Jason -- Sacramento, CA
11/12/03 -- 05:39:29 AM
To all of you who have moved back and have
left a message to let us know that, BAH HUMBUG!!!!
*laughs*
Sometimes reading this posts brings and honest to go tear to
my eye, which sucks cause I mostly read this at work.
My co workers can't understand why, after five years, I am
still obsessed with my homeland. How can they know
what its like to be from Maine? I liked the comment
another gal made about it being glorious to have been young
and in Maine.... totally hit the nail on the head.
okay, now I am just rambling... but I really can't help it.
THREE YEARS, and I am back. Hope they don't build any
more wally worlds (wal marts) before then.
CHEERS!
*********************************
ivon prescott ( ivon2@yahoo.com
) -- Park City, IL
11/11/03 -- 11:11:42 PM
any midwest maineiacs who might like to get
connected and talk yankee? email me!
***********************************
Mary -- Sanford, FL
11/11/03 -- 10:46:11 PM
My husband and I have been stuck in Florida
since January 2003 while he goes to school. We are counting
the minutes to our return. What is the big fuss about
Florida. We will be making a stop in Ohio for a few months
to a year before Maine but at least Ohio has seasons and is
more rural. Miss Maine something fierce.
******************************
Donna K. -- W. Enfield, ME
11/11/03 -- 01:19:50 PM
Hello again,
It's been 2 1/2 months since I've been back in Maine.
Since AOL doesn't have any access numbers locally, I wasn't
able to get back online until now.
Just as happy as a lark to be back. We've
already had two episodes of light snow and frost here most
mornins. Meeting all kinds of nice people and so happy to
hear the chick-a-dee-dee-dees. Believe me, once you come
back it's like you never left. Two years of my life wasted
in Florida just seem to be fading to black. Hooray!
Last week you could see the Northern Lights and the
sky was deep pink and looked like a night rainbow. A few
days later, the total lunar eclipse was visible and the
night sky was just beautiful.
Bear with me, please........
This is just what I was missing,
tops of pine trees reaching up, kissing,
the clouds, raining down needle tears of joy. I join them in
awe of the beauty of a Maine autumn day.
Standing in the cold, night air,
smell of pine and woodstoves everywhere, fills the
senses close to overbrimming, while colors flash across a
sky just swimming... with stars.
Oh, what a delight.....a Maine starry night.
So good to be home.....
****************************************
Mark Bryant ( mcbryant@adelphia.net
) -- Mountain Home, ID
11/9/03 -- 10:10:22 PM
Been a while since I've been to this site.
Thought I'd drop in to say "Hi". I'm
still serving in the Military, but when I retire (in about 6
years) I'll be looking for a job in New England somewhere.
************************************
Wayne St. Clair ( wane9779@hotmail.com
) -- Roanoke, VA
11/8/03 -- 05:02:48 PM
One of the things I remember most clearly about Maine are the extra 2 seasons that brackett winter...in the spring its called mud season...when winter is over but spring has yet to establish a foothold. At the end of the year between the last leaves fall & the first snow its called November. There is a stark harsh beauty to November.
Winter with its snowflakes, blizzard & frost etched windows is positivily baroque...but November stands naked before the mirror of the year & proclaims love me, hate me I don't care here I am. I remember razor sharp blue skies & gray overcast days wrapped in a serious funk, & I remember the winds...no March winds are these but bitter pagan winds storming in from the ancient north shrieking like a banshee through the barren trees sending the last leaves flying & making us sink like a turtle into its shell down into our winter coats. I remember walking up Congress Street battling those winds but they always seemed worst across from Joe's Smoke Shop where the sidewalk curves & enters Longfellow Square. The wind there comes barreling off the Promanade, down Pine Street & rips around that corner like a loaded freight train coming off the mountain.
Some years when the weather was mild enough
I would shoulder my backpack & head up to the White
Mountains for one last climb up Mt. Washington. I would
skirt the summit & head over to the northern presidents
(there is or was a quonsit hut shelter at the base of Adams
I would aim towards) spend the night there just to take that
spectaular hike down the head wall into Great Gulf...chances
were I was one of the few people up there that time of year
but the place & the view was breathtaking & of
course tinged with more than a baby's breath of danger AND
that is November to me, a stark beauty with more than a
suggestion of danger & cruelity. No turkey with all the
fixings will take that hint away, after all a Maine winter
can kill.
