In consideration of challenging economic times for many we have decided to unveil a giveaway and we believe that today,Tax Day, is the perfect day to lift your spirits.
Are you in desperate need of a relaxing vacation? Have these tough times caused you to cancel your vacation plans for 2009? Has Tax Day, the economic downturn or the gloom and doom news media given you the blues? I think we may just have the remedy. We are offering a 5 night vacation in an oceanview room including breakfast each day for the individual with the best "Top 10 Reasons Why You Deserve a Relaxing Vacation." Submissions may be entered on our blog or on our Facebook fan page. The submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges and narrowed down to a Top 3. The Top 3 will be posted on our Facebook Fan page where final votes will be cast and the entry with the most "likes" or "thumbs up" will be awarded the vacation.
Put your thinking caps on and good luck to you. We look forward to hearing from you.
Vacation is subject to availability and must be used between May 29 and June 26
or September 7 and October 11. Vacation package includes breakfast, room and
tax. Stay does not include transportation to or from the Inn. Winner cannot be related to any employee of Newagen Seaside Inn or affiliates. We reserve the right to reject any submissions at any time without explanation.
Top 10 reasons we deserve a relaxing vacation.
1. We live in Nashville and we have no ocean and terrible weather.
2. Our son will be a college freshman next year and we'll never be able to afford a vacation again.
3. Our son wants to be a musician and we live in Nashville which means he'll be a waiter and we'll never be able to afford a vacation again.
4. Last time we were there Martha Stewart was in town visiting the Botanical Garden and she snubbed us. We'd like to meet some nice people in Maine.
5. My husband is 62 and just retired, but now he is taking a new job and we really need a little break.
6. I teach knitting locally and would happily give some lessons for the price of a lobster, or even a pleasant festive beverage.
7. We have 3 basset hounds and they howl a lot. We would like to hear the Ocean for a change.
8. I have been a high school counselor for 30 years and I still love teenagers, so I'll be extra nice to any that are there.
9. My mother
10. We're just nice people who would love to come back to a place we had never been before, but fell in love with. It would be like the most wonderful dream to get to go again. I never thought I would. Pick us please.
Posted by: sallie swor | April 15, 2009 at 02:42 PM
These are wonderful! Thanks for the great posts. I am convinced that you DESERVE a relaxing vacation!
Posted by: Jason Schlosser | April 15, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Top 10 Reasons Why I Deserve a Relaxing Vacation (heck, it doesn’t even have to be relaxing -- just a vacation will do) (but when I stay at the Newagen Inn, it’s always relaxing)
1. Doesn’t everyone deserve a relaxing vacation? :)
2. OK, why me in particular? Because going to Boothbay Harbor, and especially the Newagen Inn, has been our family tradition for years. But like a lot of people, our budget is very tight this year [see footnote: Top 10 Reasons Why Our Budget is Tight This Year], and we can’t really afford it. My 80-year-old mom lives in Boothbay Harbor and has Alzheimer’s, and I would dearly like to come and spend time with her and my stepfather, but not stay WITH them (because THAT would not be relaxing).
3. Because our only child is now 17 and will be leaving for college in a little over a year, and I would love to have one last family vacation together before he graduates.
4. Because my husband suffers from tinnitus, and the sound of the surf at Newagen provides a background “white noise” that is extremely soothing for him. And when he relaxes, I relax!
5. Because I loathe the heat. I live in central Virginia, and by the end of July, after weeks of mid-to-high-90s weather, I am desperate to get to Maine. There is nothing more heavenly than being at Newagen and having all the windows open at night and covering myself up with a blanket, or wearing a sweater on a foggy day and lighting a fire.
(Note to self: You really should move to Maine.)
6. Because my husband and son both have ADD, and I am their one-woman lost-and-found department. All year long I hear “Do you know where my [insert object] is?” or “Mom, where did you put my [insert object]?” I need to go away to a place where I can say: I DON’T KNOW WHERE ANYONE’S ANYTHING IS!!!
7. Because I’m worth it!
8. OK, that was lame. How’s this: in June I’m planning to go with my son to the Gulf Coast on a church-sponsored trip to help build homes for those still displaced by Hurricane Katrina. One good turn deserves another?
9. Because I need something to look forward to! After working hard all year, I need to escape. And because vacation in Maine is my time for renewal, which usually consists (as much as possible) of sitting in the sun (or fog—even better) and doing nothing. Throw in an afternoon game of Scrabble, and I’m happy as a clam.
