Snowhook Update
“How’s Snowhook doing?” says Admin. “Not long till the start of the Iditarod.”
“We should explain,” says Spence, “that this blog and the wonderful Plunderers are helping sponsor AJ, Rebecca, and the Snowhook team. There have been recent setbacks with the health of a couple of the dogs, but Snowhook is so resilient. Here’s a selection from Rebecca’s report on yesterday’s pre-race vet check”:
“Each of the dogs, including Fritz—much to our relief— was given the go ahead to run in the race. Junior, our yearling and fairly new addition to the team was among the mix. This doesn’t mean he will run, but it means he could run. Our dogs were complimented on their looks as well as personality. Garrett, a young guy and a bit shy hid under the trailer until it was his time for the poking and prodding. Everyone else was eager to get attention from the strangers with stethoscopes.
We just arrived home from the mushers banquet that was held in Anchorage tonight. It was a long night of speech giving, yet we enjoyed passing the time with friends and fans of the Kennel. When it was AJ’s turn to go up and pick his number out of the mukluk—yes, an actual mukluk—he took a moment to say a few words before disclosing his bib number. He thanked me, he thanked Mick, a friend of the Kennel who has helped fix our vehicle laments on more than one occasion, and then he thanked the Plunderers for making our race possible! AJ drew bib 38 and will leave the starting line in Willow on Sunday afternoon at 3:16.”
Go 38!
Tags: AJ, Iditarod, Rebecca, Snowhook
This entry was posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2012 at 9:04 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.
9:08 am on March 2nd, 2012
Today is the day I get The Insider!! Hip Hip Hurray for #38!
9:15 am on March 2nd, 2012
Good Morning Spence, Admin, Chet and Melanie:
WooooHooo AJ! Lucky 38!!!
Rebecca: Wish I could have heard the speech in person. I think you should write a memoir about the mushing life and wife. And of course of the dogs! GO SNOWHOOK!
Masquers: I love Jodi Picoult! I have read many of her books, and gone to one of her signings.
Rio’s Friend: Thanks for letting us know what is going on. I appreciate how difficult a situation you are in, but I truly hope your home will be Beau’s forever home.
Rio: I would love to see the progress of the Rio/Beau quilling project once it has begun! 🙂
Go SNOWHOOK!! GO PLUNDERERS!!
9:28 am on March 2nd, 2012
Good morning all.
We are going to use a Bee line “What is a mukluk?” I know, we should probably know what it is but we don’t. I wonder if the doc. guys filmed A.J.’s speech last night. That is cool that he mentioned us.
Barb has read some Jodi P, and usually likes her a lot. There was one she considered but decided not read, that was patterned after the Columbine School shooting. We have one that was just picked up on the sale rack at the library – Handle With Care. Did you read that one?
Have to go read the late posts from last night. BBL
9:30 am on March 2nd, 2012
I have decided that #38 is my new lucky number!
9:38 am on March 2nd, 2012
Good morning, y’all! I’m glad to see all is going well for Snowhook! Mom’s storytime is tomorrow, too. Now we just have to hope that kids actually show up for it! Go #38!!!
B&M: Mom has only read one JP book — the school shooting one that Barb decided not to read. Good decision. Mom hated it, and has never read another JP book! By the way, I think a mukluk is a kind of *show* but I’ll have to do some research to make sure.
9:41 am on March 2nd, 2012
I was right! Here’s the wilipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukluk
Maybe from now on we should just call *shows* mukluks instead — obviously, the blog censor doesn’t consider that a dirty word!
9:47 am on March 2nd, 2012
#38 is the lucky number for all of us!
AJ does not start until Sunday evening, East Time? We did not realize they staggered them that much. Doesn’t the race start Saturday afternoon?
9:49 am on March 2nd, 2012
OH: The race starts in Anchorage on Saturday — but that’s just the ceremonial start so everyone gets a chance to see them. They only go about 11 miles, then everybody is loaded up and taken to Willow for the “real” start the next day.
9:56 am on March 2nd, 2012
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SUNDAY?????????
9:58 am on March 2nd, 2012
B&M: Have not read Handle With Care yet, but it is on my nook!
Rebecca: 3:16, is that your time, or EST??? I’m confused.
9:59 am on March 2nd, 2012
(With apologies to Bee for the poor grammar. I am blaming it on shock.)
9:59 am on March 2nd, 2012
There, there, my sweet Wolfie. The start of the race I’ll be here in no time. We can all enjoy the ceremonial start first.
10:01 am on March 2nd, 2012
Ve have alvays loved #38. Is very good luck for AJ
Natasha vill be at race to help. Ve vill be at all difficult places on trail just ahead of team. This vay the boys vill all run harder to get to be closer to Natasha. And ve vill vear very best hats, so all lady team doggies vill vant catch up to ask vhere to get such beautiful hats.
Ve know – is big sacrifice for Natasha – but ve are villing for Beloved Snowhook!
