Rivers News 3-31-08

Hi Gang, Rivers here,

My good buddy, Bob N. spends much of his time helping veterans. His nephew, Kurt is in the war zone and I bet Kurt would appreciate hearing some hometown news. When you are away from home, anybody’s home town news is welcomed. So here is Bob’s nephews’ address:

SPC Kurt Sprengel
169th MP CO
Unit 73301
APO-AE 09371-3301

When you write, tell Kurt you got his address from his Uncle Bob’s buddy, Rivers, a blind Alaskan retired racing sled dog. I bet that will get Kurt wondering abut what is happening back in Alaska!

The Iditarod is over and Lance Mackey did the impossible by wining back to back Iditarods and Yukon Quests 2 years in a row. Unfortunately, Zorro, a member of Lance’s canine family was hit by a snow machine outside of Nome during the All Alaska Sweepstakes.

Zorro was resting in the sled basket and a snow machine rear-ended the sled at high speed. Lance is okay, but the sled is probably totaled. Zorro was severely injured and had to be med-evaced to Seattle with possible spinal cord damages, internal injuries and 3 broken ribs.

Here is a link to Lance’s web site that will provide you with more information.
http://www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com/

Lance is a cancer survivor and literally the “Comeback Kid”. His story is very motivational and inspires others to do their best. Please keep Lance, his family, his dogs and, especially Zorro, in your prayers. I know they would appreciate them, as well as any cards or notes you wish to send to them.

Well, that is about all I have for you right now. Kind of slow. We are all waiting for the grass to grow tall for munching and the sun to warm up things so we can sunbathe. Mike and Mary have been cleaning up the yards and getting ready for our ‘warm season”

Take care,
Rivers

Rivers News 3-16-08

Hi Gang, Rivers here,

Okay, I know it has been a long time since our last newsletter, but believe me; it has been very hectic around the Howlin’ Rivers Home. First we had many of our friends from “Outside” visit us. Besides Mike’s day job routine, he had several book signings to attend. Mary was busy with her friends, visiting musher’s kennels, attending the Vet check at the ITC headquarters, helping Donna at Husky Productions gather Iditarod media tidbits, attending banquets, and trying to catch up on some quality time with us during these busy Iditarod times.

Congratulations to Lance Mackey for winning the 2008 Iditarod. What an interesting race this one was! Besides the suspense of the cat and mouse chase between Lance and Jeff King, there were many other interesting things happening. We are also very happy that our good friend Karen Ramstead http://www.northwapiti.com/ made it too Nome safely. Karen is one of our favorite mushers and all around good people. Way to go mushers!!

Speaking of Lance Mackey, our good friends at Northern Light Media, in cahoots (wow, I like that word. It sounds like something good to eat!!) with Husky Productions, produced a great video of a conversation with Lance called “Appetite and Attitude, a conversation with Lance Mackey”.

We had the privilege of watching it with Mike; well, I listened to it since I cannot see. Mike wrote a review on the video, which I hope you enjoy reading. Since it is a bit long, I have posted it to our blog at www.riversbooks.blogspot.com. I hope the video inspires you to add it to your collection. If so, please contact Northern Light Media at www.northernlightmedia.com

I want you to know that if you could not make our open house, you were missed. I posted a picture of the cake on our blog. Mike told me that the picture on the cake will be the cover our Book 3.

At this time, we do not have any new military folks in the war zones to write to outside of Lt. Amber’s team. So if you know of any military folks in the war zones who would like to receive some mail, please privately send their addresses to me and I will make sure they get posted to the Rivers Group.

Caitlyn came by the house yesterday with a great move that she watched with us. It was called “Firehouse Dog” and it was great. We all gave it a 4 paw rating!

Mike was a guest speaker for the Alaska Society of Professional Engineers last night. He gave his presentation “Life with a Blind Dog” at the banquet. I know he was rehearsing this and I had to remind him that this presentation was originally written to motivate teachers and young people. He told me when he came home last night that he had modified it for the Engineers. He told me that he received two standing ovations from the group when he was done. He told me that he made it very clear to the group that he was only the messenger of the story; I was the star of the show. Holy Moly Mike, you are making me blush!

Spring is almost here, Yippee.

Take care

Rivers

Appetite and Attitude, a Conversation with Lance Mackey

Appetite and Attitude, a Conversation with Lance Mackey
A video by Northern Light Media

Reviewed by Mike Dillingham, Author/Owner Rivers Books.


