Juice Fast - Day 2

Joanne and I are on the second day of our 3 day juice fast.
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This time we used the recipes in the BluePrint Cleanse, rather than buy the juices at retail, which would have amounted to about $350.00.  I figure that I bought less than two hundred bucks worth of fruit and vegetables, and juiced them in my Hamilton Beach Juicer, yielding 36, 16oz Mason jars worth of fresh juice.
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I didn't do the cashew milk for this go around, and have been substituting the lemonade instead.   All of the juices taste fine as much as I'm concerned.   Joanne doesn't care for the Green juice.
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Joanne has had some issues with the regime, but I've been ok, although this morning I'm a bit hungry.  In the afternoon, Ryan wants to grill the Striped Bass that he and Grandson Will caught yesterday, and that will be tempting to ditch this gig, but I'm trying to tough it our until tomorrow night.
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Recipes
Green Juice	5 Ribs of Celery
Green Juice	1 Cucumber, Halved
Green Juice	2 Large Green Apples of Your Choice
Green Juice	3 Kale leafs
Green Juice	1 Ounce of Lemon juice
Green Juice	1 Handful of Parsley
Green Juice	3 Romaine leafs
Green Juice	1 Handful of Spinach
PAM Juice	A Third of 1 Pineappple
PAM Juice	2 Large Green Apples of Your Choice
PAM Juice	A few pinches of Mint
Lemonade	14 ounces of Filtered Water
Lemonade	3-4 juiced medium Lemons
Lemonade	A few Dashes of Cayenne Pepper
Lemonade	1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar
CAB Juice	1 Green Apple of Your Choice
CAB Juice	2 Beet, with the greens left on
CAB Juice	3 Large Carrots
CAB Juice	1 and 1/2 Tablespoon of Ginger
CAB Juice	A 1/2 ounce of Lemon Juice
Cashew Milk	4-5 ounces of Raw Cashews
Cashew Milk	16 ounces of Filtered water
Cashew Milk	1 Tablespoon of Agave Nectar
Cashew Milk	1 teaspoon of Cinnamon (ground)
Cashew Milk	1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Will's First Keeper

Obamian Boondoggle

When our POTUS closed the White House, which is owned by us, BTW, I wondered whether he had made a real rookie move and screwed himself on the hypocrisies when he took his family on his extensive and expensive taxpayer funded vacations.
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But he seems to be too arrogant to be embarrassed by this.  And the First Lady, Michele, is freaking oblivious.

Path to Success

For the past three days, I've been suffering from ocular migranes.   Maybe suffering is a little dramatic..... enduring might be a better word.
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Even though we, at Nanepashemet Telcom, are wicked good at what we do, there still is a bit of stress when we are starting a new job.... What are the stumbling points?  Where are the risks?  What are the customer expectations?  Will the customer be realistic or a HardAss?
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The reason we think about these things is because we have been burnt by all of them in the past.  One thing that is unacceptable at Nanepashemet is failure.   We don't lose money, and we don't fail.    But that doesn't mean that we won't resign the account if it looks like either of these outcomes cannot be avoided.
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In order to be successful, you have to have a path to success.   At the beginning of the project, that path is not always clear.
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So I think that these ocular migranes are the result of stress as we roll out this big job.
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Soon to be eliminated as the path clears up.

POTW Week 26

We have had our sights set on taking down  this big customer in the Telecom space ever since Nanepashemet filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of State a half dozen years or so ago.

This was the week we landed that Bad Boy.   And while my mind is fully at ease, the general state of my body is horrendous.   I hadn't realized that as the quarry came closer, any thought of exercise, or diet or recreation went right out the window.
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After tossing and turning until 3:00 AM, I couldn't really rally off the couch today and spent some serious time irritating Henry the Cat.   Fatique, Body Pain, and General Malaise.
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So no Fishing, rowing or sailing on a perfect summer day in Marblehead.

ANNOUNCING.....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 26th Week of 2013
Mark Vona
Trish Rockett
Allie Peabody
Robin Latour
Will Murray
Bela Fleck

The one positive thing is that I decided to cut out the carbs (except for beer) in anticipation of the three day juice detox fast that we are planning for next weekend.

So at least I ate right, which is the beginning of the total turnaround.

Juice Fast Planning

I can feel a Juice Fast coming on.
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It will be time to DeTox after the 4th of July celebrations.
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Just bought three dozen 16 oz Mason Jars from Amazon. to handle the three day quota.

The 4th in Marblehead

A week from now, it will be the 4th of July..... a big deal here in Marblehead.  This town had a huge role in the American Revolution, and basically drove any Tories out for the duration.   Townsmen served with valor and were particularly noted for ferrying Washington's Army across the Delaware River at the Battle of Trenton.  
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The loss of manpower put the Town in dire economic straits for a considerable period after the war, and when Washington visited Marblehead a few years later, he noted the tired and dilapidated state of the homes and Town facilities.
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And those were the same homes that are found in Old Town today.
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The town was a hardworking fishing village in those times, and its people were noted for their independence as well as a liberal attitude to race issues that plagued other areas.   It was also irreligious based upon the standards of the time and didn't relate to the Puritanical nature of other New England communities.
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This past lingers in Marblehead, and the 4th of July seems to focus the present on a heritage that remains so prevalent and strong here.   We'll spend some time in Old Town and on the Harbor next week, and feel the effects of a storied past during the patriotic holiday.

PlaceMark

Peeps....
Those of you who know me best, know that I never reveal personal or business details in this complex yet simplistic compilation of Blog Posts.  They are none of your business anyway.
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And I'm not going to start now.  
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But today was a placemarker at Nanepashemet Telecom.   A day when it is safe to say, we will look back as a turning point.... when a ton of effort and hard work lifted us to the next plateau.
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Nanepashemet will never be a Fortune 500 company, nor do I wish to guide it to this position.  But it should be a viable entity for the foreseeable future, because of the event of this day.

Pram

Turf's UP!

