*************************
Bill MacManus (Billmacmanus@aol.com) -- Springfield,MA
2/26/01 -- 21:08:33

Speaking of all of the snow, when I left Maine and moved to
Massachusetts, I had never heard of a snow delay.....In
Maine, we only canceled school if there was so much snow
that the snowmobiles couldn't get through...I thought it was
funny when people outside of Maine talked about snow
"STORMS" measuring 3-6 inches....that is a dusting in the
old state of Maine....Heck, I can remember clearing off the
snow from the outdoor basketball court so we could have a
game....and I remember when we did cancel school, most of us
packed our bags and headed down the Bangor Y.M.C.A. so we
could play some hoops....Oh what fond memories....The winter
wonderland of Maine...Remember there are only two seasons in
Maine - Winter and the month of July which is also known as
"black fly season".....

*************************
Cathy (railmark@hitter,net) -- Beverly Hills,FL
2/26/01 -- 09:57:48

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM RURAL MAINE WHEN:

1. You never meet any celebrities except Buddy Wasisname.
2. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting to pass a
tractor in the highway,
3. "Vacation" means going to Bangor for the weekend.
4. You've seen all the biggest bands ten years after they
were popular in Boston,
5. You measure distance in hours.
6. You know several people who have hit moose more than
once.
7. Your classes were cancelled because of snow.
8. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
9. You use a down comforter in the summer.
10. Your grandparents drive at 100 mph through 13 feet of
snow and raging blizzards - with flinching.
11. You plan your financial future around bingo.
12. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.

13. You install security lights on your house and garage and
leave both unlocked.
14. You think of the four major food groups as moose meat,
beer, fish, and berries.
15. You carry jumper cables in your car and your girlfriend
knows how to use them.
16. There are 4 empty cars running in the parking lot at the
convenience store at any given time.
17. You only own 3 spices - salt, pepper, and ketchup.
18. You design your kids' Halloween costume to fit over a
snowsuit.
19. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are
filled with snow.
20. You think everyone from a bigger city has an accent.
21. You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel
pajamas.
22. You know which leaves make good toilet paper.
23. You know all 4 seasons: Almost winter, Winter, Still
winter, and Construction.
24. It takes 3 hours to go to the mall for one item even
when you're in a rush because you have to stop and talk to
everyone in town.
25. You actually understand these jokes and forward them to
all your friends from Maine.

*************************
MIE Headquarters (ATTENTION ALL MAINE EXILES!!!!) -- Falmouth,ME
2/24/01 -- 11:48:42

You've got two full days of opportunities to talk about the job
opportunities (or the lack of them) with some of Maine's
biggest employers and The Guv himself. This Monday and
Tuesday, February 26 and 27, 9am to 6 pm each day, a two day
online event called Maine @ Work 2001. Representatives from
Maine's business, education, and goverment communities want
to chat with you about what it will take to bring you home.
Plus, virtual interviews, employer profiles, and a special
section on creaqting your Dream Job. This is your chance to
ask the tough questions and get lots of information about
what's available NOW.

Check this out right now for a list of events and times!
http://careers.mainetoday.com/maineatwork/maineatwork.shtml


Governor King will be available online on Monday, February
26th from 5-6 pm. This is your chance to give him -- and
many other Maine employers -- your reasons for leaving and
why you feel you can't come back. You are the most qualified
group to talk about why Maine's most valuable export has
been it's native sons and daughters.

Email this information RIGHT NOW! to every Maine Exile you
know, and gather at the keyboards on Monday and Tuesday.
We'll see you there, chummy.

*************************
Ami (beantown20@aol.com) -- Central,CT
2/24/01 -- 16:47:55

I have only been to Maine once, I was born and raised in
Connecticut. However, I love snow, and was hoping to get up
to Maine eventually. (I have only been once). Right now I
am awaiting a lung transplant, so my health severely limits
my lifestyle, but after the transplant I plan to do all
sorts of physical things that I can't do now; one of which
will be WALKING in the SNOW. Winter is my favorite season,
but right now I really depend on electricity for oxgen and
breathing treatments. How often do you have power outages
due to snow? Now, as far as Connecticut being a laugh when
it comes to snow, recently we haven't had as much snow but
before we did get heavy snowfalls. Now, not only do we have
more transplants then ever, making many people panicky in
the snow, but for some reason people are still traumatized
from the storm of 78. Larry. We were supposed to have snow
that evening, tapering off by morning. It never tapered
off. People were snowed in for a week with no electricity
and they hadn't been prepared. I think for that reason (at
least from what I had read) people get a little frenzied
when we get a foot of snow. Well, a few weeks ago we had 2
feet, and it was a definite blizzard, but my mother and I
had to go to the ER. We stopped at the McDonald's drive
through to get drinks on the way in. Now THERE were some
"are you CRAZY?" looks. :-)

*************************
Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke,VA
2/23/01 -- 12:26:13

I remember standing on the jetty on the backside of mackaworth
island watching a snowstorm swirl out over the islands. The
water was a cold steel gray/blue & so hard looking you
thought it would bruise or cut you if you jumped in. off in
the distance was the deep pine green & brown shadow of great
diamond island hidden mostly by the white swirl of falling
snow.The air bit with cold & my flesh flushed red &
tingling. A flash & like a spotlight the sun poked briefly
through the clouds highlighting cow island & its old
fortifacations. So beautiful.

