I am stuck on Alaska, 'cause Alaska's stuck on me

Happy New Year! 2008. Wow. Crazy. My New Year's resolution is to be a better person...hahahaha! Just kidding. I've resolved not to make any lame resolutions. I am surrounded with such good people here (Sam, Libby, Theresa, Becky, Erin...) that I can't help but be better, so there. There is always room for improvement, yes, but I am who am. In a word: vivacious. Oh wait, I mean rowdy. No, maybe nutty. Sigh. Pick one.
So this week I've been running the dogs every day. It's been a mix of long and short runs with my 'A' and 'B' teams. That right, I have enough dogs to field two teams now. I got those three new pooches from Patty and they are amazing. Kat, the Susan Butcher dog, has surpassed all my expectations so far. She is so strong it's scary. She's all business and so far, a superb leader. Summer is a hard working, honest dog that loves to run loose and actually comes when she's called. A real sweetheart, she is. Sipsi is the yearling and is eager in harness but is young and needs a little discipline. She's adorable and eats like an alligator. She is also very good when loose and loves to play.
I'm not sure what races I'm doing, my plan changes every day. My first is this weekend. It's just a short 20-miler that I'll use for training. I think I'll head south at the end of January for the Tustumena, but am not sure if I'll do the 100- or 200-mile version (the races offers both). I would really like to go to Haines Junction, Yukon, for the Silver Sled 100-mile in March. It looks like a lot of fun. Who knows?
Sneaky Pete is out for the season with a foot injury. He's getting lots of couch time to help with the recovery. It's a disappointing loss for the team as he was my up and coming superstar, but that's the way it goes.
Anyway, here are a heap of photos from the past week.
Peace.


We went out to a bonfire in Two Rivers for New Year's. Lots of high-powered fireworks. It was a little scary at times (like when a flaming, sparking, sizzling firecracker came shooting into the crowd, ricocheted off the house and back into the crowd) and I was worried I might become a statistic, but all was well and no one got hurt.


Sparklers!

The big boom at midnight. As you can see I suck at firework photos, but in my defense, I was four beer in and had no tripod.


The boys setting up for the big show. Yee haw!

Look up, look waaay up. Ella was pretty ambivalent to all the noise and lights.


The girls. Becky, Erin, Rachel and moi.


Kat, the latest and greatest at Spitfire Kennels.


Sipsi, the yearling.


Summer. Her eyes are golden.


Hitchcock. Always with the woo-wooing.

Gus. Mr. Manager.

Roy in his favourite chair with his favourite toy.


Ruffles gets no respect, no respect, I tell ya.


Roy and Parker frolicking in the lower yard.