Serious Training

I'm starting to feel a big bout of seriousness kicking in.
~
With one week of cycling left, we're preparing the area in the basement for the treadmill to be set up. Plus I ate right today.... no MacDonald's or Pasta. It will be 5 weeks on the treadmill before I even take one stride on the payment sometime in May.
~
Today I went 17.3 miles on the Cybex in 50 Minutes.
~
I've detected a bit of doubt on the part of the Peeps who ask me how the marathon training is going. I little bit of old fashioned, eye rolling, sarcasm. That's because they see my voluminous bulk and don't realize that I am gradually progressing on a carefully prepared program that will peak on October 26, 2008.
~
This is not for the faint of heart seeking instant gratification. And it's no beauty contest.... that's for sure.
~
Hope Bobby Brown and the Insidious Wojcik have a great time in Vegas. I seem to remember some fast times and heavy drinking at those Wireless Conventions. Too bad they are in training for the Marine Corps Marathon and will miss out on all the late night entertainment, boozing and fancy dinners. Too bad...

Staying on Plan

One more week of training on the Cybex bike and then I move to the treadmill phase of low impact running. I'm continuing to stay on the plan despite taunting by Bobby Brown and the Insidious Wojcik who say that running a marathon has nothing to do with a Bike.
~
Big talk from the young up-and-comers.
~
I know what I'm doing, and a little smack or trash talk from the likes of those future has-beens doesn't bother me at all. Their March brashness will deteriorate to anquished cries of defeat in October. A little patience is all that is required.

Toy Chest Advice Corner

Lauren Rathbone said....

See if you can make a toychest, that does not let the top come slamming down when it is open. Ethan has a antique toy chest and when he opens it the top rarely stays up, and he has been hit so many times. Now he does not go near the thing. It is very nice, real wood, but a accident waiting to happen. Any advice??
~
I do have advice for Lauren.
~
First. Thank the Lord that Ethan is obviously bright and doesn't continue to get slammed by the toy chest lid over and over again.
~
Second. There are mechanical hinges at Rockler Hardware in Danvers that prevent lids from coming forcefully down. I haven't decided if I'm going to use one of these for Will's chest. There ought to be a way to construct some type of wooden stop like they use in cheap auto hoods.
~
Third. As soon as possible, teach Ethan how to play video games so he's glued to the TV set and avoids the dangerous toy chest altogether.

Tuna Lips said...

Small taters there, missy, but your concern is a mammy's one and I tip my doff to yous. Catchin' his Willy Wonka in his zipper, when that goes down, yer boy is gonna knows pain. Aint nothin' in the hardware store fer that one.

Motor Well

This is an example of the Marblehead Gunning Dory with an outboard engine in the motor well.
~
I was talking to Mark Ryan of Ryan Marine the other day, and asked him to quote a price on an 8HP Honda Four Stroke.
~
It seems like you could get them around the web for less than $2K. Let's see what Mark comes back with.
~
I would still equip the Dory with Piandetosi Sliding Seat Rowing Rigs.... the motor would be used to get out to the fishing grounds quickly and trolling. No waterskiing or wake boarding.
~
You have to admit... it's going to be the coolest thing in Marblehead Harbor.

Macaroni Regret

Just made the obligatory weekend kettle of macaroni and cheese.
~
Sorry.
~
I'm just so freaking weak.

Weekend Wonder

It's a crystal clear Saturday, but only in the thirties. You want to be out in the yard and the garage, but it's just not comfortable enough. This would have been a good weekend to head up north and catch the last of the XC ski season, but no.... Joanne has a chance to babysit grandson, Will, and that takes freaking precedence over everything.
~
She's even started to nag me about the toy chest that I said I would build for Will's birthday in June.
~
Maybe I'll brave the cold in the garage and pick out the stock for the chest. I have some 3/4" oak and mahoghany, and the contrasting colors of those two woods can accent the piece nicely.
~
And I have some serious weekend work to do for Nanepashemet Telecom invoicing.
~
When we get the first warm weekend, I have to get the power washer out and hit the deck and the Tender. The Tender needs a resanding and another coat of varnish, then I'll launch it for a spring row and test the battery operated fish finder.
~
Plus I have to get some serious miles in on the Cybex Bike for my preliminary Marine Corps Marathon training. The insidious Wojcik and my Archrival Collins have sent emails this week gloating in their training progress. Granted.... they're ahead of me.... but I have time and deep inner strength on my side.
~
I'm starting to overload.

Johnsons

We had a nice visit tonight with Dale/Buck and his wife Gail. It was an inpromptu dinner party that Joanne expertly put together at the last minute.
~
Naturally, there was a pulchritude of ribald speech and off color remarks.
~
What else would you expect?

POTW - Week 13 - 2008

Thursdays roll by fast, don't they?
~
Before you know it, you're confronted with the insidious, yet awesome and always ridiculous process of selecting the Peeps of the Week.
~
Contrary to popular belief, the process does not drain me of all my energy.... I'd be up for anything if only I had the opportunity.
~
It does seem to decay my mental abilities though.... this post is testament to that.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 13 of 2008

• Stacy Butler
• Bob Cronin
• John Williamson
• Mike Sullivan
• Jill Phillips
• Bobby Brown

BTW, is it me or has Tuna Lips seemed a bit over the top lately? If I'm decadent, I can't imagine the machinations of that putrid pocket of perverted pulsation.

