There's no excuse....

...I'm running scared,
I most certainly was not prepared.
There's no excuse, it's just my way,
if you want to read, wait another day.

It wasn't that it slipped my mind,
that's not the reason that I fell behind.
I got busy doing other things,
like day dreaming, and decorating my toes...with rings!

Or, maybe I was watching TV,
even if there's not much to see.
But that golf match got my attention,
so there's that.  It's worth a mention.

Try again tomorrow, maybe something then,
Yes.  Probably. But I don't know when.
But give it a try, I'll find something of use;
I'll stop making rhyme, it's just a ruse.

This is number 1779 on this blog, that's a long time.

Married in mud!

The ceremony after the Spartan Race
Photo: Jennifer Fisher via Bangor Daily News

Through fire too! On the way to wed
Photo: Jennifer Fisher via Bangor Daily News

Jennifer Fisher grew up in northern Maine, now she lives with her new husband in Virginia.  They didn't want a traditional wedding - so they found a way not to.  It was a memorable affair.
  Read and see a whole lot more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/northern-maine-native-jumps-over-fire-crawls-through-mud-on-the-way-to-the-altar/  I just can't do the story justice.

Running with a bouquet!
Photo: Jennifer Fisher via Bangor Daily News

Guarding the border. For 175 years!

The Blockhouse, Fort Kent, Maine 2014
Photo: Julia Bayly, Bangor Daily News

 The 1793 Treaty of Paris between England and the United States was vague about the northern border of Maine.  Nobody really paid much attention to that border until after Maine became a State;  separated from Massachusetts in 1820 and wanting citizens to move to the "great unknown" of northern Maine.
  Then began a "push and shove" between the two Countries and resulted in the Aroostook War.  That war was bloodless but it did settle the matter with the Webster-Ashburton Treaty.  In the end neither party got what it wanted and the border of the Crown of Maine was kind of a split between the two.
  Read more, see more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/fort-kent-blockhouse-has-guarded-the-border-for-175-years/

A photo from the late 1800's
Photo: Fort Kent Historical Society

Long gone, but not forgotten

The Passenger Pigeon
Photo: Keith Schengili-Roberts via www.wikipedia.org

  One hundred years ago this past Monday (August 31) that last Passenger Pigeon died at the zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Named Martha by the zoo she was 29 years old and died of a stroke.  Quickly packed in ice and flown to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC she was the last of her breed.  She was also of the only species observed until extinction.
  Once the most populous bird in North America they were hunted and wasted by the millions, shot and used to fill potholes there were so many.  They would fly in huge groups up to 300 miles long, enough to darken the sky as they passed overhead.  In St. Louis on man brought down 15 birds with one shot.
  When we think there is enough of anything it will last forever remember the Passenger Pigeon.

An illustration of a flight of the birds being shot.
Photo: www.wikipedia.org .
 

70 years of honor for Notre Onias

A poster announcing the celebration of Onias Martin
Photo: Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News

  1st LT Onias Martin was from Madawaska, Maine he died on a country road in Bonnetable, France in 1944 - he is their hero, a liberator from the Nazi Occupation.  He landed at Normandy with the 5th Armored Division, United
States Army and his division was pushing through France toward Germany.  An enemy bullet ended his life on the dusty road.  He was buried by the local people - he was their hero, he still is.
  The French people made a memorial of a wooden cross with his helmet, when that started to fall apart the village built a stone monument around the original; it still stands in his honor.
  This past August his American family joined with French and American dignitaries to honor him on the 70th anniversary of his death.  His only living brother Raynauld Martin was able to attend.  It was a celebration of Notre (our) Onias.
  Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/notre-onias-70-years-later-french-villagers-honor-maine-soldiers-singular-sacrifice/

Raynauld Martin pauses at the monument
Photo: Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News

Will your economy grow?

Here is the "educated guess" of growth - click to enlarge
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

  The economy will grow, slowly, in most states in the next quarter.  Well it started today, the quarter, and ends December 31st.
  This map shows Maine in the second best tier but I think it will hinge on the election in November.  Our governor claims to have created 20,000 jobs, my count show he has caused the loss of about 8,000 jobs.  I am not an economist and neither is he.  I'm not a loud mouthed bully.
  The whole world of jobs in Maine has changed in my lifetime.  We had textile and shoe mills as far as the eye could see.  In 1952 all of that started to crumble now we have one or two successful shoe companies, one or two remaining paper mills and retailers all fighting for a piece of the pie.  Maine has the oldest population a lot of workers have followed the jobs to other places.
  And that's Labor Day in Mane - wishful thinking and no action.