10. Because I love, love, love Maine. And because the Inn is my favorite place in the world. :)
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Footnote: Top 10 Reasons Why Our Budget is Tight
1. Flat income, rising prices. Our salaries have been frozen. (At least we still have jobs, though.)
2. Inflation. I guess this is covered under “rising prices,” but it sort of deserves it’s own line item.
3. College looms! We're putting as much money as possible into a college savings fund.(Of course, said college fund seems to be losing, not gaining, value – but that’s another story).
4. Our teenage son is a money sinkhole! And now he has a girlfriend and is driving! Yikes!
5. Our nearly 100-year-old house is also a money sinkhole. We try to defer what we can but – there’s always something.
6. And then there are the needy relatives.
7. Not to mention the two dogs and the cat. The cost of vet care is outrageous! We had our elderly cat sign a “Do Not Resusitate” form -- no extraordinary measures for her.
8. (Just kidding.)
9. Okay, I’ve run out of reasons.
10. The number “10” is rather arbitrary in these lists, don’t you find?
P.S. Hi Jason!
Posted by: Jane Perry | April 15, 2009 at 04:44 PM
1. The Boothbay area has always been a favorite vacation resort area for my wife
and I. We love to come back again and again to retrace our memories.
2. At our ages (80 and 75) we would like to use what time that we have left with
quality time in Boothbay Harbor and at the
Newagen Inn.
3. We visited your in last summer and we
were both impressed with what we saw. We
both said, "lets come here next year, it's
beautiful".
4. We can't think of a nicer place to
escape to and get away from all the recent problems of our country and the
world.
5. We both feel that your top-notch facil
-ities are a big drawing card for us. We
shall enjoy whiling-away our time when we
are there.
6. Tensions come and go, but we both know
that we won't spend a tense moment while
we are there.
7. Our new american-built car needs to
be driven more often than it has. It
will be nice to take it on a trip.
8. I have lost a few pounds lately due
to aging and I need a nice relaxing atmosphere and a lot of your wonderful
food (so I hear) to get me back where I belong.
9. My wife needs a break from her kitchen and the vacacation will be a welcome treat for her.
10. And last but not least, we want to
add to our treasure of memories of the
Boothbay Area and the Newagen Inn.
Posted by: William and Bette Oliver | April 15, 2009 at 04:57 PM
Top Ten Reasons Why We Deserve A Relaxing Vacation
1. First, because we fell in love with Maine 4 years ago when my husband went to Boothbay Harbor to participate in the Special Olympics fundraising golf tournament. Then, we fell in love with the people of Boothbay!
2. He works 13 hours a day and is totally stressed!
3. I work full-time doing as a cadiovascular open-heart surgery nurse...and am also totally stressed out!
4. We have two girls in college at the same time...money stressed out!!
5. We have three cars in the auto repais shop..all wrecked by our daughters!!
6. Our auto insurance bill takes all our vacation money!!
7. My husband is a prostate cancer survivor and works all year long fund-rasing for a foundation named for his father.
8. Soneone stole our dog from our front yard on Christmas day!! (no kidding!)
9. Did I say the girls are numbers 3 and 4 in college...still 3 years left of tuition!!
10. We have never, ever, seen a more beautiful place in the world than the coast of Maine! We tell everyone we know about it...and I have a photo of Boothbay as my screensaver!!
Posted by: Linda Cole | April 15, 2009 at 07:19 PM
1. I believe everyone today deserves a
free 5 day vacation not just me.
2.Its not just me that does everything for everyone but myself.
3.Its not just me who has family in the service serving thier country just for us.
4.Its not just me that had a Mom and Dad who died of lungcancer at the ageof 55 as I stood by and watched at the age of 30 now 54
5.Its not just me that loves the beauty of Newagen Seaside Inn we all do
6.Its not just me that would love to see the sunset over the bay while looking at Dorthy's and totos nemesis and remembering
7.Its not just me that would if I could help everyone that is hurting right now the burden is heavy
8.Its not just me that would love to see the magic of the mighty whale as he breaches out of the blue
9.Its not just me that thinks this one of the best places on earth to be
10.Its not just me that would love a 5 night stay at your inn we all would.
Posted by: Susan Wilkes | April 15, 2009 at 07:55 PM
1. I designed the interior of Newagen. It was a long time ago, but a LOT of work to do...and I'm pleased to see it is still bringing smiles to everyone’s faces!...Surely, I deserve to stay there for free. ;-)
2. More importantly, however, I was recently mentally scarred when I saw an infomercial for a product called the "Snuggie". I haven't really gotten over it, and it's been a few months now. I will definitely need a break from my racing Snuggie thoughts. A free vacation would help.
