Iditarod 2008

Tomorrow the musher's line up on fourth avenue....just the way I remember them from my childhood. I will be lining the street also in hopes of learning something new as well as to enjoy the thrill of sending these musher's off on the ceremonial start of the biggest sled dog race in Alaska. As I prepare for our adventure tomorrow morning I cant help but remember the reason for this great race. A race of time...a rampant virus killing many in the hardest time of the year for transportation. A medical cure for many racing the elements of nature one man guided by a team of dogs...who knew their way home...an amazing story really...but for now...I must go to bed....coffee and dog racing on fourth avenue for me tomorrow....and hot cocoa in what used to be a Navy recruiting office...

She is Back

Blogger back to blog land....sorry no time for a blog...need a nap...

and....

We are starting the cycle again...this time I am armed with a strategy. After interviewing a number of Mormons, Koreans, Samoans and blacks I learned how each of these races manages to live in community house holds. Meaning these races see the benefits in living in a home with several incomes to keep the house running...What I learned is I am not going Mormon...the expense of stashing a years worth of food, water and cleaning supplies for a family this size would suck...then I would have to rent another house to store it all ... Women seem to bring in the income in the Samoan homes...but most of the women I have talked to complain about ALL the same crap I do except they are out working too! Nope not for me.... Now the black families have an interesting pecking order...MOM is in charge...unless one has a bigger gun...Since I could never handle a gun big enough to deal with my family unless I found a good used cannon...that one is out too...Now the Asians...this is a very intelligent race... The average house hold consists of a set of grandparents, parents and children. siblings often share the home also...Grandparents take the responsibility of the children and the home during the day and all the adults work...usually in family ran businesses...each employed member puts a designated amount of their pay into a "community pot"...this is to pay the bills that go along with the home as well as monies they send back to family in Korea....this leaves money in their pockets in accordance to what they are willing to make for themselves above and beyond the house hold needs. So then comes the household up keep...mainly noted in all societies to be the womans chore I decided this had to change...with seven adults in this home there is no reason anyone person should have to do the damn dishes eve ry day...so I assigned pairs...one adult...one child...teach em young and I may not be in this boat again someday... House has been organized thanks to Anna and now I have control again...chore boards went up and letters were handed out to each person, discussing "their own issues" and what I expect accomplished from each of them. With all things considered I feel this can work if all participate properly...and if not...well the Army will take four...Anna will get sick of me getting her stuck in swamps and Britt will turn 18...Donny?...He is going to live with me until he finds the perfect woman...then move the hell out....hehehe might take him till he is fourty but patients will pay off...lol So the sun is shinning and it is cold...but not that cold...did not drop below 20 today...according to Fred here...he has had his mittens and hat on all day...hummidity level is up to 31% and it is 65.8 degrees in my room... Tomorrow I turn a day older...and my oldest son getting married... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Dimmest Recess of America

Maybe she was blond?? and the states dumbest Halloween Tricksters...back in the paper... Someone please read this boring political article and let me know what it says...thanks. So Happy Friday Everyone....and remember...if you find a gun....DON'T POINT IT AT YOUR HEAD!

Life

It really is funny how life works. How one day you think things are one way and the next there not...In the last few days things have been a bit weird around here...With the murder of a friend, Anna coming home, her grandfather dying right after she gets back, Crystal came back, Josh is getting ready to leave, they are getting married, and well it just seems that each day holds another event that will continue to keep life moving...one would not want to get stagnant this time of year. So the ice is slick...and the water on it during the day does not help...but I am still hoping to do the Rhondy this weekend... That is after I go to the DMV and get my license renewed...it expired on my birthday....last year. Procrastination...but I better do it now...or they will make me retake the test on Monday....hehe one year....Now I will behave the rest of my life Kay? The kids have asked to get married on my birthday...granted there are some outer forces hurrying this along...and no it is not pregnancy...lol...I could ask them to wait...but what a better way to make sure he never forgets my birthday... So Monday February 25th...I will get a daughter in law for my present...cant say as I mind...they make a good pair...and have tested the "thicker and thin" part of the vows with great success...I know that these two will forever be each others best friend...GOD grant them the courage, faith, and wisdom to make each year better than the last.....

