Hearts in Hawai'i
A Tribute to Kimo (2018)
3/27/2025
These entries (and the ones on following blog entries) are mostly pulled from Facebook posts I made at that time.
Saturday, January 13
A relaxed dog!
Wednesday, January 17
Damn Kimo. I put a dental treat for him on the counter, got a brownie for me, went to put the brownie container back, heard a munching. He wanted the brownie more than he wanted the dental treat (bacon flavored, no less!). Little shit. Sir Chewsalot strikes again.
Saturday, February 3
Last night, I was talking to my brother on the phone. Kimo came up and started whining and growling at the TV. This interested me, considering the TV wasn't on--he was growling at a black screen!
And then I realized, he was looking at my reflection on the screen. I was wearing white sox with my feet up on my computer table, idly wagging one foot back and forth. *That* was what caught his eye!
When he barked at my white clad feet, I put them down.
You think you know everything your dog is capable of because you've had them for 5+ years, and then there is this.
Tuesday, February 6
We got the Kong Bounzer and the Kong Wobbler today. It took Kimo a few minutes to figure out how to get his food out of the Wobbler--basically, knock it silly. Once he got the technique down, he was all over the kitchen with the thing until his dinner was finished. It took about fifteen minutes.
While the Wobbler is functional in that it keeps him from woofing his food too quickly, the Bounzer is pure fun. He loves playing keepaway, loves the softer texture of it (compared to his other two Kong toys), and likes playing tug-o-war with us.
Both are excellent purchases, and were less than $10 each.
Wednesday, February 7
Fun time with his Kong Bounzer. At one point, he went to dodge around me. I moved over quickly, expected him to cut back to the other side. He must have thought "The old human can't move that fast" because he ran into my shin. Head first. "Shit, that's gonna leave a mark!" I exclaimed, after the throbbing in my leg subsided.
But at least he dropped the Bounzer. I win. Until I try to walk tomorrow.
Sunday, February 11
Kimo and I watched a good portion of the Masters Agility Championships from Westminster today. He enjoyed huffing, growling and barking at the competitors.  After that, grabbed his Bounzer and shook it for awhile.
Tuesday, February 20
Patty and I discussing the weather at 5:30 a.m. and whether she should drive in to work. Got interrupted twice by a loud, long Kimo howl. Three meanings:
1. Hey, let's play!
2. I just took a big dump (sort of like #1)
3. Dad, you know I hate when you sound serious!
There could be a #4: "Where did you hide my Bounzer?"
P.S. She's staying home. Everybody wins
Thursday, April 5
Vet day for Kimo and his annual check up. He's 56 pounds and could stand to lose a couple. Two lumps checked out, blood drawn, both benign. Dr. Lisa kept commenting on his strength--I guess I'm just used to it. Got his heart worm pills and flea & tick treatments purchased so he's good for another year. The assistant learned our "shake....other paw" he does in order to get a treat so he did the same for her. Smart boy...when he wants something.
Wednesday, May 2
I hear a scratching on my office chair mat and realize it's Kimo's paws doing the dream dance. Sure enough, a few seconds later comes the "Hoof-hoof......hoof-hoof........HOOF-HOOF-HOOF!"
I hope it was a good dream for him.
Friday, May 25
(After a three-week trip to Maui)
Kimo went NUTS when he saw us! Susan said he minded well and got along great, playing with the other dogs. He was a little aggressive at first, but soon found his mojo and was a good boy after that.
We're waiting for him to settle back in again. That first howl will be his "Yo, I'm back!!" declaration.
Thursday, May 31
It should surprise no one that the first pic I posted from my new Nikon D750 camera was of my favorite subject!
Saturday, June 2
Looking a bit suspicious of my motives!
Friday, June 22
I was hoping that Kimo's Kong Bounzer was tougher than it looked. It wasn't. He bit several small pieces out of it last night.
Too bad--we had a lot of fun with this in the few weeks he had it.
This morning I heard him happily growling away at himself in the loft while I was in bed. I slapped my thigh twice and felt him jump up on the bed a few seconds later. Then that "Top of the morning, Dad!" slurp across my face.
It beats an alarm clock.
Saturday, August 4
Six years ago this amazing doggo came into our lives, courtesy of Chequamegon Humane Society in Ashland.
Thursday, August 23
Coming home to find an overly excitable Kimo, it's best not to get down on my knees to greet him. Still cleaning the slobber off my face and glasses.
Friday, August 24
Favorite thing about Kimo (today, at least): When I'm scratching him and I stop, he looks up at me with those pleading brown eyes as if to say "What, done already??"
Least favorite thing about Kimo: He tries to hump my family! (but then, it's kind of funny how he wraps his front legs around whatever he's feeling "affectionate" toward in an attempt to get a better purchase on his subject)
Saturday, August 25
Kimo was standing on the carpet looking up at me and wagging his tail as I was sitting on the couch.. He jumped up and promptly puked all over my lap and the couch.
I don't recall him ever wagging his tail before throwing up before.
I mean, what the hey?????
Sunday, August 26
Kimo wishing everyone a happy National Dog Day!
Saturday, September 22
Kimo aka Houdini broke out of his cage tonight while we were out eating dinner at the Golden Inn. The only things he did were to munch the half eaten bag of popcorn I was saving on the end table for tonight, and trash my upstairs garbage can because I didn't have the closet door shut. When we were unlocking the front door and he barked, I thought "Damn, did he learn to throw his voice? Sounds like he's right inside the door!" And there he was, looking like he was actually proud of himself. When I scolded him, he talked back to me with a series of howls. Cute.