3. I haven't had a date in a LONG time. In fact, the last date I had was the weekend after my last visit to Newagen!! I am thinking another trip to that sweet hotel could potentially bring me luck in the man department.
4. The only respite for my weary soul is the feeling I get when I sit on the rocks on the ocean side of Newagen. Except, people, DON'T build those freakish rock towers with the little stones you find lying around. They are noisy and disturbing to those who appreciate the quietude of a rocky ocean shoreline. I never really understood the need for people to constantly DO something even in the midst of one of the most peaceful places on earth. Instead of frantically building a rock tower, try sitting on the water's edge and just...BE. It's a really cool experience. ;-)
5. Have I mentioned that I haven't had a date in a while? Men in Maine are HOT! Some rugged, outdoorsy eye-candy would be nice for a change. I don't get much of that where I live!
6. If my trip was free, I could afford to eat lobster at each meal for all five days. Trust me. I'd do it if I could! Lobster-eggs-benedict, lobster rolls, lobster stew, lobster pot-pie, lobster frittata, lobster pasta, good 'ole steamed lobster...
7. If I don't win this vacation, I probably won't vacation at all this year. (Cue sobbing and sniffling sounds). (Cue violins).
8. As a single person with no kids (and no dates) it is rare that anyone ever does anything special for me. If I won this trip, I could (and probably would) PRETEND that the trip was awarded to me by loving, adoring friends and family because "they finally realized how much they take me for granted and how truly loved and valued I am in their lives"! (Cue those violins again).
9. If I win this trip, I get to see some of my favorite peeps...including the inn's owners and their girls! We could have a pajama party in my room one night and that would be super fun! How many of the other potential trip winners would be willing to do that??...Hmmm??
10. Lastly, I deserve to win this trip because I am 100% addicted to Facebook and blogs and online quizzes and TOP 10 lists and I could REALLY use a break from all of it! Newagen Seaside Inn is one of the only places I can (and do) completely 'unplug'.
Posted by: Jessie La Falce | April 15, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Top Ten Reasons Why We Deserve a Vacation
1. I spend every day with 17 eleven year olds, teaching five different subjects.
2. I spend every day with a 21 year old paraprofessional who can only talk about topics I'd never mention here.
3. I spend every day in my classroom with a chinese translator who I can't understand.
4. I come home every night and do one to two hours of homework with my eighth grader, whose behavior ranges from out of control hysteria to the deepest, darkest depression.
5. My husband is away on business 50% of the time.
6. When my husband is home, he continues to feed the dog snippets of our dinner, and leaves for his next business trip just before the dog gets diarhhea (the Passover brisket was a real winner).
7. The entire inside of our house has been renovated and painted this winter, which means we've been living in tarp-covered chaos, and sleeping in whatever bedroom is available and fume-free.
8. We were about to celebrate one child out of college, leaving one child still in college, but number one just was accepted to Harvard Graduate School with no financial aid. (Guess we shouldn't have done the house renovations so quickly).
9. I've been going to Newagen since I was five years old, and it's my favorite place in the world.
10. Every summer we bring to Newagen our three children, two long-term boyfriends, an extra friend, my mother, my sister, and her two children. I've never been to Newagen with just my husband when there's enough quiet around us to actually hear the water! Don't I deserve it?????
Posted by: Maury Bohan | April 15, 2009 at 08:12 PM
1. I am a special education teacher who runs an alternative middle school program for students who have been expelled from their schools, coming out of a juvenile detention center or other medical/residential facilities (I also coach middle school football and volleyball). It’s a super-stressful job.
2. My wife is a high school speech pathologist who works with autistic children. It’s a super-stressful job.
3. We have a three year old son and a four month old daughter who we love to death but a few days alone together would be awesome.
4. Based on the fact that we have two public school teacher’s salaries and two children in daycare (which costs as much as college tuition) we may never be able to afford a vacation again plus we could drive to Maine and not have to pay to fly.
5. If we had a vacation that was free we could actually enjoy a lobster dinner!
6. Try as I might I have not been able to win the lottery or get on Jeopardy.
7. The only inheritance coming our way is a clock (that is true too).
8. My wife is a massive Red Sox fan so she could actually see a game on TV or listen to it on the radio (I am a Yankee fan – based on that alone I deserve a vacation!)
9. My wife teaches summer school at the high school and I teach college summer courses in special education to teachers getting their masters degrees because we need too. That said, could find a week to make this vacation work.
10. We are just generally good, normal, hard working people who might deserve something nice.
Posted by: Chris Passamano | April 15, 2009 at 09:55 PM
(With apologies to David Letterman, we’re doing this in inverse order!)
