Let's Celebrate, It's All Right!

Today on my way home from work (which I am loving, btw) I passed by the Alaska Sled Dog Association's trailhead - Tozier Track - and there were a couple of teams being hooked up for a run. I got all excited. This weekend is the World Championships for sprint races. Next weekend is the start of the Iditarod.

As I passed under the Tudor crossing I saw they had the blue trail 'guards' out to mark the trail... I gave out a little squeal! How is it that in just a couple of year's time I've become a rabid sled dog race fanatic? I guess I have to blame Mitch Seavey and family for hiring me to work for them two summers ago. ha ha!

Work is going well, I'm enjoying it, I'm not stressing about it like I was last week. I'll think I'll keep at it for a while ha ha!

busy busy busy...

Oh to live in a time with pretty dresses, eh?

Not if you're Georgina. I just finished watching The Duchess and it is just wonderful... the story is told brilliantly, the settings and costumes were just wow. And the acting was spot on especially by Fiennes and Knightly. Holy cow. Keira knocked it out of the ball park with this one and if she doesn't get recognized for it I'll be very dissapointed. I found this film far better than Atonement though the stories are very similar in some ways, and the ending doesn't harken Disney at all. lol.

I am seeing a pattern with Keira's films lol the ending just aren't all that happy to me. It all started with Pirates 3 and it's snowballing and getting worse. BLAH!

But all in all the film is masterful. I hope it doesn't get buried come Oscar time. It probably will, there's talk of other films already, but I think it deserves at the very least a mention... but I'm all for Keira winning best actress. She deserves it most definitely this time around.


*sigh* other than that, not much to talk about... I have FIVE DAYS till Disney, and I am mostly packed. The last things are essentials that can't be packed until the day of. Which, for me, means Saturday night... only 4 days away from that! *whew*!


Got the call from Janine a little bit ago. They got in way later than I expected. We're meeting up tomorrow so I can give her the lasagna. *sigh* I think I'll go from there over to my gparents... depending on when and where we meet. She said she'd give me a call in the morning once she figured out what she'd be doing.

Alright, I've got a load to go into the laundry, so I'm out.

Hope you all had a safe and happy new year. I made it to midnight in New York and Ohio but then I went to bed. ha ha. I'm a wimp. I've never really thought midnight ws something all that special anyway.

Now I'm watching the Rose Parade. From what I understand Alaska has a float in the parade this year celebrating FIFTY YEARS OF STATEHOOD.

Today also marks the 10 day mark! I'm not excited about that at all. Nope. In fact, I don't even want to go anymore! ha ha! I've packed my clothes, gotta move a few things around, and then I just have a few things after that and I'll be set.

Got a call from Janine Seavey two nights ago asking if I could help cook up some food for the three Seavey's running the Iditarod to leave at food drops, so I get to make lasagna for them... and have it done by the sixth!

I also have my make up interview test thing with the Census Bureau on Monday, so busy busy busy.

Gonna go watch the flowers roll down the street...

I'm bummed, but not too much... I mean it is cool that he repeated last year's win, and it was a great race... he and Jeff both played a mean game of chess!


Can't wait for next year.... but I'm ready for Summer now... Brooklyn and the other pups need some TLC!

Not Lance! NO LANCE! I want Jeff to win. If Mitch or Martin can't win then give me Jeff for a 5 time champion!

This race has taken just about everything out of me, holy cow!

http://www.adn.com/2693/story/342144.html

I won't bore you all with a run down, if you want to see that I posted in the Le Cafe section of Golden Skate. ;) Yes, I was bored last night, can you tell? LOL

The ceremonial start is this Saturday and the race official begins on Sunday, March 2! I am so excited. I love the sport of dog sledding, and I LOVE the Iditarod. With my working with Mitch Seavey and family last summer I have an even more personal connection now and that is just so exciting.

Speaking of which, I'm having job related already. How sad is that? Thankfully they were all GOOD dreams, and not panic filled dreams, so I guess that's a good sign. Hopefully? Hee hee!

Hmmmmmm an idiot that's anti Iditarod registered and posted on my Iditarod thread at Disney Sites. That is so annoying. If they weren't a troll I'd post proving their falsehoods. It's incredibly frustrating that people write out these bulk letters and have people send them through.

These people that 'save the sled dog' normally live in SOUTHERN STATES and that's where 'rescued' sled dogs go to SUFFER. They are NOT dogs that like or adapt well to the heat, but apparently that doesn't matter.
UUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I'm so glad I'm friends with most of the mods, and that they understand! Hee hee!

