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.
~
Should be controversial, and I'll have to put my thick skin on.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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
~
To disagree is UnAmerican?  To disagree is Sedition?  This type of remark transcends mere liberalism.  It is a bit toward the Facist extreme.
~
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.
~
Can you afford to run up that tab?
~
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.
~
Mike hung around to play with the grandkids after we brought them back from some FreshAyer with Ryan.
~
A most enjoyable day on many levels.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
Then I can spray the fourth and final coat of Interior Top Coat on the Pram and I'll touch up paint the rails.
~
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.
~
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.
~

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.

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

~

It was freaking sinful.
~
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.
~
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!
_______________________

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".
~
That got me thinking of what was the "Official Stuff" of Nanepashemet.
~
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....
~

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.
~
Said he had a perfect 4.0 and a perfect SAT score.
~
But in reality, he is pretty freaking stupid.
~
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.
~
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".
~
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.
~
The GMA Liberal spin is so obvious, and I am such a Moron for continuing to watch this insidiously untruthful daily broadcast.
~

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.
~
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.
~
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. 
~
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?
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
The sacrifices and horrors endured by the veterans of wars for the overall welfare of our country are beyond comprehension.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
I'll have to make a custom tiller to use the Tender rudder on the pram though.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
When I finish that by late morning, you can bet I'll be cleaning the gun

What's Up for the Weekend?

So many of you irascible, irritating and as well annoying Peeps have emailed me with your pathetic questions regarding my weekend plans this morning!
~
You just have to get your own lives, and stop this insidious practice of living vicariously through mine.
~
This is almost too much to bear sometimes, and I have to draw deeply into my Mountain of a Man reserves to find an appropriate copeing mechanism.
~
It's a burden that I accept.  "To whom much is given, much is expected."
~
Anyway....
~
I plan to work on the interior fit out of the Pram, and get it all painted for launch on the Village Float next week.  Taking a break from FreshAyer since Joanne and Kathy Peabody made the trek yesterday afternoon.
~
What's up with you?

Pisc said...

Thanks for the POTW props.

I got a call from the 206 area code, a gravelly voice on the other end. William Hillegas has resurfaced. Sends his regards, he is in Lancaster. We oughta get him up here for a few laughs.

POTW Week 19

 Last week, there were no Peeps of the Week chosen.... for the first time in four years.
~
Does that mean anything?
~
How the hell do I know????

Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 19th Week of 2010

Kathy Peabody

The Guy with the Beard at the Boston Beer Company

Art Kreiger

Ben Aquinno Orichi

Maria Rowen

Patrick Piscatelli

I can't be blamed because I only do what the voices in my head tell me to do.  And nobody told me to pick the Peeps last week.  We'll have to begin a new streak.

Special Glasses

On the way home from Sturbridge today, I stopped at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain and picked up some Boston Lager specialty glasses.
~
I swear that the Sam tastes better in these glasses.
~
The Brewery was packed with people taking tours and I had to wait in line to buy the glasses.
~
You have to love a business that produces a product which people will pay to see being made.
~
I didn't take the tour, but I probably will go back one of these days.  The location of the Brewery, right in the middle of triple decker residences in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, in a refurbished brick brewery building, is impressive in and of itself.
~
Plus....I saw one of the bearded guys  who appears in the TV commercials.

Maria Rowen said...

Wow...Can you imagine a career in beer? I wonder if they 'toast' all day long...Personally, my passion and my palette are more poised for the purple pinot...but I could be persuaded to take a tour...purchase some beer glasses or perhaps some beer goggles...*_*

Tuna Lips said...

Lotsa dykes in that JP neighborhood. I likes dykes. We on the same team. Like to get me a triple decker dyke sammich.

Maria Rowen said...

Throw in a slow pitch softball game and a soft swirl from J.P Licks and you got yourself a perfect day...

Tuna Lips said...

Missy Rowen, now thats what Ise talkin' 'bout. You git yerself a parade with tanks and them baton twirlin' nymphs, and its the heart and soul of this here U-S-A!

Hatched

Maybe I spoke too soon.
~
Sometimes goose eggs hatch.
~
I got calls from the Building Departments in North Providence and Johnston, RI saying that my permits were ready and that I could pick them up.   So I feel a little foolish about whining.
~
As for the zoning hearing, I still got my ass kicked and nothing can cure that.  Although my client is resolved to follow this through to the bitter end.  And judging by the condominium residents, the end will be bitter one way or another.
~
Tomorrow, I have a sit down with the Sturbridge Town Administrator, Town Planner, and DPW Commissioner to see if we can sort this out.

Goose Eggs

Thanks for all of the calls and emails asking how my permit work went yesterday.
~
It still is mind numbing why you would give a fart about this, but I'll answer your irritating inquiries anyway.
~
I got Skunked. Pummeled. Goose Eggs.
~
I needed an additional engineering report in Peabody.  The Building Commissioners in North Providence and Johnston, RI wanted to hold the applications for a while, and we got hit with a buzzsaw of opposition from condominium residents at the zoning public hearing in Sturbridge.
~
The hearing in Western, MA lasted until 11:30PM and the trip back to the North Shore through Boston was replete with detours due to highway repairs conducted in early morning hours, so I didn't hit the sheets in Marblehead until 1:30AM in the morning.
~
That's a long day to come up with nothing.
~
I'll try again today.

