Random Digressions

A Visit With Maeve!

2012-02-11T21:29:00.000-05:00

I had a very nice visit with Sarah, Grant, Suz, and little Maeve. She is amazingly cute and it was fantastic to see her.

Suz made a great dinner of greens, shells, and fava beans - so good! Its always a treat to meet up with family.
~MET

After a Long Day at the Office...

2012-02-11T07:44:00.000-05:00

...it was good to unwind at a gala. After a day of dealing with the trials and tribulations of advocating for public education, having the Excellence in Education Gala at the National Building Museum to honor great educators was just what the doctor ordered. The award winners were all very inspirational - and I wish we could kidnap some governors and make them listen to some of the stories that I heard last night.

There is always great high school and college student entertainment at the gala, and last night was no different. There was singing, dancing, and the Howard University Drum Corps:

After the big party we had drinks at the hotel where Joyce met a fellow educator from Arkansas:

It was a fun night. Before I headed up to bed I snapped this picture of one of my heroes in the lobby of the Madison:

I've got another long day of meetings today - and then I get to see Suz, Grant, Maeve, and Sarah!
~MET

Tough Day - But a Good Day

2012-02-09T22:33:00.001-05:00

I spent the day on Capital Hill - and although the discussions were productive, its just a tough time to be involved in public education. It could be worse, though, I could be in Maine having to deal with the governor's latest plan for education. I will be dealing with that mess in a couple of weeks...yay. I still love all of this work - I just wish we would bottom out already so we can start climbing back up to doing what is right for students and educational professionals because people realize how wrong much of these "reform" attempts have been. The good news of the day was heading to Chinatown

to have dinner at Zengo:

Its an Asian-Latin fusion place where I was joined by Joyce and Grace for dinner.

The food was great - I had this:

The sushi and miso had a Latin influx of chipotle that made it very different, spicy, and delicious. The meal and company was just what was needed to calm the mountain of lobbying, local advocating, negotiating, and news from Augusta. Bring on tomorrow!
~MET

The Madison Hotel is Undergoing Renovation...

2012-02-08T21:02:00.001-05:00

...and this lowly public servant gets to benefit from it. I;m in DC for the NEA Board of Directors' meeting until Sunday. I'll be going to the Excellence in Education Gala Friday night, and seeing Suz, Grant, sarah, and Maeve on Saturday night. And working the rest of the time. I am looking forward to our Hill visits tomorrow - I love talking public ed with our Maine congressional staffers and members.

The Madison is a very nice hotel, and I'm sure they have better rooms than my split-level penthouse, but I'm certainly not used to this kind of treatment. They had to put me somewhere...

...so I guess this will be ok. Sometimes it pays to be lucky.
~MET

Welcomed Home From Boston With Some SUPER Food!

2012-02-05T19:54:00.000-05:00

I'm watching the big game with M-S after attending meetings and trainings in Boston this weekend. The conference was a good one, but it feels very good to be home. Here is the Maine delegation at Legal Seafood last night:

When I arrived at home the dog and cat welcomed me in their own way - Owen waited until I was sitting on the couch and has yet to leave my side. Bax tackled me and smothered me with kisses. M-S made some AWESOME Super Bowl fare, beginning with:

Maine shrimp, home made nacho chips, and her famous guacamole. Then we had mushroom pot-pie:

And finally a fantastic veggie sandwich:

It was all delicious. I'm going to sleep well tonight - back in the classroom by 6am. Life is good.
~MET

Boston for Meetings...and Hopefully a Little Fun

2012-02-04T07:39:00.000-05:00

I'm down in Boston for a few days for the NEA Northeast Leadership Conference. The Boston Marriott has refurbished many of their rooms and I got one of them:

The theme of the weekend is about organizing as we try to combat all the attacks that are coming our way. Last night's dinner

included a GREAT speech from NEA VP Lily Eskelsen. I love these conferences because they always provide an energy reboot for me to keep doing all of this. Today I am going to a couple of workshops and we have a Maine delegation meeting.. There will also be speakers at lunch, including the president of the NEA. Tonight the folks from Maine will be having dinner together at Legal Seafood. Should be a great day!
~MET

Maranacook Morning

2012-01-29T14:37:00.000-05:00

This is the reason that Chris Galgay is the best president that the Maine Education Association has ever had: our regular two day board of directors meeting was finished in one hard-working day...so I could go fishing today. I went to Maranacook and had a fun morning. I only put 3 traps in the water and was out of bait by noon. In fact, after I set the first trap it went up FOUR times before I could set the second one. I'm pretty sure I could have caught every bass (like the one above) in the lake from that hole. I had lots of action, caught several bass, yellow perch, and pickerel. The best pickerel I caught was this one:

He was fun to land in that he ripped the line from my hands twice as I fought to bring him in. I released all of these junk fish to piss off another fisherman on another day. I was hoping for a brown trout...to no avail - but it was a lot of fun. I also had the best lunch I've ever enjoyed on the ice. Left over seafood penne from DaVinci's in Lewiston:

I'm quite certain that no other angler in the state dined as well as I did today. When I got home M-S was having a blast with our new cookbook:

Its one that my brother, Jim, recommended:

It is awesome, and my wife loves it. She is making veggie lo-mein and shrimp spring rolls as I write this. Life is good.
~MET

I'm Not Sure Our Pets Like Our Fegan Lifestyle

2012-01-26T19:43:00.001-05:00

Baxter and Owen are spoiled - but they are polite. They don't whine and beg at the table. But since M-S and I have started leaving out the beef, chicken, and pork I think they may be missing it. Chris came out for dinner today and I made him a steak and a couple of hot dogs that were in our freezer. You can see by the picture that Owen and Bax were VERY interested in the smells in the dining room that have been absent for a while. They were not being naughty...just very interested.
~MET

I LOVED This Lesson!

2012-01-24T15:45:00.001-05:00

I've been teaching for 27 years, and my favorite part of the job has always been curriculum development. I love trying new things and keeping things fresh and exciting for my students. I tried something with my Social Psychology class that was lots of fun and very serious all at the same time.

To introduce the unit on prejudice and discrimination I had my classes play "Intergroup Monopoly." Its the regular game with a big twist.

There are 4 players...but they all begin the game with different rules. Player 1 plays by normal Monopoly rules, but the other 3 must start with some weird ones - each had 6 to 9 different rules

but here are some examples:
Player 2 can only move half the amount on the dice roll, can only buy property less than $150, and can only receive half the amount due fro other players. Player 3 must go to jail for any roll over a 7, can only buy property less than $100, and must have a roll less than 7 to get out of jail. Player 4 moves twice the dice roll, collects $350 for passing go, and can buy property for less than the stated price.

These are just examples - there are more strange and fun rules. The students play this way for 20 minutes. Obviously players 2 & 3 have a rough time. After 20 minutes everyone starts to play by the regular rules. We do this for 25 minutes.
What has been set up is a 20 minute period of "open discrimination" followed by a 25 minute period of "equal opportunity." Players 2 & 3 never were able to get out from under. The discussion that followed the game was awesome. Students really saw that making things equal does not actually make them equal after a period of discrimination. The POWER of prejudice is highlighted like you would not believe. This is what makes teaching wonderful.
~MET

Digressions on a Cold Sunday

2012-01-22T18:01:00.001-05:00

I really wanted to fish this morning - but it was simply too cold. So I watched a lot of TV, spent time with the pets, visited with family and got some work done. The television I watched centered around political talk, pro football, and Joe Paterno. I have decided that I want Mitt Romney to go back to the job that suited him better: playing game-show host Guy Smiley on Sesame Street. It was fun watching part of the Patriots game at my parents' house with my brother.

Gooooooooooood nachos:

For dinner tonight while we finish watching the game at home I made a good stew. We started with delicious cheeses and breads:

the stew is Winter Vegetable Stew:

It has carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, green beans, onions, and parsnips - but its the broth that makes it: veggie broth, dijon mustard, spices, a little molasses, and a really dark beer. Its been a pretty good day...back to work tomorrow.
~MET

Adventures in Eating

2012-01-21T18:00:00.000-05:00

My wife and I have always enjoyed cooking for each other. This year we have promised one another to continue to do that - but in a healthier way. I must say that it is more fun than I could have imagined thus far. M-S made a delicious quiche with home fries this morning (above). The veggies in the quiche are all left-overs, and the potatoes have black olives in them...so good. My meals this week are from the Moosewood collection:

Tonight I made Reuben pizza:

Cabbage, sauerkraut, onions, two cheeses - sooooooooooo good. I will continue to let you know the healthy fegan meals we make in the weeks to come.
~MET

Its Always Great to Fish...

