An unprovoked dog attack, the Iditarod winner, and a free beach!

I managed to make it almost 43 years without ever getting bit by a dog.  But that record ended several days ago, as I was brutally and viciously mauled and attacked, by a 'drop kick' dog as big as a tennis shoe.  Little dogs have always fascinated me.  They are always wound up, nervous little balls of uncertainty that bark way too much.  For those who have such small and mysterious little dogs, I am sorry.  They always seem to be too 'bad' for their own good!  Most of them seem to suffer from 'Napoleon Syndrome'.

This particular day I was simply delivering an invoice to a client and neighbor, just like so many days past.  As their son opened the door and greeted me, their two little rat dogs came out barking at me like they always do.  Only this time, something was different.  I was told later by the owner that maybe the nervous little gerble thought I was "scary looking" this day, to which the owner was quick to interject her two cents of nonsense stating that I did look a little scary in my snow outfit.....a jacket and cap!

The next thing I knew as their son was greeting me and the furry little neighborhood toughs were yipping I felt a strike, to what I would compare closely to a snake strike, on my leg.  As I spun around and looked down, the smallest of the rabid munchkin pack, was withdrawing, teeth still showing, while nervously spewing noise from it's stupid little mouth.  I yelled out an expletive, and found myself tightening up, doing what any red blooded rebel would do in such a predicament....began to swing my big ol boot aiming to take the hyperactive little fur balls' head off!  But then I instantaneously realized that the boy was watching in complete dismay at the unraveling events before him.  So without even giving a lot of thought to it I withdrew my anger.  But I was on full alert and prepared to twist the little jackasses head off in a seconds notice, shalt he have decided to come in for a second rip at me..  Man was I pissed!

The long and short of it was that I got one nasty welt of a bit that turned black and blue instantly, with teeth marks and all..  As well I was emotionally scarred from the trauma that I experienced from this savage and unprovoked attack!  The dogs Mrs. owner was in some kind of denial, as she seemed to doubt that I was really bitten, on the grounds that "he has never bitten anyone"!  Mind you, as I was showing her my injury I was just trying to blame the dog for a scratch I received the day before from some unrelated issue....oh for Pete's sake lady, give me a frigging break!  Like I have nothing better to do with my life than try and frame your little schizophrenic ball of nerves!!  Yes, she apologized but not without giving me a complex over the whole thing.  Funny, her husband told me that if it were him he would have knocked the dog into the next year....if he only knew!

Needless to say, we are going to have a battle of wits, and the human intervention of man vs. dog the next time I go to their house.  If I ever do.  I am thinking it is best for relations that I stay clear of that little rat.  Ok, now that I have offended every 'small dog owner' from here to wherever, let me say, I love dogs.  I have nothing against any, and have a great record with all dogs, of all creed, size, race and color.  But I have never been able to fully understand the 'little dog'.  And after this, my opinion of such has been altered slightly.  Imagine if I would have been a "scary looking" child in his snow gear?!  Or a baby crawling about, scary looking, minding it's own business.  I guess the lesson to this story is, just because your dog has never 'bitten anyone' before, don't assume that it wont!  There is two big signs at the end of my driveway, that warns people to "keep out", and there is a reason for this.  If the dogs dont bite.....the owner will!  I have never allowed my dogs to circle a guest at the door nor do we answer the door with our dogs wound up and barking.  It is a recipe for disaster, as I am living proof of.  Speaking of dogs.

Today at 2:59PM Alaska time, Lance Mackey arrived with his dog team in Nome making this his 4th Iditarod victory!  His team pulled this off from Willow to Nome in 8 days, 23 Hours, 59 Minutes and 9 Seconds!  Woo-hoo!!  Just as our weather has once again turned from winter to break up....for like the 8th time this winter.  Folks, I am ready for an early spring.  I am ready to hang up the whole winter concept, take off the plow and sport the Alaskan tan!  We had a good week and a half of cold, snow, and all that good stuff, ironically during the Iditarod.  But now it was 42 degrees the past two days, with snow melting fast.  We are so looking forward to summer though.  Last night Maryann pointed out that at 10:00PM, there was still a glimmer of light on the horizon!  A far cry from the dark months we have moved through over the course of winter.  Soon, Alaskans will be doing the summer chores, and out basking in the sun and daylight all hours of the day and night!

 The sign out on the highway in town, announcing the public's victory for our beach!

After almost two years of battle in and out of the court room, we here in Nikiski have finally won back the public access to our beach!  The company which controls the land that houses the OSK dock decided that due to Homeland Security requirements, they would close public access to the public beach, a move that did not sit well with locals at all.  Click link:  Kenai Alaska or Bust: .......Woodstock.....??**??

 A beautiful view of the ice covered waters. 

There is always the chance that Peak Oilfield services may appeal the ruling, but I think that the voice of the people and the judgment handed down was loud and clear that this act of closure was unacceptable.  Most especially when the lease agreement stated that public access to the public beach would never be tampered  with.  So once again, we are enjoying what I consider to be some of the most spectacular views of the bay, looking forward to those midnight summer walks on the beach, and the anticipated pastime of mine, agate hunting!  I felt it appropriate to leave this post with one last pic.  It symbolizes the movement forward, out of the grasps and angst of oppression put upon the people by someone who felt he had a power, a hold of sort on our freedom. 

 The steps leading to the 'once upon a time' guard shack that once stood there.  I think that is a cigarette butt pot in the foreground!  A reminder that oppression from our government, private industry, or otherwise will not be tolerated.  Heed notice!

God Bless America, man!