Thursday, March 15, 2012

Aquaponic Revival

I've been thinking of reviving my Aquaponics project that I scoped out a few years ago.  There is something really cool about raising fish and vegetables in a interactive organic system.... plus it could come in handy if I survive the Mayan end of days.




The standard fish is Tilapia, but I'd love to stock the tank with Bass.
~
Must be spring fever.

  1. Bass are surprisingly interactive pets...Rip Bassford; 2000-2006.
  2. Tuna Lips Said....Mar 15, 2012 08:54 AM
    Looks somefin' like the rig ole Shoo Fly had back in North Memphis days, fer growin' reefer indoors, outside of pryin' eyes and such. Ended up torchin' halfa block of triple deckers. He had to split town right quick, bench warrants, you get the picture.

    Ole Shoo. Never was much good with jackin' 'lectricity offa the neighbors meter.



Monday, March 12, 2012

Believe

The astrology web page that I've read every year for the past dozen years or so, www.cainer.com by the Brit, Jonathan Cainer, says that good things are supposed to happen to me this week.... because of the Grand Trine... where Jupiter, Venus and Pluto are geometrically lining up in some significant fashion.
~
Yet I still came up short in the big proposal that I put together last week.
~
WTF Jonathan!!!!
~
You better have a good reason for this slam because I can't see the good in it whatsoever!
~
Not that I believed in this Horoscope Bullshit in the past... but now I really don't believe in it..... unless things get super good pretty fast.


Pisc  said....Mar 12, 2012 06:30 PM
this is from Marilyn, the Inuit woman character on the Now old show Northern Exposure:

There was a warrior who had a fine stallion. Everyone said how lucky he was to have such a horse.
"Maybe" he said.
One day the stallion ran off. The people said the warrior was unlucky.
"Maybe" he said.
The next day the stallion returned, leading a string of fine ponies. The people said it was very lucky.
"Maybe" the warrior said.
Later, the warrior's son was thrown from one of the ponies and broke his leg. The people said it was unlucky.
"Maybe" the warrior said.
The next week, the chief lead a war party against another tribe. Many young men were killed. But, because of his broken leg, the warrior's son was left behind, and so was spared. 





____________________________________
Thanks Pisc.  Somehow I feel like the guy in this kayak.  Sometimes you shouldn't be on the water.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

POTW Week 10 - 2012

Jill Lewis mentioned this afternoon that I seemed to have fallen off of the wagon with the Peep of the Week Selections for awhile.
~
An astute observation from the attractive Stevie Lewis Trophy Wife.
~
This pathetic Blog is over five year's old, and I used to have quite a streak in making the POTW selections week after week.  I never felt like it was an obligation, but was an enjoyable weekly pastime.
~
Yes... I know that some of you have a pathological obsession to seeing the weekly Blog feature.... but that's your freaking problem.  I can't be responsible for the escalation of reading this irrelevant ranting into a full bore addiction... like hoarding, shoplifting, or nymphomania.
~
Next thing you know, they'll be coming up with a medical term to codify the condition... something like Nanepashementia Syndrome.

ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 10th week of 2012.


Jill Lewis
Phoebe Crawford
Emily Ingardia
Sue Sue Raiche
Al Watts
Scott Brown

I can't be held responsible.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Divas Drop By

These two divas - Emily Angardia and Katelyn Nestor - will be dropping by tomorrow along with other fortunate Peeps for a little birthday celebration for Kate.
~
I'm sure I'll do or say something wrong and get immediately screeched at.... but I'm really looking forward to it.

Friday, March 09, 2012

Challenge to Be Met

It's been a big week.
~
Nanepashemet Telecom has been exploding with growth and my time has been occupied in trying to catch up, support and accomodate this upswing in business.
~
In the old days at General Dynamics, I never had to worry about financing the new work that we won.... just how to implement it.
~
Now... Financing growth looms as a major challenge.
~
Just in case you are thinking that the Mountain of a Man isn't up for it.... Naturally you are dispicably wrong....and probably have bad breath and a stong need for a hot shower.
~
This challenge will be met and conquered.... with all all appropriate humbleness and humility.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Can't Make It Up


I was feeling kind of bad about the lack of posts lately on this pathetic Blog... so I decided to make it up to you by posting a photo of myself.
~
This is a section of the Lynn English High School class of 1970.
~
yes... the Mountain of a Man is standing in the upper left hand corner of this photo next to my friend Phil Freeman.  He's the one with the Afro.  In High School, I was a white kid.

Tuna Lips said.....Mar 9, 2012 11:34 AM

Hows bout pointin' out the class slut.

Friday, March 02, 2012

POTW Week 9 - 2012

When I used to work in Lynn, my Boss, Ed Calnan, used to have an expression that went something like this....  "Been hit with so many lefts, that I'm begging for a right."
~
Two weeks into this business Tsunami and those words have a logical ring to them.
~
On Monday morning, there is a big right winding up....

ANNOUNCING.....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 9th Week of 2012.


Bill Hillegas
Patrick Piscatelli
Maria Rowen
Katelyn Nestor
Jim Bob Peabody
Tommy O'Shea

Calnan also left me with the saying....."One More and We'll All Leave Together", which is one dangerous phrase.
~
He was a good Boss.

Didn't See THAT Coming.

He's working where?   For Who???
~
Holy Shit.  What the Hell is the matter with him?
~
Would not have predicted that one.

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Shame on Me

Fool me Once... Shame on You.
Fool me Twice... Shame on Me.
Won't get Fooled Again.


