Hearts in Hawai'i
A Tribute to Kimo (2016)
3/25/2025
These entries (and the ones on following blog entries) are mostly pulled from Facebook posts I made at that time.
Friday, January 1
How to start a new year--wake up, look down, see Kimo's face on my pillow a few inches away with an intent stare in his eyes. And then the "Good morning, human!" slurp across my nose. My Kimo/Human dictionary added new words today. He did a low, short "Roo" followed by an extending, sqeaking howl. Kimo's utterings are like snowflakes; no two are exactly alike.
Wednesday, January 6
As I'm talking to Patty tonight and channeling Lewis Black in a major way, Kimo comes over and starts licking me! He sensed my irritation and was trying to comfort me. I guess he got tired of waiting for Patty to lick me.
Tuesday, March 8
Why is it that Kimo insists on crapping in the least convenient spot? His old normal spot is all muddy now so I took him across the driveway, where he promptly climbed up what I call "Kimo's Bluff", a big pile of snow deposited by the snowplow, squatted and did his business. I had to make like Tenzing Norgay to retrieve the "product". Of course I was wearing my Crocs so that added to the pleasure
Wednesday, March 23
Photobombing, Kimo style: We had this nice sunrise so I grabbed my camera and composed what I thought would be the best shot. Just before I hit the shutter, Kimo climbed up on the coffee table and stuck his head on the outside of the frame. It actually made the shot better! So I took it.
Saturday, April 2
Kimo is in his semiannual full shedding. The good ladies at Bark Avenue bathed him this morning and apparently, when they turned on the air dryer afterward it looked like a little tan and brown snowstorm in the back room.
Monday, April 11
Kimo is not impressed with it being National Pet Day!
Wednesday, April 13
Kimo is off to "test" a local dog boarding place for the overnight. If it goes well, this will be his home while we vacation on Maui. It's weird not hearing dog paws rambling around here!
Thursday, April 14
Mixed results at Kimo's overnight boarding. He was okay, but one of the owners said "He wouldn't listen to me". Huh.
Saturday, April 16
"Munger Trail?"
(whine)
"Go for a walk?"
(whine whine)
"Go for a ride?"
(jumps up and licks my face)
Guess we're going for a ride to the Munger Trail and a walk 
Wednesday, April 20
I took it as a sign of progress the other day. Kimo went nose to nose (and then nose to butt) with the next door neighbor's Shih Tzu. She didn't freak out and after a short time, he lost interest.
In general, he has little regard for small dogs, but they're worth a good sniff from time to time.
Friday, April 22
It has been a process with Kimo. When we first got him, he never slept in the bedroom. Then he was allowed in the bedroom on weekends but not on the bed. The bedroom door was closed so he couldn't explore areas we didn't want him.
Now? He shares the bed every night. We leave the bedroom door open so he has access to the loft, but he never leaves the bedroom. He's even progressed to where he jumps off the bed when I first get in (he sleeps on my side if I'm not there); after waiting for me to get situated and cozy, he jumps back up and finds an open spot to curl up. He's a good boy that way.
Monday, May 2
Kimo wrenched another metal bar free on his cage tonight. Two bars in four years. He thinks there is hope. Too bad--we're buying a new cage tomorrow
Wednesday, June 8
Kimo has been sleeping closer to us lately. Last night he came up on the bed (about 1 a.m. or so) and I felt this breath on my face. Then a tongue. Then he plopped down between us and put his head on my pillow. After a while, he shifted and used Patty's pillow. Eventually he got too warm and jumped back off the bed.
This morning, same deal. He came up on the bed (almost always does this while Patty is in the bathroom preparing for work), put his head on my pillow and fell asleep with his mug inches from mine.
I think back to when he couldn't handle being this close to us and smile.
Saturday, July 9
Kimo had his first Pup Cup from Dairy Queen tonight. First he gently took the little biscuits from the cup and munched those. And then he licked the ice cream clean from the cup. The entire process took less than two minutes.
Friday, July 22
Kimo and I just met the new next door neighbors. Seems like a nice couple with a 20 month old child and a little ankle-biter dog. Kimo will probably sniff it and quickly lose interest. The dog, not the baby.
Sunday, July 31
Kimo got scrubbed up and his nails clipped yesterday down at Bark Avenue. The ladies really like him and he doesn't freak out anymore when getting clipped. They have a note in his "file" that he's an "escapist". They found this out two visits ago when he managed to wedge half his body out of the cage before getting caught. I told them he needs constant watching so he doesn't do his Houdini routine.
His latest new trick wasn't planned--I stood and held a Greenie between my teeth, and he jumped up and grabbed it out of my mouth. Leaving my nose intact, thankfully. Not sure I want to encourage him to do this; while retrieving him from Bark Avenue, he leaped before I could do the sit-stay-leave it-get it routine.
