Memorial Musings

Happy Memorial Day.
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Last night while watching Sixty Minutes , Andy Rooney, who is a WWII vet, pointed out that our forefathers didn't "give" their lives for their country.  Their lives were "taken" from them.   They were the victims of circumstance, but rose to the occasion, with the result being the preservation of our way of life.
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Without their response and courage, we could be speaking German, and busy purifying the races.  We could be in a cultural Dark Age shackled by totalitarian repression.  Who knows what our lives would be like.
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In my own case, my grandfather was gassed in the trenches of WWI France, my father spent a year in the hospital after his Coast Guard Ship was sunk in WWII and my father in law survived wounds and prison camp in the Korean War. 
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To this day, I always have some guilt for not going to Vietnam, although my father claimed that he would shoot me in the foot to avoid being drafted.  Luckily, my draft number was high enough to preclude either alternative. 
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I believe that we had a need to intervene in Iraq and Afghanistan, although the inability to reach closure in these conflicts is very disturbing.  At this point, it is overbearing to hear of the deaths of young Americans over there.

Tuna Lips said...

On the other foot, solgerin" gets all the prine hoors, most often at a rebate price. Shoo worked that angle, shameless as he were.

Official State Bird of Maine

A few Peeps mentioned that they were heading to Northern New England this weekend.  And I was really tempted to head to North Conway, New Hampshire, but Joanne had an open house for the Sundance School Program.
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It's probably for the best, because this is really the peak of Black Fly Season on our pristine northern states of Maine and New Hampshire.
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These swarming, blood sucking, bastards can really put a damper on your fun in May and June.
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As bad as Black flies are, the worst are the Greenheads on Crane's Beach in Ipswich.   They don't just sting or bite, they tear out a chunk of your flesh.
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So I'm going to hang around the driveway and work on the boats.
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Have a nice day.

POTW Week 21

Last night, Tommy O set us up with some sort of shooters with creme and liquer at the BYC Bar.
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Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 21st week of 2010.

Scott McBurney

Nancy Bruett

Aquinino Orichi

Maria Rowen

Rajon Rondo

Mark Vona

I'm sure that the Sam Adams had a lot to do with it too, but I am really heavy headed today.

Ready to Defer Maintenance

I was thinking that it would be a great weekend to head up to North Conway, but Joanne has an open house at Sundance Pre-School on Saturday.
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So this long Memorial Day weekend will be a big push to get all of the rowing boat stuff done for the season including construction of the sail mast for the Pram, and the Tender epoxy and varnishing.
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In the meantime, there is some trim paint and random shingling that still has to be done.
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Because.... after this weekend.... all maintenance will be deferred until October.

Thick Skin

We'll be conducting a Balloon Test in Sturbridge this evening in order to ascertain the visual impact of a cell tower that we proposing.  The weather will be warm and summery and  there is a lot of interest from residents of a condominium complex that is relatively close by.
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Should be controversial, and I'll have to put my thick skin on.
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Then again.... I've had it on anyway for the last couple of days.... and have decided to keep it on for as long as it takes.

Key of G

I'm working on the G Major Chords and the G scale this week on my Goldstar GF 100 HF Banjo.  The instrument is tuned on open G which makes things easier.
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A lot of bluegrass is played in G, but since I'm going to be a serious shitkicking musician, I'm going to learn all of the keys.

Allow to Retract

Now comes Gov. Deval Patrick showing true colors.
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Patrick, a close friend and ally of Obama’s, said at a Suffolk University Law School event that he’s taken his share of criticism over the years, though not to the extent of what Obama is going through at the hands of Republicans.

“It seems like child’s play compared to what’s going on in Washington, where it’s almost at the level of sedition,” Patrick said.
- Boston Herald
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To disagree is UnAmerican?  To disagree is Sedition?  This type of remark transcends mere liberalism.  It is a bit toward the Facist extreme.
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I'll give the Governor room to maneuver on this one.   Allow him to back out if he chooses.  Even if this is his true feelings, he should be allowed to retract from such a despicable remark.  Because this attack on our freedom of speech is the slippery slope to totalitarianism, and I can't believe that he would stoop to that.

