Friday, October 31, 2014

Nanepashemet Peep of the Week - Week 44 - 2014

It's time to rededicate to the time honored tradition accorded to the Mountain of a Man to select the Nanepashemet Peep of the Week.

Those of you hapless Peeps who have followed this pathetic Blog over the years know the drill....

POTW's must have done something exceedingly annoying and/or inspiring.
POTW's cannot be an animal... if that was the case, Henry the Cat would win/lose all of the time.
POTW's cannot be dead.... barely metabolizing is fine, but no pulse doesn't cut it.

And.... you can never ask why a POTW was chosen.... ever.

These rules have stood the test of time... and have the same gravity and effect that Global Warming has for Democrats.... they are "Settled Science."

So now that you have had this quick refresher... it's time to get down to this serious/absurd adjudicatory business.

Announcing.....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 44th Week of 2014

  • Anne Freeman Hill
  • Maggi Sides
  • Katelyn Boyle
  • Shalane Flanagan
  • Tom McMahon
  • Seth Moulton

I had forgotten how absorbing and intense this selection process can get.

Funny Patriots Halloween

Spaghetti with Syrup

My Grandson, Ethan, told his pre-school teacher that his favorite food is "Spaghetti with Syrup"  .... just like Will Farrell in Elf.

When his teacher asked why,   Ethan responded, "Because it's Hilarious."

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

2nd Amendment Rules

I pulled this off of Facebook last night.  Most of these rules were covered in the mandatory course for a Massachusetts Concealed Carry permit that I attended some time ago with a friend of mine.
If you own a gun, you will appreciate these rules...  If not, you should get one, learn how to use it and learn the rules:
RULES:
A : Guns have only two enemies: rust and politicians.
B : Its always better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
C : Cops carry guns to protect themselves, not you.
D : Never let someone or something that threatens you get inside
arms length
E : Never say "I've got a gun." If you need to use
deadly force, the first sound they should hear is the safety clicking off.
F : The average response time of a 911 call is 23 minutes; the
response time of a .357 is 1400 feet per second.
G : The most important rule in a gunfight is:
Always Win - there is no such thing as a fair fight.
Always Win - cheat if necessary.
H : Make your attacker advance through a wall of bullets ....
You may get killed with your own gun, but he'll have to beat you to death with it because it will be empty .
I : If you're in a gun fight:
(a) If you're not shooting, you should be loading.
(b) If you're not loading, you should be moving.
(c) If you're not moving, you're dead.
J : In a life and death situation, do something ....it may be 
wrong, but do something!
K : If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. Nonsense!
If you have a gun, what do you have to be paranoid about?
L : You can say 'stop' or any other word, but a large bore muzzle 
pointed at someone's head is pretty much a universal language; 
and, you won't have to press 1 for Spanish/Mexican or 2 for Chinese or 3 for Arabic.
M : Never leave an enemy behind. If you have to shoot, shoot to 
kill. In court, yours will be the only testimony.
N : You cannot save the planet, but you may be able to save
yourself and your family.
If you believe in the 2nd Amendment, forward to others you know
who also believe.
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when
everybody stands around reloading". . . . .
Thomas Jefferson



  • Tuesday, October 28, 2014

    Nanepashemet Nod is Now Negated

    Charlie Baker, Candidate for Governor of Massachusetts, started to cry in the debate tonight as he related the story of a New Bedford fisherman who is seeing his fishing business flounder under federal regulations.

    It was a genuine touching moment, but I wonder if this will be seen as a form of weakness in a leader.  Even your Mountain of a Man has shed a tear from time to time, and I am cognizant of the fact that there is no way to control this emotional reaction, but I fear that the political spin will be vicious with this one.

    Generally, I felt that Baker looked tired and stressed during this debate, and he never regained a sense of composure after his weeping.   He still has the Nanepashemet Nod.... although I can't say the same for Seth Moulton, who is hosting Joe Biden in Lynn tomorrow and has emerged as a totally partisan Democrat.

    I was looking for Seth to be a leader, but it seems that he is a follower of Liberal demagoguery.   Takes broad swipes at his opponent solely because his opponent is a Republican.... not because of a disagreement on the issues.   Stands next to phonies like Liz Warren, the despicable liar who claims to be a minority as an American Indian.  Sorry Seth.... I am so disappointed that you have become a Partisan Politician.  I had hoped that you would stand on your own two feet instead of filing in lockstep with the Herd.

    Enjoy your time with Nancy Pelosi.  Nanepashemet Nod is Now Negated.

    Sunday, October 26, 2014

    Open House Pandemonium

    It was pandemonium at Kate and Brady's Open House yesterday.

    Not looking forward to the crowds this afternoon for Day 2, but I advertised it and can't call it off now.   I'm surprised that so many people want to buy this condo in Southie, but the market is super hot.

    If you want to see the Mountain of a Man in full bore sales mode, drop down to 72 I Street between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

    Saturday, October 25, 2014

    Open House

    Peeps.....

    Please come to this Open House.

    Katelyn and Brady's South Boston Condo

    Open House - Saturday 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
    Sunday 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

    Don't be whining to me later that you lost the chance to have the MOAM sell you this super cool condo apartment in happening Southie.

    Tuesday, October 21, 2014

    Change in Venue

    Took a little time from Thursday to Monday to work from North Conway, NH.   Even a Mountain of a Man needs a change of  venue once in a while, and  though I was on line and got a lot of work done, we had the chance to meet with friends and enjoy the autumn mountains.

    A nice lunch with Christos and Yolanda Laganos at the Mount Washington Hotel on Saturday was followed by a visit to Brendt d' Orio and his trophy wife, former POTY, Kerry d' Orio with their cute kids at their new mountain house retreat.

