How you can help the mushers of the Sockeye Fire.

Willow, Alaska is the unofficial mushing capital of the world. Over 5,000 sled dogs reside in the small Alaskan community. It's a tightknit group of folks devoted to their dogs, and the throwback way of Alaskan life. They really are the epitome of the Alaskan spirit. So when the Sockeye Fire started this past weekend, the mushing community watched in horror as it threatened the lives and livelihood of so many. Thankfully no human life has been lost, and very few dogs have perished.

Reports came in chaotically at first, but now with people on the ground able to confirm what was suspected (or disprove it!) we now have a better picture of who and what needs help. Several mushers are known to have lost everything, including the Jonrowes, Jan Steves & Bob Chlupach, and the Highs (who lost their home in December to a fire and were on their way to rebuilding when the wildfire came through).

Mushing is not a glamorous or lucrative sport. Those saying these people make millions off of the backs of animals are deluded liars. There is no money in dogs. Yes, some get big sponsors, but even that just basically pays the dog food bill. Keeping a house and property means long hours working a job not in the mushing world (for most), and then coming home to take care and train dogs. Some can make the two work as one, but not most. They often have to rely on the income of a spouse/partner to keep everything afloat and have a helping hand to care for the team.

So what can we do to help? Many have been asking what the next step is - once the fire is taken care of the victims are returning to scorched land and painful reminders of what they've lost. There are several ways to help that are legit sources.

The Willow Dog Musher Association has partnered with the Northwest Sled Dog Association to set up a link where folks can donate. WDMA has stated that once things quiet down and the board can meet they will decide how to divvy up the funds. Nearly $12.5k has been donated so far. You can donate by going to this link here. Remember, no donation is too small, every little bit helps! If you don't want to donate online the WDMA posted this today on their facebook page:

We have received many messages asking if there is some other way to donate than the fund with the Northwest Sled Dog Association. Of course. You may send a check made out to WDMA, PO Box 858, Willow, AK 99688. Please write in the memo area: fire relief fund. Once things settle down, the WDMA board will discuss how to distribute funds and help as many as possible. Thank you all so much for caring! Any help is deeply appreciated.

Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake has become a refugee camp of sorts for mushers displaced by the fire. The Highs and Jonrowes are there as well as mushers unknown by Iditarod fans - and some Buser didn't even know until the fire. Buser and his wife have been keeping fans updated with ways to help on their facebook page since the fire began. They are working tirelessly to organize donations and support. The needs are always changing, and they are good to keep the info current. They are good on dog food, but the needs at the kennel are as follows:

6 ft tall CHAIN LINK Fencing. Most mushers we've talked to know they will need to rebuild puppy and dog pens. If you would like to make a donation of 6 ft chain link fence, we can store it at Happy Trails. or send gift certificates to a place that sells chain link.

The Busers are also taking up donations to specific mushers:

Musher Name
C/O Happy Trails Kennel
PO Box 520997
Big Lake, AK.
Make donation checks to the specific musher name and we will see that they get it. Please do not make checks to Happy Trails or Martin Buser. Besides Jaimee and Justin and Deedee, we know Bob Chlupatch/Jan Steves and Sue Firmin lost everything. We will continue to post names and addresses as they become available.

For The Jonrowes you can send checks to this address:
For donations (checks or gift cards to Lowe's, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, WAlMart)
Deedee and Mike Jonrowe
PO Box 272
Willow, AK 99688

For The Highs you can send checks to this address:
(checks or gift cards to Lowe's, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, WAlMart)
to Jaime and Justin High
PO Box 1096
Willow, AK 99688

Underdog Feeds in Willow has also created a refugee camp of sorts for the sled dogs and mushers displaced by the fire.They are working in conjunction with the WDMA to take donations for the mushers. On their facebook page they've also been posting the needs of those they are directly helping. Yesterday they were asking for tarps, but that post is now gone so I assume they are all good there for the moment. To donate thru them the info is as follows:

Underdog Feeds is accepting cash or credit card donations in person or by phone for those affected by the ‪#‎SockeyeFire‬. The fund will be managed by the Willow Dog Mushers Association. The store # is (907)373 6851. We are very busy at this time, so thank you in advance for your patience in trying to reach us.

These are just a few of the legit ways you can help the mushers get back on their feet. As the week goes on I'm sure we'll find out about other needs and ways to help. Please be aware that there are scammers currently working the phones trying to get people's account and credit card information over the phone. NO ONE WILL CALL soliciting donations on behalf of the fire victims. So far people are reporting the scammers as saying they're calling on behalf of the State Troopers or GCI. GCI IS taking up donations for those displaced as well as the firefighting crews (of both the Sockeye and Card Street fires) but they are NOT calling for money donations over the phone. NEVER give out your information to unsolicited callers.

Wildfire in Sterling - here we go again!

This week has been one of a lot of sun and HOT weather. Unusually hot for our area of Alaska. We rarely get into the 80s and yet we're going to hit them all this week. It's dry, hot, not humid... it's the perfect combination for fire...

... and we have one.

Around 1:30 yesterday a fire started basically where the Funny River Fire last year ended. It's threatening the homes and cabins of several friends of mine - as well as an Iditarod Champion's kennel (though the Sterling Highway is so far keeping the fire from them). When I went to bed last night the estimated damage was at 640 acres, I woke up and that number is nearly doubled now at 1,200 acres. Thankfully the winds for us are not as bad as last year (or up in the Mat-Su area where the Sockeye River Fire has consumed over 8,500 acres in the Willow area and destroyed countless homes and kennels).

There are three major fires in the South Central region, and resources were all pointed at the Willow fire until last night. We still don't have the majority of help for our fire as the Willow fire is larger, uncontained, and threatening more residences. Unlike last year - homes have already been destroyed in the Card Street Fire in Sterling. Cabins, too, on the river were damaged or destroyed. Some had to evacuate by boat as the road was impassible at one point.

Two time Iditarod Champion Mitch Seavey and his family are on heightened alert as the fire is just across the highway from their Sterling home and kennel. Conway posted photos on his facebook page throughout the night as he and friends helped people in line of the fire evacuate. Team Seavey reported they have plans A, B, and C in place should they need to pack up and get out of there, but so far the fire is moving in the opposite direction of where they are. So far. All it takes is a wind change.

Meanwhile, three time Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey lives in Willow and is keeping an eye on that fire. The fire is just a few miles south of his home and kennel, and so far is moving in the opposite direction keeping his family and dogs safe. For now. But, again, all it takes is a wind change.

