Hearts in Hawai'i
A Tribute to Kimo (& Kona) (2023)
4/1/2025
These entries (and the ones on following blog entries) are mostly pulled from Facebook posts I made at that time.
Sunday, January 1
The Squeaky Egg Game was one I've always played with Kimo, involving his favorite toy, a rubberized egg which squeaks when pressed! Man, he has always loved this thing. The game has generally consisted of me sitting on the carpet in the loft and playing hide-and-seek with the egg. After that, I'll start holding it behind my back on either side until he runs after it, usually banging into me in the process (in Kimo's world, the shortest distance between two points involves running through me!) We've always had fun with this game.
I started involving Kona in the game a month or so ago. The first couple times we played, she didn't know what to expect and basically stood there while Kimo knocked her out of the way en route to the egg. Not much fun for her!
She has learned--quickly--and is now more aggressive in the pursuit than Kimo. And now, it's progressed to where I can't play this game with them any more. Too much risk! When one isn't charging at it and trying to wrench it free from my grasp, the other one is. It's almost like they had a meeting and coordinated their attack! They just got done banging me around a little. With my sore rib cage and shoulder from Kona's attempted getaway yesterday on the snowy driveway, I feel my age. And then some.
Monday, January 2
Kona: "Hey Kimo, look who's in your chair!"
Kimo: "Hey Kona, look whose paw is in your ass!"
Red Forman approves
Wednesday, January 4
They don’t normally sleep butt to butt like this!
When Kona walks over to my office chair and puts her head on my thigh, the message is clear (if I'm not eating): "Neck scratches, please!". Her eyes actually close if I do this long enough.
Thursday, January 5
A new nighttime ritual now happens before Patty goes to bed--she brings Kona into my home office before heading into the bedroom with Kimo. Thing is, it's not Kona's first choice! Tonight she ran into the bedroom and jumped up on our bed. After getting her off the bed, she simply ran around and jumped up on the other side!
She knows where she's supposed to go. She just likes to test us. After getting her off the bed (a second time) and out into the loft, Kona then jumped up on my side of the love seat! FINALLY, she found her way into my office.
I swear, it's like trying to get a little kid to go to bed!
In about an hour or so, she'll retire to the downstairs kennel but that will take another protracted effort.
Thursday, January 12
Nuzzling Baby Girl Kona
Wednesday, January 18
Kona loves being in bed with us at night--it's tough getting her downstairs and into her kennel. I put her in there last night and she just curled up against the back of the cold plastic flooring. The only animal happy about this is Kimo because he gets his pick of where to sleep!
She hasn't had an accident in a few months, mainly because we're pretty attuned to her schedule by now, but hopefully because she finally understands that you don't shit where you live! I think that she'll soon be in the bed with us full time. The only downside is that she likes to stretch out on MY side with her paws and claws facing MY body! I'd put this to a vote but am pretty sure it would be a 90/10 (at least) spread in favor of me sleeping on the couch. Patty would possibly concur
Thursday, January 19
Buddies!
Saturday, January 21
C’mon, where’s supper? Kona is looking at the counter where her Kong Wobbler is placed, Kimo is looking toward the dining room table where his Wobbler is waiting
Here Kona is giving me that look of suspicion she is well known for 
Monday, January 23
Me at 8 p.m. "Kona needs to get kenneled at about 9:00 (in my best stern dad voice)
Me at 9 p.m. "Oh, she looks so sweet sprawled out on my pillow! Okay, one more night"
I'm a softie and they both know it
Saturday, January 28
Kona doesn't understand icy surfaces yet! She came down from the "Highlands" after doing her business and decided to launch herself down the last several feet in order to clear a small snowbank at the bottom of the hill. She hit the icy driveway, wiped out on her chest and slid a bit. None the worse for wear, she bounced back up with a "I meant to do that" look, grabbed an ice chunk and started mauling it ❤️
Thursday, February 2
Guess who wants some of my egg scramble? (But isn't getting any) ❤️
Saturday, February 4
Chillin' doggos!
Tuesday, February 14
Let Kona outside to do a little late business at about 9:30. She took one step out from under the porch roof, raised her paw and then ran back into the garage. And that was that. As much as Kimo relishes the inclement weather, Kona isn't a fan
Wednesday, February 15
Kimo is reliving his youth today. In the past two hours he has:
1. Attempted to ravage my office garbage can (ha ha, I emptied it yesterday, sucks to be you!)
2. Knocked a bowl of grated Parmiggiano cheese off the counter, breaking the bowl and wasting the cheese
3. Ran off with the TV remote.
What the hell? He's making Kona look like the adult dog.
