Hello all,

This morning, my morning trek took place in Valdez, Alaska. my boss and I had business there yesterday and spent the night at a hotel. Never able to sleep soundly in a strange place, I was up at 6:05 and putting on my nikes. By 6:15 I was out on my morning trek. As usual, my objective was to purchase a morning paper. I was heading down a quiet side street towards the main drag and nothing could ruin my day, or could it?

 Passing a single wide trailer this junkyard looking dog suddenly lunged towards me. He was barking and snapping his teeth on a dead run right at me, when he suddenly came to the end of his rope. Realizing the danger was over I made some faces at him, shook my tush at him, and generally taunted him for 10 or 15 seconds before continuing on.

 The sun was shining, there was only a slight breeze, and nothing could ruin my day, or could it?

 On the main drag I happened on a paper machine. Just as I was about to drop in my quarters, I noticed that it was still full of yesterday's papers.I already read that paper. Drats! No paper today. Oh well, I spied an expresso shop two blocks down. Needing a caffiene fix, I continued at a brisk pace straight for it, and nothing could ruin my day. Or could it?

 I entered the shop and interrupted the attendant for a mocha latte (no whip). She unsuccessfully tried to hide her disgust at having to stop reading yesterday's paper and help a customer. Then, when I paid with a ten spot, she did not have proper change and had to go next door to a resteraunt for help. She returned a few moments later and gave me the proper change. As I exited, I offered her (in my most sarcastic of tones) to "have a nice day". Another small annoyance was that the shop was out of those little carboard sleeves that insulate a hot latte from your fingers. So now I'm heading back to the hotel without a paper and having to quickly switch the hot latte from hand to hand to avoid burning my fingers, and nothing could ruin my day. Or could it?

 Valdez, being a coastal town attracts alot of seagulls. It seems one of their favorite games is to drop little white surprises on unsuspecting tourists. One hit the sidewalk right in front of me, I looked up and saw 8 or 10 gulls circling above me. I suddenly realised that I was the subject of their little game. Remember Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds"? Well, I'll tell you, I'm no tourist and I'm also a poor sport. I grabbed a small stone, switched the hot latte out of my throwing hand, and rifled it at the flock of gulls. Badly missing my attackers, the rock landed on a Volvo parked several yards away. I guess in the heat of the moment, I neglected to consider my backdrop. I looked left and right and determined that I had not been seen. So I picked up my pace and hurried back to the hotel, ignoring the car alarm that I had set off. And nothing could ruin my day.

 After a quick shower, my boss and I checked out of the hotel, and soon Valdez was in my rearview mirror and getting smaller. And nothing could ruin my day!

Later'

RL