Pets for Pets

Iditarod Racing Team to Sport Charity Collars For Cancer

Karen Ramstead, a six-time competitor in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska, is joining in the fight to help find cures for pet cancer.

“All the dogs on my Iditarod team this year will be sporting bright orange Pet4Pets™ charity collars,” said Ramstead, an Alberta dog musher and Siberian Husky breeder. The collars are sold in pet stores, vet clinics and at www.pet4pets.com to support pet cancer research. Each collar sold raises $2 for the Animal Cancer Foundation.
The legendary Iditarod follows a 1,151-mile trail through deep snow, two mountain ranges, along the lonely Yukon River, and finally up the coast of the Bering Sea. The race celebrates the dramatic 1925 delivery by dog sled of lifesaving medicine for a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska.
When Ramstead’s team sets off from Anchorage this March, they will be joining the race to cure cancer in pets and people.

“Like many dog owners, we have lost a number of dogs to cancer. As I speak, Chester, one of my 10-year-old retired leaders, is living out his last days. It breaks my heart to watch as this once amazing athlete is beaten by cancer,” she said.

Ramstead spotted the charity collars at the vet clinic. In agony at Chester’s diagnosis, she felt that sponsoring the collars was a way to honor her canine companion of thousands of miles of aching cold and exhausted jubilation.

Chester arrived in her life at a grim time in the winter of 1996/97. She had lost her father to cancer. Her husband, Mark, was out of work. The last thing they needed was another dog. But Chester stayed, and it was a turning point in their lives.

Soon Mark got a new job. They moved from Calgary to Perryvale, near Athabasca in Northern Alberta. And Karen, a Toronto transplant, got serious about the Iditarod, called The Last Great Race on Earth. Just to finish is a triumph of will.

She and Chester first tried it in 2000 but did not finish. The next year, they did. She was the first Canadian woman to complete the race. And Chester was a leader in the first team of registered Canadian Kennel Club Huskies to cross the finish line, she said.

In 2004, her team, led by Chester and her superstar leader, Grover, set the third-fastest time for a purebred team. As celebrities, she and Chester toured schools to teach youngsters about mushing. Chester loved kids, and they loved him right back.

“With his non-stop wagging tail and friendly Siberian grin, he made friends wherever we went,” she recalled. A handsome dog, Chester also won a Canadian Championship and is one of only seven Champion Siberian Huskies that have finished the Iditarod.

In January 2005, Chester retired from racing after a shoulder injury. He spent the winter of 2006 in New Hampshire and came home to retire.

Recently he was having trouble swallowing food. A lump appeared on his head. An X-ray, barium swallow and biopsy confirmed that Chester had advanced cancer and less than a month to live.

“Our once proud, strong sled dog has moved into the house so that we can enjoy every moment we can with him,” she said.

“Chester and I have traveled 20,000 miles together in harness over the years. We have conquered the Alaska Mountain Range, brutal storms, ice, overflow and more – but this is something that he and I can't beat.”

So this March her team will sprint across the frigid wilderness to honor the brave dog teams of 1925. And they will wear symbols of a great challenge for the 21st Century – to fight cancer, a disease that afflicts millions more pets than people.

Sponsoring the charity collars for the Animal Cancer foundation helps raise awareness that scientists studying pet cancer can also shed light on human disease and that many pets with cancer may benefit from new human cancer therapies.

“If telling Chester's story can help make it so someday another dog owner doesn't have to watch their dog go through this, I'm all for it,” she said.

For more information about Pet4Pets charity collars, visit www.pet4pets.com.

-- I just had to include this press release on my blog. Karen Ramstead is a fellow Siberian Husky breeder and a wonderfully warm and inspirational lady. I remember her carrying Chester around as a puppy at a dog show years ago and it breaks my heart that she has to say her goodbyes to him when he should still have years ahead of him. With Christmas coming, I think these would be a wonderful gift for pets and pet owners alike.

Dear ETS:

You bunch of inept, brainless morons.

I could accept that you started renovating the Westmount Transit centre in late September -- it made no sense that you'd begin undertaking such a big project shortly before the snow flew but I had enough faith that you had contractors efficient enough to get the job done in time.

Alas, you didn't. And it's still not done. And February seems like a pipe dream years in the future. Which means all the people waiting for buses that don't come are standing outside in severely cold temperatures in small, cramped plastic shelters relying only on the close proximity of the other (unfriendly and just as cold) ETS passengers to stay warm.

Smart. Thanks a million.