2012-01-16T17:13:00.001-05:00

...even when the fishing is not so great. A couple of days in Jackman with Shaun is the best way to celebrate MLK Day - though I now believe the opening day is THE TIME to fish Big Wood. Shaun tried to Tebow (above) his way to a game fish. We got a cabin at Sally Mtn Cabins - my place in the great northwest, and the guy gave us a great deal. I think he like me because I clean up after myself. We got a big cabin:

AND - he let us use one of his shacks yesterday:

I had the right clothes to be on the ice yesterday, but having a shack with a wood stove when the wind chill was -20 degrees was pretty nice. Here is my artsy picture from the trip. The view out the shack window:

Shaun caught one salmon, and we had lots of flags with lots of perch, but no good fish. We did eat well - a fegan breakfast:

The weather got a lot better today: 20 degrees and no wind - very nice. I love being outdoors and even if I got no flags I would still have had a great time this weekend. Can't wait to get on the ice again.
~MET

Is There Anything Quite as Wonderful...

2012-01-14T18:04:00.001-05:00

...as your grandfather's pack basket ready to hit the ice? My weekend plans have changed a bit. M-S and I had our date this morning, and rather than sushi we had a GREAT brunch at Slates. I am looking forward to the Pats beating up on the Broncos tonight. Tomorrow I am heading to Jackman to fish in the afternoon with Shaun, stay the night and fish on MLK morning. I'll be home in time for supper with M-S and Chris. It pays to be me.
~MET

SNOW DAY! And a Big Weekend Coming Up!

2012-01-12T11:18:00.000-05:00

Its snowing hard out there right now. Its really the best sort of snow day - they call it off before it starts to snow, so I can take the dog for a nice walk, and then we just hunker down and enjoy the flakes falling. Baxter has been out to play in it several times already. I needed the break, and with just one day before a long weekend followed by mid-terms, things are feeling good amidst all the work that seems to be swamping me. I am very much looking forward to the three day weekend. On Saturday I'm getting up early to go here:

Clearwater is a togue/salmon pond in the Farmington area. I'm planning to catch huge fish near the lower left shore. I don't remember fishing it as a kid, but my grandfather caught this fish there:

So it has some real sentimental value to me to bring his pack basket and his traps to the scene of that conquest. On Sunday its going to get A LOT colder, but I want to hike up Bald-Rock in Lincolnville. This is a picture of me on that coastal peak a couple of Novembers ago:

Its a very nice hike, and I'll need snow shoes this time, and warm clothing. On Monday M-S and I are planning a date in Portland. We'll be having lunch at a sushi place called Benkay. Here is a pic from their website:

After that deliciousness we are going to wander around the Old Port. I'll actually be finishing my Christmas shopping. Suz, Grant, and Maeve were not in Maine during the holidays, so I am bringing gifts down to them in February when I go to DC for meetings. Shopping for a new-age hippie couple and their 8 month old will be a fun way to spend a MLK Day. Life is good.

~MET

It Would Be Great If...

2012-01-05T18:11:00.001-05:00

...this was the Republican candidate for president in 2012. I would gladly vote for him rather than President Obama. But, sadly, the GOP has been hijacked by the nut jobs of the far right. President Obama has been a disappointment in so many ways, but he is certainly a better choice than the the bible-thumping, judgemental, people-hating, whack-jobs who are trying to be the Republican nominee. This sucks.
~MET

The BEST Way to Start 2012

2012-01-02T15:27:00.000-05:00

I love Jackman, Maine. Fab and I went to the great northwest to stay for a couple of nights on Big Wood Lake in this cabin:

We had a blast - eating, talking, eating, drinking, eating, fishing, and eating. On the first night we had a nice visit with the folks in the cabin next to ours, and Wayne showed us his vintage Colt 45:

I don't know guns and don't really care about guns, but that one felt pretty cool in my hands.

Fab did all the cooking.

New Years' Eve supper = pulled pork and beans:

It was fantastic. Here is my spot on the lake:

The first day of fishing gave me plenty of action. These are the two I kept:

And here they are on the plate with butter, garlic, and celery salt:

When we weren't fishing we were watching football:

I caught one more nice splake this morning and then took this picture on the way out of town:

It was a great time and I'm already thinking about heading back up there soon.
~MET

Foggy Mt. Battie

2011-12-28T15:26:00.000-05:00

This seemed like a good morning to stretch my legs a bit, so I hiked up through the woods to the top of Mt. Battie. There were no views, but the opportunity to hike in shorts in late December was too good to pass up.

I stopped at the Sweet Grass Winery in Union on the way home and picked up a couple of bottles of wine for M-S. We have both been busy getting the house out of holiday mode for the rest of the day. Tomorrow I'll begin to prep for fishing and head to Jackman on Saturday. I'm thinking about going to Bean's at 2am sometime this week too. Good times.
~MET

Taking Advantage of Local Artists

2011-12-26T09:19:00.000-05:00

This Christmas I was able to get some great gifts from some very talented friends. The photograph above was a gift to M-S and I from artist Linda Phillips. I love the photo because its a close-up of a blue trail marker on a birch tree. I bought one of her pieces for my mom. Here is Linda with the one I bought:

Its a picture of an old door on a logging camp up-country. Its really nice and I think my mother likes it a lot. A fellow Winslow teacher named Rod Record took up knitting a few years ago and has become a true artisan. He made this one for M-S in 10 DAYS!

It is tremendous and M-S looks great in it.

Finally, I purchased the CSA from a local Whitefield farm for my wife. Beginning in June she will get a load of fresh veggies each week right through October. Its good to have gifted friends.
~MET

God Bless Us, Everyone! A Fantastic Christmas Day.

2011-12-25T18:45:00.000-05:00

Another fine Christmas celebration with family at home. M-S did all the food prep today and it was awesome.

Stockings:

Baxter seemed to like all of his presents - and kicked the poo out of Santa:

M-S's traditional egg bake gets better every year:

Ma and her "Maeve" shirt:

M-S made a great lentil/curry soup AND "Christmas shepherd's pie"...soooo good.

Ma got a little tired of Jim and I playing paparazzi:

Jim made an outstanding cheesecake. As always, I'm stuffed and very happy. Now I'm going to enjoy some time off and get ready for ice fishing!
~MET

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T20:09:00.001-05:00

Its been a very busy day. We went for a cold walk and then spent the day wrapping presents and cooking. This evening we went to my parent's where Jim was making dinner:

Chris and Sarah were there too to join in the merry making. My parents' tree:

The dinner was very good - the mac and cheese was wicked cheesy.

M-S is still wrapping tonight as I watch Ken Burns' baseball documentary with Baxter. I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow.
~MET

Beans = Good!

2011-12-18T17:40:00.002-05:00

Ma & Dad out for baked beans tonight. Not a lot more needs to be said.

Just good.
~MET

Fantastic Art & Fantastic Company

2011-12-11T21:03:00.001-05:00

After my flight today I met up with M-S and Linda for drinks, dinner, and to see Linda's artwork on display at Dock Fore in Portland. Its a funky pub that is exhibiting some of her paintings and photos:

Linda is very talented and has a unique style. I especially like her photography.

We ate at a different pub that had a million beers and really good food. I had a few flights from the "meat & cheese"bar.

Man...between brunch and dinner, I ate well today.
~MET

Southern Brunch in DC

2011-12-11T13:32:00.001-05:00

I met up this morning with Sarah, Jim, Jean, Suz, and Mauve for brunch at Eatonville, on 14th St. in DC. It was a FANTASTIC southern style brunch. Go here to see the menu: http://eatonvillerestaurant.com/index-1.html#brunch

Of course, Maeve was the star attraction. She is so calm and so happy. Every time I see her she seems a little cuter. Here she is posing for Jim while Jean tries to see the menu:

My food was exceptional:

I had black-eyed peas stew, deep-fried poached eggs, a biscuit, and hash. Everything comes with a little bit of southern greens, which I love.