A Good Race...

As the leading teams draw near White Horse I must congratulate both for an exceptional run. Anderson's 52 minute lead out of Scoggie Creek was over taken by Pelly Crossing by Makey. Macky left Braeburn with a ten minute lead on Anderson and two extra dogs. Makey had taken several "rests" where Anderson went several check points without... I would have concluded that Anderson's dogs were tired...only 8 left...should have cost him speed... what i am hearing is an 8 minute distance separates these two on their way to the finish... since you can not go anywhere because i am typing on you...your forced to sit here with me and wait out this race.... yep we are still waiting...wanna play word srabble... vnotasironec...........can ya guess it? Huh? Better go back and see if we have a winner... Not yet..maybe the dogs had to potty...or maybe the musher's are playing rock paper scissors to see who will win...or maybe i am just super inpatient and want to got to bed... So they are not in on the assumed schedual...do you think they stopped for a drink on Main Street?...maybe if we tell some jokes...Knock Knock... Your spose to say "Who's there?" Well you are...but thats okay because i don't know the rest of the joke anyway. So I picked the boogers in my nose...and flipped them at the screen...bored with that now...took my dog out...he needs studs hehe that was not nice since he is neutered...don't tell him i said that...so what to do now....waiting.... and we are still waiting....zzzzzz...wait did i hear a dog bark? This is it...they are moving down the last leg...first avenue and wood...who will it be? Well how am i suppose to know that...i am just here on this blog trying to keep you updated...geez... So while we sit here we could contemplate the meaning of life...I am thinking chocolate...or maybe pop corn....but then it could be that this dog race it taking up to much of my time and energy...hehe...guess i found a sport that does not have a ball in it...and is entertaining to my senses.. Did anyone win? Why you asking me that? Cause your the one watching the race dummy....oh yah...hold on i will check.... Well if they have they are too busy celebrating to update the web site that they have been so good at keeping up to date so far... i am gonna play pogo pig poker to pass the time...maybe i will win the pork... and at 1:23 Pacific Standard Time Lance Mackey took the Yukon Quest for the fourth year in a row.....Way to go Lance!!!!! Ken Anderson ran a good race and came in second just 15 minutes behind Lance.... Now lets see if he makes it Anchorage in time to sign in for the next race....

Hmmmm...

Blog...Welcome home Anna..... Keep up the good Race Lance.... We will miss you Jen.... Hope your with your daughter Rob.... Please dont let me go insane.... Spring hurry up...I wanna run away!!! Have a good day.

So much for kissing babies

Look closely...who is this hiding in an old ladies wig? Has he went under cover? Is he hiding from something? Hmmmm....guess old ladies have more money than babies.

Update on the Quest

Lance Mackey had the lead coming into stepping stone when Ken Anderson raced through stopping only long enough to check in and check out. Took Lance 58 minutes to get back on the trail. Since both left the last check point and Ken arrived several hours after Lance in Stepping Stone I am going to guess that Ken rested along the trail some where... So the race is in it's last leg and the Yukon Quest Title for the year 2008 looks like it is going to be close.....Lance has the speed dogs...but Ken has the lead..... Stay tuned....for morning update.

Dog Training Update

Today...Took forty five minutes to get the kids and the dog ready to go for our ride. With Warren recovering for the flu...we dressed and undressed three times but we finally made it out the door. Lexis has broken or chewed her way out of every collar, harness and leash she has so she was not going to go on this outing...but she had other thoughts on that and dashed out the door between Melissa's legs. Now up till not Mac would take off following her...i yelled at him to "Whoa" and he actually did!!! I was so proud of him. Lexis too came to a stop...she looked back at Mac turned and ran...I could tell he wanted to join her...but he stayed put...and got a cookie for it too...he loves cookies. Once he was hooked to the sled...kids aboard for their ride...a soft "giddup" and he was off...off the sled and free...realizing he was not pulling anything...he stopped...looked back and sat down...giving me a real weird look... Once the sled was reattached we were off....Lexis made one last dashing effort to get Mac to come play with her...but he ignored her....My good dog...she was off again. Recovering from the flu makes running a sled tough...today with Eric out shoveling I lead them to the end of the cul-de-sac and let go of Macs lead. Using voice commands only he took the babies home...slowing when I hollered "whoa down" and moving on from Lex and her distraction when i commanded him to "move on". He now has half of the verbal commands on the list i found on the internet... as soon as I can figure a way to remember gee and haw...we will work on them ...but for now we are running on a straight road and have no need to turn right or left....