Immigration and Single Malt

Politicians in the Massachusetts cities of Boston, Springfield, Worcester, and Lawrence are voting to boycott the State of Arizona because of its crackdown on the enforcement of US immigration laws.
~
Am I missing something here?
~
Massachusetts mayors and city councilors are protesting the enforcement of the law in Arizona?
~
Things must be really good in their own Massachusetts communities for their focus to be on the people of Arizona.  How would I boycott Arizona anyway?  Refuse to drink Arizona Ice Tea?  Mayor Thomas Mennino of Boston is threatening to cancel contracts from Arizona based companies.
~
Kids are getting shot in Dorchester drivebys, Tom.    I wouldn't spend a second researching who is headquartered in Arizona if I were you.
~
This foolishness will ultimately be great for Arizona, because of all of the people who will book Arizona vacations in order to aggravate the boycotters.   I won't be going to Arizona though.  If I can muster a vacation this year, I'll be heading to Scotland for a single malt scotch distillery tour.

Maria Rowen said...

Who cares about the driveby shooting of a 14 year old kid shootin' hoops in Dot when the likes of Willy Lantigua from Lawrence can use Arizona as a platform for personal politics? How do these people get elected? I am not really looking for an answer to that question. Maybe it's time for a little break from all this boycotting...maybe it's time for a double single...Slainte!

Permit Granted

Tomorrow, I have permit work to do in Peabody, Sturbridge, and North Providence, RI.
~
I know what you are thinking..... "How does he accomplish so much in just one day?"
~
It's true that it is damn impressive, but really it's just an average day for a Mountain of a Man.
~
Truth be known, I enjoy getting Building Permits for my telecom clients.  It ties me in with the type of  people in the municipal offices that I started my career with years ago.   Straight forward, friendly people with no pretense or corporate doublespeak.  It's refreshing and fun work, and I feel very comfortable doing it.
~
Too bad it's only a small part of our business.  But then again, I like building the sites too.

Ivy Issue

President Obama is nominating Elena Kagan, Dean of the Harvard Law School, to be a Supreme Court justice.
~
I have no knowledge of her, but it looks as if Obama is reaching back to his experience of people when he was a student at Harvard.
~
That's his prerogative as the President... but the older I get and the more experienced in business that I become... I have grown less and less impressed with people who have emerged from this prestigious university.   I'm not saying that I am biased about all people who come from Harvard... there are always exceptions.
~
But, there is an aura of entitlement and an inability to get things done in many of the people that have come from Cambridge.  Give me a UMASS alum any day if you want someone hungry who will put the work in.
~
Yes, it's true.... I would accept the President's nomination if he was inclined to appoint me to the Supreme Court.  But,  I wouldn't have a chance in Hell of getting the Senate confirmation.

It's Aways Something

Between hectic activity at Nanepashemet Telecom today, I was able to get the final coat of bottom paint on the Pram.  Tomorrow I'll tape off and paint the accent strip between the botton paint and the top coat at the end of the gunnels.
~
Then, just as I thought we were in cruise control, and I was headed a much needed session on the Cybex stationary bike, I get this chickenshit email from an unfortunate who is hopelessly challenged by simple facts.

 ~
I had to counter his BS  by pointing out some simple truths, but this killed the Cybex workout, because I had to view a property in Central Mass and ran out of available afternoon workout time. 
~
It's always something.

Cheezits, Tuna and Boats

Katelyn and Mike pulled out the stops and grilled some tuna steaks for Joanne's Mother's Day dinner last night.  The meal was perfection and couldn't be matched at any restaurant. A very nice touch.
~
Then we had brunch at the BYC this afternoon and spent some quality time on the porch watching the pre-season boating activity.
~
 We also really enjoyed the Cheezits that we got from the FreshAyer vending machine with Ryan and the grandkids in the Children's Room yesterday morning. 
~
I think that Joanne had a Happy Mother's Day.

Sweet Dreaming

Last night, while having a weird dream, I fell out of bed. At the time, the dream seemed perfectly natural.  But,  after getting back into bed, both pissed and embarrassed at myself, I was able to recount the dream in great detail. 
~
Why is it that when you are in the process of dreaming, everything seems so logical, but when you wake up and reflect upon what you were just dreaming..... it seems so wacko???
~
Anyway, this dream had me back in my childhood home, throwing various types of kitchen appliances at my brother.  Does that seem Freudian to you?  I have nothing against my brother, and have no inclination to throw toasters, blenders and convection ovens at anyone.  But in my dream, it made perfect sense.
~
Not sure why I was so unsettled so as to throw myself off the side of the bed either.   It couldn't  have been the Chinese food and Sam Adams from dinner.  That is not so extraordinary.  I've had way more beers with fried rice, and never fell out of bed before due to an extra crab rangoon or so.
~
Work is fine, no big beefs with family or friends and things like FreshAyer have become fairly stable.
~
I'm not worried about the Mayan end of time, and there had been no liberal fiascos that have gotten me wound up lately.
~
So I'm not sure what the hell was going on.

Good Morning Bianna

Those of you who follow the pathetic posts in this hapless blog must have realized by now that I have a love/hate relationship with Good Morning America.
~
As in.... I watch the show every day, but generally despise the people who operate it.
~
Bianna Golodryga is the exception.   Not only is she pretty hot, she is also wicked smart.
~
And I haven't noticed any taint of liberal bias in her yet.

Clean Water

So the water in Boston is now safe to drink.  Course it was safe to drink all along.  But it was a great chance for politicians to shine.  Solving a crisis which wasn't really a crisis.
~
It turns out that we just needed to call a plumber... for a big pipe.
~
Crisis Solved.

Wesley Makes His Entrance

Welcome Wes Rowe to the Family of Man.  Happy Birthday.
~
What a great time to be born!!!  Here and Now.
~
We'll be keeping an eye of you.  You come from good stock and have a lot going for you right from the start.  You have good people around you who will help you find your way.
~
Make your Mark.  And Make a Difference.

