Dory Return

Thinking about the Gunning Dory. We're getting closer to putting this project on the front burner.

Mahogany Base

Spent a long time this weekend getting the hang of the Grizzly Tenon Tablesaw Jig and the Jet Mortising machine.
~
With the help of my radial arm saw and band saw, I fabricated these legs and bases out of mahogany for Mike's coffee table.
~
The base is coming out so good that the fir slab top is starting to look a bit unsuitable.
~
I'm going to finish it anyway, and if Mike doesn't like it, I'll make a different top to fit the base.


Bob Villa said...
It looks like Samson should be chained between those two pillars. Let my people go, Pharoah!

Character Test

The test of character is made when things are not going well.... when the unexpected happens.... when unpleasant and hurtful events predominate.
~
Anybody can express their loyalty and love when all is smooth sailing. But when the weather gets ugly, and the ship starts to toss and turn and take on water.... that is when those with the real strength of character shine through.
~
Those who pass the test show a selfless sense of compassion and support, that intensifies as the going gets tougher. They resolve to find ways to remedy the situation.
~
Those who fail concentrate on the unfortunate events solely by their fear of the effects on them. They search for blame and wallow in self pity.
~
You can almost predict who will pass the test, and who will fail. Even though you hope for the best, sometimes the facts that have always been obvious prove to be right.
~
Too bad.
~
I've been watching a number of people taking the test of character lately. Most are down right inspiring.


Okay J. Made it Monday in just under 3 hours. Now I'll be retiring from Marathon running for a few years now. That is unless you are ready to race some time in the near future.
-McMahon

An excellent marathon time by our 2006 Peep of the Year, Tommy McMahon.
Way to go Tom.

A Tad Resentful

I paid my taxes last week. An obscene amount of cash money because I didn't have withholding for the entire year of 2008.
~
The whole withholding process dulls you to the immense amount of taxes that we pay. It is only when you have to pay out a lump sum when you realize the bite that the government takes out of you.
~
Imagine that your gross pay is what you actually have to spend. You would be far better off, wouldn't you?
~
It didn't bother me as much in the old days, when the Russians were pointing missiles at us. I figured as long as I didn't have to speak Russian, the taxes were worth it. But as I get older, and more savvy in business, and see the incredibly wasteful processes and spending in the public sector, I tend to get a tad resentful.

POTW Week 15

Today was a great driveway day. Made the measured tenon cuts for Mike's coffee table with my new Grizzly Tablesaw Tenon jig. It's not the best piece of equipment that I've ever bought, but I eventually figured it out and got the job done.
~
Mike's coffee table top was refinished and I like the bottom side a little better. All in all, I'm dissapointed in the fir slab and actually considered another top. But it should fit well in Mike's new condo in South Boston, which is in a renovated foundry building with exposed brick walls and high concrete ceilings.
~
The fir slab has the mass to fit the surroundings.
~
I'm using the same base design for both Mike's coffee table and my Workbench.... mortised and tenoned, glued up 4x4 mahogany legs and 2x4 mahogany stretchers.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 15th week of 2009

Martha Stewart
Patrick Piscatelli
Courtney Jellison Nestor
Perry Dinatale
Tommy O'Shea
Danny Ainge

Tomorrow, I use the new Jet mortising machine to cut the mortises.

Apology

Sorry Peeps.
~
I know that the last post was a bit harsh, a bit terse, a bit grouchy.
~
Even a Mountain of a Man like me can let his guard down once in awhile.
~
But if you don't forgive me, I really don't give a shit.
~
So..... Maybe it's too early to apologize.

Big Freaking Deal

Peeps.
~
So you noticed that I haven't posted for almost the whole week.
~
Big Freaking Deal.
~
What do you want.... a medal or something????
~
I was damn busy with my own shit. And I couldn't care less how much you bitch and howl.
~
I'm not even going to choose the POTW until tomorrow.
~
How do you like them apples????

Coffee Table Redo

After two coats of West System Special Coating Clear Epoxy on Mike's coffee table, I've come to a conclusion. It is not acceptable.
~
The sanding job is just too sub par. So I'm going to refinish the bottom of the tabletop and get the sanding done right.
~
The problem is a penetrating stain and swirl marks that have shown up through the finish.
~
I'm sure that the vast number of you unsophisticated Peeps would find no problem in it, and would give your usual annoying "oohs" and "ahs". But my standing as a Mountain of a Man cannot compromise on this.
~
It must be redone.

Tuna Lips said...

Looks like my shorts after a few days on the road and a tad too much fiber, what with that big racin' stripe down the middle.

Happy Easter

Easter is a nice holiday. You don't get any days off, and it doesn't get controversial in church and state debates, so the PC police have yet to infiltrate it. There are no big expectations for rituals, so the family pressures are generally low.
~
Maybe it's because the day fluctuates - never falls on the same day.
~
Anyway, some of my best memories revolve around the Easter Egg hunts that Joanne used to stage for the kids.... and just the family getting together and horsing around.
~
Now it's even better with the grandkids in the picture.
~
I'm sure that my grandkids probably aren't the cutest in the world, but they are until you can beat this.

Masters in Augusta

I'm totally into the Masters this year... and I haven't a clue why. Those of you who know better understand just how bad I am at golf. I make Charles Barkley's swing seem sweet.
~
But the Masters definitely caught my attention.
~
My friend Bill Hillegas is a buddy with Jim Furyk and he is in the race after the first day. I like Furyk, and also like Mike Wier, and Phil Mikelson, because they are lefties.
~
My favorite is a little known African Filipino American named Tiger Woods. Keep your eye on him... he's a comer.

POTW Week 14

Since I've been fairly out straight with Nanepashemet Telecom this week, it was nice for Tuna Lips to make an appearance. He is one funny sonofabitch, and really takes the pressure off of me from having to come up with pithy remarks on a consistent basis.
~
And I haven't been feeling too pithy lately anyway.
~
Today would have been a great day to put in some time on the Workbench and Mike's Coffee Table, but I had to spend the whole freaking day trying to make money. How Lame is That!!!! It's about time that somebody offered me one of those paid sabbaticals that the college professors get, so that they can allow their creative juices to rejuvenate.
~
Need to get one of those gigs.
~
Announcing....
~
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 14th week of 2009.

