Your Morning Moose – Brian Returns!
4 02 2009It’s been a while since I’ve seen Brian the Moose. This weekend he paid quite a visit, and I learned several things about him that I did not know before now.
#1) Brian does not like coffee.
As is his wont, Brian made a trip to my compost pile, hoping, no doubt, for a frozen apple core or two, or some nice leavings from my juicer. Instead, he found my most recent addition to the pile, a giant mound of coffee grounds. I watched, with wide eyes, imagining what would happen if Brian discovered he liked coffee and consumed 10 or 15 filters full of the black stuff. I was beginning to form a mental picture of Brian jacked up on espresso and what havoc might ensue, when I realized that after sniffing curiously for a minute, he decided against it. This was fortunate for my car, my windows, and the dented swing set which had already been the victim of Brian’s hijinks on another occasion.
Brian contemplates coffee.
#2) Brain knows yoga.
I refer specifically to the “downward facing dog pose” or in this case, modified to be the “downward facing moose” also known as “salutation to the snow”. If you’re a human, don’t try this at home. Your elbows are not meant to work that way.
Brian does yoga.
#3) Brian is intrigued by window washing.
Every time Brian shows up and I try to shoot a picture through the window, I realize to my dismay how many smudges there are on the glass. Most of them seem to be at dog nose height for some reason. So, while Brian was entertaining us with his yoga demonstration, I quickly grabbed the Windex and began cleaning. The second Brian caught a glimpse of me wiping the window, he swung his big head around, got up, and trotted very quickly right up to the window and stopped with his giant nose about an inch and a half from the glass. I actually fell over backward from a squatting position, and sat there agog as Brian stared at me from less than a foot away. Wow. He has very long eyelashes.
Brian hearts clean windows.
After he lost interest and went back to snuffling through the snow, looking for frozen treats, and nibbling a bit of grass, I started cleaning the window again. Same thing. Whipped around, marched right up to the glass and stared. Very weird! Remind me never to vacuum in the presence of a 1500 pound ungulate. Not worth the risk.
Got Windex?
As I said, it’s been a while since Brian paid a visit, but this was definitely worth the wait. I can’t ever remember quite such an entertaining time with a moose. And before he left for parts unknown, I did manage to snap a shot of him looking all majestic and un-goofy. This is the one he’d put on his e-harmony page.
Majestic Brian at Sunset...
Name: Brian
Age: 4
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Best feature: Long lashes
Occupation: Forager
Hobbies: Yoga, stealing playground equipment, chasing dogs, making nuggets
Favorite food: Apple cores, juice pulp, fresh broccoli
Dislikes: Coffee, Sarah Palin, bears
Loves: Clean windows, warm summer days, bark, camping out, anonymous bloggers with compost piles.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Thanks for the wonderful pictures of Brian and the oh-so-funny recap of your encounter with Brian!
February 4th, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I just love the Brian updates. I first heard about Brian when I found The Mudflats and he’d made off with your swing set. You should have a separate Blog just or Brian and his antics. Wonderful!
February 4th, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Next time you see him, stand outside and wave like you’re cleaning the window. See what happens.
)
February 4th, 2009 at 11:34 AM
I am dying with laughter – that hurts!
February 4th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
What an absolutely beautiful animal! Thank you so much for sharing. My husband was in Alaska in 2000, his band played the Valdez Civic Center for New Year’s Eve 2000. I couldn’t get away to go with him, but he still raves about the beauty of your state, especially a frozen waterfall a local took him to see.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:34 PM
I am SO jealous! I love moose and have collected them for many, many years. I only have seen moose at a wildlife park (though it was an open area one..not cages like a zoo).
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful pics of Brian!
February 4th, 2009 at 2:51 PM
My guess is Brian walked up to your window because somebody has been feeding him out a window…..I’ve seen it happen in Anchorage. (bad humans!)
February 4th, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Great pics thank you so much for taking the time to show us Brian, he is very handsome.
Also can someone tell me how to find the other story the original one with the swing set, thanks ahead of time,
February 4th, 2009 at 3:48 PM
@Tewise..
go here:
http://www.themudflats.net/2008/09/29/bedtime-in-alaska-open-thread-brian-returns/
February 4th, 2009 at 4:16 PM
this was great:
I did manage to snap a shot of him looking all majestic and un-goofy. This is the one he’d put on his e-harmony page.
LOL!
February 4th, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Hiya Brian!
You would have loved my moose friend “Sweety” who came to my AK house one winter in 1999 and stayed awhile. She liked to lay by my warm dryer vent.
February 4th, 2009 at 5:31 PM
I’d put money on it being the high pitched noises from the window cleaning that made him go .. huh!? Whats that noise?!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Brian mugs (BIG mugs), t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies. . .tote bags – Oh yeah! Sign me up for one of each!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:35 PM
Sorry, everyone, looks like suppertime to me.
February 4th, 2009 at 6:41 PM
AKM,
I think you have a great set of photos to chose from and use on your very own personalized official postage stamps!
Head over to http://www.stamps.com and get 20 stamps for around $18 bucks (that’s what I paid to have my leetle furry lady enshrined on my holiday season stamps).
I would especially recommend the first of the clean windows photos…
February 4th, 2009 at 6:48 PM
Forgot to add…
You can always use the snowy nosed Brian pix for a series of “Brian sez” whenever SWWNBN’d pulls a numb knuckling no-no…
February 4th, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Love the Downward Dog, or was that Downward Moose?
February 4th, 2009 at 7:05 PM
I heart Brian.
I love his snowy muzzle face. And his yoga poses.