 

This pram is the first boat that I built about seven years ago, from available plywood and lumber that I had on hand in the garage.  It has gone through a few iterations and now does service at the Marblehead side of Salem Harbor.   It came from a stock John Gardner plan with a few modifications, and this summer, I hope to sail it for the first time after setting up a sprit sail rig and centerboard.

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I'm pretty sure that it is unsinkable, but it probably can flip pretty easily with a fat guy at the tiller.

Marvelous for Moonbats

A tip of the Cap to the Massachusetts Moonbats who now have the team of Liz Warren and Ed Markey as our US Senators.  This is a perfect time to work on that pesky gag reflex that I tend to get when the Lefties tell us how to run our lives.   No sense getting sick over the crazy shit that they will be trying to stuff down our throats.
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The Prez has a couple of card carrying sycophants to help him solve Climate Change, open the gates to illegal immigrant voters, and screw up our health care.  We really have to invest in some tether lines down in DC to make sure that these lightweights don't blow away.
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And speaking of our POTUS...., how is that Sequester going anyway????  So far, it has had the disastrous effects of closing the White House and grounding the Blue Angels.  Thought the government was going to shut down with millions unemployed?  Whatever....
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Thank God it didn't effect the global travel of the Obama Royal Family.  That would have been the real disaster.

Awesome Camel

Election Day

Peeps...
I voted today.
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So don't blame me if a Democratic Senate stands by while your liberties, wallet, and rights are assaulted by the Totalitarian Lefties in the White House.
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At least I tried.
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After making a deposit in the Pleasant Street Bank and pointing out politely to the Tellers who they should vote for, I went next door to the Marblehead Masonic Lodge and cast my ballot.
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Turnout was sparse.
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That could be good for Gomez, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

Y'ALLL Don't Come Back Now

Joanne loves the Cooking Channel.... almost as much as I love the History Channel.  I can deal with her hogging the clicker for the most part and watching all this Foodie stuff.   The only show that I really can't "stomach",so to speak, is the Paula Dean stuff.
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Her voice makes me cringe and when she says "Y'ALLLL" which is every fourth word or so..... I truly feel nauseous enough to hurl.
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Now we find that she has no common sense when it comes to race relations "speak".
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Peeps... we have free speech in this country.   And you can say anything you want without getting thrown into jail.   But that doesn't mean that we can't loathe you if you say stupid ass shit, nor does it mean that you can keep your job.
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In this country, with a horrible heritage of slavery, bigotry, and segregation.... be prepared to pay the consequences if you run fast and loose with racial epithets.  I don't care if your grandpa was George Wallace... there is no excuse, and you deserver to have your ass kicked if you glibly drop the N word, or think that any vestiges of our Jim Crow past might be "sentimental".
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Bye Bye Paula Dean.... I for one won't be missing "Y"ALLLL" on the Food Channel anytime soon.

Going Gomez

Tomorrow, Massachusetts chooses a new Senator.   I've given the nod to Gabriel Gomez, and not just because he's a Republican.  And not because he is an Hispanic.... I wouldn't dream of calling people racist who vote against him.... do you hear that Jimmy Carter????   Do you hear that Hardball Hypocrite Chris Matthew????   Two fine idiots who played the race card early and freely regarding anyone who had issue with our Indonesian Muslim President with the White Mother and the Irish ancestors.
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I reckon that Massachusetts will vote for Markey because of his tendency to vote with the  Democratic, non-thinking, give away other people's money sheep herd.
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Whatever.
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Do yourself a favor.  Vote for a thinker and a doer.  The guy is a Navy Seal who went to Harvard for Crissakes.  Massachusetts deserves something better than the Warrens, the Markeys, the Posers and the Hacks.
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Give yourself a present.... vote for Gomez.

A Little Lack Lustre

Yesterday, while tieing up with the Flying Elvis on SandDollar Beach, Superpeep Brendt D'Orio pointed out that the Blog has been lacking lately.
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My quick retort was that I have been out straight trying to make money at Nanepashemet Telecom.... but that can't be the only reason.
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Usually I turn to posting on this pathethic Blog because of some issue that is disturbing me...... politics and the Obama issues are the great motivators.
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But since the phoney Indian, the lying whacky professor, Elizabeth Warren, was elected over Scott Brown as the Massachusetts US Senator, and since BO and Hillary Clinton can get away will lying and obvious obfustication with Benghazi, I've become jaded, and can't risk committing emotionally.
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So those are other reasons.
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Do you think that the Mountain of a Man is starting to lose it????   Getting a little soft????  Gone off the edge????
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Maybe.
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But I still have my faith in life.... and life is all about renewal.
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Something will start to aggravate the crap out of me soon.... and this Blog will be restored in it's former lustre.

Features of Fieldstone

This weekend, I got out into the yard and moved all of the stone that the developer across the street left in the side of my driveway a couple years ago.   Every stone was placed in the planter walls at the Stramski Way side of the property.
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Peeps.... I am one sore, advanced -middle-edged, pudgy, white, Irish- American Buckaroo.  I mean, sore... as in my arms, thighs, back, knees, stomach, buttocks, etc. are all screaming for mercy.
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Rolling, lifting, shifting and placing fieldstone is something that this Mountain of a Man will not be looking to specialize in.   You won't see stonemason on this MOAM resume.
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Sure, the wall came out handsome as hell, but that is beside the point.
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My hats are off to the colonial farmers who placed all of those fieldstone walls throughout New England.  They must have been tough sons-a-bitches.

POTW Week 22 of 2013

Peeps....
A little words of wisdom for you here before disclosing the lucky yet hapless Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week.
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Just in case you didn't know it, everybody is phucked up... and everybody has issues.  It doesn't matter if you are a professional athelete, pole dancer, PhD, Indonesian Muslim President of the United States, Business Billionaire.... or even a Mountain of a Man like myself.
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Everybody is phucked up... and everybody has issues.
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Once you truly internalize that fact, it is much easier to deal with all of the Bullshit that comes your way in your personal and business relationships.
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ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 22nd Week of 2013

Maria Rowen (Automatic Lagavulin Rule)
Eric Johnson
Jessica Rincon
Peter Lojko
Jim Lundgren
Jeremy Johnson
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No relation between the two Johnsons.

