Maravene (J131934@aol.com) -- Sarasota, FL
9/30/01 -- 10:11:38 AM

Glad that Maine Exiles is back in working order.
Wayne, I know the disdain and hatred for anything "different" was always there. People that live in the sewers and shadows only need a focal point to confirm their belief that they are better than any one else. They do not see how bland and boring this world would be if we were all the same. We would then be like the Taliban!
Thank you for standing by that woman.
Will our education ever come up to our ideals?
******************************

Raymond Roberts (svenelven@juno.com) -- Denver, CO
9/30/01 -- 05:24:34 AM

I was born in Maine and left when I was 5, I have just recently realized that maine is HOME to me...I want to get back so bad but I can't find High Tech (telecom) work or a decent rental property...it's making me crazy...well if anyone has any suggestions let me know...
******************************

Kathy Britt (kathleenbritt@hotmail.com) -- Reno, NV
9/28/01 -- 10:33:54 AM

Several years ago, we made the "mistake" of giving it all up in the west and going to work for LLBean for the season.  Couldn't find anything after, so back west.  Have been trying to return to Maine for years.  I have found that the problem doesn't exist now in finding employment but rather finding a place to rent!  Very discouraging.  Is anyone else experiencing this problem?
******************************

Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke, VA
9/28/01 -- 10:55:55 AM

:

   I fear for my country. What happened September 11th is unpardonable. There is no question in that. I fear because I see so much hatred & bigotry rearing its ugly head in response to the attacks that it shames me as an american, no as a citizen of world. To respond with hatred & ignorance with more of the same makes those who do it no better than those terrorists. An Iraqi home down here was fire bombed last week. I stood next to a moslem woman the other day until her bus came to protect her from some teens who were harrassing her shouting insults & obseanities at her & her children. A woman on the streets demanded to know why I wasn't wearing an american flag. I hear so much mindless my country right or wrong jingoism usually followed by something like we should bomb the bastards back to the stone age etc. & some other senseless platitude. It is unfortunate yet true that racism & zenophobia are deeply imbedded in our society & ironic too as we are all from away.
   Sould we respond...of course we should, in fact we really have no choice. To not do so would cause us to lose face internationally & invite more of the same. BUT we must proceed with grave & deliberate caution. If we are not careful we could find ourselves in a tit for tat war with many more innocent dead or worse a new world war. When I voice my objections lately I get alot of what are you anti american or something. No...I love my country but I do not believe blind, fanatical "patriotism" & I feel deeply that I as do all who urge caution that it is my duty in a democracy to state my objections & disodance. I have been asked if I'm angry. No I am not. What I am however is very sad & deeply grieved that here in the now 21st century that we (all us humans) can still do something that horrific to each other. Steve white said it

*************************
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

More Messages from Exile

 best...God help us all.
**************************

Bill (mrbill201@cfl.rr.com) -- Melbourne, FL
9/27/01 -- 03:08:57 PM

You probably have heard this already but Maine ice hockey coach Shawn Walsh died on 9/25.  He had pneumonia complications from his kidney cancer.  Info is in the Bangor Daily News online:   www.bangornews.com
********************

Bill (mrbill201@cfl.rr.com) -- Melbourne, FL
 9/27/01 -- 03:05:49 PM

Great foliage viewing site:
for Maine it is:
http://www.state.me.us/doc/foliage/
 ********************

Charles Edwards (cmppe@nwaft.com) -- Eureka Springs, AR
9/26/01 -- 08:46:00 AM

Hello fellow exiles. I am always hoping to hear from exiles from Cumberland County especially SAD 6 area. I graduated Bonny Eagle in 1975 any Scots out there in cyberspace? I still love the great state of Maine! I miss Sebago in the summer, Fryberg in the fall. Oh the shore trail from Ogunquit to Perkins Cove, now thats awesome or the mail run on Casco Bay Lines thats great.Write me.
*************************