Suzanne has a "frontpack" baby-carrier thing:

I'm really glad I've started to take an afternoon flight home from DC so I can see the family or the city without thinking about work. Now its on to Portland for an art show and dinner with M-S.
~MET

Quick Meeting in DC

2011-12-09T11:48:00.001-05:00

I'm off to the capital and the 16th St. headquarters for an NEA Board meeting, but I'll only be there for two nights rather than four. The Board experimented with a virtual meeting last night, and it went ok, but its really not at all the same. Its a good way to disseminate information, but its not a good format for any kind of meaningful discussion. I will be getting there tonight just in time to attend a reception for the screening of this film:

Like American Teacher, this movie attempts to put a more accurate spin on what teachers do. The "Mitchell 20" are a group of teachers who reformed an inner-city elementary school without the aid of administrators, charters, billionaires, or especially - politicians.
I also hope to see siblings, nieces, or daughters on Sunday morning if any are around. Sunday evening M-S and I are going to Linda Phillips' art show in Portland, which should be a hoot. More on that and the time in DC to come.
~MET

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez...

2011-12-01T12:45:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite parts of teaching Government & Law is taking students through simulations. I try to make them as "real" as possible. We just finished the unit on the Supreme Court, so it was moot court time. They have to research precedent cases and act as advocates or justices. It went well, and I think they got a lot out of it. Here are a few pictures:

~MET

I Can't Wait to See This Film!

2011-11-28T19:08:00.001-05:00

Two young filmakers from Maine are working on a feature length documentary about ice fishing in the Pine Tree State. Hardwater is destined to win multiple awards. I tried to embed a video here, but I couldn't get it to work. The two guys are trying to raise money to finish production and have established a "kickstarter" site in an effort to get donations. If you go to the site you can see a short clip - its worth taking a look if only for the characters who will be starring in the film. Here is the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/534839598/hardwater?ref=discover_rec
It looks like the movie will be out in the late spring or early summer. Now - we need to start getting some cold nights to begin making ice before my trek to Jackman for the beginning the 2012 ice fishing season. FIRE IN THE HOLE!
~MET

Thanksgiving Week ~ Day Three

2011-11-25T17:47:00.001-05:00

Another very nice Thanksgiving dinner with the family. I ate waaaaay too much, but it was all delicious.

Baxter enjoying the giblets:

My little girl and boy playing cards:

There was lots of catching up, story-telling, and fun discussion. I'm already looking forward to a big sandwich...maybe sometime tomorrow.
~MET

Thanksgiving Week ~ Day Two

2011-11-24T13:31:00.001-05:00

Today is really all about getting ready for tomorrow. For the first time we are having our Thanksgiving celebration on Friday - something we should have done YEARS ago. Our children are spending the day with their other parents, and they will join us tomorrow. So M-S and I got to prep for our big day, spend time with the pets, and relax a little. As always, we started the day with a walk:

It was very chilly (18 degrees), but very pretty after the snowfall. Baxter loves digging in the snowbanks and sniffing the deer tracks. We also needed to get some winter berry for our table, and there is a bog on our route that has several big bushes...or trees...or whatever:

I really liked this one with all the holiday trimmings:

After a walk and a quick trip to the store for last minute items, we enjoyed a traditional brunch:

The sausage was from Emery's - if you have yet to check out this local business in Augusta - GET THERE. It has to be the best butcher shop this side of Josephs in Waterville. The rest of the day has been a mix of crappy jobs like cleaning bathrooms, to great fun like playing with Baxter in the snow. I had to take this picture:

He sits on this chair like this at least once a day. My dog thinks he's a cat. He adores Owen, sits in the cat tower to look out the window, and tries to sit where Owen would sit. God love him. I'm watching football now and getting ready to vacuum while M-S is working on her famous stuffing. Life is good.
~MET

Thanksgiving Week ~ Day One

2011-11-23T09:51:00.001-05:00

My favorite week of the year is finally here! This year we are beginning our celebration with a pretty significant snow storm. My dog is nothing more than a little boy - he loves to get out and play in the fresh snow:

He also likes to watch it falling, and bark at the birds who are trying to find food in the feeders:

The schedule for the week looks like this:

Today I'm just hanging out with Baxter and Owen, and going to the store to pick up a few more things for our meal.
Tonight I'll pick up Sarah from the airport - the snow should be done by then.
Tomorrow its just me and M-S with the pets. We'll walk the dog and have brunch in the morning, watch parades, listen to Alice's Restaurant, gather some winterberry for the table, and then prepare some of the big meal for the next day. I love spending a day like this with my wife.
Friday morning we are going to Robbie's with Linda and Mark to check out her pottery.
Our Thanksgiving dinner will be on Friday this year with all the kids, Ma & Dad, and Jim.
I love this time of year.

~MET

Post Number 1000

2011-11-19T08:23:00.001-05:00

Random Digressions is 1000 posts old as of today. After a chilly walk with Baxter I took some time to look through the 999 that led up to this one. Its nice to have a journal that allows me to relive:

times with family
adventures in the outdoors - mountaintops and fish stories
holidays
political rants
dates with the best wife in the world
the amazing growth of Sarah & Chris
my miracle mom
the wonderful world of teaching
two awesome dogs and one fantastic cat
times in places like DC, San Diego, New Orleans, Chicago, etc
great meals with great people
political action and lobbying
etc, etc, etc

This blog has been a wonderful reminder of how very lucky I am. This is a great time of year to thank the people who have made all of this possible: my spouse, my family, my students, my colleagues, my pets, and my friends. Here's to the next 1000.
~MET

Three Random Pictures

2011-11-15T17:46:00.001-05:00

I had some pictures on my camera that needed to be posted somewhere...so a blog explaining them seems about right. The pic above is the most anticipated pizza of my lifetime just before it goes into the oven. Its a "Big Mac" pizza! Beef - special sauce(thousand island rather than tomato sauce!!), cheese, pickles, and without lettuce. I can't wait. These are the new sheep that have moved in up the road:

They are very cute, very loud, and seem kind of high maintenance. This is M-S's new hat:

She is wearing it on her walks with Baxter, and I just think she looks cute. I thought a lighter post after my last two political rants were in order.
~MET

Be Sure You are Ready to Pee in That Cup, Mr. LePage

2011-11-11T09:56:00.001-05:00

When in doubt, intimidate the poor. Our much less than esteemed governor has once again proved that he would rather pander to his hate-filled base than to actually govern. His idea to drug test welfare recipients sounds great to his tea party followers, but is nothing more than a very costly double standard to anyone who...you know...actually thinks. No one wants tax dollars to be used to feed a drug habit, but there are LOTS AND LOTS of us who live off tax dollars, including Mr. LePage and his daughter. Are they ready to step up and offer some urine for the common good? I doubt it. I don't want my tax money feeding any of their bad habits either. And judging from the bloated, red-nosed look of my state's chief executive, he is at the very least struggling with alcohol. The 14th Amendment guarantees equal protection. If this policy is to be equal, ALL people who receive money from the public till should be forced to subject themselves to a drug test. If that provision is added to the bill I'm sure that there will be many legislators who will have a change of heart. But it is easier, and you can pick up tea party votes by cashing in on a little hate now and again. Be ashamed, Paul Lepage.
~MET

Really? Seriously, Really??

2011-11-10T15:35:00.001-05:00

    I haven't written here for a while - especially about politics - but after last night's freak show in Michigan I can't hold my cyber tongue any longer. The only group of people who might be more embarrassed than Republicans right now are Penn State alumni. Watching the collection of buffoons looking to challenge the president next year is like witnessing a plane crash in slow motion. I have LOTS of friends who are involved in politics, and some of them are members of the GOP...I feel badly for them. I feel badly for one major reason: the tea party has hijacked the party of Eisenhower, Nixon, Goldwater, Bush I, and most importantly - Ronald Reagan. I wish Reagan had lived to see this mess because I believe he would tell the morons who now control the process to shut up and find a clue.
     There are a couple of sane, reasonable, and intelligent people on the stage. Governor Huntsman, for example, is a very interesting man with some thought-provoking ideas.....and he is polling last in a group that can only be described as the least inspiring cast of candidates in the history of American electoral politics. What does THAT say?
     It says that the only way to gain momentum is to appeal to the tea party dingbats who get 100% of their talking points from one or two talk show entertainers who make a living by casting a net into the shallow pool that is the tea party. Who is their favorite right now? Herman Cain. Enough said. To the radical base Herman is a god. They say that Obama does not have enough experience. Herman has NONE...well, except for pizza. They say that family values should drive our policy - Clinton WAS NOT FIT to be president...but we can ignore Herman's growing list of victims.
     I hate to break the news to you folks who look to avoid mental exercise at all costs, but Obama is closer to Reagan than anyone on that stage: not much substance - not much experience - inspiring character - willing to compromise - headed for a second term. Time to circle the wagons Mr. and Mrs. Republican Party and stop worrying about the "thoughts" and "ideas" of a group of people who who collectively control approximately 12 working brain cells. Find a good candidate and you walk away with it in 2012. Then again...keep on keepin' on and at least my party will keep the White House.
~MET

I'm Dreaming...

