I read tonight that the first cruise ship of the season arrived in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday. It was in a small article on the Juneau Empire website. Below the story, there was a place for reader comments -- ALL of them locals griping about how annoying the tourists are and the ships and the seaplanes and the gift shops and how companies come into town for the season and "take" money out of Juneau. Wah wah, I'm stayin away from downtown all summer long! etc.

Of course there were only twelve comments total. I would have to assume that most residents of the capital understand that since they live in an economy that is essentially fueled by tourism, if those dollars went away, so would half the jobs and businesses. Would they rather be Fairbanks? I mean sure, I bitched about the slowly-shuffling looky-loos on Powell Street in SF, but I still understood that the city needed these people.

I love Juneau and can't wait to go give them some more of my money in the near future.

IN OTHER NEWS, we did a bunch of yardworky stuff today. I scattered a bunch of wildflower seeds in a little plot by the deck, planted my rosemary bush in the ground, and pulled a great many weeds. Our lawn is completely invaded by moss and I don't know if we should kill it or leave it. I'm leaning toward leave it, unless it destroys the grass. The grass isn't looking too happy. But then Brian cut it way too short last weekend.

Tomorrow we're going to Target to find deck furniture of some sort.

Tags: juneau