Sunday, March 25, 2007

Call for Peep Help

Remember the boat trailer that Joanne bought me for Christmas???
~
It's still unassembled in boxes, taking up space in my garage.
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I'm thinking of staging a "Trailer Assembly Raising" modeled after an old fashioned, Amish Country Barn Raising.
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I'll buy the beer, grill some burgers, and maybe even break out the Lagavulin for any Peep who wants to participate.
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We'll set it up for Saturday, April 7 starting at 11:00 AM ... weather permitting. We'll be done by 3:00PM, because we have to go to Maddie Gill's Birthday Bash at 4:00PM. This will be a good warm up.
~
Email me at jnestor@nanepashemet.com if you're interested. There is absolutely no shame or humiliation if you choose to decline. I promise I won't hold it against you.... NOT!!!!
~
Pay no attention to the fine print.
______________________________________________
This is an equal opportunity Trailer Assembly Raising. Minorities, Handicapped, Women, Dorks, Sicilians, IRS Agents, White Men, and Democrats are encouraged to participate. Nanepashemet Project Management, Inc. takes no responsibility or liability for the potential dangers in this event.

Going Stapleless

This is the stapleless strip planking method that I am going to use on the Matinicus Peabod.
~
Of course, the Herreshoff Columbia Tender still has about 40 hours of impossible to find time left for completion.

Ramp Up


For the hundreds of you who emailed me asking "What does the new Sundance ramp look like?".... here it is.
~
Now get a life.

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Getting There

We're on the homestretch with Operation Moonshadow.
~
Rockett and Rumpf have done a great job, which was complicated by the addition of very expensive handicapped accommodations.
~
I'm very proud of the way it turned out, and how all of the team members responded to the challenges.
~
As usual, the end product put out by Village is outstanding.




On a Roll

Not sure what happened today, but I ripped out the basement carpet, made three dump runs, put a first coat of yellow paint on the Sundance Sign, worked out hard for 40 minutes on the Cybex, and outlined a business deal to one of my partners.
~
I haven't felt this accomplished since the last time a Peep gave me a bottle of Lagavulin.
~
Plus... consumed zero carbs and I lost two more pounds in my weight loss mission.
~
This can't last...

Friday, March 23, 2007

OK

So the rumor is that Bechtel is going to buy GD Wireless. That explains a lot.
~
Large corporations hold too much sway on the lives of individuals. It is not a good place to be. Impersonal business decisions ruin people, and are so irrational. Too Bad.
~
It so easily could have been GD buying Bechtel wireless.... but for the masters of corporate speak and cover your ass. See you in Hell.

Marathoners

While we're on the topic of Crawfords, Will and Chris are training for the Boston Marathon. They decided to train in December and have logged an 18 mile run since then. Since they are good athletes, I'm sure that they will be fine, but I don't recommend crash training for the marathon.
~
Ryan did well last year with limited training, but he is a physical anomaly.

Summer Prospects

We just heard the great news that Will and Lauren Crawford are expecting their first child in Sept.
~
Excellent addition to the Circle of Life.
~
Between Ryan and Courtney, and Will and Lauren, it will be an eventful summer.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Clarification - POTW Rules

Joanne reminds me that once again, I need to reiterate the POTW Rules. Repetition is the path to mastery, so this little exercise is not really that irritating, although you would think that all of Western Civilization would have internalized the rules by now.
~
So....
~
To become a Nanepashemet Peep of the Week, one has to .....

1. Be alive. (Dead people, no matter how cool, are not eligible.)

2. Be human. (Although I love animals, especially cats and birds, animals and other non-human forms of life are not eligible.)

3. Be either annoying, or inspirational, or both. (And never ask me which applies!!!)

4. Automatic selection criteria is if you have given me a bottle of Lagavulin 16 year Single Malt Scotch during the previous week. (I'm amazed how many bottles I have received because of this rule.... but it is never enough.)

It's easy enough to remember, but since I have unlimited patience with stupid questions, I absolutely have no problem repeating these rules from time to time.

Remember, there are no stupid questions... Only stupid people who ask questions.

10 lbs or Bust

Because of the Vt. business trip, I had to postpone my appointment with Dr. Casale for a full checkup. He's been my doctor since I was eighteen, when I needed a Doctor's letter to run in the Boston Marathon.
~
Since then, he's seen me through a couple of issues, but now I weigh about 90 lbs. more that when I first started to go to him. He always acts disgusted, and it is really painful. My appointment has been postponed until next Thurs., and I am going to skip all the carbs and work out daily until I have to deal with him.
~
My goal is to lose 10 lbs. before my appointment. Shouldn't be hard. Workout every day for a week.... avoid the carbs.... no hanging with the Rocketts or my kids.

