&games

June 1, is the traditional start of fire season in Alaska. No major forest fires yet, and there won't be until it warms up. Didn't have my camera handy, but it was snowing on and off all day Sunday. Snapped this picture at 3 a.m. at Coldfoot Manor, without the benefit of a flash I might add.










Drove a taxi yesterday. Found it quite profitable ferrying tourists and newly-arrived, army-wives to WalMart to buy parkas. Of course the locals were mostly wearing shorts and windbreakers.

Which brings me to another taxi story:

Picked up two guys at a bar at closing time last night. One guy was a local who I kind of know whom I shall call "Moe", the other guy was either new to town or just visiting, I shall call him "Larry".

Moe is gay, dresses the part, and makes no bones about it. Larry, who I had never seen before, was quite funny and was not gay to my untrained eye.

Anyway, as we were driving down the road the conversation went something like this.

"What was your name again?"

"Moe, and what was your name?"

"I'm Larry. Cab driver, what's your name?"

"I'm Brian."

"Nice to meet you, Brian. I'm Larry, this is Moe. We're going to his place."

Of course I already knew that. We were half way there.

Larry continued, "Nice town. I like it. Everyone seems to know everyone here."

"You got that right."

"You got any beer at your place?"

Moe said, "No. I don't have any beer," then, without missing a beat, "Brian, do we have any vodka left over from that party last night?"

To which I responded, "I don't think there's any booze left in the cupboard. There might be a bottle of Cuervo in the freezer."

Larry bought it hook, line and sinker.

Moe couldn't carry the charade, he broke out laughing, but it was still priceless.