Page 475 - NIXBOOK

bindles of pills or powder into the bins or straight onto the ground; when those were found Kilo told me in no uncertain terms
that those substances were quite illegal. So while we didn’t of course stop most of the drugs, the event promotors could point
out to any critics that while yes, drugs do seem to be an integral part of the rave experience, there were drug dogs on duty and
sincere efforts were made to minimize the drug smuggling. Of course I knew I was being used just to placate the critics but I
was fine with that.
It was a very interesting experience but I declined to do it again the next year – standing outside for 8 hours in temperatures
below freezing is not really my thing. Even though (after taxes) I made $250 dollars. The guy who ran the company also asked
me to also come over to Seattle and work security at the Seahawks games. It was tempting, but I almost always worked on game
days (Sundays) back then so I had to decline.

One of Kilo’s parents was a full–blooded Malinois. Currently the preferred dog for outer perimeter security at the White House,
and the number one preferred dog breed for SEAL Teams going into combat when they need war dogs. Sometimes Mals are
referred to as “land sharks” or “maligators” since their front end is basically all teeth; sometimes also called “fur missiles” when
they launch after bad guys.

You know how when you’re playing tug with a dog, and the dog has to let go with his mouth to get a better grip on whatever it
is you’re playing with? And you know how some dogs are really, really fast when they do that? I learned to see the subtle warning
signs coming when Kilo was going to go for a regrip. My skill at that was hard learned; I got a lot of toothy snapping “kilobites”
on my hands when his jaws closed down on my fingers. Or hands. Or arms, even. I certainly wasn’t alone; every family member
and coworker who spent any time playing with Kilo got their share of tooth-grazed gnashed hands and arms; sometimes there
would be blood. And then I’d tell them “Hey congratulations you’ve just joined the Too Slow Club!” I of course got more kilobites
than anybody else. Below is a rare example of an upper arm kilobite; usually the wounds were sustained to fingers. And because
my boys and Susan played with Kilo a lot, they go their share of kilobites.

I remember one time when Carter was playing ball with Kilo in the backyard and Kilo grabbed for the ball in his hands and got
a mouthful of Carter’s shirt instead. And then he decided he didn’t want to let go. I was laughing too hard for the longest time
before I could give him the command in German to let go of the boy’s shirt, which was decidedly worse for the wear after that.
I told him to keep wearing the shirt to school anyway; he could truthfully tell the other kids that the hole was caused by an
attack from a police dog. Which is a pretty unique excuse.