Tuna Lips said...

Slow up son. I calls it likes I sees it. Plain talk for simple folk like yerself, 'ceptin you want to take on airs around ole TL, now doesnt ya? Better than the workaday feller, with your fancy sippin' whiskey and name droppin', philosifizing and never takin' a stand for nothin', oh Dummy Lama of the Church of the Universe.

Its natcherall fer youse to get all ascared of some of the thoughts I am bring to the public; what is uncalled fer is yer defamating my appelation, accusin' me of purient cogitations that are only so when poisoned by yer less than accepting world view. Closed minded, thass what you is. Yet you are the grand wizard of the universal church of whatever gets you through the night. Please indeedy.

Hear me, and heed my words. There is a man comin' round for takin' names, and he will decide who to free and who to blame. You best get right with that, Free Bird. One quick way is to send a tithe of your earnings to: The One True TL, P.O. Box 141, Murfreesburo, TN.

Cash is preferred.

Concierge

When God closes one door, he opens another.
~
I'm pretty sure that quote never came from the Bible, and I have nobody to attribute it to, but it seems to have a decent amount of veracity.
~
Seems like a revolving door these days though. Lots of closing and opening.

Insatiable

I know.
~
I missed a whole day without a post on the blog. Actually, that's not true because I posted my workout result (14 mi. on the Cybex bike).
~
Do you want me to post something when I have nothing to say???? Like this freaking post for instance????
~
You Peeps are insatiable.

Tuna Lips said...

Son, seems to me you post plenty od drivel, having nothin' to say, but barkin' like a bluetick at the moon anyways. Its white noise, I often use it to put myself to sleep at night, or to ease my IBS. Ise come to relies on it, like a fat bastard rely on twinkies, to get me through the day.

On another front, I still contend that Marilyn Chambers was robbed of a richly deserved statue award for her role in "Insatiable". Being the film officiador that I is.

Blarney from Collins

So now we get a marathon training report from my Archrival Joe Collins.

I'll be doing my talking from the streets of DC

Collins Said....

It is with pride, sweat, and inspiration that I file this workout progress NMM (Napashement Marine Marathon) report ! BTW - the inspiration came from seeing the 17 and 21 mile workouts on the Blog !!

Today's achiemement, besides watching a great opening day - as my first "marathon" ! Biked 26 miles 285 yds ! !

Please - do not hurt yourself trying to keep up with my regimen !

Since last report:

• date workout situps
• 3/17 11.2 mi bike 100 s wts jr
• 3/18 10 bike wts
• 3/20 elliptical 80
• 3/21 3 mi walk/run 75
• 3/22 golf - walked 18 holes ! ! ;)
• 3/23 14.1 bike jr
• 3/24 13.5 bike 80 jr
• 3/25 MARATHON 80 jr

Semper Fi

Paaleeezz.....

More from Brown

Bob Brown is suddenly getting introspective as middle age creeps up on him. Witness these vignettes that he recently circulated.
~

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by
the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example
of empire building by George Bush.

He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many
of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom
beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in
return is enough to bury those that did not return.

It became very quiet in the room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then there was a conference in France where a number of international
engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a
break one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have
you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft
carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended
to do, bomb them?'

A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three
hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are
nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore
facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000
people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of
fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen
helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from
their flight deck.. We have eleven such ships; how many does France
have?'

Once again, dead silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included
Admirals from the U.S. English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies.

At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of
Officers included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was
chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French
admiral suddenly complained, 'whereas Europeans learn many languages,
Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it we always have
to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'

Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the
Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have
to speak German.'

You could have heard a pin drop

Tuna Lips said...

Sounds like this Brown feller has hitched his wagon to the straight talk express.

Coulda waited a little stretch he starts wavin' his flag, I tells ya. Middle aged and still acting like a tenderfoot. Jesephiah Blazes, will theys ever learn. Likely couldn't even get hisself laid in a monkey whorehouse with a buncha bananas.

Wait fer the free lunch.

Thems is some fantastic tales about French generals. Oooooh, I am impressed.

Now hows about a tale about drunken French whores walking the streets of gay Paree? Jephimany Grottlesex, is anyone awake at the switch?1

Peep Magnet

Bob Brown, that Mountain of a Man, has a tender side to him.

Day Off

I didn't work out today.... on purpose. That's such a radical departure from the old me... when it was the exception to work out.
~
But I cycled 37 miles on the Cybex this weekend and decided to take a day to recover. Two more weeks on the Cybex, then I tune up the Nordic Trak Treadmill for five weeks of low impact running.
~
It's my fantasy to break 3 hrs. 45 min. and qualify in the Marine Corps Marathon for next year's Boston Marathon. All without breaking a sweat on the asphault yet.
~
Yup, that's my fantasy all right.

