Dodging rain drops … and finding shade on 100-degree days … this weird weird summer …

What is happening around the land of Zip Code 04074?

Let’s take a look at events in The Borough this summer (as we used to call it years ago at SHS):

– Dunstan area Route 1 traffic jams, which got to the point of 45-minute waits back in June, now appear non-existent … Wow! Don’t tell me that a government solution to a problem is working!! Yikes!! (I should be careful or the Tea Party will throw tomatoes at my new Toyota toy car!)

– President Obama continues to draw strong feelings in office. Talk radio excoriates him. Is it race? Is it age? Is it policies? A car dealer in Biddeford who lives in Scarborough mentioned the other day, in front of about l5 people, that the U.S. economy added 200,000 jobs in June. Violent reaction from three in the room!! Ouch!

– Just for fun, I posted on Facebook the other day this riddle: Why did the chicken walk across the road?

Answer: because, due to the staggering costs of Obamacare, he had to sell all his worldly possessions, and walk everywhere now.

I got liberal outrage from three friends. I got enthusiastic love from seven or eight conservatives.

– Gov. LePage continues also to be a lightning rod. Some people don’t like his policies. Some think he is “rough around the edges.”

I think he will be underestimated heading into the 2014 campaign. I think he still has in his pocket his 38 percent, hard-core supporters. If there is a strong Democrat (e.g. Congressman Mike Michaud) and an unenrolled, non-party candidate (e.g. Elliot Cutler?), LePage will win.

– Eddie Woodin could spend his days drinking green herbal tea, watching the Red Sox, and counting his money. The former Colby College catcher/quarterback turned successful businessman gives to all charities. He supports conservation, birds, kids sports, spiritual groups, and environment-friendly eco practices. A group named an award after him six years ago. The Woodin Awards recognize parents in youth sports who engage in smart transportation practices while carting Johnny and Suzie to kindergarten soccer, etc. Good carpooling, more bike riding, efficient traveling (combining trips to the grocery store with trips to drop off at summer basketball, etc.)

This year’s winners Barb Kucine, Crystal Lewis-Brown, and Chuck Granger.

Good for them. Good for Eddie.

– Correction on my Eagles music diatribe last week! First, I have just finished watching the new DVD (a must for any fan of the group the Eagles who has followed their soap operate internal relations the past 30 years!). I now have new sympathy for co-founder Glenn Frey, and renewed respect for the musical genius of co-founder Don Henley. They have, in fact, negotiated an interpersonal emotional sewer from time to time …

Second, “Take It To The Limit” is the only song that they should not do now—without the original lead singer, Randy Meisner. He has not been well this year, having suffered an injury. So Frey and Henley can now (conveniently?…) claim that it is not just personal bickering that keeps him away from the reunion tour.

There. I feel better having said all that.

I have had a couple baseball fields at my house for 10 years. Weeds grow this time of year when use wanes. That said, this year, the base paths are a veritable green jungle! Is it the combination of rain rain rain and 95 degree days?

I know I know the climate has not changed. This has all happened before.

I just want to know why I have to rent that machine from Handyman Rental to dig up the weeds now!! Arrrggghhh!!!

Libby-Mitchell American Legion Post 76 Commander Bob Coulthard threw out the first pitch at the recent playoff game involving the Libby-Mitchell Junior Legion team. Good fire, commander! Good for the kids to see the Commander; gives them a chance to ask what the Legion is, what service to one’s country is about, why would a person go to war and STILL, upon return home, feel they need to help their community, donate time and money etc?

Kudos to the Post also for hosting both the Senior and Junior Legion baseball teams and coaches Mike Collar, Andrew Stacy, Keil Martin, and Jim Rouse at a season-ending BBQ last week. Good burgers and dogs!

Former coach Rick Libby used to say, at each of these events “Let me get this straight the Legion guys raise money for equipment and uniforms, let us use their name on our shirts, then invite us down, AND they cook and feed us—AND say thank you to use for all we do? Are they crazy?!”

Yes, but in a good way.

Thank you Past Commander Duane Jutting and Past Commander Dave Dolloff for their handiwork on the grill. Teenaged boys took care of the food just fine another service these players provide!

The project being built near the intersection of Black Point Road, and Route 1, at the site of the former beloved Widow’s Walk sea captain’s house, is going to be massive. Traffic from there will dump out onto Black Point Road? Wow. I gotta see this.

Dan Warren lives in Scarborough. He can be reached at jonesandwarren@gmail.com.