Other mushers in Willow have not been as fortunate, several - including DeeDee Jonrowe - have reported their homes and kennels as a total loss. Many have sought refuge at Martin Buser's Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake. Nearly 20 years ago Buser was the one watching his livelihood and team threatened by a massive fire, so he's giving back and offering a place for dogs and mushers alike this time around.

There's no end in sight for either fire. Keep the responders in your prayers as well as those whose homes have been lost or are in harms way. Pray for rain. We need it. Just like last year, this is a devastating thing to have happen to our communities.

Smoke billows behind the Soldotna Forestry June 15, 2015.

Smoke column from the Card Street Fire could be seen
all throughout Soldotna, Alaska June 15, 2015.

Sterling Elem. was the site used for evacuees, but no one
opted to stay at the site. At time of photo 640 acres had
been burned. June 15, 2015

30 Days of Television - Day 12

An episode you've watched more than 5 times.

I've probably seen every episode of Terriers more than five times, but I'll go with my favorite episode - "Sins of the Past" for this one. The episode does a great job of paralleling Britt and Hank's present with their past. Only instead of Hank spiraling out of control he's coming out of the shadows... and Britt's the one spiraling. It's smartly written and well acted. We get a glimpse as to how Britt and Hank met, with Hank giving Britt a break on his b&e.

Meanwhile in the present, we see Britt deal with the aftermath of finding out Katie's cheated on him (and his breaking up with her and moving out). He doesn't deal with it well. He finds himself in some very hot water by the end of the episode. At the end the bffs are at odds when Hank reveals to Britt that he's known all along that Katie had cheated, and he even knows who she did it with. I can kinda feel where Britt's coming from. It's a very well played out set of scenes and all I can say is MRJ plays pissed off extremely convincingly (I mean that's pretty much why he gets hired for the roles he gets, right? When he's not there to die, at least.)

The episode also sets up the show for the next three that would ultimately end the series. Though not planned as a series finale, episode 13 ends with Britt taking responsibility for the sins of the very recent past. It's a great way to end on a cliffhanger for a second season - or give the viewer the option of deciding how things played out after the show ended. But I digress, that's not what this prompt is about.

Sadly none of the scenes from Terriers are on youtube (probably thanks to the youtube police), but it's on Netflix, so take the time and watch the 13 episode series. It's a great show. Really wish they could do a tv movie or something just to give us more Hank and Britt.

30 Days of Television - Day 11

A show that disappointed you

Two years ago I became obsessed with the fairytale based show Once Upon A Time. A year ago I fell out of love with it. I wasn't planning on it, but it happens. Typically happens when a show does a major cast shake up (House MD when Chase, Cameron and Foreman "left" and were sidelined by 13 and crew... or CSI when Warrick and Grissom left... Law & Order SVU when Elliot left, etc.) I am not a fan of change.

However OUAT is weird because the catalyst that did me in was the death of a character I didn't realize I enjoyed as much as I did until after he was gone. We all know where I'm going with this - you can read my lamenting many times over (just look at the tags Neal Cassidy, or OUAT, and you'll see haha). Baelfire was a SIGNIFICANT character in the storyline - not just for Rumpelstiltskin but for the whole lot of characters. He wasn't just a love interest of Emma Swan, he wasn't just a throw away character... until they made him one.

For the fourth season they worked diligently to prove that statement wrong - basically by rewriting or completely negating/forgetting the very GOOD base they set in season 1. We're not just talking Neal Cassidy, we're talking Baelfire, the tragic boy in season 1 who just wanted his father to be good and not evil. Wanted to run away to the land without magic to save his father from himself. The kid who the original curse was created so that Rumple could get to him. THAT character.

The cheesy dialogue, over acting, and even the lack of continuity I was able to handle for two and a half seasons... but then by the end of season 3 it was starting to feel ridiculous. I really did try to muscle through it. After all, I am not a fan of just one character - and really wasn't a fan of Neal until he was gone (seriously the bird thing... gets me every time) - but the more it becomes a soap opera (as if the crappy Neal - Emma - Hook love triangle wasn't stupid enough... now we have Robin - Regina - Marian/Zelena) the less interested I am. Oh, and don't EVEN get me started with how Emma's now The Dark One.

I tried watching a few episodes and couldn't make it through even one. It sucks. I love the cast. The Frozen casting was perfect, looks wise. I just, yeah. The show is a mess. So disappointing.

And, honestly, even if they "fixed it" by somehow bringing Nealfire back? It wouldn't save the show in my mind.

Caribou on the Kenai

I had a busy afternoon yesterday. Went and helped Kassy take down the VBS stuff (which normally we DON'T have to do, that's not in our job description!), then went over to the Animal Shelter for what I thought was just going to be a volunteer interview but I ended up taking photos (yay!). Get home, set up the camera gear to get ready for the Tri-the-Kenai this Sunday and my facebook gets flooded with "There are caribou with big antlers on the Flats right on the road!"

So after going back and forth trying to decide if I was going to make the trek over there (it's a 10 minute drive during the 5 o'clock hour) I headed out and snapped a few beauties before they went into the bushes.

The Kenai lowland herd of Caribou are a protected herd. They cannot be hunted as their numbers are small and a few years ago they were nearly all gone. They are steadily increasing in number, and visit many hot spots in Kenai all year long (they love to hang out at the high school). During Christmas last year they were over by Soldotna Animal Hospital and they made a lot of comments about Santa stopping in and getting his team checked out before the big flight. ;)

It was a beautiful night for photos!

30 Days of Television - Day 10

A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving

I've said it several times already, but after the pilot of The Flash I really never expected by the end of the Season I'd declare it having a better season than Arrow. It started off a little rocky, but it really took off and was killer good playing with the audience's emotions.

They had freaking Mark Hamill reprise his role as the Trickster for crying outloud!

Grant Gustin is the perfect Barry Allen. He's adorably charming, honest, can cry like no one else I know on camera, he fits the character perfectly. Jesse Martin as Barry's guardian/foster father, Joe West, plays the role with strength and grace. Candice Patton is good in her role as best friend and love interest. And Tom Cavanaugh - FauxWells... oh what a perfect villain. Complex, confusing, intriguing, evil and yet so... I don't know. We felt right along with Barry the convoluted emotions the truth brought.

That they've stated Tom will be back for the second season makes me happy.

I really didn't expect to love The Flash. I thought it was going to be cheesey, a classic spin off... but it wasn't. It's awesome. I can't wait for Season 2. I need to add it to my DVD collection!

courtesy of greerdanvilles on tumblr

30 Days of Television - Day 09

Day 09 - Best Scene Ever

In the M*A*S*H series finale, Goodbye Farewell and Amen, which was more a made for tv movie than tv show, we the fans have to say goodbye to the 4077 and its zany cast of characters. It was emotional from start to finish, but the final scene where Hawkeye takes off from the helipad and lifts off the ground he sees "Goodbye" written out in rock.

