>Even in southern Maine we refered to anyone from out of state as "from
>away". But then northern Mainers think of those of us from southern Maine as
>being  "from away"!  Even though I am a third generation Mainer, my saving
>grace growing up in Portland was that I was born in "The County" in northern
>Maine (near you, Joan). (And it's "The County" not "The Country" for those
>of you in Alaska).
>
>I now live in Rhode Island.  This is a frequent conversation: "Rhode Island,
>is that part of New York?" "No, it's a state in New England" "Oh,is it part
>of Massachusetts?" "No, it's a state unto itself" "Oh"
>
>Some people think RI is huge because things big are often compared with the
>size of RI "An iceberg twice the size of the state of RI" Forest fires
>covering an area the size of Rhode Island"......
>
>No longer a local , but not from away either,
>Gretchen


Ah - how many electoral college votes does RI have? might be more than Alaska!

I have been poring over a map of the US showing the area of each
state being proportional to the number of electoral college votes. It
is a compromise between area and population, and really interesting
to peruse. Then you notice the colors of the states. And then stop
and realize that each of those states has 2 senators.

Gretchen - I didn't know you came from way up there in potato land!

-Clara