The snow was piling up so I turned to go & walked down the
path to the old stone circle in the mast pine grove further
round the island. So quiet in there like a prayer. I sat
briefly on the rock in the middle & counted the tombstones
of Gov.Baxter's dogs & horses.A hoot...a great horned owl or
perhaps a great snowy owl wintering over in maine. So
beautiful they are. One winter we had one hang out on the
street posts in the old porte all winter harrassing &
feeding on the pigeons...no one mourned their passing but
pointed out the owl for all to see. I continued round the
island to the inlet & poked my head in the old hollow tree &
counted the faces now dusted with snow carved in there 7 as
I recall. The back field looked a war zone with the ruined
remains of ragweed & clover poking out from the accumulating
snow. I remember in my youth taking certian colorful
chemicals & dancing with the snowflakes.That spirit has
never left me.

So many dreams of times past...am I really 45 now? The
things I have done would I dare do them now? Go out to the
end of a ruined pier during a hurricane just to watch the
swells or dance on the icy rocks at 2 lights or the portland
head. I would like to think I would however with age comes
hard won wisdoms & fears. I do not know. But all the various
interests & habits I have aquired over the years make me who
I am. So is it with us all. to quote an ancient mayan
poem..."I am the world dreaming me."

*************************
Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke,VA
2/23/01 -- 12:01:39

It snowed!!! It snowed!!! 2 to 4 inches in our area (2 to 4
inches? thats a tease she said) not much for sure but
still!!! The area freaked out. Snort! the silly southerners.
When we have had serious snowfall the region has been
paralized. In 96 we got about 18 inches. At the height of it
I put on my backpack & walked to the nearest grocery a mile
away. When I got there they were getting ready to shut down
& they looked at me as if I were stark raving mad. I like
shane t. thought nothing of it. I was in 7th heaven. The
funnymentalist neighbors weren't amused when I made a
snowman & woman in a compromizing position (thank you calvin
& hobbes) oh well.It only went to convince them I was more
than the neighborhood eccentric. Sigh. There were more
characters in portland than from what I can tell the entire
state of va.too bad. No wonder I am lonesome.I don't do the
bar scene anymore & I am told the best places to meet people
are in church. yeah right.What kind of lines do you use in
church? "Hi, your name must be Grace because you're
amazing." sure."Want to come back to my place for some hands
on healing?" any rate I am babbling. It snowed!!!

*************************
Pat. Soule (miepat@home.com) -- Hampton,VA
2/23/01 -- 11:42:24

Oops!!! I typed Maravene name in my spot!!! LOL

*************************
ShaneT (shanet@nc.rr.com) -- Raleigh,NC
2/23/01 -- 07:43:18

Been here for over three years.. The funniest thing happened
last year.. We had two snowstorms last year. The first snow
storm was about 6 or more inches of snow and it was snowing
when I got up in the morning at around 5:30 AM.. Without
even giving it a second thought I proceeded to get ready for
work and drove to the office. The roads were horrible and
it took me an extra 45 minutes to get to work that day.. I
called my wife to tell her I got in ok and she was also
getting ready to head in (She is from Caribou).. I started
in on my regular daily routine when I soon realized that no
one else at my company even came in to work. I looked
outside and saw that my car was the only car in the parking
lot!!! My wife called and said the same thing!!!.. My boss
called and told me to head home "I figured you would be
there" he said with a chuckle.. Now everytime that there is
a threat of a flake of snow I listen to the radio for
cancelations.. Just like we all used to do when we were
younger!!

The reason why this was so funny was that it was the first
time that I had experienced a snowstorm in Raleigh North
Carolina. It was like time stood still.. Yet it never even
phased my wife and I..

The next week was a snow storm of up to 20 inches! We didn't
go to work for a week and schools were closed for three
weeks! It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen..

*************************
Maravene (miepat@home.com) -- Hampton,VA
2/22/01 -- 23:12:39

Hey Maravene - you did forget one other season to go with MUD -
BLACK FLY!!!

