Stylin' Suka

I will reveal to you a love potion, without medicine, without herbs, without any witch’s magic; if you want to be loved, then love.

~~ Hecato (a.k.a. Hecaton) of Rhodes, Greek Stoic Philosopher, 100 BC

Chillin' in style.

I've been stylin' in my new international dog collar. Like it? My beautiful and lovely kitty cat friend Kika, from Portugal, sent me my winnings from her belly contest, and the very cool dog collar I am wearing was one of the gifts. Isn't it awesome? My human, K, loves how it is so sturdy and strong, and I love the fun design and the great colors. It is also very comfortable. Thank you Kika!

Now with my new collar I will be stepping out in style!

Also included were these two very cute magnets. K already has them on the refrigerator. She really likes them.

I hope these are holding up photos of me on the 'fridge!

My wonderful gifts from Kika!

Kika, you have great taste! Thank you again for such wonderful winning gifts! You rock!

Don’t I look dapper in my international dog collar?

Another angle, for your viewing pleasure.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Gerrit Dou, A Sleeping Dog Beside A Terracotta Jug, A Basket, And A Pile Of Kindling Wood, circa 1650

Cave Canem [Beware of Dog], mosaic on the floor of the entrance hall to the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii, Italy, circa 50 A.D. (?)

Back to me...

Some, if not all, of you may have noticed my absence for over a week from the blog-o-sphere. {At least I hope I was missed!} K said we had to step away from the internet for a while because some other issues were taking precedence. Can you imagine? What could possibly be more important than my blogging?! Well, the good news is I am back! At least for now. I am not sure for how long since K has indicated we may need to step away at least one more time, if not a few more times. So while I am here, let me say that we, both K and I, missed all of you terribly. We really value all of our blog friendships and we hate when we are away and missing all the events going on in your lives. So even though I am not physically blogging, I always have you in my thoughts!

Perhaps if I look desperate enough K will let me blog.

I'm bored.

Any more gifts coming in the mail?

♪♪♪ “Don’t you forget about me…”♪♪♪ K said my blogging friends won't forget me during my absence. I am sure she is correct. I have the best blogging friends any dog could woof for! Plus, I am simply unforgettable! Or is that simply irresistible? I’m just sayin’…

Bronze Belly

Our minds are like our stomachs; they are whetted by the change of their food, and variety supplies both with fresh appetites.

~~ Marcus Fabius Quintilian, Roman Rhetorician and Orator, 35 - 96 AD

Just call me Bronze Belly Suka! You may recall that my very sweet and cool cat friend, Kika, had a fun belly contest for both cats and dogs. Well, I was awarded third place - Bronze! I would like to thank all of my great friends who took the time to sniff their way over to Kika’s contest to vote for me. It is much appreciated, and I am a lucky pup to have such amazing friends!

Belly of a Champion!

The first place - Gold - belly honor went to my sweet and fun dog pal, Chicco. Way to go, Chicco! In Chicco’s winning belly picture he added the cuteness factor by sticking out his tongue. Very clever, Chicco!

Maybe I should have upped my cuteness factor by adding in some puppies and kitties.

This year Bronze, next year, the Gold! To do that I must start work on toning up my tummy to reach gold standards. My first step is to decide on the “how." Good old-fashioned calisthenics are always a sure thing, such as the exercises taught by Bernarr Macfadden or Jack LaLanne. But authentic yoga or a powerful martial art would also do the trick. Where are my treats? I need to eat as I mull over my choices.

Time to get serious. How do I achieve Gold belly?

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

François Perrier, Aeneas and His Companions Fighting the Harpies, circa 1646-1647

Luca Giordano, Aeneas Defeats Turnus (Enea Vince Turno), circa 1664

Back to me...

Let the battle for Gold begin! I will now demonstrate my first set of exercises, which I think are excellent for toning up the tummy. I like to call this Suka's Stretch and Slide Nose Dive:

First - and this is the most important step - find a lovely scent. Wild animal poop is usually the most commonly used, and the easiest to find.

Next, place head, neck, and shoulders flat on ground with behind up. Feel the stretch!

Now slide and twist the head, neck, and shoulders all around the scent. Keep that behind up!

Breath in deeply and hold the position.

Release breath. Relax.

Now remember, wild animal poop is the best, but a dead fish is also excellent if you can find one. There are many options of lovely scents out there, so explore and be creative! But please, don't ever use another dog's poop, because, well, that is just wrong. I'm just sayin'...

