Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that Maine’s state flag was adopted in 1909, 89 years after Maine had become the 23rd state in the US? This would mark the 100th birthday of the State of Maine flag.

On a deep-blue field are a farmer and sailor, representing prosperity from both land and sea. Between them is a shield with the a pine tree (the State Tree), a moose, blue sky and water. Above the shield is the North Star (Maine was the Northernmost state when it entered the Union). The state motto, “Dirigo”, which means “I direct”, is centered on a red ribbon between the star and the shield.

Pretty cool state flag, if I do say so myself. It is the finest kind of pork.

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the 12 largest lakes in Maine are each over 10,000 acres big? Yeah, I know that’s nothing compared to any one of the Great Lakes. Nonetheless, the lakes are:

1. Moosehead Lake 74,890 acres

2. Sebago Lake 28,771 acres

3. Chesuncook Lake 23,979 acres

4. Flagstaff Lake 20,300 acres

5. Pemadumcook chain of lakes 18,300 acres

6. Spednick Lake 17,219 acres

7. Mooselookmeguntic Lake 16,300 acres

8. East Grand Lake 16,070 acres

9. West Grand Lake 14,340 acres

10. Churchill Lake 13,220 acres

11. Chamberlain Lake 11,084 acres

12. Big Lake (incl Lewey & Long Lakes) 11,505 acres

That’s a total of 265,978 acres taken up by the 12 largest lakes in Maine. Maine itself takes up approximately 22,647,680 acres.

When I go uptacamp, I go to South Twin Lake, one of the 5 lakes in the Pemadumcook chain

This is the view from my seat on the rock...looking at Maine's tallest mountain, Katahdin. Sweet, huh?

And if that info above doesn’t wow you, how about this? Did you know that Maine is the only state in the United States with a one-syllable name? Now you know.

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the League of American Bicyclists recently listed Maine as the third most bike-friendly state in the United States?  Coming in behind Washington and Wisconsin, Maine moved up 3 places from last year's ranking.

I need to get me a bike.

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that 40 gallons of maple syrup will only produce one quart of pure maple syrup?  It's maple syrup season here in the great Northeast...Maine being the greatest...and the syrup producers have been working long hours getting their delicious product cooked and bottled for sale.

This past Sunday was Maine Maple Sunday in which the sugarhouses of Maine were open to the public for tours and tastings.  Very soon, Maine maple syrup from this spring will be arriving somewhere near you. While Vermont leads the US in syrup production, it's really no contest...Maine's is better, but we also like our New England neighbor's syrups, too.

It's great on your standards like pancakes, but here's a little taste-tip for you out there:  take it from this Mainah - next time you're dishing out some ice cream, put a little maple syrup on it. It takes the word YUM to new levels of yummyness.

Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that the last traditional stone-ground mustard mill is located in the United States' easternmost-city, Eastport, Maine?  (Eastport is first point in the US that the morning sun touches.)  Raye's Mustard has been producing stone-ground mustard since 1900, and has been in its current location since 1903.

Raye's has produced award-winning mustards, including two awards this year when their "Down East Schooner" mustard won the gold medal in the Classic Yellow Mustard category at the 2009 World-Wide Mustard Competition (held in Napa Valley, CA), and their "Winter Garden" (with hints of dill, garlic and celery) won the bronze medal in the Herb Mustard category.

The Raye family still runs the mill and produces a great line of gourmet mustards.  Their mill has a retail store, the Pantry Store, where their products can be purchased.  They also have free tours of their facility.  Visit their website here, Raye's Mustard, and if you're ever up in Maine, think about taking their tour.  Until then, look for their product.  It's wicked good, ayuh.

Survivor: Gabon Winner

There's a new millionaire in the great State of Maine and that person is Bob Crowley, from Portland. Mr Crowley is the winner of the latest season, the 17th, of Survivor.

Bob is a physics teacher in Portland and at 58 years old he has become the oldest winner on the show.

Way to go, Maine-guy!! You did wicked good, ayuh, and winning Survivor: Gabon has got to be....wait for it...wait for it.....the finest kind of pork.

Did You Know Tuesday....

...did you know that the Eastern-most point in all 50 states (by direction of travel) is Sail Rock, which is just offshore of West Quoddy Head, Maine?

Come on up and watch the sunrise!!

In this Case, Size Does Matter

Check this out:

Philadelphia, PA covers 135 square miles. In 2006, the population of Philadelphia was 1.52 million people. That’s quite a few bodies crammed into not a whole lot of space.

The great State of Maine covers 83,215 square miles. The 2006 population of the entire Pine Tree State in 2006 was 1.32 million.


I’m not too good at math, but looking at these numbers shows that there are…let’s see…. **doing math…carry the one….subtract the square root of the multiplier…add pi…and comes up with** ….there are over 200,000 more people living in the 135 square miles of Philadelphia than live in the 83,000+ square miles of Maine. Or something like that. Damn! That’s a huge difference!!

