From the Musher’s POV
We missed this Iditarod post down in the comments section from Snowhook musher extraordinaire AJ (Justin Savidis) while we were at the Tucson festival:
Good morning or afternoon from a snowy Nome, Alaska. Now that I’ve had a chance to collect some of my thoughts I wanted to say thank you yet again for a successful iditarod. Rebecca and I are very grateful for your support and friendship.
More will be forthcoming about this race but suffice it to say it was a challenge from start to finish. Early on I broke my runner and brake in the most dangerous part and contemplated whether or not I would be able to go on. None the less the team performed with exceptional skill including Rio who never rested and awl ways wanted to go on. Weather conspired against us though as we got to Shaktoolik and found ourselves pinned down for 16 hours longer than I wanted to be. Thereby allowing the field I had worked to pass to catch up to us. Learning experience.
Finally though we reached Nome with a happy but tired dog team who is now resting back home. Last night we held the finishers banquet where each musher has a chance to speak. Usually this is a boisterous affair where no one listens to each other. However, as I spoke I chose to speak about Melanie and her battle with cancer. Subtly the room became very still and focused as these previous strangers listened and honored Melanie’s life. The team and I were fortunate to take her along on the trail and to be able to share a little of Melanie and all of you with Iditarod.
Moving forward I’m not sure what next year will bring. We all share the same trail though and I look forward to seeing you a little on down the way.
Welcome new friends Doc, Sami, Jesse & Cooper from CA; and a friendly dude.
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 20th, 2014 at 6:55 am and is filed under Chet The Dog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
7:02 am on March 20th, 2014
Good morning, everyone! Poor Rio all alone last night 🙁 Pawsitive thought to those who especially need them and tho those who don’t: you get them anyway.
Have a trouble-free Thursday.
7:26 am on March 20th, 2014
Mmm, I seem to be to the morning hours as Rio is to the evening hours…alone.
7:30 am on March 20th, 2014
Good morning Spence, Admin, HOH and all.
From Barb – Had a good first night with Lucy, although Maggie started hacking up something at 5:30 this morning, so we got an early start to the day. Lucy went into a crate at bedtime, and started howling once around midnight. Got up, let her out and then back into the crate. They recommend crating her for the first few weeks. So she did great.
Have a nice morning everyone.
8:17 am on March 20th, 2014
Wonder if there will be a contest with the prize an early bound manuscript of Paw and Order.
Good morning all.
8:27 am on March 20th, 2014
Greetings!
HRH, B: Like your idea! Hope Admin and Spence are reading this.
Hey there, HOH!
B&M: It is nice to hear Lucy is adjusting. She is so cute.
RIO! I go to sleep early, so I am missing you on this here blog. Funny, I thought unemployment would bring late night hours of fun, and getting up at noon. Well, it doesn’t. I am more tired now than when I was working. And I am talking in my sleep too.
LouLou: A lovely avatar photo!
Once again, thank you AJ for running a good race. I am sure Melanie is proud! as we all are.
8:33 am on March 20th, 2014
Posted before, don’t know if we are being moderated or what.
Wanted to say Happy Birthday to Brother Dave in N.C. He is 53 today, a youngster compared to Barb.
8:40 am on March 20th, 2014
Happy b-day bro Dave in NC. 🙂
8:48 am on March 20th, 2014
Maggie, Barb is right about bro Dave being a baby…a decade young baby from our point of view 🙂
8:52 am on March 20th, 2014
Happy Birthday, Dave ! Many happy returns of the day!
9:06 am on March 20th, 2014
The HOH wishes to wax poetical.
Spring has sprung,
The sun is rizz.
We wonder where da boidies is?
9:23 am on March 20th, 2014
Mother Nature makes sure the Iditarod is a learning experience every year. I believe every team who makes it to the starting line is a winner no matter if they have to scratch during the race or if they finish. For AJ, although his sights were set higher, finishing in the same place as the year before despite all the extra challenges on the trail, seems to me to be an improvement. Finishing the Iditarod this year was something mushers with many more years experience than AJ did not accomplish. AJ had the benefit of Melanie’s courage and her sense of humor to help him through the hardest parts. Not to mention Dima, Shiek and Leo, Wookie, SiberH & Cherokee, the small dogs, the Kats! Native American Vets, Code Talkers, Cancer Kickers, OFA and all the Plunderers (2 legged and 4 legged) backing him.
Happy Spring! (There is a google doodle.)
9:43 am on March 20th, 2014
Dawson, you are wise beyond your years (or is that ears?).
