a good day to reflect that freedom is for ALL living creatures of Earth, not just human beings. We should all work together to guarantee that all animals and all humans are able to live freely, peacefully, and respectfully in this world. You can do your part by not supporting products that are tested on animals and not supporting companies that conduct research on animals. Buy cruelty-free products and if you eat meat, buy meat that has been humanely raised and slaughtered. Or hunt the meat yourself. Nothing says "I am a part of Nature" than hunting and gathering your own food. Unless you are hunting me, then I say head to the supermarket.

I would also like to make a special request that we add extra prayers and send strong healing thoughts to Mother Earth where she is bleeding oil. Our hearts are breaking not only for the devastation to Mother Earth - both the ocean and the land that have been destroyed by the oil - but for all of the living creatures (plant, animal, and human) that are suffering due to the catastrophic oil disaster. Let's put the Power of the Paws to good work!

Speaking of paw power, my paws are ready to take me on down near the grill, where I smell some pretty tasty meat cooking. If the grill happens to tip over I had nothing to do with it. I'm just sayin'...

Seven Things Unique About Me

My wonderfully fun, sweet, inquisitive, and wise friends, The White Dog Siku Marie and her bro-fur (or is that fur-bro?) the Might Quinn, and my very cool, fun, charming, and caring friends, The Clampets: Ernie, Sasha, and Chica, have graciously presented me with the Versatile Blogger award. Thank you Siku Marie and Mighty Quin! And thank you Ernie, Sasha, and Chica! I am very honored by this fun award! As a requirement of this award I am to list seven facts about myself. So, without further ado, below are the seven things unique about me!

1. I love riding in the car and have been on three multi-state road trips.

2. I love playing at the dog park. I get along with every pup and have been known to play for an hour straight without taking a break.

3. When my human, K, first adopted me she was told I hated cats and could never be around them. K does not know how I was before she adopted me, but from the day she brought me home I have never harmed any cat or bird! Yes, I love to chase them and tease them, but it is all in fun!

4. I love being touched, especially on my back, and especially back scratches. I have been known to walk up to strangers and rub against them so that they would scratch my back and pet me.

5. Porgy, K’s parrot, has bonded with me and will follow me around and make sure no one or nothing hurts me. Porgy gets a lot of human food so I have trained Porgy to drop what he doesn’t want so that I can eat it. I will often sit near Porgy while he eats so that he can just drop the food right to me. K gets mad and tells me to let Porgy enjoy his food, but Porgy understands that I need human food too!

6. My favorite thing is during walks with K when she kicks a little ball or stuffy so that I have to run and catch it, with K running behind me to get to the ball or stuffy first. Once one of us catches up to it, K will kick it again and we run and chase it again. It is such a fun game! We do this routine until one of us tires out. OK, we do this routine until K tires out. Which is usually pretty quickly.

and, last, but not least,

7. I love when K brushes me and tells me what a loving and good boy I am. I love my Pack!

Thanks again Siku Marie and Quinn, and Ernie, Sasha, and Chica! This was a fun award because it allows each recipient to describe things that are totally unique to them. I love learning how different and unique every animal and human is; there is so much variety in the World! Wouldn't it be a boring, flat World if we were all the same and we all had to think the same and be the same? Variety breeds creativity, and creativity breeds beauty. I also believe, however, that we should keep some things about us close to our hearts, and not share everything about ourselves to everyone. I think having a mysterious air about oneself is very cool. Mystery breeds imagination. Also, if you gave away every part of yourself, then what is left to remain special about you, for you? So, I don't give away too much of myself, except during shedding season, when lots of my fur drops off and goes away. I'm just sayin'...

Memorial Day

I have never been able to think of the day as one of mourning; I have never quite been able to feel that half-masted flags were appropriate on Decoration Day. I have rather felt that the flag should be at the peak, because those whose dying we commemorate rejoiced in seeing it where their valor placed it. We honor them in a joyous, thankful, triumphant commemoration of what they did. — Benjamin Harrison, 1833-1901, 23rd President of the United States of America

Decoration Day is the most beautiful of our national holidays…. The grim cannon have turned into palm branches, and the shell and shrapnel into peach blossoms. - Thomas Bailey Aldrich, 1836-1907

Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations, that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided Republic. — May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, 1826 - 1886

They are dead; but they live in each Patriot’s breast, And their names are engraven on honor’s bright crest. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882

