To Our Newer Readers !

Over the last few weeks we have picked up hundreds of new readers from all over the world! The staff, management, janitors and the ferrets who work so diligently to keep our server up, thank you for helping us grow so quickly (BTW, I am all those things except the ferrets). This is my first attempt at blogging and knowing that you take time to spend a part of your day here at Three States Plus One is a very humbling experience. We have been read by residents of 28 states and 8 foreign countries. I never expected such a warm welcome to the blogosphere. Recently, folks from Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Connecticut, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, Maryland, New Mexico and New Hampshire have paid us a visit. I have written about several of those states and if you missed the posts, just enter your state's name (or any state for that matter) in the search box at the top right of the home page and see what I had to say. If you'd like to see a post about your state or a city therein, just email me at threestatesplusone "at" gmail "dot" com. I am always open to topic suggestions or criticism, so feel free to let me know what's on your mind in an email or in the comments. Again, I am very grateful for your support. Adios, y'all.

Toby

Maine Minutiae : Rockland Lobster Festival

Supper

I love BBQ and I really love Tex Mex and dammit there's precious little of either here in Maine. But that's OK. Here in Maine, we get seafood straight from the factory. That factory is the Atlantic Ocean. Rockland is about 42 miles from my house and it sits right on the ocean. For the last sixty-three years, the folks of Rockland have been throwing a shindig called the Maine Lobster Festival and it's going on again this weekend! Rockland will be abuzz with tourists from all over the world  through Sunday, Augusta 8th., scarfing down Maine's best known export - big bad ass lobsters. I tracked down a schedule of events for the festival and it's gonna be a hoot with stuff like a cod fish carry, diaper derby and costume parade for the kids and arts, crafts, lobster crate races, the BIG parade for and of course tons (literally) of lobster to be devoured by Mom and Dad. It may be too late for some of you to attend the party this year, but click here for the schedule for 2011 and 2012. Unfortunately, my weekend is full this year, having just learned of the Maine Lobster Festival a couple of days ago, but not to worry. I can go about a mile down the street and pick up a big, fat, succulent Maine lobster and savor it for supper. You're invited. RSVP.

Texas Tidbits : Amarillo

Amarillo sits at the Top of Texas in the middle of The Golden Spread. The once Helium Capital of the World is closer to the capitals of five other states than it is to its own. Check this out...
Distance from Amarillo to:

• Santa Fe, NM- 281 mi.
• Oklahoma City, OK - 260 mi.
• Denver, CO - 421 mi.
• Topeka, KS - 432 mi.
• Cheyenne, WY - 445 mi.
• Austin, TX - 491 mi. 

I don't want to say that Amarillo is in the middle of nowhere, but when the closet big town to you is Lubbock, you are Officially In The Middle of Nowhere. Honestly, it's not that bad. Amarillo is a fine town and a nice place to live. I know. I have lived there. Hell, even Oprah has been there. The first European to see what is now Amarillo was Francisco Coronado in 1541, when the area was home to the Comanches. Coronado also was the first European to set eyes on one of the most stunning vistas in Texas (and that's saying a lot)...Palo Duro Canyon. Cattle have played a major factor in the history of Amarillo and some of the ranches in the region were bigger than some New England states. As a matter of fact, the JA Ranch founded by Charles Goodnight in 1877 is still  in operation today. Other nearby attractions include the World Famous Cadillac Ranch and the magnificent Lake Meredith, where Fish.Fear.Me.I can't, in good conscience, write about Amarillo and not mention The Big Texan Steak House, home of the FREE 72 oz. steak (if eaten within 1 hour). That's over four pounds of steak! There's lots to do in and around Amarillo and on a long drive it's a great stopping off point to spend the day and see the sights. Palo Duro Canyon and Lake Meredith are must sees. I have visited every place in town mentioned in this post and I can tell you that Amarillo is a pretty damn good place to be.