***************************************
R. ( rhettaedgar@msn.com
) -- Bangor, ME
11/8/03 -- 02:51:52 PM
I am from Maine and have been back in Maine since Sept. of 2001. I had spent the previous 4 years in England. Those seemed to be the longest years in my life. For the first 6 months things weren't bad for I was taking in everything new. It was when I started work. They tax you 17 1/2% no matter what you make. You have to have a license to watch tv. They hang their meats out in the sun(flys;people coughing and spitting;etc.) You live like sardines in cans next to each other. You have no privacy for when you step outside all eyes are on you. I remember the time I went to London and I don't remember who it was speaking publicly but "we were all the queens subjects." It didn't take me long to turn on my heels and give them my 2 cents worth about that. If the neighbors didn't like something that had to do with politics or laws, none of them had the guts to start a petition and to have their councilor for their ward bring it before Tony Blair. A lot of complaining but no "balls" as we'd say. No one would stand up about things but they sure would complain. And yes, I know the same thing goes on here and everywhere but it really got to me there. The girls I worked with would ask me how different life here was compared to there. They all wanted to come here! What really amazed me was how they lived. It was like going back in time to the 50's. There were few independant women. I mean really independant. The independant ones were call bitches. And I am only talking about where I was in England. I can't speak for the rest.
I ended up having to come back because of
the dampness. The mold, spores, etc.. had attaacked my
immune system. I ended up being allergic to trees,
grass, you name it. I did miss Maine while there. I
don't think a day went by when I didn't moan about something
being "not what I was used to." I longed for
my Maine way of life. It was a battle every day I was
there. I "couldn't do this or this" because
.... Well, I bloody well did it. I found it very
hard to adapt but if I hadn't ended up getting very ill, I
would have stayed but in my home, there would have been
American appliances and the home would have looked more
American than British. I will agree with you all
though that there is something about Maine that is always on
your mind. The smell of fall in the air, the look of
spring on the grounds. The birds, animals, having a
veggie garden, having the right to voice how you feel
without others looking at you as if you are a troublemaker.
I still keep in contact with friends there. They wish
I'd come back. They say our town has gone back to
being boring. I would like to say that I had hoped my
being there for those years had made a difference. In
some ways I did. And then again, things never change.
****************************************
Rob Beal (rybeal@yahoo.com
) -- Sacramento, CA
11/7/03 -- 08:19:55 PM
I've been exiled for many Years now. Spent
21 years in the Air Force all over the US and many foreign
countrys. Retired from USAF in Sacramento 25 years ago and
have been here ever since. Have gotten back to Maine every
now and then. Not as often as I would like. I am from Down
East. Jonesport to be exact. It's nice to hear from some
other people from the area.
As for whoopie pies there is a good recipe on the
marshmallowfluff.com web site.
*************************************
Barb ( barb11@cox.net )
-- Mary Esther, FL
11/6/03 -- 10:20:44 PM
Born and raised in Fort Fairfield, Just
found this site and had a great time reading some of the
messages. Found one from a S.Achorn and I believe she is the
girl my mother took care of when she was a baby. I
just couldn't believe it. Maine is great. I go home
every year and love my home town. It never changes. It
will always be home.
Would love to hear from anyone that graduated in l969 at
FFHS.
**************************************
Ginger (Nash) Nippe ( kcglass1997@yahoo.com
) -- Rohnert Park, CA
11/5/03 -- 10:20:19 AM
Just discovered this site through my sister
Candy, who had a message posted, which led to an old
aquaintance of mine contacting her.
It's a small world!
Born in Camden, CRHS class 0f '82, exiled to California in
1985. There's no place like Maine; I still miss
it after all these years!
****************************************
M. M. -- Oklahoma City, OK
11/4/03 -- 01:36:00 PM
This is my first time on this website; just
happened to find it by chance. Thank you all so much
for bringing back so many memories. As I was reading
your stories I slipped back into a Maine accent which was
neat to know I hadn't lost it. I left Maine in 1981. I
work for the State of Oklahoma now, doing HR. I keep
on telling the Agency Director if they want me to do an
exchange program with Maine I would graciously except the
offer. No such luck.