10:02 am on March 2nd, 2012
Anchorage!….The Ceremonial Start is very important because that is my Checkpoint….dammit!…So everybody better make sure they are there to watch it….sniff!….They will have video on The Insider, won’t they SiberH??…huffle!
10:03 am on March 2nd, 2012
Ha ha, even my tiny paws can’t deal with the iPaw.
10:04 am on March 2nd, 2012
My favorite JP books are “My Sister’s Keeper’ and ‘House Rules’.
Howlers – I finished Winterdance in the wee hours of the morning. I loved it! It was written in 1994, and I think that much has changed since then.
For one thing, there were only 19 checkpoints at that time.
It is an excellant ‘read’. (I am really pushing it with Bee today, aren’t I?) OH, send me your address to aller@sti.net and I’ll get it off in today’s mail.
10:05 am on March 2nd, 2012
I’m laughing Barb & Maggie. As soon as I saw the word I thought, “What is a mukluk?” Thanks for the research Kirby T.
Go 38!
Good morning all.
10:07 am on March 2nd, 2012
Thank You Spence and Rebecca!
Fellow Sibers, We have read Winterdance. It is considered a classic in the sport of dog mushing. One part of it may be the funniest thing we have ever read.
Live Streaming of the Ceremonial Start tomorrow!!
There are a lot of mushers and teams to get lined up one by one at the start, but they move them in and out of there quick. For Insider members that may not be able to catch either start live, the Insider will put up the video of it on their website and you can watch it whenever you want.
We always like the Sunday start in Willow the best because then it is for real…They are on the trail into the Wilderness!
10:10 am on March 2nd, 2012
Wolfie, check your SDD.
Rio, we will definitely be watching the Ceremonial Start from your checkpoint.
Can you re-post your map? We want to print it so we can track the race by sponsored checkpoints.
10:14 am on March 2nd, 2012
Wolfie is in big trouble.
10:14 am on March 2nd, 2012
Wolfie is right, much has changed in the sport of dog mushing since Winterdance came out…all changes for the better.
Rio, Yes, The Insider will have live streaming of both starts. I will be right here watching them start from your checkpoint.
I am getting so excited!!!
WOO WOO Natasha is on an Iditarod Mission!!!
10:20 am on March 2nd, 2012
Wolfie: I loved THE PACT, and SALEM FALLS.
I think it would be very hard for me to come up with one that I didn’t like.
10:39 am on March 2nd, 2012
Videos!…Beau and I are all caught up on the Insiders latest videos…snort!…We think we can pick out AJ in the second row in the Musher Group photo and even see him rub his eyes in the short video of the banquet….grunt!
Streaming!….Live!….Woooo!….SiberH, what time (our time) will this Ceremonial Start start? …heh!
10:41 am on March 2nd, 2012
The Iditarod website has some new videos up on their website…a discussion of this year’s race and some history.
Fellow Sibers, They have one on Susan Butcher.
I haven’t seen them yet, but will watch before the race starts tomorrow.
If, during the race, the insider gets up videos as quick as they have in past years, it is best to not get behind on watching the videos or you get lost.
10:47 am on March 2nd, 2012
10:48 am on March 2nd, 2012
Rebecca: Check your SDD when you get a chance.
10:50 am on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, The Start is at 10:am Alaska Time tomorrow. So, that would be noon our time.
When the live streaming starts, their website should have a banner you click on to watch it.
Remember, I can only tell you guys these things based on the past history of their website.
They have also sent insiders emails telling them the race is starting.
11:00 am on March 2nd, 2012
The official start of the race in Willow on Sunday begins at 2 pm Alaska time; so AJ leaving at 3:16 pm sounds about right. With the increasing daylight hours, it should be light until 6 pm or so.
A mukluk is a winter boot that Alaskan natives wore. Traditionally they were made out of seal fur & skin (waterproof). My mother had a pair and my sister now displays them in a nook in her house.
Oops, going to be late for work; got to run.
11:08 am on March 2nd, 2012
Official!….So the real start at Willow will be 5:16pm our time, right SiberH?…snort!….This will work out perfectly and my friend can watch the videos with us. She will be done with all her running around by then for sure…heh!….She said she will be home with us on Monday too!….yippeeee! …Although, I did hear the words, “brutal walks this weekend” thrown around while she was talking to her mom….gulp!
11:41 am on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, The start in Willow is at 2:pm Alaska time. So, that would be 4:pm our time. Yes, that puts AJ leaving around 5:15 our time.
My only wild guess as to why the start in Willow is so late is that it will be cooler for the dogs.
Rebecca, Always feel free to come along and correct me…my feelings won’t be hurt.
12:03 pm on March 2nd, 2012
AJ: Bib #38 sounds good to us!!!
Siber-H & Bella: We are all depending on youse for explanations and how-to’s…C.Harris too.
Thank you for re-posting the checkpoint map for printout, Rio.