Monday, February 20
It's national love your pet day! Our two fur babies we dearly love.
Wednesday, February 22
Kimo: "Hey Kona, here is how you beg!" (puts his head on my thigh and looks up at me with those brown eyes)
Kona: "Wrong Kimo, THIS is how you do it!" (jumps up in my lap and sniffs my face)
I think Kona's game is to get as close to my mouth as possible when I'm eating
Thursday, February 23
Just over a year post-Kona adoption:
Me: Are you glad we rescued her?
Patty: Yeah but she's a little crazy sometimes
Me: Remember Kimo at that age?
Patty: Oh...yeah
Friday, March 3
Resting after Friday Night Wrestling with Kimo
Saturday, March 4
Kona's limping somewhat tonight! She was involved in play with Kimo this afternoon when Patty heard her yelp. She had been pestering him and he was having a day where he pretty much wanted to be left alone.
Did that back her off? Nah.
I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning. If not, we'll assess and see what's hurting.
Tuesday, March 14
That limp Kona developed? It was bad last night when I led her from the bedroom downstairs to her kennel. This morning it was completely gone. It might be the way she sleeps and it causes her leg to fall asleep! I just had her outside and she was running around like her normal crazy, goofy self
Thursday, March 16
Look, I don't blame Kona for wanting to stay in bed--it's warm and soft there! So when I got her off the bed tonight, intent on getting her downstairs and into her kennel, first she played dead. So I put her on the carpet and she got up, trotting toward the stairs. "Kewl, she's listening!".
Nope. She ran past the stairway, paused at the loveseat (she likes to snooze there from time to time) and then trotted into my home office, next to the DVD case she uses as a pillow.
Got her out of the office, and she ran back into the bedroom and jumped up on the bed right next to Patty! If she could talk, it would have sounded something like "Help Mom, Dad's trying to get me into that cold kennel again!" (Yeah, right, 72 degrees cold)
Patty heard and then felt her body slumping against her and laughed. I hauled her (not Patty, Kona!) off the bed and this time she slowly crept downstairs in bummed resignation of her fate
But hey, she got a treat out of it! She always gets a treat for going into her kennel.
Kids
Monday, March 27
Kona's annual vet visit went well. She's 44 lbs of nearly all muscle. Very friendly with all the staff, constant tail wagging. They took an x-ray of her left front leg because of the occasional limp she's developed and diagnosed her with arthritis! So she has liquid medication for discomfort when it flares up. Poor girl! The doc wanted to know if she plays rough and I burst into laughter before explaining what her play sessions with Kimo are like.
On the whole, she's a healthy, happy girl who now loves the vets office because there are treats! Yep, motivated much the same as Kimo
Saturday, April 1
Spoiled much?
Sunday, April 9
Happiness is watching your 11-year-old dog get the zoomies. With Kona in the kennel due to Tyrant Behavior, Kimo decided to show her what an energetic outburst looks like. Running up and down the stairs, doing his patented spins in the loft while growling happily to himself, that telltale single bark he does at me when I walk into the loft to investigate, all that stuff. Sometimes he can still be quite the Meth Lab!
Wednesday, April 12
Kimo holding the Kong in his mouth while Kona is outside with Patty
“You gonna play Kong with Kona, Kimo?” And I giggled at the alliteration
Sometimes I amuse too easily
Thursday, April 27
Sleepy boy!
Thursday, May 4
Starting this morning, Patty is letting Kona have access to the bedroom before leaving for work. Better behavior=more perks!
Kimo was not a fan. Kona jumped up on the bed and settled in on the spot Kimo usually takes in the morning. He jumped up a few seconds later and stared at her like "What the hell are YOU doing in MY spot!", then tried to settle in among Patty's pillows. This lasted only a minute before, disgusted, he jumped off our bed, retreating to his bed.
Po' baby.
Friday, May 5
Trying to stay awake!
Sunday, May 7
Kona turns 2 today! Many thanks to Northern Lakes Rescue for helping put this sweet girl in our lives!
Friday, May 12
Kona couldn't be bothered to come all the way up on the couch tonight before falling asleep with her head on my stomach. Back paws still on the carpet ❤️ But eventually came all the way up on the couch, curling up and falling back asleep. Was she tired? Nah, just recharging her batteries as I found out about two seconds after Patty returned home.