I hope he stays safe and hides from the governor’s helicopters. If he becomes mooseburgers…I don’t want to know.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:49 PM
I agree w/CO almost native — Put Brian’s pix on a mudflats t-shirt or sweatshirt. I’d buy one in a minute. Any moose with that good of a sense of humor should definitely have his 15 minutes (or more) of fame. A MUCH better ambassador for AK than that mindless moron who masquerades as its governor.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Ann Strongheart said: “AS FAR AS LOCAL REACTION TO SP’S LACK OF REACTION, I CAN’T ANSWER THAT. I AVOID THE POLITICS INVOLVED”, I am more concerned with getting families fed right now. This just really ticks me off. I say that you should involve the politics and understand that SP has done absolutely nothing to help your village. You need to let the people know as you pass out the food that she has done not one thing to help you out. You need to pay attention to legistlators as to what they are talking about and what type of solutions they are coming up with for your village. Don’t just take what they come up with, be a voice, help them come up with a solution, this is of utmost importance. They can’t help you in the areas that need the most attention if you do not become involved. You need to let them know that when voting time comes around, Sarah does not have your best interest at heart, that you need to vote her out. Pay attention to your poloticians and see who will help the villages the most and vote for them. You need to understand these things (LOL) to grow your village.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Does Brian think you won’t recognize him if he wears a fake nose mask?
February 4th, 2009 at 9:08 PM
Brian is jsut to cute
AKM..thank you for the weather thingy. When I am here thinking that I am cold at 40 I just think about -2.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:55 AM
I agree with everyone else. Brian is just such a character, he always boosts the spirits. AKM, I sure hope you’re collecting/saving Brenda & Brian stories/pictures in some safe place to upload and print out a book someday. You write so well with just the right touch of humor. That book would SELL bigtime, not only for Brian’s Fan Club, the tourists would be falling all over themselves to buy for their Grandkids.
In the meantime, I would settle for buying an I-Heart-Brian sweatshirt and a coffee mug (or a few). These pictures are too comical!
February 5th, 2009 at 3:06 AM
Also, I think Brian’s book should incorporate caligrl’s comment in the book. caligrl, THAT was fascinating (I so loved the book & movie “Clan of the Cave Bear”)!
crystalwolf a.k.a. caligrlNo Gravatar (09:22:48) :
… I wonder if Moose is your “totem” animal??
Wow, I picked up the book and flipped right to the page! Yeah!
Medicine cards: Moose
“the bellow of a male moose can be viewed as a positive force,since it represents his feelings to “tell the world”
Moose medicine people have the ability to know when to use the gentleness of the deer and when to activate the stampede of Buffalo. They understand the balance between giving orders to get things done and having a willingness to do things themselves.
Moose medicine is often found in elders who have walked the Good Red Road and have seen many things in their Earth walk. Their joy lies in being teachers and giving encouragement, this is not to say that moose medicine people do not use their medicine to warn as well as give praise, because they do, Moose medicine people know what to say, when to say and to whom.
There is much more, but I would say, Moose is your Totem animal AKM! Often times you will have a magical experience with a totem animal. I would say your above experience with Brian qualifies as such!
February 5th, 2009 at 7:21 AM
Thanks for another Brian story……..keep them coming.
The last time I was that entertained by a moose was as a kid watching Rocky & Bullwinkle Show.
February 5th, 2009 at 7:57 AM
My daughter’s favorite animal is a Moose. I’m sending this post to her myspace page right away. Thanks for the Brian update!
February 5th, 2009 at 8:52 AM
I make several “visits” to Mudflats every day from Baltimore; I enjoy the writing and the comments. Reading about Brian warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud, especially the bit about his e-Harmony photo. Thank you for lifting my spirits (in light of my spouse’s recent layoff).
February 5th, 2009 at 9:38 AM
Kath the Scrappy from SeattleNo Gravatar (03:06:55) :
Also, I think Brian’s book should incorporate caligrl’s comment in the book. caligrl, THAT was fascinating (I so loved the book & movie “Clan of the Cave Bear”)!
The moose reading is from “medicine cards” book and cards by Jamie sams & david carson.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kath, I will have to check out that movie and book
Whenever I see a animal….. I look and see what “it means”
I would also like to express my condolences on your loss….
February 5th, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Hi Brian! Two of your cousins were in my front yard munching on the willow bushes I’ve got planted there for that purpose!
Hint to AK gardeners about our wonderful Meece – I get my garden going (don’t have a fenced area for it) – then plant kale and cabbage around the perimeter. Our hungry Brians and his relatives generally don’t make it past the “fence” of moose-goodies!
LOVE the moosga (moose+yoga). Let me ask, though – are you sure he’s not at a prayer meeting?
February 5th, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Love the Brian Pictures!
February 5th, 2009 at 10:54 AM
@northofdenaliNo What an excellent idea preserving your garden but giving Brian’s friends a tasty healthy snack. Love it!!!!
AKM as so many have stated we need Brian’s snow covered mug on ya know a MUG. Large economy size so we can fill it up and sit and read the mudpuppy news in the morning. Who couldn’t have a good day looking a that sweet face so early in the morning.
February 5th, 2009 at 12:31 PM
sorry, lol cat has runied animal photos for me…so i had to do this…hope brian doesn’t hate me too much…
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3494/3256667858_cc9a22e0b4_o.jpg
g
February 5th, 2009 at 1:47 PM
omg, Brian is SO CUTE!!!! Thank you for this great piece. ALL HAIL BRIAN!!!!
February 5th, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Thanks for the warm thoughts caligrl! Be sure to check it out, big rage during the 80’s, 4 book series but Clan of the Cave Bear (#1) was the best. They really got into totems.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:33 AM
Oh Brian…you are too much. I’m glad I got to see you, as you totally make my day. G’nite Brian.
*nox*
February 6th, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Me and my friends from West Ocean City , Maryland , would like to know who named him Brian ?