Week 12 - Peeps of the Week

Tons of prospects for Peep of the Week today with the St. Patrick's Day holiday and my Sugarbush sojourn.
~
I actually had to narrow the selection down. The first two were the easiest though.
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 12 of 2007
~
Mike Rockett
Rick Rockett
Walter Homan
Pauline McBurney
The pompous lady at the bar of Chez Henri in Warren,Vt.
Mike Nestor
~
That's it.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Impromptu Downhill Skiing

Those thousands of Peeps who hit this Blog every day know that I rarely miss a daily entry. Yesterday was the exception.
~
Mike and Rick Rockett asked me to look at a business opportunity in Vermont for them that turned into an overnight St. Patrick's Day encore. The only difference from the amount of drinking that I did since the St. Pat's holiday blowout is that I didn't have to get up and ski after St. Patrick's Day.
~
I'm not a good downhill skiier, and I suck even more with a nauseous stomach and no food. But the conditions were the best that I've ever experienced.... beautifully groomed snow trails, no ice, 25 degrees, no wind, crystal clear blue skies.
~
What a waste!! After my five runs to the Rockett Boys 10, it was time to admit what an out of shape fat bastard I am.
~
If you had told me Mon. that I would be skiing at Sugarbush with a hangover on Wed. morning, I would have politely dismissed you as out of touch with reality. But that's why I missed the entry yesterday.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Jump Start

Thought it was going to be a quiet day today. But every time something happens that is GD stupid, things seem to stir up. To see that business unit disintegrate is so disquieting. It didn't have to happen.
~
It's always hard to get going after an active weekend. My trick is to clean up the office and file stuff away. The things that you touch gets you in a business frame of mind again. It didn't take long.
~
Then the calls started to come in.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Toasted the day with some of the finest Peeps at Flynnies then Sweeneys. St. Patrick's Day is such a great day of happiness and good will. I don't hit the Pubs with any frequency anymore, but they are definitely a lot of fun to be in around March 17.
~
Walter Homan and I did our Karaoke rendition, which we manage to do every ten years or so. He's the only guy that I've ever sung with. It was really bad, and I'm not quite sure why I did it. Usually I can hold my alcohol.
~
Joanne made our traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner which is great once or twice a year. I never was a huge fan of cabbage and turnip, but it tastes fine during these occasions. A happy combination of family and friends made Mike's visit back home a lot of fun - a good weekend

Friday, March 16, 2007

Nor'easter

The family is trying to gather for St. Patrick's Day on Sunday - one of those holidays when we like to have a sit down dinner of corned beef and cabbage together.
~
Mike made it home from Virginia, but Kate is down in DC for business and this snowstorm prediction promises to screw up air travel. Ryan and Courtney are local I hope.
~
I'm optimistic that we will pull it off dispite this last attempt by winter to make an appearance during this snowless year in Boston.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

POTW Selections - Week 11 of 2007

What a shocker!!
~
At the very last minute, in our Darwin quitting party, Tammy Pham and Brooke Lutrelle gave Tom DiMatteo and I each a bottle of Lagavulin. Then they reminded me of the automatic Peep of the Week rule.... Receipt of the gift of Lagavulin is an automatic selection for the thoughtful, giving. aspiring peeps.
~
What a brilliant maneuver!
~
Plus, I was touched by the Darwin Quitting Party.
~
So the selections were all either automatic Lagavulin rule, or inspirational, or both! Even Frank did something inspirational and didn't annoy me.

I was shocked to find the selection process so forthright this week.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for 2007 - Week 11

Brooke Lutrelle (automatic Lagavulin Rule)
Tammy Pham (automatic Lagavulin Rule)
Bingmei
Frank Robinson
Jeff Reed
Rose Nyguen
Jay Ohanian

If only it was always this easy...



Looking Good

A Big Day.
~
Not just because it is Thursday, POTW Day, when lives are inexhorably changed.
~
Mike is coming home tonight from DC. for St. Patrick's Day ... his first trip home since signing on with BearingPoint.
~
I'm having dinner at Legal with my Darwin friends, who want to give DiMatteo and me a proper departure from that high end IT staffing company.
~
Plus, I just bought a Moto Q from Sprint, which should boost my productivity even higher. I didn't think that could be possible.
~
Not to mention working today doing the stuff I love to do, with people I love to work with at Sundance, Nanepashemet and Rockett.
~
How's your day look?

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

White Flag

I had to surrender.
~
Filed extensions for both Sundance and Nanepashemet with the IRS.
~
The corporate filing deadline is March 15, and I wanted to make it, but only an all-nighter would have pulled it off, and I'm saving those efforts for a special occasion. I do intend to stay on this task until the returns are filed, and my country knows exactly how much money we made last year.

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Naive

Think that killing people to destroy the evidence will save you?
~
You forgot about the Law of Karma.
~
Don't be a Pussy and scream on the way down. Take it like a man.

Criminal Behavior

Some Crimes are not against the law.
~
Leaving millions on the table, and ruining careers based upon business incompetence and chronic, myopic, CYA is a crime that should be against the law.
~
And I'd love to be the Prison Guard.

Outlook

Nature played a cruel trick on us today... 60 degrees, like it's going to be like this from now on. It won't happen. Less than a week ago, I was freezing my ass off going to the Boston Govt. Center garage in single digit temperatures with a driving wind.
~
Today, the Sundance project hit the home stretch. Mike Rockett provided the catalyst, and Eyk Van Otterloo covered the unknowns. Sparky and Eric Rumpf filled in some other gaps. Sundance will be fine.
~
Nanepashemet Project Management also had a banner day. Huge potentials from two diverse clients. Waiting on one more, and it will be an unprecedented outlook. Peeps, I will tell you if it starts to suck, but it doesn't suck... the view from here and now is awesome.
~
Even finishing the Tender seems possible.

