that's a wrap...

 but not really...there will be more dog pictures of course. I've only just begun on day two of my viewing pleasure.  credit and thanks above to Karen Rode for this fun photo of me chilling and snapping photo's of the dogs running past me.

 a few more from first lake and the teams getting ready for the restart.

 was watching a bit of the banquet tonight.  i guess i never really noticed that they did a live feed of this.  will go back and watch parts of the first section.  most of the mushers just thank their sponsors, volunteers and family but some tell fun stories as well.

 the banquet it the wrap on the Iditarod for the year. always fun, made  more fun this year by meeting Brad and his Mom and Frank.  thanks for sharing the adventure with us all. 

 i believe i got the answer to the question of how did this compare to all of Brads other adventures.  when he came in to Nome he was heard saying it was the hardest thing he'd ever done...paraphrasing of course, but it was no easy Iditarod.  complaints of not enough snow most years of late, this year complaints of too much snow.  as Nic said, "be careful what you ask for".  in the end 15 teams scratched or were withdrawn.  quite a large percentage, this means Brad should be even more proud at his success on a less than easy trail.

 above is Mitch Seavey's dad and Dallas Seavey's grandpa.  it was fun a few years back all three generations made the run.  all made it to Nome. 

 was bummed at the timing of Brad coming into Nome as i figured out I'd be getting report at that time and unable to watch.  luckily, i snuck in a peek at the live feed after report and before starting patient cares.  so i did get to see it live. 

 the party on first lake is just getting started...we headed back to our little gathering on second lake, or long lake.

 this drum seems to find it's way to the lake every year, thanks Tiffany.  it's a dryer drum but it makes  a great place for a fire.  i had stopped by late in the fall only to discover that our spot is not actually on the lake yet..a relief really as we always kind of worried the fire would melt through to the ice...no worries now.

 always the excitement as we see the first team head our way...and then it continues over and over until they are all off to Nome.

 One of the most dramatic trail stories of the year was regarding Jim Lanier and Janssen, the mushing mortician.  Jim has been battling a bronchitis the whole trek in the blow hole, in the dark and deep snow, Jim lost sight of the trail.  then his sled got tangled in the driftwood on shore.

 one team went past, Jim called for help, but Daughterty didn't hear him.  he later heard of the situation and felt horrible that he was clueless than Lanier was out there struggling. Zappa came by as well, she did stop and attempted to help get his sled unjammed.  she was not able to and her dogs were bolting and she had to run them down to prevent them from heading out to open water.  she headed to Safety to direct help back towards him. 

 one of my friends sons...so cute...waving to the mushers

 anyway, next was an old friend Janssen.  he stopped and stayed with his friend.  i think they were able to get the sled unjammed, but each time they strung out Laniers dogs they just refused to go. Janssen had removed his gloves and i guess those had been taken by the wind.

 things sound like they were taking a turn for these guys...they huddled together as they felt themselves starting to succumb to the cold.

 some bikes came by and eventually the help button was activated.  fellow musher Royer came back from Safety in a snowmachine to give the guys a ride back to Safety(she had finished her run to nome and just happened to be there visiting), from there they took a helicopter to nome.  the dogs and sleds were driven to Safety/nome.  so all is well that ends well.

 our group enjoying a beautiful day out there

 another of her cute kids waving to the teams

 3 nights work done for me.   kept steady in the ICU the next two nights.

 always entertaining and never dull at work really.

 we love our mushers up here in Alaska.  it is funny.  Alaskans don't even care what place you come in ever.  they just love tagging along on the adventure and seeing the personalities that make the run.  these guys make their lives running teams to Nome and running dog kennels, doing tours...keeping the sport alive.

 there will be those who will fight against these races and this sport.  as Jim Lanier demonstrates, when the dogs do not want to run, they won't.  they do love to run though from all i have seen. 

 they are bred to run.  sadly, our nation has gotten so soft, especially in the lower 48.  we humanize all dogs a bit too much. 

 i recall posting pictures of my dogs on a frozen lake up here on a labradoodle site.  i got slammed by a few people for my dogs not having coats, for being on ice..they have a fur coat.  my dog was laying on the ice...if she was freezing to death do you really believe she would be laying on the ice.

