Walking Home Nights, Augusta

I ate a mango yesterday morning . Before work I realized that was all I ate so I went to Arby's for the first time in years. I ordered the 5 roast beef sandwich special, and they gave me a free drink "because it's so expensive." Because I finish all 5 sandwiches the manager gave me a free giant roast beef sandwich to take with me. I walked it home with me after work and saved it for breakfast this morning. I am still looking for a car. Not that the walk is bad, it's only a half hour. (Which seems unheard of in Maine.) If anyone wants to sell me their car at a reasonable price I will pay for your bus ticket back Ssuth or west. A one-way bus ticket is only $59 from Augusta to DC. Come and see me over Labor Day. I have 5 days off!

First Day Off in Augusta

Yesterday was my first day off from the KJ. It came directly after my first day of work. I sorted some things out, decided I probably won't get a vehicle for a while until I have saved a little more money to open up my options. I drank some beer on the porch of the Edwards House Inn, while my closest friend here, Michael, listened to some Irish music on my i-Pod. We communicate okay for speaking different languages, he speaks Haitian French. He is up here working construction from Haiti. We walked Across the bridge to Lou's Discount Beer Barn. I got some beer, he got some Piña Colada mix. I kept trying to tell him in the store that he needed to buy alcohol to put in it. But gave up and when we left he told me that alcohol wasn't good for him, so he just drank the sugary mix. We sat there for a couple hours watching the traffic, people, and the old abandon Edwards cotton warehouse across the street. I did some laundry and found out the dryers don't really work. Write soon!

First Day (Night) at the KJ

My first day at work was great. I went into the human resources department and they went over my benefits. I watched a video on sexual harassment. Completed a test on work safety. For some reason the girl at the gas station even gave me a free coffee when I took a little break. (Probably my lack of harassment.) When I got to the newsroom I dove right into proofing. First, proofing the printouts. Then making corrections and placing the ads on the network. And finally, readying the pages for output. I was happy to see a copy of the Journal in the lobby of the Edward's House Inn this morning. And I could see the tangible efforts of my new job. "Awesome!," I mean "Wicked!" (That's what everyone says up here.)

Damon's, Augusta's Mom & Pop

On the way to my first day (night) at work, I stopped at Damon's. It's a local pizza and sandwich place about 300 feet from the Kennebec Journal. I got a chicken, bacon, spinach wrap. It was awesome, an actual chicken breast fried on the grill. Then I went to work. When it was time for my 1/2 hour union-regulated break I went back and got the small Greek salad and a bowl of chili. Also awesome. And the two customers ordering after me bought the last two Kennebec Journals on the rack.

Augusta's Reading List

I stopped into the Kennebec Market today to see what kind of coffee they had. Not very good, which is strange for up here. I started talking to Pete the proprietor about the different papers he sold. He had a Bangor paper right at the top. He said the views were more conservative than the Kennebec Journal. I told him I could see that, the people being further away from civilization- you would think they would be less informed. (I guess I am stereotyping.) Then, since I didn't get any coffee, I said "Nice to meet you, I guess I'll be back when you have something I want to buy."
"Okay," said Pete.
On the way out I noticed the Boston Globe, then The New York Times.
"Ahh, The New York Times, I guess you do have something I want. Wow, I got the last one. Geez, how many of these do you sell," I asked.
"That's the first one I've ever sold," said Pete.
"What! Kind of tells you something about the people around here," I said.
Pete said nothing.

China King, Augusta's Buffet

Here's a local food review:
I went to the first buffet Chinese place I've been to since I vowed never to go back to the City Lights Cafe in DC. The China King, 57 Western Ave, Augusta, ME 04330, was one of the strangest Chinese buffets I have ever been to. It was staffed with what appeared to be authentic Chinese people, but their accents were not. I began to wonder if they even knew Mandarin. I asked for tea. It was the blackest tea I'd ever been served at a Chinese place. I soon switched to ginger ale. The plates of meat were good. I ate chicken, pork, and string beans. They were all great. Then the woman brought me some beef. Terrible! Chinese places, please don't use corned beef and try to make teriyaki beef out of it!! Before I left another party ordered tea, they took one sip and rejected it. The most mediocre part- my fortune: "Practice makes perfect."

Breakfast w/ the Dead

This morning I had breakfast with some of the most enjoyable citizens of Augusta. It's not that everyone here is a jerk. They are all very happy. They all stop when anyone, anyone, anyone comes to a crosswalk. I guess I just don't have much in common with the majority of the people yet. I met some great folks at the coffee shop in Hallowell, which the town itself seems to be filled with good people. My future workmates were great when I came up for the interview, and I imagine I'll be doing a lot of outside-the-workplace activities with them. I think maybe there's too much of an interest in driving here. Maybe that's it? (Even though I'm in the market for a car.) They don't have enough sidewalks around Augusta. I had to walk along the berm of the highway to post this blog, out by WAL-MART. And I realized, maybe it's because of the weather or something, but Augusta doesn't walk enough! And it shows. I thought I might be moving to a land of tough mountain people, not to a land where many of the people resemble mountains themselves. I have also learned that kayaking does not count as a form of physical exercise up here. There are plenty of folks with kayaks on the roofs of their vehicles that make me wonder how they would ever fit into their kayaks. I did get a good tip about kayaks and other products though- Buy local! Buy Maine! As in L.L. Bean, everything has a lifetime warranty.

Hubbard-less Library

I have been going to libraries to publish my blog. Most of the libraries in this area are old churches. Yesterday, I was looking for the Hubbard Free Library in Hallowell and I asked some one while we were right in front of it. I thought it was a church. I came back today to post this, and some poems I wrote last night about Water Street whilst sitting on the porch of the Edwards House Inn.

Where I Live: Edwards House Inn

I live at the Edwards House Inn, a boarding house in Augusta, ME., down by the river. I am kind of growing to like it, even though I have never taken back the sheets and sleep in a sleeping bag on top of the bed. The bed is kind of like a recliner, my feet are way closer to the ground than my head. I think it's because people have been sitting on the edge of the bed to watch TV. The sheets are silk-like, and touch the ground, but I don't touch them. There are a lot of Haitians living here working on a local blueberry farm. A big school bus picks them up every morning and drops them off every night. They all speak French. They don't like talking to others much, but they talk to me now, I forced myself on them. They call me 'boss man,' or Mike. Probably because I'm bossy and my name is Mike. I have shared a couple laughs with them even though we have a hard time understanding each other. C'est La Vie.

Kind of Settling in Augusta

I unloaded my truck at a storage unit. Went to look for a car. Went to this little diner on stilts. Went to the library (which is right next to the Capital Building and also houses the State Museum, and State Archives), to check my email. Left the library, there was lightning. Sat in the back of my rental truck and watched it rain by the capital. Went back inside the library to post this. In the first video they are turning the capital dome lights on. In the second the lights are completely on. (They aren't that exciting. You had to be there.) They are kicking me out of the library now!

Thirteen-Hour Drive to Augusta, ME

I drove, and drove, and drove, and drove, and finally made it to Maine. I am staying in the Edwards House Inn, a boarding house. I am looking for a storage unit to put all my stuff. Then getting a vehicle. And I will probably continue to live in the Edwards House Inn until I find a place to live. Hallowell seems like a great town, I went there and got coffee at Slates Bakery and talked to a lot of the locals today. They were like different versions of my friends in DC, only here. AJ, you were there. And Jeremy was there. And Auntie Em, you were there too! Oh, for the time being you can send me mail at:
Thomas Michael Corcoran, General Delivery, Augusta, ME. 04330.
(kinda like the Ol' West)