Kim -- League City, TX
2/19/02 -- 11:38:16 AM
I wish I was born in Maine so I could justify
wearing one of those excellent shirts. Alas, I
was born here in Houston, the sauna for the United
States. I at least had the good sense to marry
a New Englander (CT) who wants to retire to Maine
with me. Perhaps you could come up with a logo
for us Maineiac wannabes?
***************************************
Robin -- Vienna, WV
2/18/02 -- 08:42:19 PM
Received this from my mom in Maine and had to
share it with the rest of the world, enjoy!
Subject: from Maine
YOU KNOW YOU ARE FROM MAINE IF:
1. You've had arguments over the comparative quality
of Fried Dough.
2. When it snows four inches you call it "a
dusting."
3. Your neighbor's house was foreclosed after an
unlucky 24-hour mini-cruise on the Scotia Prince.
4. You don't understand why there aren't fried clam
shacks elsewhere in the country.
5. You know what an Irving is and the location of 15
of them.
6. You know all the flavors at Perry's Nut House.
7. Your car is covered in yellow-green dust in May.
8. You can drive the Augusta traffic circle without
slowing down.
9. You've hung out at a gravel pit.
10. You think a mosquito could be a species of bird.
11. You once skipped school and went to Bar Harbor,
Old Orchard Beach, or Reid State Park.
12. Even your school cafeteria made good chowder.
13. You've almost fallen asleep driving between
Houlton and Presque Isle.
14. You know how to pronounce Calais.
15. You've made a meal out of a Jordan's red dye
hot-dog, a bag of Humpty-Dumpty potato chips, and a
can of soda.
16. You've gone to a Grange bean supper.
17. In high school, you (or a friend) packed Deering
Ice Cream cones.
18. At least once in your life, a seagull pooped on
your head.
19. At least once in your life you've said, "It
smells like the mill in here."
20. There's a fruit and vegetable stand within 10
minutes of your house.
21. You crave Italian sandwiches at least weekly.
22. Your idea of a traffic jam is being the second
car at the stoplight.
23. You wonder out loud if the state can just close
its borders to people from "away."
24. Your house converts to a B&B every July
& August for people from away that you happen to
know.
25. All year long you're tracking sand in the house
-- from the beach in the summer and the roads and
sidewalks in the winter.
26. You have a front door but no porch to get to it.
27. Your kids start using "wicked" as a
multipurpose part of speech.
28. You have to have the sand cleaned out of your
brake system every spring.
29. You do the majority of your shopping out of
Uncle Henry's.
30. You've ditched the car on the side of the road
somewhere because you thought you saw some good
fiddleheads!
31. You've had a vacation from school just to help
the family pick potatoes
32. If you know a lobster pot is a trap, not a
kettle.
33. If you know not to plant tender crops until the
last full moon in May.
34. When you go to the dump and bring back more than
you brought. :)
35. You've ever given directions to someone from
away and intentionally led them in the opposite
direction they wanted to go.
36. You watch "Murder, She Wrote" and
snicker at the stupid fake accents.
37. You know how to find the rope swing at the
quarry.
38. You take the New Hampshire toll personally.
39 You feel really, really good when you cross the
Piscatiqua River Bridge into Kittery.
40. You always wave when you see a Maine license
plate in another state.
41. When a roll of Duct tape and a can of flat black
spray paint will get your car to pass inspection.
42. When you know how to avoid all the traffic at
the Fryeburg Fair by using the "Secret
Entrance."
43. When you have to replace you mailbox yearly
because of the town plow.
44. When you know how to get from Cumberland to
Fryeburg via the "Egypt Road."
45. When you can remember when the "Egypt
Road" was a dirt track through the woods.
46. When you're supposed to dress up, you wear
flannel with a tie.
47. You know that Moody's Diner does NOT take credit
cards!
48. You actually miss the fifteen-below-zero
mornings in winter (that have been eliminated by the
greenhouse effect) because you enjoyed running or
walking to work in the silent crystal stillness,
punctuated by an idling car engine as the owner
waited indoors for the car to warm up before his mad
dash from warmth to warmth, and your lungs did not
freeze; thank you very much for your concern.
49. When the word "stove" refers to what
you did to the right front fender of your truck
after you've had a wicked bring-up on a rock.