Ups and Downs

I haven't mentioned it but Isabelle our cat is not doing so well. She has become very weak and shaky and can't go up the stairs.... only down.
~
And for some reason, she insists on going down into the basement, then cries until someone (i.e. Me) goes down and carries her up the stairs.
~
It's sad when your pets get old, their life expectancy is so much shorter than ours, and they become so much of your life.
~
So today, the first half warm sunny day in a while, Joanne let Izzy out on the deck for awhile, and naturally she wandered off. I failed to mention that she is deaf as well, and can't hear anybody calling her.
~
When we couldn't find her for a couple of hours, I had all sorts of fantasies, like she got scooped up by the Red Tailed Hawk that was on Tommy O Shea's front lawn and other panicky stuff like that. It was pretty depressing.
~
Then she showed up at the basement door. I was relieved and happy.
~
It got me thinking. Do we need to be depressed and unhappy in order to feel joy and happiness? Now I'm depressed again.

Easter Visits

Tommy O, Linda, Kelsey, Kate
Katelyn Nestor, Jack Dog
Ryan, Courtney, Will
Mike, Katelyn
Joe LeBlanc, Susan
Jim Peabody, Kathy, Andrew
Ben Martin

Pretty Good Easter Roster dropped by for the holiday celebration.

Gerry

It's too bad that most know of Elbridge Gerry of Marblehead as the inventor of Gerrymandering.
~
He was a patriotic signer of the Declaration of Independence and refused to sign the Constitution because it did not contain a Bill of rights.
~
He was also the fifth Vice President of the United States, serving under James Madison.
~
Plus the Gerry 5 Club in Marblehead, of which I am a dues paying member and is by far the best local watering hole, is named after him.

Easter Thoughts

Happy Easter.
~
This is the holiday that defined Christianity. Regardless, of the sermons, and the miracles.... rising from the dead was the pièce de résistance.
~
Over the past 2000 years or so, the Catholic Church has manipulated and brutalized the teachings of Christ and his followers. The Church used to burn at the stake anyone who disagreed with its self serving interpretation that one could only attain salvation through the Church.
~
Growing up Irish-Catholic, I was ingrained with this doctrine, and it wasn't until college when its illogical nature and my widening thought patterns collided. Since then, my theology has embraced a host of concepts to the point that I'm probably defined as Neo-Pagan by now.
~
I believe in a higher power and an infinite soul, and the harmony of nature. Christ and probably others were more closely aligned with the higher power, and sought to guide others. I have no doubt in his resurrection from the dead. Although we all have a spark of divine higher power, Jesus was more attuned, and I regularly pray to him for his help and intercession.
~
This makes more sense to me, than the heaven and hell, social control constructs that the Catholic Church espouses. Every time they hit a logical dead end, you are instructed to believe it as a mystery of faith.
~
So I have evolved to a belief that says that a divine higher power of which we are all a part has set in motion the harmony of the universe, and we should aspire to act in tune with this harmony for the welfare of our eternal soul.
~
But when I was on a commercial airflight a couple of years ago, that was experiencing violent turbulence, and seemed to be falling out of the sky, my Catholicism returned big time - I remembered the "Act of Contrition" word for word, just as the Nuns drilled it into me, and repeated it about a hundred times.
~
So Happy Easter. I hope you got a basket with a hollow chocolate bunny this morning.

OK

The March to the Marine Corps Marathon is gathering steam. Mike Nestor has almost deliberated enough to make a decision and Tom McMahon says that Will Crawford is thinking about it.
~
This is not the groundswell of participation that I anticipated. Maybe when the warm weather hits, we'll see appropriate enthusiasm of this notable endeavor.

Good Feeling

It's been quite a while since I was really psyched on a Friday night because of the upcoming weekend. Usually there is a bit of anxiety because of the work obligations that are left outstanding.
~
Contrary to popular belief, I don't finish my work everyday. It's not that I screw off, which is hardly ever, but the amount of work seems to exceed the hours in the day.... every day.
~
And it always piles up to the end of the week. Mentally, I always resolve to take care of some of it over the weekend, and in reality, this often happens. But this weekend, I just don't have the angst... even though there are some swinging loose ends.
~
I don't even feel guilty.
~
It probably has something to do with the good weather report.... sunny in the balmy 40's.
~
So I'll get out in the driveway, and maybe even rev up the Dory project a little bit. Joanne wants to take Mike and Kate to the BYC on Saturday, and then Ryan and Courtney will be bringing Will over on Easter Sunday.
~
By Monday, the anxiety can resume.

Don't Start

I was going to tell you something about my business, Nanepashemet Telecom, but then I decided not to.
~
Please don't start with the emails and the phone calls asking me what it was. That is so totally annoying.

POTW - Week 12 - 2008

I had to go the Gerry last evening to have a beer with my friend Tyler Gill and Micah from EnerNOC.
~
Then I had a conference call at 7:30PM which lasted for an hour or so.
~
Peep of the Week selections had to wait until this morning, so if you're a little irritated, get over it. It could be worse.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 12 of 2008.

• Jim Peabody
• Sam Simons
• Brian Butler
  
• Sarah Crawford
• Carly Press
• Ryan Nestor

It should be a great Easter Weekend though. Mike and Katelyn are coming home, Ryan and Courtney will be over with the ultimate grandson, Will, and there is no rain in the weather forecast.

