I was interviewed today by Tammy Wells of the Journal Tribune. She asked how my reception had been here in Sanford, Maine so far. I said: “not good.” I prefaced the story by saying John Kerry probably appeared on the front page of every newspaper across the country for his “first pitch” the night before at the Red Sox game. Not to be outdone, I approached the operations manager of the Sanford Mainers (Summer Inter-Collegiat College League) to throw out the “first pitch” at their game last night here. She, as judiciously as possible, said she was sorry but they had one of the stadium volunteers lined up to throw the “first pitch” because it was, after all, Volunteer Night. Undaunted, I continued: “How about the ’second pitch?’” She smiled, but said no again. However, I did take in a few innings. And what’s more, I got to experience something Kerry missed out on altogether: “Bruce d’Moose.” The Mainer’s mascot is, that’s right, a moose — big furry head with with antlers, the whole thing! During the 7th inning stretch, ‘Bruce’ even got a top the Mainer’s ‘Moose Mobile’ and circled the stadium waving and tilting his antlers. A sight you won’t want to miss if you are up in this part of Maine any time before the season is over. And life on the back roads rolls on…