Weather Event In Vacationland

 

Dysart's truck stop in Hermon, Maine glistening in the rain.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: The Art Of Clog Making
2018: Beauty Prevails
2017: Approaching The Future Of Space Travel
2016: Hmeep Hmeep!
2015: Spring In The Sky
2014: Power To The Tree
2013: For Mommy
2012: There’s Always Room For La Dolce Vita
2011: Drop It Like It’s Hot
2010: The Art Of Being Tardy
2009: Vantage Point
2008: Cape Cahd Hahba
2007: Waxing Brilliant
2006: Seven! Seven! Seven! Seven! Seveeeeennnn!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Freshly Brewed

 

Ed is a brewed ice tea kind of guy.  He doesn't like it bottled, he doesn't like it flavored, he doesn't like it from a soda fountain, and he doesn't like it sweet.  Which is a shocker since he's a Texan.  Do you know how hard it is to get unsweetened tea in the South without someone looking at you like you have three heads?

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we ate at Timber Kitchen in Maine.  I loved the atmosphere, the rustic decor, and the menu.  I was really looking forward to dinner.  We each had soup (I had French Onion and Ed had the Smoked Seafood Chowder), salad (I had the Littel Timber house salad and Ed had the Caesar), and then we both had the Surf & Turf.  It was delicious, but it was costly.  The bill for the two of us was $238.20.  And we don't even drink!    

Which brings me back to the iced tea...

Ed ordered unsweetened, brewed iced tea.  And the photo above is how it was served.  

The tea was the Ceylon Gold from Tea Forte, which comes in a beautiful pyramid-shaped tea bag.

It was served in the Tea Forte Tea Over Ice Pitcher Set, which was as beautiful as the tea bag and something I think I may be purchasing for our home.  It was so elegant and so personal and made a perfect pitcher of tea just like Ed likes it.

And I think all that beauty explains why the iced tea was $6.00.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Chill Out, They're Fine
2018: Right Of Way
2017: Not A Time For Restful Sleep
2016: Yellow Pop
2015: Union Wharf
2014: Mysterious Exercise
2013: Doris Day Spends The Weekend In Texas
2012: Evening Ball
2011: Taxes And Ta-Tas
2010: Ah, The Subtle Contrasts Of New Jersey
2009: A Fishy Pishy Is Never Dishy
2008: Before The Luck Ran Out
2006: Five Guys I’m In Love With This Week
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Towering Over Main Street

 

It was rainy and overcast this week in Bangor when we decided to go for dinner at Timber Kitchen and Bar.  After soup, salad, and delicious surf and turf, we decided to check out the big guy across the street.  

That guy is Paul Bunyan, standing 31 feet tall and weighing 3,700 pounds.  Rumored to be the largest Paul Bunyan statue in the world, he stands there looking down on Main Street just begging for you to take a selfie with him.  

He's been there since 1959 and built to withstand 110-mph winds.

He's not going anywhere anytime soon.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Jammin' With The Pamplemousse
2018: Who Dat?
2017: Nest
2016: Working On The Railroad
2015: There's A Killer Whale On My Sightseeing List
2014: You Look Hungry, Take These For Later
2013: A Dumpster Diver's Dream
2012: Reigning Over Sitting 300 Days A Year
2011: Raining In Baltimore
2010: Back That Ass Up
2009: Shaved, Slivered, Sliced, Grated, Chunked, And Best Of All, In Meatballs
2008: Too Small For America?
2007: Waiting For A Beautiful Balsamic Splash
2006: Other Weird Things In Utah
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wicked Good Lobstah

We're in Maine. And I'm in heaven.  The weather is right up my alley, chilly with a mix of sun and clouds.  It couldn't be more perfect for me.

Because we're in Maine, we had to have lobster.  So we bobtailed (that's driving the truck without the trailer) over to Angler's Restaurant.  It was recommended to us by one of the locals at the truck stop.

Ed ordered the clam chowder and a whole lobster.  I don't like to work for my food - cracking, picking, digging, sucking - so I ordered the broiled scallops and haddock.  I wasn't thrilled with my dish - I wish it had a few more scallops and the haddock had a little more flavor - but it hit the spot since we wanted seafood.  Ed really liked his lobster - it was sweet and meaty. 

The restaurant is family-owned and during our dinner, the owner came over to check in on us.  We told him we were truckers and drove over from Bangor for lobster.  

"Is that your truck out there in the parking lot?" he said.

