Science and the Nation Within
“Here’s something new from the world of science,” Spence says.
Admin scans it. “Didn’t we already know this?” he says. “From day one? In fact, I think these scientists are underestimating what goes on in the minds of the nation within.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/dogs-human-expressions_n_1186639.html
Welcome reclining dude.
Tags: nation within, science
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 7th, 2012 at 9:10 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.
9:21 am on January 7th, 2012
Good morning Plunderers. Hope those of you feeling under the weather are tip top soon. This includes you, Dan!
9:26 am on January 7th, 2012
For crying out loud, I hope those doofuses didn’t spend too much money on that study. Duh!
9:35 am on January 7th, 2012
Good morning all.
Here’s the link that Melanie posted several days ago to the race:
http://www.knik200sleddograce.com/index.html
9:54 am on January 7th, 2012
Does anyone have contact info for Kirby on the emergenctree? I hope he’s okay. I really, really miss him!
10:21 am on January 7th, 2012
Good morning everyone.
Sam: I agree with you. People are always studying things and coming up with obvious answers. Why are we broke? Duh. Studies like these! Hey, did you see Corey and Sophie on Friends of Chet yesterday? They are almost as cute as you. How’s your girl?
Wolfie: Yeah, where is Kirby T. Penworthy?
10:32 am on January 7th, 2012
Hi Folks! Thought I was better. I was wrong. Hopefully BBL.
11:13 am on January 7th, 2012
Melanie: get back unde the covers. I call for Patsy to be in charge of your recovery.
AJ will leave te starting line today in 15th position and our handler, jeremy leaves in 13th place.
11:27 am on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca: The race starts today at 11AM Alaska time which is what Eastern Standard Time? Good luck AJ and Jeremy and the teams. And have fun!!
Melanie: I think you should go to the doctor.
11:29 am on January 7th, 2012
Wolfie: I don’t have the contact info for Kirby T. Hope he checks in soon.
11:30 am on January 7th, 2012
B: I think that would be 3 pm EST.
11:34 am on January 7th, 2012
I just looked it up: It is 11:33 Eastern time and 7:33 Alaska time so there is four hours difference.
12:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Mama says we can be in charge of saying hello today. She has her hands full of clay and can’t type. But she’s humming and she sure is in a good mood, so we think clay does to her what catnip does to us.
We’ll check back tonight to see how AJ is doing, if Melanie is feeling better and if Mighty Kirby has checked in.
Also – has anyone heard from Liz?
BBL
12:09 pm on January 7th, 2012
It would have to be something more interesting than a pot to get me to look at it.
I’m off to the race’s website to read up on it.
12:11 pm on January 7th, 2012
Mom has had the calendar girl song stuck in her head for days now, with one improvement ” my heart’s in a fog, I love my calendar dog.”
12:11 pm on January 7th, 2012
Melanie, We hope you feel better soon. Take care.
Maybe Rebecca has Kirby’s contact information from the first auction?
Kirby…Come back!!
12:18 pm on January 7th, 2012
It is 1 degree with Knik now (Paradise)
If you scroll down on their home page there are photographs and at the very bottom of the page is an unlabeld icon to click on and it will show you more photographs with music.
12:19 pm on January 7th, 2012
(yawn) sleeping in – bbl
12:37 pm on January 7th, 2012
The race says it is going to have “spot” live tracking. I don’t know what that is, but if you click on live tracking a map comes up that looks like a shorter version of all GPS tracking maps that I have seen.
Thanks Masquers, You are making me sleepy. Maybe a nap before race time is called for.
12:40 pm on January 7th, 2012
I sent a SDD to Kirby-T.
12:47 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: It does look like a variation on the Iditarod GPS tracker doesn’t it. My stomach is already in knots and there is narry a piece of cheesecake to be found.
12:50 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, I could blurr you over some chew strips.
Thanks for sending Kirby an SSD.
1:00 pm on January 7th, 2012
Hello all, wow those scientists sure are super smart huh? How do they manage to figure out complicated stuff like that.
Mom says she has to get in a ride on Annie before the race. We are going to chase Annie so she gets done fast and we don’t miss the race. Thanks for re-posting the link B!
1:03 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’m looking forward to the race. I have found the live tracking and it looks great. If you click on AJ’s or Jeremy’s names their icons bounce up and down.
If my sister doesn’t pick up Dan’s iPad, I think I’ll use that to watch what’s going on. Then I don’t have to get up.
Dan called with news. He started getting very specific about health issues and I kept saying “no details, no details,” When he got to the prune juice cocktail, I finally just told him that wasn’t something that I didn’t want to hear about. He finally stopped.
Whew, Zoë has taken 1/2 the Pack up to the camp. The others are pouting here with me. Not too sorry for them, they got to go yesterday.
1:03 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: That is very thoughtful of you, but I think you should keep tthe chews for yourself. Maybe I can take a page out of Rio’s book and chew on a pillow like he does when the Rockies play. Now, if you want to blurr over for a tummy and ear scritch, I’d be happy to welcome you. I’m missing the dogs.
1:03 pm on January 7th, 2012
Snowhook Bella: This is just a fun training run, right? No pressure. If it was only 50 miles would your stomach still be in knots?
No cheesecake, but I’m having latkes! Yummy! 3 potatoes sure goes a looong way. Thanks to Wookie’s mom for her delish recipe.
Gee, a nap does sound good.
1:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: You are correct. Because he will have some inexperienced dogs on the team, he is going to take it easy, rest a lot and focus on having fun. If it were a short race, my stomach would be in a slip knot rather than a sailor’s knot. During Iditarod, my stomach is tied in a neverending tangle of Christmas tree lights.