So, do I miss Philadelphia? Of course I do. But Philadelphia was too small. Maine is much bigger and spacious.

And bigger is better.

What’re Words For, Part 20

Wow! It’s been far too long since I’ve done a grammah (grammer) lesson for all of your TFKoP readers. I’ve just been so gawsh-darned busy that I’ve neglected the teaching you’ve all come to expect.

So, without further ado, on with this lesson.

Phrase: Driving at (V.)
Definition: attempting, engaged in
“What are you driving at now, Pete?”
“I’m working two jobs. Have to. I’ve got a wife, a car payment and a girlfriend; and they’re all three thirty days past overdue.”

(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)

Looks like Pete is one busy guy!

Hope all is well in your corner of the woods, chummies.

What’re Words For, Part 19

Hi there, chummies. It’s that time again here in Philadelphia for candidates to start lining up for the mayoral election. The four-year cycle has come around again, and now Philadelphians can get ready for a long, mud-slinging 9month period where the mayoral-hopefuls tell us their ideas for solving this city’s unbelievable murder rate, the high taxes, the filthy neighborhoods, and the out-of-control pay-to-pay culture that exists within the city’s own government. Of course, none of them will be able to fix anything and are just blah-blah-blah’ing on and on to get your vote. Lucky for me I’m moving back to Maine in July, so I won’t have to be witness to the dirty politics that is so Philadelphia.

It seems appropriate to me that the word this week is so geared towards the people who are running for mayor in Philly.


Word: Scurvy (Adj.)
Definition: dirty or villianous
“Did you see the crew that got off that trawler?”
“Gorry, wasn’t they a scurvy-looking outfit! Hadn’t washed for a month, I’ll bet.”
“I know it. Enough to gag a maggot.”

(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)

Have at it Philadelphia. You’ve got mayoral candidate scurvy one, scurvy two, scurvy three, scurvy four, scurvy five, and scurvy six.

Your outlook doesn’t look too good.

What're Words For, Part 18

Well, winter has sure come-a screaming into the Philadelphia area these last few days. We had been cruising along this winter with temperatures in the 50s and sometimes 60s, but the last couple of days have found temps bottoming out in the teens, and adding in the wind, the temperature has been sitting in the "minus" numbers. Brrrrrrrrr......

I guess I should start getting used to it what with my impending move back to my home state of Maine this coming July.

Today's word? Has something to do with it being cold....

Word: Bahmy (Adj.) balmy

Definition: Use this for irony. Said of fiercely cold temperatures.

Usage:

"It was cold up there on Spider Lake?"

"Bahmy. Thirty-five below on the last day of February. Never did get much fishing done."

"Well, wan't no blackflies to bother ye."

(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)

I guess you could say that Philadelphia has been a bit bahmy these last few days. And judging by the forecast for the next several more days, we'd better get used to it.

What’re Words For, Part 17

It’s been a couple of weeks, it seems, since I’ve gotten a Yankee vocabulary lesson to you all. However, the last one, the usage of the letter “R”, was an important one, and I felt you all needed to time to just absorb the information from that, ayuh.

This week’s word is another “R” word, but has to do with living it up.

Word: Ramming (V.)
Definition: On the town
“Al’s not coming to work today?”
“No, called in sick. He was ramming around all last night and won’t be worth nawthin’ this morning.”

(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)

And wouldn’t you know it? I can use that word in a sentence! Here goes:

I will be ramming around New York City as I rock out to THE CODES at the Knitting Factory tonight. Hope to see you there, chummies.

What’re Words For, Part 16

Time for you all to REALLY get the feel of the Maine accent. You all know, by now, about the drawl associated with the letter (lett-ah) “R”. Here’s the explanation:


Word: R
Pronunciation Note:
The first rule is to replace the final “r” (or “re”) with something close to “ah” or “uh”. Thus, “there” becomes “thay-uh”, “near” becomes “ne-uh”, and so forth.

The second rule is to add the final “r” to those given names appearing to lack them – e.g. “Lucinda” becomes “Lucinder”, “Amanda” becomes “Amander”, “Augusta” (the State Capital) becomes “Auguster”, etc.

The third rule, which is restricted to Aroostook County (the largest and most Northern county in the State of Maine), is to disregard the first two rules because therre, the morre “r”’s the betterr.

(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)


And it’s most funny when Rules One and Two are applied to the same word. An example of this is when “Martha” becomes “Mah-ther”.

Keep studying everybody, your dialects are coming along just fine, ayuh.

What’re Words For, Part 15

Whew! Phase 2 of the 3-part 2006 Holiday Season is over with Christmas having been on Monday (and Thanksgiving last month), now we just await the New Year to bring to a close the annual Holiday Trifecta.

To salute the craziness of this time of year, I selected a Yankee term that addresses just how caught-up we can get running around for food, gifts, and family during the November/December craziness.