Nanepashemet Nod to Gomez

Peeps....
The workload  at Nanepashemet Telecom is showing no signs of slowdown.... but so many of you have been peppering me with pesky and persistent inquiries on who to vote for in the upcoming Massachusetts Senate race between the 37 year Democratic Congressman, Edward Markey, and the former Navy Seal and now successful Hispanic American businessman, Republican Gabriel Gomez.
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You will recall that I had given the Nanepashemet Nod in the primaries to the South Boston Democrat Stephen Lynch, and had vowed not to become emotionally involved in this race because of the unhealed wounds caused in the rediculous victory by the Phoney Fauxcohontas, Elizabeth "I have high cheekbones so I'm a Cherokee" Warren.  

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I still can't get over that she was swept by the non-thinking herd of sheep into defeating a class act like Scott Brown.
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So I have laid low in the current race.
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But you insist on gaining my flawed opinion on who to vote for in this race.... and you know that in the end, I can't let you pathetic Peeps be left out there thinking on your own.
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So here comes another reasoned Nanepashemet Nod... coming off of the last dismal Scott loss.
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Markey is a card carrying, Obama voting, smarter than the rest of us, Liberal Democrat.   He is the type of Liberal who can't conceive that anyone could ever be Pro-Life, or against ObamaCare, or thinks that Al Gore is an idiot.  His ads are replete with boasts that he is endorsed by Planned Parenthood and that he is somehow responsible for creating the information age by voting for the Telecom Act of 1996.  He is a lockstep, Obama, party line Dem.
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I respect the fact that he is a straight foward, ideological Liberal.... and puts it right out there.   At least he doesn't pull shit out of his ass like Warren.
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Gomez seems to be an independent thinker, who hasn't been tainted by years of politically correct, inner Beltway lock step ideology.   His views - personally pro-life, looking to make Obamacare outside of the purview of the IRS, seeking ways to deal with the social security crisis are ridiculed in Markey ads... yet the Markey ads have been most effective in making me more in step with the Gomez position. 
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Plus Markey ridicules that Gomez is a millionaire.
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Last time I checked, being a millionaire... coming from a minority background and being a former Navy Seal.... should be a freaking source of praise and pride.
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Markey's time is over.   Nanepashemet Nod goes to Gabriel Gomez.
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He's charging back in the polls.    I hope this doesn't jinx him

Processing

Peeps....
I'm no journalist.
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Sure... A lot of the stuff that I write on this Blog definitely has Pulitzer Prize potential, but that Is beside the point.
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And I try to stay relatively consistent in posting entries that illustrate truth and enlightenment.
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but lately I have been engrossed in processing the ginormous contract that Nanepashemet Telecom has been awarded, so you'll have to hang in there and wait until the smoke clears before you get some really  potent entries.
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maybe by next week....
Roes

Utah

Watching Cartoons

Alana's Wedding

Wow for Weddings

Bunk Bed Bonanza

Ryan and I whipped together this set of bunkbeds for the grandkids from construction grade lumber and a lot of heavy grit sanding.   I won't be submitting this project for inclusion in Fine Woodworking, but it came out good and sturdy with nice lines and will be very satisfactory for the use intended.

Saga Score

So many of you Peeps have inquired about my Washingon sales meeting, that I an actually inclined to tell you how it went.
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Pretty Good actually.
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Or as Larry David would say, "Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good."
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Let's just say that this MOAM hasn't lost his touch... especially with the setting on the Charm-O-Meter is "HIGH".
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No, it's not a life changing score... but it's still a score, and the Nanepashemet Telecom saga rolls forward.

Welcome Carlos

My New GrandDog, Carlos!
I'm so Proud.

Retirement Plan

Peeps....
Sometime towards the end of next week, we'll be heading down to Washington, DC to make a sales pitch to a major tier one wireless carrier.
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Those of you who have seen the MOAM in Sales Mode know that I can make a powerful, persuasive, and some say "irresistable" presentation.  Naturally it takes the right vibe, but I'm mighty motivated for this one.
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Suffice it to say that the MOAM Charm Meter will be set on HIGH.
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Because that's what the stakes are.
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If we land this account, Nanepashemet Telecom will be laying paving stones to the future comfortable retirement of yours truly.
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Course... you know me.... I'm not one to count my chickens before they hatch.  But on this one, I have them hatched, grown, butchered, fried and topped with Franks Louisiana Hot Sauce.
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Retirement will be nice.

Rat Race Re-Entry

The lapse in posts this week has a good excuse as I was flat on my back in bed for two days with some flu-like virus.
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Normally, when a Mountain of a Man like myself gets sick, the average person can't see any difference, but a sequence of extreme shivering chills followed by hot sweats gave it away for me this week.
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Joanne wanted me to see the Doctor, but I'm not sure if I'd be covered under Obamacare and didn't want to take the chance.
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No matter.  I'm back and ready to re-enter the rat race to catch up with anything that I missed.

Staring at Infinity

It's time to contemplate the concept of infinity.
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The Ancient Seers tell us that we are one with the Universe and that time does not exist..... everything that ever happened, and everything to come is all here in the present moment.
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The time thing is a bit hard to comprehend, but the unity of the Universe is fairly easy.   We are all composed of various combinations of charged particles, that interact with all that exists in a humming carcophany.  The universe, and infinity is found wherever we look.   No matter how small a particle is, it can be split in two. 
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There is never an instance where the division of a particle would yield nothing.  So we stare into infinity wherever we look.

Memorial Day Observance

I think I must have munched on a bad Sushi Roll at one of those Las Vegas cocktail parties, because it's been unsettling since then.
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Not that I'm complaining.... it's hard to bitch about stuff on Memorial Day... when we observe the sacrifices made by our veterans so that Blogs like this can be written freely.
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We are lucky to have the freedoms that we have in this country... the Nazi's would have enslaved us, and the Commies would have subjugated us, but these challenges to our way of life were met by common people who were asked to stand at the front and defeat these aggressions.
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Course, the challenges to our freedom never goes away, both from within and without the country.  We have to continually guard... and remember those who stood at the post for us in the past.
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So today, as I deal with intestinal distress, while getting the pram ready for launch, I will keep a little mental vigil intact.... for those who sacrificed so much so that we could endure our daily foibles in an environment of freedom.

