Open Thread – Brian!
One never knows when Brian the moose will wander in to the yard, and subsequently in to the open thread. This morning, there was I, minding my business and deep in thought, enjoying my morning coffee on the deck, when what should catch my ear but the distinct “Mwwwph” of a bull moose. Sure enough, there was Brian looking ever so handsome, sporting a giant rack of still-fuzzy antlers, and enjoying a leisurely breakfast of rose bushes and fireweed.
He didn’t seem to mind my company and I snapped lots of pictures. Every once in a while the gentle clacking of my shutter was enough to make him pause mid-crunch, and perk his ears up. We got to hang out for almost half an hour and enjoyed a great photo shoot. Think of it like the Sarah Palin dock photos, only not revolting and inappropriate.
Soon his nice coating of velvet will start to shed, and rutting season will be here, but this is my favorite time of the year to moose watch. Everyone is healthy and happy and fat after the summer bounty; antlers are fully in and not yet peeling; and all are in a happy good mood. I have no doubt that Brian will find a lady friend this year. He really is quite a catch.
~The “I look like a giant plastic moose” pose
~The “I am an 1800 pound ungulate and I can eat in a more dainty way than Michele Bachmann” pose
~And what do you think of the Republican candidates so far?
I can’t imagine sitting outside, let alone seeing such a huge creature in my yard. 🙂
What a magnificent creature!
Brian doesn’t blush.so Slip will do it for him. Brian says thank you for the compliment.
Todd gets into it with woman that calls him a sellout..
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=95350
but nobody wants to see that dumb movie..even for free
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2011/aug/13/sunday-spin-palin-not-much-draw/
Biran looks well fed. Good to see he came through the winter in good shape.
I’m trying to keep myself from typing…aahhggg…I can’t help it…he’s in GREAT shape!
you girls are starting to scare me a little……. 🙂 i’m gonna blame it on the influence of the Bachmann picture…
Just for Mudpups viewing pleasure,I have located the Eighth Wonder of the World right here in NW by god Ioway. If you are deeply religious you will like this. If you like weird stuff,you will like this. If you are like me,you have never visited this place. It is called “The Grotto of the Redemption” in little West Bend,Iowa. http://www.westbendgrotto.com.You need to check this out. It only hurts a little bit.
[ http://www.westbendgrotto.com beth.]
Thanks,Beth. Have you seen this place?
OT- Is there a server problem? can’t seem to log in to forum to reply to Alaska Pi…
I don’t think so.
must have been local server- got on finally … 3 weeks and counting arrival in Juneau…. gonna be the slowest 3 weeks EVER !! 🙂
It’s pouring cats and dogs here – after a gorgeous, sunny day yesterday where we took our dogs own into the alpine meadows for some amazing views and lots of dog spas to swim in. It’s a crap shoot this time of year weather-wise – but we have tons of pics of the mountains to show if you can’t see them yourself!
no worries ! We get lots of rain here in the winter, wife already looking for rain pants… we’ll be ready for just about anything, including earthquakes.. but if that volcano goes off, we’re beating a hasty retreat !
awww, ben, you can’t wimp out just because of a little volcano . . .
This is Alaska.
I was only wary of volcanos when I lived near one – it was a self fulfilling prophecy that it went off when I lived in the area just because I feared it would. It’s amazing how much one’s paranoid mind has over the power of the forces of Nature!
We don’t have volcanos! We have mountains and glaciers and water
(and mudslides and avalanches and some stuff like that
see the chop gully pics… that was a big one, Thane goes like the pics every year
http://www.juneau.org/manager/documents/Juneau_urban_avalanche_photos_part2.pdf)
This is us in the fall 🙂 when you will be here
http://alaskaimagery.zenfolio.com/p788584265/h2bd71a39#h1b0e3fae
okay slip….I’ll bring the marshmellows, you bring the LONG stick !
Pi.. are we going spelunking at the glacier ??? Ice cave looks like fun !!
you are soooooo lucky, ben.
i visited the ladies in juneau last year in september and had one of the most memorable days of my life. give them a huge hug for me and ask alaska pi what her nickname from fawnskin is.
Your wish is my command !! It SHALL be done !