Jason, my brother is the pastry chef at Dysarts in Bangor.
So, if you guys like the whoopie pies, tell Sean C, he would
appreciate the compliment. I graduated from Oak
Grove-Coburn in Vassalboro, which I believe now belongs to
the state as an academy for the troopers. I went on to
Orono and then transferred to USM, yes, we all lived on
Amatos and Pepsi. I try to go back home once a year.
My parents are still living and running a Green House
business in Thorndike. I miss lobster and steamers the most.
I don't miss Moxie, freezing my butt off and falling on the
ice.
I plan on getting the bumpah stickah letting the locals know
I'm not a damn foreigner from "outa state".
Traveling on I-95 we pick up speed to get home and my sister
say's it doesn't matter because they think we're out-of-staters
anyways. My kids who are nearly grown now, have lied and
said they're from Maine because they've spent summers there.
That's how much influence the state has on them. My
husband who's an Okie loves the state, but not in Winter, so
moving back is not an option, yet. But, I won't stay
landlocked for ever, I need to go back to Bar Harbor and
"pahty till ya puke". God, being young in
Maine was fun, damn good thing gas was cheap then, cause we
drove to hell and back and thought nothing of it. Take
care y'all and don't worry I think when we die we will all
go back to Maine.
**********************************************
LeeAnn ( lfraser@lsswis.org
) -- Appleton, WI
11/4/03 -- 12:48:52 PM
Does anyone have an authentic recipe for All
Day Suckers? My husband and I were raised in Rumford
and were fondly talking
about the All Day Suckers we would buy for a quarter or less
at the annual Hospital Fair. I would love to make a
batch or 2 for
my children's classmates since they have never heard of them
in Wisconsin. I have found recipes for Whoopie Pies
but the
suckers. Please email me if you have it.
****************************************
Beverly Percy ( beverly.percy@ncmail.com
) -- Goldsboro, NC
11/4/03 -- 12:28:03 PM
Hi, To those of you that are into emails
It's warmer here 90 % of the time and shoveling snow off the
roof up there all winter long was too much for me.
****************************
M. T. -- Walnut Creek, CA
11/4/03 -- 08:57:19 AM
Ahh, yes Carol. The crisp air was great!
It doesn't feel like christmas if you can't smell that pine,
or wearing it for that matter. I have a couple of
relatives in Ellsworth AND Jonesboru as a matter of fact. I
scan web sites o'plenty for some posted pics of my home town
of Machias. Could only find a hand full. Since we're
visiting in August and my wife has never been to Maine, I'm
checking off a list of local haunts that i remember when i
was a kid I want to show her. (Some hopefully still there).
My grandparents old home, (long torn down) 2 miles deep into
a dirt road by the shores of east machias. An old boat
club we use to go into that was abandoned years back. I
better stop, i'm getting flooded with emotions! Hah.
Have a good day all you Mainiacs! Looking forward to having
lunch at Hellens Restaurant!
**************************************
Bob ( cascadelane@yahoo.com
) -- Lake Havasu, AZ
11/3/03 -- 06:11:13 AM
I've been gone from Maine for almost 30
years. Go back for occassional visits. Ties in Presque Isle,
Weld, Norway/S. Paris.
Looking for a good Maniac woman to email with.
******************************************
Carol ( hilly352002@yahoo.com
) -- Bowie, MD
11/3/03 -- 06:21:11 AM
Michael,
I know what you mean about the tipping.
What a great way to earn a few dollars. I called home
and ordered some wreaths just the other day and was thinking
how I would like being out in that cold crisp air picking
brush. I never could make a good wreath but could
enjoy that. I will be going home for Thanksgiving.
I grew up in Milbridge and then lived in Ellsworth for the
last 14 years before moving here. It's nice to see a
fellow downeasta' here. Hope everyone else is doing
well and do have to admit one of my first stops upon landing
in Portland will be for an Amato's italian. My
grandmother had a house in South Portland and there was one
right on the corner. We always had Italians the first
day we were there. Have a great day!!!!!!!!!
****************************
Mike Lachance ( mikelachance@earthlink.net
) -- Chandler (Phoenix), Arizona (ahhhhhhh!)
