At this time of year I always miss the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous and the ceremonial start of the Iditarod in Anchorage. Fur Rondy/Iditarod is THE big winter break, with sprint dog races over three days for the former, carnival rides, fur auctions and street food. The city brings in many truckloads of snow in most years, as the streets need the extra for the dogs. I remember going to these events back in the early 60s, before the Iditarod was even a thing. Everybody knew the racers and the competition was fierce. The advent of Iditarod lessened the audience for Rondy, but it’s now timed as a run-up to the Iditarod ceremonial start. When the wife and I moved back up there in 1998, we volunteered for the Iditarod start and worked the street, keeping people back when teams were brought up to the starting line. I know that there are some who think the dogs are ill-treated. Here’s a shot of one of the poor things being abused.
Any time you can do that for one person, you’ve helped all of humanity.
I’ve gotten wary of answering calls from numbers I don’t know. When I do answer one, my defenses are already up. It’s sad, what the bot-farms have done to the simple act of answering the phone.
I have started putting away the winter decor and clothes. A handful of sweaters and jackets will stay out as I really don’t trust the weather until proper Memorial Day.
Afternoon all. Sunday Dinner has been consumed, and as a bonus for…I don’t know, sleeping in I guess…got a Butter Pecan Ice Cream cone just because I could. Now need to head off to the gym to work off my indulgence. Day looks great as long as you don’t look at the thermometer (as my mother often said "the sun is hot now but the air is cold’). Added changing light bulb in the overhead light in my office, another PITA job but if I’m going to get the ladder out for the HVAC might as well do both.
52, good laundry-luck. And enjoy the off day.
Cookie, thanks for the stories of Alaska, did a visit to a sled dog camp (it caters to tourists so YMMV) and what they can tow is amazing (plus I got to hold a still-eyes-closed puppy which was tres cool).
The story of the job.
I walk to this little store often.
A food place closed there last year. I hear a new one is opening.
I go past it, see the new sign up, I’ve applied.
Next day I go to little store and see a young man talking to a lady
I hear him interviewing her.
I see hes wearing a shirt with the name of the new place.
Being bold, I say, Oh I put an application in. Yes, I butted in.
He says, Okay I’ll talk with you in a bit. After 7 minutes, she leaves, he invites me over.
I apologize for interrupting.
He interviews me, likes me, and gives me an offer.
I tell him I can walk there in 10 minutes so Any hours.
Wow. If I hadn’t gone to little store then, or noticed his shirt.
Nice!
We took a short vacation to Finger Lake Lodge via ski plane one year there. They have a dog kennel and give sled rides. I won’t go into the disastrous start here, but once things were sorted out, we took off like a rocket. Keep in mind that I probably weighed 240 then, and it was like there was nothing in the sled but feathers. What a rush.
I rode Astro the perfect school horse. Mounted correctly in one try, rode a bit, dismounted correctly in one try. Next lesson, I will ride him in my saddle to get comfortable in an English saddle, then I will ride my own horse. The riding isn’t the problem. I’m fine once I’m in the saddle. My instructor is taking my sassy horse out on a trail ride this afternoon.
I’m good with the musical choices so far, esp The Who cuz they are my favorite. I intensely dislike Billy Joel so I will put my noise canceling headphones on if he comes on the rotation.
I cleaned, dusted, changed out Spot’s litter, cleaned his food and water dishes(he died of starvation during their 15 minute absence). One load of laundry is done and put away, another is drying, and the whites are done and awaiting the dryer. I had Carmen towed to the dealership for her service tomorrow, and took out the trash and recycling. I also completed my bed project. Whew.
< snork >
That explains that old saying about a lady’s chance of finding a guy in Alaska: “The odds re good, but the goods are odd.”
Howdy Y’all! We deheathenated and had a wonderful brunch. Other Verger and I decided we would Lent the place up on Tuesday mornin’. She is one of the part time Parish administrators and Tuesday is one of her days for that. Truth be told, we would rather do it ourselves as together we’ll get it all done in under an hour. It takes longer if we have “help.” That also means goin’ to the church house twice on Tuesday as it’s also Shrove Tuesday and pancake time. I will survive however. We accomplished nappage and day drinkin’ as well. Now I feel the need for Netflix, chill and popcorn.
Coppertone yay for you! Hope this one works out for you.
We can’t leave out the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Jackson Browne.
FB MarketPlace.
