Thank You
Well,
I know that those of you that have spent any time with me in person know –
and those of you who read my ramblings on the ‘net must suspect – I do
love to tell stories. So it may come as a surprise to many to know that there
is the odd occasion that I get tongue-tied. Biggest among them is the Iditarod
Banquet, each year I plan out wonderful speeches in my head and find myself
fumbling over my words at the microphone. Maybe it is because, as a long time
Iditarod fan, I still find myself in awe of the fact that I am a part of this
all. Maybe it is all for the best anyway, as the list of people I have to
thank is so long that they would probably have to postpone the start of the
Race if I ever did find my tongue.
This
morning I would like to take the opportunity to ‘do it right’. I’m a
little scatterbrained this morning, so if I forget anyone on this list, it is
because of that, not because I don’t appreciate you.
Right
off the top I have to thank
Dawne Deeley.
Dawne
makes no big deal out of what she does for us, but trust me - it
is a big deal. She has been our biggest backer since the 2003 season. I can
never thank you enough Dawne. I’ll see you in April – you bring THAT
cheese and I’ll bring the wine. (Dawne is an owner/handler
of Norwegian Buhunds & Carelian Bear Dogs).
Dawne Deeley & Ch
Kyons Freidige SIV
Many
thanks to my most distant sponsor – Cudos Rigs in the UK. I’m
missing your company in Alaska this year Andrew!
Also
my thanks to Eagle Pet Food products and the Westlock Veterinary
Clinic. Both allow us to do the very best by our dogs – and that is no
small thing to me.
Dogbooties.com
has donated all our harnesses and those terrific blankets to toss over the
dogs in checkpoints. I am very grateful Louise.
Donna
Finner sews up all our dog booties and bandanas – it is a tremendous
time and financial commitment, which we are very grateful for.
A
thank you kiss to Donna F from
Kara
Donna's
handywork on display
Huge
thanks to Jamie West and Harry Banks. Not only have they opened their
home to us, they have welcomed us into their lives. Far beyond what we
expected guys. (Jamie is busy cooking us all breakfast as I type)
Jamie (pictured here with Karen's mother
Morna)
was Karen's 2004 Idita-Rider
Karen,
Jamie, and Sue (Karen's 2005 Idita-Rider)
Doug
and Krista Grillot have basically bent over backwards for us the whole
time I’ve been in Alaska. From meals to firearms to trucks to TV’s … if
they have it, we have been welcome to it. Great people and we are very lucky
to have them for friends. I’ll sure miss you on the trail this year Doug.
Raise a glass to me while you are sitting on that beach in Mexico.
Doug & Karen
My
thanks to Ann Hernandez who will post this and a million other things
to my website while I’m gone and throughout the year.
To
everyone in Alaska that makes this place really feel like a second home to us.
To Barb Veenstra for taking such wonderful care of our dogs and our
place while we are in Alaska. You give me peace of mind Barb!
Special
thanks to Shawn Sidelinger. For those of you that don’t know
Shawn,
it is his record time with Siberians from the 1998 Iditarod that I am trying
to beat
(WorkingDogWeb coverage of Shawn
& Iditarod 1998). At our Open House Shawn came by and gave me his bib from that year to
carry on the trail this year. Is that a cool gesture or what??? He said it
worked for him in ’98, maybe it can do the same for me this year. I was
incredibly touched.
And
to everyone else listed on my website.
Our
2005
Sponsors
Our Iditarod 2005 Sponsor-A-Dog List
Iditarod 2005 -
'Happy
Feet' Sponsors
I’m afraid time doesn’t allow me to
retype all the names here, but all the things all of you do from cheering us
on to sending money is very, very much appreciated. I know we couldn’t do it
without any of you.
Karen
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