I also love the fact that because you've done that and moved all the bus stops at that one particular transit station, calling Buslink makes no sense because you didn't update it and it gives you the timetables for another bus. That rocks. I love knowing when the 128 to Northgate comes. That really helps me figure out when my bus in the WESTEND will come pick me up at my WESTEND stop and take me to my WESTEND home. Super.

I can even accept the fact that your Jasper Place terminal is now without heat. I guess it makes sense that you guys had it turned on when it was 10 outside with a light drizzle in late August, but have now decided to just put a kibosh on the hole 'keeping your riders comfortable' thing now that it's nearing 40 below. It's awful, but I expect nothing better from you.

But standing outside in the frigid temperatures we have been experiencing lately from 8 to 8:30 when the bus is scheduled to come at 8:09 is becoming a little ridiculous. It's simply too cold to be standing outside for a half hour, especially if you're waiting for something that's never seems to be a sure thing anymore.

And you know what? I wouldn't complain if this only happened once or twice, but when it becomes a daily occurence and not just at the times mentioned above, or at the bus stop I frequent every morning, I have to say -- we have a problem here.

Your downtown routes aren't running when scheduled, your Southside routes aren't running as scheduled. In fact, the only thing that seems to be running as scheduled is the damned LRT, and since that only covers riders from University to Clareview, I'm exempt, but let's not even get started on the whole 'it was supposed to run to the Westend in the first 10 years they had it up and running'.

And the city wants to raise property taxes? For what benefits? Perhaps to pay the amazing road crews doing the stellar grading job on the roads? I like the whole skating rink effect all of our main thoroughfairs in the city have going on. It gives it a whole new appeal for thrill seekers and those that love frequenting the hospital.

"Ooh, I wonder if I'll get into a fatal car accident and die this morning!"

But not to get off the subject. The point is I pay this astronomical $59 a month to get to work at a reasonable hour, but so far this month I've also paid another $100 in cab fare just to meet that criteria. I'm out there at a reasonable time, and I will wait for a reasonable time and I ride the bus for an hour to and an hour from work, and if I'm 5 minutes late for it, so be it. But you, you need a contingency plan, because I'm not the only pissed off transit commuter in the city of Edmonton tonight.

Sincerely,

One Pissed Off Lady

PS. For any fellow commuters who are just as upset as I am email, write or call ETS customer services and maybe we can make a difference, and stop being forced to cough up more money than anyone can afford to be spending before the holidays because our transit system sucks.

Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Lemme tell you.. there's cold.. and then there's this.

The Weather Network says it's only about -23, but I don't buy it. My thermometer says it's -35 and that makes a lot more sense.

5 minutes outside and you want to fall asleep so you don't have deal with it anymore.

After work today I stood outside waiting for a bus that didn't come. By the time the next one made it my Gatorade had ice chunks floating around in it. And this was the drink I was holding in my hand.

I hate, repeat, hate the winter.

What Christmas Means to me

It's less than a month until Christmas and I have one full gift bought.

Christmas. It's a holiday I both revere and despise.

Last year Mr. Roberts and I rented a car and drove back to Dawson Creek to visit our families. In August, his folks sold their place and bought a new one down in Kamloops. So this year, he heads south for the holidays while I head North and I imagine our holiday greetings will be on the phone or via email.

On a mildly related note, I find it sort of humorous that my little brother will be heading North to Dawson Creek from Kamloops, while his 2 little brothers head South to Kamloops from Dawson Creek for the holidays. But enough of the tangents..

The point is that last year I enjoyed myself so much having the ability to travel with him home to see our families, and this year, I'm sure he'll be heading off a few days before me in the opposite direction. Don't get me wrong, I'm brilliantly excited to see my family for Christmas, but something will just seem lacking because he won't actually be there or even near there. I'm not even sure why it upsets me so much, because obviously we'd both want to be with our families for Christmas, and it's not like I woke up last year on Christmas morning beside him (not that it really mattered, as the LAST time I got to wake up beside a S.O. on Christmas it wasn't a super happy time either) or anything but it was comforting to know that if I really had wanted to see him, it was only a matter of a short drive to town.

So I guess this is sort of a roundabout way of saying that I'm going to miss him over the holidays and that if he were underneath my tree on Christmas morning, it'd be the only package I'd be excited to open.. BUT.. in the interests of staying PG and not drifting off into fantasy world, I'll hop to another topic.

New Years. Does anyone have any interesting ideas of what to do for New Years? Every year since I've become legal I either, a) worked, b) hung out with family or friends at home or c) had a house party on New Year's Eve. This year I'd like to go out, put on my dancing shoes and go someplace fun. So if anyone has any interesting ideas of what to do in the Edmonton area on New Year's Eve, PLEASE, let me know now.