Sunday chores are done, Sunday dinner et (sweet potato - black bean enchiladas and cilantro lime slaw) and fixing to finish up KP before returning to the studio. Thus goeth my Sunday.
Orthodox starts on sundown forgiveness Sunday. One asks forgiveness and gives forgiveness. Instead of ashes, we have scented oil (usually rose). We do joke that we have breakouts in cross shape on our foreheads. Oil is paramount.
They really do make me laugh on a regular basis. There are only two places on GG’s body with hair thin enough for him to feel her teeth and she can’t reach his ears when he’s standing upright. (OK, that’s three places if you want to get all picky!)
He’s not that big, only about 40 lbs. He will gain weight if he lives with us, he’s kinda skinny now. Hubs has found a fence company in Logan and will be calling them in the morning to ask about having a gate made.
Boy are you ever silly. Do you really think there is any chance that I won’t be flooding the mump with new dawg pics? At least you folks will be getting a break from all of the cat pics!
Both of those things are so sad, I wish things were better. There is a whole lot of financial misery nowadays and I can’t find it in myself to hope that things will get better before they get a whole lot worse.
I use third world country but I’m guessing we are saying the same thing.
It was cold again today and the wind made it feel even colder. I sprung for a fabric Handmaid outfit and kinda wish I had bought a poly one because poly is so much warmer than cotton. Of course, if this keeps going on until the summer, I’ll be grateful for the cotton.
It’s the little things that help keep the world a brighter place and just seeing the shelves looking so nice gave me a nice endo rush, so why not share?
You are a very good person to spend so much time helping the homeless cats. I’m sure they need you now more than ever.
I’m totally up for one. I’m sure I can find a protest to join along the way.
Please be more careful! Make more trips if you have to.
Don’t start bringing your lunch and eating at your desk. That will just bring you down even more. Move your jeep out of the parking lot and eat somewhere that is not your job site. A steering wheel tray is so much more convenient than you would think, I still have mine and I’ve been retired for 7 years.
I use amazon for the pics, if you find one you like, click through to the maker and buy it from them. They will usually have a first time customer coupon that will make up for the cost of the shipping.
I agree that we need Queen and Elton, but I’m also a fan of Tomita and Pink Floyd. I still have my vinyl copy of Brain Salad Surgery.
We’ve had several blind cats and they have been pretty easy as long as we didn’t move things around. I also kept their worlds small to help them not get lost. From what I’ve seen Barkley is pretty mellow, but critters never show their real selves at shelters.
I’m so happy you have that comfort available.
I’m glad you went out and also am happy that you are enjoying the taking apart of the thing. I usually enjoy making the thing, but taking it apart again usually results in many very bad words.
Hubs will be named The One in Charge of Dog Poop. Barkley already has a name so we will use that until it morphs into a nickname.
Of course, we don’t even have a gate right now and Barkley will go home with the first qualified family who wants him. I don’t want to start getting too attached until he is actually our dog.
Yeah, I was pretty sure we were married to brothers.
In my experience, rescue critters always know how lucky they are
As long as you are getting motivated to do some routine house maintenance, clean the filter on your dishwasher too. As long as you are up and moving, wipe the seals on your front loading washer with vinegar and run your vent snake down the dryer outlet.
Thank you! Barkley is house trained and knows to bark at the door when he wants to go out. He barks at the kennel bars because he doesn’t want to pee on the concrete. He seems to be A Very Good Dog.
Oh that poor dog, it’s suffering is so intense.
Thanks for the story, I would never have thought that they would have to import snow in Alaska!
People always say that racing critters are abused, but I’ve seen greyhound kennels and some of them are nicer than the standard motel room!
That’s just a stupid notion, abused and starved animals won’t win races, its the well fed and motivated critters who win.
That is so kind of you to say. I can’t save the world, but I can save one starfish at a time.
Please feel better soon.
I am so glad you got out of the house and are moving forward with riding. You need to be back in the saddle again.
I will buy an assortment of cheeses along the way. I have no idea what I will find, but I’m sure we will all be happy with the local offerings.
What!!! You didn’t put replacement dishes down at once? No wonder he draws blood!
Thank you for the reminder. My summer chaps made the move (no idea why) and they aren’t fringed, so would be ideal when the temps do their HAHA Fooled You freeze in the middle of April.
)
It’s the little things that help keep the world a brighter place and just seeing the shelves looking so nice gave me a nice endo rush, so why not share?