I met Lance Mackey at a public function soon after Lance won the 2007 Quest and Iditarod. I had Rivers, my blind retired racing sled dog, with me and we had the chance to talk to Lance. Now Lance, being a celebrity, a super hero of the mushing world, winning both races back to back, I figured he would be a pompous arrogant individual who really had no time to discuss anything with someone who he does not know. However, I was very wrong. I found Lance to be friendly, down to earth, humorous, and honest. He is not disillusioned about himself. Believe me; his outstanding achievements have not given him a fat head.

So, when I this video showed up at my house, I was very interested in enjoying it. Frankly, I was not disappointed. The same Lance I met in 2007 was the man talking on the video. He was open, honest, and talks to you, not at you. While the questions he was asked were probably scripted, Lance remarks were not. They were extremely candid, at times emotional, and sincere. Lance does not talk to the camera. Lance talks to the interviewer and focuses his energies on the conversation.

This is an extremely professional video. The camera work captures a relaxed, but at times excited Lance Mackey.

If you buy this video to learn Lance’s secrets of being a dog team driver, you are wasting your time. However, if you want to listen and in some cases feel a part of a one-on-one dialogue with a true champion, this video is a must have.

Enjoy

Mike Dillingham

Rivers News 2-3-08

Hi Gang, Rivers here,

We are in the mists of a very long cold snap that does not look like it will break up any time soon. Temperatures are averaging 20 degrees or better below than normal. Last night it was -20 degrees in the kennel. Now, that is lukewarm compared to other places in Alaska, but it is cold for February in Palmer.

Icy told me that Mike fell three times walking her down the driveway in the morning to get the paper before he headed off to work last week. The driveway, as well as most side streets and intersections, are slick and icy due to the melting caused by a "Pineapple Express" weekend we had about two weeks ago. The recent prolonged cold snap froze the melted snow causing the icy conditions.

Well you asked for it, and now you have it. Mike posted the 2003 and 2007 Christmas stories on our blog at http://riversbooks-christmas-stories.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!!

The Christmas stories have been a tradition of the Howlin' Rivers Home since 2000. We freely e-mailed them to anyone who requested them. However, once the stories appeared in, or are scheduled to appear in our books, they are no longer free for the asking. As of right now, the 2003 and 2007 stories are not scheduled to appear in our next book, "Rivers Book 3, Unknown Trails". The 2004, 2005, and 2006 Christmas stories will be in Book 3.

Forever Home Wanted! We received an e-mail from our good friend Cissy, who works with a harness trained 8-year-old husky/female who is a very sweet dog. Jenna is he dogs name. According to Cissy, Jenna is a sweetheart and very playful. Jenna is living at Alaska TLC kennels. Here is the website to see her picture. Please visit and pass on the info so Jenna can find her forever home. http://www.adoptafriend.net/AKDogRescue/privateindiv.htm.

Our publisher, Publication Consultants sent us this by e-mail. "As many of you know, and participated in, we sent our troops books for Christmas. The books for Christmas was the idea of Mike Dillingham, author of the two Rivers books. Yesterday we received a nice letter and certificate from Troop Commander, Jeffery J. Jablonski. Although the letter was addressed to us, it's people like you who made it possible for us to send the books. We thank you for supporting our troops and helping us send them books for Christmas." Thank all of you who sent books to our troops.

We received e-mail from a fellow canine named Monte. Monte told us he was rescued from a shelter by a group called N.E.A.D.S., (National Education Assistant Dogs Service) and is now a service/companion dog for a lady named Janet who is hearing challenged. What a super story! But wait; here is the main thing that makes this story so cool. According to Monte, "Janet is no longer afraid to be alone in the house. I am there to help hear for her. She has gained a lot of confidence and freedom because of me.” What someone discarded at the shelter became another human’s lifeline! Just for you info, N.E.A.D.S. was the first group to initiate the Prison Pups Program and the Dogs for the Disabled American Veterans Program. Please visiting their web site at http://www.neads.org/index.shtml.

Mike and Mary met with Katie and her Mom at the Elmendorf Air Force Base Exchange the other day. They told Mike and Mary that Elizabeth (Liz) is hanging in there. She has her good days and then her bad days. So please keep your prayers and good wish flowing to Liz.