Las Vegas Reaction

Memorial Day weekend is here but it is 50 degrees and clammy now in Boston.  That's ok because I am really bushed from my Las Vegas convention trip.  Flying is exhausting, and so is excessive boozing with concomitant carousing.... especially if you are out of shape for it.
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Which I am.  I could hardly walk after trekking from hotel to hotel on the Vegas Strip... seeking out relevant cocktail parties sponsored by wireless equipment suppliers.  Sometimes it's hard maintaining my status as an industry leader, but I certainly played with pain. 
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Before I left for the airport on Thursday, I did my part in supporting the Nevada economy by dropping $100 quick in the Black Jack tables.  A two hour layover in Philadelphia and the loss of my luggage in Boston led to a 4:30AM arrival back in Marblehead.
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Then I had a full day of work on Friday because of end of the month billing and a proposal deadline that had to be met.
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But, in typical MOAM style, all tasks were met, errands were run, and lawns were mowed.   So now I'm ready to kick back on the couch with Henry the Cat and watch  girly movies as Joanne hogs the remote.
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I'm too tired to battle for my cable TV rights anyway.

POTW Week 21 of 2013

I've been criticized as of late for neglecting the Peep of the Week feature of this pathetic Blog.
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A valid point.
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I used to be extremely punctual in making these momentous choices and it was a singular reason for some of you persevering Peeps to keep coming back for judicious helpings of Nanepashemet advice and wisdom.
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But for some reason, the fundamentals have been left on the sidelines.... until now.

ANNOUCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 21st Week of 2013.

Maria Rowen (Automatic Lagavulin Rule)
Emily Buttorff
Bobby Brown
Craig Theiman
Mark Cuban
Jude Martinez

Man... it feels good to get back to basics.... especially since Maria revved up the automatic Lagavulin 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Rule with a most thoughtful gift of the King of Scotch at our dinner tonight.

Posting Pause

Peeps -
If you were wondering what happened to the Blog this week, it's fairly simple... I went to Las Vegas.  Met up with some old telecom buddies at the CTIA convention and kicked the gong around pretty hard.
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But I'm back now.... none the worse for the wear.   And no... I'm not going to tell you any of the juicy details. but suffice it to say that this MOAM met up with the only other legitimate Mountain of a Man in circulation these days, Bobby Brown, and the moments of collision were momentous.
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It was nice to be out there among friends, but the traveling part was horrendous.  I would take the New Haven commute anyday.

Harry Truman Rolling Over

Then Buck Stops Here..... at Lower Level Employees.



What would Harry Truman say?

Facebook Lull

Maybe it's just my perception, but it seems like Facebook has lost it's edge.   The people who post are generally new to FB, and nobody gets too revved up over political exchanges or other stuff.
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Basically, I lost it when I couldn't goad people into defending our Indian Senator Warren's claim for her conveniently manufactured Native American heritage,  and the Obamanistas overtures into IRS thuggery, Benghazi lies, and AP email snooping have got the Libs on the run, and they are not really forthcoming to engage.
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I don't blame them.
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So the result is that Facebook has been taking a step back.
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Even though the Lefty Slogan,  "It takes a village" (i.e.   you should depend on the government and not yourself) is particularly loathsome to me, it does seem that Facebook and social media has brought people together in the fashion that village life used to be... with a lot more interaction.
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But village life was often fraught with shunning, cliques, and small town gossip... and could get old quick.
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Facebook was fun while it lasted... now there is a definite lull in the action.

Saturday Ambitions

Went for Fried Clams at Essex Seafood, the Official Nanepashemet Clamshack last night  with the O'Shea's and the Peabody's.  Got a little chilly outside while we were eating, but the seafood didn't dissapoint.
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This Saturday morning, I am out straight with a big run at finishing the rough cut work on the Grandkid's bunkbeds, then getting under the deck and cleaning out all of the crap that has accumulated there, culminating in a dump run.
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If everything works right, the day will end up with the pram on sawhorses in the driveway, ready for fit out work and remediating that disgusting weather proofing that never cured on the gunwales.
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By 4:00 PM, when rigor mortis sets in, I hope to thoroughly enjoy kicking back on the deck with a Sam Adams or three.

Radial Arm Saw

I forget when I bought my Sears Craftsman Radial Arm Saw.   Easily over 25 years ago.  I had lent my DeWalt Radial Arm out to some contractor and missed having one, so I bought what was a state of the art model at the time.
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For some reason, Radial Arm Saws have fallen from popularity.   The rap on them is that they are dangerous, but every power tool, and especially stationary saws are dangerous.   As experienced as I am, I am always a little fearful when I switch on the power and the blade starts spinning, and I'm sure that this is a healthy emotion.

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The other frequent criticism is that the RAS is notorious for slop and inaccurate cuts.  I never had this problem.... until today

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The Radial Arm is the best option for making dado cuts in my opinion and as I was setting up the dado blades today in gearing up for the grandkids bunk beds, I noticed a lot of slop in the swivel of the power head.
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So I downloaded a manual for the Sears Model off of the web and quickly found out how to make the adjustment to eliminate the problem.   How cool is it that the Internet was not even invented when I bought this saw, and now I can instanteously get any information that I need to fix the tool.!!! 
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The radial arm is unsurpassed for making accurate repetitive crosscuts, when it is aligned correctly, while the table saw is my tool of choice for making accurate and safe rip and panel cuts.  The luxury of having each of these tools in my shop is a blessing that I should be more thankful for.
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The radial arm saw should be good for another 25 or so.



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Totalitarian Annoyance.

Peeps...
I'm not much of a conspiracy guy.  Sure, I'm as paranoid as the last person, but I don't really believe in vast ideological conspriracies designed to somehow control us.
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But the incursions of the Obama administration into harassing conservative organizations by the IRS, and the blatant lying and propaganda surrounding the Benghazi attacks sure give the feeling of totalitarianism..... the kind of stuff that used to happen in Communist countries.
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I personally don't believe that the Obamanistas have the experience and competence to pull off anything that would significantly hamper us.... but the effort is a bit annoying.