Karmic Issue

Don't forget about the Law of Karma.
~
That's that lttle annoying problem that you reap what you sow.
~
You know what I mean???? If you lie and screw people, you end up getting screwed right back.
~
Man... What a Bummer.
~
You think you're getting over by nailing someone when they're down, then your life starts to suck and you wonder why.
~
Law of Karma.
~
Maybe you shouldn't forget about it from now on.

Pram Pondering

In getting the Pram ready ready for the ring down on the Village Street Landing pier, I'm starting to think that I'll spend a little more time and get it rigged up for sailing.  It will be a great opportunity to learn to sail in the protected waters of Salem Harbor and there will be a lot more use for the Pram than just transport back and forth to the WhaleEye.

All I have to do is assemble the mast and fabricate a center board.  The Sail is all ready from my initial use of it on the Tender.

Pisc said...

S.S. Never Sail
Credit to Bobby Brown

Maria Rowen said...
Let the 'little skippy' set sail...and be ponder this...the eight foot dinghy responds very quickly...sail on...sail on...

Too Much Tazer

They had to taze a guy who jumped on the field during the Philadelpia Phillies game.
~
Highly unnecessary.
~
If Philadelphia had anybody with the specialized skill of former POTY Tommy McMahon, they could holster all of their tazers.

Tom McMahon said....
If I worked there he never would have made it to the grass!

Self Fulfillment

It's so important to take responsibility for yourself.
~
The minute that you blame another for the circumstances of your life, you severely disempower yourself and eliminate a host of opportunity.
~
As perverse as it sometimes sounds, everything happens for a better, greater purpose.  If you continually judge the individual components of this process as good or bad, right or wrong.... you miss the point that these ups and downs are simple milestones of a path that you and God have chosen for yourself.
~
Observe rather than judge.  Act on the feelings, hunches and intuition that are sent your way as directions and guideposts to your truth and destiny.  Feel yourself move down your own path to self fulfillment.
~
And stop all the freaking whining.

Gail said....
Jay, you are so right. It's not always easy during the tough times to accept that things happen for a reason and I'm still learning that lesson. I sometimes have to just step back, take a deep breath and make my choices. For the most part things do work out although you certainly can't forsee the outcome which is the lesson we learn. Trust in yourself and as you have said "act on the feelings, hunches and intuition sent your way as directions and gudeposts to your truth and destiny". Thank you for this, Jay. I needed this today.

Gutter Minds.

Now the pundits are claiming that Barack Obama had an affair with this women, Vera Baker.
~
Isn't this a private matter???
~
All the talk of Michelle kicking Bo's ass is so inappropriate.
~
You shouldn't even be thinking about it.
~
One of the reasons why being a Mountain of a Man is often a good thing is that I can move thoughts like this out of my mind at will.   I know that it is none of my business......that President's having a little monkey business has nothing to do with me.
~
Although, I sometimes feel sorry for the rest of you weak-minded, pathetic peeps who have such sordid thoughts and voyeuristic tendencies.
~
Get your minds out of the gutter.

Tuna Lips said...
I likes this queen, and thinks it would be a right fine thing to pleasurify hers with some delicate play from the left.

Double Pump Bird

Flipping  the Bird to people who offend you in traffic is a time honored Boston tradition.
~
And so it was offered to Harvey Rowe in the Sumner Tunnel last Sunday morning at 6:00 AM as he was manuvering a van of Walk for Hunger volunteers down the center line.
~
Granted, Harvey was having a bit of a challenge staying in his lane, but was that a reason for an irate cabbie to speed by and offer Harvey a big waving Bird, followed by an additional pump of the Bird???
~
Driving isn't Harvey's strong point, so maybe the cabbie had a point, but the cabbie is lucky  that he wasn't trying to pass Harvey a few months ago...... before Harv had the cataracts removed.  
~
Then the Bird would have been downright polite.

Maria Rowen said...

We (I mean me) recently regaled the benefits of a well placed 'f'bomb. How could we (I mean me) overlook the 'finger' in lieu of the aforementioned 'f'bomb when hand gestures are truly universal. So 'thumbs-up' to Harvey and
bras d'honneur to the cabbie...add a pump and that is so 'Bang'...*_*

Sunny, Warm Weekend

It's shaping up to be a warm, sunny weekend.
~
This morning, I'll strip the bottom paint from the pram, then repair the plywood at the bow, which has delaminated.
~
If I still have the time and energy, I'll sand and varnish the Tender and get that ready for launch.
~
Tomorrow, I promised to help Harvey Rowe set up water tables for the Walk for Hunger in Boston.  The bus leaves My Brother's Table in Lynn at 4:45AM.  If you are thinking that it doesn't seem like me to be doing such a selfless altruistic thing, then I don't blame you.   I feel the same way.
~
But Harvey is a good guy and he's done a lot to help me in the past, and this is important to him, so that's the gig for tomorrow morning.  Harvey says we'll be back in Lynn by 11:00 AM.

Harvey Rowe said...

Hey.....MOUNTAIN MAN don't give yourself a "bad rap"......Every time you go for Fresh Ayer.... and you and Joanne do all the other responsibilities that "come with your "Turf"......I see unselfish and loving acts.......sorry to tarnish your self imposed image....

Pisc said...
El jefe:
I got some foreign guest workers to clear the back quarter on my lot (total size 0.3 acres) and lay some 10 yard of topsoil. The house was built in 1890, and that corner of the lot was used as the "dump", a spot where the homeowners threw all of their (mostly) biodegradable waste. Rich black soil and a lot of rocks, and even more broken bottles, china shards, and weeds with roots that spanned the whole area. There were rocks the size of Rob Jones' head all over the place, I mean really big nuts. So we had some fill work, and a decent bit of grading to do.