His best friend in Korea, Capt B.J. Honeycutt (The BJ stands for "anything you want") refuses to tell him Goodbye even though they know peace is coming and they are all going home. It bothers Hawkeye and he continues to press BJ to say the word. BJ never does, but as they part ways he tells Hawkeye he left a note for him. Hawkeye doesn't understand until as he flies off in the chopper he looks down.

It's a very creative way to end a show that held its audience captive for 11 seasons. It got the audience through the trying times of the Vietnam War, government upheaval, economic depression. That the show was able to say goodbye to its fans sets it apart to so many other shows before and since.

It's the perfect, best scene in all of Television.

30 Days of Television - Day 08

A show everyone should watch

Okay I'm cheating... kinda... I haven't seen this show yet, no one outside of the industry has. It won't air until sometime "mid season" on NBC... but seriously - EVERYONE needs to watch.

Basically because I want high ratings so it gets picked up for a full REGULAR season (or at the very least a second season in the same slot). Why, you ask? Check out the third guy in the photo above... get it now? Yeah, it's Michael Raymond-James' new show. And dang it! I want it to succeed!

It is not my typical show. It sounds super dark and the cast has suggested they'll be pushing the envelope for broadcast television. Knowing, really, only MRJ's filmography it sounds right up his alley... but not really mine. But I'm stoked for it anyway. Because the casting looks great and the story is intriguing. (Actually the only thing that I've seen that I so far don't like is... well... MRJ's hair... what the heck is going on with that?! LOL)

The plot from NBCUniversal & Sony reads:

Carol Mendelsohn, executive producer and architect of the CSI phenomenon, presents a gripping new drama about a successful Atlanta attorney (David Lyons, "Revolution") whose long-lost childhood friends unexpectedly reappear after 25 years. When a dark secret they thought they'd buried resurfaces, the brotherhood bands together to right the wrongs of their shared past - a journey that will push the limits of their loyalty and quench their thirst for revenge.

The show filmed their pilot towards the end of spring, and is now in hiatus until late summer to film the rest of the episodes. So, really, there's not much info on the show floating around. But the cast has been, for the most part, very active on twitter keeping the buzz going. Both the adult cast and the teen actors playing the younger versions of the main characters.

So EVERYONE WATCH THIS SHOW. At least give it a try. For me. Because, reasons.

30 Days of Television - Day 07

Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v. show

I'll tell you, this one is hard, because I pretty much love ALL of Arrow... but I am going to be *that fan* who chooses one that the fandom raved about when it aired. I have a confession my fellow Arrow fans - I did not like the Season 3 Finale.

Oh, sure, there was a lot of action (the fight scenes were AMAZING) and there was some pretty entertaining dialogue (anytime John Barrowman gets to show off his sass, it's a good day for me)... and the cameo by The Flash was a major highlight (I never expected to fall in love with Grant Gustin's Barry Allen, but he's super adorable.)... but I hated how it felt like a season finale.

I hated that Olicity felt final.

I hated that Diggle and Oliver parted ways.

I hated that they're suggesting The Arrow/Oliver Queen is officially retired.

I hated it.

It was just a very disappointing - for me - episode. Too much going on, too many rush to finish storyline. Too much finality.

I don't doubt Oliver and Felicity will be back, I don't doubt that it will be fun next year... but I really really really REALLY hate change. And I really really really hate the idea that Oliver and Diggle are at odds. The hurt that isn't going to go away any time soon hurt ME. LOL

I said it when the finales aired, but The Flash's finale blew Arrow's so far out of the water. I expected more from Arrow. It's not the casts' fault. It's not the director's fault. It was the writing.

I know, I'm probably in the minority. I'm still a die hard fan... I just hope I get to stay that way. (I only lasted 3 seasons into Once Upon A Time, after all.)


1

Blast from the past - Facebook Surveys

A friend tagged me today with a survey, they were popular "back in the day" of facebook and myspace (and livejournal). I can't seem to figure out how to create a note, so I will play along on my blog. Because, well, what else do I have to do today? (except maybe some adulting, like run errands, grocery shop, etc)

Rules: If you are tagged, copy and paste to your own Facebook, but replace my answers to the questions with yours!  Feel free to use if not tagged!  Tag the person who you copied it from, so they can read it too!

June visitors!

Well, I survived May and I'm starting to recoop from the first week of June (which is also my church's VBS week each year). I am pooped. I have done NOTHING today and other than a tball game tonight I will continue to do nothing until I go back to work on Wednesday! Ha!

But I did want to share photos I took on Friday, we had a mother moose and her new twin babies in our yard when I got home from VBS and I found enough energy to take a couple hundred pictures. Don't worry, I didn't edit or share all of them.

Hopefully I get the inspiration to start blogging again, but until then...

Kenai Animal Shelter Photos from May 27

It's been a while since I shared photos I've taken for the Kenai Animal Shelter. Had to share this group of photos because of "Smiling Jack"'s pictures. Not only does he have a very CHEESEY smile, hence his name, he also has a couple of lightening bolts on the underside of his tongue! If I could take him I'd change his name to Barry Allen in honor of THE FLASH (which had THE BEST season finale this year. Beat out Arrow very easily and even topped The Blacklist which was also AWESOME).

But I digress. The animals are currently up for adoption at the Kenai Animal Shelter, stop in and meet them and others waiting for their furever home!

"My name is Barry Allen, and I'm the
Fastest Dog Alive..."

It is definitely May

Boy you can tell it's May - I have no time to myself. Between Vacation Bible School, photography, family, friends, and my PART TIME JOB (yes I have one of those now) I have been on the go.

Once VBS is over (first week in June is when we hold ours, but it takes us over a month to prepare the decorations and get the stage/sanctuary decorated) I will be able to play a little more, maybe sleep a little more... and get veg.

My introvertedness is in desperate need of a recharge. I haven't had a real day to myself and I just need a day or two of solitude or I'm going to go crazy. My body is running on empty so I at times come off as extremely grumpy or extremely sleepy. It's frustrating.

But, we'll get there. Tourist season is upon us. July I will get a lot of time to myself as I will be house sitting for friends. Looking forward to it.

30 Days of Television - Day 06

Favorite episode from your favorite tv show

I rarely have a favorite episode. I typically have favorite story arcs if anything. Though I was able to narrow it down to two episodes for Once Upon A Time last year (still not over Season 3). And I'm going to do that again for this meme... and it's from two of my favorite shows:

Probably the most fun I've had with watching episodes was the "Flarrow" episodes this season when The Flash and Arrow tv shows did a crossover. Bringing the two casts together was genius and seamless! Granted they live in the same comic universe and all so it's a lot like Disney bringing all of the Marvel comic movies together for The Avengers - meaning it all makes sense - but considering how much I love both TV shows' casts, this was just fun for two straight hours over two days.

