This was our meal tonight. M-S is just beginning a vacation, so I thought something a little special was in order. It was all delicious - but the steamed clams from Belfast were seriously the best I've had IN YEARS!! If you have the chance - get some clams!
I've just returned from a whirlwind two days of meetings with the MEA Board of Directors. One of Maine's NEA Directors stepped down with a year left on his term, so the Board had to appoint someone to fill the spot. Three candidates, including yours truly, were asked to come in to interview for the opening. An interview in front of 25 or so people was a tad intimidating. The good news is that I was appointed by the Board. I now am one of Maine's NEA Directors, a member of the MEA Board, and one of the MEA's five officers. I'm humbled and very excited. I'll be lobbying on Capitol Hill in DC four times a year, attending meetings all over the state and the country, and discussing issues that are very important too me. The bad news is that I have to run for re-election in May, so I have to start thinking about that already. I'm thankful that the MEA Board trusts that I'll do a good job - and I can't wait to hit the ground running.
I went to school today to start getting ready for the new year. Preparing for the beginning of school is actually one of my favorite parts of being a teacher. By the time the students arrive I'll have the first month mapped out, website up and running, syllabi completed, and long-range plan complete for each course. On the way to school I saw THIS:
Ok...its a deer farm. But still, its one of the cool things I get to look at on the way to work. Even though I'm starting to think about school again, and still have lots of meetings to attend, I am still enjoying summer. I also took some time to fish this section of the Sheepscot River:
Its a gorgeous spot and the weather could not have been be better. I only caught one small bass, but it was still wonderful. 
Today is my father's birthday. He remains my role model as a:Have a great day, Dad, and thanks for all you do for me and my family.
Love,
~MET
Things just won't be the same around here. For the past few days we have been noticing that Burt has not really been himself, and I think we chalked it up to a combination of his getting older and all the humid weather. Yesterday he really seemed out of sorts. He didn't wake us up to take him for his morning walk and by the time M-S got home from work he wouldn't even come when I called him. We took him to the animal emergency room in Lewiston and his x-rays confirmed our worst fears. He was full of tumors that were now putting too much pressure on his vital organs. He has been on medications for a while, but this came very quickly. Any treatment might have afforded him a little more time, without much relief from his discomfort - so we decided to say our goodbyes. The staff in Lewiston is remarkable and helped us through this with guidance and understanding. We were with Burt at 10pm last night for the last time.
Thanks for the time you gave us. We'll miss you, old friend.
M-S and I had a great time last night with friends Mark and Linda at the Liberal Cup's trivia night. If you like good hand-crafted beer and awesome pub food - the Cup is still the place to go. We didn't do very well with the trivia contest, but that really isn't the point. We were all more interested in catching up with each other's lives. Mark recently finished a cross country trip on his motorcycle, and Linda joined him for a piece of it. It was fun to hear about their adventures. M-S is the star of the show as she is the only one who had to get up to go to work today after a late night of food, fun, and spirits.
Today I fed my Irish blood: M-S and I went to Belfast to check out the Maine Celtic Celebration. We both like the town a great deal, and the festival seemed like it might be fun. It was warm (90 degrees), but the views in the park were awesome:
There was lots of great music, and LOTS of booths selling Irish and Scotch stuff.
There were also lots of booths selling fun foods:
These Irish guys were very good, and talked a lot about the instruments they were playing:
M-S fell in love with this little guy while we listened:
After walking around looking at everything and listening to music from the different stages we relaxed with a sangria...not really Celtic, but tasty.
Maine has dozens of these festivals this time of the year, and we may check out a few more before the summer is out....lets give a listen to the Nationals' fight song. Strasburg gets things going tonight in Miami. I'm thinking maybe 15 K's and a big win. "Shout it out for Old DC - GO NATS!"
Its NOT a political issue...it IS a civil rights issue. There are NOT two sides, just like there are not "two sides" to segregation.
~MET
What a fantastic afternoon with my wife. We saw another great show at MSMT, and it was a classic in every sense.
The cast was outstanding, and the sets, choreography, and acting was superb. The actor who played Eliza's father did kind of steal the show. We had dinner here:
Its in Georgetown and its in the middle of nowhere - but what a find. The building used to house a church upstairs (pews are still there), and the school room is where we were eating. You can still see where the desks used to be bolted to the wide pine board floors. The food was pricey, but absolutely spectacular. We always get a couple of appetizers to share. Today we had a goat cheese tart:
And home-made sausage sampler:
Both were very good, and large for appetizers. The rolls were also amazing. Between courses they brought us a lemon sorbet:
The entrees were truly delicious. I had duck breast:
While M-S enjoyed linguine with mushroom and lobster:
If you have some time to drive to the coast check it out - its well worth the trip.
Here is the website: www.robinhood-meetinghouse.com
I haven't written in a while about the two animals who share our home...but they are both doing well as they get older. Owen (above) still rules the roost with an iron hand. He picks on Burt incessantly, and he only seems to like me - which still thrills me to no end. Owen snubs most humans, but sits with me on the couch whenever I sit there. He and I have been hanging out for a long time, and in a lot of ways he remains my best friend. Mostly because he accepts me no matter what.
..is still the nicest creature I've ever met. He is beginning to slow down a bit, but he is simply the most patient and loving pet I've ever been around. M-S is certainly his human, and the two of them are wonderful together.
I'm not a fan of heat and humidity. I hate the beach. This is not my kind of weather. Just working around the house this morning sucked, even with air conditioning. The good news is that I think the pollutants that I added to my body while in New Orleans are just about gone. And, we have a good weekend coming up. Tomorrow M-S and I will venture out on some kind of day trip. Maybe the gardens in Boothbay or something. Then Sunday we'll be having lunch at the Captain Daniel Stone Inn and then seeing:
My Fair Lady at the Maine State Music Theatre. (the picture is from the actual show) Then its back to meetings on Monday. Stay cool,