Snow!!

snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow**** but it is not below zero!!!!! snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow****snow ********snow*******SNOW*******SNOW*******snow*****snow*****snow****snow**** shovellllllllll.....dog pulll sled......its not below zero!!!!

Will He do it again??

Lance Mackey With the Iron Dog under way...the Yukon Quest is off and running too...so many races to keep up on...but with my dog not being made of iron...I am on to the Yukon Quest...Lance Mackey again is racing both races and plans to use the same team. Also the team that won him a new truck last year...so he should not have any problem making it back to Anchorage for the start of the Iditarod. With the race half over Lance is in the lead, having left Slaven's Cabin early this morning... with all his dogs. Now this is a race of speed more than endurance like the Iditarod is laid out to be...three hours is a good lead... Running dogs with experience will help him in this quest...

Suicide?

An interesting read...who ever thought a moose could fly...or drop in this case...and what are the chances it would be a trooper that was almost hit?

Spring....it's coming.

I felt it last night as I chatted with an old friend on the internet. Or maybe since she is in Australia she sent some warm air...either way...the temp has risen!! Winter is by no means over...may even drop below zero again...but not for long...the snow is wet...tells me it is warmer up above now...and the ground is going to begin to retain some of the heat that our longer days are offering...did anyone else notice it was day light at 6pm last night...and again by 8 this morning...the season has begun...the battle between winter and spring...first game ...Spring 1 win 0 losses Winter 0 wins 1 loss I got my money on spring...the odds are with her...especially if global warming is considered in the equation....anyone want to bet on winter?

I have asked, and asked, and asked....

Ever since I moved home to Alaska...an "indoor/outdoor" thermometer has been on my list of wants. Several holidays have passed and I myself have purchase a couple "cheap" ones. Yesterday I could not stand it anymore...and I went and bought my own Birthday present.... Walking into the store I headed straight for the garden section in hopes of finding the thermometer that was made just for me.... So tell me why a store in Alaska would even carry an outdoor thermometer that will break when it goes below O? I found thermometers that can pull signals from satellites just in case you want to know the temperature in 7 other places too...I found thermometers with remote controls...dad could use this...carry it in his pocket and he would always know how warm or cold his house is...not sure if you can adujust the temp from the remote....lol...and of course I found your standard round and straight cheap ones that blow off in the wind and recalibrate themselves when ever they feel like it.... Then I found Fred. Love was not instant as Fred is a nerd in a "space age" looking suite. Not the decorative thing I was looking for...but much more fun to watch.... See Fred gives me the indoor out door temperatures and well as humidity levels...It is -6.6 degrees, 0% humidity out side....and 70.7 with 20% humidity inside...at 9:38 Alaska Standard Time...in anchorage Alaska. Now if this is not enough information to help plan my day....Fred also shows how to dress.....when it is warm...he is wearing shorts and a tank top...as the temp drops he puts on clothes...complete with hat scarf gloves and boots...Fred is the man....Unfortunately every time I try to take a picture of him...the glare fades him out...someday I will learn to use this camera!

Global Warming

It's fourteen below, my worlds covered in snow, and people complain "Global Warming". I plug in my car, It's not very hard, just to be sure it starts in the morning. It's twenty below, and I just don't know, how the ice could recede in the Arctic. My water pipes freeze, and I fall to my knees, because sidewalks have not joined that party. Global Warming they say, as the sun fades away, and the temperature moves to near 30. (below) So now I must say, before I go on my way, GOD please let it be warm in the morning. (at least +10 would be nice)

Snickering at my sisters post...