The Flash's Season 1 Episode 8 and Arrow's Season 3 Episode 8 were just entertaining from beginning to end. Considering how dark both shows have become as their seasons have progressed, it's nice to relive the "happier" times for Team Arrow and STAR Labs. There was so much tongue in cheek within the two episodes, a ton of action, some heartfelt moments... and a lot of foreshadowing that we may not even see the result until next season for each show!

There were some fantastic moments for John Diggle (played by David Ramsey) who is my favorite character on Arrow (well, favorite one still alive/on the show). Diggle is the voice of reason, keeps the others grounded... and, well... has a GREAT reaction to the impossible.

Earth Day Sunset Photos

I went out and chased the sunset - not far, just to my normal spot on the Kenai Beach - last night as it was Earth Day and I haven't gotten to get out and shoot for the longest time. Between weather and just not feeling like it, I've been itching to go in the last week.

So off I went. I would've probably gone somewhere new - but with the new dog we have having had a meltdown when mom and dad went to church I didn't want to leave him alone... and they were later than normal getting home.

The sun is setting around 9:45 at night right now, in just another month it'll be closer to midnight. Then in June it won't really set at all! I love this time of year. Well... I love mid-May through September... right now everything looks dead and grey. April in Alaska is not the most picturesque time to visit. But there are still moments that remind you why Alaska is the closest we will ever come to Heaven this side of eternity (yes, I am biased).

It was a quiet night on the beach, we have about a month left until the beach is littered with thousands of people and fish guts during dip netting. I plan on going out and actually getting photos of the insanity that is dipnet season. I HATE that part of summer. I HATE how our beaches become over run and are not taken care of by those that use her shores to get the fish they supposedly need to live on. Not all dipnetters are bad, but there are enough bad eggs in the bunch that I just wish they'd all go away and leave our small community alone. Anchorage should stay in Anchorage.

So here's to the more peaceful scenes of the beach as the insanity of summer looms ever closer.

30 Days of Television - Day 05

A show you hate

I don't want to go so far as say I hate it - but I strongly dislike the NCIS shows. Don't ask me why, my parents love them and I just sit and roll my eyes when I'm stuck watching them (for that matter I'm the same way with Blue Bloods). I don't know why.

I'm also not a fan of Two Broke Girls...

This is a difficult prompt because shows I don't watch I don't think much of. Haha

30 Days of Television - Day 04

Your favorite show ever

This is difficult because I have periods where my favorite shows are the last thing I want to watch, and I'm having a hard time pinning down which one is my favorite of all time. No doubt no matter what I choose for this prompt I'll press "publish" and immediately regret my choice. Ha!

M*A*S*H, though, has been a constant favorite. I own all 11 seasons on DVD, and yet as I type this I'm watching it through Netflix (which is annoying because it's the broadcast versions so some scenes are missing!). It's my favorite kind of "sitcom" - it's funny but has some real world situations that they take seriously. Even though it has strongly liberal leanings in many of its characters and episodes - and for the first five seasons makes the conservative character the villain - their stance is one that is shared across the board.

Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pearce was perfection. I love Alda in anything he does, but Hawkeye was the perfect character for him (later when he was in West Wing and then The Blacklist I realized he could be a mean SOB!), I'm also a big fan of David Ogden Stiers who played Charles E Winchester - the Bostonian Republican (they exist?!). BJ Honeycutt is my favorite of Hawkeye's besties (Trapper's good, but I prefer BJ)... and who doesn't love Radar?

The wit and situations are timeless - while the issues are set during the Korean War and the show was shot at the end of the Vietnam war they still hold true to the issues of today (some things never change). The show is timeless, endearing, and one I love to watch over and over.

Honorable mentions go to:

The Big Bang Theory

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Law & Order

30 Days of Television - Day 03

Your favorite new show

If you follow me on twitter you know that The Flash is how I spend my Tuesday nights. I absolutely LOVE this show, and I was planning on hating it! I normally don't like spin offs (though Fraiser was much better than Cheers) and I wasn't truly sold on the cast. The only reason I watched the pilot at all was because Jesse Martin was cast as Barry Allen's "surrogate father" of sorts, and I LOVED him in Law & Order.

When the character of Barry Allen was introduced on Arrow, I absolutely LOVED him. Grant Gustin is so freaking adorable as the nerdy superhero. I was totally on board with Barry and Felicity hooking up (which didn't really happen and I'm still kinda upset about that), his chemistry with Stephen Amell (who plays Oliver Queen on Arrow) was also natural. It was hard not to hope good things for his show.

The pilot, I felt, was a little more awkward, and I wasn't quite sold on the show... until the scene where Barry visits his father. No one cries so convincingly as Grant Gustin. He breaks my heart EVERY WEEK. There is no one better suited to play the character - if ever there was perfect casting in a role, Grant is it. The dialogue is tongue in cheek, the characters sympathetic (though I'm still not sold on Ronnie or Caitlin), the stories interesting. With the time travel element it definitely keeps the viewer guessing/wondering.

The Flash has really found its rhythm after the Arrow-Flash crossover last fall, and is already set for a second season. The spin-off is an excellent one and I can't wait for the next episodes!

30 Days of Television - Day 02

A show that you wish more people were watching

There aren't a lot of shows that I watch that aren't extremely popular. The ones that are obscure are typically ones that I find on Netflix after they're cancelled (you know, like Terriers). I also don't follow the ratings, so I don't know what shows I watch NEED more viewers to be sure they get renewed. However, that's not what the prompt is asking.

Just what show I wish more watched....

ABC's new show "Secrets and Lies" is one of the shows that fits Hollywood's new theme of "shows we've taken from other countries and just put our actors in them". This one comes from Austrailia and dang if it isn't good (in a lot of ways it's a lot like Fox's Gracepoint which was a knock off of the British show Bridgeport... NBC is also hoping to get in on the craze this fall with their "new" show Game of Silence which is based off a Turkish drama). We're six episodes into the 10 episode series. It's a mid-season series, so it's short and most likely won't see a second season. So get it while you can!

The story follows Ben Crawford (played by Ryan Phillippe) who we meet as he's running out of the woods panicked and calling for help. He's just found a young boy's body in the woods - turns out it's his neighbor's kid. Because he found the body the cops immediately focus their attention on Crawford. As he tries to clear his name and prove his innocence his and the neighborhood's secrets are revealed. Phillippe is surprisingly sympathetic in the lead role, and Juliette Lewis is an incredibly good antagonist in the cop pursuing him. I keep waiting for her to give a line like "we're not driving all the way out here just so you can buy one of those stupid ties with the Santa Clauses on it", but somehow I don't think she's going to be very Audrey Griswold in this role.

