Memorial Musings

Happy Memorial Day.
~
Last night while watching Sixty Minutes , Andy Rooney, who is a WWII vet, pointed out that our forefathers didn't "give" their lives for their country.  Their lives were "taken" from them.   They were the victims of circumstance, but rose to the occasion, with the result being the preservation of our way of life.
~
Without their response and courage, we could be speaking German, and busy purifying the races.  We could be in a cultural Dark Age shackled by totalitarian repression.  Who knows what our lives would be like.
~
In my own case, my grandfather was gassed in the trenches of WWI France, my father spent a year in the hospital after his Coast Guard Ship was sunk in WWII and my father in law survived wounds and prison camp in the Korean War. 
~
To this day, I always have some guilt for not going to Vietnam, although my father claimed that he would shoot me in the foot to avoid being drafted.  Luckily, my draft number was high enough to preclude either alternative. 
~
I believe that we had a need to intervene in Iraq and Afghanistan, although the inability to reach closure in these conflicts is very disturbing.  At this point, it is overbearing to hear of the deaths of young Americans over there.

Tuna Lips said...

On the other foot, solgerin" gets all the prine hoors, most often at a rebate price. Shoo worked that angle, shameless as he were.

Official State Bird of Maine

A few Peeps mentioned that they were heading to Northern New England this weekend.  And I was really tempted to head to North Conway, New Hampshire, but Joanne had an open house for the Sundance School Program.
~
It's probably for the best, because this is really the peak of Black Fly Season on our pristine northern states of Maine and New Hampshire.
~
These swarming, blood sucking, bastards can really put a damper on your fun in May and June.
~
As bad as Black flies are, the worst are the Greenheads on Crane's Beach in Ipswich.   They don't just sting or bite, they tear out a chunk of your flesh.
~
So I'm going to hang around the driveway and work on the boats.
~
Have a nice day.

POTW Week 21

Last night, Tommy O set us up with some sort of shooters with creme and liquer at the BYC Bar.
 ~

Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 21st week of 2010.

Scott McBurney

Nancy Bruett

Aquinino Orichi

Maria Rowen

Rajon Rondo

Mark Vona

I'm sure that the Sam Adams had a lot to do with it too, but I am really heavy headed today.

Ready to Defer Maintenance

I was thinking that it would be a great weekend to head up to North Conway, but Joanne has an open house at Sundance Pre-School on Saturday.
~
So this long Memorial Day weekend will be a big push to get all of the rowing boat stuff done for the season including construction of the sail mast for the Pram, and the Tender epoxy and varnishing.
~
In the meantime, there is some trim paint and random shingling that still has to be done.
~
Because.... after this weekend.... all maintenance will be deferred until October.

Thick Skin

We'll be conducting a Balloon Test in Sturbridge this evening in order to ascertain the visual impact of a cell tower that we proposing.  The weather will be warm and summery and  there is a lot of interest from residents of a condominium complex that is relatively close by.
~
Should be controversial, and I'll have to put my thick skin on.
~
Then again.... I've had it on anyway for the last couple of days.... and have decided to keep it on for as long as it takes.

Key of G

I'm working on the G Major Chords and the G scale this week on my Goldstar GF 100 HF Banjo.  The instrument is tuned on open G which makes things easier.
~
A lot of bluegrass is played in G, but since I'm going to be a serious shitkicking musician, I'm going to learn all of the keys.

Allow to Retract

Now comes Gov. Deval Patrick showing true colors.
~
Patrick, a close friend and ally of Obama’s, said at a Suffolk University Law School event that he’s taken his share of criticism over the years, though not to the extent of what Obama is going through at the hands of Republicans.

“It seems like child’s play compared to what’s going on in Washington, where it’s almost at the level of sedition,” Patrick said.
- Boston Herald
~
To disagree is UnAmerican?  To disagree is Sedition?  This type of remark transcends mere liberalism.  It is a bit toward the Facist extreme.
~
I'll give the Governor room to maneuver on this one.   Allow him to back out if he chooses.  Even if this is his true feelings, he should be allowed to retract from such a despicable remark.  Because this attack on our freedom of speech is the slippery slope to totalitarianism, and I can't believe that he would stoop to that.

Jim L. said...

The fact is, the grads didn't know what sedition meant.