1:16 pm on January 7th, 2012
Snowhook Bella: Is AJ taking most of the inexperienced dogs? Or are they evenly divided between Jeremy and AJ? Good luck to Jeremy, AJ and all the dogs.
1:18 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: Excellent. I’ve written two replies on my blog.
1:26 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’m laughing at Rebecca’s analogies of her stomach and various knots.
1:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
I wonder how many groomers have been harmed in the wonderfluffing of Beau?
1:50 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: That is a very good question, but I’m afraid I don’t know the answer.
2:31 pm on January 7th, 2012
Zoë and I love the stomach knots analogy!
Franklin has very kindly offered to blur these cheesecakes to those people who need them while we watch AJ and Jeremy in their endeavors.
(Hope they get to where they are supposed to be going. Mattie is answering the phone and Rose is taking notes.)
2:32 pm on January 7th, 2012
B.Stover: In To The Lighthouse there was a reference to a children’s story called the Fisherman’s Wife. I google it to see what it was about and got a modern version of that story starring Sarah Palin. It was hilarious.
There was also a reference to Boeuf en Daube which I googled and am looking forward to making one day.
2:34 pm on January 7th, 2012
Man ‘o man! Sam is right. Another BRILLIANT Scientific Study.
The Duh Factor:
Animals can read human expressions and understand words, open doors, do yoga, cuddle, enjoy sports, watch tv (to name a few)
Yuk to plastic surgery (what the hey?) not our choice!
The most interesting thing about the Huff Post article was the videos – so not a complete waste.
2:38 pm on January 7th, 2012
Melanie: Tell Rose to put us down for a chocolate cheesecake. We’ll be on the look-out for Franklin to blurr it over.
2:41 pm on January 7th, 2012
Melanie: I like plain jane New York cheesecake with strawberry sauce, but I will be happy with whatever if the drool can be kept to a minimum.
3:02 pm on January 7th, 2012
Time to pull our Stormy Kromers down tight. It’s show time!
3:11 pm on January 7th, 2012
Go Snowhook! Mush doggies! Pass the cheesecake.
3:12 pm on January 7th, 2012
hmm I think we are going to have to click on the “refresh
locations” that shows on the bottom left hand side of the map to get results.
3:15 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: I’m trying to figure out how to navigate this tracker, too. It’s different than the Iditarod’s GPS tracker. AJs official start time will be half past the hour and Jeremy’s will be four minutes before AJ leaves.
3:22 pm on January 7th, 2012
Almost half-past noon
Race should be starting soon
Let me know when you guys figure it out.
Bear is going for a snack and will soon be back.
3:26 pm on January 7th, 2012
WOW, If you’re on the Live Tracking and go to Race Analysis then to Elevation Plot?
They go straight up hill for the first 10 miles and then back down and then a slow up . .
Jeez Louise!
Waiting for 330 and 3:34
3:28 pm on January 7th, 2012
Heh! Very kool.
3:29 pm on January 7th, 2012
It looks like the tracker is now showing that some teams are on the trail whereas is didn’t seem so a few minutes ago. Siber-H is correct, it looks like we will need to hit the refresh location button at the bottom of the tracker page.
I just discovered, and I may be behind the times, but if you hit on the magnifying glass next to AJs (and Handler Jeremy’s) name it will show you their stats for the entire race.
Handler Jeremy should be on the trail, and AJ should be making his way to the starting line as I type.
3:32 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’m back just in time for the start of the race.
Which for me – starts with AJ. Go Snowhook!
3:32 pm on January 7th, 2012
WOO HOO The tracker is showing a couple of mushers on their way!
If you click on the little balloons of each individual musher once they get going, there is information about them and their location.
Rebecca, I think this is more complicated than the Iditarod’s tracker, but I am very happy to have it.
3:41 pm on January 7th, 2012
A better map seems to be the satellite imagine that you can click on at the top of the map.
3:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: This is a far cry from waiting for race updates that are call in by radio. It’s new, but I’m glad to have it. The tracker currently shows AJ in 6th place. I believe there are quite a few hills in this race which means AJ will be doing a lot of running.
More to Siber-H, race expert: If you know where to look you can see our property with the satellite version.
3:48 pm on January 7th, 2012
Yes, I remember the days when I had to wait for the officials to get the results up on the Leaderboard in the Iditarod.
If I look for your property, maybe Belle Starr, Luna, and Junior will wave at me.
3:52 pm on January 7th, 2012
SIber-H: The back end of Junior never stops waving, yet Luna takes a dignified, Patsy-esque approach to life. Belle Starr is a wild card, but it you see something sparkle at you it probably means she is up to something—no good.
4:02 pm on January 7th, 2012
Justin is travelling but it seems Jeremy has not started yet.
4:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’m not sure what is going on with Jeremy. Maybe there is a glitch in his tracker—here’s hoping that is the only problem.
If we’re watching the race, I wonder what Chet decided to do this weekend. Based on his facebookie post he had several exciting options.
4:17 pm on January 7th, 2012
Jeremy is moving along at 9.7 miles an hour.
4:30 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: I love your description of Mr. Ramsay’s honesty as “brutal.” I’m doing further research on woman’s education (or lack thereof) at the university level (Mrs. Ramsay calls her mind “untrained”)in Victorian England in order to write about it on my blog. I’m going to use some of your comments and my responses in the essay. Fun!
The Fisherman’s tale is from the Brothers Grimm. Here’s a link to it in case you didn’t find it. The wife is portrayed as greedy and grasping.