And of course, putting down grass seed over a decent sized area, and waiting and hoping. That not being my style, I raised a few blister working the seed into the soil, and then using a hand spreader to fertilize, and the a shower sprayer (as opposed to the sprinkler that moves the soil and floats the seeds) to water, at 5 am and at 8 pm

And it looked like a pile of dirt for a week.

But the recent sun, and some luck, have raised a peach fuzz growth of grass over this, the mountain after the last mountain summited in the home owner universe.

Sitting in the middle of all of this is a Japanese Stewartia (google it), that we planted when Phoebe arrived.

The yard is gonna be wicked sweet.

POTW Week 17

Oprah Winfrey wants to limit the use of a cell phone while driving.
~
She is absolutely correct.
~
Nobody should endanger the lives of another so that they can conduct business or chat at their convenience.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 17th Week of 2010.

Tom Holmes
Ed Davignon
Ray Crews
Joanne Nestor
The Administrative Assistant at the Groton, Ct. Building Department
Riell Hunter
~
Even a Mountain of a Man has trouble concentrating on two things at once.

Classic Conumdrum

I'm thinking seriously of renaming the "Classic Winter Cocktail". 
~
Since it's now spring, and I show no signs of  backing off, maybe its time call the satisfying combination of Seagrams Seven Canadian and Ocean Spray Cranberry something like.... the "Classic Multi-Season Cocktail".  Or the "Classic Six Month Plus Cocktail".
~
None of these sound right.
~
But "Classic Winter Cocktail" doesn't fit anymore.
~
Part of the problem is that spring came early this year.  It's one of the five warmest Aprils on record here in Boston.  So who would have thought that the weather would screw up the harmonic seasonal nature of the official Nanepashemet beverages???
~
Dark and Stormies in the Summer.
Seagrams and Cider in the Fall..
The Classic Winter Cocktail in the Winter.
~
Course,  Lagavulin, the King of Scotch, rules over all seasons.... but this goes without saying.
~
Now we are left with quite a dilemma, and it's probably those freaking Mayans who are screwing with us again.

Tuna Lips said...
I does like the white rusky fer a drink come candlemas. Its liquored enuff, yet somewhat mild, allowin' fer several long quaffs. Get yerself under a warm blanket, best served with a Injun squaw and a pipe of skunk bud ala Shoo Fly. You will be singin' "I am Superman" in short order. In concludifying, and I thinks milk and vodka wuz part of that teachable merment, so Ise vote white rusky.

TommyO said...

"Seven Seas Cocktail"

Think about it....

Ocean Sprays from the Sea, You are a Sea-Goin Guy, Seagrams Seven, Lucky Seven, Seven-Eleven
Seas or C's (Celtics) Bruins in Seven. To the Ancients, Seven meant "Many"

O-Zone.

Barack's Birth Certificate

This whole controversy over Obama's birth certificate is bogus.
~
I know what the Constitution says.... that you have to be a natural born citizen to be elected President.  But as a nation of immigrants ....(except for the Native Americans that we wiped out with disease or  rounded up and put onto reservations.... but that's another story).... I should be able to vote for Arnold Swartzenegger if I wanted to.
~
Barack Hussein Obama was duly elected as President of the United States.   I don't care where he happened to be when he popped out of his mother's womb.
~
Put your focus on stuff that matters.

Pisc said...

I agree with the sentiment of let it go. But we are a nation of laws, first and foremost. Without them (e.g. the Constitution of the United States) this whole thing falls apart.

Maria Rowen said...
This Barack-‘birf’place‘bidness’ has some‘Birther’s-bloomers in a bunch. House Arizonans passed the ballot-bill ‘requiring’ Barack to belly-up his birth certificate. At the same time… the finches return to the feeder. It all matters…but... in a moment of merriment…peeps should pass on politics, pursue pleasure and on May day...dance around the Maypole.

Salvageable

The Town of Swampscott lost big yesterday when they failed to elect Sue Sue Raiche by a couple hundred votes to a seat on their Board of Selectmen. 
~
But  before anybody panics, you have to consider that Swampscott isn't going anywhere, and Sue Sue isn't a qutter.
~
Even though the Town will be worse off by the time she runs again and gets elected, there still will be enough to salvage.

Pretty Good Day

Those of you who know me best, know that I'm not a boastful person.  Don't really like to brag.  I definitely maintain a certain degree of humbleness. ..... and humility.
~
But when you are a Mountain of a Man like me, that isn't always easy.
~
Like today.... when everything in Nanepashemet Telecom went right.  I don't mean just good.  I mean "kick ass" GOOD.
~
Left the house at 6:00AM and got back by 3:30 PM.... a whole lot better than when I left.
~
I'd like to tell you about the good stuff, but then you may not understand.  This is high level stuff.  Not easily understood by laymen.... or laywomen.
~
Now if Sue Sue Raiche pulls off the election in Swampscott, then this will cap it pretty well.  We'll see.

Return of the Prodigal Birds

After a full year's absense, two goldfinches showed up on the feeder today.
~
I am pumped.

May Day

For some reason, May Day was a big thing when we were growing up in Lynn.  Kids would dress up in costumes and wrap strands of paper around a Maypole.
~
The significance of the event has escaped me, but I dug out this old photograph of the kids in my neighborhood standing on the sidewalk in front of my old house in the Highlands.
~
I'm the good looking one on the left in the Fireman suit.

Sue Sue Raiche said...
That little firefighter looks just like Ethan!

Tuna Lips said...
look like them munchkin folk from the wizard of oz. Theys sure growd them freaks good in Lynn town

Dubious Award

This would seem like an impressive award, but the fact is that we are the only radiotelephone communications contractor in Marblehead.
~
Just want to keep things in perspective.
~
But that doesn't mean that we won't raise a glass or two in raucous celebration of the achievement.
~
And.... there's a good chance that we'll repeat in 2010.