Dale Johnson
Dustin Padroia
Sarah Crawford
Jessica Rincon
Terrence Swhwab
Kevin Calnan
~
Don't worry.... If I had a sabbatical, I'd still keep posting to this pathetic blog.

Paypoint Pain Killer

Made the drive to Old Lyme, New London and Groton, Connecticut this morning with a modicum of success. But a 2 3/4 hr. one way drive always takes it out of you.
~
Anything over two hours in a car is physically taxing, but it helps if you make a paypoint. This trip brought Nanepashemet Telecom closer to two of them that should be realized by the end of the week.
~
That definitely dulls the pain.

Tuna Lips said...

You might consider stopping in at them injun gamblin' parlors along the seaboard there. Dens of iniquity they is, pour a mean glass of free fire water. Them redskin's slaked they thirst on Pappy's 'shine til we could rob 'em of what they had in their satchels! I got me an on-again-off-again gal down there, I calls her Lil' Spread Eagle to protect the innocent. She gets a little ornery about my breathin' on her, but otherwise, I'd recommneds her to the Spirit in the Sky - that's injun parlance for the Almighty, 'cept they heathens. Cheap enuff too, at a sawbuck per table dance.

Coffee Table Surge

Didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked on the workbench today in a sunny afternoon in the driveway.
~
Figuring out how the tail vise was going to work turned out to be problematic.
~
But Mike's coffee table is another matter.
~
I never thought that I would get it all sanded with a sealer coat of clear epoxy applied so soon.
~
Maybe it will even get done in time for his move in date.

The pictures detail the glued up panels prior to sanding, the completed sanding and the first coat of epoxy.
~
The base will be constructed of 2 in. thick, glued up meranti mahogany stock.
~
One more coat of epoxy to the top and then about 4 coats of sprayed marine varnish over the entire table to follow.
~
Double click on the pictures to zoom in.

Forging On

When the sun made an appearance this Saturday morning, I decided to take advantage and move forward with the workbench and coffee table projects. Gluing panels always takes a lot of room and I had to move the operation into the driveway. But I got both the tops for my workbench and Mike's coffee table glued and ready for sanding and finishing.
~
I know that a I owe you pictures.
~
I also set up the Jet mortising machine, the Grizzly tenon tablesaw jig and the Leigh dovetail jig upgrade.
~
So it was a very productive day in the garage and driveway.
~
Tomorrow, if the weather is right, I'm going to trim out the dovetailed aprons of the workbench and see if I can install the tail vise.
~
Then we will concentrate on the bases for both the Coffee table and the Workbench.

Check Please

We had a nice dinner last night with Will and Lynda Murray at the Boston Yacht Club.
~
I just bought an industrial condo from Will in Peabody to use for Nanepashemet Telecom, and it was Joanne's birthday, so he picked up the check.
~
A class move.
~
Generally, I like to pick up the check. Not because I am overly generous, but because I always get embarrassed splitting the check for some reason. Don't know why. So usually I reach for the check to avoid what is, to me, an awkward situation.
~
But it's nice when someone beats me to it.

Testing the Water

Jim Cramer says it's time to get back into the stock market.
~
It does seem like the market has hit bottom and is starting to turn back up. The telecom stocks seem to be fairly undervalued.
~
The trouble is that every time I've entered the market, I have lost money.... not a ton, but enough to feel like a dufus.
~
Maybe I'll just stick my big toe in.

Peep of the Week - 13

I had the opportunity to select the Peeps yesterday.
~
Thursday is the official selection day. But I didn't feel like it. And you can't make quality and responsible decisions if your head isn't into it. After all... the POTW selections are just too important to handle on a casual basis.
~
But this morning is another story.
~
I got up feeling ready to challenge the day, and my first task will be to Purposefully Perpetuate this Pathetic Peep Process. ("P" is one of my favorite letters.)
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 13th week of 2009

Ryan Nestor
Mike Rockett
Kathy Peabody
Lauren Crawford
Peter Krupp
Jeremy Johnson

Next week, I'll try to get this done on Thursday, but I'm not promising anything.

Bad Addiction

Everybody copes somehow.
~
My coping mechanism is to buy tools on Amazon late at night.
~
And ... Oh Baby!..... Have I been Coping lately!!!!
~
This week's stress has been Amazon's gain.
~
Did I need a Specialized Power Mortising machine??? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Did I need a Tenon Jig for my tablesaw???? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Did I need an upgrade kit for my Leigh Dovetail Jig???? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Believe me... this list can continue to the point where you can ascertain that I have a real problem. Lucky for me that Joanne doesn't read this Blog too often, because the cost of this stuff is really starting to add up.

Pier Four

After a lovely afternoon at the Joe Moakley house, we went over to the venerable Anthony's Pier Four restaurant, which is still serving one hell of a slice of prime rib with a popover after all of these years.
~
It was Joanne's birthday, and the dinner was spur of the moment, but we couldn't have planned a better venue.
~
Maybe we'll grab another meal there around August or so.

Deferring

Normally I like to multi-task..... Handle a bunch of issues at the same time.
~
But for the next two days, I really have to limit my focus. Emotionally and intellectually, I just don't want to take on too much.
~
So if you have some big problem to lay on me.... wait until Thurs. You'll simply have to deal with the fact that I won't be addressing you until then.

Tuna Lips said...

Did ye git on yer bike and ride this mornin', like youse was supposin' to do? Or did you slather some cream cheeze on a bagel and get to thinkin' "the other feller must be doin' this, too, I can lean on my shovel a few more minutes."

Layin' about is the road to ruination, sure as corn likker and peep shows at the road house, so mammy said. Mammy was one to talk.

I'm gone.

Establishing Routines.

