Thanksgiving Day Events, Augusta Maine

The first people I saw on my way to work today were Ryan and Jake, (of Gardiner Maine) out doing some Thanksgiving Day exercises. Feast pre-gaming, waist-line maintaining, robotic-leg training with Ryan's parents' (who live in Augusta Maine) jumping-stilt-things. Rumpelstiltskins. Metal leggings.


The Healthy Segway: These things are like the healthy Segway. (I wonder what happens to a person if one of those metal pieces snaps?)


Hungry Man: I was frickin' hungry today. Nothing was open on my way to work because it was Thanksgiving. (Jerks!) I ate some chips and pretzels from the machine after I contemplated fasting for the day.
Fasting like much of the world is doing unwillingly. Trust me, I really am a thankful bastard. And chances are if you are using a computer to read this message, you should be too. Even if you're homeless in a library in Phoenix. It's warm and you got books, right?
But, I guess not so thankful as to fast today. I finally broke down and went to the Irving gas station next door and grabbed a microwave turkey dinner. It was good. And only $3.49. I bought a Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream bar too ($2.49).


Drove to work but ended up walking home. The transmission, or hopefully clutch, on my truck went out. Luckily it wasn't far from my apartment. Luckily once I got up the hill. Luckily after I just got done filling up the tank. ... ?
I began pushing my truck home. Felt silly and tired pushing my truck home in the middle of the night. Realized I looked silly and tired pushing my truck home in the middle of the night. With the help of a passer-by I was able to get my truck into a vacant lot a couple blocks from my house. I hate owning a vehicle that isn't a pair of jumping-stilt-things.

A Fondness for Augusta Maine

I have been growing fond of Maine. Which has been hard as the days grow shorter and colder. And I grow older and anxious. I respect that gull though. Flying over the parking lot of a store. A store named for the shear capacity of it's own parking lot? I respect that gull. He's looking down at me, laughing.


The herd in flight. (These gulls are way bigger than you think.)


It looks cold across the Water Street roof tops. I am thankful I walked down to Water Street last night. It was empty, nearly. But it reminded me more of a boring European town. It was nice.


A chimney of an old paper mill looms looooms over a downtown area of Augusta Maine. Evidence of a former industrious economy. Evidence of environmental damage. Evidence, like a giant push pin marking the spot on the map of an environmental investigation. (If the company didn't take the structures away what are the chances they've cleaned anything else?)


The Fairmont(?) Fire House sits at the southern end of downtown Augusta Maine's Water Street.

Meeting People in Maine

The more antennas you have the better chance you have of meeting friends in Maine.
1) I looked into online dating. It's about the same as meeting someone on a seedy strip at night, or a truck stop lot along the highway.
2) I was going to go to the camera club meeting, but I had to work.
3) I was going to go to the lecture, the opening, to see the play, the band - but I had to work. Better to have a job than a life. With no job, there can never be a life.
4) When I brush my teeth before going to sleep I imagine a woman killing herself right on the other side of my shower curtain. She disturbs me. Or do I disturb her?
5) As soon as I lie down and shut my eyes, I am awake again.
6) Copy editing is the Dickinsonian job of the dead, a grotesque infant in a cradle called Maine.
7)

Maine: Local Points of Interest

Living in Maine it appears there are a lot of sexual predators. I imagine, linked to the seemingly high population of mentally ill.
A couple days ago the Kennebec Journal ran a story about an increase in Craigslist.org prostitution in the state of Maine.
I forecast a terrible outcome.


Lobsta Roll: Damons all clear meat lobster rolls: lobster, mayo, lettuce, on a hotdog bun. Weird, good, at $10.65 more expensive than a hotdog.
I ate my first lobster roll Monday on my way to work.

Thinking About God in Maine

I forget when I stopped believing in god. It was sometime right after I got back from Afghanistan. (I was Confirmed at sea on the USS Bataan by the ship's chaplain Father Scordo.) Lately I was thinking life is a lot easier when you believe in god. You always have someone to pray to or talk to. (Because, isn't talking to yourself crazy?)
My oldest sister told me that you can see the stories of the bible and other religious book as stories of strength. Replacing the meaning of god with the idea of inner strength. I like that.
Religion also keeps us from the tormenting question, 'Why are we here?'


Soldiers in Maine marching in the armory parking lot for god and country. A life with meaning.


Does god send geese south for the winter?


St Michael Poem
-ake -ide -ike -ole -ube -ute
cake side like mole cube cute
take hide pike pole

Hallowell Maine 111707

Duct tape for automotive repair.


I walked around Hallowell Maine. I went to a couple galleries. I went to a store. I went to the Liberal Cup. I went to The Wharf. I went home and talked to my brother on the phone.

First Faint Snow

Snow fell here
with a little
rain here
Friday morning
in Augusta Maine
here

Things That Didn't Happen in Maine, 111507

- didn't go to reading by Patrick Donnelly at UMF, when I realized he was a fellow at Colby which is 30 minutes closer. (saved gas too, and like an owl or two squirrels)

- Jim Brunelle didn't managed to keep his own presence out of an opinion page article about the death of New Journalist Norman Mailer.


- New England architecture didn't die.


- chicken didn't cross the road.

111407, Today in Augusta Maine

- a plane flew


- a frog died


- conversations ended


- New England architecture lives on


- traffic stops were made

Cultural Events of 111307, Augusta Maine

Cultural Event 1: I went to this lecture. I sat there waiting for it to start as long as I stayed. I didn't stay long. Just enough to hear Yulin Wang of Nanjing, China talk about his life and career. I think everyone thought it was pretty interesting, except his 'friend' Poul Nielen who stood behind him the whole time in an inpatient manner. Nielen's body language told the crowd he had heard enough of Wang's life. A life that seemed very interesting and relevant to any artists.
I left after Nielen started showing, what appeared to be a vacation slide show from China. He spoke about his experiences with no authority. He showed a slide of the largest video display screen in the world, in Beijing, and didn't mention that fact. I learned more about China looking at Eric Powell's blog last month during his trip to China. (Plus Eric's art is 1,000x better.)
Also, Nielen had an 'I'm better than you' attitude toward the crowd. Suggesting that no one but him had ever been to China by saying, 'You might have seen things similar to this on TV' several times.
My advice to Wang, stop traveling with such a jerk.

Cultural Event 2: I joined the Kennebec Valley Arts Association. I think that means I'm able to participate in a couple group shows a year at the KVAA's gallery, Harlow Gallery in Hallowell Maine.


Cultural Event 3: After safely passing by several times I finally went into the Capital Buffet. The service was really good for a buffet, unlike any other. The buffet was like any other, crappy food.


Cultural Event 4: VDT or Video Display Training is mandatory in the state of Maine if you spend more than 3 hours a day at a monitor. They tell you to stretch and come in and put rems of paper under your monitor to boost it up higher, they tell you how to sit in your chair, they tell your feet should be flat on the floor and where your keyboard should be placed.

Walk to Work Gazette 111207

A Plane Lands over Western Avenue in Augusta Maine yesterday. Several planes have been reported landing recently. There are several eyewitnesses. It is unclear whether authorities have been notified.


To Communicate Put Things Up High: a Walk to Work Gazette photo essay
Satellite waves to TV
TV waves to TV


HAM radio waves to HAM radio
Cell phone waves to your head


Bell tower sound waves to your head
Wind to vision
Flood light to area to vision


Symbol to vision
Electric pulses to homes


Death to America


Chemical death to the world