I’m with Wolfie…CAN’T WAIT FOR THE RACE TO START!!!
btw: You did see last night’s post from Masquers asking to be added to the reading list for Winterdance after the Howlers?
12:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SH: Do I have my times correct–Saturday’s start will be 2PM Eastern and Sunday’s will be 6PM Eastern?
12:12 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Stover, I had to count on my toenails, but, yes, your times are correct.
12:15 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SH: LOL! You are so talented.
I’m going to watch Hugo On Demand tonight.
12:19 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SiberH: I hope you will be our official “blog” correspondent, and keep us up to date during the race!
I will be wearing a special necklace throughout the race that has the dog paw charm, and a husky charm (thanks, Belle) on it.
Off topic: Why is Google not celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday?
🙁 (Sorry, B)
12:20 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SiberH!…heh!snort!heh!…Its good you are SoberH today…snorkel!
12:21 pm on March 2nd, 2012
B: Let me know what you think about HUGO.
12:21 pm on March 2nd, 2012
So that means 6:16 Central, and 7:16 Eastern right?
Barb is reading # 5 Andy Carpenter series, Dead Center. She just read a very profound sentence in the book, probably not meant to be earth shattering, but it was. “Petters are good people, nonpetters are not.” Came from the opinion of his dog, but it is like one of those basic truisms you learned in kindergarten. Barb said when she really thinks about it, all of her good friends are petters. She just could not be close to any nonpetters. Goes too deep to the core of the person.
12:21 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Every time someone starts talking about time zones I get confused.
To me it’s always NOW.
12:22 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I’ll do my best, Rose and Bear.
Rebecca is there and I am not. I would be there if I always got my way…sigh
12:24 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Go #38! I will wear my mukluks for the ceremonial start. Mine are made of caribou and wool as per local custom. They are like high-topped (to the knee) moccasins. Go Snowhook doggies!
Kirby: I know the kids will enjoy your mom’s map and stories and catch the excitement we are all feeling with the Big Race.
T&G: A box of books was dropped off at the hospital for donation and I had to take one out for you. The first #1 Ladies Detective book is on it’s way slowly to you.
12:26 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Barb, Your times are correct
Everyone needs to start watching the live stream a litle before the time we think AJ will leave the starting line.
Me, I watch all of it.
12:29 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, thanks for posting the map. We’ll get Mom to print it when she gets back home. (whispering) They are on their way to look at a horse.
Siber, we meant to tell you about the Susan Butcher video earlier. We watched it and Mom and Pop cried and cried.
12:29 pm on March 2nd, 2012
All I remember is Bella saying Alaska is one hour behind the West Coast. However, when the US and Canada switches over to Daylight Savings Time on March 11, that will make the time difference two hours, right?
Gulp. A time switch during the Big Race?
Siber: Help me out here!
12:38 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Daylight-Savings!…Right in the middle of the Last Great Race!??…grunt!….Lord help us all..sniff!
12:40 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Masquers, Yes, there will be a time change and it always throws me into confusion also.
I think Alaska also goes on Daylight Savings Time. Rebecca or C.Harris can help us out with this.
If this is the case, you will still only have the one hour difference.
12:41 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Masquers: Breathe! Don’t worry, be happy.
12:42 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Wait!…Does Alaska Spring forward too?…sniff!…This might not be as bad as I am thinking…wuffle!
12:42 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, This time change happened to us last year, we got confused, but we got it figured out.
12:49 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Bee and Rose: Mom went to see Hugo and she absolutely loved it! She actually saw it in 3-D, which she wasn’t thrilled about, but that was the only way the theater offered it. It turned out that the 3-D wasn’t so bad (it’s the first 3-D movie she’s seen — she thought it was just a gimmick, so she never bothered before). But the movie was pretty true to the book — at least what she remembered from reading it years ago. Have you read the book? One of her co-workers listened to the book on CD, but Mom thought she missed so much by not being able to see the amazing illustrations — the Caldecott committee obviously agreed, since the medal usually goes to “picture” books rather than “chapter” books. Brian Selznik’s latest book, “Wonderstruck,” is also very good.
12:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I looked it up and Alaska does go on daylight savings time beginning March 11 at 2AM.
12:57 pm on March 2nd, 2012
We would like to second Kirby’s suggestion to officially use the word mukluk in place of “shows”.
Oh, and we wanted to say “You go girl” to Natasha for her part in the race.
12:57 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Oooommmmmmmm.
12:58 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Thanks Stover, This means we are already way ahead of last year in dealing with the time change.
12:58 pm on March 2nd, 2012
B&M: I like the profound sentence.
1:02 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I have not read Hugo but I have the book. The pictures are good.
1:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Joining B&M and Kirby T…I vote using Mukluk for Shows (before the notorious Moderator realizes we’re talking in code)
Who is it? Macy? Who always says Shews. That’s a good one too.
Nattie: You are one kool spy to take time off from your clandestine (nefarious) activities to help out the team.
B: Is Hugo on Amazon Prime?
1:19 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Masquers: Yes. The hardcover is $14.99 on Prime.