Jim L. said...

The fact is, the grads didn't know what sedition meant.

More Fees

Every slight, every insult, every manipulation, every fabrication and everyone of your outright lies comes with a price.
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Can you afford to run up that tab?
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Keep your wallet handy.  

Keeper Weekend

Mike and Mark Vona got into some mackeral and then some stripped bass yesterday.  Mike said that they caught around eleven at the power plant in Salem.  He harvested a 37" keeper which we grilled for an early dinner tonight.
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Mike hung around to play with the grandkids after we brought them back from some FreshAyer with Ryan.
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A most enjoyable day on many levels.
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Next week, I'm going to start to hound Mark Ryan to get the WhaleEye in by Memorial Day.  There are some lobsters crawling around Salem Sound that will be out of the water and on the table is a couple of weeks.

Pisc said...
Sweet. I swam a plug last night off of worlds end, nothin', but Dan B pulled a keeper off of Poponneset last night.

Mike Nestor said....
The Boat caught about 8 I would say and I didnt catch the 37"'r...I think Vona did. Where is your work cited page??

Official Marblehead Restaurant

Last night, we had a great meal at Ataraxis in downtown Marblehead with Lou Panakio, Harvey and Lisa Rowe. I had the pulled pork burrito.
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There are a lot of restaurants that I like in Marblehead, including Cafe Italia, the Landing, the Barnicle and Maddies to name some of my favorites, so I haven't named an official restaurant of Nanepashemet.... outside of pizza (Vesuvius) and Chinese Take Out (Feng Wah). But Ataraxis, which is the former Flynnies, came close to getting the nod last night.
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Course, we don't eat out that much because Joanne is such a good cook.  Not to mention that I am a Tour de Force on the Grill and at the Turkey Frier.

Pisc said...
Time to catch some fish. Hope you have registered with the Federales.

Sail On

With most of the painting except for some touch up in place, the Pram has some final details before I bring it down to the Ring at Village Wharf.

• Install Tie up Hardware
• Install bumpers
• Screw in Seat Plate
• Install Rudder Plate
• Fabricate Center Board
• Glue up Mast

Should be able to launch the first sail on Memorial Day.  Today though, I have to fit in power washing Tommy O's patio and it is a perfect day to finish seeding the back yard.
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If there is any downtime, the tender needs some sanding, epoxy and marine varnish touch up too.

TommyO said...
What a most excellent job you did, the patio looks incredible. Mrs. TommyO is very happy.
Thanks J

POTW Week 20

Today I have three quick permit stops - all close by - in Saugus, Billerica and Methuen.
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Then I can spray the fourth and final coat of Interior Top Coat on the Pram and I'll touch up paint the rails.
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Then it's the weekend. We'll be taking the Grandkids for some FreshAyer and I'll be working on the sail rig for the Pram around that.
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Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 20th Week of 2010

• Katy O'Shea
• The Counter Clerk at the Providence KFC that made me the Double Down
• Greg Bruett
• Mike Nestor
• Rand Paul
• Robin Roberts

I'll be taking pictures of the Pram, because it looks pretty good.

Double Down

It was so nice today, I was tempted to call in sick.  But I work for myself and the Boss would see right through it.  He is really sharp.
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I did take an hour in the morning to spray the second coat of InterLux Top Coat on the interior of the Pram, then headed out to Rhode Island for another day of Permit chasing.  Fairly successful and I rewarded myself by stopping at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in North Providence and ordering a Double Down.

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That's two slabs of chicken with cheese and bacon on the inside.  No bread.  

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It was freaking sinful.
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When I was a sophomore in high school, I worked a summer at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lynn and it is a very clean operation.  But I really haven't eaten there much since.
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Maybe I'll go back a little more now.