For everyone else.. I'll bet you're all dreading Monday as much as I am. :(

Don't Say it

♪ Think of all the fun I've missed, Think of all the fellows that I haven't kissed. Next year I could be just as good, If you check off my christmas list. ♪

♪ You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear voices singing "Let's be jolly; Deck the halls with boughs of holly"... ♪

♪ He's making a list And checking it twice; Gonna find out who's naughty and nice. ♪

Yes, Yes.. it's November 25, just less than one month away from Christmas Day and we ARE decorating.


Well, sort of. We're leisurely putting up decorations, beyond that I have lofty ambitions to buy a piano and become a torch singer in a smoky piano bar, we discovered Ross has a surprisingly graceful leap and Callie is playing DJ for Christmas tunes.

But one more thing -- don't say "Merry Christmas" to me yet. It's too early.

As an added point of interest here is our l'arbre de Noël.



Pretty, huh? Or it would be had I been capable of taking a decent picture instead of indulging in rye and gingers.

Oooooh, Taboo!

Mr. Roberts and I met up with Shane and Jess at the Taboo Sex Show yesterday. Blew about 6 hours and a little too much money wandering around checking out the exhibits and buying a few additions to our collection.

I've decided I'm really into the concept of pole dancing, and I really want to take a class. In case anyone's interested, the girls at Aradia fitness here in Edmonton put on an awesome show and I definitely think I'll be taking my class through them. They have locations in a few other North American cities, as well, so it might be worthwhile for people to look into it.

I think the idea appeals to so many sides. I'm pretty adamantly opposed to most exercise, but if workouts are fun (ie. swimming, dancing, etc) I'm very gung-ho. This looks like fun. And imagine showing your S.O. what you learned at your class that night?

Needless to say, Mr. Roberts has no qualms about volunteering to pay for said classes.

We spent a bit of time at the Main Stage taking in the shows (stripping demos, burlesque, etc) and in between every demonstration the presenter called 3 people up on stage for a contest for prizes.

Jess went up for the 3 second fake orgasm competition and (I thought, at least) blew the competition away. The conservative looking girl actually won the competition, and the fat dude -- well, suffice it to say he thought rubbing his belly might make people more likely to vote for him. Surprisingly, that backfired.

A good way to spend a Saturday, though.

On a sidenote, Friday, we attended Shane's band's concert at a Junior High in the Southside and it made Mr. Roberts want to break out his sax and made me want to actually take up a hobby to fill my boring weeknights.

The Universe Hates Dancing

For months and months now, Mr. Roberts and I had been discussing hitting up a latin nightclub in the northend to take the free salsa lessons they offer 3 times a week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

So many weeks, we'd make plans, and for whatever reason (lethargy, laziness, previous obligations, etc) we'd break them and not attend the lessons.

Last week we made tentative plans again, but for some reason, we just didn't make it.

This week we planned to go -- no ifs ands or buts about it. This week we'd learn how to salsa. Even if it was just a little bit.

So last night at 8:30-ish, he shows up with comfy shoes, picks me up and we head up to the northend. I remember the location of the club, well, as I used to pass it every day on the LRT to work, so I directed him and we made it there with 10 minutes to spare.

We pull into the street and he asks where to park. There are cars lined up along the street and it doesn't look like there's much available. I, meanwhile, am looking around for the club itself, because where it USED to stand, there is now a burned pile of rubble in a fenced off area.

That's right -- the one week we finally pull through and decide to go dancing, the damn place burns to the ground.



Fire destroys Edmonton nightclub
Last Updated: Monday, November 13, 2006 | 3:10 PM MT
CBC News
Edmonton fire officials are investigating a fire that razed a nightclub, causing $1.5 million in damage.

The blaze at Azucar Latin Nightclub at 118 Avenue and 78 Street began in two places early Sunday morning.

Spokeswoman Erin Gon says firefighters were still spraying water on hotspots 12 hours after the early-morning fire began.

She says the evidence does point to arson.

"The building is a total loss," she said. "I think the roof was gone and the interior was virtually gutted."

Gon said there doesn't seem to be a link between the blaze and a fire at the same nightclub a year ago.


*sigh*

Five-Five-Five

Because I have nothing more to say...