Monday, March 12, 2007

North End

Dinner with DiMatteo and a player to be named later at Trattoria di Monica on Prince Street in Boston's North End.
~
DiMatteo is the zen master of North End Italian restaurants. Never a bad meal.
~
Always start at Cafe della Sport on Hanover Street.... always end at Joe's American Grille on Atlantic Street.

More Internal Revenue Services

So now the IRS sent me a bill saying that I owe $132 from my 2004 taxes. No explanation or anything. I'm paying them immediately, but I don't think they'll appreciate it. Just one adventure after another.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Suck Brothers

Joanne and I took a nice walk along Devereaux Beach in the 40 degree sunny weather. We saw some sea birds in the water that looked a lot like loons and we also saw Danny Marcus.
~
Danny was one of the original "Suck Brothers" of Marblehead Youth Hockey. A great guy.
~
He and Ralph Sevinor used to talk about who sucked on the ice, which could get on your nerves. Then we started to call them the "Suck Brothers", and everytime they said someone sucked, we would all crack up.
~
Funny how you can change your perspective from something that is irritating to something that is laughable.
~
BTW, Gill, you must be spelling the address wrong. Hundreds of other peeps got it right.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Saturday Night

Watching Borat on DVD with Joanne and Kathy Peabody. It is so funny, that it hurts.
~
I've also rekindled my interest in Whiskey Sours. So far, I've told you about the Dark and Stormies, and Seagrams and Cider, and I don't think that another favorite cocktail will confuse anyone.
~
So here is my famous recipe for Whiskey Sours.
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Fill a mid sized glass half way with ice, cover the ice with Jack Daniels, add some concentrated lemon juice, put in half a packet of Splenda, fill to the brim with Ginger Ale (I prefer diet for health reasons). Adding fruit is optional. Stir briskly. Drink. Repeat.

Dump Run

Have to make a drive this morning to move clutter from the house and get it to the dump. I'll concentrate on bagging junk until 1:30 PM, then make a dump run.
~
After that, it's all taxes and accounting for this fun weekend.
~
Do we know how to party or what!!!!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Weekend Update

What's up for the weekend?
~
I really wanted to go x-c skiing up in No. Conway, but the more mature choice is to tackle the corporate taxes for Sundance Pre-School and Nanepashemet Project Management.
~
The corporate taxes are due March 15.
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If you're expecting me to rant about taxes in America, then I'm sorry. I just can't go there every time. But then again, the oppressive tax system is stealing a weekend of my life.

Transition

It seems like an extraordinary amount of change is in the air, like the universe is switching channels. Some of those closest to me are undergoing various important transitions.
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Change is always tough, because uncertainty of the outcome causes anxiety. Generally, we fear change.
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But change is the opportunity for new experience, and growth. And that's what we came on Earth to do.... to experience things.
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So embrace change. Don't be so judgemental.
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Trust that God knows more than you do. And make the best of it.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Stock Tip

Now that Mike Nestor and Nathaniel Clarke are working together down in DC, it's only a matter of time before the BearingPoint stock spikes up.
~
I'm no Jim Cramer, but I know an investment opportunity when I see one.

Week 10 - 2007 Peeps of the Week

Sorry I'm late. The New England Wireless Association Meeting at the Bell in Hand Bar on Union St. in downtown Boston turned into an open bar four Guiness affair. Then a crawl through single digit temperature and cutting wind to Donovan's in the Faneuil Marketplace for a couple of single malts that tasted like Oban. Plus I had to listen to the DiMatteo boys wax about their tastes in music.

When I got home to Marblehead, I hardly had only ennough time to fry up two Bubba Burgers, and get to bed. So I'm getting the POTW selections out late. Get over it. I have a good excuse.

Announcing the Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week

Eddie Nabors (the guy who won Mega Millions)
Lou Tarmey
Jean Shepard (of the Grand Ole Opry)
Chris Crawford
Keith DiMatteo
Jeff Previte

I'll be back on track next week

Hold Your Horses

It's Thursday morning. You won't know the Peeps of the Week until sometime tonight. So back off!! What do you think.... that all I do is ponder about the POTW selections??? I have my own work to do. Why don't you consider doing your's and leave me alone.
~
It's not going to be you anyway.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Mental Exercise.

Try this exercise.
~
When you get up in the morning, visualize what your day will be like. What appointments do you have? What things are you working on? What issues are you trying to solve?
~
Now visualize that everything that happens in the day is a good thing and in favor of you. Imagine that it is the end of the day, and everything that happened was great.
~
I swear to all that is holy, that this freaking exercise works. Take it seriously. It freaking works.
~
You will have a great day. What does it hurt to try?

Real Progress

Tender remains unfinished. But Sundance is really on a roll. The Rockett crews are in high gear and the place looks great. If I was a toddler, I'd love to go there.
~
Even the freaking elevator is in construction.

