The Halloween Zone

Probably the most famous person from Maine is Stephen King. If he’s not first, then he’s gotta be right up there. He and his family live in Bangor, Maine, though he does spend winter in the warmer climate of Florida, he is known as a writer from Maine (and die-hard Red Sox fan).

Years ago, his home in Bangor was decorated right up for the holidays, but then the crowds got to be so huge going by there that they now just leave the house as it is. Notice, though, that the cast iron fence has a gate with bats on top and spider web & spider on the inside of each gate in front. Wicked cool, eh?

As I’ve mentioned at some point in the past in the blog, Mr King and his wife Tabitha own a group of radio stations in the Queen City. A sports station (WZON, AM 620), a rock station (WKIT, FM 100.3), and an adult/contemporary station (WDME, FM 103.1), which also broadcasts local sports events as does WZON.

I am a regular listener to the 6am-9am Sports Zone Morning Show and have also assisted them for a contest during Red Sox season (let’s just say I had to sing “Sweet Caroline”…it was painful on the ears), and even worked with another listener who played guitar and we sang “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot for the morning show (don’t ask). I also listen to the Afternoon Shootaround from 4-6pm. Anyway, at the ZONE Broadcasting office in Bangor, the staff of the stations completely decorate their entryway and hallways and have a haunted house every Halloween for any kids who can get there between 4pm – 7pm. It’s pretty awesome. Here’s a couple of pictures taken today at the station.

Nice, eh?

Then I’m on my way home, and I’m driving through my awesome little town of Orono and I see this:

Maybe they're dressing their yard up as a holiday tree for Halloween....?

Hello!!!! It’s friggin’ Halloween---WTF is with the christmas tree decoration already being up????

Anyway, Happy Halloween…and I guess happy winter holiday too.

Happy Halloween!

Great Moments in Republican(t) History

May 2, 2003. President George Bush acknowleges that the war in Iraq is over with the big "Mission Accomplished" banner that he had hung on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln for his big speech announcing such.

"Well golly, my IQ equals the number of thumbs I'm holding up...three!"

Here it is over 5 years later, and the Iraq war is still going on! Thanks, Georgie! You're terrific!

Philadelphia Phillies World Series Champs 2008

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on crushing the Tampa Bay Rays and winning the World Series tonight. They wrapped up the rain-suspended Game 5 (how wacky was all that???) tonight beating the Rays by a final score of 4-3, thus winning the 7 game series by a 4 games to 1 margin.

And as a former resident of Philadelphia (12 1/2 years, not including the one year I spent in the city as a Navy Hospital Corpsman from January through December of 1984), I want to say WooooHoooo for the Phillies, their fans, and the city of Philadelphia. Since you weren't playing my Red Sox, it was very easy to cheer for you. I even had my Fightin Phils rally towel dug out of a drawer.

I hope all of my friends in the city of Philly are having a wicked awesome time tonight and you all MUST go to the parade!!

And be sure to tell me all about it, and send pictures....but none with Mummers in them.

Wednesday's Word

Word: Bail (V.)
Definition: to consume, to impel---often to excess

Usage:
“Hot day for fat folks, ain’t it?”
“Sure is. Must be ninety in the shade. Man ought to just hole up down sulla and bail the cider to him.”

Or:

“By the looks of that front end, them young fellas must have been bailing it right to her when they went off the road.”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that a league is not a measure of depth, but a measure of distance? It comes from the Roman days and was the distance that a group of Roman soldiers could march in one day, considered to be around 50 miles.

The title of the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea refers not to a depth, but the distance that the Nautilus submarine traveled throughout the course of that story.

Buying Clothes to Help the Less Fortunate, GOP-Style

As you’re all aware by now, the McCain/Palin campaign spent $150,000 on clothes for Mrs Palin to wear at the various events she’s attending trying to brainwash…I mean…convince Americans that the ticket she’s part of is the right one to vote for on November 4th.

This money for the clothes came out of their campaign funds somewhere, so I wonder whose money was used to buy these clothes? Was it money from a rich donor, or from a donor with only a little money to their name but felt the obligation to support their party by giving some of their hard-earned cash to McCain/Palin?

Over the weekend, however, the McCain camp did justify the purchase of the clothes by saying that they had uprooted Sarah Palin from her normal routine by putting her on the GOP ticket as the VP candidate. They mentioned also that the Palin’s are not a wealthy family and that they wanted to help her out. So in effect, they took money from the wealthy and gave it to the less wealthy to help her make purchases of items she couldn’t otherwise afford.