1:35 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I went to the village to visit Tyb who works there on Friday. Well, he can’t work right now because Jay had to go to the dentist and, therefore, Jay was more then 5 feet away from Tyb. They don’t call the English Shepard an English Shadow for nothing.
Tyb is waiting.
1:43 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Speaking of the dentist,
I’ll be back later. My mother is dragging me off to the big city for an appointment with the doggie dentist. It is just for a checkup. I cannot deal with this right now. The Iditarod starts tomorrow.
YSAS has a call back today at 5 his time.
1:55 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Boy, Tyb looks pretty dejected. I hope Jay comes back soon! Mom always laughs because when Dad goes into the bathroom and closes the door, I sit outside waiting for him to come back out.
1:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
YSAS: Yes! The call back at 5 pm! I’m telling mom to set her phone alarm right now.
B: I meant are you watching it on Prime. Didn’t you say it was On Demand, or did you mean HBO?
Siber-H: Yikes! The d-e-n-t-i-s-t. I keep remembering what happened to poor Jasper.
1:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby: I have not read HUGO. I saw the 3D version with the Prof, but I was crazy about it. The 3D was great, but I think the whole marketing campaign for that film was based on that. Too me, it seemed like 2 different stories, and it was definitely not a children’s movie.
SiberH: Good luck with the dentist. I hope you are not being tricked like Jasper….The HORROR!
MollyPop’s Mom: Thanks for the picture of Tyb. Very sweet. He is so devoted to Jay.
Masquers, I agree. Mukluk is definitely a cool word to replace the moderated one.
1:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I feel much better knowing that Nattie will be there spurring on the team!
(I can’t imagine her wearing booties. My guess is that she is wearing custom made high heels.)
1:59 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby: I have not read HUGO. I saw the 3D version with the Prof, but I was not crazy about it. The 3D was great, but I think the whole marketing campaign for that film was based on that. Too me, it seemed like 2 different stories, and it was definitely not a children’s movie.
SiberH: Good luck with the dentist. I hope you are not being tricked like Jasper….The HORROR!
MollyPop’s Mom: Thanks for the picture of Tyb. Very sweet. He is so devoted to Jay.
Masquers, I agree. Mukluk is definitely a cool word to replace the moderated one.
2:00 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby: I meant to say I was NOT crazy about it.
2:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rose: You just answered my question.
2:11 pm on March 2nd, 2012
MollysMom!…Did you take that photo?…sniff!…Mr.Tibbs is almost centered in it, so I was wondering…heh!
2:20 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Mollypop’s Mom: That is a very good photo of Tyb.
2:22 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Masquers: I’m going to watch Hugo on tv On Demand. That means I’ll be charged $4.99 by Comcast.
2:33 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby: Speaking of waiting outside of bathroom doors…years ago Nana had a kat that did just that…waiting patiently for #1 son to come out. She was so devoted to him, sleeping on his bed (person) at night and following him everywhere.
2:38 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Ha ha, Rio.
Gosh, that WAS a good photo. And taken by me, no less. Probably because there was no motion to contend with. Or I just got lucky.
2:41 pm on March 2nd, 2012
B: On Demand. Cheaper than going to the movies and more comfortable too! Relaxing in your easy chair with snacks at your side what could be better.
2:43 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I am a pretty devoted waiter too, especially for mom. For dad, not so much, because he has to go to the busy place during the week. I would agree about petters, although I would refine it slightly to apply to tummiers — those who give good tummies and those who do not. Time zones have always flummoxed my dad; he even one time started wondering about what time it was in outer space (he’s like that, you know). For me, it’s much simpler as it is always either tummies time, treat time, walkies time or sleep time. Those are my four time zones. Wookie
2:45 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Wookie! I like your time zones.
2:46 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SiberH. Be very careful at the dentist. And whatever you do, don’t start thinking about either Marathon Man or LIttle Shop of Horrors. For dentist aficionados, you will know exactly what I mean. Wookie
2:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Yeep!….SiberH’s career as a playboy might come to an end this afternoon if they pull all his teeth out….grunt!…Just the thought of Marathon Man makes my molars, such as they are, ache….gah!
3:02 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SiberH!…If the Dentist starts asking you, ”Is it safe?” run like the wind!…snort!
3:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Wooo hooooo! We got our computer back from its doctor in time for the big race.
It has been SO frustrating not having a (modern, reliable, fast) computer. But now we know for sure that it wasn’t just us – the computer really was VERY sick.
The nice fixer-upper people found an insidious virus/trojan/worm – not sure which one, that was called “greenfingers”.
They said it couldn’t get into Mama’s secured sites like banking, thank goodness, but it certainly was messing with her email and chatting.
And yes – it really could have been responsible for the mixed avatars on the blog. And it did really weird stuff to her shopping list from her local grocery store website. She KNEW that she had never put canned green beans on her list – but they appeared almost everytime she printed it out.
So, now we can get back to the business at hand.
