formspring.me: Who do you want to win Dancing with the Stars? ;)

Well, considering I don't watch DwtS even with one of my favorite figure skaters on there and don't vote, I guess you could say I don't care. But if Evan wins I will be happy ha ha!

Ask me anything

Hmm. Which one, which one.

Seems to be the debate of the day for my brain. Between work, and then a ton of retail therapy (all of which was something that I needed not wanted... well, okay, I WANTED these things, too, but they weren't just on a whim decisions) it was debating which to do/get/etc.

Now I'm online researching travel bags/backpacks/cases for my camera, and lenses. Yup. Gotta get this squared away while I can. They are important decisions. I really need a new lens or two, and I need a better way to transport my stuff on airplanes, road trips, hiking, etc.

So that's what I'm doing at 8:40pm. Not going to get anything for a couple of months yet, but gotta start budgetting and saving now! I want to get a sports lens and a portrait lens. I'm thinking a canon 100-400mm and then for portraits I'm still debating. If/when I do another skating event I'll still have the lens I use now as I can only shoot up to 200mm lenses when I'm attending (though maybe if I get my sports lens I can talk someone into getting me a press pass and shoot it officially. That'd be cool.)

I'm not drinking enough water these days, getting back into bad soda habits. Gotta change that, I can definitely feel the effects my legs are always cramped.


Random musings tonight, that's for sure. I didn't get anything done today that needed to be done, but I went shopping and some planning, so the night was not a total loss. Now, it's off to bed... off to bed.

Mmm. Blue.

Not that anyone reads this anywhere but facebook as I have it imported into that application, but I changed my layout again to just a simple blue theme. I love the color blue. It's crisp, it's refreshing, and it can bring a wave (pun intended) of emotions and thoughts. I think it's quite possibly the most artisitcally expressive color.

How's that for an introspective moment?

Not much is going on in my life, the mushing and figure skating seasons are pretty much over with the big competitions coming to an end this month. And, let's face it, it's spring, winter sports wind down just due to the fact that their sports arenas melt away! Honestly I'm more sad to see the mushing season come to a close more so than the figure skating one. This happens to me every olympic year. I guess the emotion runs too high or something.

And I don't get why I'm so upset about the sled dog races coming to an end. Now it's the summer months to look forward to with sled dog puppies! and SUN! and WARMTH!

yeah, okay, I'm actually ready for summer with a great passion. I want warmer weather and sun and an Alaskan's version of a tan!

History in the making.

Yes, Lance Mackey winning four Iditarods in a row is amazing and ground breaking and blah blah blah.

But can I just say what's even greater? It looks like this will be the first Iditarod in memory where there have been no deaths on the trail! While a lot of sled dog "saviors" can't WAIT to read about the first death so they can begin their plight to "save the sled dog" (why is it only THEY get excited about something like that, it's almost as if they want it - wait, they DO!). Forgetting them, though, that means the trail was awesome and the mushers involved knew what they were doing. Looks like some of the steeper restrictions worked in everyone's favor.

Take that PETA/Friends of Animals/Save The Sled Dogs - you can't do your 'death dance.'

Lance Mackey is Iditarod Champion... again.

Same song, different verse. Mackey was untouchable as he rode into Nome at 3:58pm today. It's a huge accomplishments on many levels. Four wins is huge enough, four in a row is unheard of...

Of course, until today, that is.


Lance almost beat Martin Buser's fastest time record. Wow. And, what's better for the sport and for Mackey - he did it without the drugs. Maybe now he'll realize he doesn't need the stuff in order to function. Then again, I doubt he needs the excuse as is.

Mackey states he's in it, for sure, next year. After that who knows. Anyone want to bet we'll be seeing much of the same reporting when it comes to Team Mackey come this time next year?

Lance to enter the 4 time champion ranks.

Barring a leap off of some random cliff before hitting Nome, it's pretty much a done deal: Lance Mackey Iditarod 38's Champion. He will be the first to win four consecutive titles, and joins the likes of Jeff King, Martin Buser, Susan Butcher, Doug Swingley and Rick Swenson (the only one with five). Jeff's last stretch strategy, once again, has thwarted all efforts to overtake his team. It's almost anticlimactic when you think about it. This whole race was a who's who of champions and going to be champs and one by one those teams faltered, all the while Lance was steadily running in the mix.

