How Fast Do You Read?

Source: Staples eReader Department

My result said:
You read 569 words per minute.
That makes you 128% faster than the national average.

I'm above average, people!

Lost: 2012 Montana 5th Wheel

This cracks me up. The Burlington Police Department made up a flyer for our stolen 5th wheel. I know Burlington is a small town, but really, where do they post these flyers? It's not a lost cat! And the pictures they used are really crappy. Just sayin'.

Maybe we should say there is a reward for its safe return.

This Weekend Better Be Better Than The Last One

Spring Flinger 2012 starts tomorrow. This year we will be up at Seaquest State Park. The crazy planners have planted more than 70 boxes for this event! Not that I'm complaining...we all know what a box slut I am.

I'm really disappointed that we won't get to take the trailer to this gathering like we had planned. I'm trying to be a big girl and not snivel about it, but it is hard.

So far we haven't learned anything about our missing trailer. We've gotten a couple of "we are working on it" emails and one phone call from the Burlington police with some follow up questions, but that's it. Nothing has really happened. We're still kind of stunned. I think we are going to talk to a lawyer and see if we can get some guidance on what our rights are and what we should do.

I have a million things to do before I leave tomorrow for Flinger, so I'd better head to bed.

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but it makes me smile and after this crappy week, I need a smile. We saw these little moose twins this summer in Alaska.

Aren't they cute? Did they make you smile?

How I Feel Today

And One More Thing ....

I totally forgot until a co-worker reminded me this morning...not only did the trailer get stolen and my letterboxing and camping plans for the spring/early summer get blown to bits, but I DIDN'T GET TO GO VOLUNTEER AT THE IDITAROD BECAUSE OF THE F-ING TRAILER! Which was fine when I thought I'd have a trailer to use and all. Now I'm just crabby.

Crappy Weekend

As I've mentioned in previous posts, Greg & I purchased a Montana 2012 3750FL back in January. Our truck order was delayed, so the dealership has been holding the trailer for us. Finally got the truck broke in enough that we could tow with it, so after corresponding with the dealer several times, went to pick up the trailer Saturday afternoon.

Drove the five hours to the dealer (it's in Burlington), with all our stuff in the truck in order to spend our first night in our first Montana. We walked into the sales office and were told they have been trying all morning to get a hold of us. "We don't have your trailer - it's been stolen." We thought maybe it was just a really bad salesperson joke. We both stared at them blankly and said "you're kidding, right? That's not very funny." Nope, not kidding. Our brand new trailer was stolen off their lot. Had to wait for Burlington's finest to show up and fill out all the paperwork for the stolen vehicle. Now I can only imagine the nightmare of paperwork and phone calls to clean this mess up, not to mention the delay to get a new trailer ordered.

Just wanted to cry and vent...

The trailer we no longer have:

Shelf Life

We've been all about the dogs here at Random Thoughts for the last 10 days, so here's a new Simon's Cat cartoon to cleanse your pallet.



Don't worry, we'll be back to talk about the dogs again soon, I'm sure!

The Last Great Race on Earth

He Did It!

Congratulations to Dallas Seavey for winning the 2012 Iditarod Dog Sled Race!


With this win he becomes the youngest person to win the Iditarod. At 25. Wow!

I'm Voting For Hank

I don't usually get too political here on Random Thoughts. Politics drive me crazy. But...

Have you heard about Hank? He's the tabby that is running for a senator's seat in Virginia.
Hank’s campaign is focused on three primary topics: creating jobs, spay & neuter programs with animal rescue groups, and making politics more civil.



Hank has a very nice website and everything. AND he's already posted his most embarrassing picture ever, so his opponents have nothing to hold over him.

Go Hank!

Ants in My Pants

Dallas Seavey is 5 miles outside of Nome about to become the 2012 Iditarod winner and the youngest musher to ever win it. I'm waiting on the edge of my seat for the live coverage in Nome to start.

So excited!

Missing It

For Lent this year I gave up Facebook games. I'm addicted to several of them and was spending hours each night playing them. I've been doing pretty well with not missing it until today. Today I'm having trouble. I probably should get off the computer and do something useful then, shouldn't I? That was the whole point of going cold turkey on the stupid time wasters.

Okay, I'm off to change my sheets and do some laundry!

Cave Canem!

2012 Iditarod Starting Now!

Today is the ceremonial start to the 40th running of the Iditarod sled dog race, "The Last Great Race on Earth." As my faithful readers know, I've followed this race with keen attention for the last few years. This year I took it to a different level and introduced my workplace to the Iditarod with the Money for Musher's contest. A fund raiser for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter (one of COG's charitable giving recipients), I organized a contest that randomly paired employees with mushers. For $5 city employees were randomly paired with a musher to follow through the 8-10 days of the Iditarod race. For a $20 dontaion, employees could pick a specific musher. When I left yesterday we had 36 out of 66 mushers paired up and had raised $215 for the shelter. Not a bad start. The person that picks the musher that ends up in first place wins a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant of their choice.

It's been great to see all the people who want to support the Shelter learn something about this amazing sport. I'm enjoying sharing it with people.

This year I'm rooting for Dallas Seavey as my veteran and Ryne Olson as my rookie. I met Dallas this summer in Anchorage when I attended the Wild Ride Sled Dog Rodeo. I got to talk to him for quite a while as I monopolized him at my dinner table. Here are a couple of pictures:




Ryne Olson is a rookie that works with one of my former Iditarod picks, Aily Zirkle. That's mostly why I picked her.

I'm so disappointed that it didn't work out for me to go and volunteer for the Iditarod this year. I'm going to put it on my bucket list, and hopefully 2013 will be the year I can go.

I'll try to update you all on the status of my mushers as the race unfolds. You have to admit I'm doing better at posting on my blog.