Well, the Iditarod starts on Saturday, March 1, 2008 and that means it is time for the annual Rivers' Howlin' Kennel open house. So mark your calendars for Friday February 29, 2008, 4 to 8 p.m. Please RSVP as soon as you can, but no later than Friday February 2008 so the lady dogs can make enough of their infamous "kennel cookies". Sky and Tundra are the social directors for this year’s open house even so they will e-mail you instructions for getting to our homestead upon receipt of your RSVP.

Hope your team wins the Super Bowl.

See ya,

Rivers

Rivers News 1/26/2008

Hi Gang, Rivers Here,

Want to know where Mike will be for a book signing, just click on http://www.booktour.com. Type in Rivers and change the box that reads Authors to Books and then click search. Pretty slick. How did you like the picture on Mike's bio? Well that is one that Donna Q. at Husky Productions in Willow took. You can see more of Donna's fine pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/djqhusky/

We received an e-mail from Elizabeth. She asked me to thank all of you for the prayers an good wishes you sent to her. her exact words were "I'm not able to respond to all of them, but thought maybe you could let everyone know how much it means to me and to my family to know how many people are praying and sending their well wishes our way." She told us that she works with a dog named Jeta in the 4H. Jeta is a 6 year old German Shepherd.

Barking of dogs. Check this site out http://www.vetdogs.org/We did not have a lot of time to visit the site, but from what Mike was telling me, the program provides guide dogs and service dogs to disabled veterans. I bet those guide and service dogs are happy to help those veterans! Let me ask you a question. If a blind human has a guide dog, does a blind dog have a guide human? If so, is Mike my guide human??

In our last newsletter, I barked to you about our friend Katie who made and gave me something called "scare-a-bear beads". Here is a pcitre of me wearing them. Teh picture was taken by Donna Q of Husky Productions

Last weekend is was very warm, then it turned very cold, then we received over a foot of snow and now the wind blew all the snow away. This has been one weird weather year. I heard some of the bears got up from their winter sleep because they though it was spring time because of the warm weather. Wow, I bet they got upset when the cold wind came. I know I am when I got to get up from my warm and cozy doghouse to answer natures calling when it is very cold and windy.
We heard form our buddy Bugle Girl (Nikky) she is in Texas now and had another medical challenge to deal with. But according to her mom, Nikky is doing OK.

Mike finished his last edit on Book 3 and it will go to the proof readers later this week. We are making progress!

Mike is considering putting our 2007 Christmas Story on our Blog. What do you think?
Well I have to go.

See ya!

Rivers

Rivers News 12-09-07

HI Gang, Rivers here,

Well, as you may know, I have become very good at sneaking into the house. I am also doing very well at finding my way around the furniture also. After finding the Christmas tree and sniffing the packages underneath the tree, Mike grabbed me. “Well now that I got you Rivers, it is time for some Christmas pictures to send to your friends,” Mike said.

So here you go, pictures of Mike and your truly.

In my last e-mail to you, I failed to give you the Celtic Women web site. Http://www.celticwoman.com/

You may find samples of their music with video on You Tube at

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v28is4jFWeo&NR=1

There are several members this fantastic group. Lakota told me the clips were very enjoyable. Mike has said that their Christmas Concert, on DVD, will be the after dinner feature this year. Oh, I had better explain that. Each year we show a Christmas movie for our guests, so this year, they get to see and hear this fabulous Christmas concert. Hmm, I wonder if I can sneak in the house when they do that. While I cannot see the show, I can hear the excellent music and great voices.

If you have seen the Husky Productions “Pretty Sled Dogs" DVD, you probably were intrigued by the music that accompanies it. Kyf Brewer composed and performed the music that accompanied Donna Q’s DVD. Well it turns out that he has 3 very talent young daughters who have released their very own CD called “Raining Hearts” which I guess is the name of the group. The music ranges from folk to ballads to some upbeat tunes. They have a cute web site at http://www.raininghearts.com/

One interesting song is called “Pretty Sled Dogs” If you viewed Donna DVD, “ Pretty Sled Dogs” then you will note the Kyf did the vocals, but on the CD the girls do the vocals. Very interesting and enjoyable.

You can find the DVD, “Pretty Sled Dogs” at www.huskyproductions.net. If you have dog lovers on your gift list, then this DVD maybe the gift you are looking for.

Our biggest fan in the North West sent us this link for a super rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Take a gander at http://www.greatdanepro.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm.