"Yes," we said.

"Wow.  It's a cawkah." he said.

"A cawkah?" I said.

Yeah, a cawkah."  

I just smiled.  I had no idea what he meant. We chatted a few more minutes about trucking and food and then he moved on to the next table full of guests.

If you know anything about Maine, you know they have a bit of their own language.  I mean, a lot of words and phrases you've never heard anywhere else.  More, I think, than any other part of the country.  Corker?  That means something amazing or remarkable.   

But what do I know?  I'm from away.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Grapes, Raisins, Or Wine...All Delicious
2018: Dominion Over Copper Mining
2017: Getting Served
2016: Bringing 1946 Back To Life
2015: Vintage Heaven
2014: No Wonder China Is The Exporting Superpower
2013: 109 Miles Of White Knuckle Passengering 
2012: Strong
2011: The Man Unmasked
2010: Fingers Crossed For All Things Motorized!
2009: Eddie Forces A Smile Friday
2008: A, B, C, D, DD: No Matter What The Letter, The Trauma Is The Same
2007: How To Watch American Idol The Right Way
2006: Dings And Hos
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Best White Stuff

I've lived in Tucson for so long that I miss seeing snow.  My step-father always used to say, "What's that white stuff?" when friends or family would send pictures of snow or if he was watching the news and our town back in New York was getting hit with a storm.  It was one of his little dad-style jokes.

I'm always thrilled to see my first snow of the year.  This year, on our way back from Nova Scotia, we spent the night in Houlton, Maine.  Just before bed, it started to snow.  By morning, we had a nice blanket of fresh white snow. 

I just can't get enough of that white stuff!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Welcome To The Local Googie
2018: One Of Many
2017: The First Mustachioed Man In My Life
2016: Cooking Is Love Made Visible
2015: Hawaiian Memorial
2014: We Do Not Remember Days, We Remember Moments
2013: Sharing The Long Haul Lifestyle
2012: Love, Peace, And Soooouuulll
2011: Taste The Fire
2010: Finally, A Shot At Playmate Of The Month! (Sorta)
2009: Remembering
2008: Eddie Gets His Eyes Checked Friday
2007: Shifting The Sun
2006: My Daddy Is Gone
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Long Haul Home Stretch

A few days ago we unloaded in the late morning and had to pick up our next load five hours away.  But we had to be there by 3:30 local time.  It was going to be reallly close.  I was convinced we wouldn't make it.

Ed was driving and kicked our speed up to 65 mph, which we never do.  Our normal cruising speed is somewhere between 55 and 58, which is safer, fuel efficient, allows for more reaction time for when other vehicles feel the need to cut you off, and a much more relaxed pace.

Kinda like the trotter in the picture above, which we came across at the Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway in Bangor, Maine.  We watched while he went a few laps around the track, probably just staying in shape for the next big race.  The horse had a nice, even gait, loping along like he was out for an afternoon stroll.  A fast stroll, but still much slower than he'd have to go while racing.

I don't like going fast.  I was in the sleeper and we were in an area with shitty roads, so I was feeling every bump and turn.  At that speed, going around a curve on the highway can roll me to the edge of the bed.  And the tires scream.  I'm so used to sleeping while Ed is playing grandpa behind the wheel, that the breakneck pace was unsettling.  Let's just say I didn't get much of a nap.

But we made it there on time.  We pulled into the shipper at 3:26 local time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: The Power Is Everywhere
2012: A Patchwork Of Farms
2011: Dwarfed
2010: Kansas Needs A Few Other Representatives
2009: Something’s Afoot
2008: The Color Of Aging
2007: Ahhhhhntipasto
2006: The Great Equalizer
2005: Almost My Town

Plug 'Em Up

Google Images

While we were up in Maine parked at Dysart's Truck Stop, we discovered they had shore power.  They had seven TSE pedestals, and all of them were open for use.  We hooked up immediately.

We love using shore power.  Everything in the sleeper runs effortlessly, it's quieter than the generator, and it costs less than using diesel fuel.  At this place, the fee was only $1.00/hour.  I found a promo code online and with the discount, it came to $0.92/hour.  A smokin' deal.  This location's pedestals were provided by Shorepower Technologies.

