Laughing Wolf

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Interview With CNN

Yesterday saw me doing a very interesting interview with CNN on DJ the Puppy and Operation Puppy Love.  Interesting because it was done by phone, but the video work was to be done by me.  Me being me, I could not do just the normal-type thing.  So, I talked with Holly out at Wolf Park, then talked with Pat, and then abused my friends by getting Pat, Gale, and Monty (with Dana on call if/as needed) to help do the interview from Wolf Park with the main pack out on the ice of Turtle Lake.  With luck, this will get some nice publicity for Wolf Park and maybe even in time for Winter Wolves. 

The set-up was somewhat surreal to me, and the wolves/location were a bit surreal to the folks at CNN.  I’ve just finished uploading the video files to them, and thought I would share with you a bit of how you prepare for doing something like this.

The hardest part, aside from being able to actually understand the person doing the interview (voice came across as badly overmodulated), was keeping my balance when trying to stand up.  At the end, I was glad for Gale’s help as my knees had become one with the ice—you can actually hear a ripping noise from each on the video.  Huge thanks to Pat, Monty, Gale, and Dana for their help on this.  Some more wolf videos are coming too…

LW

Sunday, January 20, 2008

A Doggy Tale

Jenny is fully recovered from my latest bit of running away (in her opinion) and is now comfortable enough to get rather insistent on my training.  You see, we are having some problems in that regard as I am not picking up fast enough her desires in regards eating.  Nope, it’s not the food that matters, but where I am and what I am doing. 

For the longest time, my just being nearby was good enough.  I could be in the same room, doing anything, and that was great.  Then she began to get more and more specific on where I could be and what I could be doing.  The thought appeared to be that I would reach a point where I would be in a specific pose and hold it while she leisurely consumed her meal.  I fear that she is doomed to a lifetime of disappointment as that just is not going to happen. 

Not that she doesn’t try, and sometimes get very insistent about it.  Sometimes a little too insistent, as happened yesterday morning when she pushed on that front and a couple of others where she wanted me to do what she wanted right then! In fact, she got so adamant that she earned herself the first time-out she’s had in quite a while, and a tone of voice from me that brought out a serious “oh oh” face on her. 

Despite that, I did take her with me to Wolf Park as it was too cold for her to stay out here at home (rather, she seemed to be fine with it but I wasn’t).  I also did not trust her inside alone acting out as she was.  So, I packed up her crate and my cold weather gear and took off.  Wolf Park is closed (except for Howl Nights, please come!), but we did have a private tour and a special guest visit.  Also, we are getting ready for Winter Wolves and Wild Valentines, and I needed to check with a couple of people on some things, so…

Jenny was Miss Noncooperative on a few fronts out there, as she did not appreciate being in her crate part of the time.  I mean, come on, there are new areas to explore, creatures to investigate, and p-mail to read and mark over… That said, I did get to take her on her first perimeter “walk” since I got back.  Well, walk for her Aunt Caity and myself, a mix of trot and run for her.  We were bundled up to the point of having trouble moving, while she was quite happy as she was—which got us some very exasperated looks from Jenny who kept looking back as if saying “Come on, hurry up!  What’s keeping you?” In point of fact, at one point I expected her to start barking like a drill instructor “Move it, Move It, Move IT!”

A very nice, if different, day was capped off with dinner with our special guest.  It was delightful on several levels, not the least of which was her and Dr. Klinghammer getting into tales of various biologists, animal behavoirists, and ethologists they have known and some of the interesting and interesting things these people have done or witnessed.  More than one eybrow was raised in “you have got to be kidding me!” mode on parts.  It had to end all too soon as Howl Night required attention, alas, but we did have some people brave the cold and come on out.  I left before the end, so as to get Jenny on home and my new pepper plant in from the cold.  Monty Sloan gave me a wonderful portrait of Jenny yesterday as my Christmas gift, and one of his peppin pepper plants.  Those are very tiny, bb size, but have a lot of heat and a lot of flavor to them—Monty actually brought some recently to a Mexican restaurant and shared so that we could spice up the food a bit.  Thank you Monty, for all!

