Laughing Wolf

Sunday, December 23, 2007

In Baghdad Again

And headed out in just a few minutes to join the 1-4 Cav.  Literally minutes, so the post I was planning will have to wait.  More soon, here and at Blackfive. 

Sunday, December 16, 2007

A Christmas Woof

Well, really a howl, but I wanted to play the title off the James Herriot story “Only One Woof” that if you haven’t read, you should.  Yesterday was the Christmas program for the wolves out at Wolf Park, and thanks to a former intern who is now a volunteer, each and every group of wolves got a “tree.” She (with some help from her Dad) worked out a system if an easy stand that made use of branches trimmed from Christmas trees to create a “tree.” While the Junior Volunteers carried the load for the main pack, the rest of us did up trees for all the wolves in the retirement area and a real tree for the coyotes. 

As things got started at Eastlake (the retirement section), a small group of us pre-positioned the trees at the enclosures so that things could move along.  The wolves love this weather, the visitors, not so much.  When we did this, my favorite wolf Echo (our oldest wolf) indicated her strong interest in the tree via some silent ru-ing and howling.  She is silent, and has been since she came back to us, because of a condition that affects a number of older canids—vocal cord paralysis.  I told her that it was coming, and then moved on to do other things. 

Well, because she can’t really be seen by the public where she is, Echo got her tree last.  I don’t know what caused me to put some extra cheese on the tree (a specific brand of cheese product most often used in dips), but I was glad I did.  I was given the honor of taking in her tree (thank you P!), and when I picked it up, Echo looked at it and me, and howled.  It was more than a ru, it was a howl.  A real, honest-to-goodness reasonably loud howl.  Sound.  Sound from my silent lady. 

Now, Echo is also a picky eater. She still isn’t sure that a lot of things really are food no matter what we and some of the other wolves say.  Yet, she went into the tree with gusto, getting all the cheese product wrapped around limbs and taking it almost before she began to consider the summer sausage and other meats.  She also seemed quite taken with the special little sausage I added, though it took her a while to track it down.  I can say without a doubt that she liked her tree—a lot. 

Me, I got something I never expected:  A Christmas Howl.  What a wonderful gift, from a special and wonderful wolf. 

LW

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Christmas, Iraq, Random Thoughts

Over at Blackfive, I’ve just announced that I am returning to Iraq for Christmas.  This is something that does mean a good bit to me, and I can’t thank those responsible enough.  There will be more there and here, so stay tuned. 

As the photo above shows, we did have snow here.  Jenny was actually a bit annoyed when I first put out the straw, but she fairly rapidly decided that she would forgive me.  For those concerned, she does have a dry and warm house outside, but she prefers to be outside where she can try to protect her yard from those awful rabbits and that darned cat from across the road.  She says to “Send more rabbits” and I say that if you do so, send slower ones. 

Today is ice and freezing rain, and the power has already fluctuated a time or two.  It is a good day to be inside and Jenny is being much more a cuddlebug than normal.  Part of that had to do with thunder early on, as she dislikes loud booms.  Part of it, I’m not sure.  It could just be the booms, it may be that she isn’t feeling great, or she just may be in a humor for love.  She normally is not a clingy dog, preferring instead for skritches and simply to be near—but not too near—me as I work.  Today, she has been all about the touch, the lean, and the full-court press into.  It’s good. 

When I was out of town last weeked, she did something that was quite the “Awwww” moment.  A good friend who was letting her in and out for me told me that one morning Jenny went to the base of the stairs, looked up, made a sound, and then curled up at the foot of the stairs to wait for me to come down. 

Given this, and the fact that she has made it VERY clear that the yard was not properly patrolled or defended during my first embed, I am going to try to find a way for her to stay here while I am gone.  She loves being with Chumley, but she also likes being home.  So, I’m going to see what can be done for her to be able to patrol and defend while I’m gone.  Part of me has thought of a doggy spa, but she might seriously hurt me over that, as they give baths there (think stereotypical five-year-old reaction to having to take a bath).  There are options, and several have offered, but if I can find a way for her to be here that is what I want to do. 

More to come, power and will-power providing.  Part of me is tempted just to curl up and read a book with Jenny.  Maybe see how the sterol-loaded milk heats up to make real hot chocolate.  Meantime, thank you all for your patience (esp. those to whom I owe e-mails and calls), and thanks for stopping by. Stay tuned.

LW

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