Monday, March 31, 2008

Serious Training

I'm starting to feel a big bout of seriousness kicking in.
~
With one week of cycling left, we're preparing the area in the basement for the treadmill to be set up. Plus I ate right today.... no MacDonald's or Pasta. It will be 5 weeks on the treadmill before I even take one stride on the payment sometime in May.
~
Today I went 17.3 miles on the Cybex in 50 Minutes.
~
I've detected a bit of doubt on the part of the Peeps who ask me how the marathon training is going. I little bit of old fashioned, eye rolling, sarcasm. That's because they see my voluminous bulk and don't realize that I am gradually progressing on a carefully prepared program that will peak on October 26, 2008.
~
This is not for the faint of heart seeking instant gratification. And it's no beauty contest.... that's for sure.
~
Hope Bobby Brown and the Insidious Wojcik have a great time in Vegas. I seem to remember some fast times and heavy drinking at those Wireless Conventions. Too bad they are in training for the Marine Corps Marathon and will miss out on all the late night entertainment, boozing and fancy dinners. Too bad...

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Staying on Plan

One more week of training on the Cybex bike and then I move to the treadmill phase of low impact running. I'm continuing to stay on the plan despite taunting by Bobby Brown and the Insidious Wojcik who say that running a marathon has nothing to do with a Bike.
~
Big talk from the young up-and-comers.
~
I know what I'm doing, and a little smack or trash talk from the likes of those future has-beens doesn't bother me at all. Their March brashness will deteriorate to anquished cries of defeat in October. A little patience is all that is required.

Toy Chest Advice Corner

Lauren Rathbone said....

See if you can make a toychest, that does not let the top come slamming down when it is open. Ethan has a antique toy chest and when he opens it the top rarely stays up, and he has been hit so many times. Now he does not go near the thing. It is very nice, real wood, but a accident waiting to happen. Any advice??
~
I do have advice for Lauren.
~
First. Thank the Lord that Ethan is obviously bright and doesn't continue to get slammed by the toy chest lid over and over again.
~
Second. There are mechanical hinges at Rockler Hardware in Danvers that prevent lids from coming forcefully down. I haven't decided if I'm going to use one of these for Will's chest. There ought to be a way to construct some type of wooden stop like they use in cheap auto hoods.
~
Third. As soon as possible, teach Ethan how to play video games so he's glued to the TV set and avoids the dangerous toy chest altogether.

Tuna Lips said...

Small taters there, missy, but your concern is a mammy's one and I tip my doff to yous. Catchin' his Willy Wonka in his zipper, when that goes down, yer boy is gonna knows pain. Aint nothin' in the hardware store fer that one.

Motor Well

This is an example of the Marblehead Gunning Dory with an outboard engine in the motor well.
~
I was talking to Mark Ryan of Ryan Marine the other day, and asked him to quote a price on an 8HP Honda Four Stroke.
~
It seems like you could get them around the web for less than $2K. Let's see what Mark comes back with.
~
I would still equip the Dory with Piandetosi Sliding Seat Rowing Rigs.... the motor would be used to get out to the fishing grounds quickly and trolling. No waterskiing or wake boarding.
~
You have to admit... it's going to be the coolest thing in Marblehead Harbor.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Macaroni Regret

Just made the obligatory weekend kettle of macaroni and cheese.
~
Sorry.
~
I'm just so freaking weak.

Weekend Wonder

It's a crystal clear Saturday, but only in the thirties. You want to be out in the yard and the garage, but it's just not comfortable enough. This would have been a good weekend to head up north and catch the last of the XC ski season, but no.... Joanne has a chance to babysit grandson, Will, and that takes freaking precedence over everything.
~
She's even started to nag me about the toy chest that I said I would build for Will's birthday in June.
~
Maybe I'll brave the cold in the garage and pick out the stock for the chest. I have some 3/4" oak and mahoghany, and the contrasting colors of those two woods can accent the piece nicely.
~
And I have some serious weekend work to do for Nanepashemet Telecom invoicing.
~
When we get the first warm weekend, I have to get the power washer out and hit the deck and the Tender. The Tender needs a resanding and another coat of varnish, then I'll launch it for a spring row and test the battery operated fish finder.
~
Plus I have to get some serious miles in on the Cybex Bike for my preliminary Marine Corps Marathon training. The insidious Wojcik and my Archrival Collins have sent emails this week gloating in their training progress. Granted.... they're ahead of me.... but I have time and deep inner strength on my side.
~
I'm starting to overload.

Friday, March 28, 2008

Johnsons

We had a nice visit tonight with Dale/Buck and his wife Gail. It was an inpromptu dinner party that Joanne expertly put together at the last minute.
~
Naturally, there was a pulchritude of ribald speech and off color remarks.
~
What else would you expect?

