Bridgette Watkins was training for the Iditarod back in 2022 when the attack occurred. Perhaps she was aware that a 71-year-old man was killed in such an attack — trampled to death on the U. of Alaska campus. Moose typically weigh over half a ton and stand over six feet tall. Fatal moose attacks are rare, but she was right to be worried.
“That moose had a look in his eye,” Watkins said. “He just wanted death to occur. Like he just wanted to kill us.”
We married men have seen that look from time to time in the missus. It sends quite a chill, amirite fellas?
In Watkins’s case, four of her dogs were seriously injured and one later died of its wounds.
And that brings us to this year’s Iditarod, specifically to last Monday, when Dallas Seavey, a 5-time champ, shot and killed a moose in self-defense after it got tangled up with his dogs. His dad Mitch, 57, says this has only happened three or four times in the four decades he has competed in the race.
Moose are generally friendly, but when food is in short supply they can get as testy as the rest of us, and they are not particularly fond of dogs, truth be told.
Under the rules of the race, the actions Dallas took were proper. An animal can be killed in self-defense or to protect property. But he was required to gut the moose and save any salvageable food for charity. In this case, the body parts and organs were donated to the UJA.
Alaskans love their moose, so this was a sad day.
This poem from today’s Writer’s Almanac is called “Boy at the Window,” and is by Richard Wilbur.
Seeing the snowman standing all alone
In dusk and cold is more than he can bear.
The small boy weeps to hear the wind prepare
A night of gnashings and enormous moan.
His tearful sight can hardly reach to where
The pale-faced figure with bitumen eyes
Returns him such a god-forsaken stare
As outcast Adam gave to Paradise.
The man of snow is, nonetheless, content,
Having no wish to go inside and die.
Still, he is moved to see the youngster cry.
Though frozen water is his element,
He melts enough to drop from one soft eye
A trickle of the purest rain, a tear
For the child at the bright pane surrounded by
Such warmth, such light, such love, and so much fear.
Rex’s guest blogger today, Malaika, says Twitter is engaging in a “thirteen albums to know me by” discussion. You pick 13 albums off the top of your head — you’re not supposed to agonize over it (but how could you not?).
Here is her list, below. I have at least heard of all of the artists, except for Miguel. But I only know three of the albums. Needless to say, Malaika is much younger than me: I’d guess in her 20’s?
- Pure Heroine (Lorde)
- Jagged Little Pill (Alanis Morissette)
- Let Go (Avril Lavigne)
- Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)
- Lemonade (Beyonce)
- Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)
- ANTI (Rihanna)
- SOUR (Olivia Rodrigo)
- Speak Now (Taylor Swift)
- Rumours (Fleetwood Mac)
- Tapestry (Carol King)
- Wildheart (Miguel)
- 19 (Adele)
It’s only March, but here’s Avril. Phil — you’ve outdone yourself — stunning.
And here are my 13:
Rolling Stones Let It Bleed
Dylan Blonde on Blonde
L. Cohen Live from London
Beatles Rubber Soul
James Taylor Sweet Baby James
Taylor Swift 1986
Four Tops Greatest Hits
Neil Young Prairie Wind
Ramones The Ramones
Bob Marley Uprising
Van Morrison Moondance
Bruce Born To Run
Alasdair Fraser Fire and Grace
[Honorable Menschen: Phil Ochs, The Clash, Simon & G’funkel, Cream, Tom Rush/Joni Mitchell/Judy Collins, Silk City/Tony Trischka, Klezmer Conservatory Band]
Josh Allen is a great quarterback for the Bills. Any team would be happy to have him. The Jets? Don’t start me weeping. That sort of guy gets the pretty girls and Josh is no exception. Exhibit A: Hailee Steinfeld, actress/model.
But you know, he’s also human, and stuff happens. They were in Paris for Fashion Week. After dinner, they emerged from a car and Hailee stuck around for some pictures with fans while Josh rushed off. WTF Josh?? He later explained: “My pants ripped at dinner 🙁🤣 Didn’t want cheeks out… I love Paris 😁”
Excuse accepted.
See you tomorrow, everybody!
The Wellington Files 