I know that I've been harping on the weather lately.... but it's been so cold and clammy, wet and miserable. It is permeating.
~
This day came together well. I've decided to take the advise of my friend, Lisa Rowe, and work out first thing in the morning. Especially if you are not traveling, it seems to make the most sense. So today, that's what I did. Jumped out of bed, had coffee, took a massive dump, exchanged niceties with Joanne, then hit the Cybex for 12 miles.
~
By 8 o'clock, I was on the regular Nanepashemet conference call, and already had an item ticked off of my to do list. Everything else seemed to come together pretty smoothly after that too.
~
So tomorrow, I'll try the same routine.

Tuna Lips said...

I gots an established routine of loosin' my bowels when i arises to greet the day, and then pleasuring myself whilst perched atop the porcelain honda. I find such ablutions most effifecious, and quite effevesent. Multitaskin, the Wall Street types calls it. On Stall Street we call it Coppin' a squat and rubbin' one out.

Waiting for Trust Funds

Someday, when all of my trust funds kick in, I will buy a beach house in some warm tropical place, and go there for the entire months of March and April every year.
~
I don't really suspect that I have any trust funds, so this is probably an unrealistic fantasy.
~
But what is definite reality is that March and April suck in New England.
~
It's not cold enough for winter stuff, and typically wet, muddy and uncomfortable. Plus, the temperature is just below a nice warmth that starts to make you feel good.
~
I would rather go from the winter right to the summer, hence the tropical beach house fantasy.
~
Maybe I can substitute the trust fund approach with a couple years of kickass business years with Nanepashemet Telecom.

Weather Delays

It was supposed to be a nice sunny spring day today.... in the sixties. Instead it lurked in the low forties, with clouds and fog.
~
Once again, the freaking weatherman throws us a curve ball.
~
If he was under oath, he'd be doing time for perjury.
~
But I've always prided myself as being a forgiving person. Forgiving is fine, but forgetting is not my policy.
~
Anyway.
~
I got into the driveway, built the case for my workbench tail vise, cut the tails and pins for two dovetailed DVD cases, and milled the top for Mike's coffee table.
~
No freaking weatherman is going to slow down this Mountain of a Man.

POTW - Week 12

Joanne and I headed over to the Salem Country Club this evening with Harvey Rowe and his lovely wife, Lisa.
~
They've just completed the insurance claim adjustment on our New Year's Day fire and did a most excellent job. The Salem Country Club serves a damn fine meal.... much like the Oakley Country Club in Watertown that my archrival, Joe Collins, espouses to.... but the good ole Boston Yacht Club beats them both..... hands down.
~
That's not to say that it wasn't a great meal. It just didn't beat my club.

ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the Twelfth week of 2009.

Bill Hillegas
Bobby Brown
Tom Raich
Emily Ingardia
Lauren Rathbone
Tyler Gill

I mean.... It's no big deal if your club isn't as good as mine.

Harvey Rowe said...

You will have to take us back to the BYC to see if I agree.

Bird Preference

So the other day, I get this annoying Peep question that went like this....
~
"Which do you like better??? Blue Jays or Cardinals?"
~
As I've often said.... there are no stupid questions.... only stupid people who ask questions.
~
The answer is that I like any bird that seeks to take nourishment from my feeder. Don't care if it's a gull or a crow. They all make a mess, and they all shit everywhere.
~
So they are pretty much equal in my view.

Herreshoff Maintenance

Took the tarp off of the Herreshoff Yacht Tender this weekend. What a mess. Looks like at least ten hours or more of sanding and varnishing to get ready for the season. It will be worth it though.... that boat has such nice lines.
~
I'll probably buy a case of Epiphanes Marine Varnish from Jamestown Distributers and wait for a good weekend to sand and start spraying coats.
~
No wonder that wooden boats from the past century are so rare. There is a lot of work and care just to make them presentable each season. If left fallow for a season or so, it would probably seem like an insurmountable job.

Tuna Lips said...

Prioritize getting us a peep of the week. I makes book on this sorta thing, and the street don't likes to wait.

What is wrong with you son? Snap out of it!

Getting Back to It

Even though the temperature never reached 50 degrees this afternoon, I got into the driveway, set up the workmates and cut the 3/4" maple plywood into two 2' x 6' pieces that will be laminated together to provide a heavy enough top for the long awaited workbench project.
~
The 3" thick plywood top will be trimmed with 3/4" solid maple that will be attached to the 1 1/2" thick mahogany endpieces with half blind dovetails. Plus we have to precisely cut in for the end vice that will be integrated into the top.
~
Tomorrow, I will glue and screw the top pieces of the worktop, then design and layout the end clamp.
~
It's good that the long awaited workbench project is underway, but I must simultaneously start the coffee table that I promised Mike that I would build for his new condo in Southie. That tabletop will be constructed from the thick fir mantle piece that we removed from the living room after the fire.
~
If this Spring proves to be relatively warm and dry, the Marblehead Gunning Dory will be resumed in full swing by June or so. It's conceivable that the Dory hull be substantially complete by the end of the summer, although the interior fit out will take quite a bit more time.

Fire Away

Is it so wrong to desire peace? The world has an infinite number of moving parts... all colliding and smacking into each other. Every day offers challenges that you can never predict.
~
I almost dread an outlook of peace and quiet when I get up in the morning, because it is so certain to be shattered by some crazy unforeseen circumstance. Maybe the best outlook is to get up, stare the world in the face, and goad it to give you its best shot.
~
Then at least, you won't he so shell shocked when the bombs land.

Peep of the Week - Week 11

Spring has sprung. Astronomcally at least. But by the 20 degree temp this morning, it's not so apparent.
~
So I broke down and got an Apple Ipod Touch this week. Holy Shit.... what a freaking device!!!!
~
I've downloaded about 100 bucks worth of songs and applications. Everything on freaking earth is online at the Apple iTunes store. Plus, it will go online and you can email.
~
But the pain is not just financial. I downloaded a pushup training program that tracks your progress to where you can do 100 pushups at a setting. I haven't done a pushup in over 20 years, and after the first day routine, I feel like someone has been pounding me from armpit to armpit with sticks and clubs. It's a wonder that I didn't throw out my back.
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 11 Week of 2009

Courtney Nestor
Liam Neelson
Phil Freeman
Kurt Bagwell
Alex Watts
Mike McLellan
~
Who would have thought that an Ipod would be so physically challenging!!!!