And they who for their country die shall fill an honored grave, for glory lights the soldier’s tomb, and beauty weeps the brave. — Joseph Drake, 1795-1820

Are they dead that yet speak louder than we can speak, and a more universal language? Are they dead that yet act? Are they dead that yet move upon society and inspire the people with nobler motives and more heroic patriotism? — Henry Ward Beecher, 1813-1887

These heroes are dead. They died for liberty – they died for us. They are at rest. They sleep in the land they made free, under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows, and the embracing vines. They sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or of storm, each in the windowless Place of Rest. Earth may run red with other wars – they are at peace. In the midst of battle, in the roar of conflict, they found the serenity of death. I have one sentiment for soldiers living and dead: cheers for the living; tears for the dead. — Robert G. Ingersoll, 1833-1899

I wanted to go to a Memorial Day parade that honored all the dogs and other animals who have died in our Nation's service, but I could not find one! I think Memorial Day should honor all of the brave humans and all of the brave animals that have given their lives while in service to our Country. Those brave animals deserve recognition too! But, having Peace in the World would be the best! I am a dog for Peace! So, let's work together to end all wars and live in a World of Peace! I'm just sayin'...

Bath

I come from an ancient breed of dog, thousands of years old and believed to be the oldest breed on the North American continent. In fact, both bone and ivory carvings, dating at 12,000 and 20,000 years old, have been found which depict my ancestors much as we are today. Five hundred years ago my kin were hunting polar bears and other Arctic mammals for food. In 2010 I am sitting in a tub, to be shampooed and conditioned. Conditioner on a dog! Oh, the caninity! What would my proud, strong, ancestors think? Conditioner. I'm just sayin'...

Fearless

"Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself makes you fearless." - Lao Tzu

When the sun’s rays beam down from the sky and warmth fills the air, Porgy is allowed outside to hang with us dogs (Silvius and I). Usually Porgy will perch on the back deck, because that is my main haunt. Sometimes, though, I like to hang out in the yard, just to check out what is going on or to sleep in the coolness of the grass. When I am out in the yard Porgy has no reason to remain on the deck, so he will either fly up to a tree and munch on bark or he will climb down the deck steps and walk into the red shed. I don't know what he is looking for in the red shed, but I have told him to stay out because of the snakes that slither nearby and other bird-eating creatures. That does not deter Porgy, however, because Porgy is fearless (like Jet Li in his amazing movie “Fearless” and like Tony Jaa in his excellent movies, "Ong Bak" and "The Protector").

Porgy does not back down to bullies, a bit like this cool dog, Louk, also known as The Greek Protest Dog and Riot Dog. Sadly, Louk is homeless but he does have many humans who care for him and protect him, and he returns the favor by helping them defend their liberty. Louk puts his life on the line fighting the good fight. In a way Porgy also puts his life on the line because he will not let a possible predator keep him from living life. Porgy is skilled in the art of self defense, so if any animal tries to mess with Porgy then said animal is on the receiving end of Parrot Claw Fist or Iron Beak.

Porgy isn't the only one with cool martial art moves. I, myself, have been creating my own martial art, although I have yet to name it. Perhaps Qi Suka Do or Suka Ki Do. Or Kung Suka. It is very hard work mastering a martial art but I can already notice my posture improving and my tail becoming stronger. Before you know it, I will be able to do the One Paw Standing exercise! It will take many moons before I achieve the level of Black Collar, but in the meantime, if those Ninja Cats or Kung Fu Bunnies try any funny stuff I can at least surprise attack with Hungry Tiger Paw Form or Fire Dragon Tail Form. Just call me Sifu Suka. I'm just sayin'...

Sneaky Snake

Malamutes rarely bark, so when my human, K, heard me playfully barking the other day she knew something was up. I had found a snake slithering around by the shed and wanted to play with him, but the snake just kept hissing and sticking his tongue out at me. Rather immature, I thought. Anyway, when K finally made it out to investigate she told me to leave the snake alone so it could go home. I pretended to do so, but as soon as K went back inside I was back at the snake and managed to grab him and flip him into the yard. K heard me playfully barking again and when she came back outside she saw me standing over the snake in the yard. Busted! She was none too pleased as the snake had some injuries due to my roughhousing, and she had not wanted the snake to get hurt. K found a big stick and managed to carry the snake out to the end of the yard. The snake looked dead and he did not move at all, and that upset K. But I think the snake was just playing dead to try to get me into more trouble. I certainly did not mean to hurt the slithery guy, if he in fact did get hurt. I had only wanted to play. Later in the day both K and I ventured back to where K had laid the snake and he was gone, so hopefully he slithered away and did not get eaten by some other creature in the yard. K referenced her handy-dandy snake guide and found that the snake was a garter snake, which are completely harmless. And completely boring, as they don't play with dogs.