2011-10-30T08:11:00.002-04:00

...of a white Halloween? Its still snowing pretty hard as I write this and we have about 8 inches on the ground. I do like the look of wet snow on the trees:

But many of them are struggling against the weight and the wind. Its strange to see autumn leaves falling on top of snow:

Of course, Baxter LOVES the snow. He likes to dig, run, and play in it:

And he loves to watch it falling:

Most of it should be gone by the end of the day, so as long as we can keep our power it will be a pretty storm that won't amount to much.
~MET

Great Date in Portland

2011-10-22T17:18:00.001-04:00

Last night M-S and I went to Maine's only city for a long overdue date. The traveling version of Spamalot was at Merrill Auditorium - so it was a perfect night to get away. We started with a drink at the top of the Old Port at a place called White Cap:

We had a nice talk, made each other laugh a bit, and anticipated a great meal and a wonderful musical. We had dinner here:

It was our first time at any of the 3 "rooms" in Portland. The Corner Room is all about Italian fare, and it was delicious. I think an imported cheese flight might be my favorite kind of appetizer. The main courses were awesome - and we had more fun conversation.
The show was great and we had a wonderful night. I am a very lucky man. Period.
~MET

A Few More of Maeve...Just Because

2011-10-13T17:15:00.000-04:00

My little booger of a niece is heading back to DC tomorrow. Allow me to post a few more pictures of her visit to Maine.

A few assumptions were reinforced by her visit:

Maeve is simply awesome
My brother is the best uncle any kid could have (I learned this in 1987, and not a lot has changed)
My parents are the bar that all grandparents should be measured against
Suz and Grant are already superior parents, and Maeve is a lucky little girl

~MET

Heading North Soon

2011-10-12T10:17:00.000-04:00

On Friday I'll be wearing jeans, hiking boots, and a comfortable shirt to school. I'll be beating the buses out of the parking lot at the end of the school day and heading to Baxter State Park for a couple of cold nights next to Roaring Brook. I can't wait - mostly because I have no grand plans to tackle a mountain. My only goal is to walk to Sandy Stream Pond and take pictures of moose, sit next to the brook and read, enjoy some good food, some good conversations with friends, a good cigar, and relax. Its been a while since I've camped out in my favorite place on the planet, and I can't think of a better way to spend some fall days than in the great north woods of Maine.
~MET

What Kind of a Dog...

2011-10-10T17:00:00.001-04:00

...thinks that squash is a chew toy? M-S put a pumpkin and some assorted squashes on the front stoop to celebrate the fall. Baxter normally spends his time out in his fenced in back yard, but today he sat with us in the front to enjoy this perfect fall day...and went nuts on a squash.

He seemed to really like it.

It did kind of mess up the display a little.
~MET

Maeve's Maine Cotillion

2011-10-10T14:16:00.000-04:00

There won't be a need for many words in this post. A good time was had by all as Maeve was introduced to her friends and family from Maine. LOTS of people showed up in different waves to eat great food, talk, and take turns holding the star of the show. Here are just a few shots:

~MET

Maeve in Maine ~ A Walk in the Park

2011-10-09T10:08:00.000-04:00

Little Maeve has arrived in Maine! Needless to say, my mom is beside herself. I went to see her last night.

But the big day is Monday when all sorts of friends and family will be coming to meet her.

About the only person who won't be in town will be Sarah, who is still adjusting to life in DC and seems to be thriving.

This morning M-S and I took Baxter to Capital Park, and he loved it.

It was kind of nice to see some things that I haven't seen up close in quite a few years.

It really is a great park with lots of walkways to explore and wildlife for Bax to stalk. Its been a great holiday weekend so far.
~MET

An Appreciation for Elementary School Educators

2011-10-04T17:31:00.002-04:00

My mother taught 5th grade in Augusta for many years. I have been teaching at the high school level for 27 years. After I had become a secondary teacher she would remind me in a not so subtle way that I had it easy - that she was working much harder each day than I was. I didn't argue, but I'm not sure that I really understood what she was talking about. Since I have become a local union president I have learned that my mom (as always) was 100% correct. I just want to say that when I compare my average day as a high school teacher with that of an elementary teacher and the contact time with students - there really is NO comparison. Thank you for all you do for those little boogers, and thank God its not me. If ANYONE in the State Legislature or in Congress really knew how hard these people work everyday, they would have no problem identifying those educators as American heroes. And thats just what they are - heroes.
~MET

Winding Down a Busy Trip

2011-09-25T14:24:00.000-04:00

I love the NEA Board meetings, but this trip was extra special. Seeing good friends, visiting with Sarah and finding out that she got a job, big news from the Obama administration while we were on the Hill lobbying, the Nats & Strasburg, and seeing little Maeve.

I haven't seen her since she was 4 hours old...what a personality! I can't wait for M-S to meet her when she comes to Maine in a few weeks. She didn't cry when I held her, but she did have this constant look of confusion. Maybe its because Suz and I have some similar features. I had to post this picture of Grace's salad from last night:

What an interesting way to serve Caesar salad. After having breakfast with Suz, Grant, Bonnie, and Sarah I spent a little time at the American Indian Museum.

I saw thousands of artifacts - but really liked this painting

And of course I loved reading about the ice-fishing by the natives from the St. Laurent area. They used to camp out on the ice for days back in the old days, but then started using these vehicles:

You can see the old Jiffy auger hooked on the side. I love the museum and I'm glad I gave myself a little time this morning. I'm on my way home now - school tomorrow!
~MET

Another Fantastic Night at the Ballpark

2011-09-24T07:17:00.002-04:00

The bad news: the Nationals lost (not something I am unfamiliar with when I go to the park). The good news: it stopped raining long enough to have a game, Stephen Strasburg was on the hill, my seat was fantastic, and its just a great time whenever I get get to spend time in a baseball stadium. The Nats have made some improvements in their beautiful park, and in the overall experience in general. But the really fun thing for me about baseball in the nation's capital is that its a little different than in other parts of the country. What other team is going to have Peace Corps Night:

And where else are you going to get a seat next to CNN's political commentator, Paul Begala:

I can't wait to get back to this park - and next time we'll be putting another curly 'W' in the books!
MET

A Big Day

2011-09-22T21:34:00.000-04:00

Its 9:30pm and I'm completely bushed. Its been a day of hard work, great news, strange cab rides, and a wonderful new national monument. I'm pooped - so here it is in a nutshell:

An early meeting with the Government Relations team at the NEA for a briefing
Meetings on the Hill with the staffs of Collins, Snowe, and Michaud - all very productive
Meeting with Pingree and her staff...she really is the best friend Maine educators have
Picked up Sarah at the metro station and was with her when she found out she got the job she wanted at Georgetown Law
Early evening meeting at the NEA
Dinner with Sarah and Grace at Logan Tavern
My first view of the MLK Memorial. ITS AMAZING. Its wonderful at night, but tough on the pictures. I'm going back on Sunday and will take more photos.