Turn on a Dime

The tragic death of Natasha Richardson is a disturbing reminder of how fragile the parameters of your life can be.
~
A talented actor with a young family, in the prime of her life, takes a harmless tumble on a bunny ski slope, and dies in a day.
~
Never take any day for granted.
~
Always appreciate the people that you care about.
~
Life can turn on an instant..... at a time when you least expect it .... in ways both bad and good.
~
Mark 11:22-24
²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. ²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
~
The power behind this Biblical quotation is so simple as to be unbelieveable. Christ simply says to ask God to give you what you want, believe that you will receive it, and you will get it.
~
Be careful what you ask for!
~
The hard part is believeing in the receiving.
~
Plus, sometimes, you receive what you want and don't even realize it.

Tuna Lips said...

We all gots it comin' to us. Make ready the way of the Almighty, ye sin smeared heathen. The Man comin' round takin' names. What side will you choose?

Like I said, did me some preachin' on AM radio back in Galveston days. Met some wonderful sinners, taught me plenty of what I do.

Better Deal

Hi Peeps.
~
Just coming up for air after a worldwind three days this week, pumping the production from the Nanepashemet mill.
~
Tomorrow will be no different. We are going in four different directions and will be covering projects from Harrington, Maine to New London, CT.... with two points in between.
~
If you want to know where the hell Harrington is, we were wondering the same question. It's six hours drive north from here... about an hour north of Acadia National Park. My partner, Mike Elsier, is handling that one and I'll be in southern Connecticut, pulling permits and attending a hearing. I was feeling bad about having to drive all the way to New London, until I Google Mapped Harrington.
~
Now I'm pretty certain that I have the best side of that deal.
~
It's a glamorous job... plus we get paid for doing it.
~

Economic Stimulis

How bad is it when you start looking to Tuna Lips for solace and advice???
~
It's time to start to turn this tanker around. Set a new course for commerce and prosperity.
~
Sometime today, this Blog will receive a hit for the forty thousandth time. 40,000 times people have sought out Nanepashemet for one pathetic reason or another. What really irks me is that not one of you "suspects" have ever sent me a dime to support this oasis of insight and rationality.
~
It's not that I haven't asked.
~
I am 100% in favor of capitalism. Let the money come and go. It's not like I would take your contributions and invest them in stocks or something.
~
Be assured that your money would be recycled in the most worthy of places.
~

• Like buying extra cheese, garlic and pepperoni pizza from Vesuvius of Marblehead.
• Like purchasing bottles of Lagavulin, the King of Scotch, Stephan's Ginger Beer and Black Seal Rum from Beacon Hill Imports at the Community Store.
• Like keeping the garage full of meranti mahogany and red cedar from Moynihan Lumber for those beautiful Nanepashemet boats.
• Like ponying up for rounds of Bud and Miller High Life for the Peeps at the Gerry Club.
• Like stocking up on paper towels, 48 rolls of toilet paper, and 7,000 packets of Splenda from Costco.
  
• Like late night purchases of power tools that I will rarely use from Amazon.com.
• Like dining on the world's best lobster rolls and Sam Adams at the Boston Yacht Club.

~
I'm doing my part to keep this economy going. You can too.... by contributing to Nanepashemet.

Revenge

They say that living well is the best revenge.
~
They are right.
~
We will have our revenge.... and the naysayers will be continue to anguish as they wallow in their putrid pool of palpitating protoplasm contemplating the utter injustice that we will not be stifled.
~
Miss Rogosa, my ninth grade English teacher, would have appreciated the onomatopoeia.
~
She was an old spinster who was crippled by polio and got around with huge metal braces.  We used to call her "Rogo Stick" in our insensitive 9th grade way.  Read a lot of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" in her class, and we spent an inordinate amount of time on the works of Helen Keller. Now I think I know why..
~
Haven't thought of Miss Rogosa in 40 odd years.

Tuna Lips said...

My pappy was one fer blowin his stack, no douts about it, and but fer me mammy I think a few more charges woulda stuck.

As I mentioned afore, mammy was visionary, seein' things and oppertunities when ole pappy was just seein' red. She was fer the simmerin rage - she bein' of the lady persuasion - and was all fer servin' it cold. This way, she saw to it taht on the front end, no one bounced us off the mule, and thussin they had nary a finger to point. And when they did, agin and agin and agin, as hard ons like thems like to do, our uncivilization eventually waranted the point no more. It become about them sayin' they was better than someone else. It become them hatin' on us, and they fancy friends all tight up with Jesus had no choice but to think twice.

Give it time. Tehn we'd burn them sumbitches barn down, and cover it good, make it look like the Almighty raining his justice on they asses fer what they had done to us (forgettin on what we allegedly had done to them). Justice with mammy was best done slow, like molasses in winter. Nice and cold.

Think on that. TL is everyman.

POTW Week 10

Tons of annoying stuff to choose from this week.
~
But also an extraordinary amount of inspirational stuff.
~
A truly Nanepashemet style week!
~
ANNOUNCING.....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 10th week of 2009

Steve Lewis
Will Murray
Amy Mann
Tricia Rockett
Claudio Alvarez
Nate Clarke

There were so many more that deserved it.

Moral Judgement

Someday, when this is all over, I'll tell you the story about the guy who married his cousin and fathered a number of morons. Now he spends his time making moral judgment of others, while being obese and on the public dole.
~
I'll tell you the story, but it's not really funny.
~
Nobody's perfect. Which is why a lot of people are intrigued with the imperfection of others. It makes them more comfortable with their own imperfection. Or at least draws attention away from it.
~
There are a lot of Bible quotes to turn to.... "Judge not lest ye be judged." "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
~
I vastly prefer the less civil.... "Why don't you kiss my royal Irish Ass? You pompous, moral high ground, Hypocrite!"