10. Because “work,” always a four-letter word, is beginning to look like one of those four-letter words.
9. We’re eager to visit so we can start our campaign to officially recognize lobster rolls and baked beans as major food groups.
8. By visiting, we’ll be subsidizing the important lounge chair industry, thus boosting the economy.
7. Because children best learn how to spell “V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N” by actually being on vacation.
6. City wildlife: pigeons and rats. Maine wildlife: eagles, moose and whales. Enough said.
5. Because we’ve been going through no-available-breakfast-buffet-like-Newagen’s withdrawal for several months.
4. Maine is currently suffering through a dangerous shortage of Pennsylvanians, and we could provide much-needed relief by decreasing the deficit by two…at least for five days.
3. Salt air cleanses pores. As Casey Stengel once said, you can look it up.
2. Only by taking a relaxing vacation do we get the opportunity to reminisce with people we don’t know. It takes longer – about five days, actually – but it’s well worth the effort.
1. Because after six years of visiting the Newagen Seaside Inn on our wedding anniversary, we still haven’t seen a whale, and gosh, isn’t it about time they show themselves?
Posted by: Ronald Kohl | April 16, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Top 10 reasons I need a relaxing Maine vacation:
1. Our fall visit to Newagan few years ago was one of the best.
2. We have lost over 50% IRA and basically retired.
3. Babysit grandchildren a lot....need a break away...although we do love them dearly.
4. Have new grandchild due June, 2009, and starting all over again after 6 years, so really will need a break.
5. Maine is so tranquil...truly God's country
6. I had knee surgery in January, 2009, and still rehabing.....need a reward.
7. Jim, manager of Newagan, is from Akron, Ohio, a very close town to ours...he made us so at home that we often talk about returning and reminscing with him about the area as it once was.
8. I need to travel to Maine once again before age dictates nio more driving; we ain't young chickens much longer!
9. Our dog, Barney thinks this is good idea, even though he will be at Mrs. Quinn's kennel
10. My husband, Bob, thinks this is super idea and agrees with all of above.
8.
Posted by: Georgiann Franklin | April 16, 2009 at 04:49 PM
Uno- 5 children = too much laundry, could use a break from that-even if only for 5 days!!
Dos- One man who works hard to pay for us all. He is ever so deserving!
Tres- It has been too many years since we've seen Maine and heard the buoy bells ring. So happy that is where we first started our journey (marriage) together.
Quatro- 5 Children!! Need I say more?!
Cinco- That lone man who works hard for our family also works hard for those who live in the Freedom of the United States in the Coast Guard! His feet would love to walk the rocky beaches there.
Seis- We all could use that breath of beauty, peace, serenity that you only get when you are at Newagen. What a memory we would cherish and share with others.
Siete- Although everyone's taxes pay for the main mans paycheck there are no overtime hours to help pay for such a memorable vacation that visiting Maine would be for us.
Ocho- The people, charm of the town, all the little shops, and LOBSTER. Would love to see and taste it all!
Nueve- We don't vacation since we have moved around every two years with work. It would be wonderful for our family to experience what a true vacation is like and make some wonderful memories together.
Deis- Life is too short not to see what life should be like!
Posted by: Robyn Anglebrandt | April 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Top 10 Reasons why MY PARENTS deserve this vacation.
1. They raised 5 girls.
2. We only had one bathroom growing up... did I mention... 5 girls??
3. My dad is a saint... the most patient man in the world.
4. They gave up everything so that we could have what we needed.
5. We had hami-downs, shared rooms, had reduced lunch, didn't have much in the way of material things but we have grown to realize that we had everything that really mattered.
6. They taught us to appreciate the little things in life... because it's those little things that create the whole picture.
7. They are the most amazing grandparents ever... some weeks they run a small infirmary to take care of the little ones so we can make it to work.
8. They are good people... they are big-hearted, kind, and sooooo generous.
9. They never got to travel when we were younger... my mom stayed home with us and they just barely got by week to week.
10. Because my mom doesn't fly so this is perfect... and because I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH AND THEY ARE OH SO DESERVING!!!
Posted by: Cindy Gish | April 17, 2009 at 11:51 AM
I am writing this for my parents, not myself, because they deserve it more than I do.
1 - My dad commutes from a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia to Baltimore EVERY DAY (2 hours EACH WAY!!!)! He wakes up at 3:30 am, leaves by 4:30 am and doesn't get home until between 5:30 and 7 pm. It has taken him up to 4 hours sometimes JUST TO GET HOME!!!