50. When there's too much "stuff" in your
2 "cah" garage to get either of your cars
into it.
51. When you know what a frappe is.
52. When you know the smell of Woodsmen's fly dope.
53. When you eat supper at night and dinner at noon
**********************************
Andrew Wisecarver (
andrew.wisecarver@divine.com )
-- Grant Park, IL
2/18/02 -- 04:16:10 PM
Born in Bangor 1968, brought against my better
judgment to the midwest..Ok..I was 3, but still.
Been back almost every year of my younger life, but
haven't been able to get away out there for the
better part of 10 years.
I'm in process of convincing my Chicago native wife
to give ME a try, and become a transplant, while I
return to my youth, my hometown, my favorite state.
(it doesn't hurt I've gotten her into reading Mr.
King's Classics as well...we're both a little
macabre...I think he's helping me win her over)
Hoping to be back soon.
*********************************
Jay Ciampi (
jciampi@tnni.net )
-- Lake Placid, FL
2/15/02 -- 07:25:02 PM
Grew up in Gray, ME. and loved every day of it!
Left the state for lack of jobs(Go figure!)Tried to
move back several times, couldn't find a decent
paying job soi I stayed right here in Florida and go
back to Maine every chance I get. As it has been
said many a time: "You can take the boy out of
Maine, but you can't take Maine out of the
boy". so true! Ayuh! Anybody out
there from Gray?
****************************
Cheryl (
clrankin@moose-mail.com )
-- Atlanta, GA
2/14/02 -- 08:05:47 AM
M. Bayer wrote about that "How can YOU be
cold?! You're from MAINE!!" reaction in
other parts of the country. When we first
moved to Atlanta, I sneered at the shivering and
wailing Southerners who were aghast every time the
temps dipped below 40. I kept telling them,
"You don't know cold! It's not even below
zero." Alas, I have to admit that my body
must have morphed into Southern mode after living
here for four years. Now whenever it's below 40, I
may keep my mouth shut out of a sense of Maine
pride, but I am COLD!!! As M. Bayer
pointed out, the houses in warmer climes are not
well insulated or heated for the few days when it is
truly cold. We've had days with temps in the single
digits, though few and far between. I
have to admit, though, that I still have to laugh
(inwardly) when I see someone here in Atlanta
dressed in a down parka, wrapped in a wool scarf,
and wearing mittens when it is 45 degrees outside.
That's a heatwave during a Maine winter!
*************************************
Rick Meacham (
LAKOTA5237@aol.com )
-- Virginia Beach, VA
2/7/02 -- 05:13:57 PM
HI ney bah< im here in vbeach, in far away
land, missing Bowdoin,me and Dameriscotta My
favorite place.Moody's diner too been gone 10
years. NOT A native mainer but lived year round for
20 years in bowdoin,me. retired , lost nasb civil
service job> riffed.. Alway's thinkin bout maine.
**************************
Steve White (
maineiac@telocity.com )
-- Dallas, NC
2/9/02 -- 07:20:39 PM
Hello fellow exilers,
My class is putting our 30th year reunion together
and we're having trouble locating some of our
classmates. I graduated from Freeport High Scool in
1972. But we're actually looking for anyone who
attended Freeport High from '69-'75 for a special
event. Any help in locating people from these years
would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Maineiac
**********************************
Paula -- Lynchburg, VA
2/10/02 -- 09:10:32 AM
Hi MIEs, I sent a message a few weeks ago,
answering a few questions from Cheryl and Wayne, but
it never showed up. Hope everyone is doing well. The
SuperBowl was awesome--and very exciting for me as
four of my siblings happened to be in VA together on
that big day. My brother in NH (the oldest) was
beside himself--being a big Pats fan for years. It
was definitely a proud day for us New Englanders!
Lois in Louisa--I go through your town everytime I
drive to my brother's. Wayne in Roanoke, my brother
is reading a book about the ice age which he says
explains the "warming" of the planet. I
agree that it would be nice to get some snow.
Til next time
***************************
Susan Malie (
smalia1@maine.rr.com )
-- Portland, ME
2/9/02 -- 02:33:59 PM
Hi, would like to hear from
people who lived in Maine......especially Portland,
so send me a note......
