bombs and puke buckets

 we always had a designated puke bowl growing up it seems.  currently mine is an old Christmas cookie container...i guess that fits since if i'm using it i'm losing my cookies.

 these are more from the restart in Fairbanks.  keep em coming!! the snow is melting fast here.

 worked my three nights and at about 5 am i started to get that body aches/chills feeling and felt like i had heartburn pretty bad.  soon i got home, exhausted, but unable to sleep.  abdo cramping followed up with puking.  nothing to puke really so dry heaves and nausea that went on for hours. dry heaves and nausea are the worst!!

 i'm happily getting back to eating again.  for breakfast i just ate ice chips.  that was all my gut craved.

 work was ER, ICU, ICU.  i'm gonna have to head over there in a bit and fill in a schedule for this next schedule so i'm not screwed for the summer.  the notice went up late and i didn't notice it was almost that time.  yikes!!

 my first night of ICU was good because i was put on call but called back right before the shift started so that means overtime all night.

 as i have said my patients often watch faux news so i get expose to it on a regular basis..enough to see what cheerleaders they are for any GOP persons.  my one patient returned from his procedure and when i handed him his call light he was all, i have to watch Hannity and O'Reily.  my eye roll here..haha.  of course, he was having issues with his heart rate and blood pressure dropping so i threatened him that if he continued to do this...i would change the channel to CNN and leave it there...that would surely increase his heart rate and blood pressure.

 MW takes photo of the Fairbanks Police...nice gig riding around in the snowmachine at the Iditarod restart.

 as i prepared to leave for work the other night iitoo was bombing in Syria.  never mind that he screamed on twitter for years that we should do nothing there and even as near as last week denied intervention.  Assahd had once again doused his own citizens with chemical weapons.  there should be a special hell for people like this man.  he has done this again.  Obama hadn't acted on this.  public outcry caused the senate and congress to balk at voting to take on this mess, understandably really.  Syria is a mess.  the war there is so multipronged i have no idea who you take on.  it would be a quagmire for sure.

 suddenly on Thursday night iitoo grew a heart and decided to bomb a military airport in Syria to send a message to Ass to not use chemicals on his citizenry. Before the 60mil dollar drop of bombs Rus was called, who also let Ass know of the impending attack.  most of anything of value was moved away and as of the next day Ass was able to utilize the airstrip and fly out to do more bombings in the same neighborhood.

 Rus is saying they are pissed. many in the media and otherwise acted like this somehow made iitoo Presidential..which is so silly.  he reads a speech clearly or drops bombs and he is somehow suddenly Presidential..ridiculous.

 what is scary about him is his unpredictability.  he never has any real plan.  he just reacts.  he has minimal knowledge of the big picture.  for his sudden compassion for the victims of this chemical attack he still shows zero compassion for the refugees of Syria and other nations.

 he isn't to be trusted.  he's a salesman at heart..what is he selling here...that should always be your question...he does things to benefit himself.  that is the game he plays.  people do not suddenly change.  his M.O. is that.  self serving...so how does this act of bombing without really inflicting damage benefit iitoo?

 for one it makes it appear that he is flipping off Rus.  i'm sure he hopes this means those screaming he and his stooges may have colluded with Rus to get in office will be put off the scent.  also it is assumed this will somehow boost his abyssmal approval ratings.  lets not forget that it benefits him financially as he owns stock apparently in the company that makes tomahawks.  it also allowed him to look bad ass in front of the President of China who he was entertaining.  im sure in weeks to follow some of the truths of the real rational behind this will be unveiled.  that he did this purely for humanitarian reasons is doubtful.

 i'm sure many of us would love to see Ass out and would also love to help the poor folks of Syria.  it is a mess there...but this would require some major diplomacy and delicate military strategy to have any success.

 our founding fathers preferred the POTUS to go through congress.  after 9-11 the POTUS was granted more power as far as terrorists go.  this really didn't include Ass even though he is a terrorist to his people.  he is not a direct threat to the USA so iitoo should have gone through proper channels before deciding unilaterally to attack another nation.  we just don't do that.  at this point he seems to be getting a pass on that though.  he seems to be getting a pass on a hell of a lot from this GOP.