Tuna Lips said...

I find "eat the peanuts on my feces" especially effective at displayin' my effrontery sentimentality. A bit too far, somes would say, but it breaks er down to the bottom line. You knowds where you stands with ole TL when I suggest where you can get some corn niblets to snack on.

I suggest you don't publicate this here thinkin, it might break down the last remainin' strands of the yacht club community you palavers with. I mean, can you see Mrs. Wilhemina Wasp tellin' Candice Throttlesnot to snif her smelly briefs? The bar would dry up and not another glass of non-fortified wine would be poured, spilled, or, later on, end up in a pile of sick next to a marcedes bens.

But what they heck, plain speakin' folks is my cup o' tea.

I'm gone.

Katelyn Party Post Mortem.

I never gave you the post mortem of Katelyn's 30th Birthday Party.
~
By all accounts, it was a clear success with no incidents at all.
~
Except for that little Table Dancing episode by Emily Engardia. But we were long gone by then.

Quaint

I have to get up early tomorrow.
~
Heading down to Cape Cod to pull a permit for the Coast Guard.
~
The Cape is one of my favorite places - I really like the quaintness.
~
Quaint is cool.
~
I am cool.
~
Ergo, I like quaint.

Toning it Down.

Did I sound a little harsh in that last post?
~
Like I wanted to smash somebody's head like a cantalope melon with a sledge hammer?
~
Yeah.... I guess that was a little harsh.
~
I'll tone it down a bit.
~
Just a little.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise finds that bomastin' is good fer the sole, like takin' a dump on yer neighbor's porch and ringin' the doorbell. All American style, that's how we roll.

Cowards

The Haters and the Cowards have made their appearance.
~
They absolutely know that when they look into the mirror, that they are scumbags and cowards, so they are constantly looking for someone else to blame.
~
Have your day, Bitches. You've never gone out of your way to help anyone else in your pathetic, self-absorbed life. You say that you've never done any evil, but you've never done any good either. A waste of freaking protoplasm.
~
I'll take one mistake in a lifetime of good over your putrid, one-way existence anyday.
~
So take your judgemental, fat assed, self righteous bullshit, and kiss my ass.
~
Wouldn't trade our tainted life for your pathetic, hypocritical, shill of a life in a million years.

Bucking the Trend

It's been awhile since I've boasted to you about how well Nanepashemet Telecom is doing.
~
How we are Kicking Ass and Taking Names.
~
It's come to the point that if we take on more work. we will be bucking the economic trend and hiring people.
~
This week, we will have been down to Richmond, RI, over to Concord, MA, down to to the Cape in Orleans and then over the Ferry to Block Island. Plus processing the hell out of our current backlog.
~
So despite all of the other Bullshit, Nanepashemet is firing on all cylinders.

Choked Up

ok
~
I'll admit it.
~
Even a Mountain of a Man like me can get choked up once in awhile.
~
The calls and messages we got today, expressing so much support will never be forgotten. They are engraved in the Akashic Record. And we appreciate it deeply.
~
Mistakes that were made will fade, but your outpouring will always live with us.
~
So there it is.... you've got me where you always wanted me..... misty and emotional.
~
Soak it up. It won't freaking last!

Tuna Lips said...

That's which don't kill ya makes fer bein'stronger, that is what my mammy would say. Her bein' all loopy on cough syrup, notwithstanding, she was visionary.

Face forward.

Juicy Tidbits

The emails are streaming in.
~
We definitely know who our friends are, and gradually over the next few weeks it will become apparent who are not our friends. Some will come as no surprise, but others will shock the hell out of us.
~
That is valuable, but I've already been through something similar, so I don't wish this process on anyone. Even those of you who are enjoying this juicy tidbit.
~
That's basically the end of this topic.... so don't be hitting this Blog to see if you can get a juicy tidbit, because that will just be a waste of good internet browsing.

Taking the Hits

Tons of hits on the Blog today.
~
You probably know why.
~
All I can tell you is that it is not what it seems. Stupid mistakes were made and already paid for.
~
The reports leave out some crucial facts.
~
And when all is resolved, there will be no reports at all.

Cosmic Wink

I was really getting depressed about something, then I came upon this entry into my own Blog from a couple of years ago.

_____________

What's your Great Grandfather's first name? That's your father's or mother's grandfather. I don't know either!
~
That is a whole life that went by, directly related to your existance, and you don't know jack about him - even his first name.
~
How important can our life's issues be if in less than 100 years, nobody will know if you even lived?
~
Makes you wonder about sweating the small stuff, or taking life too seriously.

_____________

So there it is.... the "present me" gaining solace from the "past me".
~
In a short wink of a cosmic eye, all of this stuff won't matter, and will seem not to have even existed. This is getting too weird.

Happy Birthday Katelyn

As many of you know, Peeps will be gathering at Dillons on Boylston Street to celebrate the 30th birthday of my daughter Katelyn. We'll be having a light repast at Stephanies on Newbury Street, and then make the eight minute stroll over to the festivities.
~
Many former Peeps of the Week will be there, and we may even have some POTY's.
~
Should make for the perfect Nanepashemet evening.... inspirational, yet annoying.
~
The occasion of your kid's 30th birthday signifies much....
She is getting old... and you are getting wicked freaking old.

• Old beyond repair.
• Memory loss Old.
• Short of breath Old.
• Snoring at night Old.
• Hair growing out of your nostrils Old.
• Forgetting your friends names Old.
• Playing Golf is a workout Old.
• Almost bought some Grecian Formula Old.
• Never stray far away from a bottle of Tums Old.
• Pee three times as much Old.
• Considering Rogaine Old.
• All your pants are too tight Old.
• Letting the Bastards get away with it Old.