Been there myself, Kemosabe. Damn tranny hookers.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

To Do List

I have a great "To Do" list on Excel.
~
But you know things are getting out of control when you are too busy to look at it.
~
To Do Lists only seem to work when there is not much to do, so you have the time to be organized.  These days, I only have time to look at the latest priority and the rest of the details seem to be going to Hell.
~
Can't really get too far into this, because I have a lot of stuff to do.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Crime at Cook Street

Last week in February during this snowless winter for Boston.  When I was a kid in Lynn, sledding on Suicide Hill in the Cook Street Playgound, this would have been a disaster.
~
Speaking of Cook Street.... two girls from English High School were caught on video fighting there for eight minutes or so last week.  They are being charged by the Police and the students filming are being disciplined by the High School.
~
Looked like a regular disagreement that used to happen all the time there.  Nothing special about the fracas and nobody looked too beat up.
~
Man... I'm lucky to have grown up there before the Internet was invented by Al Gore!
~
I would have been arrested numerous times.  So would my brother and most everyone I know from that neighborhood.   Statute of Limitations expired with plenty of time to spare for me.
~
Cook Street Playground had a lot of redeeming values. There used to be a tennis court there with no nets, poles or lines.   We played baseball for hours on end, arguing about every play, until the covers came off of the ball from hitting the pavement over and over.  Then we would tape it up with bull tape and keep playing.
~
There were a couple of basketball standards with hoops and no nets.  Someone would always make sure that a few bottles got smashed every night, tossed down from the stone walls that were erected in the 1930's during the WPA.....so shards of glass were the norm.  My Voit rubber basketballs used to get slashed until finally punctured when the nubs had worn down.
~
We used to climb those walls, and walk along the tops for hours.  The drop was twenty feet or so in places.   After blizzards, with snow drifts at the bottom we use to jump off, thinking that the snow would prevent any injuries.   Can't believe we didn't break our necks.
~
If the snow would melt then freeze, the tennis court became a rink and we all learned to play hockey on that crappy ice at Cook Street.
~
The two rival playgrounds were the Meadow, down by the Chestnut Street Projects and High Rock Playground.  I got beat up passing through both neighborhoods, so basically stayed clear.
~
I can see the kids like it was yesterday...... my best friend Stevie Connors and his twin sister Sue, who could always run faster than I could, their big brother Joey, Chucky Pappas,  Walter and Bobby Sullivan, the toughest kid there who beat up me and Stevie at the same time..... Mikey and Lenny Sinos, Teddy Gautreau, Bobby Frazier, Dicky Lunden, Rick Gilmore, Mike Cheever.....
~
The Black Kids..... Arthur Godfrey, Gary Roche.... lived two streets over on Jefferson Street  (we called them Negroes then in front of their face and the N word behind their backs.)  Instant altercation if you dropped the N word on them.   Gary taught me how to ride a two wheeler without my training wheels for the first time.
~
You were considered really tough then if you could take a Negro in a fight.   I couldn't.
~
It's a different world now.  Playground fights make it to the Boston Newscast.
~
If YouTube and smartphones were around then,  we would have been celebrities, and probably never allowed to graduate from High School.
~
Good Times.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Nod Notions

Peeps...
~
It's still not time to guide you with the Nanepashemet Nod for the Presidential Candidates.
~
Even so... I've been thinking of it.... and it will not be without provocative challenges.
~
Right now, nobody stands head and shoulders over the crowd for the NN.

Newt... can't see handing someone the chief executive job who doesn't have the organizational ability to get on the ballot in his home state of Virginia.

Ron Paul... too old, and too out there.  I hate to bring up the age thing, but when you get older, things get harder.... and I'm not just talking about sexual performance and memory loss.... there is a whole lot of other stuff. (Trust me... I know.)

Santorum... Lost his last run for election as the US Senate incumbent from PA by 19 points.  What the hell was that all about????

Mitt.... Undoubtedly the most accomplished and able of the bunch... the Utah Olympics performance was awesome.   But Romney has a problem relating and I feel like most people feel that voting against him is like "sticking it to the man."   Plus, I don't trust guys who dye their hair.

BO.... Best guy on the planet in front of a teleprompter... but it's amateur hour everywhere else.  I truly wish this guy had an ounce of ability, but the country needs a more competent leader.
~
So there it is.  A quandary if there ever was one.  But let's face it.... you have to be pretty weird to run for the job in the first place... a sort of ego maniacal narcissist who welcomes a daily dose of character assassination.
~
I'll eventually figure this out.


That Santaria feller couldn't get layed in a monkey hoor house with a bunch o' bananas. Ixnay fer him.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

POTW Week 7 2012

Earlier, I explained to you that things were stepped up on the work front.  One thing I'm very thankful for is the weather this year... unseasonably warm and dry.  Snow and rain really screws up the works at Nanepashemet Telecom.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 7th Week of 2012.


JJ McBride
Harvey Rowe
Brenda Lewin
Tyler Gill
Adele
Freddie Rios

It would be cool if we could sneak through this winter, at least in my market area, with no significant snowfall.  Naturally, we'll have to put up with the global warming alarmists, but that is a small aggravation to bear.  Plus it's an election year, and they will be too busy writing works of fiction about the glory of our dysfunctional government.

BusinessTsunami in Process

I know that I've only made two Blog posts this whole week.
~
What part of "Business Tsunami" is it that you don't freaking understand?????
~
Nanepashemet Telecom is deluged with work and we are straining at the bit.  Plus, this is work from one of those big mofo international corporations who want you to take care of every little detail, who make you do things over because of their equipment malfunctions, and who think nothing of making you wait 90 days for your freaking money.
~
There are some serious jumping through hoops going on so that some corporate bureaucrats can check boxes and show progress in a huge database, destined for some forgotten digital archive a couple of months from now.
~
In Ninety days, we will be swimming in cash from this upswing, but until then, the theme of the day is "This Sucks".  As it is, I'm posting this from a site in East Bumphuck on the New Hampshire/ Massachusetts border, when I should be using this on-line time filling our forms and construction reports.
~
So consider yourself lucky that I take the time to address this pathetic Blog.  Things could be much worse.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Smoking Habit

I don't smoke.
~
I can tolerate cigar smoke, but can't stand cigarette smoke.  I wish I could because it would help me tolerate certain circumstances, but I am very uncomfortable around anyone smoking.
~
So if you are my friend, and you smoke... rest assured that I really like you a lot or I wouldn't put in the effort.   I can't imagine what it must cost daily to maintain this, and I'm sure that the addictive nature of nicotine is mighty hard to deal with.
~
Not only am I abhorrent to the smell, I can't stand to even watch people smoking.  Butts on the ground or in ashtrays are sickening to me.  Can't stand the smell on people and on their clothes and stuff.
~
Over the years, there has been a public crackdown on smoking in restaurants and public places which has made things a lot more tolerable for me.   When I was in college, kids would smoke in class and use the floor to dump their ashes and butts.  Incredibly gross and dirty.  Not very friendly to the environment either.
~
I truly wish that I could tolerate the habit, because it is not going away.