Gary & Della Heard (g_heard@msn.com) --Bangor, ME
9/24/01 -- 09:42:59 AM

We have the distinction of making the first entry into this Board several years ago and am so glad it has become so popular.
Well, it's been two and a half years since we returned to Maine following retirement from the United States Air Force.  The Job I had when we arrived in Maine ended 8 months later.  For the next two years I looked and looked for comparable employment.  The VA helped tremendously by funding a second degree at Husson College.  But this didn't work either.  After sending out over a hundred resumes to various businesses througout the state and not receiving any response, I received an offer from a firm in Massachusetts.  Needless to say I took their offer as I was not getting any response from anyone in Maine.  We just closed on our house in Massachusetts, something we hadn't been able to even consider in Bangor with the wages being what they are.  The cost of living here is not much different than it is in Bangor, much to our surprise. The taxes are less too. Maine is a very beautiful state but at much too high a cost for residents. 
We are so disappointed that things didn't work out as we had planned but at least we are close enough to visit regularly along with everyone else in Massachusetts.  We will return someday when we don't have to depend on earning a living there.
They always say they want people to return to Maine but they are still paying the same wages in Bangor as I made in Kittery in the late 70s.  It's terrible.  Businesses are looking for Managers with experience but want to pay entry level wages.
Well enough of this dribble, congratulations to those that were able to make their return work and for the rest of us retirement is bound to come eventually!
********************

Norm Farley (cnf.a@worldnet.att.net) -- Lake Arrowhead, CA
9/23/01 -- 11:59:00 PM

I  was born in Gardiner, Maine. I lived in Portland, Maine most of my life. I graduated
from Deering H.S. and UMP in 1957. I left Maine to continue my education in Mass.
Because of my occupation I have travled widely in the U.S. and World. I have spent
the past 30plus years in Southern California. I had numerous friends in the Falmouth
area. I am now recently retired. I still visit te east coast yearly and have very fond
memories. Would enjoy hearing from classmates and friends from the Falmoth-Portland-
Richmond area..Maine hold a special spot in my affections.
*************************

Bill Palian (charliebrown@carolina.rr.com) -- Charlotte, NC
9/23/01 -- 10:42:47 PM

I just spent a weekend back in my native Maine.  Got to go to the Litchfield fair.  I really miss this time of year up there.
**************************

Judy Glover/Farley (judy@mhonline.net) -- Livingston, NY
9/23/01 -- 07:46:02 PM

Well I surely am native. Born in Maine in Lewiston CMG Hospital and my home was in Hebron. We lived right accross from Hebron Academy. I could go on and on about my memories of Maine.
  I went back for 6 years and they are very happy memories that my children had a chance to see and be in the places I hold so dear and to be near their grandparents. They finished their education there and even went to college in Westbrook. My daughter is in Vt and married a vermonter. We hope to buy a house there and move closer to Maine.Last summer we had a reunion in Hebron that brought our Canadian members and other exciles back.
 My son from Cal. thought he was escaping found his wife got hooked on Maine now they will be coming back more often.
  My mom and other sisters and brothers are still there.
   Maybe next year we can go to the Fryberg Fair. One year we went and almost froze watching the tractor pulls.
  My memories could go on and on but it can get boring. Life the way it should be. Amen
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K. -- Harlingen, TX
9/19/01 -- 10:33:23 PM

Miss snowmobiling!! 
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Steve White (maineiac@telocity.com) -- Dallas, NC
9/16/01 -- 03:34:35 PM

God Help Us All.....
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Susan (srutledge@camber.com) --Huntsville, AL
9/14/01 -- 11:00:21 AM

Just wanted to share something that was sent to me--
Subject: Miami Herald Article

This article was published in the Miami Herald, by Leonard Pitts, Jr.

We will go forward from this moment.  It's my job to have something to say.  They pay me to provide words that help make sense of that which troubles the American soul.  But in this moment of airless shock when hot tears sting disbelieving eyes, the only thing I can find to say, the only words that seem to fit, must be addressed to the unknown author of this suffering.

You monster.  You beast.  You unspeakable bastard.  What lesson did you hope to teach us by your coward's attack on our World Trade Center, our Pentagon, us? What was it you hoped we would learn?  Whatever it was, please know that you failed.

Did you want us to respect your cause?  You just damned your cause.  Did you want to make us fear?  You just steeled our resolve.  Did you want to tear us apart?  You just brought us together.

Let me tell you about my people.  We are a vast and quarrelsome family, a family rent by racial, social, political and class division, but a family nonetheless.  We're frivolous, yes, capable of expending tremendous emotional energy on pop cultural minutiae -- a singer's revealing dress, a ball team's misfortune, a cartoon mouse.  We're wealthy, too, spoiled by the ready availability of trinkets and material goods, and maybe because of that, we walk through life with a certain sense of blithe entitlement.  We are fundamentally decent, though--peace-loving and compassionate.  We struggle to know the right thing and to do it.  And we are, the overwhelming majority of us, people of faith, believers in a just and loving God. Some people -- you, perhaps -- think that any or all of this makes us weak.  You're mistaken.  We are not weak.  Indeed, we are strong in ways that cannot be measured by arsenals.