    Christos was in the first grade with the MOAM, and is one of my favorite Facebook friends, and Brendt was Ryan's first friend when he moved to Marblehead in the 2nd grade.  Two great visits in the same afternoon.

    Brendt complained that I haven't been picking Peeps of the Week for awhile, and I guess I'll rev up that feature again.... as despicable/enjoyable as it is.

    Henry the Cat threw up in the Ford F-150 both to North Conway and back to Marblehead, so the cab is a little rank.  More than usual even.  He doesn't travel well.

    Wednesday, October 15, 2014

    Freud D1040X Diablo 10-Inch

    I picked up this cool Freud D1040X Diablo 10-Inch 40-Tooth ATB General Purpose Saw Blade with 5/8-Inch Arbor and PermaShield Coating from Home Depot today.

    I had hit a metal drill bit holder by accident with my Hitachi 10" Miter Saw, and it immediately dulled the blade.  Transferred the existing 10" blade from my DeWalt portable table saw to the Hitachi to finish the job at hand,  but then was left with the need to replenish the DeWalt.

    The blade has a lot of engineering features to produce a thin kerf cut for both crosscut and ripcut applications.  Only cost $29.97 at both Home Depot and Amazon.

    Freud is an Italian company that makes top notch saw blades and router bits, and it will be interesting to see how this blade performs as I put the finishing touches on the Secret Project.

    And no... I've decided to keep the Secret Project ... secret.

    You nosey Peeps already know way to much about the Mountain of a Man's personal life.

    Tuesday, October 14, 2014

    Support for a Veteran

    I never served in the military.

    Came close when I was a Corporal in the Horse Calvary at Army ROTC at UMASS Amherst.

    We were taught how to march, and spent a lot of classtime regarding military history, strategy and tactics.  The Army Captains also were talking up Vietnam.... what a beautiful country it was.... and how after the war it would be converted to a huge tropical resort.    It was propaganda pure and simple.

    But by the beginning of my Junior year in 1973, the Vietnam War had ended, and I had a draft number that insured that I would not be drafted, so I turned in my uniform.

    It just didn't seem necessary to continue, but there is a part of me that has always regretted the decision.

    My Grandfather,Jeremiah Nestor, served in WWI in the trenches in France where he  was gassed by the Germans, and never really recovered.

    My Father, John Nestor, served in the US Coast Guard during WWII, escorting shipping convoys across the North Atlantic.   He spent a year in the Hospital with Battle Fatique after being blown off of a ship and spending an inordinate time in the ocean.  He could never discuss the experience... would just choke up and I never prodded.

    My Cousin, Atty. John N. Nestor served as B-17 Flying Fortress pilot and flew 125 missions over Europe in WWII  - five times the required amount.  It was a miracle that he beat the statistics and didn't die.

    My Father in Law, Joe LeBlanc, was blown off of his jeep by a Chinese tank in  the Korean War and spent time as a Prisoner of War.

    But, my Father was staunchly against the Vietnam War, and was afraid that I would have to serve.   He once said that he would shoot me in the foot if I was drafted, and I believed that he was not kidding about that.   At his insistence, I joined Army ROTC at UMASS because he felt that as a 2nd Lieutenant, I would have a better chance of survival.

    There are a lot of stats regarding the mortality rate of 2nd Lieutenants in Vietnam... suffice it to say that I think that my Father's hypothesis was "dead" wrong.

    Regardless... if I had remained in ROTC and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant at graduation, it would have been a couple of years of peacetime service.

    Yet, I so admire those that have served.  Maybe it is in my blood from family veterans who served with distinction and made significant sacrifices  by their military experience.

     It is a central reason for my support of Seth Moulton in his bid to be elected Congressman of the Sixth Massachusetts District.   Even though I cringe at the Hard Line Democrats that are buzzing around him like flies on shit, I respect his four tours of duty in Iraq, and will support him based on that alone.



    I am with you there, boom master. I didn't cotton to them pickle-sniffing sorts.

    U-S-A! U-S-A!


    Monday, October 13, 2014

    Talking Politics

    Peeps....

    I've been noticing lately that some of my Friends really are uncomfortable talking about politics.

    I've never felt that way.   Maybe being a political science major in college, and always being interested in history and geography have given me a sense of security with the subject.

    In my own situation, I was brought up in an Irish Catholic working class democratic household.   Everytime I would ask my father who he voted for, he would answer, "The Best Man."   My mother always reminded me that Democrats were for the working man, and Republicans were for the rich.

    When I was in the sixth grade, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, which had a devastating effect on my family.   He was our first Irish Catholic President.   But the words that resonate with me to this day... "Ask NOT what your Country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country.".... told the Liberals of the day to stand for themselves and contribute.... not look for Government to take care of you.

    The Vietnam War raged through my high school years, and ended during my sophomore year in college.... it made no sense to me.... trying to interfere with the affairs of that country under the pretense of stopping communism.   And the Civil Right movement was in full swing,  with the inherent injustice of institutionalized racism being challenged and dismantled.   President Nixon lied about burglarizing Democratic campaign records, and I was happy to see him resign his office.

    I was a stanch Liberal in those days.  Liberals were for change, and I believed that change was right.   In fact, I could not understand how anyone could be a conservative.  We grew our hair long, our music was radicalized and we railed against "the Establishment".

    I think we were right... and things started to change.

    The environment was cleaned up with sweeping legislation and rules on the way business was conducted.

    Affirmative Action changed the damages caused by years of racism and created opportunities for the advancement of minorities in education, business, and over quality of life.  It grabbed racism by the nose and forged situations that our culture would have taken decades to overcome.

