2008  (Send news to susan via the email to be included here. And don't be shy about correcting anything I might mangle in translation between there and here!  Thank you!) May 9: There is a lot to update y'all on, and I'll get to it. First is the new Calypso address - see it on the home page. The phone contact number is there, as well. Don't be fooled by the North Carolina area code - that is my cell phone and it IS correct! May 3: Calypso Xi Xclusively Rennek has moved to her retirement home in Lexington, KY with Jamie & Theresa Goodin. Theresa had designs on Shooter but after he pottied on the carpet in a socially unacceptable way of saying hello (at least as far as the Boss was concerned), his freedom was curtailed as was Theresa's access to him, foiling her kidnapping plans! However, she'll be flying back in the eventuality she is picking up one of his puppies. Daddy Shooter may have been naughty, but his daughter "ND" was her always completely charming self.  April news:  Time's inexorable march continues to gather up Calypso dogs to cross the Rainbow Bridge and join the growing family there - Calypso Weekend Warrior "Gunny" had been fighting lung cancer for such a long time - and it didn't claim him, oh no!  Of all things, Gunny succombed to an aneurism while at the vet's office. Blessedly, he never suffered from the cancer, and actually had experienced several remissions. His owner, Dawn Fritts of Covington, VA had helped him fight an extraordinary battle. She wrote incendiary missives to the Calypso family as the secret secretary to Gunny in his role as President of DUHQ (dog union headquarters) whose mission it was to launch complaints at Management Scum (that's me) and torrid love letters to Calypso Absolut Angel in Florida (his litter brother's adopted sister). Gunny's correspondence took on a life of its own among some of the Calypso owners and I note that even in his absence now, others have stepped forward to fill the gap. Dog people really ARE crazy! From our "F" litter back in the early 90's, Aladdin (Calypso Frankly My Dear) has finally passed on. He was the much beloved pet of the Capt. Ed Homan family. Capt. Ed, recently retired from the Fed Ex "air force" has been our resident flying expert who helps keep me stocked with flying stories and pictures... he knows I'm a plane junkie!   I'm delighted that Aladdin provided the Homans with so very many years of that unique companionship that only basenjis can share. Debbie Joslin and her Calypso agility duo have been at it again!  Cody has scored another leg toward his MX.  Karly too has added another qualifying leg in her Excellent level work.   2007 Oct. 27-28: UKC Ch. Calypso KissKiss BangBang, JC made two big steps to close in on his AKC champtionship this weekend at dog shows up in Sioux Falls, SD by winning back-to-back 3-point majors under judges Bob Stein of Ohio and Jim Frederickson of Tennessee. Shooter now has 11 pts. Fellow traveler Dallas Hunt did the same with one of her stripey girls, JoJo. It was a stripey weekend! Accompanying Shooter and Susan were Tyger and ND, and B'Aatu who went along so that he maintains his 'show boy' focus in prep for his trip down to the Indian Nations mega-shows weekend in Tulsa in just 5 days. Our friend Dallas is taking the Tu down to Oklahoma. Fingers crossed!  Sept. 20th: Calypso Absolut Angel, AX, AXJ finished the requirements for her title today down in Miami. It has been 5 months since either Cody, Karly or Deb has been in the ring. Good things come to those who wait! Congratulations to Deb and her dogs who continue to amaze us from south Florida!  And last but not least: Susan is back on line! After unbelievable computer fiascos which found me drawing on heretofore unknown reserves of patience, I'm BACK! It's only dial-up connections out here in the middle of the hills and valleys of the Missouri riverbluffs region, but at least I'm connected again!  Dallas and I are still looking for land on which to build our joint kennels, etc. In the meantime, I have an unbelievably generous host who has taken in me and the 11 Calypso basenjis and piles of "stuff" that we need to get by. Yes, Dog People ARE crazy, and the greatest folks you'll ever meet!  But I'm working in Kansas City (don't know how long that is going to last due to the daily mileage and weekly $140 gas cost), but I'm really enjoying it and LOVE Kansas City, so the experience is overall a great one. No complaints from this orphan, and I'll post news on the homefront progress as it occurs.  Rest assured that we're doing fine and really have no complaints that amount to much. Surprisingly, Benin import "Honey" is having the best time! She has 5 new boyfriends (4 canine + 1 human) and is living the life of privilege. She tried to crawl in our host's lap at dinner last night, and was not a bit shy about her intentions! What a bold little Miss! I was astonished. And she works the TV remote control and "assists" with the Play Station gaming. She is certified now on Madden football, EA Sports MLB and NHL, Sony's Gods of War and some other death & destruction games. What a gal !!!  August 12: More good news, this time from Finland!  One of our Finnish grandbabies is a new Finnish Champion: Fin Ch. Dakarai Shani Mlia ("Rusina")  - she is a daughter of our Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge, and has the same sire as our import, "Tiku", Bulldobas Phantom. Litter sister "Tyger" and her keeper daughter here at Calypso (Calypso ND Nation At Lacada) send huge rrrroooooos! to Finland to the new champion!  Congratulations to breeder Sanna-maija Heleva. We know you are thrilled!  August 11 & 12: NEW CHAMPION - Calypso Lorelei of Apex finished her AKC title winning back-to-back majors at Greensboro, NC. Kim Byrd handled her to her wins, just like she did Daddy Jon Bon Jovi just 2 summers previous. Lorelei also passed her CERF eye exam this weekend, and her fanconi linkage test results came back "Clear". Congratulations all around, especially to her co-owner Gary Pickler who had to endure Lorelei being gone to 'dog show camp' up at Kim's place for months on end. We are thrilled to no end at all this good news! Jon sends enthusiastic 'rrrrroooooos!' to his gorgeous sweetheart of a daughter back home in NC! June 15: One of my last updates for awhile since moving is imminent. As of 3 July, Kevin and Melissa depart the USA to Kevin's new assignment at Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany for 3-5 years. This is a NATO base and should be a great career move for Kevin, as well as a wonderful personal opportunity to live and travel in Europe for an extended time.  The dogs and I are heading home to South Bend, IN for a family/friends visit for several days before arriving in Faucett, MO on June 25th. I'll be joining up with the folks at Lacada basenjis who got their start in the breed as Calypso people: Larry & Carol Hunt of DeKalb, and their daughter, Dallas. Dallas and I will be working toward building a joint house/kennel for both our breeding lines. In the meantime, everything is going to be in a state of flux, to say the least! If for some reason I cannot be reached through the normal channels, go through Dallas'  - just make sure you make it clear that you're  "Looking For Susan" in your emails to  lacada2@aol.com    My computer will be boxed indefinitely but I'll be stealing looks at my email over on Dallas' pc. Patience, Grasshoppers! Eventually I'll get settled in and unpacked. The dogs are my first priority - getting their runs set up and a routine in place for them to help them feel secure is Job One.        Thanks for all your good thoughts and wishes at this time. I can't tell you how nice it is to know that so many folks have me and the dogs in their prayers. We're too rotten to 'keep down' for long, so look for us to reappear on your radar screen like the bad pennies we truly are, undoubtedly with a slew of "moving adventure tales" to share!  (aaaaaaack!) June 10: News from Finland!  Daughter of our own FIN Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas, "Sella" FIN Ch. Dakarai Thumbelina,  was judged 2nd best bitch at the Finnish Basenji Club's 2007 national specialty show by British judge Mrs.Jill Avis. Judge Avis awarded "excellent" ratings to just 5 of the 55 bitches entered in the Specialty show. Congratulations to breeder Sanna-Maija (Virtanen) Heleva and to Sella's owner! Sella's litterbrother, Tikal, is here in the USA with us, and will start showing once the move to Missouri is completed and we are settled in at our new location.  June 5: Calypso N'kiru's Night Out ("Bix") is the last of the NN puppies to go home,and new senji parents Kim Noel and Dixon Lee of Charlotte, NC appeared bright and early this morning to fetch their brand new stripey prince who had started out HIS day with a bath _ aaaaaack! Accompanying Bix is his new mentor, our own stripey princess, "Toffee", UKC Ch. Calypso Butter Brickle. Bix has separation anxiety issues and it had become apparent that to avoid the Shrieking Syndrome, young Mr.Man was going to need a doggy boss to not only reassure him about his world, but put the screws to him when he began to exit orbit of the planet - voila! Ms. Toffey!   Toffee is Shooter's 1/2 sister, and Tyger's mother so she is both aunt & grandmother to Bix. They make a wonderful pair and won't this new family look terribly fancy with a pair of stripey 'senjis when they are out-and-about!  Bix is a dark brindle, exotic and dramatic; Toffee is of the butterscotch dessert, caramel color. What a pair!   Good luck Kim and Dixon    The final pupster, Miss Calypso ND Nation At Lacada  will be accompanying me and the rest of the Calypso crew out west to Missouri where she is co-owned by Larry Hunt of Lacada, and who apparently has already decided that she'll be joining him on his pillow! I hate to break it to him that she's like a dragonfly- she may alight occasionally, but this is one busy little Miss! She is most definitely the daughter of her hyperkinetic daddy, the perpetual motion Shooter! June 2: Calypso Lorelei of Apex won another point today at the Charlottesville-Albemarle KC shows in western VA under judge Joan Goldstein when she was awarded Winners Bitch. Lorelei was handled by Kim Byrd. Owner Gary Pickler notes that this makes Lorelei's 4th point. Congratulations!  Quick note re: The Move To Missouri___I begin work out there on July 2nd, so I and the 11 adult Calypso dogs and one puppy will be on-site in our new home in Faucett, MO by the last week of June. Packing continues here in North Carolina... I am becoming cutthroat about jettisoning "stuff"! May 27: Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone! Hope you're having a good weekend - we're house painting which means there are a lot of more fun things we could be doing!  Received a link from the Lavine's so that we can peek at the first week home pics of Ryker & Nyla. Here it is for your enjoyment! These are the NN babies__the lighter colored brindle is Ryker, Mr Future Agility Basenji; the darker brindle with that spectacular 'badge' on her collar is the Precious Princess.   