Tuna Lips said.... Feb 17, 2012 07:02 PM
Yer recent pontifikatin' gets some of us wonderin' if you might be goin' gay. Can we get back te buildin' rafts, char grillin' stuff and stickin' it to the man?!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Whitney Houston

Addiction to drugs, alcohol, overeating, tobacco.... these are the demons that we live with.
 ~
All of these things are used to ease the heaviness of life.... dealing with the emotions, fears, and uncertainties that we all face during this trial on Earth.
~
We all react with shock and sadness when those among us with the most visible gifts... wealth, beauty, talent... succumbs to the addiction. If it can happen to them, what chance do we ordinary mortals have?
~
Seems like most addictive habits are a misguided attempt to control our own lives.... to reach out and create our own sense of happiness, good feeling and peace, however perverted.   It is when we give up control, when we surrender our fate to God, a Higher Power, or whatever you believe in... that you can escape this destructive behavior.
~
Not easy to do.  R.I.P. Whitney Houston.


Tuna Lips said...Feb 14, 2012 05:59 PM
Use partial te hookers, myself.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Portable Band Saw

I hope that this Harborfreight Tool can fit the bill at Nanepashemet Telecom for cutting 6" galvanized steel posts. We'll see next week.Portable Bandsaw

Bobbing and Weaving

Peeps -
I'm taking down the FreshAyer Countdown.  It's been up for well over 700 days, and we painfully watched it progress to zero.
~
But, it's been 10 days since we have entered the Halfway House stage and everything is progressing nicely.  Gradually, in small steps, everything is returning to normal.   Our grandkids will never remember this... while we will never forget.
~
You may have noticed that this Blog rarely tells you anything.  But rest assured that everything has been recorded, and will be disclosed if appropriate.
~
When I was a young man, I used to think that we lived in a system that was ordered and structured by a well administered rule of law.... that you could follow a course of action and a moral way of life, and live freely and unmolested.... that you could depend on the government to dispense justice.
~
   Now that I have morphed into an old curmudgeon, my viewpoint has shifted considerably.  I now feel that we live in a kind of free for all... where the rules are made up as you go along,  that government exists primarily to provide jobs to check box bureaucrats, and you have to live by your wits to avoid being crushed by the competing interests who want a piece of you for their own checkboxes.
~
Man... that sounds cynical.   But if you can keep bobbing and weaving, you can outlast the bastards.  It's in the bobbing and weaving that the vestiges of a free and fruitful life still exist.

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Karmic Action

I was moved to consider the Law of Karma today.
~
My version of this cosmic statute goes this way.   "If you perform good deeds for others, good deeds will be performed for you, and if you are hostile and aggressive to others, then hostility  to you is the end result."
~
When Jesus said to turn the other cheek to your enemies, it was practical cosmic advice.  It simply means that if you react to a hostile act with revenge and a similar response, you will continue a cycle of responses that can never bring harmony and peace to you.
~
But if you break the cycle, by offering a peaceful response to a hateful act, you can escape the endless repetition.
~
You don't have to worry about "getting back at people" for being wronged.  The Law of Karma takes care of that, and you don't have to lift a finger.  Each action has an equal reaction.
~
Not that this "turning the other cheek" is easy to do.  It certainly seems that smashing the offender's head into a mass of pulpy protoplasm would be a far more desirable and satisfying course of action at times.   But that only sends your karma back in the wrong direction.
~
God and the Universe has the whole thing under control.   Mankind doesn't come close to understanding or defining it.  So when somebody screws with you and yours, rest assured that they will get screwed in turn.  And let it go.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

From Cell to Cell

Someday I'll have a lot to say about the BOP.  But for now, I'll just have to keep my mouth shut and let this period pass.  Don't be surprised if you hear from Ryan soon though.   He's got access to a cell phone and is firing up the minutes after all these months.
~
We had him hauling equipment today at Nanepashemet Telecom today.   Have to ease the boy back into society slowly.

Monday, February 06, 2012

A Remarkable American

Only in America can a young Muslim boy, with a White American mother and Black Kenyan father, grow up in Indonesia, lose all his college transcripts, hang out with political radicals in Chicago, and get elected President of the United States.  It is a remarkable story.
~
It doesn't matter what you think about his politics, it is a remarkable story.

Patriots Aftermath

It was a terrible night last night.
~
After the Patriots loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl, I donned my sleep apnea mask, fired up the CPAP machine, and settled in for what I thought would be a nice winter's sleep.
~
The Super Bowl was an enjoyable game except for how it ended, with Harvey Rowe, TommyO and Linda dropping by.  Beers, chicken wings and chili were the center of the game cuisine.   I didn't pound down too many beers and felt fine when I retired for the evening.
~
But a couple of hours later, I could have sworn I heard someone rummaging down stairs, so I leaped out of bed to do battle armed only in my tighty whities.  After thrashing around, I figured that the noise was a combination of  the ice maker and the furnace, so I resumed the effort to sleep.
~
All that adrenaline apparently revved up my digestive system, and I had three quick and consecutive bathroom toilet  sessions.   By 4:00 AM, the sleep  effort was useless and I headed to the couch to see some back  episodes of "Homeland".
~
I dawns on me though... and I have been thinking of this for some time now.... that if nothing else, it is incredible how our bodies take all types of organic concoctions though our mouths, and hours later, manufacture it all as piss and shit.   No matter what goes in, our body turns it into shit.
~
We are shit producing machines.   Have a piece of cake?  You turn it into shit.   Have an apple?  You manufacture it into shit.   Have chicken wings, beer, and chili?  You turn it into a lot of shit, and basically screw up a night's sleep in the process.
~
Just an observation.... I probably won't bring it up again.

