Oh my gosh - so close to the start - I can almost taste it! Can't wait!!
Yesterday was a very busy day. First the Musher's Meeting and then the Musher Banquet in the evening.
Mark drove me down to the Meeting. When we walked into the hotel, the first person he passed asked how his ribs were. That set a trend for the rest of the day! I'm shocked to find out how many of you actually read my diaries. Mark hasn't been reading them in awhile, but now I imagine he will be backtracking to find out exactly what I've been saying about him! (Love you, Honey!)
Anyway, the meetings were very good. I must commend the Iditarod Trail Committee. I know planning the 2003 'Idita-Detour' has been a very difficult thing and they have done a tremendous job. They never waivered from the position that they would put on an event for us SOMEWHERE and they are doing it. Jack Niggemeyer put it very well at the meeting - "In hindsight, would we have done things this way?? Maybe not - but this is what we have done, because we thought it best at the time." I think they have done a great job and I'm so grateful to them!
The Banquet was, as always, big and noisy!! I was honored to have 3 tables of friends there. Bonnie Lundberg had made up and donated all kinds of gifts and fun 'Siberian' related things to everyone at our tables - noisemakers, headbands, patches... Thanks so much Bonnie - you are one amazingly creative and gifted lady!! Speaking of creative and gifted - Denise Linley (who does up all my limited edition prints) and her husband, Scott drove up from B.C. for the Banquet and Ceremonial Start. I haven't seen them in awhile, so that was really special!
Pirate's family - Pam, John, and Norbert Kanzler came up from New York. I know they can't wait to get to visit with Pirate today and tomorrow - I'm sure Pirate feels the same way! Marlene from Montana was there, Janet from California, Jr. Iditarod musher, Lynzie Bacchus and her dad,.... and many more - but I'm going to stop naming everyone because if I put up a full list, I'm sure to forget someone! Which is EXACTLY what I did in my speech at the Banquet - forgot to thank the person that, hands down, I am most grateful and thankful to - Mark.
If it weren't for Mark's love, patience, support, participation, sacrifice (and paycheck) - there would be no dogs and no Iditarod in my life. It means so much to me that not only does he 'tolerate' my passion for mushing, but that he participates. Mark, with only a small amount of grumbling, gets out of bed early on his days off to sit on a cold 4 wheeler, shovel dogyards, help whelp litters, run to the vet with me - whatever is needed. Although he is not the one standing on the runners of the sled during Iditarod - he is as much a part of this team as the dogs or I. "Thanks, Babe - I love you."
Well, I bet some of you are wondering about bib number. My draw was Bib 38! Not a bad draw - I'm happy with it.
We are doing an Open House here from 11-3 today, so I must run and get some things done before 11:00 AM rolls around. Mark will be taking over diary entries pretty quick. I will probably do one more to let everyone know which dogs are heading to Nome with me. I'd let you know right now - but I STILL haven't narrowed the list all the way down yet! :) :)
And before I sign off, I'd like to list all my 2003 sponsors. Without each and everyone of you living this dream would not be possible. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! (I sincerely hope I do not miss anyone - but if I do, please let me know. I will blame it on 'Pre Race Jitters' - but I will also make sure to get you the recognition that you are owed!)
Lead Dog Sponsors
 | Dawne Deeley & The Tsarshadow Gang - Sidney, B.C. | |
| Westlock Vet Clinic - Westlock, Alberta | |
| Denise Linley - Farmington, B.C. | |
| | Alice & Lara Baker/Softworld, Inc - Los Alamos, New Mexico | |
| Doug & Donna Finner - New Hampshire, USA | |
| Stuffed Animal House - Langley, B.C. | |
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Team Dog Sponsors
| | Sabaka Kennels - Compton, Illinois | |
| | Dogbooties.com | |
| | John and Pam Kanzler - New York | |
Wheel Dog Sponsors
| | Cheryl Liddle and Selina Topete - Pittsburg, California | |
| | The McQueens - San Jose, California | |
| | Marlene and Doug Daniels - Belgrade, Montana | |
| | Siberian Husky Club of Greater Kanas City | |
| | Deaf Dog Coffee - Petaluma, CA | |
| | Saskatchewan Chapter of the Siberian Husky Club of Canada | |
| In honor of their work done by the Save Our Siberians Siberspace Rescue Fund, the following people: | ||
| Mary Ann Strock | |
| Cheryl Dawson | |
| Lois Leonard | |
| Barb Branham | |
| Kris Biagiotti | |
| Rita Young-Jones | |
| Maureen Lamb | |
| Our Other Sponsors | ||
| | Tanzilla Harness & Supplies - Whitehorse, Yukon | |
| | Jamie Nelson - Togo, Minnesota | |
| | Jane Freeman (& Tasha!) - Spokane, WA | |
| | Katherine Spiess | |
| | Rachel Curtis | |
| | Mukluk Dog Supplies - Diane Phoenix | |
| | Brown/Dubetz Iditarod Catering Services | |
| | Wayne and Cheryl Jueal - San Jose, California | |
| | Janet Yeager - California | |
| | Joy Hayward - Colinton, Alberta | |
| | Heather Walls - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| | Harvey and Sylvia Ramstead - Calgary, Alberta | |
| | Morna Murray - Calgary, Alberta | |
| | Jim Murray - Calgary, Alberta | |
| | Quebec Chapter of the Siberian Husky Club of Canada | |
| | Lee and Jim Desjardins - Ancaster, Ontario | |
| | Chesapeake Siberian Husky Club | |
| | Lower Columbia Siberian Husky Club | |
| | Siberian Husky Club of Greater Chicago | |
| | Lodgepole Siberians - Kevin & Carol Preble | |
| | Michael & Paulette Jones | |
| | Jamie West Banks - Willow, Alaska | |
| | Kathy Povey - New York | |
Happy Feet Sponsors
| | Bob and Becky Griffith | |
| | Marcie Yont | |
| | Mary Curtis | |
| | Greg and Marie Stevens | |
| | The Siberian Husky Club of Greater Detroit | |
Sponsor-A-Dog Sponsors
| | Scott and Janet Sweeney | |
| | June Shelley | |
| | Susan Davis, Ann Conser, Holly Conser, Ruth Lloyd | |
| | June Price | |
| | Jackie Symonds | |
| | Alice and Travis Fitzgerald | |
| | Megan and Randee McQueen | |
| | Jill Frick | |
| | Perryvale Country Store | |
| | Candace, Hayden, Lonie, Devonte, Tamara, Erik, Iain, Jordon and Abby | |
| | Heather Brennan | |
| | Marlene Phillips-Daniels | |
| | The Kuerbis Family | |
| | Bob and Loreen Bridges | |
| | Debbie Custer | |
| | Jim Murray (one of the finest trumpet players in all the Canada - I hear!) | |
| | Robert Ford | |
| | Correen Pacht and Marc Ralsky | |
| | Ursula and John Rempel | |
| | Harvey and Sylvia Ramstead | |
| | Elsie Chadwick | |
| | Lee Desjardin | |
| | Shanean Hicks, Laura Neville Woods, Ruth Lloyd, Cecile and Lisa Toth | |
| | Morna Murray | |
| | Kim and Kelly Berg | |
| | Barb and John Armour | |
| | Glen Todd | |
| | The Golden Girls at Heartprint Kennels | |
| | Kay and Jennifer Arnold | |
With deep gratitude,
Karen
Karen