    Ronald Reagan stared down Communism and this oppressive Leftist system of large autocratic government  collapsed under its own ineptitude.

    In my personal business, I found the freedom to sink or swim based upon my own competence and business acumen.  I demonstrated to myself that I could survive by my own wits and never looked to others to provide a safety net.

    But slowly, Democrats started to piss me off....   Jimmy Carter was incompetent,  Bill Clinton diddled with an intern, while his wife Hilary claimed he was the victim of "a vast right wing conspiracy".  For the first time since Nixon, I started to feel that I was being lied to by the President.  There was a disingenuous slime factor about the Clinton's that I feel to this day.   I was happy when George W. Bush invaded Iraq to rid the world of an Hitler figure in Saddam Hussein... and proud that America led the world in this effort.

    I had a profound dislike for Al Gore, Jr. His global warming, Nobel Prize winning hypothesis on Global Warming and his claim to have invented the Internet started to sway me to the opinion that Liberals had gone looney.   And John Kerry... please.... coming from Massachusetts, I had watched his manipulative and conniving career first hand.

    But when Barack Obama was first elected, there was a part of me that was elated.  We had elected an African American to the highest office in the land.  I'm not going to rant here against Obama.  The kindest thing that I can say is that the country is guilty of wishful thinking and rushed to elect a completely unprepared and unqualified candidate.   We listened to our hearts and not our heads.

    Which brings me to my present situation.

    Winston Churchill said, "If you are twenty and not a Liberal, you have no heart... and If you are forty and are not a Conservative, your have no head."

    While I still protect my unenrolled "Independent" political party designation, I now find myself frustrated that Democrats have abandoned the exaltation by John Kennedy, and call for an entitlement state with no budgetary controls.   Does that make me a Republican or a Conservative?

    I wish it didn't, but that's where I see myself landing these days.




    Sunday, October 12, 2014

    Ryan and Kim Got Married

    It was another  wedding spectacular last night as Ryan Nestor tied the knot with Kim Hause at a Crocker Park harborside ceremony conducted by Reverend for a Day, Tyler Gill.  Chad Raleigh played the acoustical background guitar.

    After the outdoor ceremony held in perfect weather, the party walked next door to the Boston Yacht Club, and the venue didn't disappoint with great food and a killer band.  Chad sat in for lead guitar a couple times and ripped the place apart with his tremendous musical ability.  I doubt that the staid old BYC has witnessed that type of rock talent much in its stately history.

    To this MOAM, the highlights were too numerous to mention, but I would have to say that it was one of the most enjoyable weddings that I have attended.  Ryan performed his Johnny B. Goode routine as well as ever, and the Dark and Stormies flowed like wine.

    Johnny B. Goode Performance

    It was nice to reconnect with many of  Ryan and Kim's friends who I have known since they were little kids.

    The day was the culmination of a weird and totally unpredictable path that calls to the fact that everything happens for a reason, and everything ultimately happens for the best.  It's not up to us to evaluate or question God's plan too closely.... better just to trust and try to enjoy the ride.

    Friday, October 10, 2014

    Ryan and Kim

    Ryan and Kim are getting married tomorrow, and their rehearsal party was at Maddies Sail Loft in Marblehead tonight.
    ~
    Tomorrow the nuptials occur at Crocker Park, with a reception at the Boston Yacht Club.
    ~
    I love them both, wish them the best, and hope to observe their happiness long into the future.

    Let them Eat Cake

    This faux water tank is located in Creston, CA and stands roughly 53' tall and contains a conventionally framed roof. 


    Not for nothing, but I vastly prefer the look of a modern communications facility rather than an old fashioned water tank.

    I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Sometimes I wish that all of the carriers would just shut down the service for a day.  Then with all of the whining and gnashing of teeth,  we would reverse those naysayers who want Broadband but not Broadband antennas.   Classic case of the entitlement generation wanting to  have your cake and eat it too.

    Tuesday, October 07, 2014

    Nanepashemet Blog Ranking

    There are over 150 million Blogs worldwide on the Internet.
    ~
    Teads of the United Kingdom rates this pathetic Blog as 11,447 in the World, and 5,757 in the United States.
    ~
    What the Hell do they know?
    ~
    As far as I'm concerned, we are Number 1... or at least in the Top Ten.

    Monday, October 06, 2014

    Whacky Martha


    ~

    Peeps...
    Those of you who know me best know that the MOAM sometimes makes mistakes.... sometimes forms the wrong judgement... misses the mark once in awhile.
    ~
    Course... not nearly as much as the rest of you.... but it happens nonetheless.
    ~
    So I appeal to you to set me straight in the unlikely event that I am wrong.  But I don't think I am.
    ~
    We have the democratic gubernatorial candidate, Martha Coakley, running ads stating that her brother had a breakdown, and after her parents died, took his own life because "he had no place to go."   And then she grimaces.
    ~
    I'm sorry, but my only conclusion is that there was no way he could ask his sister for help after their parents passed, ergo he committed suicide.    So where the hell was Martha?.... and what is her point?  That Government should have nurtured and guided her brother???  What was Martha's role?
    ~
    And how, in God's Green Earth, does Coakley think this will get our vote to make her Governor of Massachusetts????
    ~
    So Peeps.... What the hell am I missing?   There must be something because this one just seems to be the wackiest Liberal political ad that I've seen in a long time.

    Sunday, October 05, 2014

    Get It Done

    Working on the Secret Project this Sunday morning, and then I promised Mike that I would help him pick up his hardwood flooring stock at Lumber Liquidators this afternoon.

    By the Patriots kickoff at 8:00 PM tonight, this MOAM will be a twisted mass of fatique but I'm looking forward to getting stuff done today.

