Monday Morning Chuckle (the p.m. edition)

Farrah Fawcett

Sad news, the passing of Farrah Fawcett.  I saw every jiggly-episode of Charlie's Angels (yes, even after she left after only one season).  Her battle with cancer, like so many others, was courageous and sad, and the outcome was, unfortunately expected.

She left Charlie's Angels to pursue a career in movies, but that just did not work out.  Her return to television, especially her role as an abused wife in "The Burning Bed", showed her true talent as an actress.

RIP, Farrah.

And yes, I was one of those teenage boys that had "the poster".

Wednesday's Word

Action: Reverse nod (non-verbal language)

Description: If you want to be accepted as a native, don't wave; give the reverse nod. Properly delivered, the Yankee greeting has the chin lifted, the mouth open as if inhaling a gulp of air. This is perfectly acceptable and usual when drivers of two vehicles pass each other, or when a driver acknowledges a pedestrian. Another acknowledgement while driving consists of the index finger lifted slightly from the steering wheel. Never a wave of the hand, just one finger.

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

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that Maine is the world's largest producer of lowbush blueberries?  25% of the North American lowbush blueberries are harvested here in Maine from bushes that cover over 60,000 acres (called blueberry barrens), and require 50,000 beehives to pollinate the plants.

The Maine blueberry can be used in all kinds of dessert recipes including pies, breads, and jams.  Up here, we also love to put freshly picked blueberries on top of ice cream, or another great way is blueberries with Maine maple syrup drizzled on them.  Wicked awesome!

The lowbush blueberry is also the Maine State Fruit.  No surprise there.  Coconuts were a close second.  (just kidding)

Monday Morning Chuckle

Wednesday's Word

Word: Jo-jeezly (Adj. and Adv.)

Definition: ornery or cussed

Usage:

"I never see anything so jo-jeezly hard to split as that dry oak."

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

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that for six years now (June '03) the Maine Troop Greeters have been welcoming our military troops as they are either heading to or returning from duty in Europe, including Afghanistan and Iraq?  With it's two mile long runway, Bangor International Airport serves as a fueling stop for these long distance flights so the troops are able to leave the planes.  When they do, they are greeted by the Troop Greeters.  Since the current conflict began in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2002, these dedicated folks have arrived at the airport at any time of day or night to welcome the troops and tell them "thanks" for the job they're doing and to let them know that they are being supported.  There's no politics behind this as members of all parties participate in this.  It's a way to show the troops that they are appreciated and not being forgotten.  The Greeters also provide cell phones that have been donated so they can call home while they wait and also provide snacks and lots of conversation.  Stephen King has shown up before to greet troops also.

This year (2009), the independent movie The Way We Get By was released, focusing on three of the Troop Greeters: Bill Knight (age 76), Joan Gaudet (75) and Jerry Mundy (73).  The director of the movie is an Old Town, Maine native (just a couple of miles up the road from Orono), Adam Gaudet, and it's Adam's mom in the movie.  Check out the trailer:

If this movie comes to your town, check it out.  You'll have to find it at the indie movie theaters, most likely.

And support our troops.  Hopefully, the mess of the Bush administration will be cleaned up soon so they can all come home.  Until that time comes, the Troop Greeters will be there to welcome them.

Here's another site that has some pictures of the troops at the airport.

Monday Morning Chuckle

Steven Wright from 1988.

Welcome To All facebook Visitors

Here for the first time?  Well, look around.  Have fun.  Leave a comment if you want.

Those of you dropping in from somewhere other than facebook, welcome to you too!  I also hang at facebook...www.facebook.com/joethemason

Have a nice day.

Wednesday's Word

Word: Greezy (Adj)

Definition: Greasy, slippery

Usage:

"The main road is pretty greezy. The highway crew should put the sand right to it."

"Well, don't hold your breath. You know what's big and orange and sleeps three, don't you?"

"No, what?"

"State truck."

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

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the World's longest lobster roll was unveiled in Portland, Maine this past Saturday?  During the Old Port Festival in Portland, a lobster roll that was 61 feet 9.5 inches long was  brought out and did indeed break the old record for the longest lobster roll and will take its place in the Guinness Book of World Records soon.

Forty-eight pounds of lobster was mixed with four gallons of mayonnaise and secret spices by lobster roll maker Linda Bean, and Amato's provided the roll.  After measuring the jumbo sandwich, it was cut up into pieces and sold to raise money for summer swim programs for the kids in West Portland.

Wicked awesome, eh?   Mmmmm....lobster roll.....

Monday Morning Chuckle

A pirate walked into a bar and the bartender said, "Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. What happened? You look terrible."

"What do you mean?" said the pirate, "I feel fine."

Bartender: "What about the wooden leg? You didn't have that before."

Pirate: "Well, we were in a battle and I got hit with a cannon ball, but I'm fine now."

Bartender: "Well, okay, but what about that hook?  What happened to your hand?"

Pirate: "We were in another battle. I boarded a ship and got into a sword fight. My hand was cut off. I got fitted with a hook. I'm fine, really."

Bartender: "What about that eye patch?" 

Pirate: "Oh, one day we were at sea and a flock of birds flew over. I looked up and one of them shit in my eye."

Bartender: "You're kidding. You couldn't lose an eye just from bird shit."

Pirate: "It was my first day with the hook."

National Donut Day

That's right, kiddies, today, June 3, is National Donut Day.  It's okay to eat more than one....

Mmmmm....donuts.

Wednesday's Word

Word: Gorry! (Interjection)

Note: All true Yankees use this familiar expression.

Usage:

"I ice fished Moosehead (Lake) opening day, and gorry, wan't it cold! Holes skum over fast as you cut 'em."

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

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the starting point for the Appalachian Trail is Katahdin, in Baxter State Park in Maine?

View of Katahdin from the deck uptacamp (South Twin Lake)

Katahdin, named by the Penobscot Indians means "Greatest Mountain", and is the tallest mountain in Maine.  While many call it Mount Katahdin, the fact that it's name means "Greatest Mountain" makes the Mount before it meaningless...who wants to call it Mount Greatest Mountain?  That's just goofy (I'm looking at you, Wiki...)

The Appalachian Trail is 2,000 miles long, and runs from Baxter State Park in Maine to Georgia.

Monday Morning Chuckle