Lottery Malfunction

We lost.
What a shocker!
Must be a mistake.
Didn't hit on one number.
Back to making millions the old fashioned way.
Damn!!!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

When I Win the Lottery

I've been thinking about what I'm going to do when I win the Lottery.
~
To say that your life will not change is ludicrous. All of your relationships will be altered by people being envious, disengenuous, spiteful or otherwise. Virtually no one will think of you in the same way.
~
Your true friends will be diluted by pseudo wellwishers and phoney hangers on.
~
So far, not a pretty picture.
~
But I've already been through extreme ups and downs. And I know who my friends are. So I'm prepared for the reactions. That will not deter me.
~
I will pay down my mortgages first, and own my real estate outright. Then I will establish liquid investments that will pay for the taxes, insurance and maintenance of my house, condo, and the Sundance Pre-school. I will then invest enough for minimum annual income. Maybe kicking off $200k per year. That will stabilize my current situation for eternity.
~
I will also give all of my kids and extended family $1m each.
~
After capitalizing my businesses and current partners, I will open up a boatbuilding shop that manufactures cedar strip wooden boats. I will create a market for sailing dories and traditional Herreshoff styled boats throughout the Eastern Seaboard. I'll initiate fishing and sailing clubs as well as boatbuilding classes. And I'll write about it all.
~
What will you do?

Charge Numbers

So... You're sitting at General Dynamics, bored out of your mind. Believe me, I know the feeling. But that doesn't mean you can take that valuable time to bang the Nanepashemet blog for over 7 hours and easily 50 hits.
~
Do you have a charge number for this?
~
Searches for Lou, Mike, GD. Seriously, I'm a stockholder and a pensioner. Get back to work and Get a Life.

Mega Millions

A $355M Jackpot - Lump Sum $147M - After Taxes - $70M.
~
So we're really aiming for a $70M payday. That's good enough. But then if you gave $1M to each of your family, they would have to pay gift tax on that.... probably about $500K. I've already paid the taxes on that money!!!!
~
Do you see why I get riled up over the tax system??! We get crumbs, relatively, compared to the money that we actually earn or win.
~
So what would you do with the $70M?
~
For starters, I would buy a bottle of Lagavulin.... at the distillery in Scotland.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Laid Back

Lots of mental activity, but hardly anything physical. Lack of balance doesn't seem healthy. I will press to rectify the imbalance this week. There is no redeeming value in a couch potato.

Johnson's

We had dinner at Dale and Gail Johnson's house last night. Grilled Lamb, Salad with avocado and papaya, Dark and Stormies, Brussel sprouts, Sweet Potatoes. They also supplied fun and thoughtful conversation.
~
I highly recommend having dinner there.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Basement Remodel

Ripping out the cabinets and the carpet. As usual, the projects are getting out of sequence. I really wanted to get the Tender done first.

Enough Already

Have you noticed that in the last five posts, three had quotations from the Bible? WTF is going on?
Sorry.

Religious Sayings

The problem with a lot of religious sayings is that you tend to read them, then not see the practical relevance because on the verbiage or context in which they are written. Let's face it.... biblical quotes are written in a version of English common over 400 years ago. It's hard to feel the relevance behind the prose. But if you peal it down, it can hit you hard with the practicality.
~
Like the story of Jesus turning the other cheek.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." - Matthew 5:38
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It is really practical advise on the only true way to disarm your adversaries and gain the upper hand.

Doesn't Hurt to Try

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." - Luke 11:9

"If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. " - Matthew 18:19
_________________________________

Imagine that the Bible is real, and you can have anything you want, simply by asking sincerely and prayerfully, and that by believing that you have already received your wish, it comes true.!!! That's what these authors are saying.
~
Why don't you try it? No one has to know, there is no embarrassment. It's a silent exercise between you and your Almighty.
~
Just make your request to God and instill your belief and feeling that you already have what you wished for.
~
Let me know how you make out.

Friday, March 02, 2007

Onward

Both DiMatteo and I gave our resignations today. A most surprising turn of events. Destiny beckons.

Never Say Never

Christ said that if a man would have faith, he can move mountains. I used to think this was bullshit, now I know that it is rock solid. Nothing is insurmountable. Every problem can be solved by the exercise of truly trying to resolve it. And the results can be miraculous.
~
Mountains can be moved.... Instantly.... If you have the will and resolve.
~
If you want something, truly want it, you can attain it.
~
Be careful what you ask for, and have the courage to seek what you truly want.... not what you think that you deserve, or should have.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
- J. Christ
~
So... What are you waiting for?

Departed

I'm getting ready to watch "The Departed", a Martin Scorsese film based upon Whitey Bulger in South Boston.
~
I hope they don't glorify him.
~
People who think that the Sopranos or the Corleones are something to emulate have a screw loose.
~
Ultimately, those mobsters all get ruined. People who think they are cool, always forget the ending of the stories.

Imus

Don Imus of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning gets it. Plus he has an attitude. I fully expect him to promote my book soon.

