MANDATORY MUSHERS MEETING, IDITARIDER'S LUNCH AND IDITAROD BANQUET

What a full day !   It started this morning at 5 am getting up.  Since my car was in the shop in Anchorage, I got a ride to the Mushers Meeting with Lev, my across the highway neighbor.  When we got there, we picked up our trail mail and got it all signed and then signed a classroom  letter.

We listened to Dr Stu Nelson, the Iditarod Veterinarian talk about dog issues on the trail.  We also heard about the trail conditions and saw pictures of the trail.  Hard and fast...like cement.  Glad that I have a helmet.  I am not going to think too much about the trail, or I will end up worrying too much.   I am going to just deal with it as it comes...and pray.  I did pick up elbow, knee pads and shoulder pads.

We broke for lunch and I reunited with my daughter who I haven't seen for 2 years.   What a wonderful hug.   We ate together at the Iditarider lunch.  So good to see her and just be with her.  She is excited and so I am.   After the lunch I went and picked up my Subaru.   So now I have my wheels back.  Whew !

Then it was off to buy an iPod.  ouch!   wasn't expecting another big expense...but I will not be carrying my cell phone.   I was hoping that I could take out the sim card and use it for the alarm clock.  Having it with me sim card or not would get me disqualified.  Soooo....No iphone.  The alarm on the iPhone is absolutely awesomely obnoxious and it wakes me up no matter how tired I am.   On Iditarod 2012, I slept through my alarms 3 times.   There is no way that I want to sleep through any alarms.  

Soo....the iPad is not a phone.  And it has the very same alarm as my iPhone.  I will also bring a battery powered back up alarm clock.

Then it was off to the Banquet.  It was a great time.   Meeting old friends, connecting with my friends from Washington here to cheer me on and send me on my way.   We had a nice dinner and a great social time.  Then it was time for the start.   I drew number 40.   I was a bit disappointed, as I really wanted a single digit number and was hoping for at least lower than 25.  Oh, well, it is what it is.

Introducing Mini Ben and his Iditarod Adventure

Modeling my helmet

Thank you Larry Lubonty

Two hour drive home...made up the couch for Nicolina and she is out.  She traveled here from Vienna so she had a very long day.  I am off to bed and will be getting up early for a work party. The gang will be here at 8:30 and we will have a fun morning together.

Wonderful Day!