While Messaging my two older children who were else where in the house on their own computers..."your chores"...funny how the timing worked...then I got the !!!!!!!! and I used the "Dont you !!!!!!!!me!!" I was laughed at... I began cleaning up the kids room for bed time...returning to my room I found... Melissa!!! on my computer!!!!....she figured out how to put in her "Caiau" game...she figured out how to get it started...and she figured out how to play it...including printing the "Coloring pictures" by the tens!!! Now my four year old is going to outgrow me!! I need yet another computer.

Why Not??

Mat Su Dairy closing down...In Wasilla...New Prison going up...In Wasilla...hmmm??? Does anyone else see the answer here? Okay let me see...cows make milk...old milk cows make hamburger...farmers need to sell their mass quantities of milk or the environmentalist will freak out when it gets dumped into the lakes and streams or is rotting in the tundra....Arizona wants us to take on our own bad guys...we have no where to put them...New Prison in Wasilla planned...large dairy needs operator....now why not? IF they built that prison around that dairy...prisoners could run it. They could be educated to run the billing side...although maybe not trusted...but a "peudo program" could be set up that did not allow them access to the money but still gave the book keeping experience...they would have to clean the dairy...therefore they would learn about environmental issues and health codes. There would be a need for poop clean up...the dudes being punished for bad behavior could get this job...what worse torture than being shackled and only being able to move slowly while you shovel poo with your hands cuffed in a hot cow stall.....ewwww..... What I see in this is a better chance for that damn "rehab" everyone claims is possible...which I believe is true in most cases. This would also provide the prisoners with the ability to support them selves while helping others and working on a team. A BIG self esteem booster. (My mouse is dead darn it!) What I also see is a financial break on our taxes...What I also see is a bunch of uneducated people being educated so when they get out...jobs will not be so hard to come by. With the help of a Major University in our area...and an income to help themselves...they would be at least ready to work a real job when they got out...and once again...this is a BIG boost on someones self esteem...maybe a way to lower our crime rate?? Now to figure out how to use the key board to get to that darn publish post button down there... nope not that key steal the batteries out of the Wii that is how I will do it....

I got Subs too...

The United States Navy played a large role in the production of The Hunt For Red October. The above photo is NOT one of our subs...or it might be...anyway...after weeks of unusually sunny weather on the Olympic Peninsula...the production crew was finally granted the lightening storm they were desiring during their filming in our area. Someone caught this picture during the scene they were suppose to be removing him from the sub. Many of us were sitting in the station listening to the helicopter reports on the events happening out in the straight...a movie film is NOT top secret there fore they allowed us to sit and listen...none of us new at the time that there was NO actual sub in the area...in fact all the subs used in that movie were mostly staged...the Navy deemed it costly to use them although there were several Navy ships used during the film. I do believe it was the USS Enterprise and it's "small" fleet of floating guns that were there that day. Okay back to the story... We were sipping coffee and eating the best Chocolate Cake ever when we heard a slightly panicked young man come on the radio...it seems they were filming a "dummy scene"...that is a Coast Guard Helicopter out of Port Angeles Washington...hanging from the cable is one of the guys we had to dinner regularly...cant remember his real name...we called him Moose. He was suppose to hang and act out retrieving someone from a floating object (sub)seems the Navy thought it would be funny to have a sub come up at just the right moment to scare the beejebus out of the crew on that helicopter...including Sean Connery...Humor in Uniform right? This event was talked about for quite sometime around our base...small towns do not forget to easily. So the only "real floating" subs seen in that movie are a Navy one that was NOT suppose to be there and a Russian one that also was NOT suppose to be there...I would have to watch the movie again to figure out which scenes...another interesting fact about this movie...parts of it were filmed from the top of Mt Marathon in Seward...Weather was not being predictable in Washington...the crew heard weather patterns in Alaska may just prove fruitfull...they flew up...filmed and were back in Neah Bay before the weekend was over... Thought I would show some sub pictures...wish I still had the rest of the film we took during this time...it was stolen with our camera and camera bag...but the memories are in my heart and mind...my brief trip to Hollywood...oh wait...Hollywood came to me.....

The Half Time Show

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Believe Everything we hear...