Dawson – THANK YOU! We will look forward to the #1 Ladies Det. book.
Rio – If your friend has time and wants to send the others along, Mama would love to read them. Do send her an SDD about postage costs though, for sure.
Wookie – we love your Time Zone chart. We are adopting here.
You all may remember that our Dad is going to be doing prayers every night at 9pm eastern time from the start of the race until AJ and tream cross the finish line. There will be a lot of participation from Native people from New York state, eastern Canada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to name a few.
Mama says she will put the opening night prayer on the blog at 9. She would like to know if people want the daily prayer on the blog, or if we should all just be aware that at 9 every evening there is a confluence of prayers going up. She also said that with all this power, there may be other Plunderers and friends who want to add a request or share a joy. So there are lots of ways to do this – during the course of the day, Plunderers could let the rest of us know of a special request to be added to the prayer in our hearts. Or maybe other Plunderers would like to lead the prayer and post in on other nights of the race.
Opinions please?
Mama had a great time with Melanie today. YSAS is just a tad nervous about his Big Speaking Audition today. But he is like, way cool about it,man. tee hee We are keeping all paws crossed!
3:23 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Insidious!….snort!….That is an incredibly insidious of that virus to put Green Beans on a shopping list…hmmmphf!….What depths will those hackers sink to anyways….huffle!
3:27 pm on March 2nd, 2012
McCall Smith!…. My friend doesn’t like to lend her books out anymore, but just for you Golinka, she might be talked into it…sniff!… Which ones have you read again? …grunt!
3:28 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Marathon Man still makes me cringe.
3:40 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Yes, Alaska changes clocks along with others. I have lived in Alaska long enough that I can remember the state at one time having 3 time zones within its boundaries. Ugh.
Sober-Siber: please send me a SDD as I want to ask you something.
Dentist: I am overdue to go to the dentist but I have had to see them enough at different periods of my life that I kind of have a phobia. I can be a bit hysterical which is hard on me and the dentist (and nearby patients). However, when I requested the dentist give me “laughing gas,” he asked why. I said BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE.
3:43 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio – the only #1 Ladies book Mama has read is “Cheerful Ladies”. Awesome Dawson in sending her the very first book of the series.
Mama also says to tell you that she is VERY good about reading and returning. She had the same kind of issues about lending until she and Melanie started their own book exchange.
And green beans are one thing – but CANNED green beans – ewwwwww
3:46 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Personally, we (mom and I) would love to see the daily Prayer.
She is going to haver her hands full just keeping up with the blog and the Insider without going back and forth.
Wolfie’s Boys are flaking out, both of them. Haven’t heard from Chad. Cody is getting evicted. Mom is sad but not completely surprised. Incredibly disappointed though. Dam drugs.
3:50 pm on March 2nd, 2012
That movie was many moons ago. A vague recollection here and a suddenly queasy stomach.
Computer viruses! We just had a very strange thing happen the other day. Nana went to sign-on her online banking. When the site-key came up it looked a tad different. The image of a bear 🙂 suddenly had his tongue sticking out. Quite alarming! She immediately called to talk to a banking assistant who, after having a laugh over the situation, guided her through the necessary changes. Note that the change was so subtle one could easily have poo pooed it and signed in with the pass code.
MollyPop’s Mom: Didn’t Staff also report something strange a while back? Something about when she opened up her computer she was seeing some kind of code on the screen? Our screen is showing a DSUB (or something like that) We do have virus protection, but hackers have become so clever of late they are able to sneak around this. Should she be concerned?
3:59 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Books!… My friend has the rest of the books up through The Double Comfort Safari Club, which is #11 of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series….snort!…She still needs to find The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party which is the last one so far…heh!heh!
4:02 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Been busy. Be back to catch up. Took some pictures of our area today. 3 coming up.
Will be back after dinner.
4:04 pm on March 2nd, 2012
The Royals’ are correct. YSAS is a TAD nervous!
4:06 pm on March 2nd, 2012
BearSpiritDog: received SDD, looking into it.
4:14 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Tupper&Gilly: Please tell you mama to post the prayer each day and thank you to your dad, The Storyteller for doing this.
Wolfie: We feel so sad for your mom who gets her hopes up only to have them dashed soon after. No doubt Chad’s “friends” pulled him back in before he could even get out. One of these days Chad and Cody will grow tired of this life style and things will finally turn around. Praying for this day.
Thanks, Melanie, Bear is standing by.
Looking brrry cold where you are!
4:25 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Royals: “you mama”??? I can’t believe I (the iPaw) just typed that! Well, you knew what I meant…right?
4:32 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Wolfie: It’s not over until The Fat Lady Sings. Paws are still crossed for tomorrow.
Off to the market before it starts raining. Again.
4:35 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Love the pictures Melanie, especially the one with icicles. It’s 45 and raining here and dark. I have to turn the lights on.
4:37 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Photos!….Melanie, or should I say Melansel-Adams?…heh!…Very beautiful black and white photos! Those are not easy to get right…wuffle!
4:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
CLARKSON!…
4:57 pm on March 2nd, 2012
We’re back! Well, Mom and Pop are back; we’ve been here all along. There is no new horse, but Mom says there will be next week.
Wolfie, we have our paws crossed for this weekend.
5:06 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Quick note: AJ says ‘good luck’ to YSAS!
5:09 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Oley Howlers – woo hoo for the new horse!
Melanie – yes they are beautiful pictures. Now, do you think you could find some of tropical beaches and warm sun????
BearSpriritDog – yo mama, right back at ya.
tee hee
5:20 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Silly Bear. Doncha know it is YO MAMA!
We are so so sad to hear about Chad and Cody. They were so close to making the break. This is like a roller coaster of emotions for Wolfie’s mom.
Yes, we would like the prayer, too.
Snow storm here, almost whiteout conditions. Should be 60 degrees by next Thursday!
5:40 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Would someone please send me C.Harris SDD so I can send her one?
Wolfie, We are so sorry about your boys. We know your mom is disappointed. We will all keep praying for them.
Melanie, Pretty Photos…much nicer than the blowing sand we have had for 2 days.
T&G We think a daily prayer on the blog would be wonderful. I’m a native Siberian dog in NM, so that should count for something.
Natasha is just a Russian, but I am a Native Russian.
5:47 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Ok, Wookie and Rio, LOL About the dentist
I now have an appointment in a couple of months to have my teeth cleaned and one tiny filling in a tiny chip I have in one of my canine teeth. Fine and whatever…this won’t interfere with the Iditarod.
5:53 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Or, Someone could please send C.Harris my SDD.
6:17 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Melanie, Photos are lovely. Looks a little like what we can see out the windows here.
Barb ran to the store earlier and it was snowing and blowing so hard that the garage door wouldn’t close. So much snow was blowing in that the automatic door opener wouldn’t operate.
Does anyone else watch the show on Friday nights called Who Do You Think You Are? It traces a person’s ancestory and uncovers some interesting stuff. Last week they did Blaire Underwood, and this week they are doing Reba Mcentire’s history.
6:35 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Bear – I don’t have any idea what DSUB means. Does anything else look different? The worst of the viruses want account numbers and passwords. If they’re putting canned (gasp) green beans in your shopping cart they’re just annoying. Either way they have to be cleaned out.
6:50 pm on March 2nd, 2012
This was on YSAS Facebook. “All the day’s stress boiled down to 6 seconds in front of cameras and producers. Smiles all round. Good thoughts people.”
This is what he said to me! “if they want a good looking Irish thug, it’s me. If they want a big ugly Irish thug thee were a few of them.”
Snicker. He said it went well and he NEVER says that.
The book Wölfie was talking sounds good. Will someone please add me to the list?
(thinking good thoughts, Wolfie)
For any science geeks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sUeGC-8dyk
6:54 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SH: I have CHarris’ email address but I don’t have yours.
I really enjoyed Hugo. It’s very different and the history of film is interesting.
7:03 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio: You and Pepper ae up top!
Oh, Wolfie, I am so sorry to hear about your boys. Please know you and yours are always in my heart and prayers.
Lots of lovely pictures on the blog today!
T&G: A daily prayer would be lovely.
SiberH: Glad to hear you will not have to go trhough what Jasper went through at the dreaded dentist.
7:05 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SH, check your other name’s SDD
7:08 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Thank You Melanie!!
Stover, Melanie sent it to me, but I bet you do have my email address because I have yours.
7:14 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I am now an INSIDER!
7:31 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Just a reminder to everyone who has a brain cramp now and then, like Mama is known for:
If you go to our dishlickers email account, and look in the folders, there is one labled Plunderers Addresses or something similar. When Mama did the “housekeeping” to clean up the emails, she stuck any emails with contact info into that folder.
(We know she has gone there more than a few times to retrieve a contact address)
There is a lot of great info in that email location – BStover put the Mission history into a folder, along with the Astrid case(so far). And the original Plunderers’ Prayer is in there too.
8:13 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SH: I looked again but don’t have your address. I didn’t look on dishlickers.
8:36 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Home!…My friend came home and we twirled and whirled around her…heh!…Then she got busy and made some potato salad so her mother could heat up some Hebrew National hot-dawgs for supper…snort!…After last nights gourmet supper this was a tad bit of a surprise for me and Beau, but we made the best of it…gruffle!
8:40 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Justified! ….snort!… It is so good this season. I keep thinking it would be amazing if Clarkson ever got on that show…snort!…Then he could get a bunch of amazing actors autographs for me….wooooo!….That would almost be a dream come true…snort! …Cuz I’m an Autograph Hound…heh!
9:02 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Stover, I just sent it to you.
9:05 pm on March 2nd, 2012
I have it SH. Thank you.