This company has quite a few locations but this is the first time we've used them.  In the past, in our old truck, we tried IdleAir, which also eliminates the need for idling and also provides Internet and DirectTV, but we hated it because the tubes that hooked up to the windows always smelled disgusting.  Like cigarette smoke.  I complained to IdleAir several times about the problem, but nothing changed.  So a smoker that's sitting in his truck sucking on cigarettes for ten hours, winds up polluting my air.  They never designated certain spots "non-smoking", but it wouldn't matter since the smoke-laden air gets sucked up into the tubes to the main unit.  Then the next unsuspecting person gets to have it pumped into their clean, fresh-smelling truck. We never used it again after those first few times.

With fuel prices the way they are, and have been for the past ten years, and which don't seem to be going down anytime soon, I'd like to see these Shorepower Technologies pedestals at every truck stop.  Does anyone else use shore power for their trucks?

For us, the option of shore power would serve me far better than reserving a parking spot for the night.



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2013:  Following The Sound Of Beating Wings
2012:  The Shoe Guy
2011:  Sitting In Style In Shipshe
2010:  An Artesian Well Of Material
2009:   Asparagus Can Never Be Asparagi, But I Can Be Delicious
2008:   Tis The Season To Be Lazy
2007:   Go Brainiac.com
2006:   Flowers And Hand Painted Art
2005:   You Don’t Know What It’s Like

Wicked Cool And Honkin' Big

I saw this little guy on a t-shirt while up in Maine and would have bought it but they only had kids' sizes.  So I had to snap a picture of the shirt to commemorate my moose love.


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2013:  The Race Is On
2012: Still In The Limelight
2011: List en Up!
2010: Spread Sunshine All Over The Place
2009: The New New York Skyline And The Good Old NYPD
2008: Lining Up For Lobster Season
2007: Worth Every Penny
2006: Conscious But Very Disoriented
2005: Stuck In A Southern Vortex

Bean There, Done That

On our way up the Maine coast to pick up our next load, we passed through Freeport.  As soon as I knew we were headed in that direction I made plans to stop at the L.L. Bean Flagship Store.  Parking was tight since it's on Main Street downtown, but it was after Memorial Day, during the week, and raining.  I figured we'd luck out finding something and we did.  Ed was behind the wheel so we could have parked in a spot designated for a Smart Car with his parking skills.

The L.L. Bean "complex" was great.  It included the main flagship store, the Bike, Boat and Ski store, the Home Store, and the Outlet store, all within feet of each other.  And they're all open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.  This particular store, which opened in 1917, has been open 24 hours a day since 1951 with only four exceptions - two days to comply with state blue laws, and two days to honor the deaths of President Kennedy and L.L. Bean himself.

I really wanted to buy one of the classic Boat and Tote bags, the quintessential L.L. Bean item (other than their Bean Boots - see photo), but I couldn't make a decision.  All the ones I've seen, having been washed who knows how many times, were soft and pliable.  The brand new totes, since they're made of canvas, are stiff and scratchy.  Of course, I know the softness happens over time, and I found some information online about how to speed up the process, so i wont have to wait years and years to get the desired effect.  I also like that they make them with the option of a longer handle, which makes it a great shoulder tote.
After seeing several people at the Tim McGraw concert carrying their snacks and extra blankets in their boat and tote bags, I knew I had to have one.  Clearly these iconic bags are a real Maine thing.  I may have left empty-handed on this visit but once I decide on a color, a Boat and Tote will be mine.  

Because in 1912, Leon Leonwood Bean started this little thing called the mail order catalog.

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2013: Capital Letters Indeed
2012: Look For The Sign
2011: This Is My Life
2010: The Power Of Liberty
2009: A Day At The Park
2008: A Body Temperature Of 98.6 – The Only Requirement To Work AT McDonald’s
2007: Laughter Is The Best Medicine
2006: Homeless Shelter
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Sundown Heaven Town

We finally made it to Bangor, Maine and yesterday was our last day off.  The weather was gorgeous so we decided to take out the bikes.  We found a path by the waterfront we wanted to ride but the only truckstop in the area was six miles away and the roads to get from there to downtown weren't the most bike-friendly.  So we got on Google Earth and scoped out a place that was closer to downtown.  

In the course of our search, we found out there was going to be a concert at the waterfront pavilion later that evening.  Tim McGraw was playing.  He was three weeks in on his Sundown Heaven Town tour.  Opening for him was Kip Moore (I have no idea who he is) and Cassadee Pope (The Voice season three winner, who I do know).  We were excited to have found something happening on a Thursday night in a town we knew nothing about.