    Friday, October 03, 2014

    Worx Shredder

     I've decided to mulch the crap out of any leaf that has the audacity to fall on my property this autumn.   Bought this WORX WG430 13 amp Electric Leaf Mulcher/Shredder to back me up.

    Baker gets the Nanepashemet Nod

     Peeps... this is a personal plea.  
    ~
    In the name of all that is holy and decent in our lives, please don't cast your Massachusetts Governor vote for Martha Coakley.    Her judgement as Attorney General has been arbitrary and vindictive in my opinion and she has been in pathetic lockstep with Liberal positions.  No wonder the First Lady is cheering like a Pep Squad Sophomore.
    ~
    If you think that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will benefit from her stewartship as our Governor, then don't take my word for it... ask Betty Anne Waters, Dorothy Rabinowitz, or Tim Cahill.    She trashes lives with impunity.  There is a meanness and viciousness here that should never be part of the leadership of a democratic administration.
    ~
    My greatest fear is the bureaucrat who decides that checking a box or making a resume entry warrants destroying another person's life.   If I'm wrong about Martha, then I'm happy to be corrected... but there is a pattern here that I find hard to deny.
    ~
    It would be different if we didn't have an alternative... but we do...a very good one.

    Charlie Baker is a businessman with a proven managerial record of success in both the public and private sectors.  I recommend that you vote for Charlie.

    OK... I'm  asking you to vote for Charlie.

    After all... He just received the Nanepashemet Nod.

    Boothbay Harbor

    Monday, September 29, 2014

    Typical Political Posturing

    I hope that Seth Moulton runs on the issues, and not the usual drivel to the Democrat Sheep that spews  that Republicans are bad people.   I've already heard him blame the shut down of the Federal Government on Republicans, which is pure Bullshit.  Obama was the one shutting down national parks selectively.... not his military golf course, and shutting down the White House tours while the Capital tours stayed open.    Obama's failure to compromise due to his stubbornness and inexperience contributed at least 50%, Seth.
    ~
    I know you have to get elected, but I sure as Hell hope that you can raise the bar, and not be the typical pol catering to an unthinking and base emotional electorate.

    Saturday, September 27, 2014

    Not Negating the Nod

    The secret Project has been progressing nicely.... ahead of schedule actually.  And I've been losing weight lugging 80lb. bags of concrete mix in the process.... so it's all good.
    ~
    But what is really bothering me in the meantime is the way Seth Moulton, who has garnered the Nanepashemet Nod in his bid for the 6th Massachusetts US Congressional seat, has been cozying up to Democrat Hacks in the District.   I had hoped for a more individualistic stance, but I see him being swept up by hard liners.
    ~
    The latest was his Facebook poses with Elizabeth Warren, our Massachusetts US Senator who runs fast and loose with the truth and has no problem lying about her claim to be a Cherokee Indian...  Sorry but I just can't let this one go... it speaks to the core for her character.... to lie about being a minority.   Anything else that she says just lacks credibility knowing that she has no problem letting a whopper like this stay with her.
    ~
    Seth..... she also endorsed a liar, Congressman Tierney, before turning to you and your successful campaign with sloppy seconds.

    I'm not Negating the Nod at this time, but I have to see some better judgement from you, Seth


    Wednesday, September 24, 2014

    Evidence and Balls

    So last night, I'm cruising along on Facebook.... you know.... the usual attempt to amuse and annoy.... in no particular order.
    ~
    I post a thread about Vanna White from Wheel of Fortune, who after Sarah Palin, is one of my favorite Hotties.  Then, I comment on a thread that a FB Friend of mine put up about the Public Broadcasting System, and how disingenuous they can be.
    ~
    It was an enjoyable way to pass a Tuesday evening.
    ~
    In the past year, I have blocked two people on Facebook.  They both decided to get personal and make false accusations about me.... and life is too short to put up with that crap.... so I decided to use the option that Facebook has which is the ability to block any posts from them, and deny them access to yours.
    ~
    No harm, no foul.... and no more aggravation.,,,, so it was a fine solution for me.
    ~
    Over the course of the year, I would notice that some posts from old friends had comments that seemed out of context, and I ascertained that one of the Blocked parties was in the discussion.  Who gives a shit... right?
    ~
    But then, in the middle of the thread tonight,  I get a post that says I'm missing the good stuff, and that I should kiss and make up with one of my antagonists.    Fair enough.... I like the guy who made the suggestion, so I unblocked the former offending party.
    ~
    Immediately his posts show up in the thread saying that he notices that I must be participating in the thread, because he can't see all of the entries and that it was funny that I blocked him, and that I was a "Blowhard" and a "Coward".
    ~
    So I call him out and tell him that he was hurting my feelings.
    ~
    Let's face it Peeps.... he was dead on that I am a "Blowhard".....  but I'm no "Coward" and have plenty of life's lumps to back that up.
    ~
    But everyone is entitled to their opinion.
    ~
    He posts that he has shamed me to unblock him.... so I glibly reply that he should be careful, or that I would have to give him another "time out".

    I've known this guy since high school... never really gave him much thought.... most of my recollection is that he seemed to be a nice guy..... showed a weird mean streak once.... but everyone is an idiot in high school, so WTF.
    ~
    So Guess what... the guy who calls me a "Coward" because I blocked him..... immediately Blocks me.   His posts in the thread disappear.
    ~
     Damn....
    ~
    You do the math, Peeps.  If that is his belief, then Logic would dictate that he now has to paste the label on himself.
    ~
    In the years I've been on Facebook. I've never gotten personal......never called people names..... and I didn't tonight either.   Course you have to make the exception for public figures like Chief Spreading Bull, our despicable lying US Senator Liz Warren, but public figures are fair game.
    ~
    Here I go again... being a "Blowhard".
    ~
    But don't ever call me a "Coward", unless you have the Evidence and the Balls to back it up.


