I would say, that one really good thing about getting old is that you've seen a lot of things before. Now, its not that "Here's the way something should happen"... it's more like... "I've seen this shit before, and here is what's GOING to happen".
~
Experience has its virtue. The problem is that nobody listens to you, so all that experience gets a kind and polite nod as they proceed to stumble into the same outcome. People have to learn on their own. They have to make their own mistakes. Can't really leverage off of yours.
~
So Happy Birthday Katelyn... it's not so bad to be getting old. Especially after having a daughter like you.

Tuna Lips said...

Judging by the mugs on yer lads there, the young miss got the better side of the gene pool. Big wheel, spinnin' round, hoo ha!

Goin' contra dancin' with Miss Pudding's sister, Candy, this evenin'. Miss Pudding is working the 7:02 train from Lowenwich (wees calls it Scrotum Itch, what with all the harlot's them turns out), lift a few wallets, roll a few drunk johns, in general keep the undersirables on theys guard. Multi-taskin, I calls it. Entrepreneurishness abounds in ole TL!

POTW - Week NINE

I know...
~
Another week of Blog neglect.
~
It's not because I was sitting on the couch, eating corn curls, and watching Days of Our Lives like the rest of you losers.
~
I was out freaking working.
~
And if I wasn't working, I was trying to maintain a light but fitful sleeping pattern.
~
Speaking of Light but Fitful....
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 9 of 2008

Sam Khairi
Chris Crawford
Beth Murphy
Rob Wise
Steve Lewis
Tommy O'Shea

Now I can rest easier.

Uncanny Comparison

This keen observation was passed on to Nanepashemet by Atty. Harvey Rowe.

Lincoln and Obama are very much alike:
1. Lincoln placed his hand on the Bible for his inauguration. Obama used the same Bible.
2. Lincoln came from Illinois. Obama comes from Illinois.
3. Lincoln served in the Illinois Legislature. Obama served in the Illinois Legislature.
4. Lincoln had very little experience before becoming President. Obama had very little experience before becoming President.
5. Lincoln rode the train from Philadelphia to Washington for his inauguration. Obama rode the train from Philadelphia to Washington for his
Inauguration.
6. Lincoln was a skinny lawyer. Obama is a skinny lawyer.
7. Lincoln was a Republican. Obama is a skinny lawyer.
8. Lincoln was highly respected. Obama is a skinny lawyer.
9. Lincoln was born in the United States. Obama is a skinny lawyer.
10. Lincoln was called Honest Abe. Obama is a skinny lawyer.

Jack and Will

We had the grandkids, Jack and Will up to North Conway with us.
~
Ethan couldn't make it.

Challenge Met

We skied Cranmore Mountain in North Conway yesterday, which is considered by knowledgeable afficiados to be the most challenging mountain in the East.
~
It's well known that the Bunny slopes there can be quite terrifying, and we spent a considerable bit of time mastering those.
~
There were no significant incidents.... even on the chairlifts.
~
My legs are sore.

Alpine Warning

Tomorrow we will be challenging the mountain again. Not sure which one. If Katelyn comes, maybe Bretton Woods, because she is not too confident to ski. But if it is just me, Ryan and Mike, then we will bring Wildcat to its knees.
~
As long as I don't let some Black Diamond trail turn me into a sissy boy, it should be a great day.

Peep of the Year Lauren said...

WE have been in North Conway since Wednesday, the skiing is good. Jason and my dad will be at Attitash tommorow. Ethan and I are hitting up Kahuna Laguna the indoor water park at the red jacket.
Have fun..Lauren Rathbone

Tuna Lips said...

Ooh, well look at this, peep of the year Miss Lauren Rathbone chimes in about winter frolicking and playing water sports. Goolleee! What next, a new mock apple pie recipe? Hows about a way to loose some stains from yer briefs?

I swear the fix was in on this one, I does I tells ya.

Peep of the Week - Week 8

Peeps....
~
Is there anythng more painful than having to take a wicked piss while you are driving a half hour away from your destination???
~
A couple more details ....
~
You have to take a wicked piss, your're driving a half hour from your destination, on a winding New Hampshire road with frost heaves every 10 yards or so, and your wife is sitting in the passenger seat complaining that she also has to take a wicked piss and would I please watch out for the bumps.
~
Freaking Torture.
~
Speaking of torture....
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 8th Week of 2009

Michael Murphy
Gail Johnson
Steve Harvey
Lisa Panakio Rowe
Claudio Alvarez
Isam Halwani

I suppose that you could wet your draws, but that is such a social taboo. Plus it really fouls the interior of your Ford F150.

Mayan Economics

Everybody is so focused on the down economy.
~
What will happen?
~
Will Obama and his stimulus package of spending money that we don't have, help or hurt the whole mess???
~
My recommendation is to keep Nancy Pelosi the hell out of the way. She really scares me.
~
I don't know what the fuss is about anyway. Didn't the Mayans predict that everything will be cashed out in 2012? If that's the case, we only have to hang for another three years or so. After that, everybody will be dead, so what do we care??
~
With my luck, the Mayans will have blown this prediction. They can't be that damn smart if they let a few dozen Hispanics kick their ass and bring down their whole freaking civilization.

Conflagration Proof

The Morso fireplace inserts were installed today and they are damn buff looking. Naturally I loaded it up with wood impatiently and neglected to build the first fire properly.
~
But we're back in business again.
~
Burning wood. Living the natural life of a natural born man.
~
I'm hopeful that this time the insulated chimney and encapsulated stove will eliminate the chances of a house conflagration.

Tuna Lips said...

I recommend walkin' about the place with the fire ablaze and yer don johnson hangin' out whilst singin' "I am the walrus" by thems Fab Four. Get's folks attention, and I reckon it feels perty good, too, all that warmth on yer man gear. 'Chestnut roastin' on an open fire! Jake Frost nippin' on yer nose!"

Ise, too, heat the place with a stove. I find invigeration walkin' about Casa Tuna with my man tackle hangin' out, lettin' my vitals breath in the warm air from the stove. Granted, its a gas oven, with the door left open, hitched into my neighbors propane tank for economizin.' Nevertheless, real folk like us revel in the call of the wild, good feel of walkin about a place, singin' "My Way", and not bein' hauled in fer some trumped up charge. Enjoy!