 of course, the memes are screaming at liberals today...we want to help the people of Syria but disapprove of the bombings....this is basically because these bombings actually helped no one. i'm sure those who live in Syria were thrilled to hear the US was coming for Ass but sadly, that isn't really the truth...we gave them a moment of hope that we were going to come to their aid but the next day it seems the iitoo seemed to say that that was it for bombing in Syria.  those poor souls in Syria will be left to their hell again.

 unless you have a real plan to fix this mess, dropping 60 mil in bombs does little.  so far his military attempts have been failures so far.  quickly he went into Yemen and lost a helicopter and a seal.  then there was another bombing in Iraq neighborhood where leaflets were dropped to warm the civilians to stay in their homes due to the bombings...then they bombed the homes....and now this.  it's gonna be a long 4 years.

 i made it to the dog park today.  i was gonna hit the beach but i was pretty wiped out and dehydrated i'm sure.  it was nice to have benches to sit and rest a bit.  ran into the danes so i did another loop with them.  wear the puppies out.  i kept apologizing to the dogs yesterday as i lay around all day.  poor pups.

 out today in the yard working on the poop. i try to stay on top of it through the winter so i don't have poop soup in the spring.  best to go out in the early hours so the poop is still somewhat frozen and easier to pick up.

 pups were pretty snuggly while i was sick...such sweet pups.

 paying the bills...the to do list goes on.

 my gut is still a bit unsettled.  happy to be feeling better though.

 love to watch the dogs run.  all the breath fog makes the pictures look kind of cool too i think.

 i think we are close to 50 degrees today. all i hear is drip, drip and drip outside.  the driveway is clearing of snow on it's own.  still loads of snow to melt off though.

 the sun doesn't set until after 9 pm.  longer days...just amazing how fast things change around here.  every week just seems to look so different.

 need to look at Iceland.  was thinking i may just go anyway. i have the time off.  see if anyone wants to go.  i'll look at dates and prices tonight.

 a few black and whites.

 we have our talk coming up.  hoping that goes well.  excited to have another successful WARIS event...!!  soon the cameras will be live again on explore.org.

 the walrus will be returning soon to feed on round island.

 no matter what hell we humans create on this earth. it still seems to spin around each day and the plants and animals find a way to move forward despite us.

 nature has generally been the master of resilience.

 starting to listen to more podcasts.  pretty fun really.  totally up my ally.  so if you do comment and listen to podcasts let me know your favorites so i can add them to my list

 my diet today...ice, 2 bites of toast, 1/2 slice of bread.  1/2 plate of nacho's.  i'm ready to get back to the ice chips again. haha.

 my friends cheering on the pups.

 there was a guy with a gun that closed up the Seward Highway for a bit.  guess they never found him and opened up the road again.  the next day the President of China was given a drive along the same stretch of road as he headed  back to China from his visit with our iitoo.  our Governor got to meet with him and chat.

 would love to be a fly on the wall to hear the conversations these visiting foreign leaders have with family and friends after meeting out iitoo.  what do they all really think of him?  they have to deal with him.

 of course, our standing on earth is being damaged i'm  sure by the embarrassment that is our POTUS.  i'm embarrassed.

 all his make America Great again crap.  America is a great nation in it's own way.  it is perfect?  nope.  is it the greatest nation on earth?  doubtful.  there are plenty of other nations where people have freedoms i'm sure.  we do not have the greatest education system for our people, we do not have the greatest health care.  don't think any one nation will have everything.

 we used to be much better at science and innovation.  i would love to see us improve in these areas.  was always proud of our space program growing up but cuts are included for that as well i hear.  to improve in science we would need to vastly improve in education.

better try and get a few things done today.  grateful for:  A.  dripping...spring is coming B.  the end of the puking  C.  that i have enough money to pay my bills.

counting my steps..

 finally the pictures that i selected for today all loaded.  really liked this one above as it shows the steamboats and the dog looks cool.  rohn buser.

 i am counting my steps...fun keeping track. i guess the goal is generally 10,000 steps/day. i may not always get that, but i have averaged well over it.  so not bad. it will help me to not be a slacker on those days i work. i will never have a 20 year olds body back but i don't have to settle for a 50 year olds body either.  steps must be taken....literally!!  how many steps a  day did these little guys take getting to Nome... they need a doggie app!!