High School Seniors, now the Real Thing.

Thanks to some of my Facebook friends, got a little jolt of nostalgia today with this photo showing up.


Peeps... when I tell you about being Rough, Tough, Hard to Bluff, and Damn Good looking... it started way back then.  Just not a recent trend.  These guys were all of the seniors on the Lynn English High School Cross Country team and everybody is still living, as far as I know.
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Phil Freeman, the kid on my left got me on the team my sophomore year.  I had known Phil since the 2nd grade and played CYO Basketball with him.   He became a phenom in Cross Country, and I figured that I could beat him, so I went out for the team when indoor track started.
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He kicked my ass.  I only legitimately beat him once in three years... when I came in 3rd in the Essex County Championship my senior year with Freeman fading to fifth....., and the only cross country race that I ever won was because Phil was sick from school that day and couldn't compete in a dual meet against Peabody.   There was no way that I was going to lose that race with Freeman out of contention.
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He lives in New Jersey, I think.  I hope he is well.
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The guy on my far left is Jim Lundgren, who was legendary for singing the theme song from "Exodus" during cross country races.   Lundgren was a hurdler anyway and now is one of my best facebook friends as he thoughtfully presents the Democrats' position in highly entertaining Facebook threads.
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I have fond memories of all of these guys.   Don Gorski - a good golfer who moved to NY, Bob Hill- now retired from the Phone Comany, Billy Quirk- the only kid that I knew who legitimately went to Woodstock and is now a proud ex-Marine, and Mike Cole- a tough quarter miler.
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Not sure if Coach Civiello is still alive.  He was a good guy and very active in the Lynn Italian Community.
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If only we had Christos Laganos on that team, who now pedals 100 Miles through the Mountains and is currently hiking the Appalachian Trail. Chris would have been a hell of a distance man.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of you Peeps who are Moms.
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When Joanne finishes scrubbing the floors, cooking the meat, and taking out the trash, I will urge her to take five minutes or so and enjoy the day.
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Sometimes, being a Mountain of a Man means that you have to be extra considerate.

Lying D- Bag

So it's apparent that the US State Department and the White House knew that we endured a full fledged and calculated terrorist attack in Libya, and then they coolly and boldly lied to the American people saying that it was a spontaneous reaction to a video that insulted the Muslim Libyans into riot and murder.
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And they stood by while four Americans were killed in the attack.
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Friends, we have caught Hillary Clinton in lies before.... like when she said her husband Bill was the victim of a "vast right wing conspiracy" when he was lying about getting a blow job by an administrative intern.... and when she concocted a story about her being "under fire" in Serbian airspace.  Not to mention, the aides who committed suicide during her reign as out First "Lady".
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She got passes on these... from me at least.   Everybody is prone to an embellishment of sorts or an exaggeration at times.
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But in the Benghazi attacks, four people died as Clinton became arrogant and dismissive with any explanation of the facts, and vowed to get the people who developed that "video".
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Peeps... Hillary Clinton is a lying douche bag.   There... I said it.    And I'm not taking it back.
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That said... I realize that that I'm so out of touch with things that she will probably waltz into the White House as the next disingenuous POTUS, courtesy of the herd of sheep that disguise themselve in the Democratiic Party as the American electorate.
~
Sorry to be so serious today, but politics is fine, until you are glib and not forthcoming with the loss of American lives.

Nice Weather and 3D

The nice weather has definitely hit the Boston area.  Even though it rained with occasional thunder and lightning today, the colors of the spring foliage..... different shades of green and flowering shrubs.... were spectacular.
~
Thunder and Lighting are fairly commonplace here in New England, so I was really surprized with I did my stint in the East Bay of San Francisco about ten or so years ago when everybody rushed to the windows when some lightning flashed.
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It turns out that thunder and lightning rarely happens out there.... which I didn't know.
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But I digress.
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Good weather to me means ramping up the projects.... today I helped Ryan pick out some lumber for the grandkids' bunk beds that he wants to build.   It  will be built with nominal framing lumber, but we will sand the hell out of it and then finish it with paint, so it should serve the purpose.  Kid's love bunk beds.
~
I pulled a plan down from the Sketchup Warehouse, but it turns out that it is for a non-standard twin bed size, so I have to redesign a little bit.   Which is no real problem, because I'm starting to get really comfortable with Sketchup.    My forty hour initial learning curve is almost over and I'm tying into some tricks and techniques from the extensive tutorials that are found in You-Tube.
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As a 3D modeling program, SketchUp makes you change your approach to drawing a plan, but once you get the hang of it, it beats 2D hands down.   I even bought a 3D Mouse called the

3Dconnexion 3DX-700028 SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse

which will allow me to navigate around the model far more efficiently while performing commands and actions with the standard mouse.  

~

Right now, the process is build a Component, swich to a Navigation command to work on  a different side, switch back to a Component build or measurement commend.... and over and over.    The 3D mouse with make this much quicker and more intuitive as a single initiative to move around the model with one mouse and perform design commands with the o

~

I think that SketchUp is to CAD what Quickbooks is to accounting programs.  A real logical and intuitive approach that even a dufus like your favorite MOAM can master.

~

I highly recommend that you download the free program at www.sketchup.com and add it to you software toolchest.   Why should I have all the fun?

Maggots and Monsters

To those perverted animals who kept the Cleveland girls locked up for ten years.....
~
There is no torture that I can imagine that you wouldn't deserve....   and I hope your fellow inmates in Federal Prison have a more vivid imagination than I do.
~
Lately, with the Maggots who bombed the Boston Marathon, and now these Monsters who feel that they could dominate and control another human being, we've been seeing a particularly dark side of the homo sapiens species.
~
Let's hope that these sicko's are an extreme abberation.

