"It has been a tough race. If you actually think this is fun, you have a problem." - 2004 Iditarod winner Mitch Seavey of Seward, Alaska

Iditarod weekend - one of the traditions Sam and I look forward to every year.  Sam surprised me this year by wanting to go to the start in Willow.  The past couple weeks Sam experienced intense pain in his lymph nodes in his neck and in his left hip/pelvis.  So we kept a slow pace today, missing some of our favorites mushers, but we at least got there and stayed for an hour or so.  The Iditarod committee spends a great amount of time each year reminding people to NOT bring their pets to neither the ceremonial start nor the actual start, including placing signs in the parking lot stating, "No pets allowed," and most people respect the request.  However...as we walked back out to the parking lot, a guy came towards us with an adult Irish setter/retriever mix and I could not stop myself.  I stopped him, politely explained pets are not allowed at the race...and do you know what he said to me?  Well, where can I take him?  HELLO???  Anywhere but here?  The Iditarod is a professional race with a ton of money involved and you want to bring your pet?  ARGH.  Anyway, he followed us back out to the parking lot with the dog.  Does it take a rocket scientist to realize bringing your pets to the Iditarod might not be a good thing or is it just me?  Ok, I will stop my rant for now as I am sure you get how I feel about this.

For those of you who would like to track the teams, www.iditarod.com is the place to go.  Sam and I are "Iditarod Insiders," as like I said before, we are completely hooked on the race.  We tell each other all the time it is a good thing we did not move to Alaska earlier in our lives because we would probably be out there ourselves.

Dara & Sam on the trip to Sitka, Alaska.

Back to Sam's current issues, we talked yesterday and he is going to contact his primary physician at the VA about the pains, especially the pain in the hip/pelvis area.  The reason for this is that the primary will hopefully send Sam to an orthopedic surgeon to look at the hip/pelvis and determine if it is worth the while to replace or at least do something to mitigate the situation.  If not, Sam will more than likely end up with some kind of patch which will work as a localized painkiller, such as Fentenyl.  Not sure how I feel about that, but if it is going to alleviate the pain he is in, then ok, let's go for it.

He is working hard to build back up his energy level and his strength.  Slowly but surely he is succeeding.  His moods are good, he is looking forward to the summer, and is making plans to do things, albeit not at the same levels as before, but fishing is only a couple months away!  Today he even discussed indepth with me an easier way to take the cats with us which completely surprised me.

Overall, Sam is doing good, although we both know the cancer is slowly progressing.  Yesterday during our discussion we both agreed absolutely no more chemo, although he might consider Zometa again for the bone mets.  What the Alimta/carboplatin did to both of us last summer is something neither of us ever want to experience again, especially since it is not a cure, just a growth management treatment, which may or may not be successful.  Just not worth it to either of us.

As for me, life is good.  Work is terrific (still!)  Fishing is right around the corner, even better.

q'ua

"Fish on!" What I hope to be shouting several times over the next 3 days.

Summer is in high gear in Alaska.  Earlier today I told a friend that it is almost stressful all the activities we, as Alaskans, try to cram in in just a few months time.  As for us, we just returned from Kodiak on Sunday, and now we are off to Homer for 3 days in the morning.  Sam wants to camp on the Spit and since I have a 3 day weekend, it is the perfect time.  Hopefully the weather cooperates and the fish are in.  So far fishing on the Kenai Peninsula is not all that good, and since we have had rain the past few days, maybe the darn fish will finally start coming in. For Sam's sake, I hope the fish are in and are biting!  We get a little competitive when it comes to fishing (if you can believe it!), so of course, I plan on pulling in the first and the biggest.

Lights of Homer Spit from the ferry at 1:00 in the morning.

As this is the week before Sam's chemo is to begin, he spent the week getting his meds in order and confirming insurance information.  Tonight he gave me a rundown on how the doctor and he decided to increase one of his painkillers (the long-acting) while decreasing another (the "break-through.")  I admit, my knowledge of painkillers increased tenfold over the past 3 years.  As he talked, the lightbulb went on and I realized why his mood had been so nasty the past few days. It would almost be funny if it weren't so sad. I admit I did not handle the mood swing very well at all which did not help the situation.  Luckily, as of last night, he is back on an even keel.  He is not in the least bit aware of what any change in meds does to his mood.

Wednesday, June 13, Sam begins his chemo treatment.  Although he does not seem to think his reaction will be any different than it was in the fall, I am fully prepared for it to be since other things are scheduled to be included this go round.  The 48 hour mark occurs while I am at work Friday morning and that is usually the worst time, when the chemo hits the cancer cells and the body is basically at war with itself.  The joys of the roller coaster of cancer!

Tomorrow, Friday, June 8, is Cook Inlet Region's (CIRI) 40th birthday, which is why it is a 3 day weekend for me.  Nothing like an unexpected holiday! Work is very busy and during the summer, work increases dramatically.  Tuesday and Wednesday I spent up in the Matsu dealing with trespass issues and checking out some of our lands which I had not visited previously.  Tuesday proved to be an absolutely beautiful day, and Wednesday, just the opposite.  It felt good to be able to work outside for a couple days, made the work week go by much faster and the surprise holiday makes it even better.  I love my job.

Ciao!