Sue Sue for Selectman

Town faces fine for moving sand at Fisherman's Beach - Swampscott, MA - The Swampscott Reporter

If I lived in Swampscott, I'd vote for Susan Raiche this Tuesday for the Board of Selectmen.  If you want to know why, read the above article from the Swampscott Reporter.

This article is about a citizen who asks a simple question to intrenched bureaucrats. I sincerely hope that the people of Swampscott elect Susan Raiche to their Board of Selectmen. Wish I could vote!

More FreshAyer

Heading out with the Grandkids for some FreshAyer this morning.
~
As weird as it sounds, this is always a fun trip that we look forward to.   Ryan always has new stuff to tell us, and seems to know more about Marblehead than we do thanks to all of the people who visit and email him, and he has indepth knowledge in the fields that he has been reading.  He is in unbelieveable shape and holds the camp record for fastest lap around the track.
~
It's a no win system that ultimately the taxpayer pays for.  Makes no sense and I can think of many ways  to change it for the better.
~
But....the  kids are always thrilled to see him and he's the same.  If the weather is good, everybody is in non-stop motion outside.  It makes for a really good time.
~
Like I said... pretty weird.

Gardening , Football, and SuperPeeps

We took the grandkids over to Merrimack College today to see Ben Martin's Football team put on an exhibition at alumni day.   Scuba Steve and his fetching wife, Jill, were there too.
~
Ben is the Offensive Line coach, and he has some big bruisers under his mentoring.  Merrimack Football is the official NCAA Football team of the Nanepashemet Blog, so it was an important event.
~
Ben taught Grandson Will the three point stance after the game.  All in all, a very worthy and enjoyable endeavor for a warm Saturday afternoon.
~
I was pretty sore though, due to the events of the morning.   Superpeep Brian Butler had asked to borrow the F150 for some dump runs and showed up around 7:15 AM to pick it up.   Since I was up anyway, I decided to get some work done on the Appalachia Project in the backyard before I had to shower for the Merrimack event.
~
The water table and mud had finally subsided and I raked, weeded and spread grass seed on about 1/3 of the backyard before it was was time to clean up and drive to North Andover.  Worked up a nice sweat and maxed my back to the limit.   Ethan and Will had a great time watching Ben's team despite their limited attention spans.
~
But I was pleasantly surprized when I went to get something in the F150  after we got back.  Brian had left a bottle of Black Seal Goslings Rum with a nice thank you note for using the truck.   Even though it was entirely unnecessary, it proved once again why Brian bears the coveted title of "Superpeep".
~
There are not a heck of a lot of Superpeeps.   And you don't often get contact with many of them in the same day.   But between Scuba Steve, Jill, Benny, and Brian.... it was one of those days that make everything seem right with the world.

Grenade Pin

Clammers found cases with 126 grenades in New Bedford.  Some were live.   They were safely detonated and no one was hurt.
~
That reminds me of an old college incident, in James House at UMASS.  The Vietnam War was in play, and a crazy vet was visiting his friend in the dorm room next door.
~
In those days, a lot of guys would come back from the war, fresh from firefights and other horrific shit that only happened a week or so ago.  One day, you are on patrol, firing off your M1 in DaNang at VietCong hell bent on killing you, and the next week you are hanging out on campus at Amherst, MA.  I always felt bad for these guys who didn't have a college deferment, and was enrolled in Army ROTC preparing to go myself.
~
This guy was really jacked in a lot of ways, and we all were leary of him.  It was my freshman year and he used to drill Aaron Boykin and myself when we had our uniforms on to go to ROTC class.    But that's another story.
~
One day, he came into my room with a grenade in his hand, stuffed it into the hand of my roommate, Jeff Middleton, pulled the pin, and told him to hold the lever, or we would all die.  Then he left the room.  Jeff and I stood there with a WTF look on our faces.
~
After about thirty seconds of standing there stunned, I said to Jeff that we should carefully take the grenade outside, walk it across the athletic fields, and heave it into the woods.  Jeff stood there ackwardly holding the thing with his hand clasped on the detonation lever.  We were too dazed to be afraid.
~
Before we got the plan into action,  the crazy vet came back, put the pin back into the grenade, quietly took it with him. and left without a word.    We never mentioned it again.... like it never happened.
~
I often wonder whether that grenade was live, and what would have happened if it blew up on the edge of the intramural field.  My guess is that if it was a dud, the vet wouldn't have come back so soon to take it back.  He would have let us sweat a lot longer.
~
It's one of the many things in my life that could have gone drastically wrong...... but didn't.... so I'm sitting here blogging today.  There is enough stuff that could have gone wrong and did.... but I'm here anyway.

MattyL said...

this blog is the ultra balls.

-- Matthew Lyons

POTW Week 16

Joanne and I took the afternoon off and headed up to the coast of Southern Maine.  A nice drive along the ocean through Kittery, York, Wells and Ogunquit. 
~
It must be soothing to live on the water like that.  Maybe a nice place to retire.  But I'll need a to win the lottery or make a score before I can pull that off.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 16th Week of 2010.


Ben Martin
Brian Butler
Wayne Webster
Kelly Light
Jill Phillips
Maria Rowen

Plus it's close to the outlet stores in Kittery.... particularly the Kittery Trading Post which is my favority place to buy fishing tackle.

