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andydp
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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 Posted: 05/24/05 - 11:37 Post subject: Greetings from Skowhegan ME (More updating)
Hello everyone !!
Greetings from beautiful downtown Skowhegan ME. I came up to open mom's house for the summer. I was very happy to note no small furry visitors came over for the winter.
We had a two hour power failure last night due to the high winds. Today its drizzly and cool (50ish). Tomorrow heavy rains and wind. Since I'm limited to 4 on air channels this is going to be a long four days.
I spent the AM cleaning up and vacuuming the rugs, walls, curtains and kitchen floor.
The only good thing is I am very close to the New Balance Factory Store. If anyone wants me to look for any running related items please send me a PM. There are bargains to be found if you look around. I once got a nice pair of lined running shorts for $ 5.00. I can look for you and report. If they have it I'll send you their phone number.
If anyone wants a "postcard from the edge" send me a PM with your address.
Life is better in ME. If I had cable it would be terrific.
Andy
Last edited by andydp on 05/26/05 - 11:14; edited 1 time in total
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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Joined: 12 Jun 2003
Posts: 6103
Location: Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.
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Posted: 05/24/05 - 11:45 Post subject:
What it means to be from Maine. An essay by me. From my blog.
When I tell people that I grew up there, I usually get "Oh! I love Maine. It's so beautiful." And it is, don't get me wrong. If you don't look too hard. Maybe shouldn't say that. Maybe, I should let people see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe. We're good at it, us humans. Which is probably why the ad guys who brought us the Poland Spring ad campaign thought it would be a good idea to have a healthful looking green label complete with faux water droplets to tell people that being from Maine is all about goodness and purity.
Before you crack the seal on that bottle, let me share a little dose of reality.
Being from Maine means that while we have a rich history of industry, most of those factories have packed up, shipped out, or closed down leaving entire counties on food stamps to make it through the winter. Men and women who come from fishing and lobstering families have had to sell their boats and houses because the grounds are so highly regulated it doesn't pay to even buy the diesel to get out there or their waterfront property taxes have skyrocketed leaving folks destitute.
Whole towns are being caught up in addictions to Oxycontin and other drugs because they have simply lost all hope and getting high is easier than looking into the faces of their families knowing that there's no job on the horizon. Not so beautiful now, huh?
But before I get too morose with this, I do have to tell you that there are definate up sides to being from Maine as well. I'll admit it's cool in a surreal sort of way to be able to buy bait, order a pizza, get a tan, and buy a wedding dress all at the same store. Hussey's Hardware in Winthrop. If you don't find it there, chances are you can live without it.
Being from Maine means you grow up somehow knowing that you are at MOST three degrees removed from either L.L. Bean, the Bush Family or as in my case, Stephen King. I'm a little higher up in the family tree having cut old Stevo off in traffic once on the turnpike. Just 'cause he's the master of making everything we hold sacred into our own personal nightmares doesn't mean he doesn't have to merge like the rest of us in a construction zone.
Being from Maine means that while you know your neighbor is as "numb as a hake" he's a "good old soul" which balances out in the yin/yang of the universe. It also means that you know if you marry someone from Jonesport/Beals the likelihood your offspring will have an extra digit or two on one hand is relatively high.
Being from Maine makes wearing your winter boots to a social function not only acceptable, but necessary. We're born with the wisdom that you'd best not stay too long down at Beano for fear the pipes under your double-wide trailer will freeze. When they do it's an "awful cussed mess". (That's pronounced cus-sed in case you didn't know.)
On the surface it appears that we have a sort of standoffish neighborliness about us, but that's really not true. The reality is that we barter silently in favors. For instance, when your "numb as a hake" neighbor's pipes do freeze, you just do what needs to be done and provide what assistance you can because deep down you and your neighbor both know it's only a matter of time until the battery in your Ford Escort station wagon goes south on you and you'll need his plug in battery charger for a couple of days.
To sum it up, it means that the green-labeled bottle of water you just bought was probably packaged by a lady who's married to your neighbor in the double-wide. She's just bought a new pair of winter boots because she won some money down at Beano. It was a lucky thing too, because the pipes in the Grange hall froze just after she yelled "Beano!!!"
That's what it really means to be from Maine. Drink up!
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 05/24/05 - 12:30 Post subject:
 hi Andy!
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Laurie Ellen
Queenie
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 11286
Location: The Dark Side of the Moon
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Posted: 05/24/05 - 12:33 Post subject:
Hi, Andy! 
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andydp
Member
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 05/25/05 - 11:07 Post subject:
Hello gang !
Well, more rain is expected today and tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be high winds also. A real nor'easter !!
If you have HBO, Skowhegan will be the centerpiece of the movie called Empire Falls. I think its on the 28th of this month.
Keeping up with mom's friends - I'm really trying to find someone younger that 60 to talk to. Thank you for being here.
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 05/25/05 - 11:09 Post subject:
| andydp wrote: | Hello gang !
Well, more rain is expected today and tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be high winds also. A real nor'easter !!
If you have HBO, Skowhegan will be the centerpiece of the movie called Empire Falls. I think its on the 28th of this month.
Keeping up with mom's friends - I'm really trying to find someone younger that 60 to talk to. Thank you for being here. |
sounds like a good speed workout. 
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andydp
Member
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 05/25/05 - 11:10 Post subject:
| JACKED UP wrote: |
sounds like a good speed workout. |
I don't like rain - especially when the temps are in the 50's. Saw your compader this AM at the gym - ever write to her ?
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mickeyvw98
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Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: 05/25/05 - 11:53 Post subject:
Hey Andy!! At least it's raining at home too... 
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andydp
Member
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 05/26/05 - 11:16 Post subject:
The rain is here in all its glory. I got a chance to clean mom's closet - (look at the house cleaning thread)
Watched a few movies I would not have otherwise. Life is good
Take care everyone - tomorrow its back to NY
PS Got my winning powerball ticket today.
Last edited by andydp on 05/26/05 - 15:45; edited 1 time in total
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mickeyvw98
Member
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Joined: 03 Jun 2004
Posts: 2010
Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: 05/26/05 - 13:41 Post subject:
| andydp wrote: | | PS Got my winning powerball ticket today. |
Remember us all when you're rich.
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crazyfrog
Kermitologist
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Joined: 31 May 2003
Posts: 7610
Location: atlanta
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Posted: 05/26/05 - 13:45 Post subject:
| mickeyvw98 wrote: |
Remember us all when you're rich. |
 
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andydp
Member
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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Posted: 05/26/05 - 15:38 Post subject:
| mickeyvw98 wrote: |
Remember us all when you're rich. |
I promise I won't change a bit.
Be sure to stop at the toll booth in my driveway when you come for a visit...
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