Bridge Phobia

That bridge collapse in Minneapolis is creepy.
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I never conceptualize when I get on a bridge that it may fall down while I'm on it. There are so many things to be afraid of in life.... I hate to add this to the list.

A Tough Day

I spent the day, trying to get stuff done and make a living, but I kept getting distracted by these pesky views.
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It's hard enough dragging yourself through these boring assignments.... now I'm being forced to be surrounded by the incredibly beautiful scenery of the Maine DownEast coastline.
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From the Town of Lubec, the easternmost point in the US on the Nova Scotia border, to Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island, it was just another boring workday for Nanepashemet Telecom.
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BTW - Take the time to visit Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. I had never been and it is spectacular. Definitely worth the 4+ hour drive from Boston.

DownEast

Headed to Maine.
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Don't worry.... I can get on line in Ellsworth near the Acadia National Seashore, so no need to panic. You'll get your Blog fix.
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I won't let you down.

Only Human

Peeps....
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You're starting to make me nervous.
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This Blog is not religious dogma, it is not from the United States Code of Federal Regulations, it is not a tablet from Mount Sinai.... it is only the Nanepashemet Blog.
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That means it is the ramblings of a middle aged, slightly overweight, Irish American white guy who has been known to be loud and obnoxious in public and doesn't dress particularly well.
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Sure, I'm rough, tough, hard to bluff and damn good looking, but that is beside the point.
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Even with my wireless, tech savvy PMP professional status, and my expertise in cedar strip boatbuilding.... I'm just a man who is not that much better that you.
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So.... please do not send me anymore money in the mail and stop emailing me with your anguished pleas for advice with your personal and professional life. (I will, however, continue to accept bottles of Lagavulin with appropriate gratitude.)
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There is only so much responsibility that I can bear in trying to eliminate evil from this earthly dimension.
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I'm trying the best that I can, but you really have to try and learn to get along without my intercession.

Fast Week

I have to cram a lot of administrative details, plus a couple of Rockett meetings into the next day and 1/2 before I leave for the Maine Coast Guard surveys on Tuesday afternoon.

When I return on Friday night, Mike will be home from DC and Kate will be in Marblehead on Saturday. Should be a fast week and a great weekend. July is already over.

Striped Bass Anyway

So I resolve that I'm going to stick to Bluefishing, and what do we catch????
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A nice stripped bass for Tom O'Shea's 49th birthday.
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It is the only striper that was ever caught on my boat while trolling in Bluefish Alley
behind Baker's and near the Breakers.

Go figure.

More Deck

Not a newsworthy day. Nothing of note nationally or internationally as of this morning. Nothing crazy, irrational, or shocking.
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So I guess I'll have to tell you more about my deck project.
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The rain yesterday was a setback, but I plan to glue the rest of the oak accent blocks, go bluefishing, then cut and shape the railing before it is Dark and Stormy time at 5:00PM. There will be pictures to follow.
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I'm feeling lucky.

Contingency

Now its pouring outside. A thunderstorm cell is passing though and wreaking havoc with the deck railing project schedule. As a professional project manager, I know that contingencies must be part of the plan.... but my plan is screwed.

Off Schedule

The West System Epoxy Resin at West Marine, Marblehead, was $94 per gallon, but they didn't have any West 207 Clear Coating Hardener, so I went to Nautical Traders on Bridge Street in Salem to see if they had any.
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Glad I did.
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The resin at Nautical Traders was $74 a gallon and the harderer was 10% cheaper too. But they didn't have the 207 clear. The nice lady there said that she would order it and it would be in by Tuesday, which I agreed to, but I won't be back in town until Saturday, so she said she would put it aside.
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From now on, I'm a Nautical Traders customer for all of my epoxy needs.
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I'll get everything done on the cap so that the finishing can start next weekend. So the schedule is off.

Time for Action

It's 8:15 on Saturday morning.
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I've just finished the three hard boiled eggs that Joanne made for me and had a cup of coffee. I haven't taken my blood pressure pill, aspirin and fish oil capsule yet though.
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I guess it's time to start the deck cap schedule.
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Obviously, I'm stalling, but pretty soon, this lazy lethargy will lift and I will be in a dervish of productive project activity.
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Any time now.....

Time Crunch

August is coming quickly. Mike is due back from DC a week from today.
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I had hoped to have made a dent in the deck and basement tile projects by the time he came back. The deck cap has a chance to be finished, but it looks like I have to hit the road from Tues to Fri. next week, driving up the Maine coast all the way to the Nova Scotia border to survey Coast Guard tower sites.
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That tightens up the deck cap schedule.

