‘Tough times build character’

Here’s a link to a Q & A story with Gov. John Baldacci.

‘Tough times build character’.

Water, water everywhere … and even some to drink

I went back to the DownEast.com trivia question today and was interested in it because I grew up in a home on a hill overlooking Portage Lake, Maine.

My mother continues to live in a cottage in a cove of that lake and I have posted photos here of views from the deck of her home. It is a wonderful place, albeit incredibly cold in the winter.

The question today was: How much of Maine is covered by water?

Answer:

About 12.8 percent, or 4,523 square miles of the state’s total 35,385 square miles.

Frankly, I would have thought it would have been more. I grew up canoeing and sailing on that lake in the summer and snowmobiling across it in the winter. It seemed like whenever driving we were crossing a bridge over a river or driving near a lake or pond or other bit of water.

And if you take a look at a map showing water – rivers, streams, ponds and lakes – it would seem to be better than a mere 12.8 percent.

Well, there you have it.

Military life gives teen a new sense of direction

ROBBINSTON, Maine — Thousands of American soldiers and sailors headed home this past week to spend Christmas with their families.

Zane Clossey, 19, was just one.

Here’s a link to the rest of this Bangor Daily News story.

Another snowstorm for northern, central Maine

Here’s a link to a news brief about the coming storm:
http://updates.pressherald.mainetoday.com/updates/another-snowstorm-for-northern-central-maine

A tiny bit of wisdom imparted years ago

A childhood friend, Jeff Cyr, who I knew in Portage, Maine, and with whom I went to high school, imparted this bit of wisdom years ago:

“If ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts, every single day of the year would be Christmas.”

I am not sure if he came up with it all by himself, but I’m pretty certain Jeff would not mind if you spread that around.