Party Time! Iditarod Open House

 The elaborate photo style cake has become a tradition at the open house held at Bonnie and Jim Foster's house pre-Iditarod.

 Gail Somerville, who was actually doing a better job taking pix than I was, and Lee Nowak are always all smiles.

 Hey, it's my birthday twin, Karen Ramstead! Karen told me that Kelley Griffith shares our birthday, too, as do several others.

 Did I mention there was enough food to feed a not so very small army?

 Gail again, camera in hand, and Lexie(?).

 Maureen Morgan seems to be having an oh-so-serious discussion.

 I appointed myself an honorary Canadian for awhile and plopped down in the room holding Thomas Tetz, Warren Paltry, Karen Ramstead, and Sebastian. I'm embarrassed to say, I've forgotten the dog's name.

 I think that's Shannon on the left, then Bob and Maureen Morgan, and Pat Schue.

 Karen, Ray and Julia Redington.

Sebastian and Claudia Nowak.

Iditarod Vet Check

 Vet check day is something of a day of being faceless for the mushers as, unless you know them or their wearing something that ID's them, they tend to blend into the crowd. Probably just as well as vet check day is a busy day for mushers and vets alike, with much of the info shared today being extremely important to decisions of which dogs to take to Nome. As such, I largely just wandered, only talking to a few mushers, tho' who are friends outside of race days, and shot some pix when the wind wasn't trying to knock me down.

 Ah, I know this sled.... where, oh, where are you Jodi?

 I found Lance's truck but no Lance, so took some pix of the real stars of the show, his dogs.

 This is what is on the hood of Lance's big ol' dog truck.

 This was on the back of one of the cars parked in the parking area. Thought maybe it was Jessie Royer's but tho' I heard she was around, never saw her.

 Tara-Van Dyke and family made their first jaunt to Alaska for the race/

 Here's a doggie happy to be getting back into its box.

 Here's a doggie wishing it were back in its box and done with the vet stuff.

 Braxton in the red coat.

 As I told Jodi, hey, I was focusing on Whiskey and at least his eyes are open.

 Karin arrives

 The wind was giving Karin's hair an "in your face" kinda style.

 Bye, Lance.

 I had a brain hiccup or would have gotten a pix of Russian musher Mikhail Telpin but here are a few of his boxed dogs.This link will tell you a bit about his country and culture as well as where dogs fit into it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chukchis

Here's another: http://siberianwonders.com/2011/05/chukchi-people-chukchi-sea-chukotka-nation-of-reindeer-herders-whale-hunters-chukotka-far-east-russia/

Alaska Dispatch about Team Beringia

 Chief Vet Stu Nelson wandered by while I was still taking pix of Mikhail's dogs.

 Okay, there goes Lance again. Guess he got sidetracked on his way out earlier.

 Ken Anderson's dog trailer. I saw Ken but never did catch any of his dogs out of the trailer.

And, sorry, at that point between the wind and my stomach reminding me that I hadn't given it any breakfast, I left to go eat.

Schedule: Shuttle Buses to Iditarod Restart 2013

CLICK FOR LARGER, EASIER TO READ IMAGE

Backstage Iditarod, 2nd Edition, ordering update

http://www.amazon.com/Backstage-Iditarod-Edition-June-Price/dp/0979582822/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337972162&sr=1-1
Here's the direct link to the book's listing on Amazon.com  They're currently out of stock and running behind but should be restocking and back to their fast delivery soon. More info and cover pix in the entry below. I'm currently out of stock, too, so order from Amazon.com for the time being.

Backstage Iditarod, 2nd Edition, HOW TO ORDER

(Click on photos for a larger imagine)

Info on ordering below

 Cover Photo by Jan DeNapoli Cosmutto

Back cover photo by Marlene Buccione

Cover Design by Jan DeNapoli Cosmutto

HOW TO ORDER:  I'm still taking advance orders, tho' this will change soon and you'll have to go to Amazon.com  But, if you want an autographed/personalized copy, there are two ways to order:

1. Send $25 to my Pay Pal account at sunhusky@mtaonline.net  Make sure you include info on how you'd like your book inscribed and/or personalized. The $25 includes shipping and handling.

2. Send me a check or money order at June Price, 601 W. Holiday Drive, Wasilla, AK 99654  As before include info for how you'd like your book inscribed.

See, that was easy, wasn't it?

Big Crowd on Front Street for Dallas' Finish

Photo courtesy of Karen Fletcher
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Meeting the Delia's for Lunch

 The sign that greets you right now just inside the front door to the Millennium Hotel in Anchorage.

 After we'd eaten, I wandered back to the race offices to see if anyone "official" was around and found Joanne Potts. Stan Hooley had flown out to, I believe it was, McGrath earlier in the day. Joanne came to the Fancy Moose to say hello and chat with Norma and Joe, shown here.

 Once people began to realize the Delia's were there, people began stopping by the table. Here's Norma listening to someone, or, hmmmm.....

 ....maybe instead of listening to someone, Norma was doing the same thing we were, plotting how to swipe this adorable puppy that Cheryl brought over to show to Joe.

 After Delia's had left, I snagged Marlene Buccione from the merchandise table long enough to snap a photo of me, right, with Pat and Pat. How's that for easy to remember?

And then we handed my camera to Pat Schue to snap a photo of Marlene and me. The box in my hand? A doggie box to carry home part of lunch to bribe the dogs for going off and leaving them in their crates for what must seem like the gazillionth time to them. Ha