2 - A few years ago, my dad lost his job(which is why he works so far from home now) and they haven't had a decent vacation in years due to money constraints!!!
3 - When my dad was out of work, my mom fed the family on $25-$30 a week and no one went hungry! In fact, she made sure there was meat at dinner every night and snacks in the cabinet. They made sure we felt the effects as little as possible in every aspect of our lives. They lost a car, but they made sure we kept the roof over our heads.
4 - My mom is currently planning TWO weddings - mine and my one sister's! My sister lives on the west coast and is getting married on the east coast, so there is a lot more work there for my mom to do! My sister and I will get the relief of a honeymoon vacation, but she and my dad will not!
5 - After helping to pay for these two weddings there certainly will be no money for them to take a vacation of their own for a LONG TIME!
6 - They have spent the last 7 years traveling to watch my sisters' collegiate field hockey games, somtimes driving 4 hours each way so as to not have to pay for a hotel room! They head up the booster club to arrange tailgates for the team to spend time with their families after each game. Growing up, we were all very active in a variety of activities, and the NEVER missed a single game, production, or recital. Not one.
7 - Practically all of their vacations over the years have been with my two sisters and myself and/or other family - they have never taken a relaxing vacation for just themselves.
8 - They were, and continue to be, the most selfless parents, always giving up things for their own comfort and enjoyment so that my sisters and I could have the things we wanted. Whether it was to send us to a sports camp, get us music lessons, or buy us a dress for the big dance, we never went without - and we did not grow up with a lot of money. They made A LOT of sacrifices for us.
9 - They celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this year and we weren't able to do anything really nice for them because of all the wedding business. (My mom wanted a party - I promised her one for their 40th, but that's still 10 years away!!!)
10 - The fact that they've made it through 30 years of marraiges, job loss, three girls, three college educations, two weddings and a third looming in the future - all on one salary -
I think is, in itself, reason(s) enough!!!
Posted by: Abbe | April 18, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Top 10 Reasons My Parents Deserve This Vacation:
10) My parents have not had a real vacation since the summer of 2005.
9) In fall of 2005, my dad had emergency quadruple bypass surgery. He had a number of complications afterwards and ultimately had to give up his career of more than 20 years. My parents had to move away from their home, friends, and community in Northeast Ohio down to Columbus for my mom's job because she was the sole income earner
8)Despite the financial strains of doctors bills, medications etc.. my parents have continued to help me out while I was in law school from 2006 to this spring when I graduate.
7) My dad invested in a small business in Columbus, worked his heart out trying to make it successful, and was ultimately thwarted by the severely depressed economy in Ohio. He had to shut down his business last spring and declare bankruptcy.
6) My mom worked two jobs to support my dad while he tried to make his business work, and stuck with him through the failure of the business and resulting bankruptcy.
5) I am planning to get married in August and to help pay for it, my dad is working 3 different jobs and my mom is still working two.
4) Through everything that has happened in the past three years, my parents have maintained a positive attitude and helped others whenever they could. They both volunteer at their church to feed poorer families, help out at my mom's school with sports, and support the community in every way they can.
3) My parents have never taken a vacation without me. I am almost 25 years old! I think they deserve a chance to vacation on their own to Maine (where they have never been!)
2) My mom is going to take time away from work to watch my cats while my fiance and I go on our honeymoon--she deserves a vacation of her own. My dad and I have been scheming (unsucessfully because of money) to give her a vacation she would love for 2 years.
1) My parents gave me everything they had and more for my entire life, and never let on when times were tough. They deserve the world for everything they have done and gone through. If I could give it to them on my own, I would, but this is the best I can do.
Posted by: Elise Kent | April 18, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Many many thanks for sharing your Top 10 lists with us. All are very deserving and narrowing the list down has been extremely difficult. Our panel of judges have selected a Top 4. The 4 finalists are:
Ronald Kohl
Chris Passamano
Abbe
Elise Kent
These 4 Top 10's will be posted on the Newagen Fan Page and our online community will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. If you are not on Facebook, now may be a good time to do that. We will post the Top 10 list tomorrow. Please feel free send the link to your friends and have them become Fans. This will allow them to vote. You can find the Newagen page at this web address:http://tinyurl.com/d35l89
Thanks again for your post and stay tuned for more contests and giveaways later this summer.
Best regards,
Jason Schlosser
Innkeeper
Posted by: Jason Schlosser | April 29, 2009 at 03:09 PM
Hello Jason, I thought i was stressed with two weddings in one year and moving my son to syracuse. Best of luck picking the winner.
Patty Riccio
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