Aside from the fun I had trying to play with the snake I learned some devastating news earlier this week. One of my dearest, coolest doggy friends had passed away on 12 April 2010. Scuba was one of the four Desert Pups, who were a wild and fun bunch of pups that brought much laughter and excitement into my life, and the lives of many other blog-o-sphere dogs. Scuba was Top Dog of the Desert Pups and led the Pack as they threw incredibly wild parties and took thrilling road trips. Scuba even hung out with the Royals at Buckingham Palace! Scuba was a beautiful pup full of life, adventure, and love. She will truly be missed, and my heart aches that she is gone. Godspeed Scuba!

And now for something that will put a wag in your tail and give you happy tapping paws: Numa Numa.

Although I am a multilingual dog I am a bit rusty on my Romanian. However, I am almost positive that "Numa Numa" translates to "Suka Suka." That would explain why the song always brings such cheer to those who hear it. I'm just sayin'...

May Day! May Day!

The night-winds come and go, mother, upon the meadow-grass, And the happy stars above them seem to brighten as they pass; There will not be a drop of rain the whole of the livelong day, And I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May. All the valley, mother, ’ill be fresh and green and still, And the cowslip and the crowfoot are over all the hill, And the rivulet in the flowery dale ’ill merrily glance and play, For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May. So you must wake and call me early, call me early, mother dear, To-morrow ’ill be the happiest time of all the glad New-year; To-morrow ’ill be of all the year the maddest merriest day, For I’m to be Queen o’ the May, mother, I’m to be Queen o’ the May.

(excerpted from Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The May Queen,” circa 1833)

No, I am not in distress, although it does look like I am being swallowed by a field of hungry grass! I just thought I would have some fun with the name of today's holiday, so I hope I did not scare anyone. I was in the field hunting for some animals dancing around the Maypole, as I wanted to celebrate and join in the festivities. Alas, I found no Maypoles and no dancing animals, or humans for that matter. But I am sure somewhere in the World there was a May Day celebration of fun!

I am excited to be able to blog today and say "WOOF!" to every pup/kitty/animal/human! I have really missed blogging, as it is my only form of creative outlet, apart from my expressive nightly howling. When I don't blog all that creativity inside of me has no place to go, so I nap a lot. Or draw stick dogs in the dirt. I have especially missed visiting all of my friends so I will be very busy this week sniffing my way around the blog-o-sphere and getting all caught up. I hope all the news this past month has been good and happy! Sadly, one of my blogging friends lost her beautiful dog of 10 years, Henry, last week. I unfortunately never met Henry, but have read of him on his mom's blog and from seeing his photos and looking into his Soulful eyes I can tell that he was a very sweet, loving, and gentle doggy and Soul. Henry will be missed greatly, but I know he is playing happily over the Rainbow Bridge waiting for the time when he will see his loving family again!

I hope no one missed me too much! Since things are still not settled for my human my blogging will be sporadic for a while. If some of you are experiencing Suka-withdrawal symptoms, such as: fur loss, excessive drooling, constant scratching, and/or barking at the neighbors for no apparent reason, then please let me know so I can guilt my human into letting me blog more often. I can also send you a pawtographed Suka photo, since it has been scientifically proven that looking at me every day takes the awful Suka-withdrawal symptoms away. I'm just sayin'...

Happy Easter!

"Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Spanish Student: A Play in Three Acts (1840)

"Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hopping' down the bunny trail, Hippity, hoppity, Easter's on its way. Bringing' every girl and boy Baskets full of Easter joy, Things to make your Easter bright and gay." Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter Day, and may it be filled with much beauty, warmth, and love! And yummy treats from Peter Cottontail (or the Easter Beagle!). And I truly hope that this Spring season sees happiness spreading throughout the hearts of all, and new beginnings of kindness, goodness, integrity, peace, and love blossoming around the World.