Nice Bosch

I've bought a few jig saws in my life, and always found them to be one of the most useful tools.
~
So since I could easily live without it.... when I bought this Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw during one of my late night Amazon buying sprees, I thought it was extravagant and stupid as usual.
~
But this baby is the winner hands down. I used it today to cut through the 2 1/2" fir plank that was the mantle for the fireplace that nearly burned the house down.
~
It went right through the wood with as straight and clean a cut as if I cut it with a table saw. There was little vibration and virtually no creep or wander.
~
So not so stupid after all!!

Weekend Workload

The great thing about weekends is that it takes the pressure off. Even if you decide to work, you can pretty much depend that people won't be calling you, taking you off plan and causing you to change direction.
~
You can concentrate on one thing and get it done.
~
But that doesn't help you if you have a bunch of conflicting priorities.
~
Since Nanepashemet Telecom has taken flight, it's impossible to get the mundane administrative stuff done during the week. Like figuring out expenses and billing for reimburseables.
~
But I also have to demolish the mantle over our fireplace and get the rubble to the dump while it is open on Saturday, so that we are ready for the Morso installation on Mon.
~
And then there is the freaking tax work that has to get done for both Sundance and Nanepashemet, because my appointment with my accountant is next week.
~
Plus, I have to take care of an investment deal for Mike.
~
The challenge here is that all of this stuff really has to get done this weekend. I can see where a lesser man would falter, but it's all under control for a mountain of a man like me.

POTW - Week 7

I know that it's Saturday, and Peep of the Week Selection is Thursday.
~
So what's your point?
~
Do you think you are entitled to see the POTW each and every week???
~
And then there is the broader, deeper, almost metaphysical question.... why do you even care who the freaking Peeps of the Week are anyway ????
~
Those are all disturbing questions that you must personally deal with. Everybody has their own cross to bear.
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 7th Week of 2009.

Joe Kennedy
Grady Butler
Susan Sarandon
Ethan Nestor
Tom Egan
Abby Bruett

Now that you have your precious Peep Selections, what are you going to do next?

POTY said.....

I am so glad the blog is back up to speed...

Lauren Rathbone Peep of the Year and Proud...

Skipjacks Win- Win

I did something that I'm a little ashamed about today.
~
I knew that the majority of people who work for one of my most important customers was in Arizona, so I took the liberty to send them an email, inviting them to Skipjacks in Newton, MA for lunch tomorrow.
~
It's their favorite place.... they always order the lobster rolls.
~
I knew they couldn't come.
~
But I hope that they will see the good will gesture..... and I still won't have to pay for lunch.
~
It's not like I never bought the freaking lobster rolls before.
~
So.... It's a win - win.

Tuna Lips said...

I likes the sleight of generositiouness, damn fools just wants to think they important enough fer a sit down meals with a cocktail er three. I often do the same at the Red Lobster, where, I might add, I felicitate the 44 year young hostess with three divorces and a half breed daughter who is next in line. What? Cher was a half breed. No less than Cher. So check your high faluttin cogitatin'. Coo coo!

Tom McMahon said .....

I was recently watching the movie Stepbrothers with your son and I believe that it could be the greatest movie of all time. Any thoughts?

Tommy -

Almost as good as Wayne's World with the Scooby Doo Ending. And that's no Bull.

Morsø

Bought two Morsø Danish cast iron fireplace inserts today to install in the fireplace that nearly burned down the house last month, and the basement fireplace.
~
They were not cheap, but the alternative was to demolish the entire chimney and two fireplaces, and rebuild. That would have kept us out of the house for 2 weeks with a huge mess. Just not feasible at this time.
~
The fireplace inserts will have insulated metal flues that will extend from the stoves, all the way up to the top of the existing chimney cap. They will be installed in one day.
~
Now the chimney masonry has nothing to do with the fireplace fire. It will be a lot safer and the heating efficiency from the cast iron and convection system will be far superior than a fireplace in heating the home.
~
Plus.... It's the "Green" Alternative. Saving all that brick. And burning the scrap wood that I generate from Nanepashemet Boatbuilding.
~
And I'm all about going green.

Tuna Lips said...

This here is one fabulous development in yer evolvin'. Soon enough, that shed of yers will be put to proper usin', with a chiminey of er own and some slow cookin' corn and sugah water, with a peach, er plum er raisins in there, make a proper mash.

aint no kevlar fer fire, neither. Pappy learned me right.

Joe for Oil

Am I the only one who gets repulsed by the "Joe for Oil" ads?
~
Joe Kennedy talks down to people so bad, that you can scarcely believe that anyone would buy his bullshit. How stupid does he think we are? And how many old people and veterans will he treat like stooges in his obnoxious ads???
~
No Joe... The Citco oil doesn't hardly come from the "people of Venezuela", any more than the "people of America" give us oil from Texaco.
~
I haven't figured out what the scam is, but the stink is there.
~
As an Irish Catholic from a working class family in Lynn, MA, it is a cardinal sin to dis the Kennedy's.... but this is just too tough to take.

North End Sympathizer said...

Citgo pulled their subsidy this past November. Chavez had gotten all the press he needed out of it (see, Light Weight in the White House)and now, you pay full, dirty American!

Joe's not for profit schtick does not account for his salary (600 large, that will buy a few pints) and those of his executive level colleagues, who also run for profit energy businesses.

Bullshit Barristers

On my way to the Marblehead Transfer Station (aka Town Dump) this morning with Ryan, he made a comment about what assholes the "Barristers" at Starbucks are.
~
Man... did he hit the nail on the head!
~
On average, the Starbucks people who sell you coffee are rude and smug. Not sure why.
~
Is it because they resent you because of the station in life that they presently find themselves? They really don't seem to do much. For the Bold Medium that I buy, they just fill up the cup. I have to put the Splenda and Half and Half in by myself.