Sunday, February 05, 2012

No Big Deal.

So the Nod came up short.
~
Sometimes that happens.
~
Don't make a big freaking deal over it.

Galway Boats


Super Bowl Nod is Given

Peeps....

Most of you know how eerily accurate I am when predicting the outcome of political races and sporting events... after I have bestowed the Nanepashemet Nod.  That's why I don't use this power often, and make the call only in situations of dire importance.  Like the Scott Brown - Martha Coakley US Senate race for example.
~
There seems to be a lot of national  jealously and resentment against the Patriots - particularly Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.  Not sure why.  It is probably because of the steely determination that they bring to the game, and Brady's sizzling supermodel wife, Giselle.
~
Well today, the Nod for the Super Bowl epic between the New England Patriots and the  New York Giants goes to our beloved Patriots.
~
From the first set of downs, Tom Brady will be dialed in  and drill laser guided passes to his talented receivers, Welker, Hernandez, Branch and .... yes.... Gronkowski.  It will be a freaking rout that will put the tails of the Patriots naysayers squarely between their spindly legs.
~
That's right... all you ESPN analysts can kiss my pigskin ass.  Pats are going to win and win big.  37-14
~

The Nod has been Given... Let it be Done.

Right On
Of course I am hopeful the PATS will win. It will be nice to enjoy the Championship, but even better is shutting up all those out there currently hating on the PATS for really no good reason except they are jealous of our success.
We are Good, We are BAD, Deal with it YO.
TommyO

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Halfway There

On Thursday, we headed out to the Wilmington Distribution Facility to pick up some spools of cable and pallets of telecom antennas and equipment.... six spools and 18 pallets in two trips with the F150 and the 18' flatbed trailer.
~
Naturally, when I was handed the first box that morning, I threw my back out and hobbled around like Quasimodo for the rest of the day.
~
Not that I was complaining of the pain..... those complaints would never pass the lips of a Mountain of a Man.  In fact, I sucked it up enough to drive that evening  to the Framingham Legal Seafood for dinner and Lagavulins with Hillegas, Brown and Elsier.
~
But now it's Saturday morning, and the lower back is still aching like a mofo.
~
I'm tempted to complain just a little....
~
Hopefully things will loosen up by the time we visit Ryan in his new digs at the halfway house in Boston  this morning.


Tuna Lips said...Feb 4, 2012 08:29 AM
I rekkin' the first thing on yo boys mind is catchin' up on the philosophizing of yers truly. Weez is runnin' a test balloon of sorts on a new cable access show, "Wisdom from the Double Wide." we takin' this to the next level, like they'd does on ESPN.

Friday, February 03, 2012

Attention Spam

Lots of you have been asking me about the TV shows that I've been watching lately.
~
There was a gap when the Boardwalk Empire season ended, but now Spartacus has resumed, and that is a marker for 10:00 PM on Friday nights.
~

And I recently got into catching up with Homeland.


This prissy peep prefers pleasant positive programming. Do ya think Ben the Bachelor will find love this time? Do ya?

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Profound Thanks


Last night, I went to the Bruins Game with my son Mike, and we remarked how quick the time seems to have passed.   That always seems to be the case when an ordeal is over.  This one isn't quite over, although the FreshAyer phase has ended.  There were times though, when this day seemed that it would never arrive.
~
Appreciate all  the calls, emails and well wishes to us for this milestone day.  Someday, I'll write something profound that expresses how we feel about you who stood by us during this trying experience.  But right now, all I can muster is "Thank You".

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Smell of Victory

If the air has a funny smell this morning... that is the smell of victory.
~
Yes.  A month after our zoning application was tabled down in New Haven County, we emerged victorious with a unanimous vote and much thanks for the balloon test and photo simulations that we produced in the meantime.
~
Three hours down, three hours back.  On the couch in Marblehead by 11:30PM.
~
Sweet.
~
Living the Dream.


Is that the one in which they hang a balloon from a crane to give a line of site reference to that space the tower will occupy? Raw land new build? Before you break ground, the meter is running full speed. Nice.

The clock shows a scant 4 hours until your son's return home. My considerable array of fifty cent words fail to describe my admiration for your family. Fare forward, voyagers.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

FreshAyer Adieu

We brought the grandkids out for their last visit with Ryan at FreshAyer this morning.
~
I won't miss it.
~
It has been a depressing task, but Ryan never let us down.   He never showed any self pity, never complained, always kept a sense of humor and a sense of discovery.  He always looked forward, grasped at every learning experience, and pressed for every advantage that his environment offered.
~
At the beginning of this ordeal, he told us not to worry, because he could handle it.
~
He could.... and helped us all to cope and handle it ourselves.
~
For our enemies, who wished this experience to be hurtful out of your despicable ill will.... you will be dissapointed.  In so many ways, the punishment that you so self righteously sought has been an incredible chance to regroup, re-align, and re-boot for Ryan, his Family, and his many supporters.   The toxic phonies have been exposed and are getting smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror.
~
If Living Well is the best revenge, then Ryan has already had incredible vengeance, and the best is yet to come.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

ReEntry

It's nice to be home.  Going away always makes me appreciate home.  Even though the Nanepashemet Telecom workload hit me like a sledgehammer well before we got back to Massachusetts, I wasn't taken back because of reentry.   Keeping tabs on email is the way to go.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Eighth Grade Sniff Test

So Peeps... I've disclosed to you that this is my vacation week.... and I've been trying to keep low key and unengaged.
~
But then Nancy Pelosi hits the airwaves, claiming that Newt Gingrich will never be President ... because of what "I know".
~
Granted, she has said some stupid and inappropriate stuff in the past, but this doesn't even pass the eighth grade silliness test.  When asked  by CNN's John King if Gingrich could be President, Noble Nancy replied, "Let me just say this. That will never happen.    There's something I know. The Republicans, if they choose to nominate him, that's the prerogative. I don't even think that's going to happen."
~
Of course, she doesn't disclose what she "knows".
~
How did an airhead like Pelosi ever become the Speaker of the House?  What idiots voted for her?  Thank God I didn't have to see her head bobbing behind the President during his State of the Union Speech this year.