200,000 Hits

Sometime tomorrow, this Blog will be hit for the Two Hundred Thousandth Time.  As crazy as it sounds, this has some significance to a sentimental old MOAM like myself.
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I mean, I'm not going to go all "Sally Field" on you, and start gushing  "You like me, You really like me."
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Because I know that a certain amount of you don't.   Which is fine with me because it's right back at you from your's truly.
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And I know some of the haters and disenchanted have contributed mightily to the 200k milestone. ....  Which is actually a burdensome thought.   Why waste time tormenting yourself by checking out this loathsome cyber rag?  Especially if I annoy you.   Some of you even hit it multiple times a day.  You know who you are ( and so do I, for the most part.)
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But before you start another cycle of a couple thousand hits, you really should do some soul searching.  Look closely in the mirror and make an honest assessment of who is looking back at you.   It's never too late to stop lying to yourself, and when you do there is a chance that you could find some direction or a positive purpose.  And stop blaming others for all of the Bullshit that hits you everyday.   That image in the mirror is there to tell you that it is all you, and no one else.
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Course the vast majority of  you Peeps who hit this Blog are cool dudes.  Rough, Tough, Hard to Bluff and Damn Good Lookin.   Like myself.  You know that we're all heading for a long dirt nap at the end of this run, so you don't take everything so seriously.   Because a hundred years from now, nobody will even know that you existed. 
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So sit back and enjoy the ride that Mother Earth spins for you.  And every day will get a little easier.

When God closes one door, He opens another.

"When God closes one door, He opens another."
~
As far as I know, this is no Biblical quote, but seems to be readily apparent in our daily existance.
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It sure seemed to be in play today, as Nanepashemet Telecom prepares to close out services to a major customer for the time being, and new opportunities appeared from totally unanticipated sources.
~

Peeps...... even though I'm a fully fledged Mountain of a Man.... I still worry about the future every once in awhile.... despite the fact that I've climbed the heights and fallen into the abyss in my business career, and yet still sit here as a well fed, couch potato.... cranking out this pathetic blog post.
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And every time it has seemed like there was no escape, the sun came up, there was air to breathe and food to eat.   The Lord gave us that day our daily bread.
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I appreciate you holding the door, Lord.

Designing Greenhouse Construction Jigs

It was a particularly busy work week` for Nanepashemet  Telecom with two trips to New Haven.  But during a brief lull in action, I found the time to drop down to see the Marblehead Building Commissioner and run the Greenhouse concept by him to see if he had any permitting issues.
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He wants me to add some concrete sonotubes and pin down the PT wall plates, which I agree with, but then sees no problem with issuing a permit.
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So now the issue is only time and money, both of which may be in short supply for this project.   Until I have a little bit of each, I'll be firming up the pricing and work procedures and designing jigs like below to make this thing come to life with circumstances permit.

This jig will Square up the 2x4 pressure treated 4' x 8' standard polycarbonate greenhouse panels and make assembly quick and accurate.  The project requires about 110 good and straight 2x4x8 foot pressure treated studs.

A GAY PRO.

Jason Collins, a professional basketball player, has just announced that he is a homosexual.
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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crickets
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zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Yay, he's Gay.

Is this something I should give a Rat's Ass about?

Because I don't.

Give a Rat's Ass.

 

Of Course George Stephanopoulous has an exclusive interview with Collins.  Not for Nothing George, but what is the freaking issue here?  And President Obama gave him a call to say he is proud of him.   I suppose the Prez will be saying that if he was a homo, he'd be just like Jason.

~

I've told you Peeps before... I don't give a shit what or who gives you a Stiffy. 

Keep it to yourself.



On-Line CSL Training

Massachusetts requires that you need 12 hours of approved refresher training in order to keep your Construction Supervisor license up to date and renewed.  This has been a requirement to renew my Real Estate Brokers license for quite a while, and I usually sign up for an all day weekend course to satisfy the criteria.
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In the real estate world, the changing regulations and procedures, such as lead paint, fair housing, Buyer's agency and environmental issues make this almost mandatory, but the construction update is worse than watching a World Cup Soccer Match.... it is that freaking boring.
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I signed up for an on-line course rather than the weekend intensive alternative, and I'm three quarters through.  Slides come up on the computer and a computerized voice that sounds wicked geeky reads the content.  You can't advance the slide until the Geek stops reading.
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There is boredom, then there is gut wrenching, chair squirming, pit-in-your-stomach, ready to scream boredom.  That's the kind evolked by this on-line course.

Boston and Benghazi

The Russians take the time to point out the  Terrorists to us, yet four are killed and dozens are maimed. 

Janet Napolitano refuses to answer any questions about the super rapid deportment of the Saudi National who was was questioned. after being wounded at ground zero of the bombing.  Is Boston another Benghazi? 

Balance Sheet Dashboard

Peeps...
I don't know if they if they teach this to you in Business School, but lately at NanepashemetTelecom, I have developed the habit of updating the Balance Sheet every morning, and staring at it for a while.
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What can I do to increase receivables?
What can I do to reduce payables?
How can I chunk down the debt?
What are the Bank Balances?
How much cash do I need?
What can I invest in?
Who can I pay?
~
The whole exercise probably takes about 30 minutes, and it shapes the actions that I take throughout the entire day.
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Granted, Nanepashemet is a small enough company so that I can get my hands around accurate information fairly easily in a short time, but using your balance sheet as your dashboard has proven to be a great way to prioritze and focus.

Sourcing Pig Urine

Those of you Peeps who know me best are fully aware that this Mountain of a Man is no GirlyMan.   "Rough, Tough, Hard to Bluff, and Damn Good Looking" is not just a slogan worn lightly by this Blogger Extraordinaire.
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But I have to admit to you that I have gotten choked up each and every day since the senseless Boston Marathon bombing as the stories of the innocent victims keep pouring forth.
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To think that anyone can draw any rationality out of this insane act, and why someone would do it, remains incomprehensible.
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I'd be disingenuous if I didn't admit to a sense of revulsion and hate against the two Muslim misfits, who sucked off of the public trough here in Massachusetts.... receiving welfare and getting a public education.  And their parents in denial are grotesquely repulsive.
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What was the intended outcome of this action by these two Dipshits?  I wonder if they could figure out how it has created a sense of strength and resolve in the people of Boston and throughout America that is insurmountable to the type of cowardly plot that they concocted.    
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Probably not exactly what they expected.
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I would like to find out where they will be buried so I can visit their graves with a gallon of pig urine to saturate their final resting places.

