The Public Trough

Peeps...
There are those among you who know that this MOAM is a proud alum of the University of Massachusetts - Amherst where I earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Political Science with Honors no less, and learned a lot about a whole bunch of other stuff during my four formative years there.

So you would think that when I watch the nicely done promotional ads that air on the Boston media detailing the positive environment at UMASS...... that I would have a sense of satisfaction and pride.... and you would be wrong.

UMASS is a great place, a great school, a fantastic asset for the state.   But so is Brandeis, Harvard, NorthEastern, Boston University, Boston College, Holy Cross, Assumption, Merrimack, Hampshire, Amherst, Williams, Smith, Holyoke.... etc.   Where are the ads for these fine institutions????

No Ads.  At least none of the scale and magnitude of the UMASS daily campaign.

And why would that be?

Simply put... it's because you and I pay for the UMASS ads.  They are funded by the bottomless trough of tax funds.  And the other schools don't have these unlimited budgets.   Are these ads necessary?  Apparently not for privately funded schools.

So every time I see a UMASS ad.... I get pissed off... even though I love UMASS.

Compost Bin Plan

I'm thinking of building this compost bin.  The pile of shredded leaves in the backyard are starting to be a blight on the property and this bin may spruce things up a bit, as well us as maybe speed the composting process.

Garage Design

Peeps of the Week and Bash Aftermath

The Bash was a raging success this year as usual.   We had Peeps come from as far as South Africa and copious amounts of food and drink were consumed.  In retrospect, the call to keep firearms out of the affair was a good one in that not one shooting occurred.  In fact, no punches were thrown either as a testiment to the sophistication of this annual event.


My best Son-in-Law, Brady Boyle, was a shining example of Nanepashemet Peepdom as he presented the MOAM with a bottle of the King of Scotch, 16 yr. old Lagavulin Single Malt, thus becoming an Automatic Peep of the Week.   A class move.   In an equally not classy move, Ryan Nestor consumed much of it in the following Thanksgiving Day haze.

ANNOUNCING....

NANEPASHEMET PEEPS OF THE WEEK FOR THE 48TH WEEK OF 2014.

Brady Boyle - Automatic
Ryan Nestor
Steve Lewis
John Garriboto
Sarah Crawford
Nathaniel Clarke

All in all, it was a thankful event, and a beautiful Thanksgiving with all of the Nestor offspring and their significant others expressing their thanks at our turkey dinner the next day,

I hope you Peeps enjoyed your day too.

Prelude to the Bash

Twenty four hours from now, the low rumble that you hear will be the Night Before Thanksgiving Day Bash at the corner of West Shore Drive and Gerry Park in Marblehead.
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Despite warnings of an oncoming NorEaster, the Peeps will be in full Bash regalia as Peeps stream from all over Metropolitan Boston to be part of this social event of the season.
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If you didn't receive an invitation, no need to worry, as invites are never proffered.   It is come as you are.... or as you would like to be.
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Over the years, the much anticipated event has taken many forms, and this year should prove to be in keeping with the tradition of raucous yet refined interactions with an underpinning of sophisticated discourse punctuated by hysteria and gutter talk.  Dress is mandatory.  I hate it when people come naked and act as if they can meld in with everybody.
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Please leave your weapons and firearms at home. We have never had a shooting or even a stabbing at the Bash, and it would be nice to keep the streak alive at least one more year.
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And of course, if you bring a bottle of Lagavulin, the King of Scotch, you will be loudly and obnoxiously announced as an Automatic Nanepashemet Peep of the Week.   It is an Honor/Disgrace that not a few Peeps aspire to at the Bash every year,
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So, rack up your A-Game, and I hope to see you here tomorrow night!

Bash Musings

The New England Patriots are again playing professional football at a level that conceivably could be classified as mastery.

Years from now, people will wonder what it was like to watch football games during the Brady-Belichick era.... much like people have asked what it was like to watch Bobby Orr play hockey, or Bill Russell play basketball.

The game was even better today, because Joanne and I got to watch it with our Grandkids, Will and Ethan, and with Ryan and Kim.   

The Hype is building for the Thanksgiving Eve Bash as well.   The highly anticipated annual event will be held in all of its Glory/Debauchery and the Beer will flow like Wine as in years past.

As usual, there are no invitations, and much resentment and rancor will flow to those who do not attend, so I would advise you Peeps to come and partake of this pilgrimage for the sake of your social standing and psychological well being.  

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

This little number may show up at the Night Before Thanksgiving Bash.

