i currently lilve in anchorage, alaska's largest city. one would think that lot's of people, their cars, dogs, tvs, and all the other types of noice polution that goes along with large clusters of humanity would cut down on the day to day encounters with wildlife.
no. not so much.
when i lived in portland i'd get drunk at a bar listening to my friends play music, and then i'd walk home. across the river, and 30 some blocks from down town. they thought i was nuts. i think they were worried about me getting attacked or something. by what, another person? people are easy. in the dark there are those who want to be left alone, and those who want to... well, they need to say something, or take something. the second type is totally out numbered by the first type. at least in south east portland. i never had an encounter that a smile, and a smart ass comment didn't take care of.
ya know what's unpredictable, and no fun to walk the streets with? moose.
most of the time moose are like the majority of people out there. they don't care. they don't fuck with anyone who has not invaded there personal space. unless, like me, you are walking a 1 year old labweiler dog who barks at them. then anything goes. i've seen them totally ignore us, i've been charged, i've seem them run like we were going to eat them, and i've watched them watch us like we might try to take their lunch money.
either way the day to day reality of seeing 800lb animals, with pointy hooves, that can, and wouldn't mind stomping a nice guy like me to death, is interesting. no body in portland weighs that much.
so, in about 5 hours, my dog Hunter(named after Dr. Thompson) will want to go for a walk, and for sure, we will one of the 5 or 6 neighborhood moose. it will be dark, cold, and exciting. it's better than coffee.
it's the little differences that makes Alaska more fun.
p.s.
i'm wearing a santa hat.
no. not so much.
when i lived in portland i'd get drunk at a bar listening to my friends play music, and then i'd walk home. across the river, and 30 some blocks from down town. they thought i was nuts. i think they were worried about me getting attacked or something. by what, another person? people are easy. in the dark there are those who want to be left alone, and those who want to... well, they need to say something, or take something. the second type is totally out numbered by the first type. at least in south east portland. i never had an encounter that a smile, and a smart ass comment didn't take care of.
ya know what's unpredictable, and no fun to walk the streets with? moose.
most of the time moose are like the majority of people out there. they don't care. they don't fuck with anyone who has not invaded there personal space. unless, like me, you are walking a 1 year old labweiler dog who barks at them. then anything goes. i've seen them totally ignore us, i've been charged, i've seem them run like we were going to eat them, and i've watched them watch us like we might try to take their lunch money.
either way the day to day reality of seeing 800lb animals, with pointy hooves, that can, and wouldn't mind stomping a nice guy like me to death, is interesting. no body in portland weighs that much.
so, in about 5 hours, my dog Hunter(named after Dr. Thompson) will want to go for a walk, and for sure, we will one of the 5 or 6 neighborhood moose. it will be dark, cold, and exciting. it's better than coffee.
it's the little differences that makes Alaska more fun.
p.s.
i'm wearing a santa hat.