Dire Straits

My Posts this week focused on documenting Central Maine during these dismal economic times. The precipitous drop in the stock market and the evaporation of my personal savings prompted me to take my camera and go out in search of images that describe the state of the nation as found in central Maine. I wanted to focus on classic images that have endured hard times yet retain their aesthetic appeal and functionality.

I contrasted these enduring images of New England with burned down and deserted mobile homes and houses. These images are a stark reminder of how fast life can change and destroy the illusion of financial security and protection. (I suspect that some Mainers may have burned down their houses in an attempt to escape foreclosure). In many instances it’s cheaper to relocate to another dilapidated house or trailer than rebuild a burned down one. These burned down dwellings litter the Maine countryside like deserted cars in Mad Max or Escape from New York.

This burned down mobile home had a fresh replacement fifteen feet to the right of it. Could you imagine waking up every morning and seeing your old, burned down house?

These burned down dwellings also signify that this is no short-term problem. Many of these houses burned down years ago and won’t be fixed until real estate prices increase enough to make it feasible to tear them down and build something new. Like a broken glass on the kitchen floor, these skeletons will remind of us of the failure of the sub prime loans and the end of an American era.

This double wide trailer had a bank foreclosure notice and a for sale sign in the driveway.

I hope this is the direction that economy will go.

Here are some more links,
Grim (Picasa),
Route 137 (Picasa),
Walk Outside (Picasa).

Portraits from the Rockland Waterbreak and Lighthouse

Here are some portraits from the trip to the Rockland Breakwater and Lighthouse.

Nick's beloved Barbour Moorland Jacket.

These boots are made for walking.

I really like the green and the rust.

Nick recently got an offer from Goldman Sachs for a summer internship. I would be Whistlin' too.

Yours truly. Yes, I know, I need a haircut.

Here are some more links,
Barbour Moorland Jacket,

Walk Outside

I don't have class on Tuesday and Friday. Normally, I go down to Rogues Gallery for my Internship, but this week they don't need me. On Tuesday, it was a balmy 25 degrees and bluebird in Waterville, so I decided to don my favorite outfit (pictured below) and go out and wonder.

Here are some things I saw on Tuesday that caught my eye and help describe the state of things in central Maine.

It never stays cold enough in the Northwest to salt the roads so nothing ever rusts. I really liked this rusted out Chevy set in the backdrop of an abandoned barn.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Here are some more links,
Walk Outside (Polyvore),
My Twitter,
Walk Outside (Picasa).

Norumbega Inn: Camden Maine

Norumbega Inn, or "The Castle by the Sea," looks over Penobscot Bay off Route 1 in Camden, Maine. Last weekend, while wondering around the central Maine coast, I stumbled across the misplaced castle.

Built in 1886, the Norumbega Inn is named after the mythical North American viking settlement. It has 10 rooms and 2 suites. Rooms Range from $105, for the Fountainbleau, to $425, for the Penthouse.

On March 20 and 21st, the Norumbega Inn will host a themed Murder Mystery Weekend. According to the website, "AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE CONFIRMED, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DIRECTOR, IN PREPARATION FOR THE CASTING OF YOUR CHARACTER ROLE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THE MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND, YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INFORMATIONAL PACKET. INCLUDED WILL BE YOUR CHARACTER ROLE." Characters are urged to stay in character for the weekend. Think of a game of Clue played out in real life in a castle on the central Maine coast.

Here is an example of what some of the rooms look like.

The castle is built entirely of stone and wood and has had few renovations since 1886. I can't wait to spend the night and see what its like.

Here are some more links,
Norumbega Inn,
Norumbega Inn (Google Maps),
Norumbega Settlement (Wiki),