Yes, dogs die. More dogs die in loving homes through freak accidents in the 2+ weeks of the Iditarod than do on the trail. Yes, there are dangers - it's untamed Alaska for crying outloud - but it's actually incredibly safe considering all of the elements.

Yes, there are a few mushers who don't deserve the title. They are dealt with - but you're innocent until proven guilty. Ramy Brooks is a prime example, people had suspicions, but until he actually beat the dogs on the trail there was nothing anyone can do.

These dogs are not 'pets' in the sense that we would call a pet. They are working dogs, they have a job. They're also a little bit on the wild side. They have a pack mentality and as such the musher has to play the animal psychology just so. S/he has to maintain order and disipline just as an alpha male or female would. If you don't that's when you end up with dogs fighting amongst themselves to gain that top position.

A "Lead Dog" follows the Musher's direction, they're not the "leaders" of the team.


But what do I know, I'm just a dumb Alaskan who cares nothing for dogs. ;)

and they don't suck as bad as I thought they would (to be honest I thought they were all going to be crappy...)

hopefully they're good enough to land me the job next year :)

http://www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?EventFrame?event=019U002X

my photos are the ones where they're coming through the trees... the actual professional took the photos from the Downtown area....

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad they came out!

Yeah, I think my parents are now officially more obsessed with American Idol than I am. Not that I care or anything, but you'd think my parents would want to talk to me more than they'd want to watch American Idol!

I called last night and they weren't home, then they called me back right before American Idol. Then dad tries his darnedest to get me off before *gasp* he missed the show. I felt *SO* loved last night! LOL When DUANE wants to talk with me more than daddy, something is wrong LOL

For the Record my mom likes Travis. She think's he's smooth and not that bad for the eyes. LOL That's my mom.

Not too sure who dad likes

and Duane likes Bo the rocker, and Anwar (or as he said "the teacher guy, I can't remember his name, but he sings good.")

I like Bo, Anwar, Carrie, Constantine... and Travis LOL And mom and I agree that Bo looks like Travis Tritt and he even has that same sound.

Speaking of Dad, he got attacked by a Bald Eagle. Okay, well, it was caught in a coyote snare, and dad tried to rescue it and it fought back. But no worries teh Eagle is fine, dad got a fish and game dude to come out and they got the Eagle loose. And I guess teh guy who owns the snares will be in trouble for something he did that made it a "bad" trap... I don't remember what daddy said

Anyway I am watching Dateline right now, and not to be overly rude. But I really think Scott Peterson's half sister is out for money. Her whole crap of I don't want to hurt them, I think is a load of crap. She just *suddenly* feels that he's guilty? I don't buy it! I think it's totally egotistical of her and just wrong... there's my rant


on to the iditarod...

I met with "my boss" today. I am really excited... he isn't going to hover and I have creative license to do it how ever I want. WOOT WOOT!!!

he is really nice and I am really excited about it... and now American Idol is on so I am going to get this done and over with and then I'm going to do some homework and then I'm going to go to bed...


Luv and hugs,
-Tonichelle
BTW, Paula annoys me, and I think that her drama mama is so old that it's even annoying in People Magazine LOL

Ok screw getting my hopes up I just sent him a link to my Fur Rondy photos and he sent a reply back:

[quote]Toni,

Those samples provide a perfect assessment of your ability for the
subject matter at hand. I would safely assume you are the designated
candidate.

Do you have a preferred headshot for your media credentials....could
you email that to me. You will be listed a Official Media, Photographer-
North Star Multimedia.[/quote]

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!! I have to pee! *rushes to the public (yuck) restroom*

yeah right... I am soooooooo excited for this possible job

It IS for the Iditarod... it's to photograph the idita-riders as they come around the corner....

Idita-riders are people who either pay for the chance to ride in the ceremonial site in a sled or they are Make-A-Wish kids. It's a big deal (Susan Butcher in the early 90s used to take two or three make-a-wish kids... she'd just change out dogs and go again :laugh: she was awesome.... I miss her in the race) up here... and people pay $$$ to ride which helps keep the race going :)


Anyway I got an email from the guy who would hire me and he said he is very hopeful that I am what he's looking for and so he started telling me the plans for Friday and Saturday...



so yeah, I'm so not getting my hopes up LOL :clap: :clap: :clap:

I might have a one day photo shoot job out in the snow on March 5. I could very well get a job shooting a dog race...

so think of me to get the job... I've emailed the guy and am waiting to hear back from him! *cross fingers*