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm019.html
4:36 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: My sailors knot started to tighten when Handler Jeremy wasn’t missing. Now, that he is moving, I think I’ve found on of the ends of the rope.
4:39 pm on January 7th, 2012
Mom finally got done her ride. We have 3 pages up. One is the tracker with all the mushers and our guys jumping up and down, and the other pages are of each of our guys on the map with all their stats (speed, miles, etc)
4:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
Arg! It should be: wasn’t moving—not missing.
Howlers: I like the jumping up and down team marker. I think I just fell in love with my IPaw giving the ease with which I can watch the race — several pages open, too— and pace at the same time.
4:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
I have Justin and Jeremy as in 12th and 13th place. WhoooHooo!
4:48 pm on January 7th, 2012
They aren’t updating this very often. Aaarrrgh
4:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, are you at home tracking this?
4:51 pm on January 7th, 2012
I like the satellite map.
4:55 pm on January 7th, 2012
Howlers: I’m still at my parents’ house. I changed my flight plans to head home on Tuesday because AJ would be on the trail today and tomorrow—I was supposed to head home today. It would be dangerous to have him, unrested and exhausted, drive 70+ miles to pick me up on the heels of finishing a race. Coach knows what to expect with my race watching habits, but I fear it is an eye opener for Bev. She’s already asked me twice what kind of cheesecake I like. She gave me an all day lollipop that was cheesecake flavored—gone!
5:04 pm on January 7th, 2012
So strange to see them racing in cold and snow when it was in the 60s here today with a mild, almost tropical breeze! Mom is in heaven saying horse training season has begun! Boy is she in for a rude awakening when more seasonal temps return. Heh heh
5:05 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber-H: I’m trying to figure out how the updates work. Different than Iditarod’s GPS tracker which automatically updates every 15 minutes, this seems to update sporadically. Perhaps it updates when a team hits a certain point in the race?
5:07 pm on January 7th, 2012
Howlers: Did your mom have a good ride?
5:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, the elevation plot seems to be updated more often than the others. Jeremy is at the top of that long hill, and AJ is right behind.
5:15 pm on January 7th, 2012
yeah, I think the elevation map will work better.
Where is Rio? We need Rio. Mom hopes that Beau hasn’t rioted at the groomers. If he did, I’ll give him a medal.
5:18 pm on January 7th, 2012
Mom is ecstatic that her mare, so out of control the past few months, was perfect under saddle and now seems like a completely different, calm, well-behaved horse. Mom says she just must have been missing the work. Our brains can’t handle that one.
The best part is that Kat was completely indifferent to Mom loungeing and then riding Annie.
5:18 pm on January 7th, 2012
I think if Rio’s friend survives Beau giving the groomers hell, she should get a medal, too. And, maybe a sash.
5:20 pm on January 7th, 2012
Siber, click on Race Analysis, and then Elevation Plot.
5:22 pm on January 7th, 2012
ok Fellow Sibers. Thanks
AJ’s average moving speed is fast!
5:25 pm on January 7th, 2012
DAN’S IPAD WON’T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET!
CARPOLA!
There goes that plan for the evening.
Go Snowhook!
5:36 pm on January 7th, 2012
Agony! I need pupdates on one of two of my favorite teams in this race. AJ’s tracker hasn’t updated for over an hour.
5:37 pm on January 7th, 2012
Yep this is agony. And W-L…is he out there?
5:43 pm on January 7th, 2012
Howlers: I wish I knew if W.L. was on the trail. AJ and I never connected last night so I could ask about the line up. I am fairly certain that Charlie and Orion as well as Annabelle, Rory, Twig, Quig and Elim are out there somewhere not being updated on the tracker. Grump.
5:48 pm on January 7th, 2012
Race!…How come Lance Mackey always has to be in front…grunt! …Finally, I am able to get on this old computer and “watch” AJ the Giant race!…snort!….He seems to be in the middle of the pack, doesn’t he?…wuffle!…His location updated on our screen…grunt!…He’s going over 8 miles an hour. I though he was going to take it slow and easy…heh!heh! ….WOOOOOOOOOOOO!
5:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
Whew! AJs tracker finally updated, and a good thing, too—I was going to start snorting, swearing and wuffling just like I learned from Rio.
5:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
B: In answer to your question of last night: We liked all three Swedish film versions of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy.
Bella: Thank you for your offer to borrow the books. Mom has the first book here which she plans to read soon.
Back to the Race!
5:50 pm on January 7th, 2012
Hey we’re no (AJ) 15th and Jeremy 12th!
They are going straight down that elevation.
5:54 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: What’s the story with Beau’s Wunderfluff?
6:07 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca and anyone else on an iPaw or smart phone, this tracker has a mobi app that seems to update much more often! Go to main tracker and then Event coverage…main tracker
Or just use this url http://www.knik200sleddograce.com/live-tracking.html
And click on the blue words about Follow on Smart Phone.
We think this link might get you right to it.
http://app.bluedot.mobi/
6:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Shame!….Beau has brought shame to my friend…sniff!… He almost took one groomers finger off…yeep!… It took two of them to hold the little guy. They had to do the ole towel around the neck to keep him from biting someone else while they shampooed him…heh!…The gal who got bit told my friend that she has never seen that kind of behavior from a Pug. She says Pugs are usually very easy-going, and she wondered if my friend had gotten him from the humane society…chuffle!… On the bright side he looks really shiny and clean. They even got the caked on snot off of his nose…chorkel!…They agreed to let him come back but next time they will know what to expect and have two groomers available to work on him….wheeze!…I have to say I am pretty impressed myself….heh!
6:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca and anyone else on an iPaw or smart phone, this tracker has a mobi app that seems to update much more often! Go to main tracker and then Event coverage…main tracker
Or just use this url http://www.knik200sleddograce.com/live-tracking.html
And click on the blue words about Follow on Smart Phone.
/
6:10 pm on January 7th, 2012
We think this link might get you right to it.
http://app.bluedot.mobi
6:16 pm on January 7th, 2012
Martin!… Why is Elaine Martin still sitting at the start point?…sniff!…I refreshed and now I can’t find AJ in the Pack…grunt!
6:20 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ is in 10th as of 15 mins ago!!!!!!
WOOOO HOOOOO
6:24 pm on January 7th, 2012
ARGH, don’t tell me that OleyHowlers!
(Not that AJ’s 10th, that’s wonderful, it’s the iPaw!)
Snigglefritz!
Go Snowhook!
6:24 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ is moving. He is in 13th place.
It could be that Elaine’s tracker isn’t working or she could have dropped out of the race.
6:25 pm on January 7th, 2012
Does it seem to anyone else that depending on which page you’re looking at that the information is different?
Howlers: Genius!
Rio: If you click on the magnifying glass next to AJ’s name in the roster on the right side of the page you can pick him out of the pack. He will jump up and down: “Hello Plunderers!”
6:26 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’ll go with the tenth place for AJ, but why did it tell me 13th. The mysteries of tracking programs.
6:27 pm on January 7th, 2012
The Howler Link shows AJ at 9th place on my IPaw.
Sometimes the trackers don’t work properly, so the musher shown at the starting line could be on the trail. Or, like SiberH said, she may have scratched.
6:27 pm on January 7th, 2012
Now Handler Jeremy is 11th and AJ the Giant 12th!!!
This is awesome!
Snowhook Bella, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE IDITAROD????
6:30 pm on January 7th, 2012
They are in a lake! Holy Mackeral Annie this is fun.
6:31 pm on January 7th, 2012
Training!… I know and understand in my heart this is a training race…snort!….But I really, Really would love to see AJ kick some Mackey butt big time….gruffle!
6:38 pm on January 7th, 2012
lol me too
6:38 pm on January 7th, 2012
It’s very confusing. It shows AJ in 13th but the marker is ahead of someone who is in 8th place. Doesn’t make sense.
Anyway…It’s hard not to root for Snowhook to win it all. This is a training run. The object is to get experience. Hope all the dogs are doing well and it certainly looks as if that is the case.
6:46 pm on January 7th, 2012
Howlers: To answer your question: barely. I don’t eat except for cheesecake. I don’t sleep except for a few stolen hours every couple of days, and Coach says my verbal communication quickly reduces to grunting. I try to write, and then I delete most of what I’ve written. Last year I had Chet’s to visit long after youse all signed off for the night. It’s not a pretty time. Coach insisted that I warn Rio’s friend that my humanness turns into a pumpkin during the race.
Rio: We have a very competitve streak, but AJ will run the dogs in this race as he has trained them this season.
6:47 pm on January 7th, 2012
Gaining!….Seems to me that AJ and Team have gained some ground….sniff!…I am on the Plot Elevation page. I don’t know where you guys are getting the actual “place standings” info….wuffle!
6:56 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’ve got AJ at 11th and Jeremy at 12th! AWESOME.
6:57 pm on January 7th, 2012
Looks like both Elaine & Aaron still at the start…dropped out?
6:59 pm on January 7th, 2012
RIo: If you are on the plot page you can go to the musher roster at the top of that page that is next to the map. You can either click on the magnifying glass for a quick ‘hello’ from the team or you can click on the name and it will bring you to a page dedicated to that musher; on that page it shows the mushers standing, average speed, elevation, etc. Then there is the fancy link that the Howlers found; I think that it only works with IPaws and IPhones. The information appears to differ depending on where you look—wuffle!
7:04 pm on January 7th, 2012
Just back from my first day at the busy place. Really just training. Got a SDD from Dawson and I am packing up the Carharts for a trip. Guess who wants to go along. I think I will have to explain about huskies to her….
Because I don’t think she has a clue…
BBL after I catch up with the blog and the race.
7:07 pm on January 7th, 2012
Bella: Just what we noticed too. Wondering why the stats are different on each page. No matter. It is great just to be able to follow along. What is the total miles and average time to finish the race?
7:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
Staff: First day at the busy place—I must have missed talk of a new job. Excellent! A little cat fur never hurt a pair of Carhartt’s.
7:09 pm on January 7th, 2012
Woooo!…. Thanks Rebecca!….snort!snort!….Now I understand the “Lake” comment from the Howlers….heh!…I can (hopefully) switch back and forth from this view to the group view….chuffle!…Hopefully this old computer will hang in there…grunt!
Project!…My friend wanted to finish her project tonight, but this is way more fun so she has joined me in following AJ and Team to Glory!…heh!…WOOOOOOO!
7:10 pm on January 7th, 2012
Staff: Abbie doesn’t want to see those Carharts go.
7:10 pm on January 7th, 2012
NO! Don’t ship Abbie.
I am using the same method Rebecca is to get info on the race.
7:17 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: No problem. It took me a few minutes to figure it out and that was with the help of Siber-H and the Howlers.
Masquers: The race is 200 miles. It will likely finish late morning to late afternoon/early evening depending on the team. They will have a mandatory layover at one of the checkpoints before they can move on.