Benlomond i was just on the forum reading and saw your post about your upcoming trip but my dear you put the wrong date. it says you will be arriving in ‘June’.
i am sure you meant September. yes?
yup Sept…
A teacher I work with called me the other day and told me that she and her hubby are planning a trip to AK the year after next for their 25th anniversary. Since I’ve been there several times, she wants me to give her the lowdown on where to go and what to do. I will certainly enjoy sharing my information and pictures with her, but then it will make me feel bad that I’m not going myself. 🙁
Hmmm…depending on how much the new siding on my house costs me this year, maybe a trip next year might be a possibility…
Of course, if you should feel the need for someone to carry all your luggage, I have my purple moose umbrella (no, I’m not kidding!) and my rain slicker all ready!
Gosh, benlomond, you’re going up there? How cool is that? Have a great time!
Irish Girl- @15—Is there a difference????
🙂
I just listened to Bachmann about teh gays and then Palin about teh taxes……
The American media may think this is very funny, but these are the images being shown around the world.
Marcus Bachmann is an obviously gay man ( I have no problem with that, but the hypocrisy of the Bachmanns is astounding).
The idiot Palin wants to slash taxes, whilst stages are falling and killing American citizens because there is no regulation on anything.
@Lacy Lady……They are both bat-sh*t crazy.
Oh. Dear. Lawd.
“Tapper then asked her what she would do for the current economy, as president, and her answer was reminiscent of her response to Katie Couric’s “What do you read?” gotcha question. “I’d, uh, eliminate the uncertainty in the economy, and let our job creators know that…number one, we will cut taxes, we’ll cut corporate taxes, we’ll cut, uh…um…every tax that Congress would allow…”
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sarah-palin-makes-jake-tapper-wait-for-heifer-meeting-to-ask-questions/
Palin, not Bachmann.
“uh…um…uh….DOH!” As Homer Simpson would say.
She has no freakin’ idea what to do and neither does Bachmann. Just keep spouting the party line and calling MY money, that I have paid into the system for MY ENTIRE working life an “entitlement”. Then make it impossible for health care providers to afford to provide care for Medicare beneficiaries and kill Medicare through the back door. All in the name of no new taxes. How about not paying contractors more than we pay our military to wage wars that we don’t need to be in? How about closing tax loopholes on the big corporations (I actually had a client tell me that I should incorporate my small business for the sole purpose of getting out of paying any taxes and how that would allow me to move my money around to get out of every single tax I pay the other day). How about stuffing some of that fried food on a stick down your pie holes so far that you can no longer speak to issues that you do not understand?
Stomp her Brian! Go for it!
No argument from me!
Hello LMD, and sorry for your troubles as of late. However, I was cheered by the mention again of the book you are writing and hoping that project is going well! Maybe we’ll meet next spring – I was in your neck of the woods in July but the trip was nuts and I was only able to wave wildly from nearby. I still giggle when I think of the big road sign on Bridge Access Rd (I think) that said “Warning Closure for Low Tires!” right before the river.
I’m like…”Damm, how do they know I have low tires? I just picked up this car in Anchorage and forgot to check, damm! How could they close the road and not let me through?”
Then I hit the river, with the sockeye dip net opening going on in full force, and I had the aha moment of feeling like a dummy. It was Low Tides, not Low Tires. I wasn’t really tired, or focused heavily on my “new” car and how it was driving, or anything like that.
Nothing like a lot of very specific idea on how to get this economy going.
She can’t even manage her own finances without being brought up on ethics charges…can’t imagine what she’d do to the national economy!
You know – this could come back to bite me – but Brian looks DAMM good! I mean, like fighting shape, like really moose hot! I love those big antlers just before the velvet drops off – which could start any day now. They look strong and hug-gable fuzzy all at the same time, like a Dr. Seuss character.
yep. Martha UYS. if i was a young moose lady i would be nibbling on them antlers and murmuring MMMMPH in his ears. LOL.
You and I are going to get butted soon if we keep this up…even if those girl moose are far away I’m sure there is a antlervine going…how do we positively know that moose don’t read blogs? They are always looking into house windows – I think that’s why!
They mutter MMMPH? Cool. Another sound. The one I saw behind the Synagogue was all HAWRKPHing. She was trying like the dickens to get to the playground I think.
lovely Brian pics. he is a handsome young moose is our Brian.
I saw LoveMyDogs here the other day and wanted to tell LMD that I’m so sorry that times have been rough lately. I’m pretty sure if LMD were feeling better she would be excited to share the news of our favorite racing team’s decision to join both the Yukon Quest and Iditarod for 2012 – I sure am!