Jim L. said...

I never liked that place because it bumped Johnny Joyce's out of Joyce St. I miss those 10 cent chopped ham sandwiches!
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Everybody remembers Johnny Joyces.  Chopped ham, Easterns and Westerns on white bread.  Now that was eating!

Bob Hill worked in the Dairy Swirl that went into the Johnny Joyce space for awhile.  I used to sneak out some leftover cold chicken breasts from Kentucky Fried Chicken and trade with him for a large cup of chocolate soft serve.  Good Times


Rafe Said...
So read the blog this morning, as I do every morning. Here was the exchange between Tom McMahon and I about todays entry;

Me: "Jay Nestor ate the double down from KFC, I shit you not.

Tom's reply: "There are a few guys at my work that are all about that thing. I don't see myself ever trying one. J is a "mountain of a man". He can do just about anything."

Needless to say we are both impressed that you even purchased the DD, yet alone eat it. You are the first person I know to order it, eat, and talk about it. Truly a mountain man.
Rafe Hershfield

Official Stuff of Nanepashemet

The other day, a truck drives by me on the highway claiming that what was inside was the "Official Window of the Boston Red Sox".
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That got me thinking of what was the "Official Stuff" of Nanepashemet.
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Such as.....

• Official Scotch of Nanepashemet - Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt
• Official NCAA Football Team of Nanepashemet - Merrimack College Football Team
• Official Pizza of Nanepashemet - Vesuvius of Marblehead  - Garlic, Pepperoni and Extra Cheese
• Official Summer Beverage of Nanepashemet - Dark and Stormy (Black Seal Rum and Stephan's Ginger Beer)
• Official Autumn Beverage of Nanepashemet - Seagrams and Cider
• Official Winter Beverage of Nanepashemet - Classic Winter Cocktail (Seagrams and Cranberry)
• Official Summer Dinner of Nanepashemet - Lobsters and Stripped Bass from Salem Sound
• Official Autumn Dinner of Nanepashemet - Deep Fried Buffalo Wings while watching the Patriots
• Official Winter Dinner of Nanepashemet - Macaroni and Cheese
• Official Hand Plane of Nanepashemet - Lie-Neilsen Adjustable Mouth Block Plane
• Official Chinese Restaurant of Nanepashemet - Feng Wah of Marblehead
• Official Domestic Beer of Nanepashemet - Sam Adams in their patented Lager Glass
• Official Imported Beer of Nanepashemet - Guinness
• Official Has-Been Hockey Team of Nanepashemet - MooseKnuckles
• Official Tablesaw of Nanepashemet - Jet 708480K JPS-30: 10" ProShop 1-1/2HP 30" SW
• Official Clam Shack of Nanepashemet - Essex Seafood of Essex, MA
• Official Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor of Nanepashemet - Cherry Garcia
• Official Jig Saw of Nanepashemet - Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw
• Official Feeder Bird of Nanepashemet - Chickadee
• Official Epoxy Resin of Nanepashemet - West System Clear Coat 206
• Official Vegetable of Nanepashemet - 8 oz bag of Lay's Potato Chips.
• Official Five String Banjo of Nanepashemet - Gold Star Model GF-100FE
• Official Sander of Nanepashemet - Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander
• Official Charity of Nanepashement - My Brothers Table in Lynn and anything else that Harvey Rowe Supports.

I am sensing a theme here that most of the Nanepashemet "Official Stuff" appears oriented toward eating and drinking.  But that's all I can think of for now.  There will be more.

Voodoo Pins

While we're on the subject of truth....
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If I were one of those prep school kids, studying my ass off and sweating bullets to be accepted into Harvard, I would be sticking pins into Voodoo Dolls the likeness of Adam Wheeler, the guy who lied on his entrance application to Harvard University and forged recommendation letters.
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Said he had a perfect 4.0 and a perfect SAT score.
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But in reality, he is pretty freaking stupid.
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Lying like this is so disrespectful to the majority of us who pay the price.  You took a shortcut allright.... but it was a shortcut to a place that you didn't anticipate.