    Tuesday, September 23, 2014

    Creating with a Kushlan

    A lot of you inquisitive Peeps have been asking me about the Kushlan cement mixer lately.
    ~
    I don't blame you... it is one damn cool machine.
    ~
    With two 80 lb. bags of premix Quicrete and two gallons of water, this nifty model will quickly and quietly mix up  a nice pour in no time.  An 8' x8' two inch slab will take 18 to 20 bags,
    ~
    I spray the inside of mine with WD40 to keep the mix from sticking.
    ~
    Troweling out slab of concrete with a magnesium float
    creates a satisfying feel of accomplishment.
    ~
    And don't be thinking you can borrow my Kushlan.... freaking buy your own.

    Saturday, September 20, 2014

    Salt Marsh Home

    We spent the day today moving Mike and Pam into their new house at Beverly Farms.  It abuts a salt marsh and, as Scott McBurney said, has good bones.  Plus the Beverly Farms village center is just down the road past West Beach, and has a nice package store where I bought some celebratory Magners Irish Cider and a six of Sam Adams to celebrate the move.
    ~
    Thanks  to Scuba Steve Lewis, Official Mortgage Broker of Nanepashemet, for helping to make this happen.
    ~
    Mike and Pam will have many moments of enjoyment staring at that marsh, and I'm very happy for them.

    Wednesday, September 17, 2014

    Carlos, My GrandDog


    Carlos my GrandDog has spent the last few days in Marblehead with us as Mike and Pam prepare for their move to Beverly.

    He and Henry the Cat have developed a healthy tolerance for one another that occasionally erupts when one decides to annoy the other.

    Tuesday, September 16, 2014

    I Had a Dream Last Night

    Last night, primarily due to my sleep apnea harness, I went into deep REM and experienced a very vivid dream.
    ~
    I dreamed that a young kid, who grew up in Indonesia from Communist parents, and was indoctrinated by extremely radical Chicago politicians and ideologues, went on to become the President of the United States.
    ~
    He ran a community action center, spent one term in the State Senate, one term in the US Senate, and then was swept into the Presidency.
    ~
    He started out by inspiring everyone with his incredible charisma and public speaking ability.  But then, the ability to govern... to administer, compromise, and lead... failed him.  His administration, which was promised as being a transparent process for all to see, became mired in narcissism and secrecy.  The largess of he and his family as they traveled the US and the World, showed an extravagance and sense of entitlement at the expense of others that was disheartening.
    ~
    He won a Nobel Peace Prize before he ever made one executive decision, but then waffled in meeting challenges in the time frames in which they arose.
    ~
    Some supported him because he was Black, and others derided him for the same reason.   Racism raised its ugly head in both instances.

    He couldn't work with Congress, and didn't seem to listen to the advice of those around him, particularly his military staff.  He looked for excuses and blame, and his sycophant supporters allowed a foggy perception of reality.
    ~
    The United States with its political, social, and business institutions weathered his ineptitude and incompetency, but lost the chance to lead the world to a stronger economy and more stable social and political order.

    It was one of those  weird, totally illogical dreams.    I woke up before the dream was over.... don't know how it ended.

    Sunday, September 14, 2014

    Getting Concrete with the Plan



    I'm thinking of renting this cement mixer from Home Depot, or possibly making a purchase.  The rental is $47.00 a day so I think that I will work to get the preparation completely ready, then rent it for three or four days.It's a big change in plans to go with concrete, but in the end, will probably save time and money.

    Saturday, September 13, 2014

    Splitting Granite

    Did a lot of work on the secret project today,  it is coming along nicely but very labor intensive.  When it is done, I may or may not disclose it.

    One thing I will tell you is that I have mastered the technique of splitting stone using wedge and feathers.   Before, I didn't drill the holes close enough or deep enough.     The 1/2" holes have to be drilled at least three inches deep and three inches apart.

    Once I corrected this, the strongest granite boulders cracked and split after a few pings with a hammer on the wedges inserted in the feathers.

    Wednesday, September 10, 2014

    Power of the Nanepashemet Nod


    MA - U.S. HOUSE DIST 6 - DEM
    100% OF PRECINCTS REPORTING
    >Seth Moulton34,45549%
     John Tierney (Inc.)28,88241%
     Marisa DeFranco4,2826%
     John Devine1,5252%
     John Gutta6871%

    The power of the Nanepashemet Nod is mysterious indeed.

    Course it doesn't work all the time... if fact, this is the first time that it has worked in years.
    But there it is... for all you Peeps to see and admire.

    I hope Seth Moulton proves to be worthy.

    Monday, September 08, 2014

    North Country Weekend

    This weekend, I had a great time in North Conway.    Mike and Pam dropped by as they were checking out venues in the Mountains for their big event, and Ryan and Kim brought up the Grandkids, Will and Ethan, for a visit to Storyland.
    ~
    It was the type of weekend that you live for.
    ~
    The only fly in the ointment was the Patriots game.   Time Warner Cable had an issue providing service to the area in the first half, then when service resumed in the second half, the Pats game came apart.  They'll regroup.
    ~
    It was kind of nice to get away from the Moulton-Tierney Congressional race as it intensified this weekend with election day next Tues.  As you Peeps may have ascertained, the MOAM has invested a bit of emotion in his support of Moulton, who shapes up as a fresh, honest face with a solid record of military and academic accomplishment.
    ~
    In North Conway, the local news markets cover Portland, Maine and Manchester, NH, and both electorates appear to have a strong sprinkling of both Liberal and Conservative views.  Scott Brown looks like he will have an uphill battle with Jeanne Shaheen if you take your indications from the number of roadside political signs that are scattered throughout the area.
    ~
    But what surprised me the most was the amount of political ads that place opponents in photo opportunities with President Obama and view that as a given negative.
    ~
    Generally, if you are a politician in a photo with the POTUS, it is a positive indication that the President supports you.  That's why Presidents are a sought after commodity in local fund raising events. But each political ad in the North country that featured Obama posed a proof positive assumption that the candidate supported ObamaCare, Illegal Immigration or some other insidious policy that exposes the candidate in an unfavorable light.