9:07 pm on March 2nd, 2012
SiberH!…Are you all prepared for the weekend exceitment??…chuffle!…I hope everyone at Snowhook will get a very good nights sleep tonight. I’m sure they need it…wuffle!
9:09 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Time Warp! We returned to the blog to find Rose’s earlier “error” at 1:59 has auto-corrected and Barb&Magpie are talking about whiteout conditions with 60 degree temps in the forecast.
Doing a double-take. It’s like that bear sticking his tongue out all over again. woowho woowho.
9:16 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Melanie: The James Bond theme video fit right in with the weirdness. lol
9:31 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, I am totally prepared and ready! This will be so much fun to share the race with all of you..like it is fun to share Rockies games with my pal, Rio.
I hope AJ, Rebecca, and the dogs are doing okay, but I bet they are busy.
9:37 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Laughing my way to sleep! TTFN
9:37 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Thanks Rio, I saved the map and made it my desktop photo for the race. It will certainly help me visualize where and how far we are.
Melanie, Beautiful pictures.
Wolfie, hugs to you. I know you were so hopeful and now are so sad. Stay strong!
T&G, We would love to have your prayers on the blog. We will pay attention and send in a few for Staff’s brother and his wife to be be healthier. Thanks for this. It sounds wonderful.
9:46 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Just to change the subject, Mr.Staff was sent a “Brownie in a Mug” recipe. Then I found it as a Chow Tip from my Chowhound blog. Here it is for those of you who enjoy chocolate.
http://www.chow.com/food-news/81197/how-to-make-a-brownie-in-a-mug-in-the-microwave/?tag=nl.e349
9:58 pm on March 2nd, 2012
A friend of Mr.Staff’s who lives in Ketchican just called. He is in Anchorage visiting the VA and leaves tomorrow. He can’t stay for the ceremonial start.
OH to be so close! Goodness, I told him to stay but he says the VA doesn’t pay for tourists.
10:08 pm on March 2nd, 2012
We are Insiders too!!! A little bummed because the list of Plunderers cut off before it got to ME! ME! ME! but I will survive. Now to figure out all the goodies. Dad made us get the whole package because he said something about keeping mom out of his hair for two weeks. At least that is what “I” heard.
10:12 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Ketchican!…Alaska….snort!…What a lucky guy to live in such a lovely place. My friend has been to Ketchican and love love loved it!…wuffle!… She met a guy who owned a B&B up there. He gave her and her best friend a wonderful boat ride all around the area…sniff!… I was not around then, I guess….guffle!
10:20 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Staff! I was wondering where you were. Rio’s checkpoint map as a desktop photo is absolute genius. We have the photo of AJ and his winning team in the Knik 200 Race last month.
Our list of five mushers have been picked with AJ, of course, numero uno. Karen Ramstead and her team of Huskies are on the list too.
While Bear’s in The Twilight Zone I’m off to checkout Mr.Staff’s yummy looking Brownie in a Mug.
10:20 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Siber-H: check your email. Thanks for being our Iditarod reporter, recorder and race guru.
Wolfie: prayers for your son.
Tupper & Gilly: thanks for the Dishlickers reminder and the daily prayers to come.
I have a busy weekend coming up so I might get behind in the blog; I expect there to be much activity. I think sometime during the race we might break a record in blog pages.
10:28 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, who sent Snowhook the 2 lucky four-leaf-clovers is at the top in a solo place of honor.
TYB: Check your SDD!
10:29 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Noon!…I have to remember to be down here and get this old computer booted up and ready before Noon tomorrow…grunt!…Thats when My Checkpoint starts off the whole Shaaa-Bang!….wooooo!…We can not miss the Ceremonial Start, no way jose!…grunt!
10:37 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Macy! awww we got cut off too. boo hoo.
10:38 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Clovers!… I’ve had thoughts about those 4 leafed clovers this week…sniff!…It’s been a very tough week in a bunch of ways, but I think all the wrinkles are smoothing out gradually and maybe, just maybe all will be Excellent for the Snowhook team this year during the Last Great Race!….chuffle! ….No matter what, All of US are right behind them cheering them on. NO Matter What!….Wooooo! ….And don’t forget, Natasha is in front urging them on…heh!heh!
10:43 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Hi everyone – we finally dragged Mama out of the Mud Room to take us out for our last trip. Then we are all going to bed!
So – we are going to plan to post prayers at 9 pm every night, starting with the big one on Sunday. There will be a prayer every night until AJ and Bella and Team are all safe and sound at home. If anyone has any requests, they can email them to Mama, or post them on this here blog.
Thats it from the lowlands of Western Massachusetts – we are having a hard time keeping our eyes open, so we will say g’night.
10:46 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Hey, y’all! Mom is back from her handbell workshop. There were 30 or so ringers there, and the songs sounded so awesome, even though everyone was playing them for the first time.
Wolfie: So sorry to hear about your boys. Maybe Chad is still saying goodbye to his so-called friends, and he’ll still show up on Saturday as planned. And maybe Cody being evicted is the wake-up call he’ll need to start making some changes in his life. We can hope, can’t we?