Five things that are creepy:
-Dirty dishes sitting in the sink in cold, dirty water
-Women with drawn on eyebrows
-Finding dead spiders in your bed
-People making prolonged direct eye contact with you, only to never speak a word (get out of my head!)
-Christopher Walken (reinforced after watching 'Click' last night)




Five movies I have not seen (yet):
-Army of Darkness
-Cars
-Donnie Darko
-Doctor Zhivago
-Pi



Five things that make cold weather hilarious:
-Kids bundled up like starfish
-Hats with earflaps
-Nose hairs freezing
-People using the phrase "Cold enough for ya?"
-When my Siberian Husky refuses to go outside

New Life

I know I haven't mentioned it, but for the past few days my mom has been waiting on bated breath for the arrival of 2 litters of puppies. Java (the red) and Lacey (the grey) were both bred to the same stud, a male that my mom absolutely adores.

The night before last they started coming. Lacey, who was bred second, went first and had a litter of 5.

Java started whelping at the same time Lacey was pushing out her final puppy, at about 12:15 am yesterday morning.

By 7, she had only had one more, so mom and dad loaded her and the babies into the van and rushed them all into the vet. They did an emergency c-section on her, spayed her at the same time and all told Java had 10 puppies - 9 live.

So Christmas this year means I get to go home and play with 14 gorgeous little balls of Siberian fluff and really be tempted NOT to bring one home, a la Lincoln.

It's going to be especially hard for me, because today would have been my girl Reba's 12 birthday (which is hard enough in itself), and these puppies being born 2 days before represent to me new life after losing her last month.

Mom wants to keep one from each litter, and I told her chances are great we'll get 2 puppies with personalities similar to Reba's. She responds with, 'Uh oh', but I think it's great. I really miss her.

Java's Puppies

Lacey's Puppies

Other things I've said before

I've been informed tonight that I've been slacking.

This I realize.

The last time I updated was a week ago, but the truth is that I just don't have much to talk about. And I'm uber busy as of late.

I ate great food, and played poker this weekend at Marc and Jeanette's place and then realized that it's near impossible for me to sleep anywhere but my own bed. Mr. Roberts was suitably impressed with me making him drag himself out of bed at 2am to drive me home to salvage the night.

The photo printer the boys bought me is sans power adapter. I got into a fight with the girl at Future Shop last week about it (and their ineptitude for even selling an electronic that is lacking essential parts) and then she directed me to call a number to pay MORE money to get the part sent out. Today I recieved a box from Future Shop.. with the wrong part. Evidently I need to actually contact HP to get it sent out.

I should send my dog to apply at Future Shop -- she's obviously more qualified than 3/4 of their current staff, a helluva lot friendlier and maybe getting her out of the house might do her so good. Then she can pay for her dog food, too.

Mr. Roberts has been kicking my ass to do something with my life.. I find it mildly humorous that my boyfriend is more concerned about the direction of my life than my parents (or to be honest, even myself) are. I appreciate the concern and understand that sometimes it does feel warranted. So now I'm checking out my options, contacting some people to get some answers and seriously trying to figure things out.

It's not easy, but it's something.

Oh yeah.. and Spederline broke up. Bridgit's not the biggest B.Spears fan, but I appreciate her trashing the trailer trash. About time.

Times are a Changin'

I've decided something.

Kids today are wimps.

I trick-or-treated up until the ripe old age of 16 (free candy, y'all!) and I remember hauling my little brothers up and down streets and lying about my age to everyone that asked. I was 12. Perpetually 12, just tall for my age.

We'd be freezing, and sometimes a little grouchy by the end of the night, but we'd always come home with a bare minimum of one pillowcase full of candy each. Sometimes it might be two.

I even remember trick or treating when I was a kid with my dad. Sometimes I'd beg to go home and he'd always say 'Just one more house' until we'd completed the block. And then the next. I didn't realize until I was older that the only reason he was so gung ho about it was because the more houses we hit, the greater the chances of more tootsie rolls for him.

Last night Mr. Roberts and I sat at home, watched a movie and waited for trick or treaters to ring the doorbell.

Kid #1, a little girl all of 5 in a princess costume, got a big handful to start. She started to turn away, and I called her back, giving her another handful. Her father gave me a quizzical look and started protesting, but I just looked at him and said, "She's the first, she might well be the last. She deserves the candy".

She was the first, but the other 2 after that were the last.

That's right.

I had a grand total of 3 kids last night.

I had 6 kids last year.

Why?

Because kids would rather go to a mall and get a single piece of candy from every store than walk around a residential block and get 3 times as much.

So next year should I even bother buying candy for a bunch of kids that would rather go to the mall?

Is the tradition of trick or treating at Halloween a dying tradition?

Or maybe Halloween is just morphing in a highly commercial holiday in which mothers shop while kids get their sugar fixes.

I really don't know. But I'm disappointed.