Mom is P.O.ed! Darling Darah the decorating, darling, designing, dozer stole a “Snowhook” patch from the top of the antique sewing machine. Luckily mom found it so all is right.
Today is the first day of Spring and the oldest grand of this group turns 16…GAH are we getting older or what? Love the kiddos (fired, baked, fricasseed or???).
Dogwoods, Bradford pears, forsythias, daffodils and tulips are going nuts here. Hope true spring arrives soon for all y’all.
10:09 am on March 20th, 2014
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. -Charles Dickens “Great Expectations”
10:57 am on March 20th, 2014
Good morning everyone–On my way to begin the intense 48-hour two-day workweek, but I wanted to check in and wish everyone a good day. Pawrayers and good wishes to Rick and all who need them (also Happy Birthday to Dave).
going back to yesterday to try and find a photo of Lucy.
11:01 am on March 20th, 2014
B and M–Lucy is a real beauty. Also has excellent posture. May you have many happy times together.
11:02 am on March 20th, 2014
Spencer, Thank you for re-posting AJ’s message…sniff.
AJ, You and the dogs did good!
I agree with everything Dawson already said so well.
Rio, You got to see a Rockies Spring Training game last night!
Mom was passed out from allergy meds.
Staff, Thank you. I read your link. They have actually been admitting that in the state media. Now another part of NM is radioactive. There were all these promises when WHIP began that there would never be any leaks.
11:03 am on March 20th, 2014
Greetings one and all.
We had an adventure this morning. We had spoken to the people in the gift shop at the Butterfly place and they wanted to see our jewelry. So this morning, at the crack of dark, we braved icy roads and not nearly enough caffeine to go meet their buyer. She is very interested, and now has a couple of samples to run by the owner, but she is sure that they will become customers.
And she bought a pair of earrings outright. With that money, we stopped and got a cup of coffee on the way home. And a scratch lottery ticket. That won us $200. Woo hoo!
Hope everyone has this kind of day!
11:11 am on March 20th, 2014
C.HOBBIT, Got the button. Thank you very much. I would have gotten it sooner, but mom didn’t pick up the mail for a couple of days. This wasn’t the post office’s fault. It was moms.
Macy’s Mom, Please keep us posted. I know you are very busy right now. Your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
11:15 am on March 20th, 2014
Whoooohoooo! T&G! Who is buying lunch? : )
11:19 am on March 20th, 2014
Beautifully said, Dawson.
11:31 am on March 20th, 2014
Wow, $200 on a scratch ticket, this is your lucky day! And a new jewelry contact too!
Barb found the funniest Shoebox card for Dave this year – Picture a funeral with chickens (in human clothing), standing around a coffin at a cemetery. The preacher is saying “We never really knew for sure why DAVE was trying to cross the road, but we now know for sure that he is on the other side”. Is that funny or what?
11:36 am on March 20th, 2014
T&G: Your mama’s talent is just being discovered! You are lucky girly-girls.
11:38 am on March 20th, 2014
Barb: Mom is LHAS (laffing her donkey off). Wow, funny 🙂
12:01 pm on March 20th, 2014
Tupper and Gilly – WHooo Hoooo
Happy Birthday to Barb’s brother, the kidney dr. from the kidney transplant patient.
12:08 pm on March 20th, 2014
I just found out that the actress who plays Vermeer’s wife in the movie version of Girl with a Pearl Earring (Essie Davis) is the same actress who plays Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. I would never have guessed it.
12:11 pm on March 20th, 2014
Yes,Bee. We Actresses are a sneaky lot 🙂
12:13 pm on March 20th, 2014
Morning everybody. I think Pancho is a good candidate for smooched duty. We will need shift. Here it is. pancreatic cancer stage 4. Unsure whether there is any point to chemo. He is having evaluation today to see if he can get some home care. Sorry to drop it on you like this, but there are no rainbows and unicorns here.
Love yall
12:20 pm on March 20th, 2014
And you are our friend. Keep us informed.
12:28 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML: Worst possible news. Know we will be here for you for emotional support. If there is anything we can do besides prayers and verbal support, do not hesitate to ask. I’m so sad about this diagnosis.
12:44 pm on March 20th, 2014
Macy’s mom, we are here for you.
12:47 pm on March 20th, 2014
Macy’s Mom, we are thinking of you.
1:20 pm on March 20th, 2014
Macy’s Mom, Love and hugs. We are with you. I hope you can know and feel all our love, support, and prayers.
1:23 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML, I am so sorry about this news. I can’t imagine how devastated and lost you and Rick must feel. Anything I can do, please let me know or if you need to talk, you have my number.