10:48 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Goodnight all. Tomorrow will be very interesting. Dratted Mr.Staff has our weekend all planned. No Iditarod in it, so I will be watching it on video.
Night all.
10:54 pm on March 2nd, 2012
CHarris: Please check your SDD.
10:56 pm on March 2nd, 2012
ALERT! Rio: We just noticed the Broadcast Schedule saying the ceremonies start at 9:30 am in Anchorage with the start at 10 am. There is a link to GCI Channel 1.
(let’s see…Alaska is one hour behind us and 2 hrs. behind Rio so that means…..)
11:00 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Before Mom went to handbells, she made something for my boy’s girlfriend’s birthday. She and my boy will be spending her birthday — and spring break — at Disney World, so Mom made some cupcakes she saw on another blog awhile back. (Unfortunately, the cupcakes were chocolate, so she won’t let me have any. That’s too bad, because they looked good enough to eat!)
11:04 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Staff!…We will all be watching it on Video…grunt!…Don’t blame Mr. Staff for that!…heh!heh!
Late!…We are being defiant and staying up late…snort!…Beau is down here sleeping on her lap, so her mother is in no danger of him right now…sniff!…I am hoping Rebecca or AJ the Giant posts on this here blog and says something about what they’ve been up to or maybe tell us the team line-up. It probably has changed since the injuries….wuffle!
11:08 pm on March 2nd, 2012
It means 10:30 your time, Bear.
Staff, Mom will be checking out your recipe. (chocolate)
ok, We are turning in now to get rested now for the Big Start tomorrow. We will go to the dog park in the morning and mom might have to make a very quick trip to the store, but we will be here the rest of the time.
CHarris, Check your SDD
Night All
11:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio: Today has been a busy day, just like yesterday. We arrived home after midnight from the mushers banquet last night. Whoa, what a long night. I got a cold somewhere along the way. My car, our most reliable car broke down earlier this week, but we got the call from the mechanic that it was ready. We rushed into town to pick it up, and rushed back home just in time to meet the film crew. They just left a bit ago.
The starting line up is still to be determined, yet will be set in stone tomorrow when AJ picks his 16 racers before we drive into Anchorage for the Ceremonial start. Could Junior make the team…? Maybe, maybe.
11:10 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby!…You know Spencer and maybe Admin will be in DisneyLand this weekend, don’t you? Down Florida way…snort!…Do you think your guys will be able to go see him and say “HI, from Kirby!”…sneeze!…Wouldn’t that be fun!?…heh!
11:15 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio, You and I won’t be watching the start tomorrow on video. We will be watching live streaming of it from your checkpoint.
Oh gosh, I forgot about the film crew in all the other excitement.
night again
11:16 pm on March 2nd, 2012
KIrby…great cupcakes. What a great idea and I bet they were very tasty.
Lots to do before I sleep so I better get on it.
11:16 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Film-Crew!…Wow!…snort!…I am very sorry you have another damned cold, but I am hoping you did not sneeze on the camera or the microphone…heh!…I know you would tell us more if you could, but honestly, I am dying of curiosity here over what they filmed of youse guys today…wheeze!…This is torture I tell you, torture!..grunt!
11:36 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio: I forgot all about Spence being at DisneyWorld this weekend. I’ll have to check the schedule — my boy and his girlfriend are leaving to drive down early tomorrow morning, but I’m not sure when they’ll be getting there. That would be pretty cool, but it would probably make my boy roll his eyes. (Although I think his girlfriend would be OK with it. Did I tell you she adopted a pug awhile ago, and now she’s fostering another one?)
11:37 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rebecca, Did you get filmed at the banquet by the doc. guys? That would be so cool if you eventually end up on tv and AJ was filmed thanking the Plunderers just before the big race. Sorry to hear that you have a cold.
Off to bed now. Good night all.
11:38 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Rio: Today five people armed with cameras and sound equipment came out to the kennel. They interview AJ, went for a very short ride—trail conditions were poor so it wasn’t AJ’s best run—and then they interviewed me for a few minutes. They will be at the Ceremonial start tomorrow and then with us again at the Restart. One of the crew fell in love with Jodi the puppy and wanted to take her home.
11:57 pm on March 2nd, 2012
Kirby: Those cute cupcakes look soooo good!
Thank you Siber-H. Thank Dog someone knows their time zones around here.
SnowBella: How exciting! Can’t wait to see the video!
Turning in here too.
Sweet Mushing Dreams – Bear
7:09 pm on March 3rd, 2012
I just re-read the account of AJ’s encounter with the moose and realized…he was moose-tipping, an Alaskan variation of cow-tipping, except cows are a little more mellow.
10:05 pm on March 3rd, 2012
And now for something completely different (random Monty Python reference)
10:05 pm on March 3rd, 2012
3 HOURS and no comments?? Hello, is this thing on?? test 1 test 12
1:03 pm on April 2nd, 2012
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