BTW, I simply refuse to call the size Vente, or Tall. That's just plain stupid.
~
Maybe being forced to call a "medium" a "Vente" all day long brings out the asshole in you. I guess I have to give them the benefit of the doubt.
~
The bottom line is that I like Starbucks coffee. I know that some people call it "Tarbucks", I still prefer it over Dunkin Donuts. But the people at Dunkin Donuts are way better that the Starbucks asshole barristers.
~
Now... is everybody who works there an Asshole??? Of course not!..... just the majority.

Tuna Lips said...

Sounds ta me like homo anxiety. Folks dont much give a rat's arse fer where ye gits yer joe.

Peep of the Week - Week 6

This is the longest that I've not posted to this Blog in 2 1/2 years.
~
Either I'm a slacker.... or I haven't had a life for the last 2 1/2 years.
`
Regardless, the reason that I haven't posted is personal and none of your God-Damn business. So piss off.

ANNOUNCING.....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the sixth week of 2009

Denise Kearns
Peter Howard
Jeff Gold
Jim Lundgren
Ricardo Sousa
Kate Rugman

I'll be back on the routine soon... if that will make you freaking happy.

Dory Draw

It was 55 degrees today. Almost warm enough to get me back out to the garage to resurrect the Marblehead Gunning Dory. I think that I will stick to plan, though, and build the work bench first.
~
Sometime during my travels this week, I'll stop by Home Depot and pick up the best piece of 4x8 maple plywood that I can pull from the stack. The plywood top gets the nod over the butcherblock because of the lack of movement when I trim the top with either solid maple or solid mahogany with dovetailed corners. I'll rip it in half and double it to provide the bulk and weight that a work bench requires, and will cut it to a six foot length.
~
I'm afraid that the solid butcherblock would cause movement along the width of the top that would cause the dovetail trim to separate.
~
I've also decided to keep the top on a 24" width more or less rather than the 30" that I originally planned. I want to be able to easily reach over the width of the bench.
~
The bench won't be rushed, but I hope to finish it before spring draws me back to getting serious with the Dory again.

A Bit Pretentious

So today I ran into someone who told me supposedly what I was thinking, and why I should not be thinking it.
~
That's pretty cool.
~
I don't even know what the hell I'm thinking most of the time, but this Know-It-All has the fascinating insight to tell me what I think and why I'm wrong to think it.
~
So, you invent what I think, and then condemn me for thinking it......
A foolproof argument.
Holy Shit!
I wish I was that smart.
Katie Couric could do no better.

Supply Trip

Peeps.
~
I have a strong recommendation for you.
~
Never go to lunch on a Fri. afternoon... have four beers and two scotches... then decide it might be a good idea to go to Costco for a little supply run.
~
On my way home, I definitely had a bad case of buyer's remorse.
~

• Not sure why I needed a 30 pack of Red Bull.
• Ten bucks worth of TUMS antacid tablets seemed a bit much.
• The ten pack of uniball pens was entirely unnecessary.
• An additional pair of jeans made no sense at all.
• Forty dollars for Gillette Fusion razor blades was questionable.

~
But at least I had the good sense to buy twelve paper towel rolls, 24 rolls of toilet paper and three sets of leather work gloves. Not to mention the 55 packets of Quaker Instant Oatmeal and the 4 lbs of salted butter.
~
There was more stuff... but I'm too embarrassed to tell you what it was.
~
Four beers and two scotches.... cost me $400 bucks at Costco.

LMR

Finally got the courage to get a run in on the Nordic Track treadmill. Only 1.5 miles, but it's a start. Part of the Lean and Mean Routine.

POTW Week 5

Every once in a while, you get blessed with the chance to see where you really stand in life. The times that try men's souls.... so to speak.

Fortunately, these times don't occur often, but when they do, you have to recognize the blessing.

Announcing...

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the fifth week of 2009.

Jeremy Johnson
Doug Maxfield
Chuck Jellison
Joanne Nestor
Frank Wetmore
Carol Kenner

Normally, I wouldn't give a hint why, but none of these were annoying... all inspirational.

Yes ... I Know.

If you're wondering if I know....
~
I do know.
~
So Freaking What!!!!
~
You can take your Brady Bunch, Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver Bullshit and stick it up your Ass.
~
This is the HOME of the BRAVE.... not some pussified version of Wannabee Land. This is the shit that builds character. Shortly we'll see who has it, and who doesn't.

Time Constraints

It wasn't so long ago when Nanepashemet Telecom was in the sales and marketing mode. I vastly prefer the operating mode, but it has put my time at a premium.

Archrival said...

If you had gone to a pedigreed academy... like Shrewsbury High School, you'd have better learned how to manage your time, so that you could utter such wisdom as "Vidi, Vici, Veni"
I saw, I conquered, I came... Here in the Sunshine State of FL, where they finally learned to count Chad's, I bask in the sunshine while my contemporaries struggle in their day to day pursuits... Dodging snowflakes. My only concerns are political...will I drift left or right... though most drives are down the middle !

Must have hit a nerve with Joe Collins, my Archrival who is a proud graduate of Shrewsbury High School. Nothing personal Joe....
~
....but your knowledge of Latin is lacking for an alumni of such a prestigious academy. The translation of Julius Caesar's comments about Gaul is "I came, I saw, I conquered". You completely misconscrewed it.

Tuna Lips said...

I likes to go swimmin' with bowlegged women and swims between they legs, swim between they legs, o' swim between they legs . . .

Taxes Again

I hate Tax Season.
~
It reminds me that we are not close to being free in this country. We are lulled to sleep and let the government confiscate a huge amount of our productivity. By far, my largest anxiety is the power of the IRS to swoop in, pronounce you guilty, confiscate your bank accounts and leave you in a hapless state to try to defend yourself after you have been pillaged.
~
If you think I'm exaggerating.... I'm not even a little bit. Been there, and I hope you never will be.
~
So that's my annual tax bitch.
~
In a few weeks, I will have fed the Monster again, and have forgotten about this gross inequity for a little while.