Jill and Thomas

Congradulations to Matt and Sue on the birth of their twins. Welcome Jill and Thomas Peabody to the exclusive club of human earthdwellers, alive during the greatest period in history.... here and now.

Resolved

The last day of the year. A day for reflection and resolution. Obviously, a central resolution is to finish the Tender and begin the work on your Peapod. But I do have some other concerns.

Next year, I resolve to open my mail, everyday, even the bills. I resolve to pay attention to the details, so that things don’t end up looming so big that is seems like a tsunami of stress engulfs me.

I resolve to pay attention to what I eat, and get an exercise burn in every day. I can’t predict weight loss here, because I’m sick of worrying about the number of lbs. that show up on the scale when I step on. I just want to feel good and move easier.

I resolve to clean up after me… everyday…everywhere. This means my truck, my bedrooms, the kitchen, the garage, my office…. everywhere. Keep the decks shipshape for action.

That’s it. Pretty simple. Build the boats, workout, eat right, check the details, and clean up afterward.

In past years for New Year’s resolution, I’ve tried to outline detailed economic and career results that I would like to attain. A lot of that stuff was out of my control… and hardly ever occurred the way I was resolving. This year, I’m going to be more of a receiver of the big stuff, and less of a controller. My resolutions are designed to deal with what life flows my way, not direct the flow.

Courtney's Cupcakes

For somebody who doesn't like to eat, Courtney certainly can bake.
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Awesome cupcakes.

Pruning

Did I say a little pruning in the last post? After four truckloads of cutting brush and trucking it to the Marblehead Town Dump, in the snow, I was freaking exhausted. Coming out of the dump on the fourth load, I saw Greg Bruett, and asked him if he wanted to see the new school site.
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Big mistake for progress on the Tender.
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Greg stopped home and came by Sundance with two Coors Light Beers.
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A classy move.
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Beer always is the perfect refreshment following some physical work. After showing him around the place, I asked if he wanted to join me for a beer at Maddies. I had a pass since Joanne was going to Boston with her mother and sisters, so Greg called Nancy, got permission, and we were headed for Old Town.
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We could'nt find a parking space at Maddies, so we headed for the Landing. Fine with me since I belong to the Dark and Stormy Club at the Landing and needed to add some stamps to my card. Ten stamps, and you get a free Dark and Stormy.
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The only problem is that the Dark and Stormies at the Landing suck. They are all ginger beer, and hardly any Black Seal Rum.
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Whatever... Three stamps later, and lot of man talk under the bridge, we were headed for home, but it was 5:30 PM and there was no boatbuilding energy in sight.
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Tomorrow is another day.

Tender Neglect

You may have noticed that I haven't done much work on the Herreshoff-Columbia Yacht Tender recently. With the Sundance project, It has taken a back seat. I never dreamed that I would be launching in 07, but that's where we are.
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Today though, I'm planning to rev it up again. I'm going to the Sundance site with my reciprocating saw to prune some of the tree limbs and open up the area to give us better insight into the location of parking spaces. That will get my rhino-virus-wracked body back in motion.
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Then I'm going to resume sanding the interior of the Tender.

Take It Easy

To the couple hundred or so Peeps who have emailed me recently to see if I felt better, I really appreciate the sentiment. But really, calm down.... it's just a head cold. Not the Bubonic Plague.
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Some people always seem to overreact.

Permission Granted

Thanks to Bob Ives, Marblehead Building Commissioner. Took a big step in the Sundance project today because of his insight and consideration. Many hurdles remain, but at least the race has started.

Dave Bruett, Paul Lynch, Sparky Spillane and Eric "International Man of Mystery" Rumpf can all take a bow. Their contributions will be duly noted for future Nanepashemet Honors.

Nice Beavers

Beavers have made a huge comeback. By the 1700's they were virtually out of existance in Massachusetts, but now are very much in evidence even in urban areas. These trees were just cut down by Beavers in Wakefield, MA right next to the Darwin office.

Cancun

To my Mexican Peeps. Watch out!
Bobby Brown is heading your way!
Protect your women!!!

Legal Help

Saddam Hussein will be put to death within the next thirty days under Iraqi law. Somehow, I didn’t think justice would be this swift.

While we’re on the subject of law and death, what is it about lawyers that make even the most law abiding, peaceful, God-fearing person contemplate methods of torture and murder?

The times when you consult with an attorney usually have stressful components. Especially in business, you ask a lawyer to do something for you when you fear a certain consequence. In business, though, time is money. Do something quickly, reduce expenses, make some money, or at least, avoid losing too much.

For the lawyer, money is time. Delay, process… there is always tomorrow. Then… when they finally get around to returning your call, they usually find some reason to blame you for the reasons for delay. But you maintain your composure and play along with the ruse, because you feel like they have you by the gonads.