A quick glance at the wikipedia page for the show, shows that ratings aren't good. So, come on people, watch! I have no doubt it will finish out the 10 episodes, but I wouldn't mind a second season. I mean, if William Shatner can stand to watch it, can't you?

30 Days of Television - Day 01

Show that shouldn't have been cancelled

Oh there are so many shows that I've been sad to see go - Shark, Smash, Once Upon A Time in Wonderland... to name a few. But I think I have to go with the show that I just rewatched for the countless time... and that's the 13 episode long FX series Terriers. The show aired in 2010 and starred Donal Logue (Gotham) and Michael Raymond-James (Once Upon A Time). It wasn't your typical crime drama - in was kind the anti-hero version of a crime drama - and the two played a couple of down on their luck Private Investigators. The show had nothing to do with yappy little dogs, but was a metaphor for the two main characters' outlook on life.

The dry humor is what gets me, every time. Doesn't matter how many times I see it, I still crack up at the antics and sarcasm. It's the perfect show for me. It got great reviews from critics and viewers alike, but it was poorly marketed by the network and the title was... misleading? A title that has to be explained isn't a good one, IMO, but then again I'm not in the business. However I remember when the show was being promoted as a "must watch" and thinking I knew nothing about it and therefore wasn't interested.

My favorite character is, of course, Britt Pollack played by Raymond-James. He's an "ex-con" who saw the error of his ways and partners up with an ex-cop to work the PI beat. He lives with his girlfriend Katie - whom he met after robbing her house and seeing her picture and thinking she was cute, so she looked her up at the bar she worked at - and we meet the couple dealing with the idea of possibly moving on to become parents. Katie wants a baby, Britt not so much. So he's in a foul mood in the opening scene of the series. Still he's pretty good natured throughout the show and definitely has the best lines. His story is relate-able and compelling, and you can't help but cheer for him.

His buddy (both on the show and in real life), Hank Dolworth played by Donal Logue, is an ex cop who had to leave the force due to his drinking problem. He was drinking on the job, and screwed up a major rape case that got him forced out. Just before that, he met Britt who was caught trying to jack a car. At some point the two partner up and we get to witness them foul up and save the day for 13 awesome episodes.





The only reason I watched it 4 years after it was cancelled and on Netflix was because I fell in love with MRJ in Once Upon A Time and needed something else of his to watch. I wish I'd seen it as it aired, though I have a feeling I'd have been very angry that it didn't get picked up for a full season. Though maybe if more folks had watched it, it'd have made it.

So I'll just keep hoping that FX brings it back for a special event, as there have been rumors for a while now... Donal has found success on Fox's Gotham, and MRJ is currently working on a new show hoping to be picked up for the NBC fall line up "Game of Silence" sounds like a GREAT show. Really have high hopes for him and the show.

It's not just April Fools day

Gpa with his pal Willie (taken a few years back).

Today was my grandpa's 89th birthday. My Gpa has been one of my heroes my entire life. My first 5 years were spent in his house while my parents worked. He (and my Gma and Auntie Marge) helped shape my formative years. We did garage projects - I was a fan of crushing the cans for recycle, and painting ANYthing, we went to Costco - my gpa's favorite store EVER, and he's the reason I got involved with the Iditarod.

He loves his box wine, John Wayne (dad now has his John Wayne Memorabilia collection), and his friends and family. He's quick with a pun - seriously that's all we Reitter's have in our "big bag of jokes" - or a funny story from days gone by. He's a big fan of Blue Bloods and Walker Texas Ranger (says Arrow is my generations version of that show... um... no. Ha ha). Don't get in between him and his ice cream (or any sweets) he will not be denied!

It's hard not to look back on my childhood without seeing a lot of time with Gpa. Some of my favorite memories are when we went on adventures in the motor-home (though the time that I slammed my thumb in the door and he told me we'd have to cut it off to get the door to open was traumatic! LOL). He and Gma went on all sorts of adventures outside of Alaska in their Recreational Vehicle, and I was always so jealous. I get my trip planning skills from him, as while going through the memory albums recently I found his itinerary list... it looks identical to some of mine. I can't deny we're related, that's for sure.

My grandfather held many different jobs in his life, farmer, Navy Signalman... he worked for Aerojet (including some stuff for the space program!). When they moved to Alaska he was a Servepro man. Spent many years working for them, and I remember his van well. Lime Green with Sammy on the side. I loved that van. It had the best smell to it - it was definitely a grandpa smell, but not something gross like old man smell. It just smelled like servepro, cigar, and motoroil. I miss that smell.

Gpa was my go to for Iditarod everything. He gave me the book "Danger the Dog Yard Cat" when I was 5 and I was hooked. He was so excited when I took both jobs with the Seavey's (Gpa is a fan of all the teams). He had a coat he wore to the Iditarod every year - with patches from each race he attended. I have that jacket now. I love it. It's so Grandpa.

He's now in Oregon with my Uncle Bob. He needed the change. It's weird to think he isn't in the house that I spent so many hours of my childhood in, but I know he's where he needs to be. And he is just a phone call away. I hear he went for a walk and had a great bday meal. No doubt finished with ice cream.

Happy Birthday Gpa, you are one of the best ever. <3 br="" love="" you="">

30 Days of Television

30 Day TV Meme

Day 01 - A show that should have never been canceled
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this t.v season)
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever
Day 05 - A show you hate
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite t.v. show
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite t.v. show
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn’t like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you’ve watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best t.v show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First t.v. show obsession
Day 29 - Current t.v. show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death

It's time for saying Goodbye...

The house a few summers back before Gma's stroke. Their yard always
looked like something out of Sunset Magazine.

The last few days the Muppets' song "Saying Goodbye" has run through my mind. It typically does when someone close to me leaves for other parts of the world. This weekend we moved my Grandfather out of his home of over 40 years down to my uncle's house in Oregon. Okay, well, we packed up his house and said goodbye and he flew to Oregon with my uncle.

It was a very quick up and back for us. While my grandfather for the last year or so had been packing things and giving them to family, his health took a very quick turn and we needed to move quickly. In the last 4-6 months things began to get away from him, he wasn't able to remember basic tasks. My uncle and cousin had been concerned, but it wasn't until my cousin's last visit and then my dad and my last visit that the family realized we needed to move NOW. So my uncle flew up and we all headed to gpa's house to help him.