The waterfront area was quite pretty with a path running along the river.  We rode for a while, then went to a riverfront restaurant for lunch.  After lunch, we looked for a spot to watch the concert.  Here you can see the two Eds in a unique panorama of the river and concert stage taken from the hill across the street, where we perched ourselves for the concert.

click to enlarge

We sat for a while people watching before the concert but it was getting a little chilly and the temperature was rapidly dropping.  It started out as a sunny seventy-three, but then it dipped about ten degrees and the sun hadn't even set yet.

So before the concert started, we rode back to the truck - a different way than we came, which I thought looked like a shortcut on the map, but wound up being a grueling trip up some insanely steep hills - to get our lawn chairs and change into warmer clothes.  Long pants, long sleeves, and a winter coat.  I kid you not.  People were streaming in and I was amazed at how scantily dressed some of the girls were, Daisy Dukes and cowboy boots.  Great outfit for a country concert, but not in sixty-degree weather. 

My winter coat and pashmina weren't even warm enough, and you know I'm never cold. It was fifty-three degrees by the time the second act went on but we were determined to stay until the end.  It was a free concert for us and we had seats that were comparable to those in a concert arena.  We couldn't really see the artist on the stage, but we had a great view of the screen above it and the sound was bold and clear.

We wound up leaving just before the concert ended because it had gotten really cold and we wanted to avoid the mad rush of bodies.  Before we rode off, we got a little closer to the fencing near the stage area.  It was standing room only.  From that location, we were able to see Tim McGraw pretty clearly.  He's sooo skinny.  I'm pretty sure he waved to us as we left.  OK, maybe he was waving to the entire crowd but it felt like just us.  After all, we were the only ones leaving.

After the concert, we had breakfast for dinner at Dysart's, a truckstop in Hermon that's been around for over forty-five years.  It's been a while since we'd been up this way and the restaurant was just as great as I remembered.  

This has been a really great two weeks but now it's time to get back to work.  Tomorrow we pick up our load and head to the hot and steamy south.  And instead of complaining about how cold it is, I will begin the complaints about the stifling heat and humidity.

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2013: Hold The Vodka
2012: Forging America In The Holy Land Of Steel
2011: Captivating
2010: Not That He’s Insensitive Or Anything
2009: Ode To Milk
2008: Eddie On The Rocks Friday
2007: The Unintentional Beating Of A Red State Child
2006: Sorry, no post for this day.
2005: Sorry, no post for this day.

Eddie Lobster On The Brain, Listening Skills Disengaged Friday

I'm only realizing it as I write this, but today is Friday. All day, I've been thinking it was Tuesday. And I even said that very thing to Ed and he didn't correct me (HUGE clue that he wasn't listening to me).

We were up in Bangor, Maine yesterday and today headed over to Old Town, Maine to pick up a load we're taking down to Texas. I knew we'd be heading down I-95, so I mentioned to Ed that we should have dinner at Robert’s Maine Grill in Kittery, a place we've been before and really liked. We couldn't remember the parking situation because the last time we were here, we were in a rental car. I kept saying, "Well, it shouldn't be too bad, it's Tuesday." and "It's not tourist season anymore, it shouldn't be crowded, and besides it's Tuesday." and "Since it's Tuesday, I can't imagine they'll be that busy. Let's just drive by and see if we can find a place to park." He just kept saying "Okay."

It doesn't actually matter what day it was (although it does explain why the restaurant was busy) because we were going to have seafood. New England seafood. Choosing from the menu wasn't too difficult since I knew what I wanted. We both had a crispy salad wedge with delicious blue cheese dressing, I ordered the scallops and Ed ordered the one and a half pound lobster. Everything was perfect; fresh vegetables, fluffy rice pilaf, baked scallops with just the right amount of butter and breadcrumbs and Ed's sweet, sweet lobster.

For dessert Ed had the Chocolate Encore Cake and I had the Lime and Coconut Cheesecake. It was the most delicious piece of cheesecake I'd ever eaten - instead of the traditional graham cracker crust, the crust on the bottom was made from toasted coconut! With a light lime glaze on top and a slight citrusy flavor in the creamy cheesecake body, I was transported to heaven.

The restaurant parking lot couldn't accommodate our truck, but Kittery is known for it's many outlets and we found a nice spot tucked away behind a row of stores just a short walk across the street. I'm really glad we had time to stop and enjoy a relaxing dinner. And quite frankly, I don't care that Ed didn't correct me on what day it was; as long as he was listening when I mentioned the name of the restaurant.

Robert's is a good time no matter what day you're there!