Down East

It's nice to get away.
~
Generally, I hate vacations, because you have to work so hard before you leave, then you get hit with a ton of crap when you get back.
~
But this time, I've stayed close to email every day and handled some routine stuff while being appraised of the important issues... without full scale emotional engagement.
~
And I would have been a lot more rested if it wasn't for these damn intestinal issues that made their entrance... or more appropriately... their exit, for the past two days.
~
I'm pretty much back to normal , but Joanne doesn't seem to be faring so well.
~
Down East Maine, Baby.  Can't get enough of it.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Play with Pain

Back in the Saddle and heading for Bar Harbor.
~
Being a Mountain of a Man means that you have to play through the Pain.
~
and BTW, the Web Cameras in Marblehead are working like a charm.  So far, a squirrel and a couple of sparrows have been caught near the doors.  I'll deal with them when I get home.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Solitary

Peeps....
~
After our workout, Joanne and I had a great breakfast in downtown Rockland, Maine.
~
Two fried eggs over easy, sausage patties, biscuits, corned beef flannel hash, tomato juice and coffee.    I put a little ketchup on the hash and opted against the hot sauce on the eggs, although I really considered it.
~
After we left, we did the tourist thing and browsed the stores up and down Main Street..... a really pretty place.  But I started to feel distressed, and after an hour bolted for the truck and deadheaded back to the hotel.
~
The fever was building, I was starting to feel nauseous but I was really glad that I passed on the Hot Sauce.  Let's just say that would have caused a decent amount of pain... the kind that Johnny Cash sang about in his all time hit..."Ring of Fire".
~

To those of you who think I had Joanne to help me out.... No Freaking Way, Kemosabe Breath.   She bolted for some really important shopping at a TJ Max or Walmart or somewhere.   Real high priority stuff.  Didn't see her for the balance of the day.
~

So I here I am,  stuck up here in Mid-Coast Maine, fairly incapacitated , with only this pathetic Blog and you Peeps to keep me company.
~

Scratch that.... I'm all alone.... all freaking alone.
~
This isn't over.

Get Ready

As you may have guessed, I'm taking this week off from work for a little R&R.  That's why I've been able to get to the Health/Pain Club so often.   Nanepashemet Telecom is in the capable hands of my partners and staff, and in point of fact, will probably fare a lot better than with me tooling around with it for 18 hours a day.
~
Sometime next week, we'll be shutting down the FreshAyer episode and moving to new challenges.  The way things are lining up in business, it looks like the timing will be just right... like it was pre-ordained or something.  Its's a good time to take a break and rest up with the business tsunami that is about to hit.
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For those of you who believe in the Law of Karma as I do, it's also time to open the doors and let the fresh air rush in... or batten down the hatches... as the case may be.
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You know who you are... and what you have to do.
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But I wouldn't get too worked up about it.   There's not a freaking thing that you can change.  You've set the course, now get ready for the ride.

Kick Save and a Beauty!

The Boston Bruins, defending Stanley Cup Champions, were invited to the White House yesterday by President B. Obama.  These types of public relations opportunities have been commonplace for years.    Tim Thomas, the outstanding Bruins Goalie, didn't make the appearance and issued this statement ...
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"I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People. 


This is being done at the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial level. This is in direct opposition to the Constitution and the Founding Fathers vision for the Federal government. 


Because I believe this, today I exercised my right as a Free Citizen, and did not visit the White House. This was not about politics or party, as in my opinion both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country. This was about a choice I had to make as an INDIVIDUAL. 


This is the only public statement I will be making on this topic. TT"
~
Kick Save and a Beauty!



Jim L. said....Jan 24, 2012 05:59 PM
That little poster should read, "Dope". This player took a special moment for the Stanley Cup Champions and made it about him and his personal views. It is a great thing in this country to be able to exercise your rights as a citizen. It is also a great thing to know when to do it.
As we know, the cup doesn't come too easy. So, when you get it you want to savor the perks that come with it. This dick figured team should be spelled with an I. And, he took some of that special moment away from his team mates.
I'll root for this guy when he's in the crease. When he steps off the ice, he's not worth my time.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Back on Track

I guess I should thank you for all of the emails and text messages asking how my workout went.   It shouldn't be so annoying because I obviously brought this on myself.... what with letting you know about my health club anxiety and all.
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The workout went fine.  In my momentary lapse of confidence, I forgot a fundamental tenet on what a Mountain of a Man is really about.
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Not only do we write world class blogs, but we're also Rough, Tough, Hard to Bluff, and Damn Good Looking.
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So it's nice to be back on track.

Facing Your Demons

Peeps...
Sometimes being a Mountain of a Man means that you wake up in the morning and face your fears head on.
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So today, before I do anything else, I'm heading back to that Health/Pain Club to stand up to my demons big time.
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Yes... I'll make eye contact with every toned hard body who walks by.
Yes... I'll snort, fart, and wheeze for 40 minutes or so on the elliptical torture track.
Yes... I'll step head long into the group exercise room and stare at the mirrors showing every angle of my girth.
And Yes... I'll avoid any mention of the locker room and showers.
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It will be nerve wracking, but I'm resolved to persevere.
~

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Doing Their Part

Pats going to the Super Bowl.
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The Patriots just beat the Baltimore Ravens to win the 2012 American Football Conference Championship.
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I did not anticipate this, especially after witnessing the humiliating loss at the hands of the Giants when Tommy O and the O'Shea Brothers almost got me killed in Foxboro.
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The Patriots are headed to Indianapolis for Super Bowl 46 for the sixth time in franchise history, two weeks from tonight.  
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I told you Peeps that things were going to be good this year... And the Pats are doing their part.