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Nice Evening

Finz
Glenmorangie
Balveinie
Salem Waterfront Hotel
Jameson
~
Damn... if you overlook the myopic stupidity of those who insist on losing millions to save thousands... it's still all good.
~
I don't understand it. But I've seen it before. They declare victory.... and lose a fortune. To call them losers doesn't seem to do it justice. They are colossal, stupendous, humongous losers.
~
That's a better description.
~
Putting them in the rear view mirror.... receding fast.
~
Enough of that.

Peeps of the Week

Regardless of my vacation day, I have no choice but to get the POTW selections out for Week 9 of 2007. It's been a real interesting week... with a lot of annoying stuff, but also a a lot of inspiring stuff. Nobody gave me a bottle of Lagavulin like last week, so there will be no automatic selections. Maybe next week.

Announcing ...
The Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 9 of 2007.

Al Perkins
Sparky Spillane
Dave Bruett
Steve Garten
Ed Hudson
Natalie Jacobson

Winners/Losers All.
Ok, settle down, It's not all about you!!!
Let them have their glory/disgrace.

Vacate

Trying to take a vacation day this Thurs. and Fri. If you check your email and your voicemail while you are on vacation.... then you are not on vacation. The vacation part has to do with your mind, not where your body is located. I don't have any admiration for workaholics.
~
Despite this lofty position, I always answer my cell phone. And the good stuff keeps on coming in!!!! Man, I wish I had this streak on the BlackJack tables at Vegas.
~
It will be good when I come back from vacation.

How True


"There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You go, Johann Wolfgang!!!

Morning Outlook

Do you believe that you create your own reality? If that is the case, then this is going to be a great day... not to mention year. I'm expecting some awesome results from the reality I'm about to create.

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

GD Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of my severance from GD. As part of the terms of my relatively lucrative severance agreement, I was not supposed to say anything bad about General Dynamics, or recruit their staff, or work for some of their competitors for one year.
~
As if a multi-billion dollar defense contractor had anything to fear from me. But now the year is up.
~
I wouldn't worry if I were them. They owe me a pension and I want them to be around when I retire.

Forward Progress

Do you ever have days when everything clicks? From 8:30 this morning to 5:30 tonight, it was all good... a very powerful day.
~
You have to take the time to appreciate a good day like this. Reflect on why things went so well. I'm thinking that when you eliminate the negative environment, and start to think the positive thoughts, you get flooded with the good stuff.
~
I won't be putting up any sand bags to stop this flood.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Thanks to Eric

Eric Rumpf from the Rumpf Design Group dropped by tonight with the plans for the Sundance elevator.
~
Eric is one of the all time good guys..... a real professional with tons of talent, who is not full of himself. He has a great sense of humor and is fun to be around. If he is working for you, then good things are going to happen. I really respect him.

Choices

To the paranoid losers out there. You know who you are.
~
You'll get treated the same way that you treat others..... No better, no worse. So it's up to you if you want to get your ass kicked. I'm from Lynn....
~
Plus I'm Irish....
~
It's been said that the Irish hate to fight... until they get into a fight. Then they love it. I learned a lot at the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 10, when I was a young man. My patience is getting short.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Roman Addiction


All week you look forward to Sunday night to see the next episode of Rome on HBO. Then they show repeats!!!
~
Damn... it's still great.

Personal Improvement

I have to confess that when people tell lies, and try to manipulate me, I tend to overreact.
~
That's just the way I am. It's kind of my pet peeve. Really sets me off. Gets my Irish up.
~
I'll try to be the bigger man, and not be so damn vindictive. Common sense says that vengeance gets you nowhere.
~
It's not easy.

Triple P

I'm pretty sure that I'll look back at this day as being one of the great ones. ....
Pivotal to a Positive Position.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Whatever

Joanne is making me watch Brokeback Mountain with her. And I am definitely grossed out. She says that I have a double standard because watching Lesbians doesn't bother me.
~
OK
~
She's right.

At Rest

I found out today that the graphic that I like so much... of the peaceful Maine Matinicus Double Ender lobster boat... is the work of Christine Knight Coombs from South China, Maine, and entitled "At Rest".
~
If you found solace from that work, I highly recommend that you visit her web site.
http://chriscoombsart.com

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Opening Doors

Interesting opportunities are cropping up. Getting the calls. It's weird how one door opens when another closes, but nonetheless this theorum is valid. I wonder how long it will take before science validates the law of attraction.
~
We have already proven that the universe is composed of various combinations of atoms - all of which have different degrees of attraction to each other. We are truly one with each other and with the universe. How our thoughts and actions affect the interaction of these atoms has not been defined scientifically, but certainly philosophers and religious leaders have filled the void with perceptions of this truth.
~
My own experience tells me that the coincidences of life events are too bizarre to be left to random chance. Something guides the synchronicity of circumstances that affect us daily. Calling it God suits me. You can call it anything you like, but something is pulling the strings.
~
Time for a scotch.

Sure Cure for Stress


Feeling stressed out?
~
I highly recommend a large, pepperoni, garlic and extra cheese pizza from Vesuvius Cafe in Marblehead. Sure cures the hell out of me.
~
Course there are some side effects. Like feeling like a fat shit the next day.