Hmmmmm….taking money from the wealthy and giving it to the less fortunate. Spreading the wealth around, in other words. Sounds like Socialism to me. The Republican Party supporting Socialsim. Gotta tell yah...I didn't see that comin'.

Monday Morning Chuckle

Remember that band from the mid-80s, a-ha, and their animated video for their one hit "Take on Me" that was really cool? Well, you'll love this version of it, which has new words for the song, and the words pretty much just describe what's going on in the video. Simple as that.

Apologies in advance: for some reason, blogger won't upload the video. I've tried 12 times, and still it won't load it. (blogger sucks like that sometimes....).

So, please, for a good laugh, go here to check out this very funny vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HE9OQ4FnkQ

Saturday Morning Shows that I Miss

Lidsville, from 1971, was my favorite of the Sid & Marty Croft creations. Very psychedlic and groovy, eh? And if you're thinking, "Hmmm...that kid named Mark sure looks a lot like Eddie Munster", you're correct! That's Butch Patrick himself. And one of the funniest people ever, Charles Nelson Reilly, plays Merlo/Horatio J. HooDoo the mean magician. Great stuff.

I Voted Today!

And here's the sticker I got to prove it.

University of Maine Hockey

It's that time of year again, folks, when the UMaine Black Bears take the ice for their season home opener. I've got my season tickets and I'm more than ready for some college hockey action.


The Black Bears (or am I supposed to be calling them the African American Bears....?) had a disappointing season last year, and this year will be another rough one for them, but it's awesome to watch hockey in a live setting, and Maine hockey has been in my blood for a long time. I can remember when the Alfond Arena was being built back in the late 70s (about a mile from my home), and my folks bought 4 season tickets, three of which they still have to this day (one of which is now mine).

However their season turns out, I'm a fan, and quite frankly I love the fact that my seat is directly behind the visiting teams bench...and when I say directly behind, I mean it. Check this view from seat.

Go Black Bears!!

Wednesday's Word

Word: Some (Adv.)
Definition: very. Often “some old”. Peculiarly, this word, which is usually adjectival, serves as an adverb in Yankeeland: “some old homely”, “some pretty”.

Usage:
“Joe was some ugly when he found out he had to register his twelve foot canoe if he wanted to put his little electric outboard on it.”
“I don’t wonder. Way it is now, if you had a pair of waterwings and an egg beater, the State would say you was a motorized craft and stick a number on you.”

(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the longest standing American sports team nickname for a team that is still in its original city is the Philadelphia Phillies? The team and its nickname were established in 1883.

The Fightin’ Phils will be taking on the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for the World Series starting tomorrow night (Wednesday). With my Red Sox out of baseball for the year (thanks a lot Tampa), my heart is 100% behind the Phillies. Go Phillies!!

Monday Morning Chuckle

Tee Times

Well, with the Red Sox's loss tonight by a score of 3-1 in game 7 of the ALCS, they can now set-about to more important things, like getting tee times before the weather gets much colder.

Ah yes...it was an okay run before you got stopped by the younger team from Tampa Bay.

Until next year, Boston Red Sox, I say......Go Phillies!!

Cartoons That I Miss

Okay, I concede that this is not technically a cartoon. Maybe I should call this "Saturday Morning Shows That I Miss".

Red Sox Come Rocking Back

Whew...it's been a long, and late-night, fall as the baseball playoffs have been going. With MLB being a bunch of retards in scheduling (baseball games at 10pm at night on the East Coast??? No big surprise that ratings are wayyyyyyyyyyyy down from last year), the nights have been late following my BoSox.

But last night's HUMUNGOUS come-back from being down 7-0 in the 7th, and coming back to score 8 runs in the next three innings to win the game and bring the series to 3 games to 2 in Tampa's favor, at least now the Red Sox get another chance to extend this series to a 7th game if they win tomorrow night in Tampa.

So, LET'S GO RED SOX! And if the Sox can do it again this year and come back from being down 3 games, they'll go to the World Series and face the Philadelphia Phillies...who happen to be my favorite team in the National League.

And many of you may remember my prediction of who I thought would be in last year's World Series. Of course, I only got the Red Sox correct in that guess, and thankfully the Red Sox went on to win the Series. If the Sox make it to the World Series, I'm picking them, of course, over the Phillies.

But, we've got to get through the next two games against Tampa before that happens.

Stand by...the story continues this weekend....

Nipple Alert!

Yes, finally…after years of waiting, there was finally a nipple flash on last night’s Project Runway. Okay okay…so it’s not much, and it’s hard to see in the digi pic, but there’s the top of each nipple showing. ROCK ON!