Wednesday, May 17
When you're with your doggo day after day, you don't pay much attention to the very gradual aging. This happens over years but it has never been a thing where I look at Kimo and say "Shit, you're old!" Others who don't see him often notice it, of course, such as when my brother said last month "Wow, he's getting grey". Or when the lady at Bark Avenue told him when we brought him in for a bath/nail clipping "Get in here, old man!" (teasingly, of course)
But when I compare a picture of Kimo when he was 1 year old to how he is now at 11 1/2, I certainly see it. His best years are behind him--hopefully he has good years left. We'll see to this as best we can.
On the bright side, he still brings the WWF moves to his sister on nearly a daily basis!
Friday, May 26
Saturday's To Do List:
1. Retrieve the dogs
2. Play with the dogs
3. Pet, scratch and rub the dogs
It's been eight days since they were boarded prior to our Door County trip. We miss our furbabies! It will be interesting to see how they did with each other and specifically how Kona did with other dogs. I believe she did fine, being the well-adjusted doggo she is.
Saturday, May 27
Kimo went slightly nuts when I went to pick them up at the kennel, Kona wanted to counter surf. Randy said "You got a couple good dogs there" and that while Kimo was a little standoffish (well, he's got Chow Chow in him!) Kona played great with all the dogs she encountered.
Happy they're home! After a brief play fight when they got in the house, Kona is now sound asleep under my computer table while Kimo is zonked out on my home office carpet
Tuesday, May 30
Kona had her first walk on the Munger Trail this past weekend! Oh man, she needs a lot of training. But was okay on the trip back, pretty much loose leash. She had a tendency to walk in front of me and then suddenly slow down. I think she's just trying to get me to hurt myself so she can tell Kimo the story later and share a good laugh with him.
Wednesday, May 31
Another walk with Kona today but only about a mile. I felt the Munger Trail pavement and it was a bit hot so we walked back on the grass alongside the trail. She didn't seem to mind but I didn't want to chance it. Tomorrow's hike will be on the DWP Trail off Skyline Blvd, which is a dirt trail. We'll do this hike earlier--I also need to bring along our collapsible water bowl so she can drink up along the way! My calf is withstanding these hikes very well so hoping to get at least two miles tomorrow morning.
Saturday, June 3
Had a nice, somewhat short hike of 1.2 miles on the DWP Trail this morning with Baby Girl Kona. Encountered two humans and one dog. The dog didn't seem too interested in Kona but that didn't stop Kona from doing the Tractor Pull trying to get to her!
Thursday, June 8
I asked Kona recently "Why can't you be more like Kimo when he was your age?" And this post from 6/8/13 reminds me that she's being EXACTLY like Kimo was at her age:
The Great Adventures of Kimo: While trying to work with my latest photo images on the PC, Kimo got his front paws up on my legs and was trying to lick my armpit (apparently he likes Old Spice Sweat Defense Fresh scent). He was looking at my table as though there was food I'd forgot about. I said "Kimo, there is NO food for you up here!". His response was to lay a huge wet lick across my chin, mouth, teeth and nose. Blech.
Monday, June 19
Nail clipping for the doggos at Bark Avenue this morning, anal sacs expressed for Kona. I thought she would react strongly to this (as Kimo had) but she showed nary an expression! Such a good girl. Even Kimo was fairly tame although he didn't want to let Robin take one of his paws for clipping. Such a baby
Here Kona is goofing off with their Kong
Thursday, June 29
Resting up after playing with Old Man Kimo
Wednesday, July 5
Both doggos got to meet the sofa delivery dudes. Kimo did his usual interpretation of Walk Kowalski's "Get off my lawn", while Kona displayed a tentative yet curious attitude.
Thursday, July 20
Interesting pose! And she has a bit of the manic look Kimo used to show in his youth.
Tuesday, July 25
I found out today that making a certain popping sound with my mouth makes Kona go a little crazy. First she tried to jump up on me while I was standing outside (hell, she was trying to jump OVER me!) and when I did this to her in bed tonight, she flew off the bed and into a spasm of zoomies which lasted until I could calm her down a bit.
Patty was not amused by my new found "Hey, check out Kona when I do this!" thing 🤣
I thought she was tired out from an extended play session with Kimo! That girl has the kind of energy I probably had when I was six.
Wednesday, July 26
Captain Shredderator (a BattleBots reference there for ya) decided that the new box of envelopes I had left on the carpet next to my computer table was way too tempting. I walked into my office to find the envelopes strewn about the carpet and the box they came in torn and destroyed. On the good side, only a couple envelopes were partially eaten!