Dropping My Guard

I'm watching some lawyer expert on Good Morning America who sounds pretty smart, but is wearing a bowtie.
~
I can't take anybody seriously who wears a bowtie.
~
Course I shouldn't be watching Good Morning America anyway, but Diane Vargas is a substitute host, and she hasn't made my skin crawl like some of the other phoney liberal hosts that have been employed on that show.   Even though George Stephanopoulos generally aggravates me, somehow I can tolerate him, unless he is in his self righteous, political commentary mode.
~
Maybe I'm getting soft.

Observation of the Pathetic

People who are completely self absorbed end up to be such users and manipulators.
~
Since all of their thoughts and actions are directed to themselves and their own self pity, they unconsciously position everything in their lives in a vain attempt to ingratiate themselves.  They always look for others to pity them, and do for them.
~
The problem is that it is so transparent.  Any idiot can see it except for the self absorbed perpetrators themselves.
~
I was just saying.

Tuna Lips said...

In the fine fashion of them Brits and theys court of guvment wearing wigs and shit, I says harumph! Self absorbin folks is such foneys, takin' on airs, likes they never snacked on the dead skin fermentin atwixt they toes, or havin' relashuns with they own kin (the ears on Charile, the feller tha was buggerin' that cheeky mynx Dianuh but preferred to pleasurify someone that looked like his mammy, tells me that ain't nature in action), its galls ole TL.

But I keeps on keepin' on. No sense in takin' to the baser assemblages of humanity.

Happy Birthday Mikey

It's my youngest son, Michael's, 27th birthday today.  Seems like only yesterday when he was delivered at the now demolished Lynn Hospital with no complications.  A great job by Joanne.
~
Mike has met the challenges of youth and is now well along the path of adulthood.  He turned out damn good in a lot of ways.
~
In case you are doing the math, I was twelve when Michael was conceived.  Joanne was thirteen...... We started early.

SRaiche said...

Happy Birthday Mikey!
Congratulations to the Mountain of a Man and Joanne for raising a wonder addition to the human race.
Sue Sue

Lull Period

Now that the Democrats have socialized medicine in place.... what next?  Seems like kind of a lull out there.
~
Our occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan is damn quiet.  You only hear of something when some poor local twenty year old serviceman gets blown up from time to time.
~
The stimulis package and jobs bill is virtually unnoticable and people seem to be silent about the economy.  Real Estate looks to be picking up.
~
The Tea Party movement is nebulous and unfocused with no leadership outside of maybe Sarah Palin, who is ridiculed everytime she takes a breath.
~
I'm not complaining.  Something whacky will show up soon enough.  A little lull is good for all of us.

pisc said...


Not time to overplay any hand. Job continue to be lost. Real estate is in the shitter, as property continues to lose value in my town (see zillow.com for what is happening in Marblehead). People are actually asking "where is the free health care?" 53% of us pay taxes. When it hits 49%, time to move.

Next year, when the taxes hit, there will be real questions, not about the personality of this man child running the show, but of the principles of the people behind him. He is a surrogate. In 2014, when he is gone, and the newer taxes hit, there will be more questions about what this great experiment has become.
Put your money in Apple. Apple product are, in 2010, the five cent movies of the 1930s.

Fresh Cod

So I'm on Facebook last night, looking to stir up some controversy, and up pops Mark Vona on Instant Messaging with the question that you long to hear.
~
"J. Do you and Joanne want some Cod?"
~
Coming from Mark, you know that this is the fresh stuff..... Codfish happily swimming around in Massachusetts Bay about 48 hours ago with absolutely no indication that they were about to give it up to Mark's superior angling skills.
~
Early this morning, just as I was about to power up Nanepashemet Telecom, in walks Mark with a couple of pounds of fresh cod. all skinned, filleted and in a plastic freezer bag.
~
Damn... What a class act!
~
And they say that Facebook is a waste of time.  Fresh cod for dinner.

Never Watch It

Sometimes being a Mountain of a Man means that you have to admit that you enjoy some stuff that isn't exactly manly.
~
Like watching "Dancing with the Stars" or something like that.
~
Not that I ever watch DWTS.
~
Or that I hope that Pamela Anderson makes it to the next round.
~
Or that my favorite dance is the Quickstep, followed closely by the ChaChaCha.
~
I wouldn't be caught dead watching "Dancing".
~
Although, I hope that Jake the Bachelor gets the ax this week big time.

POTW Week 15

I know that I'm late with this.
Deal with it.

Announcing...
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 15th Week of 2010

Lindsey Kepnes
Gil Shaw
The Home Depot Guy Who Tried to Sell me a Pressure Washer
Ryan Nestor
Tina Rhodes
Alex Watts

OK, the reason is that I had a brain fart.... that lasted just about the entire weekend.   But I'm back now, so don't screw with me.

No Rain Delay

It's another miserable, drizzly, 40 degree day today.  Perfect weather to powerwash the  pressure treated planking on my deck.  That will take me the better part of the morning.
~
After that, I promised Mike that I would take some measurements to fabricate a  replacement of a sliding door in his South Boston Condo.   Those two projects will account for most of the day.   In the meantime, I probably should clean up the mess in the kitchen before Joanne gets back from North Conway.
~
By tonight, it will be time to settle in, pay some bills, and do some proformas.
~
Sunshine would be nice, but it is not required today.

Lauren Rathbone, former POTY said...


We were in North Conway this weekend for the Tuckerman Pentathlon, and I thought I saw Mrs. Nestor downtown when we were driving by. It must have been her. We had 5 inches of snow up there on Saturday.

Dissing Dissent

Lots of heartburn out there from guys like Obama and Clinton regarding the Tea Party dissenters.
~
What I don't understand is.... why don't they respond to the arguments?  Instead they just poo poo....  Saying that they are "amused" or warning that the dissent may cause another "Oklahoma City".
~
It's dangerous if you don't give dissenting opinions respect.   That's what will ultimately cause the explosion... not the dissent itself.
~
If you don't like what somebody says and you simply attack them for saying it.... that is a particularly wrong strategy that will motivate and empower those who are striving to be heard.