IN PAIN
Yes, we're in pain now.  We are in mourning and we are in shock.  We're still grappling with the unreality of the awful thing you did, still working to make ourselves understand that this isn't a special effect from some Hollywood blockbuster, isn't the plot development from a Tom Clancy novel.

Both in terms of the awful scope of their ambition and the probable final death toll, your attacks are likely to go down as the worst acts of terrorism in the history of the United States and, probably, the history of the world.  You've bloodied us as we have never been bloodied before.  But there's a gulf of difference between making us bloody and making us fall.  This is the lesson Japan was taught to its bitter sorrow the last time anyone hit us this hard, the last time anyone brought us such abrupt and monumental pain.  When roused, we are righteous in our outrage, terrible in our force.  When provoked by this level of barbarism, we will bear any suffering, pay any cost, go to any length, in the pursuit of justice.

I tell you this without fear of contradiction.  I know my people, as you, I think, do not.  What I know reassures me.  It also causes me to tremble with dread of the future.  In the days to come, there will be recrimination and accusation, fingers pointing to determine whose failure allowed this to happen and what can be done to prevent it from happening again.  There will be heightened security, misguided talk of revoking basic freedoms.  We'll go forward from this moment sobered,
chastened, sad.  But determined, too.  Unimaginably determined.

THE STEEL IN US
You see, the steel in us is not always readily apparent.  That aspect of our character is seldom understood by people who don't know us well.  On this day, the family's bickering is put on hold.  As Americans we will weep, as Americans we will mourn, and as Americans, we will rise in defense of all that we cherish.

So I ask again: What was it you hoped to teach us?  It occurs to me that maybe you just wanted us to know the depths of your hatred.  If that's the case, consider the message received.  And take this message in exchange:

You don't know my people.  You don't know what we're capable of.  You don't know what you just started.  But you're about to learn.
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Tom Burgess (t_burgess_2000@yahoo.com) -- Huntington Beach, CA
9/14/01 -- 10:55:36 AM

I thought that the TV channel was on some sci-fi movie channel when I turned it on to watch the news on Tuesday morning.

Once it was apparent that what we saw is real, and an apparent terrorist activity, the only thoughts that came to mind was "They've awakened the Sleeping Giant again" and "This is Pearl Harbor all over again... At least then we knew exactly who it was that attacked"

I find it scary to think my wife and I flew out of Boston to Los Angeles exactly two weeks prior of the Sept. 11th attacks.

It will be a long time before we do any more traveling...
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LaForest S. Curtis (Bud) or Kurt (Kurt92832@aol.com) -- Richmond, VA
9/13/01 -- 08:39:05 PM

I was born in New Harbor--lived in Portland--Hampden--and Bangor.  Graduated Bangor High School--1950--Went into the Army--Discharged and lived and married in New Jersey. After 16 years was transferred by my job to Richmond, Virginia. Still miss Maine. Love to go and visit every other year. Have Four children and 8 grandchildren. Been married for 44 years....
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Bill -- Melbourne, FL
9/13/01 -- 02:21:07 PM

for teaching jobs in Maine go to
www.servingschools.com

This site lists current opennings and can be screened by town/school district, etc.
click on browsejobs or something like that.
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Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke, VA
9/13/01 -- 12:12:22 PM

The only thing that I can think to say is to quote the reporter that was covering the Hindenburg when it went down..."Oh the humanity, the humanity." While I didn't vote for Bush in Nov. & still wouldn't may God bless & guide him to do the correct & honorable thing.
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Liz -- Warrenton, VA
9/12/01 -- 02:21:40 pm

I was shocked to hear one of the terrorist boarded in little ole Portland!!We need to tighten the security in these airports that is for sure.Our area (not to far from Wash.) was a disaster yesterday. I hope this country thinks twice about being the nice guy any more. the parking lot is full!!!
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Jessica Tomlinson (jessica@mainetoday.com) -- Portland, ME
10/11/01 --- 01:43:23 PM