    You don't see those types of ads in the Boston Market.

    Wednesday, September 03, 2014

    Why Vote for Seth Moulton?

    So the obnoxious political ad says that you shouldn't vote for Seth Moulton because a ..... Republican..... group gave him money.

    Course his opponent, John Tierney, is a lock step Nancy Pelosi Democrat, who has never wandered a a smidgen away from the standard Democratic lines that they feed to their unthinking herd.

    I'm an Independent, and I highly resent it when some close minded dweeb decides that calling someone a "Republican" is the ultimate condemnation.  It doesn't even bother me that Seth Moulton characterizes himself as a "Progressive Democrat",  I just want to see people in office who have the fortitude to speak the truth as they see it.... and by the way..... if you think Tierney didn't know anything about all of the dirty off-shore money that his wife ran through his personal checking account, then I've got a Bridge in Brooklyn that you may be interested in.

    Moulton is a guy who had the world by the Balls, coming out of Phillips Andover and Harvard..... he could have written his own ticket....but obviously he answered the need to give back and serve our Country in Iraq.

    Your Nanepashemet Mountain of a Man doesn't know him, never met him, never even shook his hand.  But a guy with his promise doesn't show up that often.

    When I look at the photo above, taken during one of his four tours of duty in Iraq..... I see an "American".   I  will register as a Democrat if necessary, but I'm voting for Seth Moulton for the Massachusetts 6th Congressional District seat.... and I hope you do too.


    Tuesday, September 02, 2014

    A Leadership Vacuum

    We have a State Department with Embassies and Consulates all over the world.   We have an ingrained CIA, NSA and God Knows What Else surveying and gathering intelligence on a massive and constant basis.  We have the largest and most powerful Navy in the world and control the international corridors.   When President Obama says we have no strategy to deal with ISIS in Syria, he is either confused, insincere, or has no ability to manage the immense resources at his disposal.
    ~
    Are you happy that we elected this Community Activist from Chicago with an affinity for teleprompters?   The fault is not Obama's.   It is the herd that elected him.... Twice.

    Monday, September 01, 2014

    Popping the Question


    Mike popped the question and Pam said yes.  How AWESOME is THAT!

    A SPECIAL DAY.


    Sunday, August 31, 2014

    Benefits of A Seth Moulton Vote


    I don't always vote for Democrats.
    But when I do....


    I vote for Seth Moulton for Congress.



    This is how you will feel when you vote for Seth.

    Thursday, August 28, 2014

    Opinionettes.


    The little girl who killed her instructor with an Ooze Automatic weapon when it recoiled..... we lost a perfectly good village idiot in that tragedy.

    Martha Coakley is taking  a page out of Elizabeth Warren's book.... campaigning against the Big Banks and the Old Boy Network.... it is phony, yet fodder for the Democratic herd which will elect this vindictive and hurtful politician.

    Brad and Angelina got married.... freaking whoop di do.

    If Massachusetts doesn't elect the ticket of Baker and Polito, it will get what it deserves and will lose a huge opportunity for professional management to solve its massive issues.

    Why are we paying millions on the Boston Marathon Bomber's defense?

    I can't wait for the medical community to admit that deep fried food is good for you.

    Facebook is an incredible invention that has rekindled relationships and reunions that were never before possible and I am grateful.

    Summer comes and goes quicker every year, and global warming is a crock.

    Angry Orchard Hard Cider and Captain Morgans Spiced Rum is a delicious cocktail but will get you looped after two.

    Enough for now.


    Tuesday, August 26, 2014

    Karyn Polito



    Went to see Karyn Polito, Republican Candidate for Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor this evening at a meet and greet organized by my old friend, Louis Markakis, at Palmer's Restaurant in Downtown Marblehead.
    ~
    She is the real deal.
    ~


    Strong Emphasis on taking personal responsibility and weaning people away from depending on Government.  Lower Taxes... cut Goverment Regulation... all those things that make sense but scare the pants off of Liberal Big Government.
    ~
    I liked her, but question whether she and Charlie Baker can get elected in this Commonweath of Entitlement.

    Monday, August 25, 2014

    Post Secret Project

    I'm starting get the hots to build this greenhouse that I designed last year, somewhere on the Sundance Property.


    Maybe in the Driveway where it will double as a garage.  But nothing can happen until I finish the secret project.

    Sunday, August 24, 2014

    Secret Project Progress

    The secret project that I have been working all summer long is at a critical milestone.   I will disclose it at the proper time, but as of now, it is a secret... so don't be asking about it.

    Saturday, August 23, 2014

    Nestor-Mestor

    Anne Freeman Hill just sent me this photo of Joanne and I with Phil and Marva Freeman at Jeff and Kathy Middleton's Wedding.
    ~
    I had forgotten how good looking we all were back then!
    ~
    Hard to believe they both are gone, but I have to believe they are together in a better place.
    ~
    Anne is Phil's youngest sister and she used to be a little pip squeak who would get in my face and call me Nestor-Mestor whenever I showed up on Collins Street Terrace in East Lynn.
    ~






    She married a great athlete from West Lynn, Tony Hill, and matured into a beautiful woman..... But even though we are all forty years older,  I still picture her as this little kid trying to torment me.
    ~
    Thank you, Anne, for sending me this memory.