11/2/03 -- 10:49:15 PM
I've lived in Arizona since 1978 (we moved
here from Maine when i was 9).. it wasnt my choice. I did go
back for a year in 9th grade, 1983-84, but had to return
here to AZ once again... Now I am older... my
life has taken too many agitating turns here in Arizona, not
to mention the economy in Phoenix is a complete swamp.
Now I see thinsg turning around for Maine... and after seing
this godforsaken metropolis in the desert begin to resemble
an unending urban sprawl of mile-after-flat-mile of
cookie-cutter houses and mormon churches... i have
found myself sick of it all.. sick of this life...
But no, no!, I am not suicidal! Contrare! I have
simply seen the light! Maine is calling me back...
back to my home, my roots, my memories.... I have
worked hard the last 3 montsh on finding a decent job in
Maine, and I fly back on Wednesday Nov 5, 2003, for my
interview on Thursday. The religious types who may read
this, please do pray for me.. the non-religious, hope
and have good thoughts... I know this dream of
mine can come true... it will be quite a challenge to
orchestrate a smooth move across the continent on my own...
but I have so my anxiety, hope, excitement, and joy, in
returning to Maine, thatit is all worth the stress....
Hope to be with you all within a few weeks!
*****************************************
Wayne St. Clair ( wane9779@hotmail.com
) -- Roanoke, VA
11/1/03 -- 08:08:52 PM
America's oldest (1790) & finest flour
company (should be called a collective since it is owned by
its employees) King Authur ( a yankee product of course) has
just published "King Authur's Flour Baker's
Companion" which I have to say as a cookbook collector
is outstanding & highly recommend offers this recipe for
............
WHOOPIE PIES...it makes 9 large pies
FOR THE CAKES:
1/2 cup shortening...1 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 large egg....1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda....1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract...1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons
cocoa....2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup milk
FOR THE FILLING:
1 cup shortening....1 cup confectioners sugar
1 1/3 cups marshmallow creme...1/4 teaspoon salt dissolved
in 1 tablespoon water... 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350
In a large mixing bowl cream together the shortening, sugar,
egg, baking powder, baking soda, salt & vanilla. In a
seperate bowl whisk together the cocoa & the flour. Add
the dry ingredients to the shortening with the milk &
beat until smooth. Drop the batter by the 1/4 cup full onto
parchment lined or lightly greased baking sheets leaving
about 2 inches between the cakes. Bake for about 15 minutes
or until they are firm to the touch. Remove from the heat
& cool completely.
While the cakes are cooling beat together the shortening,
sugar & marshmallow creme, then stir in the salt &
the vanilla. Spread half the cakes with the filling then top
with the remaining cakes & serve.
****************************************
Michael Toronto ( mtoronto@sbcglobal.net
) -- Walnut Creek, CA
10/31/03 -- 05:30:44 PM
Homesick? Absolutely! Especially
this time of year. I was born in Machias, Maine. Lived
there for quite some time. Lived in East Machias.
I remember Dwelly's store, Mackenzie's Market, the 5&10
downtown. Welby's next to the shop&save, smitty's
gym and guns. The memories! Working at the
County Wide newspaper, drawing Hip-Boot Harry cartoon strip.
What I miss, believe it or not, was tipping. Making
that extra school clothes money. I miss you Machias!
I'll be coming home for a couple of weeks next August for
the blueberry festival!
*************************************
Melissa -- Binghamton, NY
10/31/03 -- 04:11:16 PM
Hello,I have recently moved from Maine to NY
and I am so excited that I stumbled upon this website!!!
I grew up in Winslow and went to college at UMF. I miss
Maine like you wouldn't believe!! This weekend I'm going to
Portland for the Maine Brew Fest and I almost can't stand
that wait!
I miss the little things most. People saying,
"wicked", "yesah",and "I'm right
out straight!" Hahahaha.
I got a total shock today when one of my co-workers sent me
this website and then asked me what whoopie pies are and if
we really eat RED hotdogs in Maine. I thought everyone ate
the "red snappahs"!
I realize now how much I took the beauty of Maine for
granted. I'm really glad to have found some other
Maine Exiles who share my sentiments! This has definitely
put a smile on my face today!
***************************************
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