Time to go

Take care,

Rivers

Rivers News 9-23-07

Hi Gang, Rivers here,

Lakota told me that the leaves are falling. He described the colors as yellow with a hint of red. Stormy told me that the snow is creeping down the mountain sides. Yes, autumn is here and winter is coming. There is a chill in the air when Mike puts us out in the morning before he goes of to work. Isn’t turkey season starting soon? Umm, I can taste Mary’s turkey as I bark this to you.

A few nights ago, Mike decided to camp out with us in the garage. Apparently his granddaughter Caitlyn was doing a sleep over with Mary and Mike decided to let them have the bed to themselves. We all get to wrestle and cuddle with Mike when he does this. When we are done and ready to go to sleep, we go back to our travel crates and wait for Mike to settle in. When we hear him snore, the girls move into their “sleep with Mike” positions. I am told that Sky will wrap herself around Mike’s head, while Storm and Tundra pin him under the blanket. Eventually, Icy will move out of her crate to cuddle also. Lakota and I will hang back in our crates, keeping a watchful “eye” over them. Frankly, there is not enough Mike for all of us to curl up to at the same time.

I guess I woke Mike up because I heard him say “Rivey, are you sleep-walking?” I guess I stopped and turned my heard in the direction of his words. Okay, what am I doing out of my travel crate, I thought? Mike told me that I was prancing around the garage jumping in circles, just like I do in the yard when Mike plays with me. But this time, Mike was not playing with me. Was I actually doing this in my sleep? Mike got up and helped me back to my travel crate, where I promptly when back to sleep. Before I did I heard the girls chuckle a bit even though I did disturb their beauty sleep!

We did receive some bad news this weekly. Our good buddy Doctor Jim Gaarder, is leaving Alaska. As many of you know, Doctor Jim is an animal eye doctor (ophthalmologist) and made me pain free. Dr. Jim told Mike that he has some commitments and obligations outside Alaska that will prevent him from staying here. Dr. Jim told Mike about checking the sea lions and seals’ eyes at the Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska. Mike asked him how he could check their eyes out. Does Dr. Jim do it under water? Dr. Jim told Mike that the mammals are trained to hold still next to the tank enclosure so Dr. Jim can do his tests. I guess there is some difference in examining a 60 pound dog’s eye and a several hundred pound wild sea creature’s.

Interestingly, Dr. Jim’s new practice will be in Ardsley New York, only about 20 miles or so from where Mike grew up in New York City. Here is the web site of the new practice. www.vesny.com. If you click on the “Doctor’s Link” you will be taken to Dr. Jim’s bio. Icy read it to me. It is very impressive.

One of our Rivers Book 3 test readers dropped by the Howlin’ Rivers Home last week. Tatjana, with her Mom and 2 of her siblings, came by to pick up some of our books and to give us ear rubs. Mike was at work so Mary took me in the front yard and let Tatjana walk me around the front yard. It is always great to “see” our friends. Tatjana will be heading to Chicago for a few weeks soon. Among the other things she will be doing during her visit to Chicago, is a study on Chicago pizza bones. Her goal is to see if they are as good as the pizza bones we get from Mike and Mary’s favorite pizza place, Evangelo’s located close to where we live. I offered to help Tatjana in her pizza bone studies, but unfortunately it would be impossible for her to bring any Chicago pizza bones back to Alaska due to airline security.

We received a nice picture of SSG. B and his troops playing soccer in Iraq. He did not say much so we can assume he and his troops are doing fine. I am not sure when they are coming back to Alaska, but until I find out, please keep those cards and notes of gratitude, caring, and encouragement going their way.

Mike and Mary will be out and about selling our books and some other things they have added to our line of goodies. The sitting Husky and Husky change purses. Mary has added some wooden ornaments and some more Husky stuff dogs. Stormy keeps bugging Mary to take some photos so Stormy can put them on our blog for her. Sky told me that many of the Husky stuffed dogs look like here. I cannot verify that and Lakota just chuckled when I asked him.

Here is where Mike and Mary will be. In October and November so if you are in the area, please visit.

Saturday and Sunday, October 26 and 27, time 10 to 5, Raven Hall, State Fair Grounds
November 24, time 10 to 5, Colony High School, Palmer.
November 2, time 9 to 3, Anchorage’s Providence Hospital‘s Holiday Bazaar. Books only for sale at this event.

Gotta go.

Take care
Rivers