javelina /ˌhavəˈlēnə

I couldn’t forget the phrase “javelina legal” after it imprinted on me. Mainly because it made me chuckle. I floated the name off a friend who immediately said, “mister dobalina mister bob dobalina” and we cracked up knowing we were onto something.

Javelinas are these resilient little creatures that are often mistaken for pigs but are actually more closely related to hippos – making them not easy to categorize.

I had my first encounter with a squad of javelinas on a hike west of Austin, Texas. Maybe it was the unfamiliar circumstances or maybe it was their magic, but either way they were equal parts exhilarating to see and nerve-wracking. They have grit, spirit, boldness and hustle, much like (ahem) yours truly.

Later, on a “quest” of sorts to the Big Bend region of Far West Texas, I saw a family of javelinas and had that same flicker of excitement. A star, in my eyes, was born.

I chose the name because of their mystique and because of the fortitude and survivability of javelinas and the other humans and critters who thrive in the desert.

Here is a playlist I made shortly after yet another brush with a squad of javelinas. And you can listen to Mistadobalina here along with Zilch (the source of the dobalina sample) – Enjoy!