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients

for the crust 
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed 
for the filling
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 full cup pecan halves
• 1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Using a pastry blender, combine flour, brown sugar and cubed better until it resembles a cornmeal (this can also be done in a food processor.)
2. Press crust mixture into an ungreased 9x13 pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.
3. While crust is baking, beat together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and melted butter. Stir in pecans.
4. Remove crust from oven and spread chocolate chips evenly over warm crust. Spread filling over chocolate chips.
5. Cover with foil and return to oven. Bake for 15 minutes, remove foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool before serving.

Notes

recipe source ChocolateChocolateandmore.com

Immigration Kabuki Dance

This whole Immigration drama being played out by the Obama administration reminds me of a Japanese Kabuki Dance.  Lots of arranged protracted movements and posturing that look really weird.

Republican and Conservative pundits are in high rant mode as the President threatens to use the power of Executive Orders to give amnesty to Latin Americans who live in the US without a green card.

The POTUS maintains that he has the power to wipe the slate clean  for these five million or so immigrants who have taken up residence in the US in violation of laws that regulate entry into this country.  Conservatives maintain that he is effectively enacting legislation which is the purview of the Congress and a violation of the checks and balances built into our Federal system of Government.

Each side swaggers and postures away on what they will do if  Obama uses his "Power".

The  thing about Power is that you only have it if people don't challenge your actions.

POTW Week 46

I've been on this super efficiency kick this week.... planning out everyday, and analyzing what got done, what didn't, and why.  Staying focused is the key to accomplishment.   Yet some diversions to the plan are important to follow as well.

Another benefit of planning and evaluating your time is that when you get to the end of the day, after being pulled in numerous directions, your documented time gives you a feeling of satisfaction..... or at least verification that you didn't screw off all day. 

Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 46th Week of 2014 

Bill Quirk

Harvey Rowe

Mike Rockett

Dale Johnson

Taylor Swift

Pam Georgian

We are cruising to the holidays.

Veterans Day Post

Thank you American Veterans.

No matter what you did during your military service, you stood on the wall, ready to defend our way of life.

Regardless of how aggravating our domestic politics can seem, we are Americans.... bonded together by a history that seeks freedom and the pursuit of happiness.

Sometimes this history has taken a while to evolve, and we have made mistakes, but in the end, our country strives for justice and liberty.

Those of you who served, who stood in the vanguard against those who seek to subjugate and subvert us....  I appreciate the time and sacrifice that you have made on behalf of all of us.

Stranger than Fiction

This American Indian Harvard Law Professor is one of the US Senators representing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The other is Ed Markey.

Sometimes you wake up in the morning and say, "This can't be real.... I must be dreaming."  But this nice lady from Oklahoma, who claims to be an Indian, who rails against the cost of education after she made over $300k per year teaching one course at Harvard. is not only my Senator... she is being touted by "Progressives" as a serious alternative for President.

Reality is truly stranger than fiction.

Peeps of the Week - Week 45 - 2014

Peeps....

Those of you lost souls who are Nanepashemet Blog Purists know that Thursday Evening has traditionally been set aside as the time when the the coveted yet repulsive Peep of the Week selections are made.

So... it's freaking Thursday Evening.... I guess I have to put out a little and get this tacky task underway.

One thing that I forgot to mention in last week's POTW Refresher course.....

There is only one way that an aspiring yet hapless Peep can be automatically  selected as a POTW.  That is the time honored tradition of bestowing a bottle of Lagavulin 16 year old Single Malt Scotch (aka the KING OF SCOTCH) on this most deserving Mountain of a Man.

Since this process/scam has been instituted years ago, many satisfying 750 ML bottles of the revered nectar have been presented for which your MOAM responds with a POTW selection.  Some weeks, we have had multi Automatics... usually around the time of the night before Thanksgiving Bash.  but lately, the practice has seen a disappointing fall off.   Hopefully this will be remedied shortly.

ANNOUNCING....

NANEPASHEMET PEEPS OF THE WEEK FOR THE 45TH WEEK OF 2014.

Gilbert Shaw
Wayne Webster
Yolanda Laganos
Jim Lundgren
Mitch McConnell
Seth Moulton

No Automatics this week.... will keep the porch light on during the coming holiday season though.

Election Enlightenment

Peeps....

You know I always exhort you to stay independent.... to stand on your own two feet... to make your own decisions....

So why are you so pathetically sending me email after email..... voicemail after voicemail..... frantically asking me what the election results last night mean?????

As you know, the Mountain of Man has a big heart and a wellspring of patience for those of you who annoyingly can't figure things out for yourself, and insist on getting a spin from the Nanepashemet source of truth and knowledge.

So I reluctantly must tell you what happened in the United States of America last night.