Belief O Matic

1.	Neo-Pagan (100%)
2.	New Age (85%)
3.	Hinduism (83%)
4.	Liberal Quakers (80%)
5.	Bahá'í Faith (76%)
6.	Jainism (76%)
7.	Sikhism (76%)
8.	Unitarian Universalism (75%)
9.	Mahayana Buddhism (71%)
10.	Scientology (70%)
11.	New Thought (65%)
12.	Islam (63%)
13.	Orthodox Judaism (63%)
14.	Reform Judaism (63%)
15.	Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (53%)
16.	Taoism (50%)
17.	Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (32%)
18.	Jehovah's Witness (26%)
19.	Orthodox Quaker (26%)
20.	Theravada Buddhism (26%)
21.	Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (20%)
22.	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (13%)
23.	Eastern Orthodox (13%)
24.	Roman Catholic (13%)
25.	Secular Humanism (13%)
26.	Seventh Day Adventist (13%)
27.	Nontheist (6%)

This is how I scored taking the Belief O Matic test.
Not sure if I agree, but you should test out yourself at

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

Thanks to Wanda for this link.

Tuna Lips said...

I've been a part of several cults in my time, both as a leader and a follower. You can make some good scratch at the top; bein' a member is a lot more fun though.

I've also done the AM radio preachin' gig, lost souls callin' long distance salvation. I had this secretary back then, jesus murphy, she could empty the tank and then push the car a few blocks ta boot. Sigh, good days . . .

Outrageous and Disgusting

Peeps!
~
What does it take to get you aroused... I mean outraged!!!!
~
Naked Bunnies doing a pole dance while Peeps sit in apparent rapt attention is an insult to self respecting Peeps everywhere.
~
This has Sarah Loomis Crawford's fingerprints all over it.

Tuna Lips said...

a gal with a perty mouth and a superfluous nipple does er fer me, everytime, arousin'-wise!

The Color of Obama

Barach Obama handled the attack on him based upon Rev. Wright's rediculous conspiratorial and racist comments very well.
~
I wouldn't want to be judged by the way that some Catholic priests have acted.
~
Obama is a complex individual - brought up in Hawaii by white grandparents, attending school at Harvard and Columbia, seeking roots and community in the Black church in Chicago.
~
It's time to discuss race in America. We've all seen racism and the effects of a society whose economic and social basis had slavery at its core when it was born only 300 odd years ago.
~
Huge strides have been made, but the scar tissue and the recurring nightmares are clearly evident. Maybe we are mature enough to confront these.
~
We have intellectually defeated racism in America.... the leader in Democratic Presidential delegates is an African American, the Governor's of MA and NY are African American, the sport of priviledged countryclubs is dominated by an African American.
~
But the "forgive and forget" process is still to be played out for a few generations.

Piscatelli said...

In that veign, Happy St. Joseph's Day to all my paisans on the Hill in East Haven - there will be shell fish and asparagus zuppa come Sunday. Celebrate diversity! Up with everything!

Its important to have a president who knows a lot about race. Forget minding the shop otherwise. I can forgo my job so long as we have a good understanding that human nature leads us to select based on similarities and aligned interests. And we can overcompensate to change that on a case by case basis. And we can pay for study groups and giving a helping hand to those less something than me with part of my salary. So long as everyone feels good about themselves. Isn't life grand?

This world is ruled by violence
your family comes first
and then you are on you own.

But together, we can!

I live in a small village.

Piscawhatsinitforme

A Great Series

I was right. The HBO series "John Adams" is masterful and addictive. Excellently depicted in it's historical detail, it captures the culture and uncertainty of the period.
~
How people had the guts to rebel from the brutal British Empire, which had the most powerful military resources on earth, is still amazing to me. Adams, to this time, has had a tough go with his reputation by historians, and is often characterized as petty and jealous. He was not a striking physical person, and he was impetuous and impatient as a politician.
~
But his correspondence with his wife, Abigail, which has survived virtually intact reveals a deeply sincere patriot, whose persistence and self-sacrifice was crucial to the formulaion of the country.
~
His relationship with Thomas Jefferson was most intriguing. Jefferson was a southern plantation slave owner, and Adams was vehemently anti-slavery. Adams was open and forthright, while Jefferson operated behind the scenes with subtefuge and manipulation. They became openly opposed politically after the Revolution, Adams being the 2nd President and Jefferson the 3rd.
~
In their elderly years, the two vigorously corresponded with each other, sending letters back and forth between Massachusetts and Virginia.
~
On July 4, 1826, they were both on their deathbeds, exactly 50 years after they had both signed the Declaration of Independence. Adams' last words on that day were, "Thomas Jefferson Survives." Ironically, Jefferson had expired earlier that same day.
~
I think that's pretty freaky.

Tuna Lips said...

O I wonders, if we dug deep enough, wuldnt we find out ole Johnny do good was not prancing around with jefferson, having a go at it with the ladies behind the wood pile? Its genetically dischargeable to all politico types. You can looks it up in any medicating journal.