Pisc said...
Well said. Word like arrogance and fear mongering apply to the hoighty toidy so called progressives.
I love using the term so-called as it was a common modified used by the American Civil Rights activists in rightly mocking some of the catch phrases of our country, such as "justice for all" etc.


Now, I find myself on the right side of the same phrase, the so-called "representative government", the so-called "Bill of Rights", the so-called "Free Press".


The individual American is the engine of this nation. The arrogance of this government, to deny the power for good that this recipe has been. We fight wars over this stuff, but we get it right. And then try to get it right when it goes wrong. Duh. I mean, how arrogant to think that their is a formula to life beyond work hard, defend your own, and hope for luck. That ensure justice, unless you are looking for it from someone else. Pompous pricks, these Libs.


And another thing. A principled disagreement with the administrations position is de facto racist. I call bullshit.

Earthquakes and Vocanoes.

Earthquake in Western China yesterday, volcanic eruption in Iceland this morning... are these geological events happening with more regularity?  Or do we have instant access to events everywhere in the globe so that things in China and Iceland are immediately observable.
~
I think it's the latter.
~
I hope it's the latter.
~
Because if it isn't the latter, then the Mayans are on to something.... and we could be screwed.

Pisc said...

Volcanos erupting cool the earth. Its science, though it seems too simple. Al Gore's Global Warming/Carbon Credits gamut is going down the sh*tter. Guy is a pickle sniffing pansie.

Maria Rowen said...

Non-fiction or fable… Whether it is the mystery of the Mayans or the roadmap of Revelations…if the grid goes down…peeps need to prepare. So…line up the Lagavulin, stockpile the soup and top off the tins of tuna. Buy batteries, books and cartons of Cottonelle because 12.21.2012 could be the day that never ends…

Excellent point on the Cottonelle, Maria.

Doug Maxfield said...


You tube 'final countdown on the kazoo'. I nominate this version as the anthem for end of days.

Good Health or Else

Kelly Light, a Nanepashemet Peep with her head on straight, passes along this little gem of a notice found in her Doctor's office.
~
Welcome to the future.   Health care brought to you with all of the logic and efficiency that government bureaucracy is noted for.
~
Good health to you.

Raise Some Cash

Just so you know, I think that this real estate slump is about to end.  At least up here in the Boston area.  Course this is not based upon empirical, economic data... just my base feeling.  I've been helping some friends look for a home in Central MA, and the good ones are getting scooped up within a week on the market.  Nanepashemet Real Estate buyer's brokers are on the case.
~
True, these are reasonably priced homes, in mint condition, and in an up and coming market around Route 495.   But since when have you had to rush to put in an offer on real estate?
~
There are some real bargains out there, buying from people who have been hanging on during this slump and are getting desperate.  Now is the time to raise cash and buy some real estate.  Within a year, things will be heating up.

Pisc said...
Not so sure. Money will become more expensive before the year is over. The Fed has to move the inter-bank rate - gas prices are going up not because the economy is cranking along, its because the dollar is increasingly worth less. In order to shore up the dollar/fight inflation, the cost has to go up. I think people are rushing to move property before that happens. When that happens, fuggedaboudit.

More Meaningful Masters

Phil Mickelson winning the Masters was the best thing that could happen to Tiger Woods.  If Woods had won, and he certainly was in a position to do so, the backlash and reaction would have been acute.  Mickelson grabbing the spotlight was a nice diversion from Tiger.
~
Mickelson looked awfully good.  And I always like it when a lefty golfer wins a golf tournament.  But the added story... that he was preoccupied this year with the cancer that his wife and mother were both battling... stands in sharp contrast to Tiger's battle with a sex addiction.
~
So maybe those who are inclined to follow professional golf can back off from the Tiger topic, and embrace a more "healthy" situation with Mickelson.

Tuna Lips said...

Truth be told, most rite minded fellers would prefers to embrasify them blonde trollops with the ponderus hooters like Woodsy done do.



Pisc said...
For the Bruins fans out there, could not have happened to a nicer guy.
http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/04/10/matt-cooke-suffers-one-punch-knockout-by-evander-kane/




TommyO said...


Could not have happened to a nicer guy.
The first right sent him down, the right on the way down kept him down. Kane was certainly Able.
- OZone

Migration on Hold.

With the fence done, the messy woodpile at the side of the house was scresaming to be moved.  So I completed the wood rack and saw jack under the deck and moved half of it yesterday.  After a visit to FreshAyer this morning I will complete that project.
~
Then a thourough raking and clean up will be in order.
~
I uncovered and moved the Tender and the Pram yesterday as well and each will need a fairly serious overhaul of all surfaces to be ready for the season.  The Appalachian project will be put on hold until these boats are ready to be launched for the season.
~
But that will only take a few weeks and the migration of the backyard from Appalachia to New England will continue.  The problem is that everytime one component is finished, other parts emerge to be intolerable.

POTW Week 14

It was a nice turnout at the charity auction last night that Melissa Sherwood coordinated at RockStar Fitness in Marblehead. 
~
My friend Harvey Rowe did a great job describing how the event would help the "My Brother's Table" soup kitchen in Lynn where Harvey has done such inspirational work.  And my friend Mike Rockett really revved up the bidding, and literally put his money where his mouth is.  Another great job.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 14th Week of 2010.

Mike Rockett
Harvey Rowe
Sarah McCormack
Norm Sherwood
Stephany Connolly
Tom McMahon

It's nice when something that you drag yourself out for turns out to be such a fun time.

