Aaron Burmeister- Future Iditarod First Place Champion

photo from www.iditarod.com

I remember as a teenager in high school hearing about a freshman, Aaron Burmeister running and completing the Junior Iditarod.  It was a big deal in our school, and even in our town, for someone from Nome to run the Junior Iditarod.

I remember thinking... someday that kid is going to win the Iditarod. 

When that day comes it will be a marvelous event and I will be there at the finish line welcoming him home.

When Aaron was a young boy his father ran the Iditarod.  He and his sibings would cross the finish line in his fathers sled.  This must of have influenced him to continue the family line of Iditarod racers.

1982 Richard Burmeister coming into Nome for his Iditarod finish with his kids.  Kirsten in the front, Rachel sitting right behind her, Noah toward the back, and Aaron in the back standing.  Photo courtesy of the Burmeister family.

Since then Aaron married beautiful Mandy Michels, also a Nomite, and they have a son, Hunter, and daughter, Kiana, (future Iditarod mushers).  Aaron and his dogs have been in multiple Iditarod races and last year, 2012, he took 4th place.  This town cheered for him with excitement as he and his team crossed the finish line.  For many years Aaron has been the only musher from Nome to race in the Iditarod.

Photo courtesy of GraceWorks PhotoArt by Melody Lee Gleichman.

Flash forward to 2013. Aaron is racing with bib #24.  Come home to Nome first Aaron!  We are rooting for you.

Photo courtesy of GraceWorks PhotoArt by Melody Lee Gleichman.  Photo at Ceremonial start in Anchorage, Alaska 2013

2013 Iditarod route - Via http://iditarod.com/about/the-iditarod-trail/

UPDATE!  March 10, 2013 at 7:00am AST.

Aaron is in first place on his way to Unalakleet!

UPDATE!  March 13, 2013 at 5:19am AST.

Aaron arrives in Nome in 11th place!

I'm not exactly sure what happened between Unalakleet and Nome but his team definitely slowed down.  I think the dogs were tired and lost momentum.  Still glad that Aaron finish though.  He may not have gotten first place this year but he will some day.  

 Aaron coming down front street in front of post office.

Photo snap shot through Iditarod live streaming by Jane Hunter.

 Aaron coming into the chute under the burled arch.

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 Aaron being greeted by his wife Mandy

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 The family under the arch. 

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 

 

 

Photo by Brianne (Dana) Wassmann

 Photo of Aaron, his dad Richard, and son Hunter.  Possibly 3 generations of mushers ;-)

2013 KTUU interview on Aaron Burmeister:
http://www.ktuu.com/videogallery/74603475/Sports/2013-Iditarod-Preview--Aaron-Burmeister#pl-74603330  
For more information on the Iditarod and current race standings go to: http://iditarod.com

Norton Sound Health Corporation Grand Opening

On November 13, 2012 Norton Sound Health Corporation held their grand opening ceremonies for the new hospital.  I work of NSHC and this was a pretty big deal for our little town of Nome, Alaska. A lot of employees volunteered to work extra hours and on holidays to help set up and organize the events.  Here of some of the photos I took...

 This is me in front of the main entrance

 Main hospital and Quyanna Care Center to the right (Elderly care)

 I assisted in making over 60 centerpieces

 Artwork in main entrance

 Beautiful Native Artwork

 Painting by James Adcox near Cafeteria

 

Hospital Kitchen

 Native artwork

 first floor hallway near Outpatient care with a reindeer wall on the left, beautiful view of the Bering sea and Nome  through windows.

Reindeer wall

 Employees assisting with decorations

 More artwork

 Employee Celebration opening exercises

Second Floor west wing which includes Dental, Audiology, Eye Care, Physical Therapy, and Lab.

 2nd Floor Acute care

Nurse's Station and patient room

Maternity Room

 The Dental Suite.

 On first floor looking down onto ground floor.

 Employee work out facility

 3rd Floor Conference Room

 View from 3rd Floor window

 3rd Floor where Administration, Materials Management, Information Systems, Village Health, Human Resources, Finance, and Health Information Management are located

 

 My mom (who also works for NSHC) giving my daughter a hug.

as of mid January some departments have moved to the new hospital though most departments that work directly with patient care won't move over till sometime in March 2013.

If you would like more information on our organization or employment at Norton Sound Regional Hospital go to www.nortonsoundhealth.org

I love old stuff...

I came home from work late (6:00pm). After getting a quick bite my husband asked if I wanted to go to a garage sale.  I said "sure", just so I could keep an eye on him and make sure he didn't buy something stupid.  I thought to myself, who has a garage sale on a Thursday night?  Oh well, it's Nome.  

We were the only ones parked in their drive way and I thought for sure my husband had the wrong day... but then I saw the signs that said "Garage Sale" and arrows pointing to the direction of a garage.  We walked in and instantly my husband wanted to check out the snowmachine for sale (yes, it's called a snowmachine NOT a snowmobile).  

The lady of house and I chatted about my smoked salmon You Tube videos and canning fish and caribou.  She was so nice that I felt like I had to buy something... but there was nothing there that I wanted.  Some holiday crafts, clothing, and outdoor gear that I didn't need.  I sorta walked away to look outside a couple of times, but kept coming back because I felt like I needed to find something since the lady was so nice.  I picked up a cheesy Halloween craft and saw underneath it an old wooden Baxter Packing Co. crate that use to hold cherries.  For sure she wasn't going to sell this antique it was just there to hold crafts but then I saw a price sticker for $10. SOLD.  Then next to it was the Pepsi crate $10 SOLD, the Santa crate $8 SOLD.  I told her I wanted them.  Just when we were about to leave I saw the Canada Dry crate $15.00 SOLD and made sure that I wasn't missing any others.  I bought them all for $48.00.

I just like old stuff... can't explain it I feel connected to my ancestors when I own an antique.  I also found out that these crates are worth almost twice as much on eBay... makes me like them better, and I'm not selling them.

Oh and the snowmachine... my husband bought it for $200 and it runs.  BUT WHO CARES!  I'VE GOT ANTIQUE WOODEN CRATES! 

I made a cookbook with my sister... if you like Nome, Alaska you may also like this cookbook.

 

You can order the Nomemade Cookbook for only 17.99 if you order now using this website by clicking the "Add to Cart" button below which will lead you directly to PayPal. 

Sorry we are completely SOLD OUT

I love my Nome...

On July 7, 2012 in Nome, Alaska the sun rise was at 4:47am and and the sun set the next day at 1:24am. The sun woke me up at 5:30am and I went out side to take pictures...

 

 A view of the port of Nome from Anvil Mountain.

 The Kigluaik mountains.

 The White Alice's on Anvil mountain.  Used during WWII for communication purposes just incase the Russian's or Japanese attacked us (they didn't)

 Beautiul sun rise

 wild Musk ox on the side of the road

 My son Reese wanted to go on a 4-wheeler ride... we found a trail and followed it.

 Running away from the mosquitos

 An old power pole laying in the tundra with Ceramic insulators.  I wonder how old they are?

 Our goofy kids enjoying the sun

It was a great day and the temp got up to 69 degrees, bought the kids some ice cream, met up with some mining friends at the beach who made made us some awesome tacos for dinner at 9:30pm, told stories, laughed, and was serenaded by two talented guitar singing players Dillon Finn and Ian Foster.  Went home and to bed at 12:00am  and woke at 5:45am by the sun the start of another beautiful day in Nome, Alaska.  I think I'm gonna go fishin'...