Other Dory Progress

Mac Houtz of Newport News, VA is constructing a Marblehead Chamberlain Gunning Dory and had the courtesy of sending this photo of his progress.
~
Looks like he did a good job constructing the frames and the stem.
~
I told him my excuse for not working on my Dory this winter was the weather and business, which is valid enough, but I still feel a little remorse for not advancing the project even a little.

Irish Whiskey Evaluation

I decided by considerable trial and error over the St. Patrick's Day celebration, that I prefer Jameson's over Bushmill's. Though not by much.
~
Irish whiskey is definitely different than Scotch. It would be interesting someday to research why this is so.
~
Lagavulin is still the King! And it is still good for automatic POTW.

Powerless Predicament

So I get some lip from one of you ungrateful Peeps who says doesn't she want to be a Peep of the Week.
~
Do you think you have a choice????
~
You have absolutely no say in this at all.
~
Either you accept the honor/disgrace with appropriate pride/shame or you don't. It doesn't matter what your pathetic opinion is.... the POTW selections are larger than any of us, and we are powerless to resist.

Go to the Heights

Joanne made a boiled corned beef and cabbage dinner, and we had the Peabody's over for St. Patrick's Day dinner.
~
Andrew, the talented hockey goalie at St. Paul's School, who is also their son is being wooed by Babson and Boston College.
~
I'm trying my best to get them leaning to BC.
~
I mean... would you rather go to Wellesley or the Silvio Conte Arena to see a hockey game???
~
My point exactly. Plus the kid could use a good Jesuit education. BC is the logical choice.

Erin Go Bragh

Happy St. Pat's Day.
~
Celebrate carefully.
~

Sláinte !

High Water Mark

20.53 miles on the Cybex today says that the old body might be getting there. Willing to pay the price, to look at pain and spit right back at it.
~
OK, maybe that's a little bit over the top, but I was pretty happy with my workout. A new high water mark in this march to the October Marine Corps Marathon.

Feeling the Excitement

Are you as psyched as I am about the new HBO Mini Series entitled "John Adams" starring Paul Giamatti as Adams and Laura Linney as his wife Abigail?
~
No????
~
Well Screw You. It's gonna be the Balls.

Tuna Lips said...

Glad to see the vitriolics is strong in you. Them Choctaws seen it in the likes of Me and Shoo Fly as well, steer clear of us knowdin whats was good for em. Paid cash on the barrel for theys hooch. threw in a squaw now and agin.

My kith had much to do with the revolution, scrounging scrap and playing both sides of the blockade, shifty-like. So I am going to be spectatin tonite, cable courtesy of a splice off the line from the ethnics across the way. Shoo Fly, for all the voltage they run through him at the nut house, is fire resistant to electrification of all sorts. Handy.

Dont tread on TL.

Unbelieveable

Another cold and rainy Saturday. Kill me.
~
I went down to River Head Beach landing and the driving wind and rain made it uncomfortable to hang around the harbor.
~
If it wasn't for taxes, I wouldn't have anything fun to do this weekend.

Maine Coast

Another ride up the coast of Maine today to further the cause and glory of Nanepashemet Telecom. Maine is nice, but it's freaking big! Lots of miles between here and there.
~
The Maine coast is spectacular, and I really like the period homes in places like Damariscotta, Wiscasset and Thomaston.
~
The original Colonial Saltboxes, Federalists, Greek Revivals, and Victorians abound and they make the modern Capes, Ranches and Split Levels pale in comparison. There are some real diamonds in the rough. Too bad they are so freaking far away.
~
And there are a lot of "Men from Maine" style properties - complete with rusted autos in the front yard, Tyvek for siding and piles of shit everywhere.
~
You want to steer clear of those.
~
My dream home would be a modest and comfortable, period home, with extensions to a large oversized barn. The house would have to have a water view as well as access by pier or beach to the ocean. Joanne would want a pool in the back yard, and I'd probably have to fit that in.
~
Naturally, a range of beautiful cedar strip pulling and sailing boats would be built and launched right from the premises.
~
Which means I'll have to hump a little harder to get some returns from Nanepashemet Telecom soon.

Revisionist History

Man... What a freaking day!!!
~
I just found out from a good friend of mine how facts can be twisted and revised to meet the self interest of the pretenders.
~
Something that could have been great was too threatening to those whose best output is mediocrity and deception. They had to sabotage it, then lie about it.
~
Don't see how people can live that way.