Stressful Image

Back to the Health/Pain Club this morning, and I'll be keeping my comments in strict adherence of the advice in my previous post on the subject from Waterman.
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Another big mistake was wandering into the group exercise room where they hold the aerobics classes.  It was empty so I thought there would be no harm in taking a peek....
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The freaking room is three sixty degrees of mirrors.    I generally don't mind viewing the image of the Mountain of a Man from one standpoint... but seeing front, back and sides simultaneously was extremely unsettling.

Mitt, Newt, Barack

It looks like the choice for the Nanepashemet Nod will go to either Mitt, Newt, or Barack.
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Weird Names.
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I'm not too psyched about this election selection.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Care Less for Carolina

Looks like Newt Gingrich is going to win the South Carolina Presidential Primary.
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I'm still not ready to place the Nanepashemet Nod.... even with Sarah Palin endorsing the Gingrich candidacy.
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As for Romney... I'm wicked conflicted.
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I believe he has business skills by virtue of his work at Bain Capital and the Utah Olymipics.  But he is also such a finger in the wind politician.
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I have close friends who are very tight with him, and I also have close friends who hate his guts... for good reasons.     And I highly value both friendships.
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As for Newt winning in Carolina... I had some business dealings down there... and every time left with a big assed knife sticking out of my back.  I know that I shouldn't generalize... but people in Carolina can kiss my ass.   I could care less who those back stabbing rednecks vote for.

Health Club

I went to the Health Club this morning.
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The place has been seriously misnamed.   It really should be the Club of Pain.  After some torturous sweating on the stationary bike, I wandered through the machine room, sat on one and moved some levers that somehow had weights attached to them.
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Then I got on this machine that let you do pull ups and dips while standing on some off setting metal plates.
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There were a number of friendly people who looked extremely toned, and I tried my best not to make eye contact.  I got the distinct impression that they had no idea that they were in the presence of a Mountain of a Man.
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The locker room and showers was my favorite part.  The Club had this shower head that offered a number of alternatives to get yourself really clean and I took full advantage.
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Feeling a little sore now.  Maybe I'll go back tomorrow.

Doug said...Jan 22, 2012 05:25 AM
Really? I'm the only one who is going to write this?? MOAM, you're lucky to have me.
The next time you go to the health club, do not (I repeat, do NOT)say that the locker room and the showers were your favorite part. Regardless of context.
You are welcome.

I'm not quite sure what you are driving at Waterman.   But I agree that I'm lucky to have you, and I'll heed your advice nonetheless.


Kerry D'Orio   said...Jan 22, 2012 07:43 AM
Whatever you do, do not drop the soap!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Digital Evidence

I finally got all of the internet cameras installed around the Sundance House.
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So now, I can leave anytime I want, and constantly check to see if any despicable shitheads are trying to steal my precious stuff.
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I'm not talking about you.... per se....
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Maybe I'll go to Maine and test this out.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Stupid Sports

I don't like sports where you can die if you make a mistake... like mountain climbing and downhill skiing.  Granted you can die doing anything.  A couple of times over the past few years, I thought that I was going to buy it while I was writing this freaking blog.
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But those types of things... dying while doing normal stuff, or even playing basketball... are not what I mean. You generally don't die in these activities by making a mistake.
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But climbing a mountain and slipping, or skiing headlong into a tree just seems to be a dumb way to go.
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Seems to be a lot of skiing accidents lately.


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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Money Talks

Made the New Haven commute today.  I planned to leave at 7:00AM and get back by 3:00PM.
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Left at 7:45AM and got back to Marblehead at 7:40PM.
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Little bit of ad lib on this one but it ended ok.
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With Martin Luther King Day coming to a close yesterday, the holiday season is officially over.  I have to say that it was fun but I'm glad it's over.  Things started out hazy the night before Thanksgiving and pretty much stayed that way past New Year's Day.
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That's not to say that we didn't break a sweat at Nanepashemet Telecom, but we definitely were not operating in the zone.   Today, I started to feel dialed in again.  Ready to tear it up.
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BTW, thanks for all of the purchases that you made at the Nanepashemet Blogging Apparel Store.  Between that and the Nanepashemet Books that were flying off the shelf, it kept myself and the Indonesians in the Black big time.  For all their whining and bitching, the Indonesians were really cool and they shut up immediately when I came through with the holiday windfall.
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Money talks.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Proclamation from 2012 Peep of the Year - Kerry D'Orio

I do not know what I did to deserve this ultimate honor. Of course i would never ask.. I can tell you that I was probably the most annoying and funniest person ( well in my narsassitic mind) at the pre thanksgiving day bash. I can honestly tell you that I payed for that night the next day. I would have Sold my first born to Satan, well not really, for a day of relaxation. some may say I alreAdy married satan himself, aka Brendt .
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Hailing from The Live Free or Die state has shaped my attitude. I shoot guns( AR-15 is my fav), eat red meat and wear real fur. If you don't like it then you can ...... I believe in being myself. I do not shape my beliefs based upon my audience. I refuse to cater to the Queen Bee types( news flash we are not in the sorority house anymore) and am not in to GNO's ( girls nights out). My close friends, who i cherish, have nicknamed me The Canadien Boyfriend.
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Another bonus is my popularity at home. My kids are loving this! Francesca is in awe. She said to me, "Mom , your peep of the year and Alex is wizard ofthe year!" holy shit! My daughter just compared me to Selena Gomez! For those of you unfamiliar with the tween sect Selena plays alex on the wizards of waverly place. When I announced my award my daughter was excited , not for me, but because I am in the same league as Alex , wizard of the year mommy peep of the year. I have struck pre tween gold. Hard to do. Too bad Brendt isn't my justin Beiber. He certainly cannot shake his groove thing anymore seeing he had not hit the cybex machine in at least a decade. (defibrillator please) On the other hand, brendt was really pissed because he thought he had peep of the year in the bag given how many bribes ( I mean automatics) he had donated. Not to worry Brendt I couldn't have done it with out you. You are the man behind the woman. You have put up with my shenanigans for years. I promise you This summer i will let you catch more fish than me.