7:19 pm on January 7th, 2012
Masquers: I forgot to mention that the layover is 6 hours.
7:29 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ is ahead of Martin Buser. AJ is approaching the river.
7:38 pm on January 7th, 2012
Aaarggh! I just realized what a dumb question that was…how long is this 200 mile race…paws over face here.
7:43 pm on January 7th, 2012
Masquers: Take your paws from your face—you’re among friends. Let me top of a slice of cheesecake with some whipped cream for you and you’ll feel better soon enough.
7:44 pm on January 7th, 2012
Here’s what I have right now:
1 Jake Berkowitz!
2 Lance Mackey
3 Nicolas Petit
4 Lev Shvarts
5 Dee Dee Jonrowe
6 Ken Anderson
7 Matthew Failer
8 Jason Mackey
9 Ray Redington Jr.
10 Stephanie Cork
11 Robert Redington
12 Justin Savidis!!!
And Jeremy has dropped back to 20th. Hope all is well. Justin is holding his own against the biggies so far. Go Snowhook!
7:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
Bella, not sure you know, but how is the ice on the river? Pretty flat or choppy?
7:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
Whipped cream! Bella, you are a true friend.
Hey! AJ is moving up the line!
Looks like Dee Dee is right behind that Lance guy.
7:52 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, we have a very fundamental question. This race is against the clock, right? So the placing we see on the map is not necessarily the correct placing since they had staggered starts. Is that correct? So the first person thru the finish line might not be the winner…that never occurred to us before. Is this right?
And Siber, thanks for getting us hooked on the Iditarod. Mom never wanted to watch since Susan Butcher (sniff). We are so happy to have a team to root for now. We all just touched our Snowhook shadowbox with the booties that went to Nome and W-L’s chewed-up ID and AJ’s zipper pull. Hope that carries our good thoughts to Snowhook.
7:53 pm on January 7th, 2012
Lance is right back in first and Dee Dee right behind him. She’ll give him a run for his money! Justin is steady in 12th or…is he moving again?! Whoopee – this is exciting!
7:57 pm on January 7th, 2012
Bella: Do the racers draw for their place positions, or is this determined some other way?
7:58 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: The fancy Howler link shows AJ in 9th, but this hasn’t been updated for over an hour. Grump!
Melanie: The river is wide (I cannot cross over). We refer to them as highways, but they aren’t necessarily flat and smooth. There is a lot of snowmachine traffic on the river that ‘grooms’ it, yet there maybe small ‘hills’, areas of jumbled ice and overflow. Some dogs love to run on the river, like our retired leader, Bridger. Fargo, my main leader that passed last year got bored on rivers—give him hills, tight turns and an unknown trail any day.
8:01 pm on January 7th, 2012
Supper!…. I just got back down here after begging for Supper!…snort!… Has AJ and the Team wonnit?…sniff!…I need to Refresh and see where that Mackey guy is. His son, I think, is also in this race…heh!…So AJ has two butts to kick…snorkel!
8:02 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ is in 8th place!
8:07 pm on January 7th, 2012
River!….Are they actually racing on the River?….wheeze!…That seems very dangerous!…sniff!…Doesn’t it???…yeep!
8:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
I’m just checking in now, had a rough day, a bit like Beau, but with no biting. It was quite warm here, and as a result, I got bath-whacked (that’s a lot like getting bushwhacked except it involves a bath, not a bush). Not my favorite activity by any means.
But more important things. The race and all the tracking stuff is really cool, and special thanks to OH for finding the IPaw link. That works really well. Go AJ!
Wookie
8:09 pm on January 7th, 2012
Go AJ!!! Jeremy is holding his own in the middle of the pack.
8:09 pm on January 7th, 2012
Eighth!….Wooooooooooo!….snort!… What a Team! All youngsters too!…heh!!!
8:13 pm on January 7th, 2012
Masquers: Before last night, the mushers were listed by the order that they signed up for the race. AJ and Jeremy were some of the last to sign up; there was a waiting list to enter the race. At the mushers meeting last night, they drew their bib number—I could by a name out of a hat, I’m not sure the format it took last night. For Iditarod, each musher will draw their starting order from a mukluk at the mushers banquet. Both Coach and my brother pointed out that AJ’s bib number, #15, is the same jersey they both wore when they played football.
Howlers: That is a good question. The times will be adjusted at the mandatory layover tonight and so the first team to cross the finish line is the winner.
8:14 pm on January 7th, 2012
I still have him in 11th or 12th? What’s up?
8:15 pm on January 7th, 2012
Trent Herbst has gone from 25th to 11th! Of couse, I’m still showing AJ in 12th so…I could be wrong.
I have to go gamboling tonight. Sheesh, I hate to leave.
Oh, evidently Elaine Martin and Aaron Burmeister are on the trail but their GPS trackers are not working. They will be replaced at Yetna.
8:19 pm on January 7th, 2012
Looks like they are nearing the layover point.
8:21 pm on January 7th, 2012
We are watching different pagers/trackers and there is a discrepancy in places, even when the last updated time is the same. Very confusing. We just use the highest ranking we see for AJ and Jeremy and assume that is the correct one. 🙂
8:22 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dawson: Hmmm. That forbidden word again. Go forth and prosper.
8:28 pm on January 7th, 2012
Here’s hoping that Dawson comes back with her pockets full of her winnings!
Howlers: I’m using the same approach—go with the standing I like best and hope it is correct. 🙂
8:35 pm on January 7th, 2012
The first checkpoint is a safety checkpoint. Dogs can be dropped at this checkpoint if needed. The checkpoint beyond that requires the 6 hour layover. The race has just begun…
8:41 pm on January 7th, 2012
That is a long way to go!
8:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ and Jeremy have miles to go
As I sleep.
Will catch up tomorrow and see where our intrepid duo have gotten to.
TTFN
8:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
How are we supposed to sleep tonight?
We are guessing that Mackey must be at the 1st ckpoint by now.
It is snowing hard at the 2nd ckpoint now.
8:47 pm on January 7th, 2012
Maskers!….Were you here last year for the Iditarod?…snort!….This little Race is nuthin!…sniff!…Well, its sumthin’, but its nuthin compared to the Last Great Race…heh!…WOOOOOOOO!
8:53 pm on January 7th, 2012
For those of you not on FB, Snowhook posted this of one of their teams! This is wonderful Bella! Love the bouncing dog (and very glad that Newfs don’t do that!).
8:55 pm on January 7th, 2012
TTFN really. But I saw that picture and just had to post it. It is WONDERFUL!
8:58 pm on January 7th, 2012
Unbelievable!… heh!snort!heh!….Look at that guy jump! And look at that guys face to our left of him…heh!heh!…Wow!…Rebecca, who is that Jumping Guy anyways?….wheeze!
9:00 pm on January 7th, 2012
Knik to Yentna Station, 57 miles
The trail leaves Knik Lake westbound on the old Iditarod Trail, running across low, mostly wooded hills, open swamps, and a number of lakes. The trail crosses the Little Susitna River at the 18 mile point, then works over to Flathorn Lake across an area of level swamps and woods cut by a few sharp ravines (about 30 miles). After a couple more swamps and tree line, you’ll drop onto the Susitna River after 35 miles go north up the broad Susitna for a few miles and then swing up the wide Yentna River, the Susitna’s main tributary, for the last 17 miles to Yentna Station. This entire stretch of trail is very heavily used all winter and is often in very bad shape. There will be ruts, bumps, rough spots, and moguls meet lots of snowmachines, particularly on the river, some of rthem moving very fast and perhaps not as alert as they shold be because of the numerous parties along the trail.
Yentna Station to Skwentna (mile 90), 33 miles
From Yentna Station to Skwentna is all on the Yentna River, with the last few miles up the Skwentna River to the checkpoint. The river stays between well-defined banks for about five miles upstream from Yentna Station, and also for the last 15 miles into Skwentna. In the middle 15 miles it branches out into a maze of channels and sloughs, any of which can have a trail for local traffic. This is normally a fast run with no hills, provided the trail is in good shape.
9:02 pm on January 7th, 2012
Whitey-Lance is on the trail. I repeat, Whitey-Lance is on tge trail. I found the photo that Melanie post it of one of the teams at the starting line. W.L. is the silver and white dog on the left hand side of the photo.
9:04 pm on January 7th, 2012
That picture is wonderful! Thanks for posting it Melanie. We missed it on FB.
9:07 pm on January 7th, 2012
GO WHITEY-LANCE!
We hope he is on AJ’s team, because AJ knows what that dude is liable to do. Heh heh
9:08 pm on January 7th, 2012
WOO WOO Whitey-Lance is there!!
Thanks for posting the photo, Melanie. It really makes us smile along with the dogs.
9:10 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: I believe our jumping dog is Quig. There is a possibility that it is Twig, his sister; they look a lot alike. Rory is the girl next to Air Sled Dog.
9:14 pm on January 7th, 2012
Do they race in the dark?
9:22 pm on January 7th, 2012
B Stover: The answer is yes. Once the race starts, it doesn’t stop until the finish line. The team will rest along the trail—likely short breaks rather than extended stays for a race of this length. Once arriving at the layover, AJ will focus on feeding and watering the dogs, bedding them down, inspecting and massaging as efficiently as possible leaving the dogs the greatest amount of time to rest for an extended period. Depending on when he arrives at the layover checkpoint he will leave in the wee hours of the morning to head to the finish line. AJ is comfortable running in the dark.
9:27 pm on January 7th, 2012
Dark!….It’s winter so it is always Dark in Alaska….heh!…Even during the daytime…snort!
9:33 pm on January 7th, 2012
Hi everyone – Mama has kinda kept up with everything with the race, even if her hands were too full of clay to type. She loves the refresh button on her notebook – that way she could just hit that with a carving tool, and catch up.
We are all so proud of AJ and the team, and wishing them well on the trail. Dad is going to be doing a special prayer for him with sage out under the (almost) full moon in just a little bit. Anyone who wants to join in – we will be in full prayer mode for a safe, happy and speedy run for the team in about a half hour – at the hour mark.
(we would do cheesecake, but we kinda overdid the calories during the holidays)
9:34 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: I was not a part of the blog for the 2011 Iditarod. It will be so great to cheer Snowhook on with all our friends this year.
Melanie & Bella: That is the best picture! Whole lotta smil’n and howl’n going on there. Are those guys happy or what! Gives a new meaning to the term “jump for joy”.
9:39 pm on January 7th, 2012
Basil and Sage: Count me in at the hour—it has been the prayer in my heart since before the race began. It is an honor that your father is willing to do a special prayer.
I’m glad Melanie posted the picture. I’m not too facebookie savvy and was trying to figure out if I could share it from fb to Chet’s when Melanie came through like a lead dog!
9:40 pm on January 7th, 2012
Herbs, Love your dad’s contribution. We will join in. The moon is beautiful tonight.
