It looks like a heat wave

Yesterday was the beginning of a major heat wave that has almost half of the eastern side of the US scrambling to either find the perfect beach spot or some air conditioning. The willfully summer weather that we've been having is fantastic, but the humidity is a killer.

All across the state folks are commenting on how summer is finally here, going to beaches to bake like a potato chip and laughing at their friends and family members who have to work in a climate controlled office as they are surely missing out.

Get out an enjoy this weather while it lasts, but do what you can to prevent that silly thing we call 'heat stroke.'

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April Fools! The joke's on us...

April Fool's Day is one of the best day of the year. It's filled with whoopie cushions, lots of tape and other senseless vandalism, all with none of the obligation to do something special for your family or thinking of the dread of some of our other holidays. Most of the jokes played are "no-harm, no-foul" and in the end are pretty darn funny.

Mother Nature is playing a cruel prank on us today with this no-joke April Fools Day snowstorm. And we were finally getting a break from all of the rough snow. Our spirits were starting to lift and we were starting to prepare for all the beauty that spring has to offer!

GFY Mother Nature. GFY.

I'm one of the (fairly) lucky ones who hasn't taken off my snow tires yet. I'm sure that many folks have taken theirs off and cities and towns have taken the plows off of their city trucks.

Luckily for the City of Portland, I've heard that their workers left the plows on the trucks and all 40 plow trucks were out clearing the streets this morning. Don't let this storm ruin your spirit - or heck - put a little more effort into your prank to get your coworker and reap the benefits of a heartfelt smile.

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I smell a food fight comming along! What's the Big Whoop?

Maine legislature is pushing for the Whoopie Pie to become the state's dessert. Frankly I don't have the slightest idea as to why. Pennsylvania wants it to be their state dessert, and with good reason, a number of sources trace the recipe to Amish country in Pennsylvania.

Maine has a state berry, the wild blueberry, and has assigned the quirky, albeit loved Moxie as it's official soft drink. Now with this said, in my opinion, it's almost a no-brainer as to what our official dessert should be - Blueberry Pie.

I mean sure Maine does hold some nostalgia for the Whoopie Pie, which does put these creamy, oozy, lardy confections in the state's running...but is that enough? Honestly I don't think that we should be holding this dessert on a silver platter when it's main ingredient is lard. Makes me squirm. Gross.

Maybe we should change it up altogether and suggest Chocolate Mousse as our State Dessert. At least then we'd have a little play on word action with our state animal, the Moose. Done deal.

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Valentine's Day Hangover

In 1976, two years before I was even born, Portland was first attacked by the Valentine's Day Bandit. Reporters in the Maine Sunday Telegram covered the story and no one had a clue as to who would do this.

My favorite year though would be in 1978, the year the hearts went up a day late with the statement "It's not just ONE day!"

For over 30 years the Valentine's Day Bandit has made his or her or even their way through (usually wintery messes) and posting these hearts throughout our lovely city overnight.

I happen to love this tradition, I hope it sticks around for at least 30 more years.

Hope your Valentine's recovery is a speedy one! Cheers.

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I'm baaaccckkk!!

Ok folks my last post to this blog was back in July and I'm here to explain why and also explain why I'm back and will be bigger than ever!

This summer I was in a rough patch in my life lets say, I was depressed, wasn't really thinking right and moved about 80 miles north of Portland. Being so far away it was extremely hard to try to maintain and keep up with the happenings and whatnot of Portland.

I missed it way too much and as of this past weekend I am officially back to the Portland area! I have missed writing this blog tremendously as I love the ins and outs of Portland and everything it has to offer.

Here are a few of my recent pics that I've taken while out and about Portland and don't forget to say hi - if you have an idea of something I should write about - yell at me will ya!? :)

Cheers.

Renee

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ASS-U-ME

I need to ask everyone a question. If you saw someone being victimized in the middle of the city, what would YOU do? Would you stare? Would you try to intervene? Would you walk by as if it's not even happening?

There has been a lot of buzz recently in Portland about violence. Eric Benson was killed by a stranger right in Monument Square last week. Domestic violence on street corners and unruly patrons in the Old Port.

I was physically abused as a child, sexually abused as a teen and even more so as an adult. Sadly, because of my personal trauma, I suffer from PTSD among other things. If I saw someone hurting a mother who had children with her lets say, I would see red. I would start shaking, crying and want to go rip the attacker a new rear end. But obviously, that's NOT the right thing to do! Not even close!

When I was a teen, I had a friend who was being abused by her boyfriend. I understood what she was going through, and was there to support her. She said that she left the guy. A few weeks later he started a fight with her in front of me, so I took the phone and went into the bathroom to call the police. He was arrested, and she was upset with me for calling for help. I felt like I had betrayed her by seeking safety, for the both of us. A few days later, her boyfriend was released from jail. The very day he got out, my friend had a black eye.

His excuse for giving it to her? She didn't stop me from calling the police on him a few nights previous. I had intervened and since she knew what I was doing and she didn't try to stop me, she got "what she deserved."

Every scenario, every abuser, and every victim are different. I don't think there is a "right" way to handle situations such as this. If you see someone on the street being pushed around (or worse) by someone else, call 911 ASAP! Please don't walk by and assume that someone else has called already! You never know, you could be saving a life.

Because we all know what it means to assume - it makes an "ASS" out of "U" and "ME."

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Loosing the true spirit of Memorial Day?

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 and was first observed on May 30, the same year, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1880, the day was observed by all northern states, but not recognized by the southern states until the holiday was changed from just honoring those who fought in the Civil War, to American's who had died fighting in any war, after World War 1.

I believe that over the years, Memorial Day's meaning and spirit has faded from public consciousness. By hearing most of my friends over the past couple of days, I'm getting the feeling that America is more concerned with having a three day "holiday" weekend than honoring those who have fallen. I just want to yell at them! "Don't you realize that we owe those dead men more than we could ever repay?!"

It makes me sad when I think about how many graves of our fallen are left forgotten or neglected. I think it should be a requirement of our schools and businesses to adopt some of these graves of our soldiers to bring back some of the meaning of this "holiday" that gives you your free day off from work. Memorial Day shouldn't be considered a holiday. It should be a day of mourning, because of what the day represents, it should make every other day of the year a holiday, a day of celebration.

By passing the National Holiday Act of 1971 - the Act that ensured a three day weekend for this federal acknowledgment - Congress has contributed to our nonchalant observance of Memorial Day. The only step that I've seen in an attempt to revive some of the solemn spirit back to Memorial Day is "Moment of Remembrance", a memorandum from Bill Clinton, which encourages everyone to spend at least a minute at exactly 3pm, in honor of our veterans.

Portland is having a Memorial Day parade at 10:30 on Monday morning, ending in a Memorial Ceremony. South Portland is having a parade at the same time followed by a wreath laying ceremony at noon at Bug Light. Remember our fallen, for all that they have done for our great country.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

- Moina Michael

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