 Hugh Neff is always a character out there.

 the crowds thinned out pretty quickly out there with the low temps.  i started walking back towards the hotel for the last 5 teams at least i think.  my friends are much more social than i am and took up the offer to come warm up in the house on the corner.  the woman had recently moved to Fairbanks from California and found herself with a front row seat to the Iditarod.  pretty funny.  she opened up her home and had drinks and turkey i guess.

 another cool looking team.  love these dog shots.  was thinking i should blow up a few of my favorites for my wall...i may run out of wall pretty soon though.  between cool art i like and photo's i like.

 i have averaged over 10,000 steps/day this week  have hit the pool as i have wanted and i'm still fat...it takes time but i am impatient.  hopefully i can create new habits again and lose a few pounds.

 enjoy having those fitness apps on the phone.  i think that really helps me.

 this guys face above is super cute!!

 had an ultrasound on my leg today to check on progress.  the main vein they closed is still closed so that is good.  there is another vein that seems to be causing a few varicosities that aren't covered by the one he treated so he said to return in a month and he'll just give that an injection.  quick in/out thing.

 love the boats in the background...so cool!

 DeeDee always in pink.  she's completed 30 runs...seems like an awesome experience if you are willing and able.  it's a labor of love really. she loves mushing and she loves her dogs.

 the ultrasound had the added bonus of showing that i have fluid in my knee joint, no surprise for me i guess, i have suspected as much.  gives me that added incentive to hit the gym more and hopefully between that, ice, elevation and rest at appropriate times i can help that fluid move back to where it belongs. my knee and the swelling always feel better after a swim so my sense is this should help.  if not i'll return to the ortho office i guess.

 did a nice slip on the ice today.  hit hard again with my knee folded underneath me.  exactly how i fell the last time i fell.  sliced open my finger...LS happened to have a little baggie with bandaids!!  way to be prepared!! it's a decent little gash.

 when i fell i felt it but i think mostly it just scared me...there is that moment where you are waiting to see if you are injured from the fall...then L helped me get back up and i carried on.

 oddly, within a few steps by knee felt great and i was able to do the rest of the walk no problem.  part of me wonders if this fall snapped some scar tissue that needed to be snapped.  one thing i read encouraged you to move your patella around while you are resting.  said that could help prevent the scar tissue. or i guess i could try my luck with falling again.  not!!

 tongues!!

 below is Lance Mackey...always a favorite.  he had a bad and rough year.  at the banquet he was given a mushers award...sportsmanship award.  he was being helped by his brother but that didn't stop him from helping others.  he rescued another mushers dog team and was always willing to lend a hand.  his brother, Jason, gave  up his competitive race in order to run with Lance and help him care for his dogs.  mushers can help each other but cannot get outside help.

 the mushers gave Jason Mackey the most inspirational award.

 Nicholas Petit of Girdwood probably got the most prized award among the mushers...the award for excellence in dog care... the Leonhard Seppala Humanitarian award

 awards were also given to Huslia for being the best check point and Dallas's dog "Reef" for being the dog MVP basically.

 and here comes Aily Zirkle!! she ended the race in 5th place.

 the first 30 in get prize money in diminishing amounts.  after 30 each musher gets $1049 for finishing.  i think that is the number of miles in the serum run?  the actual miles of the race vary each year, depending if they take north or south route...or in this case leave from Fairbanks.

