Well, at the Machias Hardware Store I was just moseying around and saw a book called the Aputamkon Review, which is a regional literary magazine. So I picked it up to see if there were submissions from UMM students, and turned the book over to look at the cover and the back and saw the same picture of the snake (or similar) that is in my apartment bookshelf!
Aputamkon is a Passamaquoddy name for the sea serpent, which is known to be seen in the bays around Downeast Maine occasionally. I am eager to find out more information and more folklore about this creature, but am glad to know why I have a snake carved into my bookshelf in my apartment. Incidentally, Don (my landlord) also has a painting above his work garage across the street of Aputamkon. I should ask him about it.
Mystery #2: Why is Downeast Maine called that?
Two answers: 1) According to Down East Magazine: "When ships sailed from Boston to ports in Maine (which were to the east of Boston), the wind was at their backs, so they were sailing downwind, hence the term 'Down East.' And it follows that when they returned to Boston they were sailing upwind; many Mainers still speak of going 'up to Boston,' despite the fact that the city lies approximately 50 miles to the south of Maine's southern border." 2) I've also heard it in explanation of the logging industry. When the loggers used to throw the logs into the rivers, then would flow down and easterly to the ocean bays. I haven't verified this with scientific or historical fact, though. I'm more apt to believe DE magazine...after all, they are the magazine of Downeast Maine!
Mystery #3: Not a mystery, just a local legend
Legend (and some older lady in Lubec, Maine) has it that if you count the number of foggy days in the month of August, that will tell you the number of snowstorms there will be that coming season. I will be doing this on my calendar, just to see if it is true.
New terminology:
Chummy: Used to refer to you to someone else, as in introducing you to someone you should know. Today, for example, I heard someone introduce someone else as "their chummy Todd". Interesting.
Nubble: A small hill or rocky outcropping.
In other news, I had some most excellent (I think the Mainers would say wicked--which is pronounced wickett--right here) experiences today:
1) I went to the Machias Bay Area Transfer Station for the first time today. You see, folks, garbage pickup doesn't happen here, at least not that I've seen. On Tues, Thurs, or Sat, you haul your crap to the town transfer station. There I met Henry, a lovely warm retirement age guy who gave me the Transfer Station 101, and also offered me to come back and talk about recycling in Machias over a cup of coffee (he saw my tattoo on my arm and asked me my thoughts about recycling). He also is interested in talking with me more after I get settled into my job (everyone I meet wants to know how in the world I moved from Iowa to Machias Maine and for what purpose) to help his son get involved at UMM. Yay Henry! Cool guy! At the transfer station, for those of you like me who are garbage dump virgins...you must a) buy the specific garbage bags of the town dump. For $1.50 each, you get a lovely clear 30 gallon bag, so that they can look into your trash and make sure there is nothing unsafe or recyclable. Henry tells me this also basically helps pay for the facility and "for me to have the coffee pot running for the guys". So, you put your trash in there, tie it up (signs posted everywhere about loose garbage being unacceptable and your dumping rights removed), let Henry take a peek at it, and toss it in the big rolloff. For recycling, you just stop, show Henry what you have, and proceed on down to the carport area with all the garbage shoots. Recycling is free and plentiful! The cool thing is that there is no tax in town for this facility, but for the purchasing of bags, and it really encourages folks to recycle hardcore so that you don't have to buy lots of bags! And Henry said that he is looking for helpers in getting more recycling established in the Bay Area....so project! Anyway, I finally got all of my cardboard boxes from moving broken down (couldn't find a soul on freecycle or craigslist out here that wanted them) and recycled, as well as my unpacking garbage. Yay, I can move around my apartment now!
2) I also got my wireless hooked up on my desktop computer, with the assistance of Terry from the Phish Net Cafe down the road. As I was next door to the Phish Net doing my laundry the other day, I popped over to see if I could get some advice, and turns out they do house calls! So, Terry dropped over at 9 this morning, and within 5 minutes had my wireless issue all worked out. If I had just put the password in the OTHER spot, I would've been just fine. Hmph. Technology.
3) People sightings! I'm starting to really enjoy living in Machias! I went for a walk earlier tonight from my place down to the dike by Helen's Restaurant which is a good walk and exercise, and on my way down there was passed by both Terry (aforementioned wireless wizard) as well as Jeanine, my banker from Machias Savings Bank where I opened my accounts yesterday morning. Both of them honked and waived. Yay small town!
Lastly, a few more pictures and a video for you today:
Betty loves that mom doesn't start her job until August 1st. We do lots of reading and internet surfing together these days. Well, until Betty decides the computer is warmer than moms lap and tries to lay on it.
The sun actually came out today...for the first time since I have lived in Maine!!! And it hasn't rained ALL day! Taken of the Machias River on my nightly walk around town.