Despite the difficulties, I got my real reward in the car, with a puppy who was contentedly leaning against my shoulder, and putting her head into the hollow of my shoulder as we drove home.  Times like that make it easy to forgive and forget the behaviour problems of the day.  She did act out just a little bit when we got home, apparently over my taking several trips to unload the car.  After that, she settled down and was good. 

This morning, she has been very good.  I did just get a “look” from her just know when I went to this entry from AWTM and played the video.  It got a cold, very cold as in zero degrees at 0900 hours, day off to a laughing start.  May your day be as good.

LW

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Announcing The Laughing Wolf YouTube Channel

Yep, I’ve finally started my own YouTube Channel so I can post videos that aren’t right for Blackfive, versions where Cecil B. DeJimbo and I have creative differences *G*, etc.  If you get the chance, please do go check it out.

LW

Global Warming, Right…

Not sure how low the temps went, but it was 4 degrees this morning when I got up, and is rumored to be going down to -4 (or lower) tonight.  Thats F not C for my European friends.  The furnace is running quite a good bit, glad I called the propane people for a refill… Even Jenny seems happy to be inside this morning, quite content to give up some of her regular patrolling of the yard. 

LW

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

RipIt Good!

Yeah, same title as a previous post, but the good news is I found RipIt energy drink in the area.  I finally called the distributor, and found out from a very helpful lady that Wally World doesn’t put it with the other energy drinks, but in the deli!  Don’t know why, doesn’t make sense to either of us, but she was right.  The bad news is, I found a new flavor (Gin-zing-r) and they don’t sell the 8 oz. cans in the US—those are provided only to the military.  16 oz. cans and me may be interesting, and my hope now is that they will make this flavor in carb free one day soon…

LW
nursing a 16 oz can right now…

Friday, January 11, 2008

Into The Light:  Cousin A

It’s not really a surprise, but I just got a call letting me know my cousin, A, has passed away.  She had been in poor health for a while, and hadn’t been able to do lot of late.  She was someone I enjoyed a lot as I got older, for she was the baker in the family.  I had always enjoyed her baking, and our mutual love of cooking and culinary exploration brought us closer together over the years.  A favorite part of my visits home, particularly at Christmas, was sitting and talking cooking, cooks, and cooking shows with her.  Those memories bring something somewhere between a smile and a grin as I sit and type.  May the light have welcomed you home dear A, and may it shine down with a warmth like butter on those you leave behind. 

LW

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Better Than Last Time

Fate seems to like to start traditions, and one seems to be forming in regards my visits to Iraq—but at least it doesn’t appear to be determined to be expensive.  I returned to find my car with a new problem:  the stereo has decided it doesn’t want to work properly.  It won’t turn off, the volume knob is switching it through AM/FM/FM2 and other delights along with volume changes, and it generally appears to have lost its electronic mind.  No impact to driving or other systems, so plan to just live with it and be glad that is all that awaited this time.

In a few minutes I will go see about my grill.  I had been warned that wind storms had ripped plastic off windows and turned my grill over; but, what I didn’t realize was that the winds apparently tumbled a grill weighing towards 50 or so pounds (real grill with side smoker. rougly 3 feet tall, 2 feet wide, almost 4 feet long with smoker and side deck) across the yard.  At least the heavy rubberized canvas cover was caught by the fence.

I also am enjoying a wonderful gift from a good friend.  D not only looked after Jenny for me, she also cleaned up a bit for me.  Now to maintain and expand the opening… Thanks D!

More soon.

LW

Friday, January 04, 2008

Ahhh, Fuck

Yes, I normally stay away from such language, but we’ve lost a good one.  Andrew Olmstead has left a final post that is also here where he posted as G’Kar.  May the light welcome you home, and shine upon your family now and in the days ahead. 

LW

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