 i was thinking the gym tonight closed at 11pm but it was 10pm so i had to book it out of there.  now it's after midnight already. tomorrow i shall start getting taxes together.  best to just make an appointment, then i have  a deadline, i do best with deadlines.

 did get a few things accomplished today.  it was another 50 degree day once the sun was up and out.  i let the dogs/cats out onto the front deck while i took all the winter gear out of the car and brushed it out...step one.  there is still a lot of dirt in there, but you gotta clean that car in layers.

 these dogs are with another Norway team.  Yvonne Dabbakk.  she finished 53rd.

 decided to cease the Monday walks for the season.  will give me freedom to wander to different trails.  the one today was still all ice the entire 4.1 miles of it.  breakup is coming early so it's easier to wander to trails and find the ones that are safer to walk.  always miss the Monday walks but i will try to just do group texts and invite for other things...see who is around.  everyone likes the coffee so perhaps we could find another way to "do coffee" over the summer.  once the real summer hits though the people of Alaska really start to rush in different directions in order to enjoy every second of sun and warmer weather.

 love these husky teams!!  i think they tend to run slower than the alaskan sled dogs, but they sure look pretty out there.

 it at least felt like i was getting a few things accomplished this morning.  cat litter, car, dog poop...the usual laundry and dishes.  Blossom is still dropping some mud and sand today.  Rio was enjoying her outside deck time so i was a wee bit late to the walk.  hard to convince her to get on the couch .happy i was able to, way too much ice for her.

 she's in dang good shape overall, but ice and her joints could be a bad combination.

 nice to just relax and enjoy the day.  hopefully i can get my deck furniture out soon and enjoy that.  love sitting outside in the summers and just reading.

 noticed my neighbors were all doing the same.  clearing out winter and airing out the houses.  nice to open the windows for a bit and let in some fresh air.

 i think it's actually supposed to start raining later this week.  hopefully when i am back to work and can sleep through it. sleeping on rainy days is the best.  can't sleep through snow...way too excited.

 #34 is Ray Reddington Jr.  another family of mushers.

 an entire family, including the family dog vanished from the Kenai last May.  they believe they may have found the remains.  who killed them all?  very sad...

 on a brighter note...loads of Wood Bison were moved over the weekend in preparation for the release in the wild soon.  it's been a long time coming and is finally going to happen.  the conservation center will be a much quieter place this summer.

 apparently there are communities throughout US and Canada where forced marriage happens.  a brave young girl escaped arranged marriage and is now taking up the battle to outlaw such practices.  she couldn't find a shelter that would take her in..she wasn't actually being abused...just being forced to marry.  our laws have not caught up with these new cultural norms that come with other cultures moving here.

 Ellen Halverson is #35  she is a psychiatrist.   that girl from Norway.  studied physics and has a PhD in plasma and space physics.  lots of well educated folks running this race each year..also an at least equal mix of more of a blue collar sort. i have always loved that about this race.  old/young, male/female, well educated/blue collar...it's a level playing field.

 ready for another glass of water.  4 mile walk, 25 laps...you get thirsty...gotta hydrate up.

 a few black and whites and then on to a bit of scenery to round it out.

 these are from the drive back from Fairbanks.  i cruised into Denali at some point...feel like you always should if possible..it's right there.

 some are just along the way.  clear skies as you can see.  that is how it was here today as well

 water and some chocolate...i can eat a few little chocolate bits no problem.  i was telling my sister yesterday that chips are tougher for me to limit myself on. not that i eat the whole bag in one sitting, but it's easy to eat way more than you should without realizing it.

 the easter chocolate is out...after easter there is no more chocolate holidays until next fall and Halloween.  enjoy the treats!!  bought a bag of cadbury eggs...always good for a camping trip!!

 the scenery on todays trail was less spectacular.  it's that break up time of year.  thankfully, i have loads of photo's to share before spring really gets over.

 thankful for:  A.  warm weather and being able to sit and relax on the deck for a few! B.  fresh spring air in the house  C.  a slightly cleaner car...it's a start!!