*************************
Carl Goodof (CARL_L_GOODOF@PRODIGY.NET) -- Lehigh Acres,FL
2/22/01 -- 12:44:31

I guess that I must say a few things about the chat room. When
I am scolded for using my name, I feel that is rediculous.
If I want to use my name, who are the others to tell me that
I can't do it. I visited several times. Mostly no one
there. Waste of time. I deleted Mirc from my computer.
I will continue to use MIE as it is a good site.

Now on to better things. Brownie's in Randolph. Ate there
many times and also used to buy from his seafood market in
Augusta. Was the chef at the HAPPY DOLPHIN. Now, how many
of you remember that restaurant??? Also was good
friends(went to high school) with Brent Whitehouse, the
owner of Hazel Greens.

Grew up in Waterville. Many good restaurants there. The
Silent Woman, The Jefferson, Steves etc. Also remember the
bar scene--Silver Dollar, Crescent Hotel, Bob-in, and Bill's
Lunch.

I am tired of reading about the best Italian Sandwich and
Red Hot Dogs. If we are going to discuss Maine, lets talk
about the Belgrade LAkes, the Allagash, Moosehead Lake, the
Ocean,etc. These are the reasons Maine is so unforgetful,
the Scenic Beauty.

Anybody disagree. If so comments are welcome.

*************************
Michael (illl_skilllz@yahoo.com) -- Laramie,WY
2/22/01 -- 01:35:34

i dont know why i left i wish i didnt i wnt from the beautifull
maine landscapes to the boring empty plains of wyoming im an
idiot i wish i could go back but it doesnt look like i can i
found out that the worst thing you can do in life is burn
bridges and stupid me i burned all the ones i had

*************************
Evelyn Coon (softflame81@hotmail.com) -- Pensacola,FL
2/21/01 -- 16:35:41

Well, for starters, I am looking for a few old friends! here are
some names: April Talbert, Kipp Thomas, & Shannon Hagan.
Also I am looking to have some pen pals on my
email......20-30 year old males and females in the USA to
talk to and possibly trade pics! (I am STRAIGHT!)
I am an artists and I love to draw, paint, write,
dance....etc. And for fun I like to swim, fish, go to clubs,
etc.

*************************
Maravene (J131934@aol.com) -- Sarasota,FL
2/21/01 -- 16:13:36

jSt.Clalir, I tend to agree with you. Even here in the south
Febuary can be long. You know if you can make it through
Febuary spring can not be far behind. Of course in Maine
there is that other season...MUD. I always loved spring
with the smell of the earth when the frost finally left and
the first violets.
I have a question for you still in Maine. Do you still eat
dandelion greens?

*************************
Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke,VA
2/21/01 -- 12:53:04

I may be returning to Maine before I thought. I may be driven
out of town if I don't want to be strung up. I was overheard
to say at work:
"OK! I am bored with all the hype over Dale Ernhardt's
death. I am sorry he died but racing is a dangerous
profession & by all accounts of the way he drived it's a
wonder he lasted this long. I know good ole boys need
cultural icons like the rest of us but isn't Elvis enough?
Do we really need Dale Ernhardt on black velvet?"
Well like I said I was overheard & told I was a heartless
SOB. Now everybody at work is mad at me. SIGH!!! Look for me
on the next bus.

*************************
Deneika (neika@hotmail.com) -- East Granby,CT
2/20/01 -- 14:34:08

Hello all Exilers!

Just found out about this site this weekend and think it is
'wicked go-ud'!!! Began my "exile in training" for college
and have been permanently exiled since 1998; Maine-ly
because of the job market. It is just too hard to make ends
meet and find a job that would use the skills I honed in
college. Always miss home, and have resorted to Tim Sample
tapes when I get too homesick. It is even worse now that
tourney time is here again. I wish it were easier to follow
the hometown teams from down heah.

Get the biggest kick out of people from CT who think they
take such good care of the roads here in the snow - the plow
trucks drop sand on the snow, making a nice, slushy mess to
drive through, which is even more fun after it freezes - and
that anything over 3 inches is a "major storm"....you should
have seen the meelee at the grocery store when we got a
'whopping' 12 inches!! You'd have though we were going to
get 12 feet! I'd give anything to be back where 2 feet is a
minor inconvenience and everyone (except the transplants!!)
knows how to drive in it!

Each time I visit home I stock up on red hot dogs,
fiddleheads (if the time is right) - I still can't justify
seeing & buying them in the grocery store, and Humpty-Dumpty
Ketchup Chips (we really do put ketchup on everything!).
I'd never trade (and have yet to find it's equal - except
potato picking in The County) the excruciating experience of
raking blueberries for week upon week during August, which
taught me more about hard work than anything I have ever
done. I just shake my head at people complaining about how
hard it is to work in a department store, or restaurant, or
any other job that doesn't require you to be bent over a
bush that is only about 6 inches high in 80 degree weather
under the burning sun, dying your legs, hands (and sometimes
teeth) blue, and lugging bucket upon bucket of berries down
your strip; all for a few dollars a bushel. I hated it
then, but I wouldn't trade it for anything now.