Election HiJinx

Looks like the incumbents took a beating in the primary elections yesterday as the trend established by Senator Scott Brown continues to have legs.
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The first Tea Party candidate, Rand Paul, trounced his Republican opponent in Kentucky.  Naturally, Robin Roberts of Good Morning America hailed the victory as an "impact to the Republican Establishment".
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What???!!!  Say again Robin???  It was a Tea Party candidate overturning an Incumbent.  If I were an incumbent President (ie Barack Obama), this wouldn't be sitting well with me.   The Republicans have been out for 14 months.
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The GMA Liberal spin is so obvious, and I am such a Moron for continuing to watch this insidiously untruthful daily broadcast.
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I'm particularly glad that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, running for a seat in the Senate, who claimed that he was a Vietnam Veteran when he actually remained Stateside during the War, was defeated.
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He deserved to lose, and he also deserves to go to Hell.  Lying like that negates the sacrifices made by real Vets who legitimately suffered and solely deserve the credit to say that they served in Vietnam.
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There should be a law against this...... this guy should serve jail time.

Discretion

A friend yesterday said that he is not on Facebook, because he doesn't want to put everything out there. 
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Just because you have a Facebook page, you don't have to expose your private life.  Twitter, Blogs and Facebook should be for your social recreation.  It starts to get creepy when people put their private issues in detail out there.  And there is no requirement to do so.... so why would you?
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This medium is a way to send your message, but if the message is your private information, you have taken it too far.   That should be reserved for you, your family and your inner circle.
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I'll admit that I have a lot of fun with this Blog, and it has been a great outlet for letting off steam with a rant or so, but rest assured that you don't know shit about what is really going on with me and mine.

The Pacific

Just finished watching "The Pacific" produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
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Warfare reached its most vicious apex in that conflict.   The intelligent weapons of the future will be much more targeted so that the overall scale of slaughter will be reduced.
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The sacrifices and horrors endured by the veterans of wars for the overall welfare of our country are beyond comprehension.
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I vastly prefer to watch this series by myself, because it's always embarrassing if someone catches me with tears in my eyes.

Tuna Lips said...
Ise thinks that tearin' up is occuring due to the stench youget to reekifyin' whilst in the privacy of yer own cellar. Open a window.

Pram Processing

After some intensive cleaning of the spray gun, I did get the first coat of polyurethane top coat on the interior of the Pram.
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I'll give this coat a good sanding in the morning, then spray another coat.  It will probably take four coats, but I think that it is going to be worth it.  With 16 hours recommended between coats, this job won't be done until next weekend.... given that weather and Nanepashemet Telecom don't get in the way.
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Before I put the Pram down at Village Wharf, I definitely want to fit it out with a mast and centerboard for sailing.  The rudder can be borrowed from the Tender.  Shouldn't be that big of a deal because I have a sheet of 3/8 inch okume marine plywood that I bought from Boulter Plywood in Somerville a couple of years ago that I will laminate and epoxy for the centerboard, and the 8 foot  mast will take a glue up of whatever 3/4 inch spruce that I have lying around.
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I'll have to make a custom tiller to use the Tender rudder on the pram though.
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By Memorial Day, we should be sailing around Salem Harbor.

Spray Gun Delay

Naturally, when I went to use my Fuji HVLP spray paint gun yesterday, I found that I hadn't cleaned it since last fall when I sprayed the last coat of marine varnish on Katelyn's Adirondack Chair.
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Huge mistake...... which sent me into an intense session of self loathing.  What kind of asshole doesn't clean out his spray gun????   I guess you now know the answer to that question.
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Anyway, today, I'll eventually spray a coat of Interlux Polyurethane Top Coat paint onto the interior of the pram.  After a little heavy duty spray gun maintenance.
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When I finish that by late morning, you can bet I'll be cleaning the gun