Peeps of the Week -11

Everything I did today got screwed up. So why should this blog post be any different?
~
First our inventory delivery was wrong and equipment ordered was much bulkier than anticipated. Got an unexpected workout reorganizing the warehouse.
~
Then the antenna that was supposed to go to a church steeple in Sherborn was sitting in Marblehead, and I was in Burlington.
~
While I was slepping the equipment from Marblehead, a bunch of other antagonizing things happened in the meantime that I can't tell you about.
~
When I finally met the crew in Sherborn, I was really weirded out. I had been to the church before... to attend Art Hadley's funeral, my first boss at GTE. Of all the churches in all of New England to install a cell phone antenna!
~
The antennas were located stealth wise in the top of the steeple, and after taking ladders to two landings, the actual work was really cramped, but the crew had assembled the equipment and lugged it to the top installation point. It was a complicated and taxing install, but all that was required was for the site to be shut down remotely by the customer.
~
Then the customer called and told us that the site couldn't be turned off and that the job had to be done on another day. I told them that they would be charged anyway, but it was still ultra frustrating.
~
There was even more, but I just don't feel like talking about it. It was none of my fault and there is nothing I can do about it.
~
ANNOUNCING.......
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 11th week of 2008

• Steve Lewis
• Peter Howard
• Magnus Oejert
• Jill Philips
• Joe Collins' Girlfriend, Michelle
• Tom Kirchmeier

~
Maybe all of the screwups for the next couple of weeks have been concentrated into today. We'll see.

Anticipation

Tomorrow is Thursday, Peep of the Week Day.
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Don't rush it.

McMahon said...

J.

So what's the deal? Not even a brief mention of the woman who sat on her boyfriend's toilet for 2 years for no apparent reason?

You gotta get up to date on the hot topics in the news.

-McMahon

Tuna Lips said...

I had one of them squatter types back in the 70's when I was sellin' used cars in Waco that came with a bag of Shoo Fly's homegrown skunk bud. Sceppin' it warn't my crapper she was a settling on. Heh heh heh. Ooooh shucks, I was rollin' 7s back in the day. Gallo wine and the Spinners on the radio. It doesn't get any batter than that.

Carb Cancellation

Katelyn is right.
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Exercise is not enough. You have to eat right.
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I thought that if I worked out regularly, I could have all the pizza, pasta, and beer that I wanted. And I have been aggressively testing this supposition.
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But even though I've logged over three hundred miles on the Cybex lately, (17 miles this evening), I haven't significantly lost weight.
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There are still good effects happening.... I feel wicked better and my knee is completely pain free - I can walk with no problem whatsoever. Even though there is some corresponding weight loss, it is not the bulk that I have to shed to get into shape to start getting into running shape.
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So the carbs will have to go.
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That's how dedicated I am to achieving marathon glory in October.

Lacrosse in the Old Days

Lacrosse, the national sport of Canada was invented and played widely by the Native People of North America.
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(Notice that I didn't call them Indians???? I just love being politcally correct.)
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The game was ritualized, and it was believed that the outcome was pre-ordained by the Great Spirit. Tribes sometimes played lacrosse to settle disputes, rather than going to war.
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This time of year always reminds me of the lacrosse games that I would go to throughout New England when my kids played for St. Michael's College in Burlington, VT.
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I don't ever remember seeing a lacrosse game on a sunny day. Pelting rain and mud was the norm.

Truth or Consequences

Geraldine Farraro is another idiot.
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She makes racist comments about Obama then thinks that she can vehemently deny on Good Morning America. Geraldine, your words speak for themselves. You said that if Obama was a white man or a woman, he wouldn't be in the political lead today.
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You should have thought before you said what you really felt.
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Would it be so bad if what you said was really true? That maybe the Democrats want an articulate and charismatic African American for a change? That a white candidate wouldn't fill this sociological and psychological need? That the things that Obama says might not be followed as closely if he was white because the country wants to heal the deep scars of a country whose founding fathers owned blacks as slaves?
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That's not a bad thing, Geraldine.... We don't live in a historical vacuum. Best thing to do when the spinners attack you for telling the truth is to shut the F up. Everybody knows what you said is true, and the spinners will never get off it.
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The Democrats have to choose whether they want to be honest or political. You can't have it both ways.
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I'm sure that Ferraro isn't truly an idiot. Obviously I spoke before I thought.

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Piscatelli said...
For those of us looking for substance and not bluster in our leaders, it is a bad thing that votes are determined by race, either way, over substance.

It goes right to valuing the content of one's character over the color of one's skin of which Dr. King so eloquently spoke.

Fist in the air.

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Peeps..... just so you know, this is the same Piscatelli dude who was emailing all over cyberspace that we won't be successful in our Marine Corps Marathon challenge.

Obviously he runs to the defense of Ferraro because of the vowel at the end of her name!

The "Free Speech" policy in this country can be so annoying.

Paying the Price

Having sex is not a crime.
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All over the news today is the story of the Governor of New York buying a high priced prostitute in Washington, D.C. There are all sorts of cries for his resignation.
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At least he didn't use his office to diddle a twenty year old intern. He didn't use his power to get off on a freebie. He paid big money to a pro who seeks out this lifestyle. There are degrees of betrayal, degrees of stupidity.
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But, being a stupid asshole is not a crime. And the moralists calling for dismissal are the latent perverts in denial.

Tuna Lips said...

Amen I say unto them there words. And throw in a hallelujah. And relations with animals make us one with the chain of creation. No sin there.

I am in a composin' frame of thinkin' and thus my silence is defeanin. But I could not stand idly by and not testify. Hookers gotta eat and be clothed too. "When I was hungerin' you gave me to eat, when I was thirstin you gave me ta draink, now enter into the home of my pahhh-ppy. Whatsover you does, to the least of my people, that you does unto me."