9:41 pm on January 7th, 2012
High!….Look how HIGH he is jumping!…snort!….How can any guy jump straight up with all four legs off the ground like that?….wheeze!….And look at his face. He doesn’t even have a strained look because of the effort….wow!
9:43 pm on January 7th, 2012
Thank you Rebecca.
9:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
Bear has been following along the trail with AJ and Jeremy in spirit. HerbKats count us in for prayer-time at the top of the hour. After that we are off to bed.
9:52 pm on January 7th, 2012
Herb Kats, we will be honored to join you and your dad for the special prayer under the beautiful moon.
10:03 pm on January 7th, 2012
I just realized that I will be traveling tomorrow when the race ends. Drat! Unless they are really late. I don’t wish for that but darn it all!
10:15 pm on January 7th, 2012
I joined in the prayer outside, wrapped in a coat that I gave Bev years ago. Toward the end of my prayer under the almost-full-moon-sky, the knot traveled from my stomach and constricted in my throat and then suddenly loosened its hold and left me feeling calm and still. Thank you.
10:23 pm on January 7th, 2012
Justin!…He will be fine and the team will be great!…snort!… I feel it in my Pug Heart tonight. He is safe and he knows exactly what he is doing…heh!…He is having a helluva good time!…WOOOOOOOOOWHEEEEE!
10:26 pm on January 7th, 2012
We went outside and stood beside a sage bush and said our prayer. Mom wore her Snowhook quilt, which she has become very attached to.
It is wonderful that we can all join in together although there are miles between us.
10:32 pm on January 7th, 2012
SiberH: Has your mom allowed you to test the quilt or has she kept it to herself?
10:38 pm on January 7th, 2012
We were outside under the almost-full moon as well, and knowing that the Snowhook teams are under that same moon made us feel we are all connected.
10:40 pm on January 7th, 2012
AJ has passed the first checkpoint and Jeremy is nearing it.
10:42 pm on January 7th, 2012
Testing!….heh!snort!heh!… No one in their right mind would let that digging fool test a prized Quilt…snort!… Heck, he can’t even be trusted to sniff a few stuffed huskies…chorkel!…Although, I do have to say in every other way he is a true pal and baseball fan!…heh!
10:45 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, I’m not a quilt tester…too hot. The quilt is one item that mom and I have never had a disagreement over as to who owns it. Mom loves the quilt.
10:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
The stuffed huskies are another story.
10:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
Wow – that was great. Mama said that she swears she heard the sounds of happy dogs awwooo – ing in the distance.
Now we are having hot cocoa and heading for BED!
G’night all
10:49 pm on January 7th, 2012
SiberH: I’m thrilled your mom likes the quilt.
Have we heard from Barb & Maggie today?
10:52 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rebecca, I think the quilt is a wonderful substitute for the stuffed animals that mom, umm, can’t have.
10:55 pm on January 7th, 2012
We are being told it is bedtime, tho we don’t know how Mom expects us to sleep. We’ll catch up with AJ and Jeremy first thing in the morning. Good night.
11:01 pm on January 7th, 2012
Howlers: Good night.
SiberH: Perhaps she doesn’t know that they’re not chew toys. It is probably for the best that she just look and not touch.
11:04 pm on January 7th, 2012
We are falling asleep, but will turn on the computer before we go to the dog park in the morning. We will try to resist turning the computer on in the middle of the night.
Rebecca, You try to get some sleep and rest tonight.
May all the doggies and mushers on the trail stay safe and have fun.
Night All
11:05 pm on January 7th, 2012
Up! I am still up – heck it is still early-ish here….heh!… Beau is upstairs terrorizing her mother and trying to get on her Big Bed…snort!…Her mother does not want to let him up there because she knows she will never be able to physically get him off once he is On!….grunt!…That guy! He always messes up my serene evening hours for one reason or another…grumble!
11:11 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rest!…snort!…When and Where does AJ and the Team get to stop, eat, and rest?…grunt!…They have gone so far already…wuffle!
11:11 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: I’m up, too, but that is to be expected.
11:16 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: The teams will make their way to the Skwentna checkpoint where they will have a six hour layover. Once their six hours is up they will hit the trail again. Some races have a indoor area for mushers to crash for the layover—the musher will only rest after they’ve cared for the dogs. Some races, the mushers will sleep at their dogs sleds at the checkpoint. In longer races, AJ will camp on the trail and sleep in the dog sled. The teams will have taken some breaks along the way to snack, relax, etc.
11:25 pm on January 7th, 2012
Skwentna!….Rebecca, do you know if AJ will be able to sleep inside tonight at this check-point?….sniff!…AJ and Team have not even reached this check-point yet, have they??…wuffle!…But they are strong and they will be there soon and in good form too!…Yes!
11:29 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: They have twenty-some-odd miles left before the reach Skwentna. Jeremy has a bit more to go than AJ. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to crash inside or out tonight. He is always prepared to sleep in the dog sled; sleeping inside would be a boon.
11:29 pm on January 7th, 2012
I have been checking in in between trying to pack. I haven’t done much about packing till after dinner tonight. I wonder what I will forget. Better go check all my pills and make sure I have enough of them for the trip.
I will check in once more before I hit the sack.
Rebecca and Tupper and Gilly. The moon was beautiful here and I did look out the window while the prayer was being prayed. I hope that counts.
11:31 pm on January 7th, 2012
Staff: It counts in my book. While you’re packing, remember what we learned about packing from Golinka: despite what some might think, packing pants comes in handy. 🙂
11:43 pm on January 7th, 2012
Staff!…Be sure to pack some Slim Jims for your big block buster trip…heh!…And be sure Not to pack AbbieTheKat…grunt!