Rogues Gallery Kennel in Kasilof, AK (toward the end of the Kenai Peninsula) rescues dogs and takes in misfits. Due to the extraordinary vision of owners Joseph and Colleen Robertia, they are a viable racing kennel. You probably have no idea how they actually do that, if you are like me. I have worked some with dogs, and it’s some of the most physical and emotional work on the planet. It’s also very expensive. I love these guys!
They’ve decided that this upcoming year is the one – the last in awhile w/o new athletes and more funds that they might actually pull it together to do these two grueling and famous races literally back to back. Go read, comment if you can!
For many who don’t understand dog racing, reading the RGK blog will open your eyes in ways you never thought possible. That is, if you are a dog lover. Folks who don’t love dogs will never understand the sport fully – it’s all about the dogs!
“Doubling Down” http://rogueskennel.com/blog/?p=975
Michelle B wins the Iowa straw poll. Why not? with her 40 buses that took people to Ames to vote.
Oh-and lets not forget the free food, in AC tent with free intertainment. Of course—what would one expect from a fiscal conservative?????? Paulenty spent a mear $1 Million and is pulling out.
(waves at Brian!!) Great pics!! Glad to see Brian is looking happy and healthy!
http://www.adn.com/2011/08/13/2013876/slope-exploration-season-looks.html
Aside from the obvious bias of the writer, this raises a bazillion questions about Alaska’s oil , again…
No doubt about it: Brian is one handsome lad. 🙂
Brian is certainly a handsome fella this year! He’s always good for a tongue pic, too!
We love you Brian.
ps, thanks for posing like my figurine 😉 A modeling career?
What a beautiful moose. Brian, you are a prince. I do hope you find a beautiful princess. I sent a picture of my Brian looking at your plastic moose pose to AKM. How many more will she receive?
Beautiful day here! A gift! It is NOT hothothot. It is NOT huuuuuuumid. And, Himself and I have been married 39 years today!
So, what are we doing to celebrate? Sanding down old furniture we hauled down from the attic and then painting it to go in the Grandgirlies’ room. They are older now, going into 5th and 3rd grades, and need a change. Have a lovely day, and if you are finding yourself with nothing to do, come over and sand.
Congratulations for 39 yrs and counting !! Takes a lot of fortitude to work together as a team for that long…… AND to keep the fires burning !
Congratulations to the two of you! 🙂 May you have many many more happy years together!
My guy and I are about to celebrate #38 come Thursday. 🙂
And so glad the weather’s beautiful for you anniversary sanding/painting party!
Congratulations to you two! I’m glad that even though you are working you will get a chance to enjoy some reasonable weather for your special day.
We will be celebrating our 38th two days before Christmas. The most we ever do is go to lunch as it tends to be a bit busy around our house that close to Christmas.
Congrats to you and Himself- quite a milestone! Mr. CO and I celebrated 40 in May; since he is contemplating retirement, the only way we’ll make it to 41 is if he plays golf every day, or we buy a duplex- my side will be the clean, peaceful one 😉
Good luck finding a cutie, Brian- what a fine-looking fellow…
Ah, yes, I understand your dilemma. Hubby is retiring at the end of this year and we have at least had the talk that he can’t stay home all the time (he would go nuts and take me there with him). He will have to find some sort of activity that doesn’t involve his trying to completely rearrange my schedule.
There are many things we enjoy doing with each other, but constant togetherness is not one of them. I hadn’t thought about the side-by-side duplex. We may have to look into that at some point.
interesting…. my better half has the same thoughts….. was out of work for 5 months at the start of the recession, and she kept saying I was disrupting her routine at home..( and they say MEN are the predictible ones ! ) I keep telling her SHE can go get a 9-5 job when I retire and I’ll stay home as Mr. Mom… but she’s not having any of that !! oh well, maybe I can get a part time job as a Marshall at the local golf course, and then play for free !
Congratulations to you both, Jimzmum and Himself! That you are working as a team on a project for those you love says much about why your marriage has lasted 39 years.
May you both have many more happy, healthy, and productive years ahead together.
Happy Anniversary Jimzmum. kisses for you and hugs for hubby.
Mudpuppy hubbies are the bestest hubbies in the world.
