Fire traps and eyesores

The Hayford property at Hammond and Franklin
Photo: Courtesy of Dick Shaw via Bangor Daily News

  The people in the City of Bangor, Maine were worried in 1914 about the condition of some buildings in the City which were dilapidated and a danger.  The City had experience a terrific fire in 1911 and people were jumpy.
  The property in the photo was a topic of discussion among some.  Owned by the Hayford Estate, a wealthy family of the former Mayor, the property had already had a shed burn and people were nervous about the remainder.  The Hayford family responded by moving in a couple of sons of the family so it would be secured as a residence.  It didn't work.  The buildings were torn down, eventually, and replaced.
  That corner became the home of the District Court which is now the U S Post Office, the court having moved to new digs in 2012.
  I should note that the City of Bangor is once again in the process of tearing down firetraps.  There's a cycle you know.
  Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2014/12/21/living/downtown-fire-traps-eye-sores-bothered-bangoreans/

Dependability is 100 years old

1914 Dodge Brothers Model 30
Photo: Dodge Photos

  Dependability has been a word for 100 years.  Really.  The word was "coined" by an advertising man, Theodore McManus, in advertising for the Dodge Brothers new model.
  Using a process known as anthimeria Mr. McManus combined the words depend and ability and the new word was born.
  My own experience with Dodge was in the Navy and a fleet of delivery trucks (like bread trucks) with the slant six engines.  My men weren't easy on the trucks but they lasted and lasted.  I've owned 3 or 4 Dodge cars my favorite ,a Neon, was totaled by my lovely wife Linda one winter day.  All of those were good cars.

1964 Dodge Dart - click to enlarge
Photo: Dodge Photos

Naked fishing to start Winter Season; and more.

Sunset in the Bangor area for the Winter Solstice
Photo: Mark Silk via Bangor PD Facebook 

  Mark Silk works for the Maine State Police as a photographer.  He also carries a personal camera and he has some free time too.  He took this photo as a "start of Winter" series.

And some people tried to fish naked
Photo: AdamDanielson via Bangor Daily News blog

  And for others there were a variety of starts.  The naked fishing seems to be the most outrageous.  We also had a number of "polar dips" as fund raisers on the first day of Winter.  Maybe I'll try this only in August.

More ads, more stuff

There's an ad on TV now that I'm sure most of you have seen.  The product is Theraflu and it's that time of year.  It's a good product; I've used it myself.
The ad features an adult man who appears to be a giant in a play house.  He is very ill, red under the nostrils, fever and all.
The man calls his doctor and receives a same day appointment (a miracle in itself).  He is prescribed the Theraflu and upon returning home he takes the first capsule.  Immediately he smiles.  Just swallowed the first capsule and he's healed.  That's some powerful stuff!

I wish there was a product like that for itching!  The Lichen planus is spreading and it itches all the time.  The few products I use aren't a lot of help, but worth using.  I'm open to ideas.

Warm Christmas in Maine

Sunset in Bangor Maine 12-25-14
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News
Photo taken from Brewer, Maine

  It reached 54 degrees on Christmas Day 2014, a new record.  We all know that the "normal" weather isn't far behind, Money I believe.
  I suppose we could have enjoyed to temps except that it rained most of the day, 1.34 inches,  the sun made its appearance about 3:00PM.
  There have been a few times, all recent, where the weather has run amuck of normal.  Normal being ice skating on the ponds and sleds on the hills.  Not this year though.

Sunset through the spruce, or is it fir?
Photo: Ashley Conti, Bangor Daily News

It's Christmas day, already.

Our tree in 2009
Decorated and Photo by Linda Grant

  Well, we made it to Christmas Day, 2014.
and none of us know yet, what's the final score.
So, go and enjoy this day, in whichever way,
that suits you and yours, and I'm sure you will say;
well, we made it to Christmas Day.

Tipping (the Maine way)

Forest Ranger Hammond checks for tipping
Photo: Tristan Spinski for the New York Times

  Forest Rangers in Washington County are busy the last couple of months each year watching for "tippers".  That's not folks eating in restaurants although they tip too.  Tipping in this part of the world means taking the tips of branches from fir trees to make Christmas Wreaths.  Tippers are people who gather the brush for the wreath industry.  Tippers need a permit from the land owners to gather the tips.  Forest Rangers are on the lookout for people without a permit.
  In Washington County (the real Downeast Maine) people mostly earn their income from seasonal jobs, the work in lobster factories, working the blueberry harvest, and tipping.  Tippers who are hard workers can earn up to $500.00 a day for a ton of brush.  You see their product when you watch the news and see wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery.
  Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/tree-tipping-generates-cash-and-seasonal-woes-in-maine/ar-BBha0FZ