Monday, August 29
About an hour and a half without power. Kimo was confused--not by the lights suddenly going out but by us going to bed and not turning the fan on. Finally, he put his head on my elbow and tucked his snout under my chin. Cute little guy. And then the power came back on and he jumped off the bed.
Sunday, September 18
Kimo has to stop sneaking downstairs and laying on the couch when I'm in the kitchen having my nighttime snack. I didn't see him there (brown dog/brown couch/no living room lights on) so went upstairs after snacking and put the gate up, trapping him downstairs. Came out of my office after about a half hour to find him on the stairs looking at me with accusing eyes. Once released from his "prison", he jumped up on the bed and went "WoooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" at me. Best howl he's done in ages.
Wednesday, September 28
5 a.m.--Kimo coming unhinged at something while Patty has him out in the yard for his morning "business". Wakes me up. Patty brings him back in and I ask what's up. "There's a wolf outside" she says. "No shit?!". So I get dressed and go outside with a flashlight and a knife. (Hey, ya never know). I see something in the corner just resting there, not sure what it is. Doesn't look like a wolf. So I grab my car keys and back the car up, turning it to illuminate the object.
It's the grey cover from our air conditioner. (sigh)
No wonder it didn't make a move at Patty and Kimo
I wrestled the offending cover back into the garage--gotta secure it later with a bungie cord.
But Kimo always does this. He went gonzo at rolls of sod on a truck next to our house a few years ago. Anything not familiar to him gets a talking to.
Sunday, October 9
Who needs an alarm clock? Five times this morning, Kimo jumped up on the bed and slobbered on me. He's like a repetitive snooze alarm. Too bad I can't train him to do that at 6:00 on work days.
Tuesday, October 18
Kimo is spending more time at night sharing my pillow. No doubt he has an eye on one day taking it over. Last night he came up and sniffed my neck before plopping down with his muzzle against the back of my neck. A sigh. A snooze.
Friday, November 4
Kimo found a new friend today in the technician from Brent's Heating & Cooling who came to do annual maintenance on our furnace. Once I found out he wasn't canine-phobic and he said it was okay to let Kimo loose, out of the kennel he flew! He did the usual standoffish thing with the guy until he warmed up to him. Then he was a bit of a pain in the butt, bothering and sniffing the tech, trying to lick his tools, etc. By the end of the visit, the tech offered Kimo a treat, which Kimo loved. And then, of course, Kimo tried to jump up in his truck when he left. A good day for Kimo.
Monday, November 7
Kimo was sharing my pillow with me this morning (nice of him, considering I paid for it!), I got up to turn off the alarm, he took the rest of the pillow. And then grumbled at me in protest when I tried to claim a small piece of it.
Wednesday, November 9
It's amazing how Kimo senses our emotions and tries to help when he senses negative ones. He kept coming by the chair and licking my elbow last night as I was logging election results.
Monday, November 14
Next door neighbor has a lit reindeer in his yard. Kimo barked at it this morning. Good watchdog, never know when Donder and Blitzen are going to come crashing through the door and steal our shit.
Wednesday, November 16
Often wondered about this (story I read about people surrendering dogs), about Kimo's previous owner. Shelter said she gave him up because she "didn't have time for him". While I'm grateful that her selfishness became his and our gain, I wonder what goes on in the thought process of someone before they take on the responsibilities of a dog. What did she think she was buying, a piece of furniture??
Wednesday, December 7
During about half of our nights, Kimo comes all the way up to my pillow--for a while, until he gets too hot and has to move. I woke up two nights ago to find his muzzle tucked under my chin. Scratched him behind the ears, he let out that patented sigh of his, and we both fell asleep. Love.
Monday, December 12
Kimo has worked his way through the Merrick's Grain Free dog food lineup. Only two flavors are left--Real Salmon and Sweet Potato, and Real Lamb and Sweet Potato. I think he'll get the lamb next, then the salmon. He's had salmon before when he was on the Purina Pro Plan a few years ago, and liked it. But then, he has liked every dog food we've given him.
Tuesday, December 13
Kimo on his new (first) bed. We didn't want to make him wait until Christmas.
Friday, December 16
Kimo likes his new bed. He likes our bed better. Last night he jumped up just as I was settling in, and laid his head on my neck. I rolled over and he nestled his head into my chest, and fell asleep.
Friday, December 23
Kimo got to run around outside, jump into snowbanks, roll around on his back, and basically terrorize the yard. You know how the snow sometimes looks so pure, and untouched? Yeah, never happens here. Not when Sir Crapsalot gets done.
Sunday, December 25
Stepped outside with Kimo, got ice-blasted. When he goes outside, pees and then runs right back to the door, you know it's not nice out there.
Wednesday, December 28
How is it that a dog (Kimo, of course) who trips going up the stairs and wipes out on the carpet, can dance around the icy driveway like he's Nancy Kerrigan?
Previous: 3/24/2025--A Tribute To Kimo (2015)
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