Purrs and prayers for you both.
Karen
1:43 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML, I am devastated to hear this news. Please know that you are both in my prayers and thoughts. Remember we are all here for you. Say the word if you need me.
2:30 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML–Thank you for letting us know. Extra prayers and everything else and pushing for home care.
2:51 pm on March 20th, 2014
Daddy dawg and I are with you. Let us know if we can do anything else.
2:58 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML: each day is a new day. Remember you and Rick face it with an army of family, friends and Plunderers.
3:18 pm on March 20th, 2014
Macy – -when you have a chance, please tell your mom to check her SDD.
3:57 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML – just no words right now.
We simply hate f’ing cancer! We hate it.
sob
4:09 pm on March 20th, 2014
Class act, AJ and all.
4:17 pm on March 20th, 2014
Macy’s Mom, love y’all. let us know what what we we can do.
4:22 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML – no words here either, but prayer and thoughts to you both.
4:34 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML, ditto here. I have no words. All I can do is send you all my love. Please know how much I care.
And I agree with T&G: Cancer sucks. Bigtime.
4:36 pm on March 20th, 2014
omd. Both Sasha and Kat are up top for me.
ML: you may have been the one who first posted this one, but here ya go…I hope this helps just a tiny bit:
4:53 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML, We stand with everyone else above who have offered their caring thoughts and strong prayers of comfort and peace.
5:01 pm on March 20th, 2014
Oh-Dawg!…I finally had a break from all the napping I have been doing and caught up on the blog….groan!…Not good news at all…sob!sob!sob!…Hang in there Macy’s Maw, hang in there….sob!sob!sob!
5:28 pm on March 20th, 2014
T&G: Excellent news today about the Butterfly place probably going to be selling your jewelry and the winning scratch ticket.
I got wonderfluffed today and look a bit like Sammie, only I still have my ears.
To feel good I made some ginger molasses cookies. The smell of ginger, cinnamon and cloves makes me feel good even if I don’t eat any. (I did)
5:32 pm on March 20th, 2014
Dawson, Is your dad going to eat some cookies? How about Staff? Those sound delish!
5:48 pm on March 20th, 2014
Here ya’ go, Barb.
5:49 pm on March 20th, 2014
Here ya’ go, Barb.
5:51 pm on March 20th, 2014
And to try to lighten the mood around here, I am sharing one of our chick jokes.
5:57 pm on March 20th, 2014
Howlers – that hen house is almost pretty enough to make us want to be chickens.
Almost.
5:58 pm on March 20th, 2014
Howlers – it’s almost enough to make us want to east chickens.
Giggle.
5:59 pm on March 20th, 2014
That’s EAT chickens, you dam corkin’ otter
6:00 pm on March 20th, 2014
Love the cookiee idea!
6:16 pm on March 20th, 2014
Howlers, I bet the girls are lovin all that freedom. It is covered on the top, right? What is the fencing material?
6:33 pm on March 20th, 2014
Barb&Maggie: I put one cookie in Dad’s cookie jar and it disappeared pronto. I don’t believe Staff has eaten one. She seemed rather disappointed that I was going to make them with only 1/2 the amount of sugar as usual. I ended using 1.25 cups rather than 2 cups of sugar.
Staff is over at the Linden Tree shop. She cannot stay away. She is making real good money teaching quilting there except that she takes all her wages in fabric. It’s a win/win.
Fern: You have a MacyMinPin sense of humor! Heh, heh.
6:35 pm on March 20th, 2014
It is chain link with bird netting on top. The girls are only allowed out there when Mom or Pop is around, because it is not as safe as their attached run, which has pressure-treated pluwood buried around the edge.
And, get this. Our hens who laid eggs like crazy all the cold winter long, are now not laying! Today, there was only one egg. Yesterday, there were only two. What’s up with that? It is Spring now, with longer days.
6:40 pm on March 20th, 2014
Howlers, That is a great pen for them.
As far as the laying, I believe 14-16 hours of light is ideal. You could have other factors, such as going broody or getting ready to molt. Or they may just be taking off for a day or two.
6:45 pm on March 20th, 2014
MagPie, how are you enjoying a new sister Lucy?
6:46 pm on March 20th, 2014
Barb, we think Isabel started molting, because there are a lot of her feathers around. The ladies are only 9 1/2 months old. Isn’t that early to molt? If they all start molting, who will give us our Eggs????? Gah!!!!!
6:50 pm on March 20th, 2014
Howlers, not sure but I wouldn’t think they would molt till later this summer or fall. Izzy’s feather loss could be a result of her wanting to set too.
