My Name is Zuma

Hello Boys and Girls,

Iditarod starts on March 5^th and the excitement is growing!

Today, I stopped by the Millennium Hotel.  The beautiful hotel becomes race headquarters about this time every year.  It was so exciting to see the hustle and the bustle, I just sat back and watched as the wonderful staff of the hotel, greeted hotel guests and visited with Iditarod volunteers as they began to set up race Headquarters!

Millennium Race Headquarters is a busy place!  It was fun to walk around the hotel and visit with friends!

The Iditarod store is open for business and race fans are starting to buy books, clothing, maps, posters, stuffed husky toys, buttons, and other souvenirs.  I looked for a hat that has holes on the top so my ears could stick out, but I just couldn’t find one!  What’s wrong with humans that they want a hat to keep their head warm?  Don’t they know that sound is muffled when you totally cover your head and your ears? I want a hat that has holes for my ears to stick out so my keen reporter’s ear can pick up every sound of the exciting race!

I also noticed that the Iditarod Volunteer desk was open and busy, too.  That’s the first stop for race volunteers.  They stop at the desk and fill out their form so they are ready to help out before, during, or after the race.  They also get their special volunteer hat and a badge!

I walked down the halls of the hotel and thought that soon, these halls will be filled with volunteers, race fans, and mushers!

As I left the hotel, I saw a moose running down the street.  Maybe the moose is looking for the perfect place to visit every day during the race so the race fans can be sure to get some great pictures of a moose!  I heard an airplane over heard and wondered, how many volunteers from all around the world would be helping out at this year’s race.  I just can’t wait to meet them—   and I’ll be sure to tell them where I last saw that moose hanging out!

Hey! What was I thinking?  I’d better get back to the Millennium today and sign my volunteer form!  I totally forgot to do that!  After all, as chief reporter for the race, I need my identification badge— and maybe they DO have a special volunteer hat with holes for my ears to stick out!  I can’t wait to find out about my hat!

Lots of Tail Wags,

Zuma