For those planning to participate in Maine at Work, the online virtual job fair of MaineToday.com, we have postponed the event due to the events of September 11, 2001. The new date is October 10, 2001. For more information, visit the Careers section of MaineToday.com. Thank you.
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Crystal (cwissy5639@yahoo.com) --San Francisco, CA
9/10/01 --  10:12:26 PM

I was born and raised in Maine, lived in Yarmouth until I was 19.  Then got the urge to travel so I packed up and drove across country to California.  I miss the life of Maine, so simple and not so fast pace.  I miss the red hot dogs SO much that I am going to order a bunch and have them sent out to me.
I will definitly be back someday, probably sooner then later.  I would never raise a family any place other then Maine!.
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Bryan and Bonny Finnemore (BryBon@excite.com) --Aurora, IL
9/5/01 -- 05:02:06 PM

A Maine born native myself and my wife, though born in IA has lived there since 3months old, we left to find work that would actually support us.  We would love to move back but we would have to earn the same income there as here.  We lived in the Augusta/Gardiner area and I did a salary/cost-of-living comparison that informed me that we would have to earn 1.1% more to live there again comfortably!  Everyone FROM Maine knows that that is NOT possible as we both work in RETAIL.  So our hearts sadden as we still long for home and know that the only way we will go back is in retirement.  So exciled we will be until old and retired we become unless income in Maine increases to offset the taxes they collect.  If our families read these messages know our hearts are always with you until we meet again!
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Wayne St. Clair (wane9779@hotmail.com) -- Roanoke, VA
9/4/01 -- 12:18:31 PM

A friend & co-worker (not always the same thing) is moving to Maine. He went up weekend before last & over the course of 4 days got himself a job as an asst. manager at one of the Amato stores starting in the  25G range & landed an apartment on the western prom.I am so jealous I can't see straight & quite happy for him at the same time. He is back here getting ready to move & I found myself checking out his U-Haul to see if there were room for me & my famiulars Smokey the cat & Grover the puppy. There is. Now just maybe...!!!
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Debbie Knight (dknight@mpinet.net) --Fruitland Park, FL
9/3/01 -- 11:19:51 AM

Greetings from Fruitland Park -

I was born in Norway, Maine and will hit the bit 4-0 in September. I married into the army, and have been all over before settling down here in Florida. My Dad is the Fire Chief in the town of Norway, and my entire family is there, with the exception of my daughter who lives in Indiana. 

I miss the fall weather (I'm told it's 50 degrees up there today), the colorful leaves and the ITALIAN SANDWICHES. Which brings me to ask the question...does anyone have a recipe for the italian rolls? A friend and I (her husband was from Maine) are trying to bake this delicious bread, but don't have the right recipe. 

I love this site and wish I had found it eons ago.

:) Thanks.
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Jay Ciampi (jciampi@tnni.net) -- Lake Placid, FL
9/2/01 -- 04:39:42 PM

A.G in Richmond hit the nail right on the head. I have been saying that same thing for over 40 years. I left for lack of decent work in Maine, tried to go back 4 different times and got the same response:"If you have a decent job in Florida,you had better stay there as we can't offer you what you are making now"  
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Lisa Tabb-Buerhaus (Lisabu@cs.com) --Hope Mills, NC
9/1/01 -- 04:18:05 PM

Hi all!

I was born in Boston, but moved to Auburn when I was 3.  I was raised in Auburn and went to school there.  I graduated from Edward Little H.S. in 1982 and left the great state of Maine when I was 19.  How time has flown. 

I can remember people initially asking me to say "park the car" and laughing!  It was quite commical, since I thought they had the accent.

I married a man in the military and have since lived everywhere from Texas to North Carolina and everywhere in between.  I still miss the scenery, but especially the people.  I am going back up in a few weeks to visit my father.  IM sorry to say I haven't been back in years. 

There is no other place quite like Maine.

If you feel like emailing me, I'd love it!  Especially if you're from Auburn.
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Velma (sassy1@chartertn.net) -- Johnson City, TN
9/1/01 -- 05:36:20 AM

Brenda in Knoxville, I am another one that was born and bred in Maine and moved to Tn.
almost 4 years ago, still have kids and grandkids in Maine. E mail me when ya get a chance.
Was able to get to Maine for a few days in August as my mother passed away, so
it was a quick trip but I got my fix of Wass's hotdogs in Rockland and Italians
and family and friends which will have to keep me going till next July.
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