She knows "Bad girl!" by now and ran directly into her kennel where a one hour time out ensued. By the time I came back into the house fron being up at the patio, Patty had paroled her early for good behavior and she was curled up in Patty's lap. She saw me approach and started tapping her tail hard in a "Sorry, Dad!" gesture. And so we hugged.
Now how the hell can I stay mad at her when she's like that? She stole both our hearts when we weren't looking! Just like Kimo did eleven years ago.
Friday, August 4
Eleven years ago today, Kimo (the dog formerly known as Harold) took one final walk on a path at Chequamegon Humane Society, jumped into the back seat of my car with Patty and made the short trip to his furever home here in Proctor. From his crazy gonzo early years to adulthood and now to senior citizen status, he has enriched our life every step of the way. Everything he does is a joy to watch.
Sunday, August 6
Yesterday featured a first--the first time Kimo invited Kona to play and she declined!
She was on the carpet and he walked in front of her, sat down and stared at her for a few seconds. Usually this is all it takes but no reaction!
Then he growled at her. This always works! Until now. He growled again, a bit louder to the same non-response.
Finally he figured "Oh, screw it" and jumped over her into his chair, commencing a nap.
Fast forward to today--he walked into their kennel tonight to escape her incessant pestering.
Man, those two are a hoot to watch sometimes
Wednesday, August 16
Absent-mindedly eating my pizza and watching a movie on Netflix when I hear a slurping sound. I glance over to see Kona licking my pizza! The Beggers must have smelled my snack from the bedroom so made a trip to see what it was and, more importantly, could they partake?.
Thursday, August 24
Kona was sprawled out on the couch next to me, enjoying a good snooze. Kimo was in his recliner enjoying same. Patty said she was going to bed and we both wondered if Kona would follow her upstairs. I mean, she was so cozy on the couch! I told Patty "Don't say anything, let's see what she does". By the time Patty hit the fifth step up, Kona had flown past her and was already in the bedroom. So much for that experiment. Oh, and Kimo followed about ten seconds later.
Tuesday, August 29
Kona can’t make up her mind—in the chair or on the floor?
Tuesday, September 5
Kona has supplanted Kimo in his former role of "Hey! Dad's eating something crunchy in his office after our bedtime!" You would think the curiosity of seeing his sister jump off the bed and tear through the loft would cause him to investigate but he was too committed to his rest.
Monday, September 18
Kona is glad her humans are home! Catching up on some rest
Tuesday, September 19
Back on their favorite sofa!
Thursday, September 21
Damn! Kimo had an accident in the loft tonight after Patty had put Kona in her kennel and it was while I was in the bedroom with Patty! He must have got up off his nice cushy bed, walked into the loft, did a major dump and walked back to bed. Funny because he usually whines when he has to do this. First accident he's had in nearly nine years and I fear this will become a more common occurrence as he progresses through his senior years.
Wednesday, September 27
The doggos did something new tonight. Patty was down in the living room while I was taking a shower. I came out to find they had both gone up into the bedroom! Kimo was on his bed, Kona was in our bed—using my pillow, of course. Guess they decided not to wait for Patty to come upstairs. So I got on the bed with Kona; two minutes later Kimo got up and went downstairs with Kona in quick pursuit. And I was freshly scrubbed!
Strange those guys are (I think that's correct Yoda-speak)
Wednesday, October 4
Butt to butt sleepers ❤️
Wednesday, October 11
Getting a tad concerned about Kimo. Other than his apparent near deafness (might be giving him the benefit of the doubt when I say "near") he just peed in Patty's sewing room. Right in front of her! His sight is great--he can still catch a treat in mid-air like Brooks Robinson, so he still has that. But, he's at the point where holding his pee for several hours is a thing of the past.
Either that, or he's just marking new territory (he doesn't get to be in her sewing room much)
As for Kona, all she did tonight was run off with two socks. First time was Patty's, second time was mine. She really likes those soft, chewy things! Socks, slippers, stuff like that.
Friday, October 13
Kimo's not deaf (yet) but certainly hard of hearing. It seems to come and go. He'll respond but not to a quiet, normal voice.
Tonight they both reacted when UMD gave up a goal. I was watching on the living room TV and yelled out my favorite one-word reaction. Kimo walked over, put his front paws up on the chair and started licking me while Kona furiously tapped her tail on the couch. They're both emotional support dogs!