Goofy Golfer

Once again our thoughts turn to Tiger Woods....
~
He comes out after a harrowing 6 month ordeal away from his craft and shoots 4 under in the first round to be tied for 3rd in the Masters.
~
That would have been a great step in his re-entry after embarassment and scandal.  That should be the story of the day.  No more.
~
But then he allows a Nike ad to run with his dead father's narrative and a contrived baneful look on his face.
~
Jeez Tiger... you went to Stanford.  I thought that was a good school..... but you are freaking stupid.
~
Just swing the club.  None of your perverted personal life is any more than gossip and voyeurism to us.  Why the hell do we need to see you pretending to listen to your father speak from the grave????  You have completely lost your way.

Tuna Lips said...


This here feller bangin' the next door neighbors daughter and not so much as a barn burnin', well, the end of civilezatin' as we knowd it caint be far off. Before that happens, I does want to git my hoe-down on like he do whith them adult movin' picture show hore-type starlets. So much to get done.

Woodpile Delay

I had planned to move the woodpile from the side of the house to underneath the deck by this time of the week.  But like most plans, other factors caused some changes.
~
The first was that pesky virus that overtook Joanne and I at the beginning of the week.  That killed Monday.  Then I had to make up the work at Nanepashemet Telecom on Tues and Wed..
~
But during that time, in considering that a lot of the wood that I would be moving won't fit into the wood stove without being recut, I decided to make a cross jack chainsaw horse first.  Then I have to make a wood storage rack out of pressure treated lumber that I salvaged from a telecom shelter that we demolished.
~
So when I move the pile, it won't be transferring one mess to another mess.
~
My primary project for the weekend was to paint the pram, but the woodpile delay will push this off to next week.
 Former POTY, Tom McMahon said...
Yes, I know you hate being called big. But this video is why you should love it. Play it between the 5:12 - 6:15 time period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdE1C6NaT5Q

Have a good one Big J.,
McMahon

No Nukes unless Necessary.

The US has announced that it would not be using it's nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.
~
This appears to be a plea for countries to resist a nuclear bomb development program.
~
It won't work.
~
Crazy regimes will continue to try to have nukes and we will find an excuse to nuke them if the occasion exists.  What we say now has no bearing on future actions, so I wish the conservative talk shows wouldn't get so freaking strung out.

Spring Season

Trees are budding.  Tomorrow the temperature is set to go to the eighties.  The Red Sox are playing the Yankees tomorrow.
~
So Spring must be here.
~
After this, there is only one more Spring to go.

Project Management Success

Wayne Murray, a good PM at GD from my memory, asks the following question on LinkedIn.

What is the key to being a successful Market Manager/Program Manager in todays Commercial Wireless environment?

I know that I sound presumptuous, but I really feel confident with the answer here.

You need the following elements to be a successful project manager.

• A solid knowledge of the contract work breakdown structure resonating through the market organization as well as the market customer staff.
• Production metrics tied directly to the WBS and staffed by competent professionals who are enpowered to make decisions at their staff level. 
• Metrics must reflect reasonable contract monetary milestones.

If you can line up knowledge, metrics and competence along with a healthy customer contract, you will hit program goals and achieve customer satisfaction. 

If any component is missing... the compensatory strain will ultimately affect the project.   All of these components must be looked at continuously and tweaked as necessary during the project.  That includes staff changes and contract modifications.

I have walked away from projects where the components cannot be lined up.   Better for the customer to throw stones at you at the beginning based upon an untenable situation than to slog through and with a project that cannot work and hurt your company and career... all the while screeching "I told you so".

Nobody listens to "I told you so" when a project has gone to hell.  Memories are short and corporate careers are being protected.   Take the hit up front and project your company.  Negotiating the right contract terms is 60% of project success.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise finds horse wippin' the non-acomadatin' dirt peoples is an efacaseshus way to gettin' er done. Kernel Sartoris learnt me that, back in Chickesaw County days. Kill the monkee and the hens get to layin' eggs right quick.

Give Us Barabbas

Happy Easter.
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One of my favorite holidays because it signifies spring and rebirth, and the ultimate hope.  Plus there are cool Easter movies, like "Barabbas" and "Ben Hur".
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They just don't make actors like Anthony Quinn and Charlton Heston anymore.

POTW Week 13

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day.  Mike helped me to finish the fence, and the back of the house has officially moved from Appalachia to the North Shore of Boston.  Once all of the trim is painted it will actually look really good. 
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I'm concerned about the water table though in the backyard since the willows have been cut down.  It's like the Everglades back there.  So maybe we are moving the house from Appalachia by way of the Everglades.
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Announcing ....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 13th week of 2010

Ben Martin's girlfriend who is from RI but I can't remember her name.

Ben Martin

Craig Murray

Mike Nestor

Rakesh Goel

Tommy O'Shea

Tomorrow is Easter.  And I will give an appropriate amount of consideration to the day, since I'm a cultural Catholic and believe in the divinity of Christ.  But I'm also going to try to move the firewood storage from the side of the house to the underside of the deck.
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Then we'll be concentrating on getting the pram and the tender ready for the season.  Hopefully the back will dry out.

Bird Seed Generosity

The other day, Stevie Lewis asked me how the action at the Feeder was.
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It dawns on me that I have been keeping this to myself and not sharing the daily Bird Feeder goings on with the multitude of you Peeps yearning to know any insignificant thing imaginable.
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So it does seem a bit selfish on my part.
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Anyway.... over the last two days, numerous Blue Jays, Sparrows, a House Finch, Chickadees and a male and female Cardinal have been observed partaking of my bird seed generosity.  I've also seen Robins and a number of Mourning Doves in the general vicinity.
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This should cover the Feeder report for the time being.