AJ!…Isn’t it quite cold out there for him to sleep in the Sled?…shudder!…That Giant is Tough Tough Tough!…wuffle!…We will have him in our prayers tonight most especially!…sniff!
11:57 pm on January 7th, 2012
Rio: He will have camped out in much colder temperatures. While he may not always be comfortable, he’ll survive—similar to the difference between you nice warm bed with all your baseball toys and Beau’s cold, hard bed. His gear is made for the arctic.
12:34 am on January 8th, 2012
Hey Rebecca, Speaking of forgetting your pants. Heh
Once I went to a Quilt Retreat with a friend. She drove. After I got there and unpacked my sewing machine and my fabric and my cutting tools and my iron and my special chair and my OTT light.. I discovered…I hadn’t packed ANY CLOTHES. At all. Well I had packed them and they were safely at home.
Mr.Staff very kindly brought them to me. It was only 1-1/2 hours each way. When he came in the door with the bag he was cheered by all the quilters. He has begged my never to do that again.
Snicker
So far I haven’t but once when we moved down to Minneapolis for the winter I forgot every sock.
12:39 am on January 8th, 2012
Goodnight Rebecca and Good Morning to Liz and Cricket, wherever they are.
12:45 am on January 8th, 2012
So Miz Staff – did Mr.Staff “sock it to ya”?
chuckle
Mis Rebecca – I am for shure keeping Mr AJ in my thoughts on this cold night. Down here, its cold nuff that we all brought in our brass monkeys. I’hm jist a shiverin in my boots thinkin about them sled dogs of yourn. Thats a powerful strong bunch of fur you got runnin that race. Donchu tell no one, but your racers make our little ole NASCAR boys look like sissies.
Here’s hopin that you and that fine man git home together safe and sound real soon.
12:50 am on January 8th, 2012
Mr. Redbone: It’s nice to see you again tonight. I appreciate your well wishes and your Nascar secret is safe with me. I can’t wait to see AJ again, but I keep telling myself, we’d be apart during the race even if I were in Alaska.
AJ is only a handful of miles away from the layover.
1:52 am on January 8th, 2012
Back from gamboling, broke but happy.
Good to see that our guys are in about the same spot as when I left so they are running steady. AJ about to come into Skwentna with quite a crowd. I show 4 in first place: Lance, Dee Dee Jonrowe, Jake Berkowitz and Ray Redington Jr. I have AJ in 14th and Jeremy in 20th. Jeremy’s marker shows him all alone in the middle of the pack with his nearest competitors either way ahead or way behind him. Hope he and the dogs are enjoying a beautiful, spiritual wilderness adventure.
2:09 am on January 8th, 2012
Hey Mr. Redbone, did you see mom’s birthday cake with you and me on top? It was something!
Go Snowhook!
2:24 am on January 8th, 2012
After almost 11 hours on the trail, AJ made it into the Skwentna checkpoing. Handler Jeremy is still on the trail. He has miles to go before he sleeps.
2:25 am on January 8th, 2012
Hi Macy!
My eyelids are getting very heavy…Go Snowhook!
2:31 am on January 8th, 2012
Say ‘goodnight, Dawson.’
2:55 am on January 8th, 2012
Goodnight Dawson. Oh you weren’t talking to me were you. Goodnight Rebecca! Mom’s tummy is a little upset and she is keeping me up.
2:56 am on January 8th, 2012
Hey!
My computer now says that AJ has joined the group that is in first place! Awhoooooo! AJ is in first place!!! With that news I will say good night, Snowhook Bella.
2:58 am on January 8th, 2012
Hey!
My computer now says that AJ has joined the group that is in first place! Awhoooooo! AJ is in first place!!! With that news I will say good night, Snowhook Bella.
Goodnight Macy MinPin and mom too.
2:59 am on January 8th, 2012
Oops. ((giggle))
6:40 am on January 8th, 2012
Jeremy is at the Skwentna airport in 17th place!
AJ is still in first place (one of 12 first places)!
Go Snowhook!
8:34 am on January 8th, 2012
Dawson: I saw the cluster of 1st place teams and thought to myself that I really must be tired. 🙂
I’m getting tired of watching his moving-mapdot remain still.
8:51 am on January 8th, 2012
Snigglefitz Live Tracking has AJ still at the Layover when the current standings have him leaving already. YIKES! Did his tracker go off?
9:03 am on January 8th, 2012
Melanie: Where do you see that he has left the checkpoint? I can’t find anything that shows him leaving.
If the tracker and the race standings don’t match up it could mean several things: the battery is dying, there is a glitch or he placed something over the tracker—the last is very likely. He does this during Iditarod and it drives me mad. Mad, I tell you!
9:15 am on January 8th, 2012
Melanie: The tracker just updated. The pug has left the yard (AJ has left the checkpoint). 🙂
9:17 am on January 8th, 2012
Just saw it Snowhook Bella! How’s the tummy?
I also found out where I can post on both guys’ pages.
9:23 am on January 8th, 2012
Melanie: I dozed off and on for a couple of hours, but after I resolved that sleep wasn’t going to happen I got up with my stomach in that pesky sailor’s knot. Know that AJ has left the checkpoint, I have found both ends of the knot. I was going to ask if you’re feeling better?
10:05 am on January 8th, 2012
Hi Melanie and Rebecca,
I just decided to check before getting Mom ready for her bath. She is late this week as she usually has it on Saturday but she came out dressed yesterday and refused to start over.
GO AJ and Jeremy!