National Treasure The Conspiracy Book...a movie my boy took me too...a Modern Day Indiana Jones with a political twist. On TV the other night we were watching something...can not remember what but a commercial came on and stated that "We would not be able to televise this if this were not the truth." Can not remember what was being advertised...some weight loss drug or something...I can not remember because I was lost in a conversation with my kids over believing everything one sees on TV...this disclaimer DID NOT AID MY CAUSE. What does this have to do with the movie we watched? I will not tell you...you must see the movie. Okay fine here is a clue... If you were the president of the United States of America...would you not have secrets that need to be passed on to the next president? Secrets that no body know but the president? This information would be hard to pass on in verbal tones as the abilities for being over heard are tremendous....so why not put these secrets in a book...a book that only the president has access too? Now I over heard a few comments about "Secrets being kept from the public". I want to make it clear that I am ALL FOR THIS. The public makes judgment calls with out all the right information. Usually based on facts heard by an aunts best friends ex husbands new girlfriends daughter.....I was raised in a home where I often heard..."If I tell you I have to kill you." With a father in the US Navy I NEVER questioned this statement. I am sure on many tours he heard or was given orders that NO ONE could know about. These orders were even kept from family due to the security of the crew involved. Guessing it was pretty hard on the secret keepers too...especially the crew from the downed submarine off of Amchitka. These men left a Fourth of July Picnic kissing there spouses and telling them they would be home later...in time for fire works...next thing these families knew was a rumor stating someone saw the sub leaving port... 40 some years later...the sub is found again...ending the "secret". Guess my point here is...why do we judge when we really do not know...what if a president takes office and is given a "book" this book has answers to things he was not allowed to reveal...things that he may or may not have believed true in the past. This would be a tough situation...holding secrets that answer or reveal questions that are probably best left unanswered or asked. The fiction of this movie was so Indianan Jones it left me time to "listen" and think about how I would feel if I were President of the United States of America...Please No body ever nominate me...I do not want that kind of responsibility. I do not want to have that many peoples needs to pay attention too...his job is way worse than mother hood...he deals with whiners in the presence of people who tell him what and what not to do...while tripping over body guards every where he goes...yuck!!! His life is most definitely NO FUN!! A movie worth watching...it makes you think..

Got my Moose Farm Started!!

It all started here...a step out on to the porch to discover someone BIG waiting....after a few seductive whispers...this nice little male moose was won over. I do believe Josh has a new Best Friend. Now as this friendship was blossoming I was watching from the safety of my Yukon...after arriving home from picking a friend up from the airport. This moose was so in love with my son that when Josh tried to walk away he would nuzzle him with his face...I do believe at one point they were inhaling each others breath....AMAZING!! that was what this experience was... So this little guy had just dropped his rack...maybe he will come back next fall?? Well lets just hope this love match lasts...On February 12 the next crew of new Army Recruits from Alaska will be shipped out...Josh will be with them.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DONNY!

My dog will not let me out of the house unless he goes too...then he goes to the sled and sits...when he realizes I am leaving in the truck...he retreats to the house...not to fond of riding. Today our day started early...so I took him out in the bitter chill...man it is amazing how quiet LA is at 5am. He took to the voice commands of "gee" "haw" and "whoa" after just three trips up to the cul-de-sac. Being walked on a leash with me the "lead dog". "A self trainer" according to the web site I found, is a potential "lead" dog...I also learned all is not hopeless for Ms. Lexy...according to professional trainers some dogs can still be trained well into their second year of life. Breeds like shepherds who naturally "herd" not pull. I will keep working her with out Mac around...hopefully he will train quick and can assist me in her training...another tip I picked up on the site. I discovered a sled in Wasilly...gonna call on it today...although it did belong to Macky so it probably is costly...but curiosity killed the cat...I wont buy dumb...besides the web site said to talk to other musher's that have experience and someone will assist you in buying your sled...many "chain stores" sell sleds and gear...over priced or badly made...musher's do not like dogs being traumatized by a bad sled...so Saturday I am taking my dog, my tabogin and Melissa to the Young Mushers' Track on Tudor...I am going to guess there I may find some answers and possibilities...(may get me out of girl scouts someday...hehe) So I bet you are all sick of hearing about my dog...well I could dwell on politics...but dad has that covered well...poetry? visit my brother in law...and besides that...I love my new and very addicting hobby...