Packing up a person's life is not an easy task. Splitting them up between 3 sons and 2 granddaughters went easier than we thought, but it was just getting all of the stuff packed up (and, first, found!) that was hard. So many memories in one spot - not just the physical ones we held, but the ones those items and the walls around us brought up. We had a lot of laughs, and it was just good to have some fun one last time. The last time we were all together was when my grandmother passed, so while seeing Gpa overwhelmed was difficult we were still in a much happier frame of mind this time around.

Saturday we took a break from packing up and had some of the family friends over. The Gallaghers have been friends with my grandparents since before I was born. Jim and Karen help every year with Iditarod, and Karen's mom Pete was friends with my grandmother forEVER. Jim and Karen's daughter Christine grew up with my cousin and she would baby sit me on occasion. They're more family than just friends. We also had the Frolichs over - they are buying the house from my grandfather. They live across the street and Mathieu was my first best friend. We grew up together - even after my family moved to Kenai, every summer I was up with my grandparents and we spent every waking hour causing chaos in the neighborhood. I am so happy that the house is going to someone we know and that I know will treasure it for what it is!

The "Framily" together at the house one last time.

Sunday we tried to get Gpa to go to church, but the emotions of the weekend took their tole and he decided to stay home. Mom, Dad and I went to Gpa's church anyway as we'd given them the heads up that Gpa was leaving and they had things for us to give him. Joel Engle is one of the pastors at Changepoint and we've known him pretty much since my parents have been Christians - he used to be a Christian singer who toured the country doing ministry, and now he's pastoring. It's a small world. We met him when he was still starting out and so I was excited to get to hear him preach this weekend! The message was good, and then we headed out for one last family meal at Texas Roadhouse before we all went our separate ways.

Now we're back home and I'm going through the boxes of the memories I collected. 4 boxes of photo albums with memories that go back generations, more Iditarod memories, the different knick knacks that lined the shelves... a few cookbooks... I just have to find a way to properly display or store them all.

Dad called down to Gpa tonight, and he's doing well. Dad says he sounds better than he has in months. I think this change is what Gpa needed, but man... it feels weird for the rest of us.

My 15 seconds of fame

Just when I thought I'd just be little ol' me tweeting and blogging on my own blog for Iditarod for the first time in 3 years, I get asked to be a guest blogger for an awesome mushing fansite. I've followed SofaMushing on twitter for a couple of years now, and they do great work. They're based in Europe, so it's nice to see a different perspective on the sport - plus it's a great way to follow their races. They contacted me a couple of days ago asking me to be a GUEST BLOGGER. I don't feel like I have the knowledge or the credibility, but apparently I'm doing something right.

So while I do cross post most of my stuff, I have tried to give their blog a few posts that aren't on here. Be sure to check their site out. It's fantastic. They have an Iditarod news feature that follows the mushers' facebook/social media pages. A GREAT RESOURCE!

That then led to me being asked to be a guest on Dog Works Radio, apparently I'm a social media expert. Robert Forto is the host and one of the bajillion mushers I have the pleasure to know. He's been around social media for I don't know how long, and is able to keep it all together while doing the podcast, run dogs, and go to school (and run a business). Pretty cool. His co-host is Alex Stein who made a documentary on the Iditarod a few years ago called "Mush" which is a pretty interesting bit of film and history. Alex is in SoCal and he and I have been social media buddies for 4 or 5 years now? I think?

Those that know me know how much I hate any sort of "real" social interaction (which is why social media and I get along, no real human interaction), so calling into a podcast and talking was out of my comfort zone. It was fun, though, the guys were great at not putting me too much on the spot and the discussion was easy. My cell phone doesn't work in my house so I was sitting in my car, with our wind storm howling around me, and I'm sicker than sick... so I don't know how much of a good thing my interview was, but it was fun. If I get asked again I wouldn't say no! Thanks again guys, you are awesome.

So I've had my 15 seconds of fame. Go me.

You can listen to my "episode" of Dog Works Radio by clicking here.

There's a freight train loose on the Iditarod trail...

Dallas Seavey and team during the
Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 43.
March 7, 2015

…and the conductor is Dallas Seavey.

Now that the leaders are bearing down onto the coastal community of Unalakleet we’re starting to see the typical strategies emerge from the teams. Dallas is back to his typical run rest schedule, and he’s gaining time and miles on everyone around him. Dallas took off out of Kaltag at 5:35am this morning, Jeff King and Aaron Burmeister left the same checkpoint almost an hour ahead of him. He’s run down King (who is currently resting on the trail) and nearly ran down Burmeister. He is currently resting, and we can assume he’ll camp for a few hours before blowing through Unalakleet.

Expect this same run pattern for the remainder of the race (or at least until White Mountain). Dallas’s team is one of only maybe three teams that is steadily gaining speed at this point in the race. He will continute to chug down the trail picking off anyone ahead of him. Jake Berkowitz blogged today saying Dallas was terrifying to have behind you, and in front of you. He’s declared the younger Seavey the one leading the Iditarod – and he’s not wrong.

Burmeister is maintaining, but slower than before – and King is showing major signs of slow down. Aliy’s team is older and is at a steady pace. Mitch Seavey is another team looking like they’re on an upswing. He’s been running conservatively up to this point, waiting to pull out the reserves and make a move. Still not seeing that move, but I expect to see it soon. Perhaps this will be the year they come in 1 and 2?

Jessie Royer is making a statement still, and is currently resting in the same spot Aliy did earlier today. She’s looking at a possible top 5 finish if she can maintain her lead she has on the rest of the pack, and she’s in shooting distance if another team falters to climb further.

There’s just about 300 miles to go, so it’s still too early to tell who the winner is, but you can expect an exciting run up the coast. If you haven’t caught the “Iditaflu” yet, you might want to start coming down with it so you can call into work. The next three days will be exciting!

Iditarod Day 7 - Morning Update

Good morning world!

The race is on to Unalakleet, the first checkpoint on the coast. Many race fans know that the race kicks into high gear at this checkpoint. Weight is dropped, slowest dogs are dropped. From here to Nome it's all about speed and how best to conserve it while not spending a lot of time stopped.

Aliy was first out of Kaltag, and is now camped out on the trail. Jeff King and Aaron Burmeister were next out (in that order) and are running very close together judging by the GPS pings. Dallas Seavey has the fastest time into Kaltag of the front runners, taking basically an hour LESS to get there than Burmeister did. He rested his team for 4.75 hours and is back on the trail as well.

Mitch Seavey came into Kaltag sounding very happy with his team, said he let them pick their speed. He wanted to be a little faster, but the trail was great. His team seemed eager and still cohesive, so all positive in the video for Mitch. He is still in the checkpoint, and nearing 5 hours of rest.