I stayed up all night in the hopes of catching the Easter Bunny and having myself a nice Easter Sunday breakfast, but no such luck. I suppose it is a good thing, though, because had I caught and eaten the Easter Bunny then K would not have had an Easter basket full of chocolate treats when she woke up, and K without chocolate is not a happy K!

I want to thank all of you who shared your ideas with K and I on where we should move. There are so many exciting and beautiful places in the U.S. to consider, so it has been a difficult decision for K to make. If I could, I would have a dog house in every State and Country so I could visit and play with all of my blogging friends. I think a nomadic lifestyle would suit me just fine! Alas, that dream is on hold until I win the lottery. Or get a Patron. I'm just sayin'...

Since I'm Gone

Since I’m gone, the nights are gettin' strange since I’m gone. Well, nothing's makin' sense since I’m gone. And the moonlight ain't so great since I’m gone. But now I am back! Albeit just for a little while. We have to move. Soon. I know I have woofed about us moving before, pawing how K was looking for a house with a fenced yard in a State that we could both enjoy. But, as usual, K procrastinated and now she is under a lot of pressure and time is quickly running out. So, K has been spending a lot of time looking for work and for a place to move, and as much as I have been woofing at her to let me blog, because I miss all of my blogging friends so very much, she just does not have the time to give up the computer for me to blog. She said the next month or two will be very difficult and I won’t be able to blog hardly at all, but once we move and get settled then I can go back to my blogging schedule. So, I hope my blogging friends understand. I miss woofing and barking and howling with all of you, and I especially miss reading about all of your adventures, but I guess sometimes life just takes a turn that we don’t anticipate and you have to adjust. Sometimes it is a nerve-racking adjustment, such as what K is experiencing now, and sometimes it is a terrific adjustment, like what I am experiencing today. You see, it seems like just yesterday that it was sunny and in the 60s and I was playing in the mud puddles. Oh wait, that was yesterday! And now today I have beautiful, lovely, gorgeous snow!! I think God loves me! It was awfully warm during my walk yesterday, and I was daydreaming about the cold Winter days gone by. Then today I am blessed to be jumping and running and rolling in the cold wonderful fluffy white stuff. And on the day of Spring Equinox! How cool is that?! So, as K once shared with me, be like water when navigating through the twists and turns of life. As the great Martial Art Master Bruce Lee once said,

"Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend."

If a boulder is blocking your path in life then flow around it, like water in a rocky stream. Don’t fight against it. Be soft, yet strong. Be persistent. Be patient. Or, as I like to think, be like snow. Be fluffy, soft, and your own unique flake. Fall lightly and land delicately. Cover the boulder, don’t let it cover you. Mostly, be flexible, because sometimes life is a rock, so don’t let it rollover you. And at end of your rainbow, you may find your dreams come true. Or a huge meaty bone. Which you would then give to me. I’m just sayin’…

Humility Is A Virtue

Cocorue, a dear sweet dog with a heart of gold who hails from the beautiful country of Malaysia, has presented me with the lovely "Beautiful Blogger" award. *blush I have been called many things in my life, but being called "beautiful" is certainly one of my favorites. Followed closely behind by "gorgeous," "stunning," "spectacular," "magnificent," and "breathtaking." I am honored to be the recipient of this most apt award. Thank you Cocorue! I was so thrilled to receive this award that I did not have time to prepare a speech. OK, actually I did have time to prepare but I have been busy lounging in the warm rays of the sun these past few days. I must continue to look my very best and the sun makes me look radiant!

Now that my beauty has been officially recognized I decided it was time to put together a portfolio. I had my human, K, take some snapshots of me but as you can see they are less than perfect. The first is me under the almost-full Walapana moon, which means "windy big moon" in Hopi language (Hopitu Shinumo). A bit off center for my liking and I think I look a tad too stiff. For the next three photos I decided upon a very scenic spot next to a creek, since it was one of the few places left with wonderful snow. Unfortunately, K made me look as if my head were holding up the tilting tree. I was none too pleased. But, we have another photo shoot scheduled for later in the week and I am sure those photos will turn out much better. K has been mumbling that I have been acting like I am "all that, and then some" since receiving the "Beautiful Blogger" award, and that my looks have gone to my head. I woofed to her that she was exaggerating my behaviour and that I am the same sweet, delightful, and enchanting Suka she has always known and loved. I then informed her that I will no longer get out of my doghouse for less than 10 meaty treats a day. I'm just sayin'...