http://web.jimnsna.com   Thanks Jim and Tina for the pictures! May 19: Three more NN babies gone to new homes! In the greater Raleigh area, Calypso North By Northwest ("Roo") will be living in Morrisville with Jennifer and Lee Langston, and Jim & Tina Lavine of Wake Forest are the proud 'senji parents to Calypso N'finite N.R.G. ("Ryker") and Calypso N'finite N'chantment ("Nyla"). Ryker is destined for an agility career, and Nyla (the former and infamous 'Diamond Lil') is a princess, pure and simple.  The leftovers are "Bix", Calypso N'kiru's Night Out, who will be joining Kim Noel & Dixon Lee in Charlotte, NC and Calypso ND Nation At Lacada who will be accompanying Susan in her move to western Missouri in June to be co-owned with Larry (and Carol) Hunt of Lacada basenjis who got their start in B's from Susan back with their first show basenji, Ch Calypso Jewel of the Nile ("Belle"). If you couldn't tell by ND's name, everyone involved is a huge fan of Notre Dame!  And oh yes - if you didn't catch that: Calypso is moving to western Missouri in mid-June, in a location about 20 minutes north of the Kansas City airport (convenient!). Kevin is being transferred to Germany for five years by the Air Force, and has been forced to put his house here up for sale. That left the door open for a change in scenery for Susan. The Hunts offered to join forces with Calypso and so at least for now, it looks like we'll be building a joint kennel out there on some beautiful rolling prairie land along I-29. Everytime the kennels are rebuilt, there is the chance to incorporate what has been learned along the way into the latest set-up. It's exciting to have a chance to build a home for the kids from scratch again. Since we're headed to tornado alley, however, "the hole in the ground" will be one of the first priorities - Gotta have a safe place in which to hide from the twisters! Have to admit that the hurricanes will be missed! ... there's at least a week's notice as the storms form off the Cape Verde Islands of Africa's western coast, and then they are tracked as they meander across the Atlantic. Plenty of time to get the supplies in and the hurricane preparations in order. Tornado preparations? I just hope we'll be HOME to get the opportunity to USE the underground shelter! aaaaack! May 17: The first of the NN litter babies has left! :(  Off to his new home in Inman, SC with Frankie Dusky & Calypso Unona's Scheherazade (mother to our LL litter out of Jon Bon Jovi) goes Calypso Nuru N'Gozi To Unona (loosely translated: blessing born in daylight). He'll be called "Nuru". Inman is in the general area of Greenville/Spartanburg, so he'll be a neighbor of Honey's puppy girl, Avuvi Alexandra.  Playdates!  May 6: Back in Chesterfield, VA on the UKC front, Calypso Butter Brickle finished her UKC championship,and Calypso Griffin's Gold Fizz took some baby steps in starting work on hers, winning her class at the two shows and getting 20 points. It's a start!  So that was 3 Calypso basenjis who finished their UKC championships this weekend, and a Calypso grandbaby with a Finnish championship -  Whooo!  Altogether, a very nice weekend at Calypso and among the extended family. Congratulations, everyone!  May 5-6: Down in Florida, more agility news involving Calypso Windsor Joslin, AX, MXJ, JC: Cody qualfied in his jumpers runs both days, adding 10 more MACH points, bringing his total to 54.  Congratulations, Debbie Joslin - we remember that at Cody's level (jumping at the 20-inch height with the Border Collies and Aussie Shepherds!), dogs only qualify by achieving perfect, no-fault runs at blinding speed. Go, Cody!  May 5-6: Calypso Lorelei of Apex wins WB at both the Bucks County(PA) and Trenton, NJ AKC shows this weekend, Kim Byrd handling. The wins were worth a point each day. Congratulations owner Gary Pickler, and thank you, Kim!  May 5:Closer to home... today up in Chesterfield, VA at the Mid-Atlantic Kennel Club UKC shows (2), we have two new UKC Champions: Calypso KissKiss BangBang (Shooter) & Calypso Xi Xclusively Rennek ("Xi"). Shooter also finished the day with a Group 1st &  Group 2nd.  May 5: News from Finland - new Finnish Champion Dakarai Tingeling ("Tiuku") who is at home with her breeder, Sanna-Maja Heleva. Tiuku's mother is our own FIN Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas (Barbi), and she is litter sister to our Dakarai Tiku Calypso.  Congratulations to our Finnish family!  April 15: Brighton, CO...Calypso Lance Livestrong is awarded WD for his 2nd point at the Terry-All KC show under judge William Usherwood.  Now littermates Lance & Lorelei each have 2 pts. Congratulations to Lance's co-owner, Danielle Johnston-Torrey of Aurora, CO!  April 15: Harrisburg,PA at the Mason-Dixon KC show, Lorelei is awarded Reserve Winners Bitch under judge Jay Hyman (and congratulations to our friend Laura Gilchrist for her WD, 3pt major on her homebred tri puppy boy, Wyatt! ***Laura__ya gotta share the love, girl  - we wanted some points, too!***) April 14:Harrisburg,PA - Calypso Lorelei of Apex wins WB (1pt) her very 1st show under Canadian judge Mrs. Barbara Innes.  Daddy Jon's handler, Kim Byrd, is carrying on the tradition with the next generation. Thank you, KIM! Congratulations to Lorelei's co-owner, Gary Pickler here in North Carolina!  April 8: Check out baby puppy photos. Hyperlink in the Breeding Plans/New Puppies section under the NN litter announcement. Eyes & ears are open now; visitation for the owners will start in 2 weeks! We have some gorgeous markings on these stripies (no surprise, given their pedigree)!!!  April 1: No Fooling! Great news from our Florida agility competitors - Calypso Windsor Joslin can now add MXJ to his AX and JC titles. Congratulations "Cody" and Debbie Joslin!  Cody also accumulated 4 additional MACH points this weekend.  On the UKC front involving some 'home' dogs, Susan traveled down to Hickory, NC for the 3-day Carolina Classic March 30,31st, and April 1st with Shooter, Toffee & Xi. Shooter accumulated 95 of the 100 needed championship points, and 2 Best of Breeds and 2 Group II placements. Xi collected 70 pts and a BoB (the middle day which ended up robbing Shooter of the possibility of completing his title requirements this weekend! grrrrrr, and Toffee finished the weekend with 45 pts. Thanks (!!!!!) to Gary Pickler who helped out by handling Xi on Friday, and to Suzanne Hefner who did the same on Sat & Sun. The travelers had a GREAT time and made a bunch of new friends. They'll be back in the UKC rings in May. Mar 27: Health news - Calypso Lorelei of Apex has received a clear thyroid profile! Lorelei is from the LL litter out of our Jon Bon Jovi and Calypso Scheherazade.  Mar 20: Happy Birthday to Calypso's latest babies out of Calypso KissKiss BangBang,JC & Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel. Tyger has whelped 3 boys & 3 girls, all are brindles. Welcome to the Calypso NN littermates!   Feb 17: News from Finland! New Finnish Champion Dakarai Thumbelina ("Sella") won her title in just about the biggest way possible... While competing at the Jamijarvi,FIN show under breeder judge Ms. Leila Karkas, Sella won Best of Breed, FCI Group V 1st place, and then Best In Show-2nd (at FCI shows, they give placements 1,2,3 for Best in Show). This was an FCI show for groups V, VII & VIII.  Sella is the 2nd champion for our export to Finland, FIN Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas, the gorgeous brindle known as "Barbi".  Thumbelina is the litter sister to our import, "Tiku", Dakarai Tikal Calypso.  Congratulations, Sanna-Maija (Virtanen) Heleva on your first homebred Champion !!!!!  Feb 12: OFA "Good" rating received on Calypso KissKiss BangBang ("Shooter").  Feb 10: The last of the inaugural litter of Avuvi puppies has finally gone home...Alexandra left for South Carolina, and momma Honey looked high and low for her missing baby. I can't even talk about it...Alexandra had been my special baby pretty much since birth.  waaaaah!   And so now they are all in their new homes: Apollo to Idaho & Washington State (his owner has 2 residences); Astraea to the hills outside San Diego, CA; Athena to Rehoboth Beach, DE; Alexandra to Greenville, SC.   Jan 27: From Perry Joslin's jazz fusion concert in FL, comes news from Debbie, his wife and the owner of the agility basenjis of Calypso:    "Jazz Times is doing an article on Perry in the March/April issue. "Jazz Times" is the largest jazz publication in the world. The audience gave Perry, the band, Sanjay, and Rama a standing ovation. So many came up to Perry and said they never attended a jazz concert before and were blown away. The 20, 30-year-olds said they appreciated the traditional Indian music, but hearing it blended with funky jazz was awesome.  They said their generation would eat this up. Perhaps we will start selling CD's in India! The Sahara Group wants this performance done in Baton Rouge in Boston now as the event raised $20,000.00 to provide emergency relief to women and children affected by domestic violence.  It was beyond words, the music was so incredible!  Our musicians (Miami Sound Machine guys) told Perry that no one in the jazz world has ever done anything like this before with Indian music. It was amazing, our musicians so talented to be able to play along with Sanjay so seamlessly. This violinist is very well known in India. "  We are so proud of Perry (who has, btw, written songs dedicated to his doggy daughter, Karly, as well as a nod to the Basenji 500 that takes place in his house on a daily basis that was recorded on his first jazz CD_available from Palmstone),and look forward to much more success coming his way. He has a unique musical vision, a beautiful 'noise' in his head that the world will be hearing, soon enough!  Go, Perry! Jan 21: News from OFA __ Calypso Griffin's Gold Standard.  ("Kulta") has received a "Good" rating on his hips. His number is: BJ 1826G60M-PI.  Calypso KissKiss BangBang ("Shooter") has had his hip x-rays done and rating results are pending.  Jan 20: The first breeding for the NN litter is finished! Keeping fingers crossed, pupsters due approx. March 24th out of Calypso KissKiss BangBang [Shooter] + Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel, JC [Tyger]. Jan 15: From the source of our family agility news in Florida comes a brag of a different kind - Debbie Joslin's husband, Perry, is an accomplished, up-and-coming young jazz musician. Here is the latest musical excitement about Cody & Karly's dad: "Perry is performing January 27th at the Broward Performing Arts Center, a huge deal!  He and the band will be performing with the #1 violinist in all of India. Sanjay has been at the house the past several nights helping Perry learn some Indian music, and vice versa. This is going to be fabulous! Close to 1,000 tickets have been sold and if it is a hit, as we expect, Perry could sell a ton of CD's in India.  When Sanjay was learning to play "Kashmir", one of the songs on Perry's new CD (the jazz version of a Led Zeppelin tune), Sanjay had no idea who Led Zeppelin was - too funny!  We wish Perry all the best luck (not that he needs it) and we know that the concert will be a baroootiful success. !!!  Jan 10: Sometimes the watched pot is empty!  Following a diagnostic visit to our vet, it seems that Toffee has reabsorbed her fetuses. Fortunately for her, this was accomplished cleanly and without endangering her own health. However, that means that plans for the NN litter met with the hammer of Fate!   