Congrats! We celebrated our 35th a couple of weeks ago. Togetherness is all in how you look at it. We both lost our jobs, due to a republican boss with dubious ethics, at the beginning of the recession and had to move. What we could afford was a largish studio apartment. We lived in it for ten months. As one of us is a night owl, staying up to 12 and the other a morning person, arising at 3 or 4, this made for some fun. Fortunately, we had a common room on the grounds, which got a lot of use. And for 2 of those months I was sick and he was taking care of the apartment, the cooking, shopping, and me. We learned how to spend a LOT of time together.
Mr. Dozen is a prince among men. And I learned not to bark–at least too much–when he disrupts my routine.
Congrats to you, and wishes for many more happy anniversaries!
Togetherness…..yes… too much of it can be a bit tense. But fortunately, both of us seem to require a lot of alone time, so we’ve learned to respect each other’s needs in that regard.
congratulations! that is an accomplishment.
Happy anniversary, and many more years of wedded bliss. Blessings.
Happy Anniversary and many more blissful years together!
Not a single one of you showed up to sand? Humph.
Thank you all for the lovely wishes. That means a lot. We can’t believe we’ve been married 39 years. Sheesh!
The lad looks seriously swayback in photo one. He must be carrying the weight of America’s future on those long spindly legs.
Mike, I don’t think he is swayback. Moose have a sort of hump behind their heads and if you look at the photo, there is a tree branch that hides the middle part of Brian’s back.
Thanks for the correction ladies. It looked almost like Brtan was a cross between a grizzly with the shoulder hump thingie and a Kardashian female with the serious cabooses.
You know we’re gonna defend him against any and all doubts of his amazing he-moose-ness!
You had me worried about him with that swayback comment, mike from iowa — I went back to check out the photo in question and I see all is well…it’s an optical illusion created by a much-leafed branch being between the camera lens and that portion of his anatomy.
Whew!, what a relief — few things are more obnoxious than an out-of-alignment back! I’ve no doubt he’s also too “carrying the weight of America’s future on those long spindly legs”, though, but I’ve every confidence those legs are more than up to the task. He’s BRIAN, after all. beth.
Brian is beautiful. And I, for one, am willing to give his the vote. He’s far brighter than many of our co-citizens.
“Despite her persistence as a hypothetical presidential contender in polls, could it be that Sarah Palin’s moment is up? Has she (finally) exploited “McCain’s Folly” to the greatest extent possible?
Palin might still have a “fire in my belly,” as she recently told Fox’s Greta Van Susteren, but does America still have an appetite for Palin’s brand of politicking? Her months-long tease about whether she’ll run for president may be a savvy move if you’re selling books and cutting TV deals, but it’s not much in the way of leadership.
Eventually, when a tease goes on too long, fascination morphs into boredom. Or anger. The authenticity that Palin displayed in her early days as mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska has lost is luster from overexposure. Authenticity becomes inauthentic once it is commodified and packaged as a marketing strategy.”
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110814/OPINION/108140332/Now-not-time-Palin
that’s why virgins don’t last… at some point in time, it’s “Put up or Shut up”…those who don’t, become Old Maids…..
I’d be willing to bet that she won’t get the point that she shouldn’t run even though no one wrote in her name. She will just attribute her lack of votes to the fact that she hadn’t declared yet. After all, Rick Perry had announced already even though he oficially did it else where on Saturday morning. If she really wants to run, she will, no matter what the polls and everyone else is screaming at her.
She hasn’t got enough cash together. She’s made no effort to put a campaign team together. She’s made no attempt to outline what her policies would be. (Difficult, when you can’t put a sentence together that has a verb in it) Most importantly she doesn’t have the guts. She’d be torn to shreds, and for the first time would have to face real scrutiny and answer questions about the content of three very unflattering books. I really don’t see her dealing with that, I think she’d collapse like a pack of cards; and I can’t see her spending what money she has on a campaign she must know is doomed to fail. Her hold on reality may be almost non existent but even she must realize that over 60% of the electorate loathing you isn’t exactly a good look.
Good morning all. I’m off to work. Our store manager’s last day was yesterday. We are very short handed which will lead to over time. I might not be able to check in as regularly. Have a good.day all.
Oh, it’s always so nice to see Brian. And he is so much nicer to look at when he is eating than the photos of Bachmann that just sullied my computer screen. Thank you, AKM. I can now get a peaceful night’s sleep.
You take such fantastic photos, but I think my favorites are the ones you take of Brian in your yard. I have squirrels and hummingbirds but none of them are so cooperative when I get my camera out. Brian must know that we all want to see how he is doing. 😉