      

    Friday, August 22, 2014

    Testing the Water

    Maybe it's time to trade in the WhaleEye for a new model.  Ryan and I looked at a nice MayCraft down at CoastlineMarine today.   I was impressed with the dealer, and the boat seemed to be a solid no frills fishing platform.



    We have to see what accounts receivable looks like at Nanepashemet Telecom.
    http://www.may-craft.com/

    Thursday, August 21, 2014

    Seth Moulton for Congress


    Seth Moulton for Congress

    I'm thinking of throwing the coveted Nanepashemet Nod to Seth Moulton for the Sixth Congressional Massachusetts District.

    He's a Marine veteran and I sense that there is a well of honesty and integrity.   And yes, I know, He is a Progressive Democrat.  That concerns me, but if he acts honestly, that would be exceptionally refreshing.

    I offered a spot on my lawn for one of his campaign signs too.... so that should be enough to swing this gig for him.

    Wednesday, August 20, 2014

    Lives Lived Well

    After Phil Freeman's services on Saturday,  we had to attend services for Omer LeBlanc, Joanne's 93 year old uncle on Tuesday.

    As sad as the ritual of death and dying is, the habit of coming together with old friends and family is very comforting and helps us cope and move on among the living.  We honor their passage and our own problems fade from center stage for a
    small time.

    While the funeral is an ending, it is also a beginning to celebrate the time we have left with people who are important to us.

    Phil and Omer were people that I knew since I was a little kid, and it is sad to see their passing,  but their services revealed that both had lives that were lived well.

    Friday, August 15, 2014

    B-17 Flying Fortress - A Mistaken Detail

    Back in 1995,  I bought this framed print at Kennedy Studios, and presented it to my cousin, the Late Attorney John Nestor, in commemoration of the fact that he had flown 125 missions in a B-17 Flying Fortress during World War II... an amazing feat.
    ~
    He stared silently at it for awhile.
    ~
    First I though he was sizing it up and identifying inaccuracies, such as a turrent or gun not being in the right place.... but then I began to think that I had made a bad mistake, and that it was conjuring up memories that were best left dormant.
    ~
    When I finally broke the ackward silence and asked, "Is there anything wrong?", he replied... "There certainly is."

    "What's that?" I said with a bit of anxiety.

    "Those fucking Messerschmidts would have never gotten that close.",  John said.

    He never hung that print in his office.  And he never forgave the Germans or the Japanese.
    John was a great man for many reasons.  God rest his Soul.

    (Thanks for Frank Iacono for placing the print on Facebook.)

    Thursday, August 14, 2014

    Philip Freeman - Lynn Daily Evening Item - Obituary

    Philip G. Freeman, 62
    Formerly of Lynn


    Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 3:00 am
    ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Philip G. Freeman, age 62, of Englewood, N.J., formerly of Lynn, Mass., passed away on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. Born in Henderson, N.C., to the late Albert and Dorothy (Bradley) Freeman, Philip was a graduate of Lynn English High School, Class of 1970, where he was co-captain of the track team, setting a record only recently broken for the two mile run in 10.2 minutes.



    He graduated from Boston College, Class of 1974, where he studied sociology. Philip had a successful career primarily in computer technology and later in financial services working at Pan Am, Exxon, PSEG, and PNC Bank.

    Philip enjoyed music, domestic and international travel, sports and art. He made friends wherever he went with his charm and engaging personality.

    Philip was predeceased by his beloved wife, Marva (Braithwaite) Freeman. He is survived by his loving daughter Melissa Brown (Freeman), his son-in-law Lance Brown and granddaughter Leah; brothers, Edward J. Freeman (Cynthia), Thomas J. Freeman (Jessica), Ronald A. Freeman (Ginette), Leon H. Freeman (Michele), Richard E. Freeman (Fiona), sisters, Marcia I. Leffler (Lee) and Anne M. Hill (Tony). He is also survived by his aunt, Alice Boykin; father-in-law Jack C. Braithwaite; sister-in-law Karen Singleton; and brother-in-law Richard Emmanuel. He was predeceased by his brother Albert C. Freeman (Gretchen) and mother-in-law Germaine Braithwaite.

    Philip was a beloved uncle to his many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many cousins and a magnitude of great friends.

    Service information: Visitation at BARRETT FUNERAL HOME, 148 Dean Drive, Tenafly, N.J., on Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Funeral Mass Saturday, 11:30 a.m., at St. John’s Church, 470 Broad Ave., Leonia, N.J. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org.

    Monday, August 11, 2014

    Phil Freeman - RIP

    Jeff Middleton called Joanne today and said that Phil Freeman had died in the last day or so.   He had a brain embolism or something, slipped into a coma and passed away....and had suffered a stroke in the last ten years and endured kidney problems.  His beautiful wife, Marva, had died of cancer in 2012.  He was 62.

    I first met Freeman when I was in the 2nd grade at St. Joseph's Sunday school.  He lived down by the Meadows where the East Lynn colored people lived, and I lived in the Highlands, so we didn't go to the same elementary school, but just seemed to hit it off on Sunday's at St. Joseph's.  When we both went to Eastern Junior High School, in the seventh grade, we joined the St. Joseph's CYO Basketball team and would hang out on wintry afternoons after games or practices down on Green Street and Union Street in Lynn.