More Fees

Every slight, every insult, every manipulation, every fabrication and everyone of your outright lies comes with a price.
~
Can you afford to run up that tab?
~
Keep your wallet handy.  

Keeper Weekend

Mike and Mark Vona got into some mackeral and then some stripped bass yesterday.  Mike said that they caught around eleven at the power plant in Salem.  He harvested a 37" keeper which we grilled for an early dinner tonight.
~
Mike hung around to play with the grandkids after we brought them back from some FreshAyer with Ryan.
~
A most enjoyable day on many levels.
~
Next week, I'm going to start to hound Mark Ryan to get the WhaleEye in by Memorial Day.  There are some lobsters crawling around Salem Sound that will be out of the water and on the table is a couple of weeks.

Pisc said...
Sweet. I swam a plug last night off of worlds end, nothin', but Dan B pulled a keeper off of Poponneset last night.

Mike Nestor said....
The Boat caught about 8 I would say and I didnt catch the 37"'r...I think Vona did. Where is your work cited page??

Official Marblehead Restaurant

Last night, we had a great meal at Ataraxis in downtown Marblehead with Lou Panakio, Harvey and Lisa Rowe. I had the pulled pork burrito.
~
There are a lot of restaurants that I like in Marblehead, including Cafe Italia, the Landing, the Barnicle and Maddies to name some of my favorites, so I haven't named an official restaurant of Nanepashemet.... outside of pizza (Vesuvius) and Chinese Take Out (Feng Wah). But Ataraxis, which is the former Flynnies, came close to getting the nod last night.
~
Course, we don't eat out that much because Joanne is such a good cook.  Not to mention that I am a Tour de Force on the Grill and at the Turkey Frier.

Pisc said...
Time to catch some fish. Hope you have registered with the Federales.

Sail On

With most of the painting except for some touch up in place, the Pram has some final details before I bring it down to the Ring at Village Wharf.

• Install Tie up Hardware
• Install bumpers
• Screw in Seat Plate
• Install Rudder Plate
• Fabricate Center Board
• Glue up Mast

Should be able to launch the first sail on Memorial Day.  Today though, I have to fit in power washing Tommy O's patio and it is a perfect day to finish seeding the back yard.
~
If there is any downtime, the tender needs some sanding, epoxy and marine varnish touch up too.

TommyO said...
What a most excellent job you did, the patio looks incredible. Mrs. TommyO is very happy.
Thanks J

POTW Week 20

Today I have three quick permit stops - all close by - in Saugus, Billerica and Methuen.
~
Then I can spray the fourth and final coat of Interior Top Coat on the Pram and I'll touch up paint the rails.
~
Then it's the weekend. We'll be taking the Grandkids for some FreshAyer and I'll be working on the sail rig for the Pram around that.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 20th Week of 2010

• Katy O'Shea
• The Counter Clerk at the Providence KFC that made me the Double Down
• Greg Bruett
• Mike Nestor
• Rand Paul
• Robin Roberts

I'll be taking pictures of the Pram, because it looks pretty good.

Double Down

It was so nice today, I was tempted to call in sick.  But I work for myself and the Boss would see right through it.  He is really sharp.
~

I did take an hour in the morning to spray the second coat of InterLux Top Coat on the interior of the Pram, then headed out to Rhode Island for another day of Permit chasing.  Fairly successful and I rewarded myself by stopping at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in North Providence and ordering a Double Down.

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

~

It was freaking sinful.
~
When I was a sophomore in high school, I worked a summer at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lynn and it is a very clean operation.  But I really haven't eaten there much since.
~
Maybe I'll go back a little more now.

Jim L. said...

I never liked that place because it bumped Johnny Joyce's out of Joyce St. I miss those 10 cent chopped ham sandwiches!
_______________________

Everybody remembers Johnny Joyces.  Chopped ham, Easterns and Westerns on white bread.  Now that was eating!

Bob Hill worked in the Dairy Swirl that went into the Johnny Joyce space for awhile.  I used to sneak out some leftover cold chicken breasts from Kentucky Fried Chicken and trade with him for a large cup of chocolate soft serve.  Good Times


Rafe Said...
So read the blog this morning, as I do every morning. Here was the exchange between Tom McMahon and I about todays entry;

Me: "Jay Nestor ate the double down from KFC, I shit you not.