*************************
Pete Gardner (
rufio@eagnet.com )
-- St. Marys, GA
2/9/02 -- 09:08:01 AM
I was born and raised in Warren and graduated from
MVHS in '81. The lure of the sea and adventure
forced me into the Navy and travels. I'm still
Submarining and will retire when being a sailor
stops being fun. God I miss the snow and seasons. It
makes me homsick but not so alone when I read these
entries. I feel for all of us who may not ever
return due to lack of employment. Thank all of you
for the entries and the occasional recepie from
HOME.
*****************************
Laurel Frost (
laurelfrost@justice.com )
-- Offutt, AFB, NE
2/7/02 -- 08:45:18 AM
I was raised in Leeds, and my hubby was raised in
Peru, Maine. We are moving home as soon as he
gets out of the Air Force. I hope that he can
find a programming job back home... I miss real
people, the "natural" ponds and lakes,
trees, and the rocks.
*******************************
David -- Valrico, FL
2/2/02 -- 12:39:51 AM
agree with you Cookie. I was
home for Christmas and I HATE going across that darn
bridge into New Hampshire and I always look back
wondering when I will get back home again. I hate
leaving and hopefully won't have to one day.
**********************************
David --- Valrico, FL
2/2/02 -- 12:33:38 AM
I miss Maine so much!!! Got
to visit in Christmas but there was no snow in
Aroostook County which I couldn't believe. I truly
miss the people there and it makes my day when I
meet fellow Mainers down here in Florida. Take care
and may God bless and hold down the fort till I get
back there for good someday.
*****************************
Karen ( K9Tiger@aol.com
)
-- Aiken, SC
1/31/02 -- 05:38:33 PM
Everyone ready for the
Superbowl?
GO PATRIOTS!!!!!!!
********************************
Tony -- Austin, TX
1/31/02 -- 01:39:13 PM
BORN AND RAISED IN
PORTLAND, ME. I MISS DRINKING THE WATER FROM THE
TAP. BEEN ALL AROUND.BUT MAINE HAS THE BEST DRINKING
WATER AND THE CLEANESS AIR TO BREATH.
***********************************
Wayne St.Clair (
wane9779@hotmail.com )
-- Roanoke, VA
1/31/02 -- 10:19:38 AM
I swear this is
un-natural. It has been in the 70's down here this
past week & its the end of January. I know the
Gods have a perverse sense of humor so it will
probably snow in July. And, I hear Maine is having a
shortage of snow...the world is coming to an end. No
really, does anyone doubt global warming now? I'm
going to start selling oceanside property in
Cleveland if this keeps up & make a killing. I
want winter!!!
***********************************
Pamela Thompson (
pb-and-j@world.att.net )
-- Colorado Springs, CO
1/30/02 -- 10:40:32 PM
Hello Fellow Exiles,
Do any of you have the answer to this question?
Where did the Crown Pilot Cracker derive its name.
The question was posed by my "non-Mainer
neighbor" , whom I had given some of my home
made corn chowder and half a box of pilot crackers
(yes, generous I know, Mainers are by nature).
Anyway he asked where the name came from. I
filled him in on the great "story"
surrounding their demise and then return, but then,
that question came out of left field...Does anyone
know? Much appreciate any reply. Only a
few more years until military service will allow a
retirement and return to our beloved "state o
Maine".
***************************************
Rhea (
kennelly@megalink.net )
-- Sumner, ME
1/30/02 -- 02:11:55 PM
As you can see I have not
gone far in life :-)
Actually have traveled steadily for the past six
years but am grounded now. Sumner has a rare
beauty.
Looking for anyone from Mechanic Falls.....
**************************************
Michelle (
mperlette@gru.net )
-- Gainesville, FL
2/5/02 -- 01:17:19 PM
It's so great to read these posts and know I am
not alone! Moved from Portland to Florida 16
years ago- My grandparents still live in the
Rumford/Mexico area. I married a Florida boy
who fell in love with Maine the first time we
visited and we go up at least once a year...We are
closing on our own vacation/retirement place in
Rangeley next month- Even though my husband
and I will only be able to go there once a year
until we retire, it will be good knowing I own my
own small piece of home!
***************************