Jessie Royer has been "silently" creeping in on the front runners fun and is looking like a contender. She is also out of Kaltag. Jessie trains her dogs in Montana, where they had snow and good trail all winter. It seems that gave her an advantage as some mushers in Alaska who did (or could) not get to good trails for training have said that their dogs weren't ready for this type of trail base. Royer learned from 4 time Champion Doug Swingley, so those of us who've paid attention to the race have been waiting for her to make a move. It looks like this is the year for her to do it.

Kaltag is getting busy this morning with more teams filing in. Fast trail, fast race... still on track for a Tuesday night finish.

Just a little Kaltag update before bed

So Aaron Burmeister's tucked into rest for 8 hours in Kaltag, he can leave at 4:49am. Jeff King made it into Kaltag a little while ago running just over 15 minutes faster than Burneister's time. Dallas looks to be third into Kaltag, he's about 15 miles away. That puts him into the checkpoint sometime after midnight/1am. Aliy Zirkle finished her 8 in Nulato and is also headed to Kaltag.

My guess is Dallas will leap frog and take control of the race... unless King gets up and out before Dallas can leave. I expect Dallas to rest on the trail between Kaltag and Unalakleet - but I do not have any knowledge on what his plans are. I'm just guessing. I also expected King to not stay long in Kaltag and he did. So what do I know? I am not a musher and don't pretend to be!

It's time to take your 24!

Jodi Bailey's team run through Anchorage
for the Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 43.
March 7, 2015

The leaders have made their way into Galena and Huslia. Most are taking their 24+start differential hour mandatory rest in one of the two checkpoints. Of the front of the pack, only Jeff King has taken both his 24 and his 8 hour rests. He is currently on the trail to Huslia. I expect King to take a bit of a rest in the checkpoint before continuing on. The trail report says the run into the checkpoint is extremely cold (like -40 below and colder) which causes more friction on the sled and slower going. In other words, it zaps the energy of the dogs faster. Can't blame them, no matter what you're used to THAT'S COLD.

Mitch Seavey took his 24 in Ruby after noticing some of his team was dealing with soreness. He had thought Ruby would be his stop, but that sealed the deal. He's passed through Galena and is on the trail to Huslia. He still needs to take his 8 hour somewhere on the Yukon (he has till Kaltag). According to his Insider interview last night, he plans to break up the run from Galena to Huslia. My guess is he'll take his 8 in Huslia.

Aaron Burmeister was first to the halfway point and collected the prize. He told Insider that his team was finally coming together - sharing he's had his fair share of problems with one of his main dogs coming into heat so all of his male lead dogs were "more interested in making puppies than running down the trail." He's declared his 24 and will have 24 hours and 32 minutes until he can leave... don't ask me to do the Idita-math as I can barely figure out how to get the answer for 1+1 apparently. It will be late tonight (sometime after 11pm).

Dallas Seavey is also in Huslia taking his 24. Dallas' dogs came in from a long cold run looking VERY good. They were happy, still stretching out in the line, and actually pulling at the line wanting to keep going. That's a good sign that they have a lot of juice left in them. After a 24+ hour rest? Yeah, good luck holding back that "monster" of a team. Dallas' wife Jen has reported that this team has been a joy to train, and that with how well they're doing Dallas has changed up his race strategy to best match their potential. We may be watching Dallas' run to a third victory... but there's a lot of trail left and another 20 or so teams that are just as good and deserving.

Aliy Zirkle is still in the mix, and while she's considered further down in the standings - she also took her 24 in Galena. Zirkle has been working hard on the back of her sled by ski-poling, pedaling, and running with her team. This makes for a very tired musher, and it's showing in the videos Insider has interviewing her. However, she got a nice long rest in Galena and with the hopefully warmer temps of the day as she runs to Huslia her energy may be boosted. Don't count her out. She'll kick into another gear in the second half.

Martin Buser is still in the mix, but had a very interesting chat yesterday with the Iditarod Insider saying he was going to take it slow and not worry about placement. With the news about Lance Mackey's team yesterday - Lance's 3 year old dog, Wyatt, passed away suddenly on the run from Tanana to Ruby - I have to assume part of his decision was based on that event. He talked about running for the dogs, not for his fifth win. I don't think this was a slight at Lance, but more just a "I need to stop pushing them beyond what they're capable of just because of placement/human ego." Which maybe he felt that's what he himself was doing. Martin is currently in Huslia, has taken his 8 and I assume he's declared his 24.


So while most are resting for 24+ hours, it's time for the fans to step away from the computer, stretch their legs and go take a look outside. The next 3-4 days we'll be glued to the screen non stop with little rest. So get in some YOU time while you still can. We'll see ya on the flip side.

The end of the Lance Mackey era?

Lance Mackey and team at the
Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 43.
March 7, 2015

Lance Mackey made an alarming statement via Iditarod Insider yesterday afternoon - Iditarod 43 is very likely to be his last. Mackey's heath issues have been no secret the last few years - the man is in considerable pain even after treatments and surgeries to help counteract the effects brought on from the aggressive cancer treatments he went through over a decade ago. Lance has poor circulation in his hands and feet, and it was a major concern going into this year's race. During the Yukon Quest he admitted his team was not the reason they were not competitive - he was.

Looks like things may have been worse than what we all originally thought.

On his run into Tanana, Lance had to deal with a dog tangle. This typically occurs when there is a dog fight (which is caused for any number of reasons). Mackey told Insider that he lost his mitts somehow, so his fingers were essentially frozen. He can't bend them, and he doesn't have any feeling (other than pain) in them. This makes bootying his dogs (to protect their feet) nearly impossible. He declared his 24 in the checkpoint to hopefully be able to recover.

However, Mackey sees the writing on the wall - his body is telling him that his career is just about over. He was tired, cold, and in pain - so no one is willing to truly count him out yet - but he knows the inevitable is coming. Lance was most emotional when he talked about how his brother Jason, also running in this year's Iditarod, was going to scrap his race plan to now run with Lance and help him with the detail work - bootying the dogs, etc. The idea that his brother was willing to "screw up his race" to help him choked the 4 time champion up big time. That was when I started bawling.

Lance can be heard saying "I LOVE this sport... I just can't do it anymore." and that's rough. Lance is only 44 years old. God willing, he'll be around for at least 44 more. He's still at the "prime age" for a musher. The man who holds the record of four consecutive Iditarod wins, the man who won the Iditarod and the Quest in the same year... this man has gone from the top to being barely able to care for his dogs on the same trails that saved his life. It's tragic - Lance has never had an easy go of things, but it seemed that dog mushing was his saving grace... and now even that looks to be leaving him.

This is not how he should have to go out.