In case you were wonderin, thems is the words of a feller I knows, called JESUS. So lay off the Horny Governor of NY.

Punk Piscatelli

Wojcik called me today, wondering how the training was going. He said he begins in earnest today.
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Then Piscatelli sent around this blasphemous email saying that it would never happen.
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There is movement in the firmament.
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If you ever want to motivate me, tell me I can't do something.
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I'm not talking about things that are immoral, unethical or illegal.
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I'm talking about things that other people can do in business or otherwise that seem to pose a challenge.
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Like running a Marathon in freaking October!!!!
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Go ahead, Piscatelli.... you Juris Doctoring, Chinese Speaking, South Boston legendary, Street Kid from Taft School, Northern Italian, Certified PMP......
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Make My Day.

McMahon said....

Hey J.

These buddies of your do realize they are just battling it out for second place right?

No way I'm losing to anyone on that list.

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You realize Tommy, that to come through on this smack, you're going to have to break three hours? Because that's where Towne will be.

I'll be cheering you on.

Before You Even Ask

Cardinals, Blue Jays, Black Eyed Juncos, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Sparrows, and a few White Breasted Nuthatches.
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Plus the Squirrel.
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So now you don't have to ask your ultra-annoying question about which birds have been visiting the feeder lately.
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Just let it rest for awhile.
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And no... not one Tufted Titmouse. You Wise Asses!!!

Gut Check

Robert Towne, the famous senior ultra-distance runner from the State of Washington, (and my former roommate at UMASS, where I had no trouble kicking his ass) has accepted the Marine Corps Marathon challenge.
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This brings the list to....

• J. Nestor
• J. Colllins
• B. Wojcik
• T. McMahon
• B. Brown
• M. Nestor (big maybe)
• R. Towne

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Peeps.... This is so pathetic. Where is your sense of self worth??? Where is your self respect???? How can you be such wussies?
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I would have expected the list to be in the hundreds by now. Katelyn Nestor says she is training for a 1/2 marathon. Unacceptable!!!
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Courtney and Ryan are non-committal and the Crawford Brothers have not even risen.
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Where's Steve Lewis, Benny Martin, Nathaniel Clarke, Kelley Clark ? Where's Dave Bruett, Lauren Rathbone, Mike Rockett, Doug Maxfield, Brian Butler, Lindsey Kepnes??? Absolutely no word from POTY, Michael "Murph" Murphy. The depressing list can go on and on.
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Where are You???? Reading this blog entry and sitting on your sedentary ass.
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You know who you are......you aspiring Nanepashemet Peep Pretenders.
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Fine.... Be like that. But when you see us walking around with cool Nanepashemet Peep Marathon T-shirts next fall, you'll have nobody to blame but yourselves.
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Examine your conscience. There's still plenty of time to do the right thing.

Moose Stats

10,000 moose collisions occur each year around the world, resulting in hundreds of human fatalities.
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Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
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I wonder what the Democrats will do about this.

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Doug Maxfield said....
Make no mistake...if given the chance they would kill you and everyone you love. I'll look for the picture from my accident and send it too you. You would never think anyone could have survived.
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That sounds scary Doug, but are you talking about the Moose or the Democrats???

The Tudors

Joanne and I have been watching the Showtime series "The Tudors" about Henry IIX and Anne Boleyn.
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Very well done, with high regard to historical detail. I wasn't sure of the validity of the short hair on the actors but found out that the period actually persecuted long hair.
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This series seems to capture the intense political intrigue of the period. When Henry was denied a divorce by the Catholic Church he founded the Episcopalian Church.
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This was a guy who refused to lose.

Weather or Not

The weather report for this weekend is partially crappy, followed by crappy.
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I'm so sick of this crap.
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Need some sunshine badly.
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Need to get a row out in the Tender on the Harbor.
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I don't mean to whine, but March always gets on my nerves. Time for some warm. When my trust funds kick in, I'll be leaving for my Carribbean Island each year for the entire month of March.
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Trouble is, none of my ancestors were considerate enough to leave me a huge inheritance. So until I make a score, I'll be forced to put up with March in New England.
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BTW, it's Katelyn's birthday today. She's getting older.... so are we.

Peep of the Week - 10

We lost a decent job today. One that we were cultivating for about 4 months. I really thought we had it in the bank. Definitely let my guard down. I have to admit that I truly believe that the customer made a stupid business decision. There is a lot of that going around.
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Nanepashemet Telecom will carry on. But I'm pretty pissed.
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It's not that I mind losing.... check that - I hate freaking losing! There is no rational reason that we should have been underbid on that job. I've passed the pissed off at the customer stage and have entered the self loathing phase. Might as well select the POTW's.
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ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 10th week of 2008.

• Ed Hudson
• Ivy Kushner
• Ben Martin
• Will Crawford
• Jill Phillips
• Andrew Peabody

The selection process is a little healing and cathartic.... but not much. At least I'm moving from the self loathing phase to the life sucks and you can kiss my ass stage.