Saturday Morning

• Jigsaw Cut curves in mahogany cap.
• Epoxy glue oak bottom backing to mahogany top.
• Go Fishing while epoxy cures
  

Saturday Afternoon

• Fair Edges and top with belt sander
• Rout channel for oak accent strip
• Cut and epoxy accent Strip
• 1st Coat Epoxy coating
  

Sunday Morning

• 2nd Coat Epoxy

Monday Morning

• 1st Coat Marine Varnish

Tuesday Morning

• 2nd Coat Marine Varnish
• Leave for Maine
  

3rd Coat Marine Varnish when I return at the end of the week

That's the best I can do.

I still have to fabricate the deck stair railing.

Sore Losers

Lots of fallout on the Peep Logo selection. A real Donnybrooke. Bitter feelings and Harsh words.
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Bobby Brown in particular has been a bit of a sore loser.
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Bob, you came this close.... at least that's Vice President Chaney's opinion....but, your logo just wasn't as good as Emily's.
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Take it like a man. Your threats have no effect upon me.


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Although.... a bottle of Lagavulin just might be enough for a reconsideration.

Corporate Jets

A day of interesting meetings.... for financing, architectural design, and permitting. In between, we set up some communication and management processes for the upcoming General Dynamics Coast Guard work. I like to be busy, but it is starting to take a good deal of time management.
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Looks like a bank is interested in tying into the cash flow requirements of Nanepashemet Telecom. I've tried to keep things small, but it looks like the company is busting out, and we might as well share the wealth. Even bankers have to eat.
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We'll be putting together a formal business plan, which I have avoided, but it is inevitable. As I described the business to the bank, even I wanted to invest in it, and I already own it!
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There is a compelling story when you look at our potential customers, our industry contacts, professional knowledge and the fact that we have already done this before.... highly successfully for the General Dynamics Wireless business area. That effort bought our boss, Mike Chandler, a Gulf Stream Corporate Jet, and decent bonuses for us.
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We won't be buying a jet, but everything else is a go.

Week 30 - Peeps of the Week

It's official.
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The Nanepashemet POTW logo is established for the ages.
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I suppose that I should give some credit to Emily Ingardia, even though there is a cloud of suspicion regarding the source of this submittal. I really don't care. Emily had the fortitude to propose the best, regardless of where she stole it from.
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So Emily is the winner, basking in the sultry glory of her victory. She gets a ride in the Tender on Marblehead Harbor over the holidays, and fifteen minutes alone with Roenick the Cat.
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I know these prizes seem too generous, but to the victor goes the spoils.
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Now.... to the all important business at hand.

Announcing
The Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 30th week of 2007

• Lou Tarmy
• Will Murray
• Linda O'Shea
• Lindsay Lohan
• Jack Attridge
• Jack Barry

Now that the POTW has a logo, the honor/disgrace is even more intense. That's progress.

Take Care

That brutal home invasion crime in Cheshire, Ct. reminds us that we still have to live defensively. Our ancestors were wary constantly of the threat of wild beasts or vandal attacks. In our "civilized" society, we have let our guard down.
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Be careful.

Anticipation for POTW

Today is a special day for Katelyn Nestor and Roenick the Cat.
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They can't wait for the Peep of the Week Selections this evening.
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I think that Katelyn is more enthusiastic than Roenick.
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The lovely Emily still has the logo contest lead.... even after well over a thousand submittals. There is still time to overtake her, but it will be tough.

Phase Transition

We are rapidly transitioning from the business development phase to the implementation phase at Nanepashemet Telecom. Hopefully this will lead to the making a lot of money phase. That's the phase I'm looking forward to.

I'm thinking that the making a lot of money phase is comprised of excellent quality, service beyond expectations, and high customer satisfaction. Should be no problem.

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BTW, that is not me at the top of the State of New Hampshire Liquor Commission Rohn Tower. It's a guy that we hired. I may be nuts, but I'm not crazy.

Logo Contest Update

This logo, submitted by Emily Ingardia of Lake Tahoe, is clearly the lead of the Peep of the Week logo contest.
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Pristine, don't you think?
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I still have to sort though about nine hundred and fifty additional submittals, but this will be hard to beat.
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Tomorrow, I will have to bite the bullet and make a choice. Whining and complaining by the losers will have no effect.

Physical Evidence

We installed the Broadband equipment today at the New Hampshire State Liquor Commission in two Concord, NH sites.
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I have to say, I was impressed with my partners, and their ability to work hard in a physical situation. I had seen them in office and business development situations, but never in a scenario where they were required to exert themselves into an uncomfortable physical condition, In other words....work up a sweat.
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We also tied into a great Tower Climbing tech firm which will substantially enhance our productivity and service offerings to the wireless industry.

I have pictures, but I'm just too bushed to download them right now.

Hatching

Today was supposed to be a slow day, with only one appointment in the morning, but I was out straight all day. Planning for the New Hampshire installation, handling some real estate transaction issues, setting up a PMO for a construction company, talking to a bank for business finance, were only a few of the things that filled up the hours quick.
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I have a feeling that it is going to get a lot worse as the projects that we have been incubating start to hatch.