Wednesday, October 24
I got an email from our vet about not stressing out our pets during Halloween.
Kimo wasn't stressed. He jumped up on the couch, tore the gorilla mask off my head and ran away with it.
Saturday, November 10
Kimo is nothing if not territorial. Charlie, the neighbor's lab, was unleashed (owner nearby) in our yard this morning when Patty let Kimo out to do his business. Kimo growled, but Charlie is such a chill dog, he just looked at him. They ended up sniffing each other. The owner was apologetic "Sorry, I didn't know anybody would be out this early!".
Huh. Well, you were. Why wouldn't another dog owner be? But they're cool people and Patty is sort of my opposite when it comes to that type of thing.
Kimo makes it clear to all who dare encroach. "Get. Off. My. Lawn." Rather like Walt in the movie Gran Torino.
Tuesday, November 20
Happy 7th Birthday, Kimo!
Starting to show his age with a slight stoop when he sits
Wednesday, November 21
We had to move Kimo's kennel upstairs to make room for the expanded dining room table for Thanksgiving. He's all confused now. When I tell him "kennel", he runs downstairs and stands in the corner of the dining room where his kennel usually is. So "kennel" isn't an object to him, it's a location. He won't get anywhere near the kennel now that it's upstairs. A Greenie will work in the morning, I'll bet.
Kimo had his bottom tray completely pushed out of his kennel by the time Patty got home from work this afternoon. I don't think he likes his alternate kennel spot. She just caught him curled up in her EZ chair; that's the first time he's done this! It's like I told her, "he took over the house one piece of furniture at a time". Waiting to catch him in my office chair with his legs stretched out on my computer table (it's how I chill when watching TV up here)
He didn't like the tone of our voices an hour ago when we were discussing an "issue", so he interjected a howl. Like he's some kind of referee. (It worked! We shut up)
Just another day of Life With Kimo aka Little Baby Kimo.
Friday, November 23
Houdini broke out of his cage this morning while Patty and I were gone for a couple hours. The top latch apparently wasn't latched so he just sort of squeezed his way out the cage door. No damage done! The only thing we could see he did was to drank toilet water from the downstairs bathroom.
Wednesday, December 19
Kimo needs surgery. That small lump on his upper back was biopsied and found benign last April. Since then, it's grown and solidified--it's still benign but his vet recommends removal due to concerns it could rupture. She took some fluid out of it today--ugly looking stuff! So he goes in next week for day surgery. It'll be in the morning so he won't have to spend the night there.
He also has some yeast collected in his ears. She pulled quite a chunk out of his right ear so we have drops which we have to give him in both ears twice a day for a week.
One final thing--he's becoming a fattee. At 58 pounds, he should be 50 so less treats and a lot more exercise. I thought he was quite the chunk last week when I picked him up. I'm calling him Sir Blimps a Lot for now.
Friday, December 21
Kimo got his Christmas present early! He had the middle section left over from one Patty had found at some rummage sale a couple years ago, still fairly intact (two rubber spikes had been chewed off). When he saw this new one, he was "somewhat" excited, whining and growling until I left him alone with it. From reviews, the rope part will soon be chewed apart, at which point we'll leave him the middle section. He likes to taunt us with it and will jump on it whenever he gets excited and sees it sitting unattended on the carpet.
Wednesday, December 26
Just as a winter storm was bearing down on Duluth which would eventually dump 15” of snow, Patty brought him in for day surgery. I picked him up after work late that afternoon and was shocked when I saw him. They had shaved a big area on his upper back and he had a six inch incision which was stitched up! We were given two pain killers to give him—one was in pill form to be given twice a day for five days, one was in liquid form to be squirted into his mouth after breakfast for the next four mornings.
Kimo was fairly miserable that night and early the next morning, whining and in obvious discomfort. The pain meds helped—to an extent. I stayed home from work on Thursday and Friday so I could keep an eye on him. By Thursday afternoon he was doing much better.
Thursday, December 27
Kimo has stopped his whining and is slowly getting back to normal, with the exception of his being a little off-kilter due to his painkillers. The swelling adjacent to the incision has decreased. It was a rough night and rough early morning followed by a much better day!
Friday, December 28
Kimo just gave me one of his "C'mon, let's play!" howls, so I took him out in the snow where he attacked a snowbank. He's doing great today!
Sunday, December 30
Kimo got the last of his liquid syringe painkillers this morning. Although it was honey flavored, he didn't like me coming anywhere near him with the thing. But the doofus kept going into his kennel where he was easily cornered. You'd think he would learn. Every time he takes something he's not supposed to have, I say "Go kennel" and in he goes where Patty or I get back what he pilfered.
There are only two more pill doses for him to take.
He keeps trying to scratch--he can't reach the stitches but he's redenned the area nearby. We're going to tie a T-shirt around him so he can't reach the area. We're hoping the itching goes away once the stitches are removed in eleven days, but that's still a long ways off.
Sunday, December 31
Kimo just had his last pain meds. He's getting the first stubble of fur growing back over his shaved area. Will call the vet this morning to see what she thinks of his itching and scratching the surgical site.
Previous: 3/26/2025--A Tribute To Kimo (2017)
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