Saturday

Even though Thursday has so much significance as the Nanepashemet Peep of the Week day, I have to admit that Saturday is my favorite day.
~
Sunday is good, but you always have that nagging..."What the hell do I have to do at work tomorrow?" ... feeling. I don't know about you, but that "tick, tick, tick" stopwatch sequence on the Sixty Minutes program on Sunday night always is a downer for me. It means that the fun weekend is over.
~
But Saturday is perfect. You have your Friday night blowout behind you, and a leisurely Sunday morning in front of you... and nothing but Saturday in between. Even when I work on Saturday, it's always an informal, get something done and out of the way day.
~
There's always a chance that Joanne and I will get to see some of the kids on Saturday.
~
Saturday is the best bet to catch some work on the Tender.
~
I usually fish in the summer on Saturday.
~
Saturday night is the best night to have dinner and hang with your friends.
~
It's Saturday. Rock on.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

PEEPS - week 8 - 2007

Today was particularly stressful. While I don't believe in Black and White, today the shades of grey were excessively dark.

Truth is relative, but you cross the line when you get to half truths. My problem is that I am just too nice of a guy..... then people get caught off guard when they see what a crazy prick I can be. I should be more of a prick all of the time to lessen the shock.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week

Tom DiMatteo (automatic Lagavulin rule)
Jennifer the Atlanta Delta passenger
Rose Nyguen
Eric Johnson
the Puerto Rican Porsche Driver
Bill Hillegas

Screw it. I can't shake the Mr. Sunshine image overnight.

Fortitude

Between San Juan and Atlanta, we had some very revealing meetings with the carriers for Darwin. The projects we are pursuing take a good deal of incubation before they hatch, but Eric Johnson and Jay Ohanian are definitely up for the task. Not everybody has the intestinal fortitude, patience and insight to make money in this industry and market.
~
Today is POTW day. Those unfortunate/lucky individuals will have their glory/disgrace by 8:00PM this evening. Have a nice day.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Panera Bread

In Atlanta with Jay Ohanian at a Panera Bread accessing the net for free. This chain could be my office away from home. Good food, healthy selections, free internet... a good find.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Lapse

Sorry for the lapse in posts. I had to go to Puerto Rico Sunday morning for two business meetings and got home at 3:00 AM this morning after a huge screw up where the connecting flight crew didn't show up in Charlotte, delaying a 9:00 PM departure to 12:00 midnight. Plus, there was never an opportunity to log on. I know this is boring and of no interest to you, but it must be entered for the record.
~
After all, this blog is destined to be a side bar in the Akashic Records of man's existence on earth.
~
As for this blog getting sluggish, I agree. There actually are some extremely exciting and stressful things going on which I can't reveal at this time for a number of confidential reasons. Hang in there, things will pick up when the coast is clear.... probably in the next few days.
~
BTW, Puerto Rico on business is the pits! I'm sure that if you are on the tourist trail, you can find nice places, but the Marriott Courtyard in downtown San Juan is as painful as anywhere, and the area creeps you out with the bars on all the windows and barbed wire in great abundance. I get a kick out of Joanne who was semi-disappointed that I didn't take her.
~
I took out some frustration by trying to race a Porsche with my rented Nissan Altima. The guy didn't even realize that I was trying to make the challenge.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Dinner Party

Had a nice visit with the DiMatteo's tonight. Joanne did her magic in the kitchen and created an unbelieveable pasta with lemon, asparagus and red peppers - along with her usual superb pork loin roast. Tom and Laurel are great company.
~
Tom also brought me a bottle of Lagavulin... you know what that means! He is the first automatic Peep of the Week for 2007.

Tax Time

Time for our government to keep the money that they've taken from you all year, and ask for more. Strike that.... Take more.
~
It's enough to make you lose your sense of humor.
~
Regardless.... the latest undetectable by radar fighter jet that the Air Force is developing costs $28M each... and we are making over 300 0f them.
~
It costs money to kick the shit out of anything that enters our air space.
~
So let's pony up. It's tax time.

Rejection

After about two months of correspondence, I was rejected by the last two book agents that I was dealing with. What's up with that? Don't they realize the huge opportunity that they have passed up? Not to mention the money, prestige and honor???
~
Obviously fate has picked another as yet unknown agent to represent the "Nanepashemet Boatbuilding" book. I'm sure that the worthy agent will appear as soon as I conduct the next email blitz.
~
All of the book publishing pundits say to expect a lot of rejection, but this book has too much to give to humanity to go unpublished for long.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Loss Update

5 lbs. in two weeks. At this rate, I'll be at my desired weight in 20 weeks. That's four months.... July!!!
~
They'll be some awesome topless cookouts this summer.
~
Now I have to figure out what to do with the hair on my back.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Thursday POTW

Once again.... the burden of responsibility. Peeps of the Week must be chosen despite the cold and icy weather. After all, it's Thursday. The burden cannot be taken lightly.
~
Let's see...
~
Who was inspiring? Who was annoying? Who deserves the ultimate honor and/or embarrassment?