But.... as they say: When a door closes a window opens..... the bitch we planned on breeding this summer, Toffee's brindle daughter, Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel, JC  has just now come in season, according to her co-owner. We will be considering moving up the breeding plans... it just remains to be seen if we can get everything accomplished necessary to do this on such short notice!  aaaaaaugh!  Jan 7: Junior handler Tia Smith of Bellevue, WA and our Avanti (Ch Unona's Calypso Avanti) competed in the Serious About Dogs fun match in the Seattle area, winning Best of Breed and Group 3. Congratulations, ladies!  (and Toffee STILL has not had her puppies!!!) ================================== 2006 Dec 31: A watched pot never boils... still no news from the whelping box where Toffee is happily ensconced. Perhaps she is awaiting the return of her king, Daddy Kevin, who took Melissa back home to South Bend, IN for the holidays to see family friends and Notre Dame and Chicago. He's due back Jan. 3rd... Dec 31:Sunday agility results from Florida: Cody earned 2 more MACH points and the 9th of 10 legs needed for his MXJ title. Karly earned her first 4 MACH points and 1st leg of her MXJ title. Congratulations, Debbie!  You have had a great year with the Calypso agility duo!  Dec. 22: A warrior passes - Just 2 weeks shy of his 16th birthday, an indomitable force surrendured to a year-long battle with kidney failure. Calypso Donnaiuolo, "Guido", crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He was one of the infamous, notorious, and larger-than-life "D" litter who all seemed bent on world domination from the moment they opened their eyes! They remain the most memorable puppies I have ever helped whelp, and the 8 short weeks they spent in my care before going to their new homes STILL occupies a large chunk of my memory. Guido was one of the red/white sons of Macho Man & Cruz, and totally lived up to the character inherited from them both. His owner, Bob Manosky, maintained regular contact with me always, and for nearly 16 years, I got to watch Guido's life unfold from the sidelines - what a show! Bob's life, after being manservant to a king, must seem rather mundane now. Our sincere condolences at his loss of this remarkable and memorable companion.   Dec 10: Agility news from Florida_ Cody got his 8th leg toward his MXJ title. Two more to go. He finished his run 2 seconds under the course time of 37 seconds for the 20 inch jump class. Just to let you know how blasted fast the Border Collies are that he has to compete against at this jump height - the placing BC's ran their course times 8-13 seconds faster than Cody! Blurrrrrrrrs is what they are!  Congratulations Deb Joslin and Calypso Windsor Joslin! Additional news: Calypso Absolut Angel ("Karly") finished the qualifications for her AXJ title. Again, Congratulations to Deb and Karly (who also got a 1st place from that qualifying run!). You go, girls! Dec 5: More sad news from the Galdeens - Calypso Z'Aireborne Ranger has joined his grandmother "Tasha" across the Bridge. It would seem that she felt he needed a finer hand in his control than we mere mortals had to offer where Ranger was concerned. Leaving "Amelia" as the only basenji in the Galdeen household is unacceptable, so the family will journey down to North Carolina immediately after Christmas to fetch the Clown King himself, Calypso B'Aatu Big Sir ("Hollywood") to join their family. The dog of a million nicknames (with musical accompanyment), an equal number of nefarious skills, and whose vocalizations give Susan a run for her money when he gets going (and that is SAYIN' something, I'm here to tell you!)... the Galdeens are never gonna know what hit 'em !!!  We predict a mad passionate love affair which is just the tonic they need right about now.  Nov 27: Sad news from Michigan about one of our long time favorites, Am/Can Ch. Calypso Grand Fantasy, JC has crossed the Rainbow Bridge following a battle with cancer. Tasha was treated like a queen her entire life by her proud owners, Myrl & Glenda Galdeen of Saginaw, who were not only a credit to the basenjis who shared their lives, but to the world of basenjis. With the arrival of Tasha in their lives, they jumped into basenjidom with no holds barred and contributed to many projects and endeavors on behalf of the breed from behind the scenes, completely without fanfare or credit - but with lots of great stories as a result! Tasha and Trapper were together at this year's BCOA Nat'l Specialty in Warwick, our two seniors around whom our schedules and activities revolved. Until her cancer came to dominate her, it had been planned that she, too, would be an entrant like Trapper. She was the Royal Guest, instead. Now she returns to her former glory - and it was considerable - and joins the family across The Bridge.  As Myrl Galdeen repeated for 14+ years, life with Tasha was an "E" ticket ride, all the way - and thank goodness the ride was a long one! Nov. 16: Honey's puppies have arrived! A litter of 1 red/white boy and 3 red/white girls were born silently in the middle of the night. Kevin slept right through the whole event, and I was at work. Melissa heard some rustling coming from Honey's big pen, but that was the only "clue". Needless to say, our bush dog never gave any "predators" a hint, by sound or scent, that babies were being born. In fact, the pen was hardly disturbed - Honey'd kept it perfectly clean!   Now we spend the day dodging the tornadoes that are springing up all over North Carolina today (9 people dead by 10am). I no sooner walked in the door this morning than Honey & honeyBunlettes were ensconced in a big vari-kennel in an interior hallway since we were directly in the path of a tornado which fortunately pulled up its tail as it veered east of us. Going to be an exciting day all around, I can tell!  Nov. 12: Calypso KissKiss BangBang (Shooter) won 1st in Open and 16pts at MAHA's ASFA trial in a freezing, driving, rainstorm. His two clean, hard runs through the swampy field were a welcome change from his distraction the day before that sent him packing. He's a speed demon but needs to learn to keep focused on the lure. Are you listening, Pooter???  Our 'fair weather' Calypso family support abandoned us to suffer in the inclement conditions, forcing Susan to finally learn how to put a coursing blanket on a dog rightside up and properly "assemble" the slip lead - and use it correctly!  Many thanks to the MAHA folks who patiently supervised this transplant from the show rings through a day of coursing. I'll bet they're still chuckling at the sight of her patiently waiting to start the 2nd run with Shooter - facing the complete wrong direction and wondering why the lure operator wasn't bringing the lure around in front of her and The Shoot... sigh. This is what happens when an Amateur is left to her own devices!  Nov. 11: Calypso Lance LiveStrong won his 1st point today at The Southern Colorado Kennel Club under judge Joan Goldstein. Lance was handled to his first win by his co-owner Danielle Johnston-Torrey. They live in Aurora, Colorado. Congratulations! Nov. 11: Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel  (Tyger) placed 2nd in Open at the MAHA ASFA lure coursing trial in Rocky Mount, NC today, earning 15 points toward her ASFA field championship. Tyger was handled for us by Jennifer Haynie of Raleigh, one of our Calypso owners. Thanks, Jen! Oct 27: We regret to announce the death of our beloved Trapper. He suffered a stroke and subsequent seizures which completely debilitated him, and so he was released to join his nefarious Calypso cohorts across The Rainbow Bridge. I know his reception was as memorable there as was his life here. You can read about him on his own page which has been updated to include his remarkable adventure at this year's BCOA Nat'l Specialty in Warwick, RI where Trapper won a cartload of prizes and had the time of his life. He went out on a high note, of that there is no doubt! He was 15yrs, 3 mos. old, and up to the day of his death, had never really been sick a day in his life. What a remarkable dog who reigned atop Calypso from the moment of his arrival. Bon Voyage to our most special "Doodle" !!!  Note: Reveille Calypso Trapper  b. 7-26-91 d. 10-27-06 Half-African son of Ch Termay Dial Reveille & Avongara M'Bliki bred by Damara Bolte.   Oct 22: Rescue female available! Please read the information on our Breeding Plans page down toward the bottom about the young red/white female available. Contact information is included. Thank you!  Oct 14: This just in from south Florida, Land of the Agility Gods -where Karly has decided that she did enough agility in Warwick, Rhode Island to last her for awhile and has initiated a Dog Union Headquarters-approved "strike action". That means she is so NOT into agility right now!  News from Debbie Joslin about the other half of this team, Cody: There were 49 dogs in his jump height class (20 inches) and he was one of only 6 that qualified. He earned another 4 MACH points. Congratulations!   Oct 4: News from the Pacific NW - Tia Smith (& Ch Unona's Calypso Avanti) are now listed as #14 in basenji junior handlers rankings! Congratulations, Tia!   Sept 26: Calypso Lance LiveStrong has arrived in his new home in Aurora, CO with Danielle Johnston-Torrey of Haus Annandael basenjis. Danielle flew to Warwick to attend the last couple days of the Nat'l Specialty show and become acquainted with her new young dog before flying home with him. She and her husband have just returned from Germany where he was posted as an active duty member of the USAF. Back home at Calypso, brothers Gunner and B-Man miss Fancy Lancey, but they are departing for their new homes next month as well.  Sept 18-24: BCOA Nat'l Specialty week in Warwick, Rhode Island -   Agility Trial results: Calypso Windsor Joslin won High In Trial (highest scoring basenji in both Standard and Jumpers), earing 22 MACH points for the day. Competing in 20 in., Cody placed 1st in Std by 9 seconds, 1st in Jumpers by 2 seconds. Calypso Absolut Angel placed 1st in Std and missed qualifying in Jumpers by 3 sec. Few basenjis qualified at all, and Cody & Debbie made it look deceptively simple. NOT !!! What a performance by a stellar team. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR AGILITY STARS FROM PARKLAND, FLORIDA !!!!!!!  Lure Coursing: Junior Coursing tests__ JC title earned by two Calypso dogs in competition: Calypso Windsor Joslin & Calypso KissKiss BangBang. (Shooter was slipped expertly by Calypso family member Carol Redden of Cary, NC who flew all the way to Warwick to handle Shooter and cheer on Debbie Joslin and Cody & Karly in Agility. Carol owns and put the titles on her own dual-titled coursing bitch FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite FCh., "Lila".) African Exhibition: UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan  "Honey" swept around the conformation ring like a pro for Susan Coe, in from Australia to judge the Af Exhibition. Pictures to be posted later. Many, many positive comments re: Honey's appearance at full maturity. Kudo and Kuoabo were also in attendance, along with 3 of the new Congo imports. How lucky were the folks in attendance to see 6 native dogs in the flesh and be able to visit with them or just observe them all week any time they desired! Our own 1/2 African, Reveille Calypso Trapper strutted his stuff in the veterans' competition but some young whipper snappers cheated him out of a ribbon. The Show Committee came through like the champs they were all week and allowed Trapper to sniff through the box of fabulous african wildlife-themed bags assembled for the 1st place winners and let him choose one for himself. Age before beauty!   