Word: Drove Up (V.) phrase
Definition: extremely busy
“Eugene is all drove up trying to get enough money to buy a new color tv. He dug clams on two tides yesterday.”
“Better him than me. I ain’t afraid to work, but I ain’t afraid not to.”

(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)

I imagine many of you were all drove up over the holidays buying gifts, cooking meals, and getting ready for Santa these past couple of weeks. I hope it all paid off handsomely for you and your families/friends.

In sad news to the blogger community, it appears that Sar of Belle of the Brawl will be all drove up with school work in the coming New Year and will be unable to devote as much (any?) time to her blog. Sar has decided to go back to school to pursue a Public Relations degree, and understands that this commitment will infringe on her blogging time. While this is certainly fantastic news for a fantastic lady (and super-friend of yours truly and many other bloggers), there will be a vacuum within the internet as her presence will be immensely missed. Best of luck, Sar!!

Sar, keep me updated on your school progress, de-ah! I’ll be waiting to he-ah, ayuh!

What’re Words For, Part 14

I have to admit that I’ve been impressed with how far you readers (readahs) have come along in these 14 weeks I’ve been teaching you how to talk Yankee. It’s nice to see you properly using the terms of endearment “chummy” and “de-ah”, and especially the progress you’ve made in using THE WORD….ayuh.

This week we continue our journey with a word that can be applied to any situation that seems dire or pathetic.


Word: Desperate (Adj.)

Definition: hopeless, or nearly so

“Did you see that woman Ethan had out last night?”
“Ayuh…some desperate! God made her as ugly as he could, then kicked her in the face.”


(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)

Applied another way, you could say that my Christmas shopping has turned desperate. With only 5 days to go before this holiday, I’m still picking up gifts, and I’m sure I will be right up through the 24th, ayuh. That’s some desperate, chummy.

What're Words For, Part 13

With the end of December approaching, we will all be seeing all of our friends and family as we celebrate whatever holiday/festival it is that we may celebrate during this time of year. As we hang out with our chums and tip back a holiday drink, be it cider, eggnog, or alcohol, we celebrate our lives and those who have made it what it is.

This week's word is a term of endearment for any and all of your friends, family, and everyone else that you'll be spending your upcoming days with.

Word: De-ah (N.) (sp. "dear")
Definition: friend, chum
Don't be alarmed if you hear a couple of rough, tough clam diggers address each other as "De-ah". It's an old custom and indicates not a whit of effeminacy. The greeting crosses all lines of sex and age, and even total strangers may talk to each other thus -- provided they know how talk Yankee.


(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)


So, de-ahs, I hope your holiday plans are going swimmingly!

What're Words For, Part 12

It's that time of year when we North Americans are devouring our turkey dinners, hanging our stockings by the fireplace, and just-a-waiting for ole Kris Kringle to leave us our goodies under the tree after he climbs down our chimbley!

"Ahem...excuse me, Joe...did you say "chimbley"?

"Yeah, why? Don't you have one on your house?"

This week's word:

Word: Chimbley (N.) spelling: chimney
Definition: What Santa comes down. Also the glass tube or globe of a kerosene lamp.

(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)

Happy Holidays everyone!

What’re Words For, Part 11

You know the feeling you get when you have to go back to work after being away for several days? Usually happens after a long holiday weekend, or a vacation. You feel slow, and it’s hard to get going. Feels like you could be going backwards, perhaps?

Hmmmm……..

I present, this week’s word.


Word: Barse-ackwards (Adv.)
Definition: Reversed
“Sit yourself the other way in that canoe! You’re paddlin’ it barse-ackwards!”

(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)

Or, in my case after having been out of the office for 6 days for the Thanksgiving holiday:
“Joe, you need to turn your chair around at your desk cuz you’re sitting at it barse-ackwards”

Sometimes, that’s just the way it is.

What’re Words For, Part 10

What with Thanksgiving being just a couple of days away, I thought it appropriate to give you all a New England Yankee word that addresses eating. Good idea, eh?

Word: Chahdge (N.) (spelling. “charge”)

Definition: a quantity

“You ain’t hungry?”
“No, I et an awful chahdge for breakfast”

(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)

Here’s wishing all of you a great Thanksgiving (if you’re in the US). I hope your turkey (or Tofurky) is cooked just right, and that you eat an awful chahdge. I know I plan to, ayuh.

What’re Words For, Part 9

So, the elections are over. FINALLY. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some idiotic politicians still in office.

The inspiration for this week’s “How to Talk Yankee” submission has to do with these seemingly brain-dead people.


Phrase: Number’n a Hake (Adj. phrase)
Definition: Stupid, dunce
Why the poor hake---which is delicious corned and served with potatoes and salt pork scraps—is so singled out is unknown.

(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)


Here are some of my examples of this phrase:

George Bush Jr is number’n a hake. (Although he was smart enough to fool enough Americans, who were number’n a hake, into voting for him)

Karl Rove, once thought to be a genius within the Republican party, is actually number’n a hake.

Until next time, chummy, have a good day, ayuh.