 everyone has an opinion and everyone feels the need to express their indignation about everything...and i mean everything.  the other day there was this post that showed these amazing cairn and rock formations and also leaf formations that people had created.  i wish i had the patience to do art such as this. i make simple cairns, but these were natural and impressive. 

 the first comment was from someone who started bitching that when they are in nature they prefer to see things as totally natural...so much negativity out there these days. can't these people just be happy or see beauty and leave it at that? 

 everything must be some major controversy. 

 this gal came in 48th. the two days i saw her she always had the biggest smile.  she was so happy and excited. 

 for many of us an event like this is a dream, but for a few they take the dream and turn it into reality.  we are all capable of many things, but we don't all take life to that next level and embrace it.

 it is always inspiring to see those who have a dream and then put in the effort to see the dream become a reality.  those who, like the rest of us, have fears but walk past any nervousness of a thing and make it happen.

 love the natural eye liner on this dog above. so pretty.

 most of us can only dream of doing an event like this....fear, guts...something stops us from making i a reality. 

 I'm braver than some and not as brave as others. i can live with that.  happy to not be stunted by fear in my life....though some days I'd hope to have more bravery, more confidence. 

 I'm generally pretty happy to take photos and hear the stories of this race rather than run it...though i always have this little dream of being out there. 

 just put on the banquet.  DeeDee's last year.  it's clear she plans to be involved still even if she isn't actually making the run with her dogs.

 I'm not super hero, but i do have some super powers in my bag of tricks.  we all do.

 at work, some days i do feel like a star.  other times I'm called names and treated like crap...people are stressed when they are sick though so it's best to not take it personally.  none of that this week.  most of the time my patients are grateful in the moment. 

 some days I'm not sure if my patience will last all 12 hours.  it does take a team.  this week i relied on our spiritual care crew.  thanks!  people get emotional and the other night i just told myself that i must have made this patient feel safe enough to be so emotional.  being sick, especially when it's unexpected is stressful.  my patient kept asking me how he could ever repay me for all i was doing for him.  i just kept saying, live a good life and be kind to others. 

 we all had fun watching drama unfold outside the ER from our upstairs view in ICU.  kind of nuts...and dangerous. 

 didn't really think of that until i was having an early dinner with another nurse friend tonight.  nurses put themselves at risk a lot.  a few patients have made me nervous for my safety, many have sworn.  oh the names I've been called. a friend is headed to Juneau to testify about violence towards nurses as she was recently taken down by a patient.  she was uninjured.  i have seen other staff get injured though.  a few with some bad injuries. 

 they are handing out awards at the banquet.  nice to see Nic get some extra cash and prizes for his efforts.

 Joar also got a few pick ups...gold.  not too shabby.  good that the top three all got awards, would be a bummer if the same guy that won got all of them. 

 I'm always hoping for the great tongue shots.  these dogs really have long tongues...who knew.

 love all the action shots with the dogs.  i never seem to bore of taking dog shots...or moose shots or shots of my dogs or Alaska.  haha. 

 not as easy to get the side shots, but i still do try anyway.

 Nic has made fastest time between Safety and Nome, 3rd time in a row....hopefully, all these awards for him help to offset the disappointment of not coming in first...i hope Dallas returns next year and that Nic is able to win while beating him.  :-) 

 the dog park is always filled with friends.  always enjoy going there and the dogs really have a blast.  i can't throw the tennis ball enough, ever for Ivy, but i try and i hope she appreciates me efforts.

 listening to Janssen now tell the story at the banquet.  sort of hard to follow, jumps around a bit, but he always tells a story with enthusiasm.  he got help when he broke his leg out there one year, the teams are always willing to help each other. 

 i will retire and watch the rest of this banquet...enjoy your night...

thankful for: A. dogs and all they do to inspire us and bring us joy.  B. the good days at work.  C.  that i have been blessed to not have mental health issues in the United States at this time.  we are all entitled to be taken care of.  we should not be a cold and callous nation.  we should be kind to our fellow citizens.  our mental health population has been screwed by this nation.  cold,homeless,  beaten down and left to die.