Lance and Jason headed out on the trail this afternoon and arrived in Ruby a short time ago. No reports on how the teams are doing, but an interview earlier with Jason on Insider had Jason saying that Lance was determined to get to Nome. If this is to be his last race, he's going to take it all the way.

We're all running with you, Lance. No matter where you place - you'll forever be one of this races biggest champions.

(If you want to go through an emotional roller coaster, read Danny Seavey's blog post about Lance. Bring tissues.)

The irony of Zoya Denure

I will preface this post to say - I am aware that my opinion will not be popular. That I have been called out before on this subject, I'm well aware that Zoya - for whatever reason - is well liked and her fans are fiercely loyal. Good for her. I wish all the mushers had such a great fanbase. However I've been stewing about this subject since this year's Yukon Quest... and I think it needs to be said.

Zoya Denure reacts to the trail conditions during the Ceremonial
Start of Iditarod 43 in Anchorage, Alaska. March 7, 2015

Zoya Denure scratched this morning in Tanana citing personal reasons. That's a pretty vague explanation - but it's the only one we've got. Considering all of her other reasons over the years in the Iditarod and other races, I'll take it. At least it seems more honest than accusing the Iditarod of forcing her to use contaminated straw or the whole nursing issue. This time, it seems, she's at least taking a little responsibility - for now. I expect a blog post from her in a day or so with the "real" excuse that will vilify the race, or another musher, or a muskrat.

The irony is that Denure's husband just wrote an article last month calling Jeff King and other mushers out for scratching in the Yukon Quest. He was immediately called out by fans who began to list the number of scratches his wife had to her name. Zoya came to her own defense saying it was "irrelevant". How this is the case, I'm still scratching my head. A scratch is a scratch. Each musher who John named in his article had LEGIT REASON for scratching. That John is against the best care for these dogs was staggering as he and Zoya are very vocal about how they care for their dogs (and dogs no one else wants). All it did was give fuel to the anti-mushing groups who believe that his mentality in the article is shared by those out on the trail.

But we're not talking about the Quest, we're talking about the Iditarod. One that just went from having a "brutal trail" over the Alaska range to having a "race track like course" on the Tanana and Yukon Rivers. The trail is hard packed. It's fast. The dogs are all said to be doing extremely well...

...and yet Zoya has scratched for personal reasons.

And all I can think is John's article asking the questions:

Isn’t running the Yukon Quest about running dogs? Why do mushers run the Yukon Quest?

Replace "Yukon Quest" with "Iditarod" and ask the questions. Most do it for the adventure - rookies want that belt buckle - to say that they did it. Most want to be out with their dogs on the most exciting 10 day camping trip they will ever experience. The front runners might be running for a title, a little gold, a new pick up truck, but they too are more about sharing that bond with their dogs. They run with sore bodies - the Lance Mackey's look like death warmed over but they LOVE the sport and they LOVE the dogs and you will have to carry them out in a body bag before they give it up.

Very few do it for the money or the glory - there really isn't a lot of money to be made and the glory typically goes to those that win or at least have some awesome human interest story. But Team Zoya is an exception - she markets herself extremely well. She gets a lot of attention for not accomplishing much (yes the belt buckle is a huge accomplishment, one no one can take away from her... but... Oprah chose her over Aliy Zirkle to feature in her magazine). She's able to get a lot of funding from sponsors. She's pretty, she weaves a good tale. She's a promotions dream.

Still, I can't help but feel bad for those that she's buffaloed into supporting her financially. Maybe not the corporate sponsors - though that money could be used better elsewhere on a team that actually has a chance of making it and not just taking the money and going to Hawaii to become a Yogi -  but the individuals who want to support a woman musher who seems to love her dogs and the sport. Honestly, I'm sure she does care for her dogs, but I don't think she loves the sport.

Think about it folks, in all the years she's run - she's only finished once. She cites personal issues for the scratches each time. This suggests she's just not cut out to run the long distance race. She rarely even finishes the shorter races rookies use to qualify for the Quest and Iditarod races. She runs just long enough to keep her sponsors happy. So I guess more power to Team Zoya - but there are far more deserving mushers who will at least finish if at all possible who are just as personable, and dare I say it more trustworthy to use the funding for the dogs and not for a home remodel.

But, I *am* just an armchair musher who is not out there on the trail with her. However, if you're going to talk about the other mushers - either individually or as a team as they do - you better be ready to "put up or shut up". And that's where the irony is.

If ever there was a year that Zoya NEEDED to make it to Nome, this was it.

Brent Sass' Iditarod ends due to disqualification.

Brent Sass and team during the
Ceremonial Start of Iditarod 43.
March 7, 2015

The news is all over social media and Iditarod.com - Brent Sass was DQed this evening due to his use of a device that has the capability to be used for two way communication. While Sass was using his iPod Touch to play music, the device has the capability of connecting to WiFi and is therefore not allowed on the Iditarod Race. It is allowed on the Yukon Quest, but as Sass said in an Insider Video after it happened - "this is a completely different race with completely different rules and I should've just thought that."

Brent won the Yukon Quest this year with the race mantra "I believe" - while he said he wasn't expecting to win this year's Iditarod, he was set to make at least the top 10 (and a lot of folks believed he'd be able to win). Brent is a true competitor, and a good dog driver. He just wasn't thinking. There's no reason to think he was trying to sneak one past the officials. This is just a bonehead mistake that ANYONE could have made - it's just that Brent was the one that made it.

I have no doubt he'll be back next year hungry for redemption.

You can read the official press release here.

So much to blog so little time!

Mitch Seavey's famous lead dogs - Taurus & Tanner lead the team through
the Tudor Crossing section of the Ceremonial Start trail.
Anchorage, AK March 7, 2015

This weekend was a blast! I want to find time to blog about all of it with pictures and video and all, but at this point I don't know if that's possible. How does Sebastian Schnuelle do it?!

The race JUST STARTED today and already it is moving very quickly. All teams are in Nenana - with most of the top names well out of the checkpoint and on the trail to Manley which is a 90 mile trek. Most will break it up into two runs, resting at some point along the trail.

At present Nic Petit is in the lead, with Aliy Zirkle in front of him - the standings won't show this as they only to by times in and out of checkpoints, but if you can follow along with the GPS tracker you get a better idea of what is going on. A lot of teams are resting at the moment.

I'm doing my darndest to get photos edited - I took 1,601 pictures at the Ceremonial Start - as well as get videos uploaded. It's slow going as I keep falling asleep! I guess I wore myself out more than I realized!

Anyway, back to editing. I won't be staying up much longer. They're expecting the first team around 2am. It's the first night, I don't need to be up to see them come in.