Pretentious UMASS Advertising

A lot of you Peeps know that I am a proud graduate of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science Cum Laude way back in the 1900's.  Plus I ran on the Cross Country and Track teams albeit without distinction.
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It was a great place to be.... the educational choices, the social scene, the beautiful location in the foothills of the Berkshires.
~
That said... the ads for the University of Massachusetts that constantly bombard us on the local Boston TV networks are really irritating.   Why do we use public money to advertise UMASS?  You don't see Harvard, or Northeastern, or BC advertising.  But the public school spends money on costly ads, and the ads are pretty obnoxious too... some fat administrator strolling around in a field talking like an idiot.
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UMASS shouldn't dip into the public trough to fund pretentious, egotistical ads that promote the Bureaucrats who administer it.

Liberal Self Loathing

Time Magazine is a liberal Rag.
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When I was young, growing up under the threat of Communism, we used to be regaled with examples of how the Communist regimes of the Iron Curtain communicated only propaganda to the people, and it was so bad, that we had to have a free press like Radio Free Europe to broadcast the truth to the oppressed masses.
~
Media outlets like MSNBC and Time Magazine make the Iron Curtain feel like it stll hangs on us with the level of liberal left wing propaganda that is perpetuated under the guise of objective reporting.  The only solace that I have in this loathing of liberals is that they obviously loathe themselves as well.
~
So I guess we agree on something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=S5DXbn8ZszQ

Boston Marathon Bombing Payback is a Bitch

~

Such a mix of emotions.  Bewilderment, Sadness, and Pride.
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They caught the bomber from Cambridge, as he cowered in a shrinkwrapped boat in Watertown.
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His Russian father says that he and his dead brother were set up.  That they must be innocent.   Tell that to the four dead and 170 injured.   Maybe that guy should shut the phuck up and wonder what the hell he did wrong with the two maggots that he sired.
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An overall sentiment, filtering through the shock and sadness, is pride in the way Boston responded to this situation.
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I was once at a party at UMass Amherst, where things got out of hand and one guy punched another in the face pretty hard.  The guy who got punched looked a little dazed, then his face hardened and he whaled the shit out of the other guy in a furious hale of wicked blows.   The first guy who initially threw the punch was left in a heap on the floor.
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I know what you are thinking.... and you are wrong.    Neither of those guys were me.
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But, That's what Boston did to those creepy little Chechynan Bastards from Cambridge, who cowardly killed women and children, and  then gunned down a young father as he sat in his police cruiser.  Boston took the hit, then whaled the Bastards.
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Boston didn't whimper and lick its wounds.  Boston went out and got some payback.... and Payback is a Bitch.   I'm proud to be from Boston and even prouder to be an American.
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If the ideological reason for this terrorist act was to scare and inhibit Americans, that was a dismal failure.   WTF is going on with these Muslim attacks anyway??? Jihad my Ass, I just don't get it.

Closing In on Boston Marathon Terrorists

They are chasing a  19 year old guy  from Chechnya in Watertown named Dzokhar Tsarnaev (pronouced "Zocar Sarnev") who survived a gunfight and is now on the lam as I write this.   He and another killed a young MIT police officer and highjacked a Mercedes SUV.  Tsarnaev's accomplice is believed to be his brother and  is  dead due to gunfire and an explosion  in a shootout in Watertown.
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An MBTA Police officer is critically wounded.
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It hasn't taken long to close in on these perpetrators, and the dragnet is tightening on Tsarnaev.  I'm praying that he's taken alive.  Soon we'll have a lot more answers about these worthless murderers.
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Do these Maggots have any friends or accomplices?  We'll find out.  If we can locate Saddam Hussein in a dirt hole in Iraq, then we'll root out the rest of these Vermin.
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Terrorists take Note....  the cheap kitchen timer that is measuring the rest of your sickening time on Earth is ticking away.
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Tick... Tick... Tick... Tick................DING!!!!!

A Pall and Aftermath

It's hard to comment on anything within the pall of this Boston Marathon Terrorist attack.
~
Any mention of another topic seems disrespectful to the issue at hand.
~
The New York outpouring of support for Boston has been incredibly classy, characterized by the singing of "Sweet Caroline" at the Yankees game.  We may be rivals, but we are sibling rivals, and stick together when attacked by the outside.
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And the expressions of support from all over the world is particularly heartfelt.
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The singing of the National Anthem at the Bruins game last night brought tears to my eyes.  How can anyone think that they can damage us when we come together with such strength in times of adversity like this?
~
We are all on pins and needles as they close in on the lowlife losers who perpetrated this crime.   Two people have been identified, which would eliminate the option that a mentally deranged schizophenic may be responsible. 
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If this turns out to be an act committed by some organization or cult, they just shortened their lifespan considerably.

Stupid, Evil Asshole

I heard that Brian Donovan, the heart and soul of the Mooseknuckles, was just stepping over the Finish Line on Boylston Street, when the first bomb exploded.   Thank God he wasn't hurt. 
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My heart aches for the victims and their families.  Selfishly, as soon as I heard of the explosion, I began to check on the whereabouts of my family and friends and was relieved when all were confirmed safe.  Then I felt a little guilty being relieved when so many would not have the same emotion.   My friends have said that this is a normal reaction.... but I still feel shitty about it.
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So nice job, Mr. Terrorist.   You killed an eight year old kid, a 29 year old beautiful woman, and a third Boston University female graduate student who hasn't yet been identified. Many have lost limbs.  Over a hundred and seventy wounded.
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Well done... you Despicable Vermin.
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We learned our lesson, didn't we?  That twisted, demented, evil mind of yours really got your point across.   By the way, we  found Hussein in a spider hole and executed him, and Bin Ladin is fish food after we killed him in his own residential prison.
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This will backfire on you and any of your sub-human associates.  You just set a cheap kitchen timer on the worthless days left in your gutless, rediculous life.
~
Stupid, Evil Asshole.  