I know that there are exceptions, but trust me, I’m talking about the general rule.

No Pity

My head cold is still brutal…. and I’m rapidly losing ground with the family over it. Mike calls me a pussy and Joanne says that I am gross. All because they hear a little sniffle once in awhile. If I had Bird Flu they would be sorry.

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week - 8

As I told you earlier, Jay Turner bought me a bottle of Lagavulin for Christmas. Bingo! He's in.
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The rest of you didn't heed my suggestion, and must be evaluated by the remaining criteria.
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So be it. Here Goes....

NANEPASHEMET PEEPS OF THE WEEK - 8

• Jay Turner
• Paul Lynch
• Susan Raiche
• Mitt Romney
• Dan Brown
• RobbyDoyle

Not bad for the last week of the year.
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Now for the biggest challenge yet...... the Peep of the Year selection.
You're automatically in with a case of Lagavulin if somebody wants it bad enough.
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The big day is Mon. Jan. 1, 2007. Even I can't wait for this one.

POTW -8 The Final Designations for 2006

By the end of the day, a few more of you may have achieved the ultimate.
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Because today is Thursday.... and Thursday is Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week Day. The last one in 2006.
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Don't put pressure on yourself. There is still life for those who are not chosen. A lesser life, yes, but all is not lost. There is still time to meet the automatic selection criteria. Just do what a few brilliant individuals have done - have a bottle of Lagavulin delivered prior to 6:00 PM EST.
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Good luck

Bird Bonanza

On the feeder, right now.... two chickadees and three tufted titmouses. Or would they be tufted titmice?

Book Proposal

I was invited to send the book proposal to an agent in NY based upon a query that I e-mailed. Nice. I was expecting total rejection bordering upon ridicule.
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The proposal will take some preparation. I actually bought some books on Amazon detailing a successful book proposal. They should be delivered today.

Head Cold

I have a wicked head cold. I slept down on the living room couch last night because I didn't want to be hacking next to Joanne. You would think that she appreciated that!!! Nope.
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All day long, she gives me dirty looks when I cough and sneeze. Let's be honest. I'm only sneezing, hacking and snotting to annoy Joanne. This head cold is a ruse to be extra irritating to her. Maybe I'll really piss her off and get pneumonia.

Christmas Presents

I hope you got some nice presents for Christmas. I did. You all know about the boat trailer that Joanne got for me. It came in FIVE BOXES!!!
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... with some assemble required. Then she got me a paper towel holder for the kitchen counter. I was so sick of always looking for the paper towels. And the kids gave me some more really neat stuff.
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Ryan and Courtney gave me a brass thermometer and a great book on the Herreshoff Yacht and Boat Builders of Bristol, R.I. I had actually lusted for this book down at the Marblehead Spirit of 76 Bookstore, but denied myself because of the price tag.
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Mike gave the the National Audubon Society, state of the art, Sibley Guide to Birds.
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Boats and Birds.... some serious reading enjoyment.
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Katelyn bought me a sweater and a Dark and Stormy Gift Box, with Ginger Beer and Goslings Black Seal Bermuda Rum. You will recall that Dark and Stormies are the official Nanepashemet Drink of Summer. I wore the sweater during the Chistmas Eve parties and emerged stain free by the end of the evening. That's a great omen.
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Jay Turner gave me a bottle of Lagavulin... you know what that means!!! He is an automatic for POTW. Brilliant move.
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All in all, some thoughtful presents from an awesome family.

Sundance Chores

Met with Mel Blackmun to have the lead certification done. I have to replace the wrought iron railings at the front entrance.
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I also talked to both Paul Lynch and Mike Rockett regarding the permit submittal. Hopefully to be done tomorrow with the parking spaces laid out. Kept Sparky in the loop.

Design Review

Joanne and I are meeting this morning with Eric Rumpf and Steve Livermore to crank out the final design details on the new Sundance building. I'm looking forward to meeting with them, but I'm afraid I'll gross them out from the sound of my headcold. It certainly grosses me out.

Flashing the Bird

I'm not entirely sure why, but my friends and family seem to take great pleasure in flipping the bone, flashing the bird, and/or giving me the finger.
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Don't they know that at any time, I can lose my senses, go beserk and pummel them mercilously?
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Apparently not.
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Lucky for them that I am the poster boy for tolerance and self-control... that I'm able to see beyond the gutteral meaning of such base expressions....
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.... that I'm cool and they suck.
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I will continue to ignore their juvenile assertions, and seek the truth through the lens of my honest Canon Digital Camera.
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Don't worry Peeps... it takes alot more than a lousy middle finger to make me forego my obligation to bring you your daily life's inspiration. I won't be deterred!