Tom's reply: "There are a few guys at my work that are all about that thing. I don't see myself ever trying one. J is a "mountain of a man". He can do just about anything."

Needless to say we are both impressed that you even purchased the DD, yet alone eat it. You are the first person I know to order it, eat, and talk about it. Truly a mountain man.
Rafe Hershfield

Official Stuff of Nanepashemet

The other day, a truck drives by me on the highway claiming that what was inside was the "Official Window of the Boston Red Sox".
~
That got me thinking of what was the "Official Stuff" of Nanepashemet.
~
Such as.....

• Official Scotch of Nanepashemet - Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt
• Official NCAA Football Team of Nanepashemet - Merrimack College Football Team
• Official Pizza of Nanepashemet - Vesuvius of Marblehead  - Garlic, Pepperoni and Extra Cheese
• Official Summer Beverage of Nanepashemet - Dark and Stormy (Black Seal Rum and Stephan's Ginger Beer)
• Official Autumn Beverage of Nanepashemet - Seagrams and Cider
• Official Winter Beverage of Nanepashemet - Classic Winter Cocktail (Seagrams and Cranberry)
• Official Summer Dinner of Nanepashemet - Lobsters and Stripped Bass from Salem Sound
• Official Autumn Dinner of Nanepashemet - Deep Fried Buffalo Wings while watching the Patriots
• Official Winter Dinner of Nanepashemet - Macaroni and Cheese
• Official Hand Plane of Nanepashemet - Lie-Neilsen Adjustable Mouth Block Plane
• Official Chinese Restaurant of Nanepashemet - Feng Wah of Marblehead
• Official Domestic Beer of Nanepashemet - Sam Adams in their patented Lager Glass
• Official Imported Beer of Nanepashemet - Guinness
• Official Has-Been Hockey Team of Nanepashemet - MooseKnuckles
• Official Tablesaw of Nanepashemet - Jet 708480K JPS-30: 10" ProShop 1-1/2HP 30" SW
• Official Clam Shack of Nanepashemet - Essex Seafood of Essex, MA
• Official Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor of Nanepashemet - Cherry Garcia
• Official Jig Saw of Nanepashemet - Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw
• Official Feeder Bird of Nanepashemet - Chickadee
• Official Epoxy Resin of Nanepashemet - West System Clear Coat 206
• Official Vegetable of Nanepashemet - 8 oz bag of Lay's Potato Chips.
• Official Five String Banjo of Nanepashemet - Gold Star Model GF-100FE
• Official Sander of Nanepashemet - Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander
• Official Charity of Nanepashement - My Brothers Table in Lynn and anything else that Harvey Rowe Supports.

I am sensing a theme here that most of the Nanepashemet "Official Stuff" appears oriented toward eating and drinking.  But that's all I can think of for now.  There will be more.

Voodoo Pins

While we're on the subject of truth....
~

If I were one of those prep school kids, studying my ass off and sweating bullets to be accepted into Harvard, I would be sticking pins into Voodoo Dolls the likeness of Adam Wheeler, the guy who lied on his entrance application to Harvard University and forged recommendation letters.
~
Said he had a perfect 4.0 and a perfect SAT score.
~
But in reality, he is pretty freaking stupid.
~
Lying like this is so disrespectful to the majority of us who pay the price.  You took a shortcut allright.... but it was a shortcut to a place that you didn't anticipate.

Election HiJinx

Looks like the incumbents took a beating in the primary elections yesterday as the trend established by Senator Scott Brown continues to have legs.
~
The first Tea Party candidate, Rand Paul, trounced his Republican opponent in Kentucky.  Naturally, Robin Roberts of Good Morning America hailed the victory as an "impact to the Republican Establishment".
~
What???!!!  Say again Robin???  It was a Tea Party candidate overturning an Incumbent.  If I were an incumbent President (ie Barack Obama), this wouldn't be sitting well with me.   The Republicans have been out for 14 months.
~
The GMA Liberal spin is so obvious, and I am such a Moron for continuing to watch this insidiously untruthful daily broadcast.
~

I'm particularly glad that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, running for a seat in the Senate, who claimed that he was a Vietnam Veteran when he actually remained Stateside during the War, was defeated.
~
He deserved to lose, and he also deserves to go to Hell.  Lying like that negates the sacrifices made by real Vets who legitimately suffered and solely deserve the credit to say that they served in Vietnam.
~
There should be a law against this...... this guy should serve jail time.

