We Have a Winner!

Just as the sun was setting in Nome, Lance Mackey mushed (?) onto Front Street and won the 35th Iditarod with a time of approximately 10 days and 6 hours. Lance’s father won(by 1 second - the replays are fantastic) in 1978 (the closest race ever), his older brother in 1984(?) and now Lance - all of them wearing the same bib number. Lance is the only person to win the Yukon Quest (1000 mile race) and the Iditarod in the same year. The Yukon Quest finished less than 20 days ago and he ran with many of the same dogs in both races. Congrats to Lance! It has been a lot of fun watching the progress of the racers over the last couple of weeks. The people willing to undertake this task are incredible and the dogs they work with are extraordinary. I can’t wait until next year!!!

On to another subject…Squirt’s Limo is now in the shop and we have been driving a tank. Well it seems like a tank. We have a rental Chevy Full Size Long Bed King Cab 4X4. It doesn’t have running boards. Why is that an important note??? Because by the time I get my foot on the floorboard, my knee is at ear level and I have to have 2 handles to haul the rest of me up. Parking it is a challenge but not nearly as challenging backing out of the parking space to leave the parking lot. Hopefully we will get the “Limo” back Wednesday or Thursday.

We have had a long spell of cold, clear weather. I think we are on our fourth week of absolutely beautiful sunny days which are crisp and clear. Tonight has gale force winds again, moving what little loose snow there is into places we had already cleared. Robert even tried shoveling the front stairs and landing to see if we could get some more significant snowfall and a little warmer temperatures for skiing. It has worked every other time this year but, alas, I am beginning to think we are done with new snow for this winter. (Maybe this statement will bring some!)

By the way, days are seriously getting longer now. We are up to almost 12 hours of daylight and the sky isn’t dark until 9:15 pm or so now that daylight savings time is in effect. I am starting to get worried about all of the long summer days. Already I have more energy in the evening…daylight’s wasting…I should be, could be, etc. out doing something!