I love the work, love being around passionate defenders of public education, and love that I have so much family here. I have Board meetings, luncheons, baseball and soccer games, breakfast with Grant, Suz, and Maeve, and so much more. Life is good.
~MET

A Great Meal & Looking Ahead

2011-09-17T19:01:00.000-04:00

     I haven't posted here for a while due to the hectic and wonderful beginning to the school year. In fact, it feels like this is the first time in several days that I've had an opportunity to sit down and just relax. I had a nice visit with my parents this morning followed by a lengthy meeting at the MEA and grocery shopping - so M-S and I wanted something good, quick, and light for dinner. The gorgeous picture is that dinner. Sushi is almost as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.
     My classes this year are AWESOME. I absolutely can't wait to get to work every day. I did have one run-in with a student in my study-hall (transfer from Lawrence...hmmm), but even he has become a model citizen as of late. Seriously - the collection of students I have right now might be the best of my 27 years, and I've always had great students.
     This fall has also become a busy time overall. Here is what the rest of September and October look like:

Meeting with the superintendent
Policy Committee meeting
DC and lobbying/NEA Board of Directors meeting
MEA Board of Directors meeting
Camping at Baxter State Park
MEA All-Committee Day
Winslow School Board meetings
M-S goes to Boston for a few days - me, Bax, and Owen doing "man stuff"

There are some very good side effects of all that work. I get to see Maeve again, I will see Sarah in her new home in DC, many more meetings at school that are not listed, and advocating for the educators in my district.
I'll try to post more often in the weeks ahead.
~MET

What I Want People to Remember About 9/11

2011-09-10T19:11:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago at 9:30am I was in my classroom at Winslow High School. I had a prep period so I was in my room working. I'll never forget how I got the news. One of my best friends came over the intercom and said, "Hey, you need to come down to the office." The rest of my day was spent trying to answer the thousands of questions that my students had. As we all take a moment to remember that time I just want to throw a special thought toward the people on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. As bad as that day was...CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL BUILDING HAD BEEN HIT? I don't think most Americans have given that as much thought as they should. The people on that plane - who DID NOT sign on to be heroes, might have done more for our country than anyone else on that awful day. Everyone who did anything to help during that day is a hero. But on this 10th anniversary I am going to take a few seconds to quietly remember the passengers on that plane who unknowingly bought a ticket that would force them to make the awful decision to save perhaps the most precious symbol of American democracy. Simple Americans saving America.
~MET

Teaching Again, Friends, and Family

2011-09-06T16:23:00.000-04:00

I had a great first day back in the classroom today. My students were awesome and I'm already looking forward to tomorrow. This is a very busy time - and its just going to get busier. Mark & Linda came by yesterday to pick some peaches and I couldn't help snapping a pic with them and the bike before they took off into the rain:

Last night I had dinner with my brother, daughter, parents, two aunts and an uncle:

DELICIOUS lasagna followed by maple syrup cake...again: DELICIOUS. My Aunt Ann is a superior chef and I am looking forward to making the very simple maple cake soon. Tonight Stephen Strasburg is due to make his comeback with the Nationals if the rain holds off - life is good!
~MET

An Afternoon at the Windsah Faiyah

2011-08-29T16:50:00.000-04:00

I promised myself that I'd hit the fair this year a couple of times - I mean, it is THE event of the small towns in this area, and North Whitefield is smack dab in the middle of the action. School starts tomorrow, so I spent a few hours down the road in Windsor. I only wanted to do a couple of things. First: check out the museum:

It actually is pretty good. There are several themed rooms that have hundreds of "artifacts." I also stumbled onto the family cow contest. This dad, mom, and young cow were the winners:

But I really went to watch a few races and place a couple of bets.

I didn't win. But I do love a good harness race - and I was close each time. I'll be back next Sunday to see a few more races and see more farm stuff.
~MET

All Lunches Should Be Like This One!

2011-08-28T16:43:00.000-04:00

My kind of lunch: great seafood mixed with lots of politics! The Muskie Lobster Bake/Hurricane Party was awesome, and I hope I can be an annual attendee. It was supposed to be outside at Wolfe Neck Farm, but they moved it into a 200 year old barn:

The setting was great and I got some lengthy and productive face time with Michaud, Pingree, and several state legislators. The whole meal was cooked in seaweed:

I also met and had a great conversation with Earl Blumenauer, who is the US Congressman from the 3rd District of Oregon. He was there because he is a good friend of Chellie's and his daughter is going to Colby this week.

This is the lapel pin I wore today:

Congressman Blumenauer gave me this one:

He is the chair of the US House "Bike Caucus." I also was able to bring my mom a lobster.

It was a fun and productive event. Talking education policy with people from Augusta and Washington is always a blast.
~MET

Its Turning Into the Best Time of Year

2011-08-20T13:01:00.000-04:00

My favorite time of year living in this part of the world is right around the corner. Fall is awesome in North Whitefield. First of all there are thousands of apple trees in this town. And this orchard may have the best:

I got some fresh Macs and plums this morning:

There are so many great farms in this area, and you can get so many different things. On Sunday, August 28 another local tradition kicks off:

All the towns around here go crazy over the fair and I've decided to embrace it this year. I'm going at least twice...during the day both times before the crowd gets a little more...umm...frightening. Besides, I just want to see the exhibits and:

bet on the ponies. Its been years since I have bet on harness racing, and I'm really looking forward to it. If anyone is interested in goin' to the faya - let me know!
~MET

It IS a Civil Rights Issue

2011-08-18T07:37:00.000-04:00

Round two of the battle over treating gay Mainers equally is underway. There is a petition drive to put marriage equality on the ballot, and I am asking that everyone make an effort to at least sign one or perhaps even help gather the necessary number of signatures. I'm sure that the goal is to get 30-50,000 extra signatures because we must remember that the Secretary of State's office is under the control of Paul LePage and his minions of hate, so many signatures will be ruled unacceptable. I've written many times on this blog about marriage equality - the tide is turning in America - its time to get this done. Go to Equality Maine's website to find out how you can donate and help: http://equalitymaine.org/
~MET

Trivia Night!

2011-08-17T18:19:00.000-04:00

We had a great time last night at the Liberal Cup and another shot at the trivia contest. Good food, good friends, MANY jokes and good-natured ribbing. Our team this time included Linda's two brothers, a sister-in-law, her two daughters, Mark, and M-S and I:

Its always a long night, but always a blast.
~MET

American Picker

2011-08-14T12:12:00.000-04:00

I've no clue as to why these first two pictures loaded this way. This morning I went to the sleepy village of Union, Maine for a HUGE antiques fair. There were millions and millions of items. I had a great.

I especially like looking at old sporting goods and political stuff. This vendor had lots of old baseball stuff:

They had pennants from old major league teams, cards, and such. This do was awesome:

He is 175 pounds. These player pianos were beautiful - and playing:

These old fishing lures were really nice:

I bought a couple of buttons (Udall and McGovern) for my classroom, but had a fantastic time looking at it all.
~MET

August Means...

2011-08-12T07:22:00.000-04:00

...really getting ready for year number 27 in public education. This week I had meetings with the high school Faculty Leadership Team, and I think we accomplished a great deal in preparation for a new year. The third meeting took place here:

A 120(+/-) year old camp in Bucksport. The property was huge and beautiful and we had a very nice lunch to boot. Most of our team was there:

I'm going in to school later today to meet with a new teacher in my department and I'll get some work done in my room. I love getting my courses prepped each year. Next week I have lots of MEA membership meetings around the state, and the following week I've got some more MEA stuff and a district-wide new staff orientation...and the following week it all begins for real. So - work has really kind of started. And to be honest, I wouldn't want it any other way. Bring it on!
~MET

One of Those Days...

2011-08-06T18:34:00.000-04:00

...that summer is all about. With all of the meetings and such that I have during the summer I need to appreciate those days that allow me to just enjoy time at home. Today began with a walk with Bax and M-S, a visit with my parents, and then chillin' in North Whitefield. Baxter LOVES to play in the backyard and he makes me go out with him at least 3-5 times a day when I'm around.

He uses his pool constantly to keep himself cool. There is usually at least one frog that climbs in during the day - which is just another dog toy to Baxter.

Owen just watches him and looks disgusted.

I also went fishing today at Clary Lake. This spot looks like it should be filled with bass:

It wasn't. I had a great time making supper with M-S. Nothing beats salmon cooked on a cedar plank:

Two were cooked in bourbon sauce and two in chipotle sauce. M-S made an awesome gazpacho to start, complete with her delicious pesto:

It was all very tasty.

I hope I can sneak in a few more of these days sprinkled around the meetings, retreats, etc.
~MET

Mom Update

2011-08-06T10:18:00.000-04:00

My miracle mother is about to begin the next phase of her treatment. Beginning Wednesday, and then every three weeks, she will receive chemotherapy at the Cancer Center in Augusta. Much less travel than before, though she will be going to NIH to get scans from time to time. She is still in good spirits and continues to defy the odds. Keep the good thoughts coming.
~MET

Finally a Harness That Works!

