Tuesday, May 23, 2006

New words

It's about time for me to do another update of the glossary - maybe over the long weekend (but only if it rains again!).

These were sent in by CB from Dexter, Maine:
  • huck - To throw: "Quit huckin' rocks at youah sistah!"
  • skidder - (skiddah) A heavy, four-wheel tractor used to haul logs, especially over rugged terrain. A specialized type with claws for picking up bundles of logs is known as a "grapple-skiddah". Skiddahs make and use "Skiddah-trails" and are owned and operated by members of the "skiddah-crowd" and often do double-duty as the ultimate form of tow truck for when a Mainah goes muddin' and gets in a real gaum: "We buried her so deep that we had to get a skiddah to yahd her out."
  • Voc Boy - A vocational school student. The term "Voc Boy" is used to identify a class of student at a high school, much like the terms "Jock", "Prep", "Nerd", and "Druggy" are used to identify their respective classes of students; with the main criteria being that they are male and they attend vocational school learning things like carpentry, truck drivin' or automotive mechanics, as opposed to more conventional academic studies such as readin', writin' an' 'rithmetic.
  • flatlander - (flatlandah) A general term to describe someone not from Maine; someone from away; an outta-state-ah.
  • Maine State Bird - mosquito.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Lighthouses

Everyone seems to love lighthouses. Although I grew up inland and only made occasional visits to the ocean growing up, I also am drawn to lighthouses. For me, it is the unique architectural design and the thought that not too long ago these were the main safety system for brave mariners. I recently was in DC (one of my favorite cities) and during a search through the Smithsonian website, I came upon this little corner:

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/lighthouses/browse_region.cfm?state=ME

The neat part about the site is the old postcards and up-to-date facts on each lighthouse.


Here is one example - Pemaquid Point which is now on the Maine state quarter. If any of you are interested in a very nice print of Pemaquid Point with a Maine state quarter in the matte around it, post here. I have connections... (:

L.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Take this Test!

I was 32% Dixie but still definitely a Yankee!

http://www.alphadictionary.com/articles/yankeetest.html

L.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Something to tide ya over...

It's been quiet here again but I found a little story to pass the time...

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/community/story.cfm?storyID=71623

L.