Saturday, October 14
Baby Girl Kona taking a break
Monday, October 16
Battle Royale with the doggos. Patty was prepping the pork chops with the dogs watching. Kona growled at Kimo--how did he hear that? Must have been her body language--he barked loudly and charged. Thus ended my nice nap.
Saturday, October 21
A full chair!
Thursday, October 26
Kimo might be hard of hearing but his sniffer is still strong! He just wandered into my home office like "Eggs? Where are mine, Dad?"
Tuesday, October 31
Ear exam for Kimo--his left ear is slightly infected but it doesn't account (totally) for his deafness. Just a thing old doggos go through sometimes. He's learning hand signals for basic commands like sit, down, stay, leave it, go get your food!
Wednesday, November 1
Kimo reacted surprisingly well to the drops put in his ear tonight! He generally can't stand anything being put in there, be it drops, fingers, etc. Of course, after massaging the medicine into his ear for a couple minutes, he shook his head once being released from my loving, captive hold
But he only shook once!
He will be going through this once a day for nine more days.
He displayed his normal WWF moves on Kona tonight, pinning her to Patty's chair while working her over. Not sure if he was biting her or grooming her (maybe just re-sending her a message of "Hey kid, I'm old but I still rule this here roost" but she didn't react other than to give me this "Hey, I don't like this one bit, Dad. A little help?" look.
Day to day, they're a joy.
Tuesday, November 7
Kona tried something new tonight. She's been banned from the bedroom for a while now due to a) peeing on the bed and b) chewing several small holes in my rummage-sale-bought blanket, She does get to hang out with me in my home office when Patty goes to bed. I'll then put her in her kennel between 9-10 p.m.
She had been hesitant to approach me at the top of the stairs the past couple nights because she REALLY didn't want to go downstairs and REALLY wanted to sleep with us! But it's been to no avail. She finally gives up and reluctantly trots downstairs.
Tonight, she'd been in my office with the door closed while I attended to a couple things out in the loft. When I opened the door to bring her downstairs, as I was walked toward the stairs, she hauled ass past me, into the bedroom and leaped up onto the bed!
It's cute--she thinks that if she just jumps up on the bed and lies down on my pillow, I'll either feel sorry for her, think "Oh! So cute!" or forget she's there.
But once thing is for sure; since she's been banned from our bed, Kimo has been jumping up there with us to sleep most nights. He really likes her absence from our bed!
Saturday, November 11
Puppers
Monday, November 13
Kona has figured out how to open the latches on her kennel. Like Kimo, she's become an escape artist. We'll call her Houdini II
Man, when I told Kimo "Teach your sister how to be a dog" after we adopted her, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind!
Friday, November 17
Outside with Kona early this afternoon--she did her business and then had another patented case of the zoomies. At one point, she ran over near me and stopped. I threw my arms up in the air and tossed my head back. She copied me! I broke up laughing, she came over to me and went up on her back legs again so I could give her a quick hug. Her need (and my) for attention satisfied, she went running off again, tripping over her paws and tumbling on the grass.
Goofy, sweet, lovable girl
Kimo couldn't decide if he wanted to chew the side of her neck or give her a lick. So he did both.
Sunday, November 19
Baby Girl Kona had a rough day!
Monday, November 20
Happy 12th birthday, Kimo!
Thursday, November 23
Both dogs were nearly perfect tonight! Kimo has really mellowed out with my family. Kona flew downstairs and went from person to person trying to figure out who was going to be "her person". After getting pets from all of us, she finally settled in on the couch near Justin and Patty and then between Patty and me. All the excitement wore her out! Within about fifteen minutes after the last family members left, she was zonked out on the couch while Kimo was snoozing away in his chair.
I came to this conclusion years ago but it bears repeating--dogs make everything better.
Sunday, November 26
Teefs!
Tuesday, November 28
I started singing to Live Forever by Oasis. Kona got up from under my computer table and walked over by the door. I can take a hint! (sometimes)
She was probably thinking "Kimo is the lucky one. He doesn't have to hear this shit"
Thursday, November 30
Kona’s new ritual— after eating her supper, she runs into the living room, jumps on the couch next to me and takes a nap. Rough life. Reminds me of mine
Sunday, December 17
How can i bother her?
Thursday, December 21
Kimo jumped up on the bed this morning and worked me over with kisses. And then scolded me a couple hours ago when I came home from my doctor appointment. Apparently Kona isn't giving him enough play.
Previous: 3/31/2025--A Tribute To Kimo (& Kona) (2022)
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