The Alaska PFD checks are in

Wow, twice lately I've tried to go shopping, and the local stores are just packed. The first day I assumed we had a bad weather report and it was going to snow or ice, and everyone knew it but me. (I don't listen to the radio or watch television.) So when I went to the grocery today and the stores were packed, I had to ask what was going on.

It turns out the PFD checks (Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend checks) have come in, and everyone is rushing to spend them.

Here's my question: What do these people do the rest of the year? Seriously, do they just eat once a year when the PFD check comes in? I need to learn more about this behavior.

I have to say, people seem to be in from everywhere. I've seen all sorts of long beards on the men, and their clothing is so interesting I wanted to take pictures of them, but managed to control myself. I saw this one couple in the parking lot taking a photo of a beaten-up truck, and it turns out the truck was for sale -- for $50!

Funniest moment of the day

Despite all the Alaska PFD and $50 truck craziness, the funniest moment of the day happened in the men's underwear section at Walmart. When I went to by some new dark t-shirts to wear under my dark sweaters -- the high today was 42 degrees -- I ran into two young men standing in the aisle feeling t-shirts. They were covered in head to toe in tattoos and body piercings (what I could see anyway), but they were standing in the aisle seriously wondering which brand of t-shirt was softer. Your bodies have had holes drilled in them and things painfully painted on them, and you guys are worried about how soft a t-shirt is? Really?