Sweepstakes: Trapper really shined today! He had caught on to all this cheering and applause, and today under Sweepstakes judge John Donald of New York State, when it came time for him to gait around the ring, I was along for the ride! As soon as I stepped out to move, Trapper went into high gear and I found myself at a speed normally reserved for the young boys! The cheering, whistling and yelling seemed to galvanize the old guy who was designated the oldest dog in attendance at the 2006 National Specialty show. He just flew around the huge ring. More prizes!  By now, Trapper needed his own "loot wagon" to cart the goodies he was accumulating!  Regular Classes: Calypso KissKiss BangBang  (Shooter) won 4th place in the Open, Brindle/white dog class. We were thrilled. The brindles in attendance throughout the Specialty this year were spectacular to see. We were so pleased that Canadian breeder-judge Cheryl Myers Edgerton picked Shooter out of the crowed to reward him.     Once again, Trapper shone like a star! In the Veterans 11yrs + class, there were 5 entries, meaning some poor slob was going to be left out of the ribbons. I determined to play every trump card available in the old man's arsenal to give him an edge. I let the judge know how old he was  and that he was her oldest entry. Hint!Hint!  She admired that he had all his teeth (apparently some others did not and they were younger), muscle tone and moved like a freight train. On the ground, Trapper took off like a shot once the cheering, whistling, and yelling started. By now, he had this "show thing" down to an art! I could not have been more proud of Trapper, nor could I imagine having more fun than I was in the ring at that moment... but wait!  In the line up.... Judge Edgerton points to Trapper for 4th place!!! Oh, the cheering! We were thrilled beyond measure! More loot! More ribbons!  Trapper and Shooter both won wooden director's chairs for their placements, and down in the Photo Room, the judge gave a big hug for the thrill of being able to reward an old guy like the Dude... we are all suckers for the old dogs, and when they can still put on a show, it's an indescribable thrill.  That was worth "the price of admission" right there. Thank you, Trapper! Thank you Judge Edgerton !!! Sept 18 & 20: Kudo & Honey were bred__Puppies due Thanksgiving week in November !!!  Sept 6: Honey is in season !!! Dream date with Kudo during the National Specialty in Rhode Island. We could be greeting the first Avuvi litter by Thanksgiving!  July 29-30:In a case of "Close, but no cigar!", our young stripey prince, Calypso KissKiss BangBang ("Shooter"), won back-to-back RWD to majors down in Greenville/Spartanburg, SC. He's been out of the ring since last year to do some maturing - looks like he is almost there... Congratulations to the winner of both those majors, a nice red boy owned & shown by Lo Anne Miller of Georgia. Well Done! July 26: Happy 15th Birthday, Trapper !!!  Our beloved 1/2 African, Reveille Calypso Trapper, celebrates birthday 15 today in fine fettle. Other than his cataracts and a little slower pace, Trapper is doing wonderfully - so much so that he is accompanying Susan to Rhode Island in September to the BCOA Nat'l Specialty show where he'll compete in the Veterans African Exhibition, Sweepstakes, and regular classes. No rest for our Elder Statesman! His breeder, Damara Bolte, reports that sisters Zaireoise & Savannah, and brother Hunter are also doing well. Brother Trader in Missouri needs to have his owners check in - naughty them!  They are the progeny of Ch. Termay Dial Reveille adn the incomparable Congo import of the 80's, Avongara M'Bliki. Susan still thinks that she was the best of both those import groups to come West.  We feel so privileged to own one of her sons!  July 23: From Seattle and our Junior handler, Tia Smith: She and Avanti competed in "Groom Squad" in the 4-H county fair. The dogs are redistributed to teams of kids who are NOT their owners for grooming without scissors or any substances - then they have to show against each other. Tia ended up with a Boston Terrier and the person with Avanti ended up in line right in front of Tia! She said Avanti kept leaning back to be closer to her new mistress!  Tia's team and Avanti's team tied for Reserve Intermediate Champions - Congratulations! Even separated, our girls are winners, naturally!     Tia also competed in the costume class with her Bedlington, Dandy. She dressed as a cotton candy seller, and Dandy was a giant cotton candy cone. Their slogan was, "Why eat cotton candy when you can have a cotton Dandy?"  They were picked GRAND CHAMPIONS !!! Tia is one busy and successful young lady and we're so proud to have her in the Calypso family now - and delighted that Avanti seems to have found herself the perfect home! July 19: RESCUE NEWS: If interested in a rescue placement, please see our Breeding Plans/Available Puppies on the bottom of the page. VERY special girl available! July 1: News from Bel Alton, MD and the S.Maryland KC show - Toffee (Calypso Butter Brickle) went WB for her 6th point under judge Tom Ward of Baltimore, Kim Byrd handling. Thank you, ladies!  June 25: Very nice news from The Kennel Club of Beverly Hills all-breed show out in Long Beach, CA today - Tia Smith and her new "Juniors" dog, our own Avanti were placed 4th in a class of eleven competing in the Open Intermediate class in Junior Handling. Congratulations, Girls!  June 24: Today is the day that Ch Unona's Calypso Avanti arrives in Los Angeles to join her new Seattle-area family where they are attending dog shows. Avanti is going to become the new show dog for Junior Showmanship competitor Miss Tia Smith of Bellevue,WA. Avanti joins a home full of Bedlington terriers as the resident basenji princess.  Good luck, Tia & "Tay-Tay!"  June 15: Congratulations to Calypso family member Sanna-Maija Virtanen in Finland on her marriage today to Hannu Heleva! Our Fin.Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas & Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge make their home with her, and she was the one who traveled with and showed our "Tux" to his Latvian & Belorussian titles back in 2000. Sanna-Maija and Hannu have a lovely baby daughter, Kerttu, born last summer.   June 15: Human news! Congratulations to my favorite cousin (& the other half of Calypso Basenjis!), new Air Force Master Sergeant Kevin J. Brothers !!!  The flip side of this coin is that a transfer from SJAFB here in Goldsboro, NC is inevitable, but we'll roll with that punch when it's thrown.  June 3: Congratulations to 2 of our 'senji gals who passed their AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification tests in Raleigh, NC today: "Lila" (FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite, SC, FCh, CGC) and "Aspen" (Calypso Carolina Crimson, CGC). Their respective owners/trainers are Carol Redden of The People's Republic of Cary, NC & Jennifer Haynie of Raleigh, NC. Way to go, Ladies !!!!  May 27: Kim & Jon went WD, BOB at Langley KC in Hampton, VA under judge Al Krause to give us the 2 points which made him a new champion, Calypso Jon Bon Jovi !!!  Congratulations! (see a complete write-up of Jon's impressive run to his title, and future show plans on his own webpage in Dogs At Home) May 26: The DNA profile of  UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan's coat color has been completed by Dr. Melekhovets at Health Gene Molecular Diagnostic & Research Center in Toronto, Canada. The certified result of her color genotype = EEBBDd, with her dilute being haplotype 2.  With the testing done on Honey, at that time she was the most-sequenced basenji ever. In fact as of this date, she is the most tested and DNA-profiled basenji on the planet. This is all part of the Avuvi Project's commitment to the exploration of "the science behind the dog", and to a healthy future for the domestic basenji breeding stock.   May 21: OOOPS! They did it again! Calypso Jon Bon Jovi and handler Kim Byrd went Winners Dog at the BCOA-supported entry show at the Carroll County KC show in Westminster, MD this morning, for Jon's 3rd major win, 5 pts !!! That gives Jon 14 pts, just 1 short of his AKC championship. Someone pinch me! May 20: Calypso Jon Bon Jovi won his second major this afternoon, 4pts! in Manassas, VA at the Mattaponi Kennel Club show under judge Dr. Gareth Morgan-Jones. He was awarded Winners Dog & Best of Winners.  Congratulations & Thank You to Jon's handler, Kim Byrd!  May 20: The results of Honey's OFA hip x-rays are in - UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan received a "Good" rating. This makes all health testing that can be done using today's technology COMPLETE, and she has passed every test. Her blood is in storage at Univ. Missouri with Dr Johnson, so when the fanconi gene marker test is developed, that too will be performed on her sample. May 15: The results of the complete thyroid profile panel of tests on UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan arrived: Normal, all values. Yea, Honey! May 12:Congratulations! to Calypso owner Dawn Fritts of Covington, VA. She rec'd notice from the Superintendent of the Railroad for CSX that she is the best they've got. Dawn is one of the nation's very few female railroad engineer + conductors. She is a 3rd generation RR'er - her grandpa and her daddy were also railroaders, and I'm sure they are looking down and so very proud of her today - we are too!  Dawn is owned by Calypso Weekend Warrior and Glemyr Calypso Fantasia who will no doubt do their best to keep her head from swelling over any of these accolades, you know how basenjis 'do'.  In other family employment news, our man in the skies at FedEx, Capt. Ed "zipper" Homan has retired after umpteen years in the left seat for the overnight delivery monster. Before that, he flew fighter jets for the USAF. Now he hopes to fly under the home radar of his wife/new boss, and not trip over Calypso's member of their family, one of our "F" litter, Aladdin.   May 6: Calypso Jon Bon Jovi wins his 1st major "the hard way" going Winners Dog, Best of Winners, and then Best of Opposite Sex over two male Specials for 3 points at Bucks County KC show in Erwinna, PA. The judge was Lila Wadsworth, our handler Kim Byrd. Congratulations, Jon and Kim !  Whooo-hoooo! May 5: Princess Honey's "Day of Beauty" at the vet's (canine health research style!). UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan  had her hips x-rayed for submission to OFA (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) at the Univ. of Missouri for rating. She had blood drawn for a complete thyroid profile, and blood drawn to be sent to Dr. Melekhovets at HealthGene in Toronto, Canada for complete DNA analysis of her coat color genetics. The five Benin imports which will be used for breeding will all have this done, the result of which will be complete knowledge of the coat color genetics of the foundation population for the Avuvi Project dogs.   