6:52 pm on March 20th, 2014
Heh, heh, heh. No one ever knows what chicks are doing. Ha, Ha Ha. love ’em
6:56 pm on March 20th, 2014
MPM, Lucy is pretty lively for a 10 year old. She does sleep a lot, but today she started playing with me, doing the play-pounce in the living room. She has found her favorite resting spots in the house and her favorite spot in the yard already.
Staff, We have heard, but not seen, the cranes the last few days. They fly up so high we can’t usually see them. These are the Sand Cranes, right? Are they heading to Iowa and Nebraska to the Platt River area, or straight north?
6:59 pm on March 20th, 2014
Fern, LOL!
7:09 pm on March 20th, 2014
B& M and wose. WOW
7:14 pm on March 20th, 2014
Also B&M: Sand hill cranes are adorable! love them. Have cranes in the sushi pond./ Heh, heh, heh
7:17 pm on March 20th, 2014
It’s clear that Lucy knows you guys are the real deal. She is at home.
7:20 pm on March 20th, 2014
Barb&Maggie: I should get home to see and hear some of those sandhill cranes flying overhead. Hooray!
7:23 pm on March 20th, 2014
Lucy, don’t let them make you old,, Girl. I am 10 also, and the v-e-t tried calling me a “senior”. Once.
I play more than anyone on this farm, including The Pipsqueak. Hrmph.
7:29 pm on March 20th, 2014
ML: Reporting for smooching duty, and I brought back up of almost all the kennel. What they lack in my refined smooching skills and Wookie-like manners, they make up for in love and caring. Luna says I am to apologize now for anything the rest of the Kennnel does. Apologizing goes against my core values, but Luna insisted. Going against Luna is not an option. I know this first paw.
7:35 pm on March 20th, 2014
Smoochers? Did somebody call for The Smoochers? I’m on it. Princess Sam, shall I pick you up on my way to The Lone Star State? (Whispering) Geography is not my strong suit, but you are on the way, right?
7:40 pm on March 20th, 2014
Kat, I am ready for Smoocher duty. Pick me up when you get in the area because I am on the way. Don’t pick up Loulou. She is too young for this yet.
8:02 pm on March 20th, 2014
Kat: If you more than ten minutes overdue I am going to start looking for you. If you get lost, stay put and I will find you. I have radar that comes with being a mother. I also have that fancy mother spit that can’t get out even the toughest stains.
8:07 pm on March 20th, 2014
Can not can’t. Sheesh.
8:08 pm on March 20th, 2014
Thanks for putting my husky mind at ease, Luna. You never can take your eyes off a kid like Kat.
So now I am off to beddy bye. Mom needs me to hug her to sleep.
8:15 pm on March 20th, 2014
Belle Starr: can I hear an “awe…” This is a baby rat not a baby otter cork.
8:19 pm on March 20th, 2014
Hobbit: I see your ‘awe’ and raise you an ‘I must have it or I am going to be in a very bad mood.’
8:22 pm on March 20th, 2014
Belle Starr: you’d think that you would always be in a very bad mood but I know different. Here is a baby lamb to herald in the first day of spring. Yay!
8:30 pm on March 20th, 2014
CHobbit – can we hold the baby rat? Huh? Can we? Pretty pleeeeze ….
giggle
8:31 pm on March 20th, 2014
I need a baby lamb of my very own or I’m going to be in a very bad mood. It is smiling at me just like Howard smiled at that Damn Pixie when they found each other.
8:36 pm on March 20th, 2014
That baby rat is sooo much cuter than the ones that lived (past tense) under our chicken coop. I could even grow to like one of those.
8:38 pm on March 20th, 2014
Basil & Sage: I thought you had gone to bed. Silly cats.
I always wonder about animal “smiles.” Anthropomorphism or not?
9:09 pm on March 20th, 2014
Waiting!…I’ve been waiting and waiting for my friend to come home again…sniff!…She got a call almost right after she came home the first time from the busy-place. It was one of her MA friends she has known forever and a day way out here on business…snort!…So the two of them took off to Beau’s favorite pizza place and ate and drank and Talked!Talked!Talked!…chuffle!…What a great thing it was for my friend to see someone she has not seen in about 4 years…wheeze!…This friend lives in Eastern Mass so I bet someone will make plans to visit her again back east…snorkel!…What a day! What a night so far…grunt!
9:12 pm on March 20th, 2014
SiberH!…I know for a fact that there is a Rockies Exhibition game on Root Sports right now…chuffle!…We took a vote and my friend decided we are going to watch Idol instead…at least for the next hour or so…wheeze!