2011-08-06T07:02:00.000-04:00

We take Baxter for a walk every morning, and because he is a spastic puppy - he pulls. Its really bad if he sees a bird or other little creature, and sometimes he will try to chase a car. We've tried several "no pull" harnesses, and I think we have found one that actually works.

Its made by Dean & Tyler, which is a company out of Brooklyn, NY. This morning he did not pull at all and the harness seems to be very comfortable. We have tried another one that uses the same technique, but it did not work - this one is significantly more expensive, so I guess you get what you pay for. I found it on one of the Facebook sidebar ads that are directed to my interests. My arm won't be pulled out of socket each day!
~MET

Birthday Brunch - What Amazing Looks Like at 43

2011-07-31T12:56:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow my wife celebrates her birthday. We decided to go to Damariscotta for brunch and some shopping downtown.

As usual, we went to a place that we had never been - the Damariscotta River Grill:

We started with a flat bread pizza to share with Gorgonzola cheese, apples, basil, and ham:

It was REALLY good. Mira-Su had lobster eggs benedict:

And I had poached eggs on their homemade corned beef hash:

The atmosphere and food were both outstanding. We sat in the upstairs bar where they also have live music at night. We attempted to work off the huge brunch by walking to the waterfront.

We also did some shopping and I got another birthday gift for M-S...a nice hat and mitten set for those cold fall and winter mornings walking the dog. I think she looks very nice in them on a beautiful summer day:

We had a wonderful morning - but I always have a great time with my wife. She is funny, warm, caring, brilliant, and keeps me grounded. I am not the easiest man to share a life with - I'm opinionated, sarcastic, a bit of a workaholic, and can be distant at times. But she sees the good in me and I'm a very lucky man. Happy birthday. I love you.
~MET

A Big Meeting Ends - But Still Lots of Work Left This Summer

2011-07-28T16:25:00.000-04:00

I returned from Northport today after four days of meetings of the Maine Education Association Board of Directors. I actually left a little early because Baxter needed to see the vet.

He has an infection in his ear and will need to take 10 days of medication. I'm sure he'll be back to his old self soon.

I still have a bunch to do this summer:

Interview teaching candidates
3 days of meetings of the WHS Faculty Leadership Team
2 meetings of a special MEA committee
4 MEA membership meetings around the state
And...then school will be about to begin

All good stuff.
~MET

MEA Board Retreat - 1

2011-07-26T07:41:00.000-04:00

The real MEA Board work begins today, though we did have a leadership team meeting yesterday afternoon. My cabin is great and very comfortable.

Point Lookout also has some very nice hiking trails. This morning at 6am I took a 2 mile walk..

...to Knight's Pond:

I'll be in meetings all day - then tonight we have a "bonding dinner & bowling" activity. It should be a hoot.
~MET

After a Little Break...

2011-07-25T07:03:00.000-04:00

...I'm off to Point Lookout in Northport for a few days of MEA meetings and trainings. Point Lookout is an old MBNA site, and its a great place to have the MEA Board retreat. They have very nice cabins, meeting rooms, fitness trails, etc. We have a lot of important work to do - but I'm sure we'll find some time to have a little fun also. I'll take some pics and try to post during the week.
~MET

50 People Were Allowed on the RA Stage...

2011-07-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

...while VP Joe Biden addressed the 9000 delegates. Check out the blurry guy in the top of the picture with the tie. It only took an FBI background check and waiting for several hours to get through security. Great fun - and a true benefit of NEA leadership: hangin' out with the big-timers.
~MET

Pub Food That is Not Really Pub Food

2011-07-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

We met up with Mark & Linda in Gardiner at:

..the Mad Dog. Its a small place with lots of character. The menu obviously changes each night and is limited to a few delicious choices. I opted for two appetizers: gazpacho and awesome muscles. Both were VERY good. The visit with Mark and Linda was the hoot that it always is - and it was very entertaining to hear them talk about their new home in Readfield. If you are looking for a relaxed "pub" atmosphere with food that is a step above pub fare, I suggest a trip to the Mad Dog.
~MET

Free Will

2011-07-20T14:34:00.000-04:00

The new storm door came today - so Baxter can now decide on his own when to go out into the fenced in back yard.

I think he understands how it works, though he is still a bit intimidated. After practicing for a bit and playing with his ball for a while...

...he was kind of pooped. This last picture:

is just another image of grilling at the Thurston Estate. Seasoned green beans and salmon with a dry rub. I love cooking outside.
~MET

Catching Up

2011-07-18T19:29:00.000-04:00

Its been a pretty busy summer - even after the NEA-RA in Chicago. One of the things I've done to do a better job with my health is to join the YMCA in Augusta. I've been every morning at 5am, and my plan is to continue that schedule after school starts and go M-F, and go to work from there. Its great because I swim one day and get on the treadmill the next. So I use different muscles and don't do the same thing everyday.

I am beginning to do a lot of work to get ready for school in the fall. It will be different in that for the first time in 27 years I won't be teaching a single section of American History. The two courses I'll be teaching are American Government & Law and Psychology. I'm looking forward to it a lot.

Of course, I always have lots of work for the WEA, MEA, and NEA. There are membership meetings around the state coming up and the MEA Board of Directors retreat at the end of this month. The retreat will mark the end of my first year as an NEA Director for Maine - and I've loved every minute of it. There will be lots of advocating, lobbying, negotiating, researching, training, and meeting after meeting in the months ahead. I'm also enjoying time with my pets and my wife this summer - trying to focus on them during the rare occasions that I'm home. Life is good.
~MET

Nothing Says "Lazy Friday" Like...

2011-07-15T10:22:00.000-04:00

...a delicious Irish brunch. My wife has the day off and we don't have any big plans so I decided to make a big breakfast for our main meal of the day. After an early trip to the 'Y' and a walk with the dog, we enjoyed this menu:

Scrambled eggs with hot sauce (green for the Irish)
Potatoes O'Brien
Sausage with spinach & feta
Mixed fruit
Texas toast
Irish cheese

It was very good - though I am stuffed. I have some chores to do, a little schoolwork to complete, and I'm picking up my brother at the airport later, otherwise its just a slow and easy kind of day. I might play some golf this weekend, check in with my parents, and continue to take things as they come. Ahhhh...the joys of summer.
~MET

I Love This Pan!!

2011-07-11T10:25:00.000-04:00

I love to grill and this "grill-top frying pan" is just awesome. It cooks veggies without oils or butter and they are delicious. Seriously - how good does this look?

Cooking with charcoal is my favorite activity in the summer.
~MET

Another Local Restaurant Adventure

2011-07-08T20:26:00.000-04:00

M-S went here for dinner tonight. Its in downtown Gardiner, and it was very good. The food is very authentic and the portions are huge. Everyone in the place took something home in a box. We started with brucshetta with caramelized onions and kalamatta olives:

Then we each had a pasta dish. Mine was ziti with olives, hot peppers, and anchovies:

All the dishes are served in pans and the wine in a drinking glasses. We had a very good time and I recommend it if you are looking for great Italian food in central Maine.
~MET

Heading Home in the Morning

2011-07-05T22:55:00.000-04:00

Another NEA-RA in the books. I think this may be the best of the four I've attended. We accomplished a lot and I think everyone in the hall is going home ready to fight for the middle class. Below is the other NEA Director from Maine, Grace, at the mike:

Chicago is a great city and I'd love to come back some day soon. Right now I just want to see my beautiful wife, my spastic dog, and my ultra cool cat. I must admit that I absolutely love this work and I look forward to the next challenge.
~MET

Chicago Check-in: The RA Begins

2011-07-04T00:04:00.000-04:00

Two days of a very busy RA are down. Lots and lots of debate, speeches, elections, and some fun mixed in.

The big event thus far was VP Biden's speech today. He's been a favorite of mine since his presidential attempt in 1988. Each state got to send one delegate to sit on the stage during his talk. I got to be Maine's representative. He did a great job, and it was awesome to be up there behind him.