No native import basenjis will have been as health tested and scientifically sampled as the Benin imports. High praise to Robert Dean, Project Director, for his integrity and dedication to the future of basenji health and breed knowledge. We're on board!  Honey will be bred to her 1/2 brother, Kudo, this breeding season. Inquiries accepted. April 30: Fun at the Myrtle Beach KC dog show today where Kevin and Melissa made their first appearance as husband and wife. We won Winners Dog & Bitch with our kids, just 2 pts each but we where happy to take them! Congratulations Toffee (Calypso Butter Brickle) and Jon (Calypso Jon Bon Jovi). Jon stayed in the hands of Kim Byrd, Kisa Basenjis, who will be showing him to his title.  April 22: WEDDING NEWS @ CALYPSO! Congratulations to Kevin & Melissa on their marriage ! The vows were exchanged in the chapel at Ft.Lee in Petersburg, VA near Melissa's hometown of Richmond. An intimate gathering of family & friends celebrated their union. (And yes, all 3 of us and the dogs will be here at Calypso, continuing on as before, but with Melissa being our very special new addition to the family!) April 8: CERF # BJ 1295/2006-15 for Dakarai Tikal Calypso. April 1: Florida agility news: Cody qualified for his 5th of the 10 needed 'jumpers' runs toward his MXJ. Karly qualified for her 2nd of 3 legs needed for her AXJ. Congratulations, owner/handler Debbie Joslin!  March 23: Dakarai Tikal Calypso ("Tiku") passed his CERF eye exam this afternoon. I will post his CERF # on his web page when it arrives. Congratulations, breeder Sanna-Maija Virtanen! March 11-12: Calypso Z'Aire Express ("Aero") entertained a special visitor this weekend who is now going to be her new adoptive Mama. Welcome, Catherine Lundin of Delaware to the Calypso family. After being spayed by our own Dr. Julia, Aero will be ensconced in her new condo in Rehoboth Beach where she can be spotted jogging in the sand to keep her girlish figure. Next year this time, she will be mentoring one of Honey & Kudo's first generation Avuvi Project puppies who will be joining their little family.  March 2: All the MM puppies have their call names - little brother Raider, and the girls - Hope, Maddie, Sadie & Tampa. They'll be in their new homes by the end of the month. It hardly seems possible that they will be leaving - I swear that they just got here!  Feb 24: Shooter and Aspen are now certified to run ASFA lure coursing. Now we just have to find the time to do it! Jan 25: We sadly announce the death from cancer of our beloved Tux. He was euthanized before the aggressively growing oral melanoma could cause him pain over the significant discomfort he was already experiencing. My international travel buddy has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. I cannot begin to describe my loss, but am so grateful to have been able to spare him the suffering that was shortly to come. I am proud to fully spell out his official titles with his name - he earned them!  FCI, AMERICAN, BELORUSSIAN, CANADIAN,  FINNISH,  GUATEMALAN,  GRAND CAMPEON-GUATEMALAN, LATVIAN, RUSSIAN  CHAMPION  TERRARUST CALYPSO BLACK TIE, EURASIAN WINNER 2002.  Farewell, Tuxana. You changed my life and lead me boldly forward. I will forever cherish our "road show" !!!  -susan- Jan 20: Good news! Calypso's "MM litter" arrived early this morning__3 black/white girls, 1 black/white boy, & 1 tri-colored girl. Congratulations sire Calypso Jon Bon Jovi & dam Calypso Xtraordinaire of Lacada.  Jan 14: Our new year begins with poignancy __ Calypso Bit of Bronze, "Sheba", has passed away. Born 22 Dec 1988, she had reached her 17th birthday, and was beloved by Nancy Good & her husband Richard. It was believed by her vet that Sheba had metastatic cancer. Sire: Ch Djakomba's Spotlight  Dam: Ch Calypso American Express. ================================= ...  2005 ...  Dec 31: News from Florida ends our year on a high note! Debbie Joslin called from an agility trial where Cody had been one of 19 dogs entered in the Excellent "A" class - and the only one to qualify. This win finished his Excellent Standard title, "AX". Congratulations to dedicated owner/trainer/handler Deb, and Calypso Windsor Joslin, AX, AXJ  !!! Dec 25: Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all our friends and the Calypso family from Susan, Kevin and all the basenjis at Calypso! Dec 11:Forsyth KC show: Shooter wins another single point going WD under judge Mr.W.Everett Dean. Toffee gets RWB.  Dec 10: Forsyth Kennel Club show in Winston-Salem, NC. Shooter wins a single point, going WD under judge Mrs. Edith Gladstone.  Nov 21: Breeding #1 between Calypso Jon Bon Jovi & Calypso Xtraordinaire of Lacada. #2 will be Nov 23.  Fingers crossed for litter due Jan 23-25, 2006. Black,red & possibly tri puppies (we may find out now if Jon is tri-factored!). This will be the Calypso "MM" litter.  Nov 15: We were saddened to learn of the death today of Calypso Margherita, litter sister to our own Calypso Midnight Sun. The members of the "M" litter were born June 12, 1995. "Rita Mae" (her Southern name of affection) had been diagnosed with bladder and urethral cancer during Hurricane Katrina when she was boarded at the Vet's office while her New Orleans-area family fled the oncoming historic storm. Her dedicated owner, Dr. Gail Brady, returned home upon learning of Margherita's diagnosis and kept the dying dog at her side until euthanasia became the only option to free Rita Mae from her earthly suffering. Of course, this basenji  is now over the Rainbow Bridge, causing whatever joyful havoc comes naturally to the Calypso crew & basenjis everywhere. Our condolences to her "left behinds" for whom separation from such fabulous heart dogs is a most bitter pill to swallow.  Nov 12:Change in plans! We have found out, and regret to announce that our beloved grandpup, Ch Calypso Kilimanjaro, is no longer available at stud. He was found to have a testicular tumor and for the sake of his health was completely neutered. Actually, it was because his owner was going to have his semen collected for storage that the tumor was found, perhaps saving and extending his life, so we are ALL for that !!!  We're going to punt and take advantage of our young, in-house "Romeo" for Rory, Jon Bon Jovi. We are still committed to doubling up on our old bloodlines, especially with littermates Ch's Calypso American Gigolo & American Express concentrated in them, and this will do that for us. Well, as the saying goes, "A door closes and a window opens," and so it does. We move forward into the light!  Nov 8: MM litter news - Calypso Xtraordinaire of Lacada ("Rory") has come in season. We expect to be breeding before the end of the month, puppies due mid-January 2006.  27 Oct:PUPPIES HAVE ARRIVED !!! The Calypso LL litter out of Calypso Jon Bon Jovi x Calypso Unona's Scheherazade were born this afternoon: an all black/white litter of 4 boys and 1 girl. Their coats have an unbelievable high-gloss to them. Pretty little puplets! Oct 23:Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel ("Tyger") has gone to live with her new co-owner, Adrian Catalano in Mooresville. She will be only a couple minutes away from her coursing/racing cousin, Lila, in Cary, NC.  Tyger is already teaching her new dad how one properly cares for a basenji princess! Oct 22:Good news/bad news!  FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite, SC was entered in LGRA racing today down in Camden, SC, but she was the only basenji so no title points would be available to her. We offered owner Carol Redden the opportunity to "borrow" Lila's sire, our B'Aatu as competition. He is LGRA-certified, and despite his own speed, is basically cannon fodder for his lightening-quick daughter. USUALLY. Lila burns a  trail down the raceway while B'Aatu checks out all the spectators, especially anyone with a camera. We call him "Hollywood". .  1st heat: Lila, spooked by her first-ever release using  the start boxes, is outrun by B'Aatu. Point to her 'old man'. 2nd heat: Father & daughter streak to the finish line BUT just short of it, Lila takes a sudden interest in a passing golf cart and stops cold. Point #2 to her old man. By now, Carol is ready to retire her slacker basenji from the fast lane. 3rd Heat: Lila smokes her sire, Calypso B'Aatu Big Sir to win the last point available today, and order is restored to the universe.    Oct 16: The dynamic stripey duo does it again! Shooter wins WD,BW, BOS for 1pt, and Toffee wins WB for 1 pt at the second show of the weekend for the New Hanover KC down in sunny Wilmington, this time under judge Barbara Alderman.  *** The puppy pen is set up and the maternity ward is disenfected and ready for the arrival of Sadie & Jon's puppies due in about 10 days. *** Oct 15: New Hanover KC in Wilmington, NC - On a fantastically sunny day with 80 degrees, Kevin and Melissa were close enough to the beach to touch it, but alas, today was a dog show day. They had dual winners in Calypso KissKiss BangBang  (Shooter) who won another point going WD,BW & BOS, & Calypso Butter Brickle (Toffee) who won her 2nd point going WB. Their judge was George Heitzman.   Oct 9: Calypso Xtraordinaire of Lacada has returned to Calypso for breeding this fall. "Rory" is Xi's litter sister and we are so happy that co-owner Kelly Sprengel in Indiana was so generous with her time in helping get Rory back to us. Since Rory & Xi's sire, TUX, went sterile several years ago, daughters of his such as these are our only way of connecting to this great dog and all that his pedigree brings to the table.  Oct 3: Sad news from the Gulf coast - Dave & Sheri Hicks regret to report the passing of their "Zeke", Calypso Fiery Wrath of God. They had generously re-homed Zeke when his first owners gave him up in favor of a Rottweiler (there is no accounting for some tastes!). Dave and Zeke have been joined at the hip and in the golf cart ever since. Zeke was born in 1992 to Ch Calypso American Gigolo x Ch Calypso Blaze of Glory. Our deepest sympathy to the Hicks, and gratitude.  Oct 1 & 2 in Davie, FL: Agility trial news from Debbie Joslin and her 2 Calypso basenjis, Calypso Windsor Joslin, AXJ, OA (Cody) and Calypso Absolut Angel, OA,OAJ (Karly). Debbie summarizes it better than I can, plus I like her editorial comments!  Dog Club Of Hollywood (Davie, FL) AKC Agility Trial   Oct.1/ CODY: Excellent Std, 18 entries, only Cody Qualified (Q'd). Course time: 64sec. Cody's time: 53.62. Earned 1st place & 2nd leg toward AX title. Master Jumpers: 21 entries, 6 Q'd. Cody - clean run, time: 48.49 sec., but course time = 46 sec. ARG!!! Oct1/KARLY: Excellent Std, 12 entries, 3 Q'd. Course time 64 sec, Karly's time 61.02 = 3rd place & 1st leg toward AX title.  Excellent Jumpers, nobody Q'd. Course time 47 sec, Karly's time 61.36. "Mom, I'm hot & tired & I want to go home!!!" Oct.2/CODY: Exc.Std., 20 entries, 2 Q'd. Course time 63 sec, Cody = 58.19 sec. The Judge From Hell called a refusal (debatable)as he slowed to gather himeself to jump. This cost us our AX title adn 5 more MACH points (since he was 5 sec. under course time). Master Jumpers, 21 entries, lots Q'd. Course time 41 sec, Cody = 40.76 (whew!). No placement but earned qualifying ribbon & 2nd leg toward MX title (need 10 legs for Master title).  