happy birthdays

First of all, a retroactive happy birthday to my brother, Alastair, whose birthday was on Sunday!

Second of all, a happy birthday to Steve of Coconino Cycles fame! It's been a tough couple of years for him, but he's one tough cookie. Here's a pic of Steve muscling his way around Sedona on his hand-bike. Denise has a few good pics of their most recent ride in the red-dirt.

Third, and most important of all, May 13th is also the happy first anniversary for Mr. Enthusiasm, a.k.a Lurch, a.k.a. The Evil Genius, but best known as Jozsi. Check out the pictures! Can you believe how big he is after just one year?

As you can see, though, he has maintained his feistiness since Day One. The picture of him sparring with Momo was taken just two days after he arrived here in the Bronx. Incidentally, the word 'feisty' has a nice canine origin. From the American Heritage Dictionary:
"Feist, also fice, is one of several regional terms for a small mixed-breed dog. Used throughout the Midland and Southern states, feist connotes a snappy, nervous, belligerent little dog—hence the derived adjective feisty, meaning "touchy, quarrelsome, or spirited," applicable to animals and to people."

He's had quite a year... and the omens still look like he might become a genuinely phenomenal bird-dog. For those that have just joined The Regal Vizsla, Jozsi pointed his first quail and then retrieved the downed bird to hand two days shy of 5mos old! (He hasn't retrieved a bird-to-hand since!) He has pointed quail, pheasant, woodcock, and chukar to date -- and will hopefully get some extended exposure to grouse in October -- and was awarded the first two legs of his Junior Hunter at 11mos old. Hopefully I can iron out a few schedule wrinkles and can take both boys up to NH to finish out their respective certifications at the end of the month.

He is one hard-running bird-dog, but for all his sulphur and mustard, Mr. Crazy Pants is a sweet, cuddling monster. Just as he was from Day One. Happy Birthday, Mr. Enthusiasm!