~
This peep of the year is looking forward to early feb when Fresh Ayer runs out and grape fruit season commences. I am sure the foot traffic from the Sundance house to The Razor ( first husbands mancave) will have as much foot traffic as an illegal alien smuggling route from Mexico to The USA . The Razor is always open for an ice cold beverage with good friends. Looking forard to it!
~
Once the Whale Eye hits the water and that mountain of a man Jay pulls his lobster traps in a strapping and patrick swayze roadhouse type fashion I think we should initiate an annual peep of the year lobster bake at the sundance house. I am sure Ryan will add to the feast when he reels in a monster Tuna Aboard The Flying Elvis. First husband is an excellent Captain ;)
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I will provide grade A meat ( sorry ladies brendt is off the market) and provide the automatic. Jay whip up those white trash balls and Tommy Ooooo whip up that Chowda!
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Looking forward this roller coaster of a ride.
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On a more serious note, i am Pondering my clothing line...suggestions accepted.


TommyO saidJan 16, 2012 12:33 PM
Well Done Kerry, welcome to the club.
TommyO

Kerry D' Orio said...Jan 17, 2012 05:24 PM
Tommy O, we need to celebrate with a drink



White House Tenants




I have some good friends who are offended by the policies of George Bush.  
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But regardless of your politics, the Bush's are nice people and never exhibited the crassness of the Clinton's and the Obama's.   I know accounts of Secret Service people who served the various administrations who say that the Bush's were the most genuine and caring  of all the White House tenants that they served.
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Apparently, Barack wanted to go to Camp David, but Michelle nixed that plan.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Back to Normal

We're heading out to FreshAyer this morning for maybe the last time with the Grandkids.  The countdown is down to a little over two weeks.
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For those of you who have been keeping tabs on the days left, I'm sure you feel as we do that it is almost surreal that this ordeal is coming to an end.  At the beginning, when we were staring at over 700 days each time, it seemed like these days would never be here.
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As Will Crawford eloquently said the other day, "There's been a void in our lives, and now everything can get back to normal."
~
That pretty much sums it up.


Doug said....Jan 15, 2012 12:03 PM
Let me know if there is anything planned for his imminent release...I got the little fella a gift he's sure to appreciate.


___________________________________________________________
The Waterman among others is asking about any ceremonies or festivities that are contemplated.  None yet.... until all the details of the release are available, but he and the rest of the loyal peeps will be suitably informed and involved.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Straw Poll

Patriots are pummeling Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.
~
Taking a straw poll on who is going to win?

POTW Week 2 - 2012

I've told you Peeps that this year seems to be shaping up pretty well.  What  with Nanepashemet Telecom winning all of that business and FreshAyer drawing close and all.   So it comes as no surprize that an Automatic Peep of the Week selection comes up so soon in this magical year.
When Harvey and Lisa Rowe showed up with the lovely Maria Rowen last night they showed the ultimate coolness by sporting their Tuna Lips Skull Caps.
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Then it was tenderly revealed to the Mountain of a Man that Maria had brought the King of Scotch, Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt to grace the evening.

ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Year for the 2nd Week of 2012

Maria Rowen, Automatic Lagavulin Rule
Tommy O 'Shea
Sue Sue Raiche
Will Nestor
Doug Maxfield
Lou Panakio

Joanne, Maria and Lisa professed their gratitude for the Tuna Lips hats in the traditional manner.







Thursday, January 12, 2012

Hang in There Michelle



I don't blame Michelle Obama about being pissed at people labeling her as an "angry Black Woman".
She's just trying to get by in a tough situation.  And her main concern is that her daughter's make it out of the White House experience intact.
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This country must really be screwed if living in the White House is such a hardship.
~
Sorry, but as much as I wanted the Obama's to succeed, they seem to be such out-of-touch lightweights.  They make me wish that Hilary Clinton had the job.  It's that bad.

Living Well is the Best Revenge

Quite a day.
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Tommy O, outgoing Peep of the Year posted his POTY swan song down on the Dec. 31 post, and Nanepashemet Telecom scored on a big... scratch that... massive contract that makes me particularly happy that I banned that big stupid company from being a Nanepashemet customer.
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Somebody said, "When God closes one door, he opens another."  That sure seemed to fit the bill today.
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If we had started work with the banned customer, we would have done our typical professional work while being sabotaged and harpooned the whole way.  And it would have been a lot harder to absorb the quality work that we just won.
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So everything works out for the best.  We can concentrate our best efforts with ethical, forthright customers and go to sleep every night with a feeling of the recognition of good work and fair treatment.
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Starting to feel really good about this year.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Spray Booth


Have to make a spray booth.  Got this concept for water borne paints from Fine Woodworking.
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If I were to use oil based, then I'd have to get an Explosion proof fan, prices starting at $600.  So the water based will have to do.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

New Hampshire Republican Primary

They're voting for President up North in New Hampshire today.
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Despite a host of annoying requests, I won't be making any endorsements at this time.
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I know that a lot of my New Hampshire Nanepashemet Peeps feel hopelessly cut adrift in having to make a decision all on their own, but I won't be giving the Nanepashemet Nod.
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Don't you know that when the NN is given, then victory is virtually assured for the receiving party?
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It's just too early to release that type of power.
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Plus... What if Sarah Palin dives in, and I've already committed the Nod to another????
Didn't think of that... did you?