9:16 pm on March 20th, 2014
Luck!…It sounds like Golinka had the Luck of The Irish today…snort!…Wow, a 200.00 lotto ticket and new customers forever!…wheeze!…This is fantastic news!…zow!
Creations!…My friend showed her old friend some of her quilling projects and then let her pick which one she wanted…heh!…The old friend said something along the lines of, “You made this??????”…snort!heh!
9:30 pm on March 20th, 2014
Nighty noodles all.
9:36 pm on March 20th, 2014
Luna made all the first time Smoochers from the kennel wear a tag on their collar that says ‘Trainee.’ I don’t have such a tag. I’ve looped my tail around Mr. Knash, my favorite knife guy’s wrist. Tenzing is being his pillow. And, Chet, Bernie and Iggy have already managed to get blurred back to the kennel by Luna. I don’t know all the details, but I overheard a crash, running by the detectives, A bit of apologizing and then BLUR!
My Lady is going to get some rest. Nighty noodles.
9:52 pm on March 20th, 2014
Hmmmphf!…Another night of being out here alone. I just know it…grump!
9:53 pm on March 20th, 2014
Although!… I am very glad someone is getting some well needed rest early tonight…sniff!…Good job!
10:10 pm on March 20th, 2014
Aeroplane!..snort!…Maybe, but I doubt it, they think they have something to check out in the Ocean that might be the Missing Aeroplane…sniff!…I have huge doubts about this panning out, but time will tell….grunt!
10:13 pm on March 20th, 2014
Rio – oh no! Does this mean you might travel to eastern MA, and then have to stop by here for lasagna?
Oh noooooo! Gramp just got his pants deodorized after your last visit.
10:15 pm on March 20th, 2014
Basil!…Will you be there?…sniff!…I don’t know if I can handle another Kitty-Kat Show-Down in the living room….grunt!…We may opt to meet Golinka in Falmouth for some strange reason. My friends old friend says she knows Falmouth…heh!heh!
10:17 pm on March 20th, 2014
Gramps!…I sure do miss Gramps…sniffle!…Please give him a big slurpy pug kiss for me…wuffle!
10:38 pm on March 20th, 2014
Ooo ick. We will give him purrs and paw paws, but no slurpy kisses.
10:39 pm on March 20th, 2014
Friends!…I can tell my friend already misses her old friend whom she visited with shortly tonight…wheeze!…But I can also tell the wheels are spinning in her head on future plans to meet up again way over there Eastern Way …heh!…Might be some exciting fun times ahead if she can just put her feet inside of an Aeroplane…yeeeeep!…This here is what you call an Obstacle. Fear of Flying. Especially alone…grunt!…Somehow she has got to get over it. Somehow, someway. Get Over it….gasp!…Heck, even shorty pants Spencer flies all over the US of A…sniff!
10:44 pm on March 20th, 2014
Valley!….SiberH, the Rockies are trailing the who-evers by 1 in the Valley Of The Sun, Arizona…heh!heh!…I hope they, the Rockies, have a Crappy first few months. Because when they have an amazing first few months they stick up the place during the really grinding part of the season…grunt!…So get it over early and then by dawg get the ball game going…wheeze!…This IS Next Year!…heh!
11:08 pm on March 20th, 2014
Night!…Good night all youse Ninja’s, you Warriors who keep plundering on…sniff!…Hard times ahead for us. No denying it. Hard times ahead. Let’s try and keep the blog a sanctuary, a place of laughter and fun no matter what. It will not diminish our concern or care or sadness, it hopefully will be a beacon of hope and rest for those in pain. I know that is why I showed up here in the first place a long time ago…sniffle!
11:50 pm on March 20th, 2014
Thanks for all the kind words. Our Austin girl came up tonight.
Love y’all!
1:17 am on March 21st, 2014
Gah! Someone backed into my car while I was at a museum lecture. Fortunately he left a note and he does have insurance. However, I am not sure my car is driveable as the left front bumper is caved in and affects the tire. I guess I’ll know more in the morning when I can see. Phooey. Ironically, my sister just bought a brand new car so I can drive her old one. Now to deal with insurance companies, etc. Ugh.
6:46 am on March 21st, 2014
Hello all. I just wanted to thank everyone here for being such a great group to my mother in law Melanie. I will try to keep in touch here. Thank you.
7:37 am on March 21st, 2014
Thanks for stopping by, GLAD! We love Melanie, and thru her we love her entire family.
Hobbit! If it weren’t for bad luck, you’d have no luck at all. Plunder on.