If he keeps the pace he's running now I expect him into Nome tomorrow between 2:30 and 3:30. Iditarod veteran Perry Solmonson predicted this afternoon that Lance should be in by 3pm. While chatting with Perry we both see it as possible that Lance could tie, or BEAT Martin Buser's record winning time. This year's race has been fast, the trail was great for fast moving teams, and we're seeing them all benefit from it!

Congratulations, Lance. It's a huge accomplishment.

Is this 2009? 2008? 2007?

It's Mackey and King one and two... this is starting to get pretty predictable. King is an hour behind Mackey running out of Shaktoolik. You would think that King would remember how he lost the race the last three years. Running behind Mackey is not going to win you the championship here, buddy!

According to the GPS tracker, King is running 6 miles behind Mackey at this point, and his team is also running slower - how is that possible? King's team is always faster. Oh well, if Mackey wins his fourth and King once again comes in second at least we'll have a legendary rivalry in this decade.

Seavey's seem to be losing a little bit of steam. Mitch is now sixth after running steadily in 4th up to now, and Dallas is in 14th and I don't see them moving too much further up (but hey if I'm wrong I will gladly eat my words). Still they've raced extremely well again this year (Dallas was absolutely fantastic getting first to Cripple), but it's a little diappointing when they're the ones I consistantly cheer for. Seeing Gebhardt as far down as he is, is also disappointing. Come on Peninsula Mushers! lol

Can't believe the race will be over by midweek for the front runners. It's exciting - if they keep up the speeds and times that they are, they could possibly rival or beat Martin Buser's record time - but depressing. All this build up and they're just zooming through this year.

Top Ten reach Unalakleet

First four are out. Do I even need to give you their names at this point?

Looks like it's a strong group of teams this year all vying for that first position. I don't want to say it's once again a Mackey King love fest, because Hans Gatt and Hugh Neff are definitely making it difficult for the two champions to run away with the game again. Seavey and Baker are also still in the mix, though they may be stuck duking it out for fifth at this point.

This race is going to be another nail biter (I would love to see King and Mackey take a run for a win like Lance's dad and Rick Swenson did twenty some odd years ago.) and what a way for Jeff to retire from the Iditarod (though I'm still in denial that he won't be in the mix next year. How can he just give this up?).

Unlucky thirteen is the number of teams scratched with Judy Currier joining the unlucky ranks. She injured her back earlier in the race, and by Galena the pain was just too much. Speedy recovery, Judy! May you come back next year stronger than ever!

Warren Palfrey scrathes.

And then there were twelve. Palfrey is the latest to scratch on the Iditarod trail. It's yet another team that has ended its quest because the "dogs were no longer able to continue to be competitive."

What does that mean? It's not like they were up there with the leaders anyway. So what does it mean to be competitive? Was it the musher who was discouraged because, once again, he paid a boatload of money to run this 10 day race and he wasn't getting anywhere in the standings? Seems a little silly and very anti-mushing.

So is it because teh dogs didn't want to pull/run anymore or because they're ill? In that case he should be commended. At least he didn't go the Ramy Brooks route and try to beat running into the dogs.

Still, it just seems odd - the reasons being given for the scrathes this year.

There are bets beginning on when DeeDee will be forced to scratch, she's still got a third leg to go and she's down to eight dogs. What gives?

Reddington is the 11th musher to scratch.

News just broke that Ryan Reddington scratched this afternoon citing concerns for his dogs - they reportedly were not feeling well. This brings the number of teams to not finish this year's race to 11.

The leap frogging has been going on all day for the top mushers as well as the middle of the pack. It's still anyone's game, though Mackey is making it clear it's his to lose at this point. He is fiercely determine to get four in a row, a feat not accomplished by any musher. It will also solidify that he needs no drugs to enhance his performance (nevermind that's not what the ITC says the drug testing was about).

Continuing to follow the GPS tracker and waiting for official reports to come out via Iditarod.com... it's gonna be a long night, I can tell ya that much!