To Bill MacManus: I remember tourney-time well. Your sign
(last one out of town, turn off the lights) was probably in
or outside of Calais! Played varsity ball for 2 years at
Calais High (Go Blue Devils!!!) - for the two best years -
our back to back undefeated State Championship seasons (93 &
94). Grew up watching the teams....the year both Calais
girls & boys made the finals only to both lose
heart-breakers...the perpatually leaky roof at The
Mecca...fans packed to the rafters, coveting the
sportsmanship banner, but doing barely enough to deserve
it...rousing pep bands...the extra poignancy of the anthem
and silence during the Gulf War...watching Tony Tammaro
ref...the absolute exhiliration of the pile-up after the
buzzer sounded on a win...our 3 over-time game (and win)
against Schenck in 94...the caravans that met well after
midnight, and stretched for miles and miles in Baring to
meet the team bus after a successful Eastern Maine or State
game, the honking, cheering, and waving - I have yet to
experience anything like it since...and a million other
small details that bring everything back and make me wish I
was still able to experience it, and that it hadn't passed
so fast in such a blur! Not too sure about the new "open
format" they're using now, though.

Look forward to hearing from any of you!

*************************
Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke,VA
2/20/01 -- 11:41:12

Ahh...Febuary, the longest month of the year is but a week away
from ending. Thank God! No matter what the calander says
about its actual length, a single day in Feb. takes at least
twice as long to pass as a regular day in a sane month. AND
it doesn't matter if you're in Maine or in the south as I
am. Damn this has been a long month. Our weather down here
has been fluxuating between 20's & 30's & the mid 60's.
Don't laugh at my complaint. It is more brutal than a simple
cold feb.because it does havoc on the spirit & health, half
the restuarant staff are walking flu factories. I have been
lucky so far knock on wood (tapping on my head) but still.
In Maine at least it's winter like it should be, cold &
miserible, no teasing with warm weather; if I want to be
teased & flirted with to no avail I'll go out to the bars.
March is properly the month of changes. It will begin with
cold & what snow we get will happen then end it in shorts if
the past is any indicator.Sigh. Does anyone else feel the
way I do about this time of year???

*************************
Rebecca -- Portland,ME
2/19/01 -- 08:50:17

Hi...okay...I'm not in exile but love to read the posts here. I
went into the chatroom this weekend and only "Maineiac" and
I were there! Come on guys...he put alot of work in to
setting up the site...give him some support. It could be
alot of fun for us all to get in there and talk...some of
you must use other chatrooms to talk..why not talk about
Maine? Maineiac will email you the directions on how to get
there and they're not that hard. They sound complicated but
if you read the directions step by step even a computer
illiterate like me can do it!! Hope to see you there soon.

*************************
RichardKnapp (richardknapp@webtv.net) -- Hampstead,NC
2/18/01 -- 23:51:25

To Wayne St Clair,
Not sure but if the Taxes were lower a lot of problems would
be lower too. Its the taxes that have kept me away. My
brothers taxes are at the point of being sinful. A mil rate
of 16.00 where mine is 6.00 and I get more services!

*************************
Leona Noel (LEEmich@aol.com) -- Portland,MI
2/17/01 -- 19:32:48

Left Maine 1961--Visit Annually--Most of my family still in
Portland area Know any MacDonalds????

*************************
Rick Pearson (reds1@olg.com) -- St. Inigoes,MD
2/17/01 -- 13:19:43

I remember Brownies! Ilived just up the road from it. Worked the
night shift at Cumbies and went to Brownies on the weekends
cause I couldnt sleep at night. Is it still open? My old
girlfriend used to work there.

*************************
Alta (lokirat@aol.com) -- North Haven,CT
2/17/01 -- 12:53:06

Like a lot of others, I left to make my (?) fortune. I was
successful enough to be able to spend several weeks every
three months on Casco Bay with my Rat pack.

*************************
Richard Knapp (richardknapp@webtv.net) -- Hampstead,NC
2/17/01 -- 12:10:43

To Jennifer > You missed a few.
You know whats for supper on Sat. night. You take New
Hampshire personally. You pass up a steak dinner for fried
smelts. You consider Moody's diner some sort of shrine. You
call Portland a town. Put catsup on eggs, vinegar on french
fries, salt and pepper on everything else,and you bundle in
winter sleep on the porch in summer. Thanks to all my fellow
exilers for your posts. You have restored my sanity