Thursday, March 27, 2008

POTW - Week 13 - 2008

Thursdays roll by fast, don't they?
~
Before you know it, you're confronted with the insidious, yet awesome and always ridiculous process of selecting the Peeps of the Week.
~
Contrary to popular belief, the process does not drain me of all my energy.... I'd be up for anything if only I had the opportunity.
~
It does seem to decay my mental abilities though.... this post is testament to that.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 13 of 2008
  • Stacy Butler
  • Bob Cronin
  • John Williamson
  • Mike Sullivan
  • Jill Phillips
  • Bobby Brown

BTW, is it me or has Tuna Lips seemed a bit over the top lately? If I'm decadent, I can't imagine the machinations of that putrid pocket of perverted pulsation.

Tuna Lips said...

Slow up son. I calls it likes I sees it. Plain talk for simple folk like yerself, 'ceptin you want to take on airs around ole TL, now doesnt ya? Better than the workaday feller, with your fancy sippin' whiskey and name droppin', philosifizing and never takin' a stand for nothin', oh Dummy Lama of the Church of the Universe.

Its natcherall fer youse to get all ascared of some of the thoughts I am bring to the public; what is uncalled fer is yer defamating my appelation, accusin' me of purient cogitations that are only so when poisoned by yer less than accepting world view. Closed minded, thass what you is. Yet you are the grand wizard of the universal church of whatever gets you through the night. Please indeedy.

Hear me, and heed my words. There is a man comin' round for takin' names, and he will decide who to free and who to blame. You best get right with that, Free Bird. One quick way is to send a tithe of your earnings to: The One True TL, P.O. Box 141, Murfreesburo, TN.

Cash is preferred.

Concierge

When God closes one door, he opens another.
~
I'm pretty sure that quote never came from the Bible, and I have nobody to attribute it to, but it seems to have a decent amount of veracity.
~
Seems like a revolving door these days though. Lots of closing and opening.

Insatiable

I know.
~
I missed a whole day without a post on the blog. Actually, that's not true because I posted my workout result (14 mi. on the Cybex bike).
~
Do you want me to post something when I have nothing to say???? Like this freaking post for instance????
~
You Peeps are insatiable.

Tuna Lips said...

Son, seems to me you post plenty od drivel, having nothin' to say, but barkin' like a bluetick at the moon anyways. Its white noise, I often use it to put myself to sleep at night, or to ease my IBS. Ise come to relies on it, like a fat bastard rely on twinkies, to get me through the day.

On another front, I still contend that Marilyn Chambers was robbed of a richly deserved statue award for her role in "Insatiable". Being the film officiador that I is.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Blarney from Collins

So now we get a marathon training report from my Archrival Joe Collins.

I'll be doing my talking from the streets of DC

Collins Said....

It is with pride, sweat, and inspiration that I file this workout progress NMM (Napashement Marine Marathon) report ! BTW - the inspiration came from seeing the 17 and 21 mile workouts on the Blog !!

Today's achiemement, besides watching a great opening day - as my first "marathon" ! Biked 26 miles 285 yds ! !

Please - do not hurt yourself trying to keep up with my regimen !

Since last report:

  • date workout situps
  • 3/17 11.2 mi bike 100 s wts jr
  • 3/18 10 bike wts
  • 3/20 elliptical 80
  • 3/21 3 mi walk/run 75
  • 3/22 golf - walked 18 holes ! ! ;)
  • 3/23 14.1 bike jr
  • 3/24 13.5 bike 80 jr
  • 3/25 MARATHON 80 jr

Semper Fi


Paaleeezz.....

More from Brown

Bob Brown is suddenly getting introspective as middle age creeps up on him. Witness these vignettes that he recently circulated.
~

When in
England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example
of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return.

It became very quiet in the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international
engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a
break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have
you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft
carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended
to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are
nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore
facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000
people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of
fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen
helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from
their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France
have?'

Once again, dead silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S. English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.

At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was
chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French
admiral suddenly complained, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages,
Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it we always have
to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have
to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop

Tuna Lips said...

Sounds like this Brown feller has hitched his wagon to the straight talk express.

Coulda waited a little stretch he starts wavin' his flag, I tells ya. Middle aged and still acting like a tenderfoot. Jesephiah Blazes, will theys ever learn. Likely couldn't even get hisself laid in a monkey whorehouse with a buncha bananas.

Wait fer the free lunch.

Thems is some fantastic tales about French generals. Oooooh, I am impressed.

Now hows about a tale about drunken French whores walking the streets of gay Paree? Jephimany Grottlesex, is anyone awake at the switch?1




Monday, March 24, 2008

Peep Magnet


Bob Brown, that Mountain of a Man, has a tender side to him.