25 Sept: At the Eckero FCI International show in the Aland archipelago between Finland & Sweden (one of Kevin & Susan's favorite places on earth!!!), our own Fudge's daughter, Dakarai Shani Mlia ("Rusina") went BOS at age 9 mos, for her 1st Finnish CC. She is too young to accept the CACIB, but she did beat top Swedish entries in winning this award.Congratulations owner Hanna Paasila & breeder Sanna-maija Virtanen!   17 & 18 Sept: In Finland, our Barbi daughter, Dakarai Tingeling,("Tiuku") went Best of Breed from the puppy classes over champions for her 1st Finnish CC. Her sister, Thumbelina, took 4th best bitch. The next day, Tiuku went Reserve CC. Congratulations to our grandpuppy and her owner/breeder, Sanna-maija Virtanen! New photos have been added to her web page which can be found at:  http://www.dakarai.com/tiuku.htm 15 Sept: Celebrating her 50th birthday, Susan is now officially among the "older than dirt" set... or at least eligible to join AARP and take advantage of all those discounts, as well as claim "Oldheimers" as an excuse for any and all mental lapses.  Gee, it was just yesterday when she was but a pup herself - time flies when you are having fun! 3 Sept:Great day at the Durham, NC dog show! Shooter, Calypso KissKiss BangBang goes WD/BW for his 1st AKC championship point w/Susan proudly handling, and was a hit with judge Helen Haas of Colorado (whom he assaulted with kisses) & spectators alike. Way to go, 'Pooter'!!!  We also got 4 perfect "scores" with Dr Gilger at the CERF exams as our kids got their eyes officially declared 'clear of any and all abnormalities':  Calypso Unona's Scheherazade (sadie) was re-CERF'd from 2001; Unona's Calypso Avanti; Calypso Jon Bon Jovi; Calypso KissKiss BangBang. 11 Aug: Sadie is coming home !!!!  Calypso Unona's Scheherazade has come in season and will be coming home to Calypso to be bred for the 2nd & FINAL time. Her co-owner just gave us the heads-up and Kevin is dashing off to SC to pick up the Princess Bride ASAP.  The groom is our own young Jon Bon Jovi. Please see the breedings/litter pages for full information.  Black & white puppies expected to arrive late October, going home as Christmas presents!  5-6-7 Aug: New Champion: AVANTI !!! Unona's Calypso Avanti finished her AKC championship going WB under judges Gene Blake, Lee Canalizo & Charles Olvis. Lance DeLoria did the handling honors, pointing her in 5 of the 6 shows in which he took her 'round. **Avanti is available for co-ownership to a serious Junior Showmanship home.** 5 Aug: Calypso KissKiss BangBang "Shooter" wins BOB-puppy and Group 2nd-Puppy at the MegaMatch during the Mountain View Cluster in Salem/Roanoke,VA. Professional handler/Foxhound breeder Sue Whaley of Maryland was his judge.  31 July: Avanti has an even better day today! Lance's new little Princess went WB, BOS over two bitch specials for a 3 pt major, her second. Now she needs only 3 single points to finish her championship.  Thanks to Avanti's biggest fan, Janice Harrison of Nuttinbut basenjis for getting the good news to us!  30 July: Unona's Calypso Avanti went WB for 2pts today over in Greenville, SC under judge Mr. J.D. Jones with Lance DeLoria handling. Kevin and Melissa were there to watch Miss Avanti strut her stuff. She now has 9 championship points, including her 1st major.  *** New pictures of our Benin import, UKC Ch. Avuvi Afonhaan, are posted on her pages.  [See: African Import_More pictures of Honey] *** ***Calypso Basenjis website honored by Animaroo for its content, being named as a Best Website for consumers.  Thank you! *** 9 July: We said goodbye to Kevin's personal basenji today, Ch. Calypso Eyes of Egypt, "MacGyver". Mac had been surviving cancer for quite a while, but it had become evident that there was more cancer than Mac and he was going downhill suddenly, and fast. We wanted to send him across the bridge before he suffered. Mac was 13 1/2 years old.  So long, Tacky-Wacky! 3 July: Unona's Calypso Armani  ("Eclipse") went Winners Dog for a 3pt major at the Sioux Valley Kennel Club show in Vermillion, SD under judge Willam Cunningham, and owner-handled by Dallas Hunt-Pearson of St.Joe, MO. Way to go, Dallas! 22 June: Blood test confirms that Xi is NOT pregnant. :( 12 June: News from Finland - our puppy granddaughters out of Barbi and Fudge continue to impress! Tiuku (Barbi dtr) won BOS and Rusina (Fudge dtr) won 4th best bitch in the basenji judging at a Helsinki all-breed puppy match. [Barbi = FIN Ch.Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas; Fudge = Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge] Congratulations to Sanna-Maija and the lovely basenji girls of kennel Dakarai! 4 June: Calypso Absolute Angel, OA,OAJ competed in Miami at the South Dade Kennel Club agility trial.   Karly competed in Excellent A JWW - 16 Inch, under Judge: Nina Plial. Here are her results:                Distance: 153 yards  SCT: 44 seconds                Score: 100 (Q)  Time: 43.04 seconds  1st Place Congratulations, Karly and handler/owner Debbie Joslin !!! Oct 2/KARLY: Times say it all: Exc.Std course time_65 sec, Karly = 71.54 sec. Exc.Jumpers course time_40 sec, Karly = 59 sec. "Mom - I'm hot & tired & want to go home !!!" 24 Sept:Calypso family member Glenda Galdeen of Glemyr basenjis in Saginaw, MI has been taking dressage lessons for a year. Today she made her debut at an actual trial - barely! As usually happens at such momentous times, the group got lost and didn't arrive until only minutes before she and her mount were due in the ring! She scored well and had a great time, plus she showed all those mothers of the young teen competitors that their daughters don't need to be the only ones in the ring! Dog show person leads the way! Congratulations, Glenda _ dreams DO come true - even in the rain. You go, girl !!!  Sept: Calypso takes the rest of the month off from showing courtesy of the Dept. of Defense. We're not complaining. Kevin gets to turn his considerable talents toward saving the Air Force / SJAFB millions and helping his buddies at FM make the base the best-run outfit in the ACC. Don't you like knowing that your tax dollars are accounted for down to the penny? What's a dog show compared to that? phhhhht!  Go, Kevin!  3 Sept: We took four of the dogs to the show for the CERF clinic (Canine Eye Registry Foundation),and all four were examined and cleared of any & all eye abnormalities: Ch. Unona's Calypso Avanti, Calypso Unona's Scheherazade (a re-CERF), Calypso Jon Bon Jovi, and Calypso KissKiss BangBang.  7 Sept:We regret to announce the death of a true gentleman among dogs: AM/CAN Ch. Calypso Indiana Jones O'Glemyr. Indy was sired by two-time #1 in the USA Ch Macho Man of Papalote and our own inimitable Ch Calypso American Express. He won an Award of Merit at the 1996 BCOA National Specialty show, owner-handled by Glenda Galdeen.  He was owned and cherished by Glenda and her husband, Myrl who live in Saginaw, Michigan. He was always treasured and his passing is a loss deeply felt. Read Indy's page for more information about one of our favorite grandpups.  3 Sept: Durham KC show debuts Shooter.  Calypso KissKiss BangBang wins WD,BW for his first AKC point under judge Helen Haas who found herself assaulted by the brindle love bandit from the examining table.Another heart stolen and pocketed by our stripey prince. Go, "Pooter" !!! 26 Aug: Breeding__Calypso Jon Bon Jovi x Calypso Unona's Scheherazade. Puppies due Oct. 28th. 14 Aug: More news from the Finnish grandpups - in Aura under FIN judge Tiitta Lahtovaara, Dakarai Truella De Ville took 1st place in their puppy class over littersister Dakarai Tingeling (2nd place & honor prize), but went BOB-puppy over cousin Dakarai Sana Sauda who took BOS-puppy. These are pups of our own Barbi and Fudge, respectively. More congratulations to breeder Sanna-maija Virtanen! 5,6,7 Aug: Salem,VA circuit_our puppy boys traveled to their first long distance dog shows and made their debuts. Aunt Dawn Fritts who has Glemyr-Calypso Fantasia (Jon's grandma) & Calypso Weekend Warrior, hosted the 3 of us, as well as playing Shooter's escort/buddy at the shows the whole time while Jon and I did the show dog thing. She also took us on a tour of one of the oldest still-in-use covered bridges in the United States which is nearby to her home in Covington, VA, as well as to a fabulous waterfall discovered by Thomas Jefferson over 200 hundred years ago. We flatlanders were suitably impressed by all this mountain sightseeing, as well as enjoying walks around Dawn's neighborhood which is fabulous for long dog walks. The bratwurst brought in from WI by one of Dawn's fellow CSX engineers for the occasion of our visit was also primo - speaking of primo, that Italian ristorante on Thursday night??? To Die For!!!  Calypso Jon Bon Jovi went RWD all three days, making a lot of new friends with his "I must kiss you!" approach to strangers. He had a blast and is figuring out how a young basenji boy is SUPPOSED to behave in the ring. Sort of.  Calypso KissKiss BangBang was not entered in the regulation shows, but he WAS entered in the huge puppy match the night of Aug.5th. He soundly trounced cousin Jon for BOB, and then went on to win a puppy Group 2nd ! The judge said his feet are perfect, and that a hound lives or dies by its feet. Shooter cares not a whit - he got to live up to his name by kissing everyone within reach of that tongue of his for 3 days, and charming everyone out of pockets full of treats with his charm and good looks. 5,6,7 Aug: Salem,VA circuit. Lance shows Avanti to her title. Her wins_ WB_1pt under judge Gene Blake; WB_2pts under judge Lee Canalizo (actually completing the title); and "insurance points": WB,BOS (over 2 bitch Specials)_1pt under judge Charles Olvis. Congratulations new champion Avanti !!! 30 & 31 July: Unona's Calypso Avanti competed at the Greenville-Spartanburg, SC circuit this weekend, handled capably by Lance Deloria. Avanti went WB for 2pts on Saturday under judge J.D.Jones, and WB, BOS for her 2nd 3-point major on Sunday under judge Doug Shipley. Avanti needs just 3 single points to finish her championship. 16 July:"Tiuku", in her first regulation show in Finland, wins BOS-puppy in Ypaja under judge Jarmo Vuorinen of FIN. 9 July: Dakarai Shani Mlia, daughter of our Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge who was exported to Finland, wins 1st honor prize in the 7-9mos class at the show in Tammela, Finland under judge. Margaret Martin of Ireland.  28 May: Dakarai Tingeling ("Tiuku"), wins BOB-puppy & BIG-2 at puppy match in Tampere, FINLAND at her 1st time in the ring! Tiuku is owned by litter breeder Sanna-Maija Virtanen of Salo, and is litter sister to our own Dakarai Tikal Calypso, "Tiku". Congratulations!  20 May:Unbelievably, Xi undergoes surgery for intestinal blockages...turned out to be something very complicated involving extensive surgery but she is recovering well, and vet noted that reproductive organs unaffected by all the drama and look normal in every way.. so now we wait to see if we get miracle puppies mid-July! 15 May: Breeding accomplished between Ch. Calypso Kilimanjaro + Calypso Xi Xclusively Rennek. This combines Calypso foundation bloodlines in a nice, healthy package. For pedigree fanatics, there are 1960's-era basenjis in the first 4 generations.  