Project Runway….BEST SHOW ON TV!

Oh, and congratulations to LeAnne Marshall for winning! And thanks for designing the nice short top that the model above is wearing.

Wednesday's Word

Word: Ugly (Adj.)
Definition: Ill-tempered

Usage:
“The old man Brown was some ugly about them kids swiping his apples.”
“Well, it wan’t the apples they took. It was they clumb up in the tree and shook it and then just picked up a few before they skedaddled. Left all the rest bruised on the ground.”
“I don’t blame him then. I’d be ugly myself.”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Ultimate Fighting and Advertising

I think ultimate fighters might want to pay better attention to where ads are being put on their shorts.

Or maybe it's the fighter who's advertising?

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that George Bush's approval rating, as of October 8, 2008, was at 23%?* To compare that to other presidents, it is the tied for the WORST presidential approval rating (w/ Harry Truman, surprisingly) since polling was started in 1950.

What's harder to believe is that 23% of the citizens of the United States think he's doing a good job!!! Yikes....

Other worsts:
Richard Nixon 24%
Jimmy Carter 28%
Ronald Reagan 35%
George H.W. Bush 29%
Bill Clinton 37%

Can you believe it...he's actually lower than Nixon?!!?


*ABC/Washington Post poll, 10/8/2008

Monday Morning Chuckle

This one never gets old.

Pondering…

Buying grandparent’s house at family rate: $50,000
Putting full basement/foundation under the house: $33,000
Replacing windows, doors; insulating and putting up vinyl siding: $10,000

Being completely broke: Priceless

Cartoons That I Miss

Let's Go Red Sox!

Tonight, the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay (devil) Rays begin the ALDS. Best of 7 series.

Let's Go Red Sox! Let's Go Red Sox!

******

Update: Red Sox 2 Devil...oops....Rays 0

Side note: It was funny to watch this game and actually see that the fans in Tampa had actually filled the Tampa Bay stadium for this game. I guess after years and years of having no fans, all of the sudden the team suddenly has fans. What's the matter Tampa Bay, you can't cheer for your team unless they're winning?? LAME! The only true fans of the Rays are the 9,000 or so who go to every game. You other 30,000 who've suddenly just become fans because they're winning....? Well, you're all LOSERS.

Boston Bruins!

Tonight the Boston Bruins begin their quest for the Stanley Cup with a game out in Colorado against the Avalanche.


Okay gang…you heard it here first: the Bruins are getting to the third round of the playoffs this year. I mean, I really hope they win the Cup, but it’s gonna be tough to get by Detroit.



Go Bruins!

Update: Bruins 5 Avalanche 4

Wednesday's Word

Word: Drastic (Adj.)
Definition: adventuresome

Usage:
“I got to feeling drastic and took in the girly show at the carnival.”
“How was it?”
“Not worth the money. They said if you really wanted to see something, it would be another five dollars on top of the three I paid to get in! I wan’t about to go for that.”
“Don’t blame you a mite.”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)

Did You Know Tuesdays

Did you know that the State of Maine is one of 24 states that allows for the selling of raw milk from farmers directly to the consumer? The advantage of raw milk is that, unlike pasteurized milk, it is not cooked before being re-cooled for packaging. By not cooking the milk during pasteurization, raw milk has a creamier flavor and still contains important anti-pathogens normally destroyed by heating. It does, of course, have to be consumed within a shorter time frame, about a week, but it’s worth it.

I get my raw milk at the Orono Farmer’s Market from Grassland Farms. They’re friendly and their products are great.

Support your local farmers! Learn more about the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardners Association (MOFGA) here.

Red Sox Beat Angels

The Boston Red Sox have beaten the Anaheim Angels 3-2, and win the series 3 games to 1.






Yeah, Red Sox! We've beaten the Angels, now bring on the Devils....Rays, that is.

Monday Morning Chuckle

Cartoons That I Miss

(Note: you'll have to turn your sound up to hear...not a good quality)

Did She Just Say "O'Biden"?

Yikes.

Wednesday's Word
formerly known as the "What're Words For..."

Word: What is, or, What Are (Interrogatory)
Definition: a curious circumlocution indicating that the questioner wishes to pursue a subject

Usage: “What is, Eben going to buy a new manure spreader?”
“Daow. He won’t buy it. Says he just wants to try her out. He will, till he cleans out his barn.”

Or:

“What are they, going to plow the Henderson Road now them new folks have built in there?”


(Definition from: "How To Talk Yankee", by Gerald Lewis & Tim Sample, copyright 1979, 1986 by The Thorndike Press; copyright 1989 by the First North Country Press)