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the seventh week of 2007
  • Dave Fortier
  • Magnus Ojert
  • Jill Peabody
  • Thomas Peabody
  • Mike Lane
  • Emily Engardia
Now let's move on.

Oracle

I've never seen a robin in the snow, in Feb.... until today. Seemed weird. Lately I've been seeing birds in places that don't seem right - the Mallard in the woodland brook, and the robin.
~
If I was an ancient Greek, I'd probably consult the oracle at Delphi to see what these omens were about.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Law of Attraction

It's not bullshit. More to Follow.

One More and We'll All Leave Together

"I love Scotch. Scotchy, Scotchy, Scotch." - Will Ferrell

Happy Valentine's Day

Nice pictures of the Peabody Twins and beautiful Pheobe Piscatelli made it to us in time for Valentine's Day. There is hope for humanity.
~
They will be contemporaries for the Nestor boy who is supposed to make an appearance in June.

A Beautiful Heads Up.

And while we're on the subject of cool peeps, Brian Butler tells me that there is a liquor store in Peabody that sells Lagavulin for under $60.00 per bottle.
~
Knucks to Brian.

Old Age

Hryhory Nestor, at 115, living in the Ukraine is believed to be the oldest living human in the world.
~
No relation.

Snow Day

We live in New England. Ice and Snow is not a phenomenon.
~
So why does the TV news coverage treat a snow day as a major reporting event? On Boston Channel 5, WCVB, reporter Shiba Russell is demonstrating how to scrape your windshield.
~
Give me a break! If you can't think of any news, put some music on or something.... Don't treat the New England audience like they were born yesterday.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Business Confidential


There is a ton going on now, but most of it can't be let out because of business confidentiality. Maybe I'll disclose some of it in the book, when the heat is off. Probably not
~
BTW, when the book is published, the loyal Nanepashemet Peeps will get complimentary signed copies. I know who you are.

A True Professional

Have I mentioned to you lately what a great mortgage broker Steve Lewis is?
~
Well, he is freaking awesome, and a tremendous asset to VIP Mortgage. Thanks Steve. It takes a lot for the Crusher to be so impressed.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Raiders of the Northeast Kingdom


The quiet and tranquility of Vermont was grossly disturbed by these unabashed thrillseekers this weekend. While I was silently gliding in North Conway on my XC Skis, Katelyn, Jay, Stacy and Brian were adding carbon dioxide to our overburdened environment while screaming along in their God forsaken snowmobiles.
~
Looks like they had fun.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Chinese Food for Thought

It's always interesting to see where the hits to this blog come from. Of course, there are the loyal Peeps who show up regularly, and if if wasn't for their involvement, I probably wouldn't be posting on this hideous site every day.
~
But curiously, a great deal of the international hits come from China. Not sure why this is.

Almost There

I've got a feeling about this week. Something is going to pop. Lots of wheels have been turning on a big, complex machine for some time now.
~
Hopefully, it will crank out a product that helps everyone. A win-win machine producing the greatest good for all concerned.
~

A Nice Resource

The woods in North Conway have great groomed trails, and I can ski right from NorthBrook.
~
Saw two small red squirrels, a chickadee and a mallard duck. I was pretty surprized to see the duck in the middle of the woods in a stream. Don't ducks fly south for the winter?
~
This one didn't.
~
The trails had about three inches of snow that was packed and grandular - no ice. Good conditions. It would be nice to get a couple more days like this in before the season ends. I'm not optimistic. Taxes and Sundance have to get done first.

Steamy and Scary

Would you get into a hot tub with this guy?
~
Me Neither.
~
Then there was the issue of having a deadly icicle thrust at us while we were innocently sitting on the couch.


~
We were looking for a quiet evening, but then were forced to fend off these challenges!
~
Other than that, we had a great time with Lynda and Will Murray at their condo in No. Conway

Friday, February 09, 2007

Weather Report

Really cold... the longest cold snap that I can remember... and no snow. Meanwhile, Al Gore and the Virgin Airlines guy are beating the global warming drum. A weird winter.
~
BTW, you know the commercials about skiing at Wachusett Mountain with the fortyish two brothers and sister? Do they irritate you? Me too. WA WA Chusett. I will never ski there.
~
This is the last weekend that I can kick back. With taxes and Sundance revving up, as well as a host of other ventures, there won't be anymore leisurely weekends until the spring. So, I'm going to get some XC skiing in up in No. Conway, do some serious couch potating, and gather strength for a big push.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Under Full Sail


Seems like a fair wind was blowing today.
~
Lots of stuff falling in place. Sometimes when you listen to the voice in your head - your random thought - and follow it without judgement, things naturally seem to come together.
~
I know this sounds New Age, but today it eerily had some relevance. I'll utimately disclose a lot of the details behind this stuff in my book, but I have to be discreet for the time being...

Week 6 - Peep of the Week

This was an easy week for POTW Selections. It was pretty obvious who should get the nod for a host of unambiguous reasons. Regardless.... that doesn't lessen the prestige or disgrace that a selection brings to a chosen Peep of the Week.

These peeps have the right to be proud, or embarrassed as the case my be.