    Phil and I were not exceptional basketball players, we didn't have the size and basically just held our own.  When we were Sophomores at Lynn English High, Phil went out for the cross country team and became a standout.  I was thinking of going out for the swim team, but after a couple of gym calisthenic workouts, and watching the cross country team come back in the locker room, I joined the team prior to the beginning of the indoor track season.   My mental reasoning was precisely this.... "If Freeman can be this good, then I should be able to do really well, because I'm at least as good as Freeman."

    I was wrong.

    Freeman was a gifted long distance runner and I was a plodder at the back of the pack.  It was incredibly difficult for me to mold my pudgy developing body into the type of shape that it would take to compete, but Freeman was my inspiration.  He had a beautiful fluid stride, and a lot of guts.

    How could he be this good and me be that  bad? !!!

    Gradually, throughout that Indoor Track season, I improved until I was the second fastest Sophomore miler on the team... behind Phil.

    Then at the beginning of the outdoor season, I pulled a muscle in my hip and was just limping through races.  Phil knew that I was not improving and I remember the day when we sat on the bus on the way home from a meet at Peabody High, and he thought he could console me by suggesting that I try to throw the discus or the javelin. I don't think he ever knew how annoyed I was with that comment, and that really motivated me to become the best runner possible.

    By the time we were Juniors, Freeman and I were within the top five varsity cross country members of the team,  He was number two behind Fred Doyle and I was number four behind Rick Jankowski. We went on to be the Essex County Champions of 1968 and at the end of the year, Phil and I were named Co-Captains of the Lynn English High Track Team for our senior year.

    In our senior year, we had begun to be known in local track circles as Freeman and Nestor from Lynn English and we were contenders in Essex County and the Massachusetts State Meets.  Any race that I ran with Phil, I was content to be second and at least beat the other guys.   The only Cross Country race that I ever won was the time that Phil was home sick from school.... and I took the opportunity to beat the crap out of the Peabody runners who had no idea that I was grabbing what I thought was my one chance to come in first.  I did beat him once, when  I had a great run at the Essex County Cross Country Championships our senior year, finishing third,.....and  Phil  came in sixth.   It was the only time I ever beat him cleanly.   He was genuinely happy for me, and I sensed a feeling of pure friendship from him.

     Later that winter, Phil was third in the Division I Two Mile and I came in sixth on the boards in the old Boston Garden... I was happy and proud to see him ahead of me with the leaders, and earn a State Medal.

    Phil and I started to go to the CYO Dances together when we were Sophomores and he began to let his Afro develop.   He was the first Black kid at English with a full blown Afro which would have made Jimi Hendrix proud.  Around that time, he would insist that his name was not Phil Freeman... it was Marcus Garvey.   I had no idea who the hell he was taking about until years later when I actually took the trouble to research who Marcus Garvey was.  But we never went deeper than that.

    Freeman was a great dancer at the CYO dances and the girls liked him.   Phil told me every sordid detail of his encounters with women and I truly got a good portion of my sex education listening to him.  But Phil was a genuinely kind person and I remember how he acted when he told me about the girl in my neighborhood who said that she loved him.   He was really moved.  We would stand around for hours,  leaning against a Mailbox on the street corner, telling each other things that we were feeling. and observing in those formative years.

    We would be down at the Meadow Playground playing basketball in the summer and passing pucks back and forth with hockey sticks and no skates when the Meadow would freeze over in the Winter.

    I think our friendship was obvious to others, and we never really discussed race issues which were rising in intensity at the time.  It was 1967, 68, 69  Sherwin Wheeler, a Black kid who lived across the street from Phil, once got in my face and asked if I would let my sister date Phil...  I could sense where he was going .....  "I don't care if she dates Phil... I just don't want her to date you!", was my reply... and Sherwin knew full well that I didn't have a sister.

    Outside of that, I don't remember the issue ever coming up.   I was bothered and embarrassed when the Lynn English Yearbook had a picture of me at the end of our Senior Year captioned " John Leads the Way".  At best it was stupid and naive, and at worse,  it was racist.   Freeman lead the way, I was a solid second.  And  I was confused  when I came back from my Freshman year at UMASS Amherst, went over to see Phil who was home from Boston College, and asked him if he wanted to go to some nightclub in Boston.  Freeman declined, saying it was "Too White Oriented".

    I just shrugged it off at the time and didn't give it much thought until I got back to school the next semester when I wrote up the incident in a College Journalism class, and the UMASS Professor told be that my short story should be published.  But I never followed up.

    After College, Phil got a job in New Jersey and married a beautiful girl, Marva, from Brookline.  I remember being at his wedding in Boston, which was incredibly done, and getting really misty for a while as I contemplated how far he seemed to have come from those old days when we would push each other in the St. Joseph's Sunday School lines.  He had carved out  beautiful life for himself.

    We faded away from each other.   I last saw him at this father's wake at the Solimine Funeral Home in Lynn in the late 90's.  For some reason, I got really emotional, dragged him out into the parking lot and told him that I was always bothered by that yearbook notation and that I felt it was racist.   He just shrugged and smiled.

    So when I talked to Jeff this afternoon, and he told me how Phil had died with declining health in the last ten years, every detail came rushing back to me.  I couldn't speak and just blubbered into the phone with Jeff for awhile.  Pretty sad... I would try to Google him from time to time and even Google mapped his house in Englewood, NJ a couple of years ago. I should have called him, but it was enough to know that he was still walking the  Earth.

    But now he isn't... and I will miss him.

    ~

    Jay, very nice piece that brings back a lot of good memories of running track with you two at LEHS. Greatly saddened by the news. Phil was a really good guy and an awesome runner. As you said, he will be missed. John T. Hackett III