envy

CMP is currently "Assessing" my power outage. It takes them a couple hours just to get here on a clear day when we're the only ones with an outage. So...

Makin' toothpicks.

You win.

I like splitting wood.

A cord of wood.

I'm not surprised they're cheaper at the Westbrook Hannaford. That store is 2-1/2 hours from where I live. They're $7.99 at my local store that I was at today. They are as high as I'm saying.

I was just at the store. They're $7.99 for a dozen large.

Have you bought eggs lately? There's a chicken thing going on...avian flu?

I've noticed a lot of restaurant menus don't even have chicken anymore. Probably for the same reason.

You need to step away from the internet for a few days. Or months. Go outside and make a snowman.

What's your point? That's pretty tame.

Tell your friend to get a lawyer.

A couple years ago I paid around $3800 for a new Vermont Castings stove, parts, install, chimney cleaning and removal of the old stove. Labor was $345 but all they had to do was carry it in, sort out the pipe configuration and plug it into the chimney.

Everyone's situation is different. Maybe visit your local woodstove store and talk to them. They'll probably come out and look at your situation and give you a quote.

Note: If you're planning on burning this winter, expect to pay north of $400 plus delivery for a cord of kiln dried wood, if you can even get it. "Seasoned" wood needs more time than you've got to burn this winter.

Maybe try renting a few different kinds before you buy so you'll be sure to get something you like and will use. I hate depositing money into the back of the closet or corner of the basement:-)

That said, modern snowshoes are designed to accommodate the weight they carry, including the person, their clothing and whatever they carry. Be honest with this weight consideration. It's not a fashion show. Also consider the terrain you'll be snowshoeing on. I recommend going to a shop that sells a few different brands and talking to a professional about the different snowshoes they sell. You'll learn so much. Not sure where that is in Maine. Maybe llbean, cabelas? EMS in NH? I don't know. I lived in a place that had an REI and they were awesome.

Personally, I have a pair of Atlas and a pair of Tubbs. I like both but I use the Tubbs more because they're easier to get on and off. My Atlas snowshoes are older so maybe the bindings on newer models are better. Depending on conditions and what I'm walking on, I use poles which are adjustable for hiking and snow sports. For boots, I wear some old Merrell winter hiking boots with gaiters (Outdoor Research Crocodiles are the best gaiters you can buy). I'm probably due for some new boots and would go with winter hiking boots again. Probably a different brand because Merrell has started to fail in quality, styles and comfort. Full heavy, thick, tall winter boots attached to snowshoes are so clunky and hot. No thanks. Snowshoeing is just walking on snow, hopefully without sinking in, so reducing clunk is important to me. You're going to be moving so hopefully will generate enough heat to keep you warm. But I run hot and don't need heavy duty thick socks or boot warmers or anything like that unless it's in the sub-zeros, in which case I just stay inside and do a puzzle in front of the fire.

Do them again. It's a tradition.

Who knew?

I'm truly sorry for your struggle. I can relate to some of it. The driving issue aside, you might benefit from some therapy. I'm not saying you're nuts but it might help you sort out the ptsd, depression, lack of confidence. You know, give you some coping tools. We all need them. I mean, it can't hurt, right?

As far as the driving test, I meant it. I believe in you. Follow the rules (including rolling fucking stops!) and ace it. You can do this. Dig deep for the confidence. It's there. You know the rules. You know you're good and fuck what everyone else is saying. Who is the driving tester guy but another human? Just ignore him and drive properly. You know how to do it so do it. No excuses.

Sorry for the platitudes but that's all I got. It's up to you to figure it out and find that confidence in you. It's there. Find it.

I love this. I moved to SLC in the 80s from NH and meeting someone from the northern New England neck of the woods was a homecoming. We were always so happy to find each other in such strange land. Every time.

There was a small group of us, mostly from NH and sometimes one or two from ME, that used to have orphan thanksgiving with lobster as the main dish. We'd have them shipped in and, even after the trip, they were more active than those sad, mostly dead critters in the tank at Smiths. Yeah, there'd be turkey as a side dish, but it was about the homecoming so, lobster. Good times. Miss that place.

As a driver myself, if you don't think you'll pass a driver's test then stay off the fucking road. Sorry for your situation but you could hurt or kill someone and that's not ok. Figure it out. Pass the test. I believe in you.

What do you think is going to happen?

I don't live in a town so I'm under lupc. There are trees I can't cut down and there is no way I could build a garage without a massive pile of red tape. I'm in western Maine.

Edit: you did imply there's no zoning.

It depends on where you are. There's definitely zoning though. Check out their site. They even have zoning maps. And then there are rules and regs for each of the zones. You know, just like a town.

My point is that you shouldn't tell someone that there are no laws when there are. You're gonna get them in trouble.

If by "rural areas in Maine" you mean unorganized areas of Maine, then they are not construction free-for-alls. They operate under LUPC (formerly LURC).

lol. Oops. The sentence was going to say something else and I didn't edit it.

Have you considered living for awhile in the place you're writing about? It will make you're book so much better.

I have a scraper in the house too, for those days when the car doors are iced shut.