Discretion

A friend yesterday said that he is not on Facebook, because he doesn't want to put everything out there. 
~
Just because you have a Facebook page, you don't have to expose your private life.  Twitter, Blogs and Facebook should be for your social recreation.  It starts to get creepy when people put their private issues in detail out there.  And there is no requirement to do so.... so why would you?
~
This medium is a way to send your message, but if the message is your private information, you have taken it too far.   That should be reserved for you, your family and your inner circle.
~
I'll admit that I have a lot of fun with this Blog, and it has been a great outlet for letting off steam with a rant or so, but rest assured that you don't know shit about what is really going on with me and mine.

The Pacific

Just finished watching "The Pacific" produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
~
Warfare reached its most vicious apex in that conflict.   The intelligent weapons of the future will be much more targeted so that the overall scale of slaughter will be reduced.
~
The sacrifices and horrors endured by the veterans of wars for the overall welfare of our country are beyond comprehension.
~
I vastly prefer to watch this series by myself, because it's always embarrassing if someone catches me with tears in my eyes.

Tuna Lips said...
Ise thinks that tearin' up is occuring due to the stench youget to reekifyin' whilst in the privacy of yer own cellar. Open a window.

Pram Processing

After some intensive cleaning of the spray gun, I did get the first coat of polyurethane top coat on the interior of the Pram.
~
I'll give this coat a good sanding in the morning, then spray another coat.  It will probably take four coats, but I think that it is going to be worth it.  With 16 hours recommended between coats, this job won't be done until next weekend.... given that weather and Nanepashemet Telecom don't get in the way.
~
Before I put the Pram down at Village Wharf, I definitely want to fit it out with a mast and centerboard for sailing.  The rudder can be borrowed from the Tender.  Shouldn't be that big of a deal because I have a sheet of 3/8 inch okume marine plywood that I bought from Boulter Plywood in Somerville a couple of years ago that I will laminate and epoxy for the centerboard, and the 8 foot  mast will take a glue up of whatever 3/4 inch spruce that I have lying around.
~
I'll have to make a custom tiller to use the Tender rudder on the pram though.
~
By Memorial Day, we should be sailing around Salem Harbor.

Spray Gun Delay

Naturally, when I went to use my Fuji HVLP spray paint gun yesterday, I found that I hadn't cleaned it since last fall when I sprayed the last coat of marine varnish on Katelyn's Adirondack Chair.
~
Huge mistake...... which sent me into an intense session of self loathing.  What kind of asshole doesn't clean out his spray gun????   I guess you now know the answer to that question.
~
Anyway, today, I'll eventually spray a coat of Interlux Polyurethane Top Coat paint onto the interior of the pram.  After a little heavy duty spray gun maintenance.
~
When I finish that by late morning, you can bet I'll be cleaning the gun

What's Up for the Weekend?

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

Pisc said...

Thanks for the POTW props.

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

POTW Week 19

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

Announcing....

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

Kathy Peabody

The Guy with the Beard at the Boston Beer Company

Art Kreiger

Ben Aquinno Orichi

Maria Rowen

Patrick Piscatelli

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

Special Glasses

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

Maria Rowen said...

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

Tuna Lips said...

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

Maria Rowen said...

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

Tuna Lips said...

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

Hatched

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

Goose Eggs

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

Immigration and Single Malt

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

Maria Rowen said...

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

Permit Granted

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

Ivy Issue

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

It's Aways Something

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

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

Cheezits, Tuna and Boats

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

Sweet Dreaming

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

Good Morning Bianna

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

Clean Water

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

Wesley Makes His Entrance

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

Karmic Issue

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

Pram Pondering

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

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

Pisc said...

S.S. Never Sail
Credit to Bobby Brown

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

Too Much Tazer

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

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

Self Fulfillment

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

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

Gutter Minds.

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

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

Double Pump Bird

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

Maria Rowen said...

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

Sunny, Warm Weekend

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

Harvey Rowe said...

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

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

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

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

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

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

The yard is gonna be wicked sweet.