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1 YEAR AGO: Privacy Issues
2 YEARS AGO: It’s Crazy That I’m Crazy For Keanu
3 YEARS AGO: Gifts That Keep On Giving
4 YEARS AGO: Classic Las Vegas
5 YEARS AGO: Off With Their Heads!

Truck Or Treat

I was minding my business, happily scouring the aisles at Big Lots when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I thought it was Ed.

But, I didn't immediately realize it was Ed because...

He looked like this:

Once I got my voice back, I promptly scolded him for scaring the shit out of me and then I let him try on some other masks. He donned the psycho clown, which reminded me of a horror movie I'm sure I didn't see since I don't do horror...

After than one, he put on what I can only describe as a motorcycle riding, ponytailed skeleton from a video game street gang. I think the way his head is cocked to the side gives it an extra menacing feel...

Prior to that, while I was doing laundry, he had decorated the truck. We bought an extra shimmery pumpkin on our second round of shopping in the store, but this is what he put together initially and I have to say, it looked realllly cool.

Orange lights hanging from the visor, tiny skeletons hanging down from the windows, and pumpkins sitting on beds of spider webs lining the dash; two of them real and the other with flashing eyes. As night fell, it looked even better and as we approached our truck after dinner, thought we might decorate for all the holidays. I'm psyched about Christmas!!

This is the last shot, of the interior. I'd like to have gotten a better picture and may try again tonight, replacing these shots if I get anything better.

I'm pretty sure we won't be doing any trick-or-treating, but I think I might be decked out in the little devil horns I bought. Thanks to Big Lots, if I do decide to dress up, it'll only set me back two bucks.

Now that's a treat.

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1 YEAR AGO: Spooktacular
2 YEARS AGO: Isn’t He Comcastic?
3 YEARS AGO: Trick Or Treating With All Ten Toes
4 YEARS AGO: Happy Halloween!

I Feel Like A Thief

Today I went to Big Lots in Augusta, Maine. I spent the afternoon doing laundry so I thought I deserved a little shopping spree at one of my all-time favorite discount stores.

I should not be allowed to go into this store. I thought I was safe because I had limited time; the lady at the laundromat told me the wash cycle was only thirty minutes, so I set the alarm on my cell phone and made a beeline across the parking lot of the strip mall. Big mistake.

The first thing I came across were tubes of my favorite shampoo and conditioner. It normally sells for over six dollars, but Big Lots had them for two dollars and fifty cents each. Less than half the price! I bought four of those; conditioner too.

I also got some great makeup items. That gorgeous gold eyeshadow up there? One dollar. The lip balm that makes my kisser tingle? Fifty cents. That gorgeous package of Revlon blush in Peachy Keen, the one with the floral imprint? Three dollars and fifty cents.

But my biggest score? The Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss. They were two dollars. TWO. TWOOOOO!!! I bought two tubes in my signature color, Glossy Rose (which you can find in any store, but at three times that price) and then, in the order shown in the photo from front to back, Raisin Glaze (ravishing), Sparkling Champagne (oh my god, I need a place to wear this color!), Blushing Moment (which is stunning and a limited edition color) and Heart Throb Red (which is such an exquisite sheer red that I want to wear it every waking hour).

I also got a Nexxus shampoo, conditioner, mousse and root lifter combo that came with a lush brown satin travel bag; all for nine dollars!! The conditioner alone sells for that price and the shampoo sells for at least eight dollars.

Add to that some cereal, a tea caddy, black cherry jelly from Switzerland, blank CD's, a Garnier hair highlighting kit, paper towels, Oreos, socks, some Halloween decorations and about a dozen video games for Ed and my nephews, and we came out of there at just under $163.00.

It was such a bargain, I felt like I was stealing from them. And I got my laundry done to boot.

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1 YEAR AGO: Emulating The Brazilian Bombshell
2 YEARS AGO: HMMWV’s
3 YEARS AGO: She’s Still Learning
4 YEARS AGO: Woof!

A Foxy Furry Little Friend

So we're sitting in the truck at a truckstop up in Maine when Ed says, "Look! A fox!" and I'm all like, "I am looking pretty good today, aren't I?" and he's all like, "No, a real fox!"

Um, I think I was slightly offended. But when I got over it, I saw this little guy trotting up to our truck:

I don't know how well he did with his wandering since his eyes seem to be closed but maybe he just came out of his fox den and is squinting because he forgot his little foxy sunglasses.