AUGUSTA -- Presumptive Maine House speaker Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) has a lot on her plate as the countdown until the session ticks onward.

Amidst all the concerns about the budget shortfall and questions about policy, a less significant yet burning question among House members is: Where will they sit in the chamber? Outgoing House speaker Glenn Cummings (D-Portland) said there are three areas that are most desirable.

First, are the aisles on the end. Here there is the obvious advantage of being able to get up and move around without bothering others. Second, is the center aisle. Here, there's the feasibility of getting up and down easily. It's also a popular area for those that want to be on television. When Gov. John Baldacci, or other guests enter the chamber to speak, the television cameras follow them as they shake hands with those closest to the aisle.

Last is the back row - known as the Rat's Nest. This is where the troublemakers sit. In the Rat's Nest, representatives can also sneak out without being detected. They can also intercept notes coming through the chamber, or write incriminating notes on each other's stationary (a common prank in the House). Returning members who sat in the Rat's Nest last year were: Reps. Dawn Hill (D-York), Walter Wheeler Sr. (D-Kittery), Thomas Watson (D-Brewer), Ben Pratt (D-Eddington), Robert Duchesne (D-Hudson), Christian Greeley (R-Cornish) and Richard Sykes (R-Harrison).

Also sitting in the back were Stan Gerzofsky (D-Brunswick), who was elected to the Senate, Janet Mills (D-Farmington) who is running for Attorney General, three members who were unseated, three members who made failed bids for the Senate, three members who were termed out, one member who decided not to run and one member who resigned in the middle of the last term.

Pingree also noted one other popular place for lawmakers in the upcoming session - next to incoming Rep. John Martin (D-Eagle Lake). Martin is a legend of sorts in the State House, having served for decades, including many years as speaker of the House.