Announcing.....
The Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the sixth week of 2007.
  • Ben Martin
  • Brian Butler
  • Drew Jellison
  • Steve Lewis
  • Tommy Kallopoulos
  • Lynda Murray
That felt good. Now back to more of the mundane and insignificant daily grind.

Thursday Again

That means that by the end of the day, there will be POTW thrills and disappointments.
~
Who knew that Thursday could be such an important weekday???

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

KMA

I'm asking you nicely.... Please stop emailing me on a constant basis asking me how much weight I've lost. I don't think that I deserve having my mailbox clogged with hundreds of emails a day requesting that I divulge such private information.
~
Just to stop the hysteria.... I've only lost 2.5 lbs. in the first week of my healthly lifestyle binge.
~
This is a high achievement given the mountain of stress that the universe has steamrolled down on me last week. Usually, I resort to a double cheese, double pepperoni from Vesuvius, or a kettle of Macaroni and cheese when confronted with too many of life's challenges at the same time.
~
Bring it on. Give me your best shot. Regardless of the crap ahead, I'm going to be one buff son of a bitch by March 21.

Home of the Brave

You had better be damn brave with the IRS and their power to assess charges in view of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Home of the Brave, but land of the free is a stretch.
~
Don't tell me that freedom isn't free. We're outlaying our economic privacy to a ruthless, faceless bureaucratic agency who holds us guilty until proven innocent.
~
So.... How is your day going?

Monday, February 05, 2007

Better Late Than Never.

I saw a couple of these Catbirds in my driveway last summer. and just identified them now. Never forget a face.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

House Pets

We had a nice dinner last night at the Barnicle with Jay and Kate, who came to Marblehead with their dog, Jack.
~
Jack Dog, the Pug, was excited to be here and kept running around the house, creating a mountain of concern from Isabelle and Ronick. The cats emanated a little hissing, but thankfully no domestic pet violence.
~
Izzy and Ronick both slept with us together last night though. I can't remember the last time that they were both on the bed at the same time, for any continuous period. Jack Dog deserves the Nobel Peace Prize if he can bring those two together.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Rome Again

The HBO series, Rome, is back with season two. This show alone is enough to subscribe to HBO. We can never truly know, but it seems to depict a realistic version of how life might have been in Italy at the time or Julius and Augustus Caesar. The story of Caesar motivated Shakespeare and remains today as the highest form of drama.
~
Well done with acting and sets, down to the colors of the buildings and the extensive graphic graffiti on the walls.
~
One thing that is perplexing though.... Why is it that the film industry always represents Romans speaking with English accents?

Friday, February 02, 2007

Superbowl Sunday

An unofficial holiday in the United States. With the Patriots not in it, you have to root for the Colts. Manning deserves it. Plus the Patriots annihilated the Bears in the regular season. Sarah Crawford invited us over because it is Chris' birthday.
~
No offense to anyone, but I had plans to stay at home and eat Buffalo wings with Joanne. Lay low and stay out of trouble.

Wardrobe Threat

By the way, I'm kicking ass with my weight loss program. 2 1/2 lbs lost since Tues. Course I haven't really eaten much except for when Ryan and Courtney came over, and even then.... no carbs. Plus I've been working out semi hard on the Cybex stationary bike. Joanne cleaned out Mike's room since he moved to DC, and she moved the Bike there.
~
The last time that I had a significant weight loss, I got off of the carbs, but never really stopped having a beer or two at night, and certainly didn't get a daily exercise burn in. That time I lost 20 lbs in about a month.
~
This time, it's diet, exercise, no weekday evening beverages, and probably a lot more business stress. The deadline is March 21. Plus I have the Peeps to cheer me on this time. Can't miss.
~
Hopefully my clothes will still fit, but it would be a pleasure to buy smaller sizes. I do have some really cool clothes though.

Metz a Metz

One of those days. Got a lot done, but didn't feel good doing some of it.
~
I can't really explain without compromising business confidentiality.
~
On the good side, I settled the Sundance Elevator order, finalized the handicapped Bathroom issues and bought some real nice entry doors that will open to the outside per the wishes of the Marblehead Building Dept. These were special order doors that I got at a real nice price from the Peabody Building Products Outlet. A great referral from Sparky and Mike Rockett. Paid some bills that were due. Always a good feeling when you have the funds.
~
I also had a nice conversation about China with a guy whose name I cannot reveal.
~
Some really unpleasant shit happened that I can't tell you about. Business is Business. Some things never change.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Week 5 - 2007 Peeps of the Week

Another Thursday. POTW Day.

The elevator issue at Sundance definitely has me frazzled.... because it is going to make me broke. Plus, the Cingular capital freeze is a downer. Two money issues that have been playing havoc with my nervous system. Experience tells me that this too shall pass. But that simple phrase doesn't loosen the knot in my stomach.

At least I can turn to the weekly POTW selection process for solace and consolation.

So....
Announcing the Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 5 or 2007.

  • Sarah Jane Freymann
  • Dr. Louis Casale
  • The Salesguy at Joe Jones who sold me the XC Skis
  • Jan Cyr
  • Mike Chandler
  • Ben PC Wong
Now back to the hand wringing.