Day Off

I didn't work out today.... on purpose. That's such a radical departure from the old me... when it was the exception to work out.
~
But I cycled 37 miles on the Cybex this weekend and decided to take a day to recover. Two more weeks on the Cybex, then I tune up the Nordic Trak Treadmill for five weeks of low impact running.
~
It's my fantasy to break 3 hrs. 45 min. and qualify in the Marine Corps Marathon for next year's Boston Marathon. All without breaking a sweat on the asphault yet.
~
Yup, that's my fantasy all right.

Ups and Downs

I haven't mentioned it but Isabelle our cat is not doing so well. She has become very weak and shaky and can't go up the stairs.... only down.
~
And for some reason, she insists on going down into the basement, then cries until someone (i.e. Me) goes down and carries her up the stairs.
~
It's sad when your pets get old, their life expectancy is so much shorter than ours, and they become so much of your life.
~
So today, the first half warm sunny day in a while, Joanne let Izzy out on the deck for awhile, and naturally she wandered off. I failed to mention that she is deaf as well, and can't hear anybody calling her.
~
When we couldn't find her for a couple of hours, I had all sorts of fantasies, like she got scooped up by the Red Tailed Hawk that was on Tommy O Shea's front lawn and other panicky stuff like that. It was pretty depressing.
~
Then she showed up at the basement door. I was relieved and happy.
~
It got me thinking. Do we need to be depressed and unhappy in order to feel joy and happiness? Now I'm depressed again.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Easter Visits

Tommy O, Linda, Kelsey, Kate
Katelyn Nestor, Jack Dog
Ryan, Courtney, Will
Mike, Katelyn
Joe LeBlanc, Susan
Jim Peabody, Kathy, Andrew
Ben Martin

Pretty Good Easter Roster dropped by for the holiday celebration.

Gerry


It's too bad that most know of Elbridge Gerry of Marblehead as the inventor of Gerrymandering.
~
He was a patriotic signer of the Declaration of Independence and refused to sign the Constitution because it did not contain a Bill of rights.
~
He was also the fifth Vice President of the United States, serving under James Madison.
~
Plus the Gerry 5 Club in Marblehead, of which I am a dues paying member and is by far the best local watering hole, is named after him.

Easter Thoughts

Happy Easter.
~
This is the holiday that defined Christianity. Regardless, of the sermons, and the miracles.... rising from the dead was the pièce de résistance.
~
Over the past 2000 years or so, the Catholic Church has manipulated and brutalized the teachings of Christ and his followers. The Church used to burn at the stake anyone who disagreed with its self serving interpretation that one could only attain salvation through the Church.
~
Growing up Irish-Catholic, I was ingrained with this doctrine, and it wasn't until college when its illogical nature and my widening thought patterns collided. Since then, my theology has embraced a host of concepts to the point that I'm probably defined as Neo-Pagan by now.
~
I believe in a higher power and an infinite soul, and the harmony of nature. Christ and probably others were more closely aligned with the higher power, and sought to guide others. I have no doubt in his resurrection from the dead. Although we all have a spark of divine higher power, Jesus was more attuned, and I regularly pray to him for his help and intercession.
~
This makes more sense to me, than the heaven and hell, social control constructs that the Catholic Church espouses. Every time they hit a logical dead end, you are instructed to believe it as a mystery of faith.
~
So I have evolved to a belief that says that a divine higher power of which we are all a part has set in motion the harmony of the universe, and we should aspire to act in tune with this harmony for the welfare of our eternal soul.
~
But when I was on a commercial airflight a couple of years ago, that was experiencing violent turbulence, and seemed to be falling out of the sky, my Catholicism returned big time - I remembered the "Act of Contrition" word for word, just as the Nuns drilled it into me, and repeated it about a hundred times.
~
So Happy Easter. I hope you got a basket with a hollow chocolate bunny this morning.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

OK

The March to the Marine Corps Marathon is gathering steam. Mike Nestor has almost deliberated enough to make a decision and Tom McMahon says that Will Crawford is thinking about it.
~
This is not the groundswell of participation that I anticipated. Maybe when the warm weather hits, we'll see appropriate enthusiasm of this notable endeavor.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Good Feeling

It's been quite a while since I was really psyched on a Friday night because of the upcoming weekend. Usually there is a bit of anxiety because of the work obligations that are left outstanding.
~
Contrary to popular belief, I don't finish my work everyday. It's not that I screw off, which is hardly ever, but the amount of work seems to exceed the hours in the day.... every day.
~
And it always piles up to the end of the week. Mentally, I always resolve to take care of some of it over the weekend, and in reality, this often happens. But this weekend, I just don't have the angst... even though there are some swinging loose ends.
~
I don't even feel guilty.
~
It probably has something to do with the good weather report.... sunny in the balmy 40's.
~
So I'll get out in the driveway, and maybe even rev up the Dory project a little bit. Joanne wants to take Mike and Kate to the BYC on Saturday, and then Ryan and Courtney will be bringing Will over on Easter Sunday.
~
By Monday, the anxiety can resume.