Beyond Reason

The finish line at the Boston Marathon was bombed today.
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Two Dead, over one hundred injured...  at least fifteen critically. 
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What glorious cause was it to kill and maim innocents watching a joyous event like the Boston Marathon? How can humans get so warped and twisted to randomly destroy others lives? 
~
What a living hell it must be to have a mind that can conceive and execute this heinous act.
~
We like to think we are civilized, but we still live in the Wild West. Little kids get shot in their classrooms, innocent supporting spectators get torn and maimed with shrapnel watching a road race. 
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You can never let your guard down.

Marathon Monday

There are 27,000 runners competing in the Boston Marathon today.
~
When I ran it in 1972, there were 3,000 in the race and I remember marveling how crowded it seemed.
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Over the years, the race has gained considerably in popularity.  I used to take a bus to Boston at 12:00PM and casually walk over to the Prudential Center finish line to be there at 2:00PM before the first runners came through.   Back then, I knew who the runners and favorites were, and was shocked when Bill Rodgers first won, and nobody realized that he was a local guy as he turned the corner on Beacon Street.
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This year, I'll be pulling for Carrie Paige,  Shalane Flanagan, the elite Women's runner from Marblehead who has a good chance of winning, and former POTY Tommy McMahon, who doesn't.
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Looks like the weather will hold up.

My Favorite Lama

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

~ The Dalai Lama ~

Nice Days Work

This morning, I was sitting on the couch, and decided that it was a good day to replace the lamppost at the Nanepashemet house that blew down in the Blizzard.  ~
~
So by 8:30AM, I was bothering the nice tenants with a lot of noise digging out the old post and planning the project.   The  lamppost was rotted and the lantern fixture was pretty banged up, so there was no salvage.
~
After checking with two HOME Depots, there was no stock lamppost to be found, so I grabbed a leftover 4x4 from the Tommy O deck, notched that for the wire and trimmed it with some 1x6 pressure treated stock that I bought along with a new fixture.
~
Jim Bob Peabody lent a hand snaking the wire, and Tommy O brought over his post level.   The result is this classically understated and custom crafted lamppost at 32 Beverly Ave. .... All done in one day.... MOAM style.

 

I get by with a little help from my Friends.

Latest Entries to the Nanepashemet List of Truths.

Making Popcorn with your Grandkids is Special Time together.

Repetition is the Path to Mastery.... learning to play a musical instrument hammers this home.

Living in the Present is Joyful... focusing on the past causes regret and focusing on the future causes anxiety.

Time speeds up when you get older. An hour is much longer for a young child than an adult.

Final Greenhouse Steps

The Greenhouse plan has been very hot lately.
~
Peeps.... please stop asking me to build one for you.  I'm going to test case one on the Sundance property and see how it goes, then I will consider exporting my expertise to the general public.... which is you.
~
At Sundance, due to lot configurations, setbacks, topography, and ledge outcroppings, I really can only place it in a certain spot on the lot.   But Zoning won't be a problem at the present 12'x24' proposed size.
~
The only issue left is whether the structure can be permitted as designed under the code.  I want the four foot open panel span of the polycarbonate panels if possible, otherwise, I would have to add a stud in the middle of each which would create a 24" on center framing system, which is an acceptable alternative.
~
And I want to see if the pressure treated wall plate contact with the compacted soil at ground as well as a pervious dirt floor will fly.   I'm pretty sure that the Building Department will approve the PT issue, because I have addressed this previously with a garage that I proposed, and the dirt floor should be ok given the greenhouse use.
~
So with a permit in hand, there is nothing to it but to do it... right???? 
Wrong, Kemosabe.
~
I have a whole list of stuff to do with the existing property leading up to Katelyn's wedding, some of which come with a decent pricetag,  before I can indulge in this project for myself.

Imagine That

Just Coincidentally, the Greenhouse has enough room to construct a twenty foot long boat.

Repetition is the Path to Mastery

Peeps....

"Repetition is the Path to Mastery."

It's estimated that you must invest 10,000 hours into a skill or subject matter before you can gain true expertise.

That's five work years.

So I can't yet play the banjo like Earl Scruggs.
And my guitar skills are far less than  Stevie Ray Vaughn's.
I'm woeful as a CAD designer, and my woodworking is dwarfed by Tage Frid.

Lots more hours to go, and this middle aged Mountain of a Man is running out of unlimited time. 

But someday, I hope to be sitting on a stool that I designed and built and amaze some of my closest Peeps with a stunning rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" followed  by a kick ass version of "Pride and Joy".

That will be quite a few hours from now.

12 x 24 Panelized Greenhouse

Peeps....
I'm starting to get the hang of this Sketchup Program.   Above is my design of  a greenhouse that is made up of stock 2x4 nominal pressure treated lumber that is sheathed in 4x8 panels of 8mm polycarbonate panels.  All of the panels are fastenened
by deck screws so that the structure can be deassembled and relocated.  Rough estimate of the stock is $3,000.  With Labor and markup, Nanepashemet Builders can put this in your backyard for about $10,500. and you will be eating home grown tomatoes and smelling the roses in no time.

8mm PolyCarbonate Clear Panel

Temporary Hiatus

 It's been real busy at Nanepashemet Telecom this week, and during the evening, I've been brushing up on my stringed instrument skills, so the Blog has taken a hiatus for a few days.  Can't believe its Thursday already.
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But for me, a lapse in posts is usually a good thing.... because this Blog is where I generally work out my frustrations, so I must have not been too aggravated this week.
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Since I made a conscious decision not to get wound up over the Massachusetts US Senate race this time, and Obama and his money grab minions are mired in the horrors of Sequestration (is that still going on?), I just have not been moved to rant about politics.
~
And my Spring projects, not the least of which is raising the war chest to fund Katelyn's Nuptuals, have also been taking up what might be bloggable items, but they are not really in full swing with the temps hovering around the freezing mark during these April mornings.
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But don't worry.
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Something is sure to aggravate me soon, and you will be the first to know about it.