Personal and Confidential

All day long...
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My phone was ringing, my email was smoking.... with all of you Peeps hounding me for news of my appointment with Dr. Casale.
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Peeps.... Don't you think I'm entitled to a little privacy???? It's really kind of confidential between me and my physician.
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I can tell you that I got a clean bill of health, that I've lost weight, and that my blood pressure is perfect.... But beyond that, it's none of your freaking business.

Credited to Wanda

Joke of the Day
A three-legged dog swaggers into a saloon in the Old West.
He bellies up to the bar, downs a shot of red eye, turns to face
the crowd of rowdies, stares them down and announces:
"I'm looking for the man who shot my paw."

Bonus Burn

My workout today was one of the worst so far, and also one of the best.
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Although my Cybex Bike mph ave. was almost under 20 and I barely made it to 10.2 miles in 30 minutes, I was psyched, because I almost didn't workout at all... my motivation was at a low. Even with Collins talking smack, I just didn't want to go.
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Which is why I'm totally stoked about getting the burn. Since I didn't want to workout, but did anyway, it's all gravy. And that talk is making me hungry.

ArchRival Smack

More marathon training smack from my ArchRival, Joe Collins.

That's right Joe.... keep golfing.... that will definitely get you ready.

Jay:

Like Brown and Wocjik, I too traveled to FL and trained last week... It takes a great deal of effort to hit 3-4 buckets of golf balls, play 18 holes; smoke cigars and drink beer - this is a very difficult regimen ! However - I also began the limbering program - stretching for Golf; stretching for biking; and stretching for running.

To cut to the chase... 3 rounds and about 10 buckets of balls (and btw, I was striping them down the middle !)

2/25 1.5 mile run and elliptical total 700 calories; 100 situps;

2/27 10.1 mile bike 75 situps; weights

3/4 12.5 mile bike 75 situps; weights

Wt is now down to 205 (from 220 start ! !) I hope that when I return to FL this week - that I'm not hounded on the beach with requests to be a personal trainer !

Tell Mike I want him to make the commitment and set this as a goal ! It will be one more chance to show the 'ol man that Mike can "take him down" !

- Svelte Archie

I can't wait to scorch this cocky bastard in October.

Sinner

Kathy Peabody committed the cardinal sin.
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She asked me to mention her son, Andrew in the Blog.
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Andrew is a talented goalie for the St. Paul's School hockey team that just lost the New England Prep School Championship to Avon Old Farm's. He's a good kid and we've known him since he was a baby.
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Happy Kathy???? Now you're gonna pay.

A Champion's Creed

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win but you think you can't
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose, you're lost.
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with the fellow's will,
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are;
You've got to think to rise.
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
- Author Unknown

Wanda tells me that this is from Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich". You'd think that I'd remember that since I read that book about 20 years ago.

Wanda said...

Hi, John!

Ummm...that poem is in "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.
(^__^)

Mistaken Identity

No...
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This isn't me.
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1. This photo is obviously shot in San Francisco Bay, and I haven't lived there for over ten years.

2. The planking of this tender is lapstrake, and mine is cedar stripped. Plus I don't have a burgee flying off of the transom.

3. This guy is skinnier that I am and he has a beard. It's obviously not me... but I sure wish I was out there rowing.

So how could you make such a stupid mistake?????

Thinking of Pre and Jaz

It's so sad that Steve Prefontaine was cut down in his prime.
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He was inspirational in the way that he gave his all.
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Who knows what he would have accomplished if he didn't die so tragically in that car crash? He'd probably be a Nike executive, but I'm sure that he would have pushed the running envelope.
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After all these years, and even though he's dead, he still provides motivation.
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When I was at UMASS, there was a kid a year ahead of me on the track team that reminded me of Pre.... Tom Jasmine. He was a little reckless and seemed to push the limit.
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I remember running with him on snowpacked snowmobile tracks in the wooded Berkshire Hills. Jaz was a lot better than I was, and he was way ahead of me on the trail, but waited for me to catch up with him at key turns, so that I didn't get stuck out there lost and alone.
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He used to call me "kid" which seemed funny since he was only a year older than I was.
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Jasmine and his girlfriend died in a car crash too. A tractor trailer slammed into them out in the Berkshires at the end of his Sophomore year.
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I think about Pre and Jaz every once in awhile.

Spring

From an astronomical standpoint, the seasons have changed from Winter to Spring.. It's still freezing, but there was a flock of Robins in the Japanese Flowering Crab and the snow covered lawns on the street yesterday.
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They always look out of place in the cold and snow.... but they must know what they're doing.
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After all... it's Spring, and Robins are the experts.

Foggy Mountain Breakdown

This is just in case you haven't heard enough "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" by Earl Scruggs lately.



Johnny B. Goode

Careful Preparation

Brown and Wojcik are in Las Vegas. Do you think they are preparing for the Epic October Event???
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Me Neither.
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As you can see, I have carefully and thoroughly planned my approach to success in this matter of pride, honor and manhood. Brown and Wojcik will taste ignominious failure in October, due to their frivolity in March.
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I have reduced the training phase to a spreadsheet complete with links to Hal Higdon's marathon coaching web sites for an 18 week intermediate Marathon training program. If any of you pretenders want a copy of the spreadsheet, I will email it to you free of charge.
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That's how confident and magnanimous I am.