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Cyper Graffiti and Matt Damon

We watched the 2011 film "Contagion" starring Matt Damon and Jude Law among others last night at Dale and Gail Johnson's house after a great birthday dinner for Dale at The Antique Table in Swampscott.
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Law played a Medical Blogger and someone quoted that "A Blog is just Graffiti with punctuation."
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Sad to say, I can't really argue with that.
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Speaking of Matt Damon, he spouted off again about Obama the other day, expressing his dissappointment about the lack of leadership exhibited by the Chief Executive.  After shamelessly shilling for BO during the election and pissing off conservatives, Damon is drilling Obama now which will drop Matt's  standing with the lefties.
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I'm actually starting to like him.  While I probably don't agree with his positions, at least he is true to himself, and is not a sheep in the Liberal Herd.

Culinary Kudo

Peeps...
One of the problems of being a Mountain of a Man with multiple skill sets is that it's hard to be humble.  Lucky for me that one of my superior abilities is deep seated humility.
~
So naturally, you don't often hear about how good I am at ordinary stuff like cooking.
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Because Joanne is such a good cook... and insists on watching all of those lame cooking shows, and collecting cook books from all of the egomaniacal cooking stars.... I have generally backed off from bragging about my prowness in the culinary area.
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But suffice it to say... I am a freaking great cook.
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And I'm not just talking about the Buffalo Wings and White Trash Balls that we serve up for the Night before Thanksgiving Bash.
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Like today for instance, I whipped up some homemade dough in the Cuisinart to use for pizza while watching the NFL Playoffs, then topped it off with some pecan shortbread cookies which were nothing short of freaking spectacular.
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The Pizza was the balls too.
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I hope Denver wins.

Playoff Season

It's Pittsburgh v. Denver with the winner playing the Pats next week.   I thought the playoffs would never get here, and I bet Ryan feels the same way.
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But in four weeks or so, it will be Super Sunday... in more ways than one.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Tablesaw Panel Crosscut Sled

Since I cut my teeth in woodworking with a radial arm saw, I've never gotten into the habit of crosscutting on my table saw.
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But with this custom cabinet job that I've taken on, we'll be cutting a lot of plywood sheet panels, so I'll be making a table saw sled capable of handling 35" crosscuts.
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After a little web search, I've settled on the plan shown right which was published by Fine Homebuilding in 2006.
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My version will be made with 24"x42" panels so will be a scale larger than this drawing, and I've ordered some aluminium from McMaster Carr to use for the runners rather than the plywood strips noted here.
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If the McMaster Carr shipment arrives today, this baby will take shape tomorrow over at the Nanepashemet Telecom shop.



  • Waterfront Offerings
  • Land Offerings
  • Thursday, January 05, 2012

    Qualifications Standards.

    I'm pretty proud of Nanepashemet Telecom.  We do good work and our customers show a lot of appreciation with repeat business.  Virtually all of the valid players in the industry have approved us as a vendor.
    ~
    So I run into a company that is playing games and decides to question our qualifications.
    ~
    Guess what?  I could give a shit if they don't approve us a a vendor, because I have disapproved them as a customer. 
    ~
    They are not qualified to be a customer of Nanepashemet Telecom.
    ~
    Sorry.  You have to pass some basic tests, and your big company failed miserably.   And you don't even want to know what the appeal process is.

    Pisc said...

    Work those C level connections to get past the boobs in their Procurement fiefdom. Small, petty, Oompah Loompa Looking D Bags run those qualification "programs". Making you blog about them is often their only shot to being heard in this world. Walk past like you been there before, and give them a t-shirt or something, make them feel like they matter.
    __________________________________________________________________

    Fine advice, Pisc.  But unfortunately the Nanepashemet Telecom Operations Manual prohibits presenting T-Shirts to Oompah Loompas if their company is unqualified as a Nanepashemet Customer.  

    This is out of my hands.  There is nothing I can do.

    Clinking Cubes

    Peeps -
    When I told you that you could have a Nanepashemet On-the-Rocks Whiskey Glass, I didn't mean all of you.   Do the freaking math.  There are thousands of you greedy-assed Peeps, but only a couple of hundred Whiskey Glasses.  And I need a lot of them for customer appreciation tokens for my Nanepashemet Telecom clients.
    ~
    Like today for instance... I'm heading into one of my best customer's office with a case of the glasses, which I will distribute after a vendor pile-on lunch with as many staffers as can sneak away for an hour or so.
    ~
    By tonight, there should be cubes clinking in quite a few Nanepashemet glasses.

    Tuesday, January 03, 2012

    CAD Learning Curve

    Back to reality Peeps.
    ~
    Heading back to that little place of heaven, New Haven County, to haul stuff around on the flatbed trailer.
    ~
    But I got some great CAD work done yesterday, designing a kitchen concept for one of my favorite Peeps.
    ~
     I downloaded the Google Sketchup program which is available on line for free, and I'm still in the learning curve, but it is very powerful the way you can design in 3D and then orbit all around your model to see results and make adjustmnents.
    ~
    Sketchup also has an online database of other's models which are unbelieveable time savers. 
    ~
    My general rule for becoming proficient in a sophisticated program is 40 hours of frustration during the learning curve..... trying to make things work and going back and forth to manuals.  I'm only about 5 hours into Sketchup.

    Sunday, January 01, 2012

    Happy New Year

    Live your life, Dream your dream.
    Everyday that you are able to wake up, you are able to think, plan and act.
    ~
    For us, it's not three strikes and you're out.  As long as we can pick up the bat, we have unlimited opportunities to hit one out of the park.
    ~
    So get in the batter's box every day and take your swings.
    ~
    Look at your daily obstacles and problems as lessons to learn.  Turn them into daily building blocks.  Search out the good in every situation.  Even though I've known this to be true, Ryan, over in FreshAyer has powered this point home for me.

    And don't expect God and the Universe to be on the same plane as you all of the time.  If God answered all of our prayers, Tim Tebow would win every game.  God has a much larger perspective than we do.  Trust that the problems that she throws your way are there to help you, however irrational or unfair that they may seem.
    ~
    One day, as you are taking your swings, you will notice that the dream that you had previously formulated has manifested itself all around you.
    ~
    May that day happen to you this year.    Happy New Year.