We ate at a fusion place tonight (Japanese & Brazilian), but we passed a legendary Chicago pizza place on the way:

I'm very busy and very tired - but a fantastic time this far.
~MET

Chicago Check-in: An Irish Pub, A Big Storm, and a Great Civil Rights Dinner

2011-07-02T00:14:00.000-04:00

A fantastic couple of days of work and inspiration. I'll talk more about the gentleman in the above picture in a few moments. Last night the Maine delegation enjoyed a dinner at an Irish pub called D4. The food was very good, but the excitement was provided by a huge thunderstorm complete with golf ball sized hail.

Today I had a ton of meetings and lots of work to complete, but I also got to go to the NEA Human & Civil Rights Awards Dinner. I've been to several of these dressy affairs, but this was the best one by far.

There were lots of very inspirational stories and a fantastic meal. There is always a crowd of about 1000 people. Maine always sends 10. Here is one half of our table:

And the other half:

I'm pretty sure I'm finally "seasoned" enough to pull off a bow tie. The highlight of an awesome night was listening to, and then meeting the Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery:

He was Martin Luther King's closest advisor, a founder of SCLC, and an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. You might remember him giving the benediction at President Obama's inauguration. He gave an AMAZING speech tonight - I would love to have a fraction of his energy and insight when I am 92. I love the NEA-RA.
~MET

Chicago Check-in: CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!

2011-06-30T07:55:00.000-04:00

A quick update before the first of 3 or 4 meetings today. This is going to be a very eventful RA with lots of rowdy debate on some pretty interesting topics. We had an NEA Board meeting at the Palmer House ballroom yesterday:

If that meeting is any indication - its going to be a raucous RA. The highlight of yesterday was, of course, Wrigley Field:

I've now been to both of the remaining shrines of baseball...and I must admit that the atmosphere at Fenway is MUCH more intense. Wrigley is a beautiful park - and really built to watch a game, there are no bad seats at all. And as far as hot dogs go, Fenway can't touch a Chicago dog:

They also have the 7th inning singing of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", led by Kelsey Grammer last night.

But Fenway is just louder, and the fans are into the game more. After the game I went to Buddy Guy's Legends to see some real Chicago blues:

Jimmy Johnson was the headliner, but the guy in the above pic played an incredible guitar. So in a span of about 5 hours I did the best Chicago has to offer: Wrigley Field and great blues.
~MET

1st Morning in the Windy City - Getting to Know the Neighborhood

2011-06-29T14:16:00.000-04:00

One of the best parts of traveling is exploring the immediate vacinity of where you will be spending the next several days. The picture above is from my hotel. In the distance you can see the ferris wheel at Navy Pier, which is where this morning I decided to take a long walk to that very spot. Chicago is an awesome city, with some great public artwork. I LOVED this one, which was nice reminder of the real reason I am here:
Navy Pier was dead, but it was a very nice morning and a great place to walk.

Its one of those places to see at night.

You fans of Saturday Night Live in the 70's might remember this place:

"Cheeseborger, cheeseborger, cheeseborger, no fries...chips." Here is the skyline looking back from the pier:

Lake Michigan is...well...great. My first peek at a Great Lake was not a disappointment in the least. You have to love a city that has a statue of Bob Newhart as Bob Hartley:

I've got an NEA Board meeting in a little while - then on to Wrigley in my jacket and tie to see the Cubs tonight. Much more as the week moves on.
~MET

Ma & Dad Visit the Grandpup

2011-06-25T18:02:00.000-04:00

Baxter loves my mom...unfortunately he tends to forget that she may not want to play that rough. My parents came out to visit before I take off on Tuesday and we had really good beef skewers:

We listened to the Nats, talked about family stuff, and played with Bax:

As soon as they left to go home the dog almost immediately fell asleep. Fun times.
~MET

Two Big Political Developments

2011-06-25T07:40:00.000-04:00

Last night New York became the 6th state to enact marriage equality. This is significant for two reasons: its the largest state to do so thus far, and their senate is controlled by the Republican Party. Its a huge step in the process toward all Americans enjoying equal rights.

While I'm at the NEA-RA in Chicago Vice President Joe Biden will speak to the Assembly. Many of you may remember that I backed him both times he tried to get the Democratic nomination (1988, 2008), and I wrote on this blog weeks before the announcement that then Senator Obama should choose Biden as his running mate. It will be great to see him speak live. I hope the Maine delegation has seats toward the front of the hall.
~MET

Me, Owen, & Baxter on the Loose

2011-06-24T10:41:00.000-04:00

M-S, Kori, and Alex will be in Montreal for a few days - so its just me and the boys here at home. We are planning some manly stuff. Lots of grilling:

We'll watch the Lonesome Dove marathon this weekend:

And - of course - lots of Nats baseball:

Ma and Dad will be out for supper tomorrow...so I did get some vegetables. I'm looking forward to some bonding time with the pets.
~MET

FINALLY!

2011-06-22T08:50:00.000-04:00

In honor of the beginning of summer - the classic opening from Meatballs.

Monthly Meal ~ Father's Day

2011-06-18T19:34:00.000-04:00

After a couple of months off for a variety of reasons, we are back on the "Monthly Meal" schedule. This month Dad got to choose in honor of Father's Day - and to no one's surprise he asked for a good cheeseburger.

The burger was served on an onion bulkie roll, and complemented with grilled asparagus and mushrooms, corn, potato salad, and cukes:

It was good tasting and good to see my parents back at our table. They both looked great, and are still spry enough to dodge our spastic dog...barely.
~MET

Have Some Fun With This Picture

2011-06-12T17:23:00.000-04:00

Click on this picture of Albert Einstein to make it a bit larger and then step back about 15 feet...who do you see now?
~MET

Phones & Flowers

2011-06-11T06:48:00.000-04:00

I finally broke down and got a new phone. More and more people have been texting me while traveling, etc...and with my old flip phone the only thing I could text back was 'ok'. So, it was time. Baxter and I went for a walk at 5am this morning and this time of year there are lots of flowers growing along the country roads. We picked these for M-S:

Its not even 7am and its already been a pretty good day.
~MET

Baxter's Birthday

2011-06-09T16:19:00.000-04:00

Little Baxter turned one today. He has been a great addition to our home and we are lucky to have him. I got him a big meat bone from the butcher, which he will have later tonight. I also got him a small kiddie swimming pool...which he is very afraid of....he runs inside and hides in his kennel.

I took the above pic on our walk this morning. There are lots of nesting turtles out there - be careful!
~MET

Winslow Graduation

2011-06-08T21:03:00.000-04:00

It was a hot sticky night in the Colby Field House for the 109th WHS Commencement - but it was wonderful. We still have the best ceremony around. It was one hour and fifteen minutes, and the definition of classy. I was honored to give the keynote address and I had a blast:

Jared Goldsmith sang a song for the class right before my speech - and it was awesome! It was both funny and touching. These two are the president and vice-president of the class, Emily and Darren, reacting to my speech:

Emily was the "mistress of ceremonies" and Darren delivered one of the best student speeches I have heard at a graduation. This is a fantastic class, and I hope they enjoyed the evening. Good times.
~MET

Class Night & Chris Visits with Mammie

2011-06-07T20:17:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to the WHS Class Night. It was very, very nice - good food, excited graduates, and LOTS of awards and scholarships.

Tomorrow is graduation...and its supposed to be VERY hot and humid...awesome. I'm looking forward to it, but not to wearing a suit in that weather. Today Chris came out for supper and then we went to visit with Ma for a bit.

The next several weeks will be very busy - but its a good busy. More tomorrow night after graduation.
~MET

We Missed the Alewives - But it Was Still a Great Day!

2011-06-05T16:15:00.000-04:00

We were hoping to see thousands and thousands of fish and osprey like the big one above diving for them, but we missed it by a couple of days. We started the day by meeting up with Linda and Mark at Slates for a delicious brunch. I had eggs benedict with goat cheese and caramelized onions. It was such a nice day we decided to make the trek to Damariscotta to see if the alewives were still running. They are not. We saw one.

The fish ladder system is quite interesting, and it must be great to watch them make their way up the series of waterfalls. Next year I'll get there in time and take lots of pictures.

