Tired and feeling it this week

Is it just me or has this happened to any of you?

This have been a really busy period for me over the last few weeks with working everyday and then working on the bathroom installing the tile on the walls and ceiling of the shower.  There has not been a lot of time for rest even though I have tried to get to bed earlier.

One of the weird things that have also has been happening is my wife’s schedule is changing.  She has been out of work over the last few months when she was on call to travel to Seattle with my daughter for her medical appointments.  Now that is behind them and she has been trying to get back on staff part time with one of the dental offices in Anchorage.  She has been able to pick and choose since dental assistances are in demand here so she has tried several of them before deciding to get back into the routine.

During this time off she has not had any schedule staying up late watching HGTV or late night episodes of the old Twilight Zone series.  She will wander into bed or fall asleep in the recliner having many mornings of passing in the night when I am getting up for work she is on her way to sleep.  The dog’s body clock is also screwed up not knowing whose schedule to maintain but has been closely following hers with short naps (can dogs have cat naps?) but stirring at any movement inside or outside the house.

Between my wife’s dad’s activities and the moose that wander the yard Gus is kept on his toes all night maintaining alert status and barking to let everyone know that something is going on.  It drives everyone crazy.

I told that back story to say that I have been really tired the last few days trying to keep from dragging myself along at the end of the day.  I work in a rather large office now with three floors of people milling around all day going between departments with everyone being friendly with a greeting or how ya doing being spoken as a somewhat standard greeting.  

On Wednesday I started stating to people that “I’m tired today, how about you?”  Many times the replay stated the time it was which made no real sense to me.  “It’s eight o’clock!” or “Its ten thirty!” was often the reply.

What the hell does that mean?  If it was early did it mean I should be rested having just woken up?  If it was later in the day during the afternoon hours was it supposed to mean its ok to be tired?

I’m tired and just wanted to be honest of where my head and body was during our brief meeting.

Go figure.

Iditarod update . . . The 24 and 8 hour mandatory rest periods are over for the leaders now and the different team’s strategy is starting to emerge as to who has the strong teams, who still has a full pack of dogs or if any has dropped them off at the checkpoints to be flown back to Anchorage.

Jeff King (4 time Iditarod Champion) is heading the small pack just ahead of Lance Mackey (3 time Iditarod & 4 time Yukon Quest Champion) checking out of the small village of Galena on the Yukon River while Mackey prepares to give chase across the frozen river during the night hours.  Hugh Neff, Mitch Seavey, and Hans Gatt are also resting in Galena in the minus 28 degree weather.  They are all heading into the winds of Norton Sound as they approach the coast sometimes creating some of the most extreme conditions found during the race.  Having just passed the 500 mile mark there is still much racing to go before going under the burled archway in Nome.

Sixty one mushers and their teams are still on the trail out of the starting field of seventy one.  Ten have scratched so far with one being flown back to Anchorage’s Providence Hospital after hitting a tree and falling off his sled.  Jamaica’s Newton Marshall is continuing at the 400 mile mark coming into Cripple in 54^th place right now in a pack of 10 mushers.

Good Luck to all it’s been another Great Race.

Ice