Fingers crossed for a summer litter!  2 & 3 April:  Calypso Absolute Angel, OA, NAJ finished in the ribbons again this weekend at the Dog Obedience Club of Hollywood (Florida), completing the requirements for her OAJ title, as well!  On the way to her new title, Karly garnered a 1st place in Saturday's Open Standard run with a perfect score of 100, and a 2nd place in the JWW run with another perfect 100.   On Sunday, Karly won another 1st place in the Open JWW with a perfect 100 score. She's now officially Calypso Absolute Angel, OA, OAJ. Now she'll be competing at the Excellent level of competition in trials with housemate Cody. We'll see if 'bitches rule'...!  Congratulations owner/trainer/handler Debbie Joslin for continued excellence. Whoo-hooo! 1 April  - Our good friend in Maryland, Laura Gilchrist, has decided to take the devil by the horns and quit smoking! We know how hard this will be for her and she has our complete support. We promise to encourage (nag! nag!) her in this positive life change. 12 & 13 March: FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite, FCh won back-to-back Best of Breeds at the SHOT-sponsored AKC lure coursing trials in Virginia this weekend. Following the unusual judging decisions of the Feb. North Carolina trials, this was more the normal course of events for Lila when she runs. GO, LILA, GO! 27 Feb: FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite  ("Lila") earned the final points for her ASFA Field Champiionship today at the MAHA-sponsored lure coursing trials in Rocky Mount, NC. Congratulations to owner/handler Carol Redden of NC! Go, Lila, Go!!!   9 March: Safely arrived from Salo, Finland and Dakarai Basenjis, our new import: Dakarai Tikal Calypso. "Tiku" is out of our own 'Barbi'  (FIN Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas) and Bulldobas Phantom. His new best buddy is our keeper puppy this year, Calypso Jon Bon Jovi. Welcome, Tiku, to the Calypso Crew!  30 Jan: Down in FL, "Karly" Joslin has added a new agility title to her name: Calypso Absolute Angel, OA, NAJ.  Karly won 1st place in the Open Standard run with a perfect score of 100, and running 14 seconds under the course time. In her JWW run, Karly scored a 95 for another 1st place, and ran 6+seconds under the course time.  Congratulations Debbie & Karly - Girls rule!!! Karly's impressive ribbon count: (since starting to compete last summer, and only in local trials) 1st Place x 8; 2nd Place x 2; 3rd Place x 1 in AKC trials. In USDAA trials: 1st x 1; 2nd x 2; 3rd x 2. That makes 16 placement ribbons in very limited trialing. Fantastic! ------------------------------------------ .. 2004 .. 31 Dec: Calypso Absolute Angel, NA, NAJ won her 2nd leg toward qualifying for that OA title today at the Tailwagger's-sponsored agility trials in Palm Beach, FL. "Karly" won her Open Standard run today going 1st place. So far in agility competition, Karly has 4 first place awards & 1 third place. Who knew what a Couch Potato Queen could do? We are humbled! Way to go, owner & handler Debbie Joslin!  11 Dec: FC Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite (Lila) wins BOB at the T&HLC-sponsored ASFA Lure Coursing Trial in Boonsboro, MD. Lila is on the verge of fulfilling the requirements for her ASFA "LC" (Lure Courser) title. Run, Lila, Run!  Congratulations to owner/handler Carol Redden of Cary,NC. 9 Dec: Happy News from Finland - our Barbi (FIN Ch. Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas) has birthed 4 new little treasures: 2 brindle girls, 2 red girls, and 1 red boy. Welcome, grandpups to Dakarai basenjis! The sire is Bulldobas Phantom, same as 'Fudge's' litter sire. Isn't it interesting, all these Calypso girls having their babies within hours of each other, on opposite side of the Atlantic ocean! (Our Sunny is dam to Barbi, and granddam to Fudge.) 8 Dec.: Happy News! 4 brindle pups born to Calypso Midnight Sun ("Sunny") and proud sire Ch Possum Creek Just My Luck. 2 boys/2 girls. Welcome babies! 8 Dec.: Sad note - Calypso Lady In Red has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She had gone blind and her quality of life was greatly diminished. Our condolences to her foster family the Comptons who had puppy sit for her back when we lived in Indiana, and we moved to NC during the same summer. Lady had joined her older full brother, Calypso Jamocha Fudge, in their home just this past January for her retirement. 7 Dec. - News from Finland: Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge had emergency c-section (is this catching, like a virus???) and was delivered of 4 puppies: 1 brindle girl, 1 brindle boy, and 2 red boys. Fudge needs to step up milk production, but grandma 'Barbi' has already made babies feel welcome. Her own litter, like her Momma Sunny here at Calypso, is due any moment! Sire is Bulldobas Phantom. 6 Dec. - Single black/white baby boy born to Xi & Draken after a 3hr breech birth labor. Still ended up heading to Dr.Julia for emergency c-section for puppies still there... turned out that 3 previous fetuses had been reabsorbed cleanly, and uterine horns still distended, which was what we had been feeling. Xi and baby, The Black Prince (!) are doing fantastic. He is beautiful! 5 Dec. - Calypso Absolut Angel ("Karly") qualified for her 2nd leg in Open Standard Agility at another Florida trial, AND WON 1ST PLACE !!! Of course, she did this without breaking a sweat or a nail. She is the TOTAL princess. Brother "Cody" (Calypso Windsor Joslin) completed his coursework within a second of the required time, but at the Master Level where he competes, no mistakes by dog or handler are allowed, and dogs must always finish UNDER the time requirement (and he competes with the Border Collies, etc). Debbie Joslin continues to 'shock & awe' with her basenjis. Cody now yodels as he leaves the course, bringing clapping and laughter in response. He is such a character!  Congratulations once again, Deb! Nov. 30th: The dropdead gorgeous D Twins have been reunited - news from Oklahoma that Vogue has joined brother Boomer across the Rainbow Bridge. Funny how things have a way of working out. Vogue had become very weakened and required veterinary assistance. Her owner had been out of town and got back in time to have a heart-to-heart with her best gal pal in the world. Told her if she needed to go on, she could. Jen said Vogue looked at her, took 3 breaths, and left. Bon Voyage, you most fantastic and wonderful creature! (Look out, Boomer - your sissy is comin' to getcha!) Vogue and Jenifer were busy girls: Vogue-lah was an AKC show champion with national ranking, an Award of Merit Winner at the National Specialty show, won points  at independent specialty shows, was a Lure Courser of Merit in the ASFA system, did obedience work and was a certified therapy dog. If there had been agility back when Vogue was competing, you can bet that Jenifer would have had her doing that, too. A great little dog, a credit to her breed, and a great owner -also a credit to the breed. My life has been richer for having the both of them in it. Ch. Calypso Dressed To Kill, LCM, CGC, TDI Jan.1, 1991 - Nov.30, 2004 Nov. 12th: News from Texas - Calypso Drambuie  (Boomer) has crossed the Rainbow Bridge to join those in the family who have preceeded him.  Boomer was just a month and a half shy of his 14th birthday! He was the twin brother to our inimitable and incomparable "VOGUE". He broke a leg at 10 weeks, healed wrong, and thus ended a show career before it started. He's been the beloved criiminal mastermind pet of Judy King, who will now be adopting Boomer's full, but younger brother from the "I" litter, Calypso Inspiration Africa (Chief). Chief will be joining his daughter, Striker, at Judy's home where apparently tolerance of the highest order is in generous supply !!! Nov. 14th: Toffee  (Calypso Butter Brickle) wins her 1st AKC championship point going Winners Bitch and Best Bred By Exhibitor in Breed at the Fayetteville, NC dog  show. Nov. 7:  We received news from Ohio of the passing of "Mara", Calypso Captain Marvel. She was just a month shy of her 16th birthday. Her brother, "Crunch",  Calypso Captain Crunch, had died earlier this spring.  Sire: Ch. Smooth Operator of Woz Dam: Calypso American Grafitti Dec. 1988 - Nov. 2004 Oct. 17: It's official: Honey's UKC conformation Championship certificate arrived from UKC. Whoo-hoo! Goosebump moment upon reading the bottom line on the certificate: BREEDER OF RECORD:  FONGBE TRIBE. Bet you won't find that on a championship certificate anywhere else in the world !!! Oct. 12: Honey and the rest of the Avuvi import puppies have been DNA tested clear of hemolytic anemia.(sometimes referred to as pyruvate kinase deficiency disease) This is an inherited, fatal disorder, and known to the basenji community.                                       Oct. 6/7/8: Breedings accomplished between Justin & Sunny. All-brindle litter due ~ Dec.8th. [ Ch Possum Creek's Just My Luck,JC x Calypso Midnight Sun ] Healthy pedigree (!) and lovely temperaments here! News from FINLAND: Our beloved stripey daughters, FIN Ch.Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas (BARBI) and Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge (Fudge) have been bred to Bulldobas Phantom (Jasu) at the beginning of October. We will be welcoming a puppy from one of these breedings back here to Calypso, and look forward to a return visit to our favorite Scandinavian country in the spring to pick up our baby.  If you would  be interested in checking out these wonderful breedings yourself, please visit Dakarai basenjis on the web or via our LINKS section. If we can help in transporting your puppy to the States in the spring, we will be happy to do so. Oct. 3: Calypso Absolut Angel, NA, NAJ  -  Miss  Karly  finishes both of her Novice Agility titles the 2nd possible weekend in competition. A 3rd place finish today, as well. She is on her way to a title & placement ribbon collection like Cody's. Congratulations, Debbie! Oct. 2:     Our Florida Agiility stars, Cody & Karly Joslin (and Mom Debbie) were at it again: Today, Karly qualified in both Novice Agility & Nov.Agility Jumpers w/Weaves, also getting  1st Place at both trials!  Cody has a lumbar injury, but lucked out: canine masseuse in residence at the trials, so he got transported to Doggie Heaven under expert manipulation by magic fingers! Sept. 28 & 29:   Draken + Xi have been bred. Puppies are expected around November 30th.  Colors: Red/white, &  black/white. 19 Sept: New UKC Champion Avuvi Afonhaan !!! Honey won the same awards at the morning show for her 3rd major and a total of 105 points = championship. She is the first Western hemisphere conformation champion native born/bred basenji.  (2 South African champions preceeded her.)    ***Thank you to Laura Gilchrist for expert handling on 18 Sept. and a lovely junior handler for filling in on 19 Sept. and finishing her. Thank you to Robert Dean, her co-owner for entering Honey in the shows unexpectedly and for being such a dedicated cheerleader. Now she is finally home at Calypso and we will start obedience training as her next project! (although she also gets to start practice short track racing this fall to get her ready for LGRA competition next spring!)