Memorial Day and My Peep

The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.

~~ Thucydides, Greek Historian and Author, 460 – 395 BC

Happy Memorial Day! Today is a bittersweet day of both celebration and remembrance. Originally called Decoration Day, it is the day we set aside each year to honor and remember those who have died in our Nation’s service. Officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Memorial Day celebrated its first observance a few weeks later, on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

My Pack and I humbly honor and salute all the humans and animals who have given their lives in service. Rest in Peace.

Woofing of peace, it is time to put an end to all these nasty wars so people and animals the World over can once again live in harmony, beauty, happiness, and love.

Paws crossed!

Rainbows and sunshine! Just what the World needs!

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Sébastien Slodtz, Hannibal Counting the Rings of the Roman Knights Killed During the Battle of Cannae, circa 1687-1704

Ernst von Bandel, Hermannsdenkmal (Hermann Monument), Dedicated to Arminius (also known as Hermann), circa 1838-1875

Back to me...

Some of you may have noticed that many pet bloggers are participating in Sarge’s very cool Holiday Event "Peeps on Parade." While my human, K, unfortunately did not participate in Sarge's event, she liked the idea of introducing the human behind the pet blog. So, as a change of pace, and for the first time ever, my human's photo graces my blog. May I present to you my peep, K! And her beautiful mom!

My human, K, (right) and her mom (left) in St. Paul, Minnesota, overlooking the mighty Mississippi River. Circa 1999. {Click on photo to enlarge.}

I have great love for K's mom. When K headed to California to try and make a go of it, and could not take me, K's mom took me in and gave me excellent care. She also helped me to handle my sadness of being away from K. I really had a great time hanging with K's mom and we had a lot of fun. Sadly, in 2005 during my stay, she passed away. God rest her Soul. We really miss her. K's mom's favorite charity was Disabled American Veterans. So on this Memorial Day, we also honor all the wounded Vets and pray they get the help and assistance they need, and deserve.

You may have noticed that the photo is 12-years-old. I think K looks very much the same, except add about 12 years of the ravaging effects of horrible human aging graceful aging. When I asked K why she finally relented to putting a photo of herself on my blog she said, "everybody else is on the internet, so I thought I would be too." Sounds good to me! Hey...what a minute...that sound vaguely familiar. I'm just sayin'...

Stormy Times and Tummies

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.”

~~ Lucius Annaeus Seneca a.k.a. Seneca The Younger, Roman philosopher, 4 - 65 Century AD

It has been hard to be a happy dog these past few days as severe storms and tornadoes have been devastating so many lives in and around where I live – Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and a few other Midwestern states. I know that my Pack and I have been very blessed to have been spared the worst of these storms, and for that we are very grateful. But such tragedies over the past few days have put a sadness in the air and our hearts cry for those who have lost loved ones and/or their livelihoods in these powerful storms. We send our prayers to all those affected by the storms.

A hiatus from the storms.

Very windy.

What do I see on the horizon?

Storm clouds, a common sight lately.

Silvius, perhaps it is time to head back home.

Wait, is that bunny I smell? Hey, I smelled it first Silvius!

Sad for all those hurt by the storms and hoping the sun comes out and brings healing.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Etienne-Maurice Falconet, Tender Sadness, marble, circa 1761-1763

Corrado Giaquinto, The Birth of the Sun and the Triumph of Bacchus, fresco, circa 1762-1763

Back to me...

“It is a hard matter, my fellow citizens, to argue with the belly, since it has no ears.”

~~Marcus Porcius Cato, Roman Statesman, 234 – 149 BC

My thoughts exactly! What tummy grumbles, tummy gets. Speaking of tummies, or bellies, whichever you prefer, I am in a belly contest! My adorable kitty cat friend from Portugal, Kika, is holding a cat and dog best belly contest. Because of the overwhelming number of belly entries submitted, Kika has put the contest on one of her other blogs. You can view and vote for the bellies here: cat bellies and dog bellies. You are allowed two votes total: one for a cat, and one for a dog. On the dog page I am lucky number 13, so please vote for my belly! However, my sweet Italian friend Chicco [Ciao, Chicco!] is also in the contest, and is number 2. If you prefer Chicco's tummy, then please vote for Chicco. Or, just vote for whichever tummy you find to be the cutest. Voting is open from 26 May – 31 May. May the best belly win! I just hope it is mine. No pressure. Really. No pressure at all. But remember, the more votes, the happier my belly, and a happy belly makes for a happy Suka. I’m just sayin’…

Where Is Suka?