We also had a beer and some oysters here:

There was also live music today. Three guys with guitars who played some great covers of Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, etc. The weather was perfect for a ride to the coast...good times with crazy friends...AWESOME food and drink...another great day in Maine.
~MET

Beginning to Say Goodbye

2011-06-03T16:24:00.000-04:00

Today was the last day of classes for seniors - and it was great fun. The group pictured above is the homeroom that I've had for the last four years. They will be graduating next Wednesday, and this morning they snuck in while I was on duty and got my room ready for a little party, complete with hats, snacks, and noise makers:

They also gave me a very nice card signed by all of them. They're a really nice bunch of kids. The seniors also started marching practice:

I really love this time of year. Monday night is class night, which is always very nice at WHS, and then Wednesday is graduation. I'll write more about that later - we have the BEST graduation of any high school in America...seriously. Its a classy, short, and always touching ceremony. Lots of fun in the days ahead.
~MET

Summer is Getting Closer - Two Goals for This One:

2011-06-01T16:13:00.000-04:00

Its June today! That can only mean that the school year's end is at hand. This summer my goal is to be around home more - when I'm home. In other words, when I'm not traveling for work (which is often) I'll be doing fun stuff with my wife and the pets. When I do venture off on my own it will not be for long periods of time - but instead doing these two activities. I need to fish more, and I will.

But I also LOVE yard sales, and I'm going to try to get to a few each month. I know..."Mr. Excitement." But with all the travel, and some great day trips with M-S, I'm not in need for any more excitement.
~MET

Baxter is About to Turn a Year Old

2011-05-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

With all the news of beautiful Thurston babies, I thought it would be right to remind us all that little Bax will turn one year old on June 9th. He has been with us since last August, and we could not be happier with the little booger. He starts our day with a walk, keeps us young, loves us unconditionally, and provides a great level of adventure. He's just a good boy. I listened to my Nats on the radio this afternoon...drifting in and out of sleep...with my little Bax cuddling by my side...life is good.

~MET

Just a Good Day

2011-05-29T18:59:00.000-04:00

I'm already a bit spent as we near 7pm. Today we took the dog for a long walk, I went to the dump, then made a great brunch. After that I wrote the first draft of my graduation speech - then made my dad and M-S and Kori supper.

Here is what the brunch looked like:

It was an egg over braised mushrooms. I had several kinds of shrooms:

I had a good time cooking all day.

It was also President Kennedy's birthday today. Simply a good day.
~MET

Its Beginning to Feel a Bit Like Summer

2011-05-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

Its still chilly and overcast - but we did get to grill some burgers and veggies today. From here on we will use charcoal 2-4 times a week. I got all of my grilling fare (and LOTS of it) at Emery's Meats on Rt. 17 in Augusta today. If those of you in the capital area have not checked it out yet - you should! Great meats, great service, lots of other stuff, its a foodaholic's dream. GRILL ON!
~MET

Perhaps the Most Beautiful Picture Ever Taken

2011-05-25T19:38:00.003-04:00

This is a picture that is certainly worth much more than a thousand words. My mom, my sister, and my niece all together for the first time. So wonderful. Period.
~MET

Going More Green

2011-05-22T10:32:00.003-04:00

This is my new lawn mower. I have wanted a mower that needed no gas and oil, and I used to have an electric with a cord. This one is rechargeable and I think its going to work out well. Its pretty heavy so it will also provide a good workout. I may also need to buy a second battery depending on how long the charge lasts. Now its really beginning to feel like spring!
~MET

I Know Its Been a While...

2011-05-21T16:44:00.003-04:00

...and I'm going to try much harder to update this blog more often. There certainly has been a lot going on.

Life with my wife and Owen and Baxter seems to get better every day

WEA/MEA/NEA responsibilities keep growing - Lots of meetings and very busy

Ma is getting stronger and will be going to DC on Tuesday to meet Maeve, her new grandchild

School is winding down, and I am looking forward to graduation - this is a fun class

The MEA-RA (pic) was a lot of fun/work

Chris and Sarah continue to be busy preparing for summer jobs, summer fun, and life

All in all my life is darn good. Again, I'll try to check in more often.

~MET

Congratulations, Sarah and Chris!

2011-05-07T15:34:00.011-04:00

The UMaine graduation was a lot of fun today. I'm very proud of my children and was beaming the whole morning. Cousin Sean also graduated today, so I saw some relatives from my mom's side of the family. I took a few pictures and some of them are fuzzy because I was too far away. I like the first one - it is my aunt with the bell she rang when Sean, Chris, and Sarah got their diplomas. It was also the bell my grandmother rang to call children and grandchildren into the house:

The professors in Sarah's department held a breakfast in the library for them before graduation:

Sarah and boyfriend Tom:

There are lots of "big events" this time of year, but this year is extra special. Chris and Sarah are fantastic people. I'm very proud of you both. I love you both very much.

~MET

Welcome to the World, Maeve Julya Smith!

2011-05-07T15:22:00.003-04:00

I am an uncle. I feel very lucky that I had a board meeting in Washington at the same time that my little sister was giving birth to her first child. True - the little booger was very stubborn, but I did get to the hospital to snap a couple of pictures early in the morning before my work began. Maeve was four hours old when these pictures were taken.

I love the name, especially Julya, as that is my mother's middle name. Suzanne and Grant will be wonderful parents. Maeve will never lack for love or attention - especially since she is born with so many relatives who have not had a baby to fawn over for quite some time. So, welcome and I can't wait to see you again.

~MET

Too Funny

2011-04-28T16:35:00.002-04:00

The Teabaggers are the most entertaining comedy troupe in America. Not only did they give us Paul LePage - they still can't admit that the president was born in the US. This picture is a great spoof from the Huffington Post...but not far from the arguments I hear from the "right" on the radio. There's stupid...then there's Teabag stupid.
~MET

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T19:03:00.007-04:00

My wife made THE BEST ham dinner tonight. Jim is up from DC and joined us for our Easter feast. We started with really good vichyssoise:

Even the croutons were homemade. The roasted veggies were awesome:

The whole meal was fantastic.

We had some great conversation over dessert and watched the adventures of Baxter and the Red Sox on TV. A very nice time had by all.

~MET

Ragged Mountain Morning

2011-04-22T12:47:00.011-04:00

A gorgeous morning to climb another coastal gem. Ragged Mountain has two different trails to the top, and they are equally interesting. The people that cut these paths know that the trip through the woods should be as exciting as the summit itself. This long trail passes by huge boulder fields:

There is also a lot of flora to observe. I like trying to see different plant life. I've seen edelweiss on the big peaks of NH, lots of witch-hobble, and many kinds of moss. I don't know what this is - but I always call it "potato chip" moss:

There are no bears or moose in this part of the state, but there is wildlife:

The trail also allows some views part of the way up.

The peak has 360 degree sight lines, and always lots of hawks. Today I saw five all soaring together.

I'm in ghastly shape...I'll try to get out one more time this week.

~MET

Bald-Rock

2011-04-18T10:25:00.004-04:00

My goal is to get out 3 times during this break, and start getting into "real" mountain shape. These small coastal hills are fun and provide awesome views on a nice day. Bald-Rock in Lincolnville did not disappoint. These ladies and their dog beat me to the summit:

This kind of view is what gets my well-over-middle-aged body onto trails:

A beautiful morning - I'll keep working my way toward the big peaks.

~MET

Monthly Meal - A Taste of Newfoundland

2011-04-17T18:19:00.006-04:00

One has to get the feeling that things are getting back to normal when my parents come out for a monthly meal. I'm awfully glad that Ma is getting a significant amount of her strength back. The star of the Newfoundlander meal was the haddock shepherd's pie.

It was very tasty. The recipe included the fish, spinach, corn, cheese, and potatoes that had pesto mixed in.

We also had coffee and cheese cake for dessert.

One of the more simple meals - but it was very good. I'm looking for ideas for next month!

~MET

Sometimes Living in the Woods...

2011-04-17T13:07:00.003-04:00

...can be a problem. It was very windy and rainy last night and into this morning. We lost power around 6am and got it back around noon. M-S and I decided to go to Waterville to run some errands and have brunch at the Last Unicorn. The scene above is what we stumbled across on our road as we tried to get out. Not much of a mystery as to the power problem. By the time we returned from brunch (which was AWESOME) the power was back. No walk for Baxter today - but he had a nice one yesterday:

99% of the time we love living in the sticks, but we were a little worried this morning. I'll be watching baseball this afternoon and then Ma & Dad are coming out for supper. I'll write again after the meal.

~MET