*** 18  September: Avuvi Afonhaan (Honey) wins Winners Bitch/Best of Winners at her 1st & 2nd UKC shows in Warrenton, Virginia today. The wins gave her 2 majors and a total of 70 points toward her UKC championship all in one day. (CH = 3 majors w/100 pts won). The judges kindly agreed to provide written critiques of her and of Kuoabo (also entered) for their permanent files & the historic record of the Avuvi Project. 7 September: Avuvi Afonhaan's CERF registraton rec'd: Eyes normal. Reg. # BJ-1143/2004-5. 6 September: Avuvi Afonhaan ("Honey") -  1st place in her puppy class at the Basenji Club of America national specialty African Match in Manitowac, WI. Her 1st time in the show ring - Go, Honey! 4 Sept: 3 months short of his 11th birthday, "Tux" still has what it takes in the show ring! Entered in a special Veteran's competition at the Durham, NC Kennel Club show in Raleigh, Tux won Best of Breed and Hound Group 1st -Veteran. In the Veteran Best In Show ring were former national specialty winners and top ranked dogs in their breeds. Our black & white boy slipped into his famous 5th gear and powered around the big rings as easily as ever; no one could believe his age. It was such a blast and privilege being back at the other end of the lead with this dog one more show. Go, TUX ! 24th August: Avuvi Afonhaan issued a permanent registration # by the United Kennel Club (UKC) of the USA, and can start exhibiting at their conformation shows as of September. "Honey" was the test case for the group of Benin imports and their "open" pedigrees (100% native ancestry). 5th August: News from Finland - Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge has hip/elbow/patella tested normal "A". Congratulations owner Sanna-Maija Virtanen! 3rd August: Kevin agrees to Susan's request that Benin import basenji puppy Avuvi Afonhaan ("Honey") be adopted into the Calypso family following her quarantine period. Glorious Day !! 2nd August: Ch. Calypso Draken Dreamer: Thyroid panel test results: Normal. Hips OFA Certified "Good". 27th July: Landing in Virginia from Benin, West Africa: 6 new African imports, under 12 weeks of age. Importers are Robert & Tricia Dean of Manassas, VA via former Peace Corps volunteer Chris Starace. Can't wait to visit the new babies ASAP !!! See our LINKS page under 'Breeders' for more on this if you'd like... 18th July: Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel 'Tyger' completes the requirements for the JC title. Thank you, Carol, for handling Tyger this weekend! 17th July: Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel 'Tyger' qualifies for the 1st leg of her AKC Junior Courser (JC) title. One more leg and she can compete in AKC lure trials. She and Lila are down at the CLCS trials in Camden, SC this weekend. Carol Redden managing now both Lila and Tyger at the event. Go, Carol !!! 6 July: Farewell to Ch. Calypso Evening Shade (owned by Myrl & Glenda Galdeen of Glemyr basenjis in Saginaw, MI). Burt was 12.5 yrs old and died from an infection that did not respond to any antibiotics, just like what happened with his own sire. It was this weekend in 1999 that Burt finished his title, entered only as a filler for his hotshot 1/2 brother, Tux and handsome nephew, Rich who both needed just a major to finish their titles. Burtrando famously hated to show and so when he won (in 104 degree F heat), which finished his own title, we came unglued - such celebration! 'Trand-o the Man-do', indeed! 27 June: NEW CHAMPION - Calypso Draken Dreamer!!! Draken and handler Greg Strong, PHA,  win Draken's 2nd and final Major (5 pts) up in Bel Alton, MD under Judge Mr. David Hyman.  Draken is Aatu's 2nd USA progeny to finish an AKC conformation championship.  Congratulations owers Luis & Oneina Abellon (FL), and Finnish "grandmothers" Tiina Taavitsainen (breeder of BISS  Int'l/FIN/SWE/NOR Ch Bulldobas Whipper-Snapper) and owner Katja Lappalainen (who designs our website!) !!! and to our own "Sunny", Draken's beautiful mother - You are the BEST,  our dear sweet stripey darling!!!!! 25 June: Calypso Draken Dreamer wins 1st Major (3 pts) at Bel Alton, MD circuit under Judge Mr. Joe Walton. PHA handler Mr. Greg Strong showing Draken to perfection! 6 June: Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite 'Lila' finishes her AKC Field Championship at the CHAMP LC trial in Montpelier Station, VA. She won not only Best of Breed, but won BEST IN FIELD.  Evidently, Good Things also come to those who absolutely WILL NOT WAIT - hah!  Congratulations to Lila and her Mom, Carol Redden of Cary, NC who has added Lure Coursing Mama to her 'Soccer Mom' title at home. Thank you, Carol, for all you have done on Lila's behalf !!! ***Lila is the 1st of Aatu's USA pups or grandpups to put a title in front of their name. Lila now has them at both ends! *** 5 June: Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite 'Lila' runs to another Best of Breed win at the CHAMP club Lure Trial held at Montpelier Station, VA. Today's run gives her the AKC Senior Courser (SC) title, and 5 more points toward her AKC Field Championship - 4 points to go for the title! 4 June: We learn of the passing of the mother of our beloved Aatu. See end of text on Bulldobas Whipper-Snapper for tribute.  Such a loss - one of the breed's top winning and producing bitches in the World. 31 May: Unona's Calypso Aland Flutesong goes WD, BOS once more for 1 pt. at the third Fargo-Moorehead show in the Memorial Day weekend circuit. Not bad -  Nancy Craigie and Aland had themselves a 6 point weekend, including that 4pt major! 30 May: Unona's Calypso Aland Flutesong awarded WD,BW & Best of Breed for 4pt major at Fargo-Moorehead KC show. Weather during this show circuit was "exciting": torrential downpours brought 8 inches of rain to the show grounds! 30 May in Miami, FL: AKC Agility trial results for the Joslin basenjis: Calypso Absolut Angel Double Q'd: Novice  A  JWW, score =100. 1st place = 2nd leg toward  NAJ. Novice  Standard run (NA) score=100. 2nd place=1st leg toward  NA title. Calypso Windsor Joslin OA,AXJ  won 1st place in AX Std 20 in. run for another leg toward AX title. Only dog of 14 entered to qualify this day. NQ'd on his MXJ run when he stopped in the middle of the weaves to stare at a young girl who dared sneeze ringside during his performance - talk about prima donnas! 29 May: Miami, FL AKC Agility trial results: Calypso Absolut Angel (Karly)- qualified on Novice Agiility JWW 16 in. score =100 + 1st place for 1st leg toward NAJ title. Calypso Windsor Joslin, OA AXJ (Cody) - blew Agility Std 20 in. run when Karly started screaming at him rindside from her crate and he ran to investigate!?! MXJ run: Cody scored his 1st qualifying leg toward his MXJ title. 29 May: Unona's Calypso Aland Flutesong won WD, BOS for 1 pt at Fargo-Moorehead KC show in Fargo, ND. Aland is owned & shown by Nancy Craigie of Hastings, MN 21 May: Unona's Calypso Armani ("Eclipse") won WD at Illinois Valley Kennel Club show under judge D.C. Taylor for 1 point. He is owned and shown by Dallas Hunt Pearson of St.Joseph, MO (Lacada basenjis). 9th May: Calypso Holiday Hot Fudge won Res-CC at show in Pori, Finland. Judge: Marija Kavcik (Slovenia), handled by her owner, Miss Sanna-maija Virtanen. 1st May: Calypso B'Aatu Big Sir wins WD,BW,BOB at Bucks County, PA show under New Zealand judge Martin Hewitt for his 12th point. Just 1 major to finish AKC championship. 1st May 2004: Farewell Ch. Calypso Blaze of Glory. "Gloria" finally succombed to cancer at age 15 years, 4 months. Up until the day before she died, she was still trotting around the property a couple times a day, keeping an eye on things. The spirit was willing, but the flesh was weakening - she would run out of steam far from the house and have to be carried back, but she continued to amaze us even as we knew we were witnessing her last days. A lifelong basenji criminal, she lived by her own code, and no matter the consequences, pursued her own agenda. She was always a force to be reckoned with at Calypso, and our stories of her exploits -and of those outside Calypso who were victimized by her- are epic. She has moved her act across the Rainbow Bridge - doG help them!!! 25th April: Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite wins another Best of Breed at an ASFA lure coursing trial in Jamestown, VA, this despite being attacked. She'd been challenged the day before and it affected her coursing. Owner Carol braved it out and muzzled Lila on day #2 and instructed her to be good, just course! And she did - even after being bitten!  Go Lila! Great going, Carol !!!                                                                24th April: Big news from Joslin home - Cody's human daddy, Perry Joslin, has released a Jazz CD. A lifelong musician, Perry's piano is backed by some of the top Jazz musicians in the USA. Basenji alert: there are two compositions on the CD devoted to BASENJIS! There is a song inspired by the B-500 that Cody and Karly do through the Joslin house every day, and a love song to Karly from her daddy. According to Debbie (who has a love song of her own dedicated to her on the CD), when one of the technicians remarked during the recording session that "Karly's Song" was so beautiful - Perry must really love his wife...Perry told him it  was a song about his dog, and the studio full of musicians and techs cracked up. Anyway, all basenji people looking to collect a really fabulous jazz CD that also includes the planet's ONLY basenji-inspired Jazz compositions and recordings, go to :                                                       www.perryjoslin.com   4th April: Calypso Windsor Joslin finished AXJ (AKC) agility title, 1st basenji to finish AXJ in USA in 2004; only two completed this title in 2003! "Cody" will now compete for Master title in Jumpers. Still looking to finish AX title! 27th March: Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite did it again - she won Best of Breed at the SESRA inaugural LGRA-sanctioned race! It gave her 1 "National point" toward her LGRA championship. Her sire Calypso B'Aatu Big Sir was 2nd and Calypso Holiday Hot Caramel was 3rd! (SESRA = Southeast Sighthound Racing Assocation, LGRA = Large Gazehound Racing Association) 20th-21st March: Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite wins again - AKC Lure trial in Williamsburg, VA: Best of Breed x 2 over Field Champions. She won 2 Majors toward her AKC field Championship! 22nd Feb: HUGE Congrats to Calypso E-Z Ever Tu Brite, JC 'Lila' for 1st in Open & Best Of Breed in her 1st Lure Coursing trial in MAHA/ASFA Falcon, NC with 32 points!! 16th Feb: congratulations to Calypso Windsor Joslin in Florida who finished his Open Standard Agility (OA) title and got his first leg on his Excellent w/Jumpers title! 14th Feb: Calypso Xi Xclusively Rennek was Winners Bitch & Best Of Winners (3 pts MAJOR!!) at the Annapolis KC, MD show under judge Dr Richard Hilderman! 22nd Jan: Calypso Z'Aireborne Ranger's OFA Certificate arrived today! 18th Jan: New Puppies are here - Ranger & Renni are proud parents of two red/white boys! :-) 3rd Jan: Unona's Calypso Aland Flutesong Winners Dog & Best of Winners in Land O'Lakes KC, MN with 1 point under judge Ms. Jane Roppolo! .. year 2003 .. 22nd Dec: Happy 15th Birthday dear Gloria !! :-) 16th Dec: Calypso Double Dares Bulldobas &