When last seen, I was heading home after attending the FiveSibe's Cinco de Mayo Paw Party, which was a total blast! Those pups really know how to throw a great party!

Let me just get my sombrero on...

Now I am ready to paw-tay! ¡Olé!

I had such a great time and wished I could have stayed longer. Thanks FiveSibes for inviting me!

So, where have I been for the past two weeks? I think it is pretty obvious.

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Limbourg Brothers (Hermann, Paul, and Jean), Anatomical Man, page from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, circa 1416

Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri), The Maiden and the Unicorn, fresco, circa 1602

Back to me...

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire. ~Virgil

Were you able to see me? I have been enjoying life in Springtime. Sometimes you just need to take a break and smell, play in, and nap in the new bright green grass. Until the ticks start sucking your blood. I’m just sayin’…

Not Flippin' Invited! [NFI]

On a serious note, we wish to send our thoughts and prayers to all the people and animals hurt by the devastating monster storms that have been pounding the Southern and South Eastern States of America. It is distressing seeing and reading about the damage and deaths occurring. All are in our hearts and prayers.

Hoping the storms end and the people and animals can heal. {Yes, that is the moon popping up above the trees.}

No, I am not pouting. I was NFI so I just need to be alone for a bit.

There will be a glaring omission in the guests invited to the Royal Wedding of Prince William of Wales, K.G. and Miss Catherine Middleton today, 29 April 2011. Me. In what is going to be known as the snub of the Century, I was Not Flippin’ Invited [NFI] to the Royal Wedding. I am just woofless from mortification. How could they not invite me? As an Alaskan Malamute, the most powerful working dog in the World, and a venerated member of the ancient Mahlemuit Tribe, I am more dignified than any of the Foreign Dignitaries they did invite. Also, considering I am, in my estimate, approximately 7,625,987,415,847,698,224,658,587th in line to the throne, I feel an invitation was definitely warranted. But, I was not NFI!

One of the culprits of my being NFI? {Gemma Correll's Corgi Royal Wedding Tea Towel}

I have a sneaking suspicion that the Queen’s Corgis may have conspired with Princess Anne’s Bull Terriers to make sure my invitation never arrived. Why? Not sure. And since I believe one is innocent until proven guilty I will refrain from making judgments and accusations. But you must admit, it is very questionable as to why I am not in London right now for the Royal Wedding yet the Queen's Corgis are running around like they own the Palace! Regardless as to the reason for my snub I wish Wills and Kate {I just know we would have been on a first-name basis!} a glorious lifetime together filled with happiness, laughter, and love!

~~ MOMENT OF BEAUTY ~~

Sir Peter Paul Rubens, The Wedding By Proxy Of Marie de’ Medici to King Henry IV, circa 1622-1625

The Charles V Tapestry depicting the Marriage of Charles V (1500-1558) to Isabella of Portugal (1503-1539), circa 1630-1640

Back to me...

Before realizing I was NFI to the Royal Wedding my human K was helping me put together my outfit. I was going to wear Scottish attire since I think I may be part Scottish. I, like the Scottish Highlanders, am known for my fearlessness and bravery, so it makes sense that I would have some Scottish blood running through my veins.

K's peeps will be waving these Jayhawk flags!

I may have been snubbed but K’s peeps {her sister and friend} are attending. Not the wedding, actually, but as two of millions who will line the streets to cheer on the Royal Couple. Per request, K put together two flags for her peeps to wave so that they will stand out from the crowd and be noticed. So, if you see either of these two Jayhawk flags, those are K’s peeps!

See what you are missing?

I wondered why *I* was not on the flags that K made for her peeps. I would be a much better flag than a Jayhawk. I had a long howl, with a few grrrrrs I am ashamed to admit, with K about it but she could not give me a satisfactory answer.

Paws crossed that I am invited to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012.

Not being flippin' invited to the Royal Wedding has been a very humbling, and sad, experience. However, next year is Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and I am hoping that an invitation arrives for me to attend. But I am not taking any chances. Corgis and Bull Terriers are now my new best friends. I’m just sayin’…