1.  Harry Reid.... the lying, despicable Majority Leader of the US Senate was fired..... and the 360 pieces of legislation that the House of Representatives have sent to the Senate can now be considered by the full Congress.

2.  President Obama was repudiated.... he offered "Hope", was really a "Dope", and the people said "Nope".  His stupid policies of ObamaCare and Immigration will be subject to reasonable revision and overhaul.

3.  My home state of Massachusetts elected a professional manager, Charlie Baker, and his opponent, the politically mean spirited, Martha Coakley, didn't even thank her supporters as she refused to concede defeat in a close, yet definitive result.

4.  My second state, where I pay a fair amount of property tax, New Hampshire, turned away the chance to elect a straight and independent thinker in Scott Brown, and instead turned to the Liberal rubber stamp, Jeanne Shaheen as a US Senator.    They have changed the motto from "Live Free or Die" to "Live Stupid then Cry".

5.  The Sixth Massachusetts Congressional District elected Democrat Seth Moulton, and Iraqi Veteran over Ricard Tisei, a bit over the top Republican.   The important point here is that they both played a part in turning way the old Guard, lock step Dem, John Tierney, who was a Pelosi puppet.  Verdict is out now on whether Seth can be a leader and break from the Democrat Herd.

So your MOAM can sum things up this way.

United States - HAPPY

Massachusetts - HAPPY

Sixth Congressional District - CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

New Hampshire - FREAKING DUMBFOUNDED

Now, Peeps..... go forth and spread Nanepashemet Truth and Insight .... you are among the enlightened.

If the Republicans Win....

Will Republicans take control of the US Senate tonight?

I certainly hope so.... not because I necessarily favor the Republicans.... but because I hate the fact that the Senate Rules allow one man.... the despicable Senator Harry Reid of Utah as the Senate Majority Leader.... the right to control and stifle the efforts of the entire body.

I believe that Harry is a corrupt pol, who lies with impunity... like the time that he said that Mitt Romney didn't pay his taxes.... just pulled a lie right out of his Ass with no basis in realty.

There is no room for people like this to wield power in our nation's capital.

If the Republicans have the majority in both Houses of Congress, then expect a range of initiatives to be passed and sent to the President to sign into law.   Course Obama is an ideologue.... an academician, and not a politician like Lyndon Johnson.   He will use the executive power to veto a good deal of the bills that come his way.  

Yet that is a vast improvement over the system that we have today... where ideas among our elected leaders never even reach his desk because of disingenuous gatekeepers like Reid.    At least now, we can have a substantive debate... and break the gridlock of ideas and innovative solutions to the problems of a nation.

If Obama vetoes legislation that comes his way, now we can ask why.....if the Republicans win tonight.

Your Right and Obligation to Vote.

Peeps....

Make sure that you get out and vote tomorrow.

You pretty much know who the Mountain of a Man supports.... but the important thing is to put your own thought in, and vote your conscience.

Our right to vote is a precious gift.   Don't insult the people who have made enormous sacrifices to give us this gift.   Throughout history, and even in the present day, the majority of people on Earth do not have ability to elect their leaders in a fair and unoppressive manner.

You do.

Don't let other people make decisions for you.    Stand on your own two feet.   Think.   And Vote.

Listing Your Home with Nanepashemet

There was a time when.... if you asked your MOAM to list your property for sale through Nanepashemet Real Estate Services... I would refuse.

That's because the only way to get your house properly exposed would have been to advertise heavily in expensive newspaper print media, and a small company like mine, which did not list many properties, could not afford the massive advertising fees.  So I used to advise you to list with the big companies

But this has completely changed.   Now, when I accept your listing, and present your property photos and marketing write up in the Massachusetts Multiple Listing Service, your property also gets extensive on-line exposure on national real estate sales sites like Trulia and Zillow.

And now, practically everyone who looks for a house to buy starts with a web-based, online real estate site.

Selling Mike's condo for a big score, and doing the same for Katelyn recently in South Boston has convinced me that accepting listings is now entirely feasible and now reside fully within our substantial skill sets.  And it doesn't really matter where your property is.... as Mike Murphy can attest.... we can handle your needs in Southborough  as easily as we do it in Southie ... or the North Shore.

Course, I've always been strong being a Buyer's Broker,  negotiating the best deal possible for my clients, but now I have a new found confidence that Listing your Property with Nanepashemet Real Estate is the way to go for both Peeps and civilians, and we can provide all of the exposure that you need on-line.

So this now begs the question....

Why should I list my house for sale with Nanepashemet Real Estate Services?

Notwithstanding the obvious... that you would have the MOAM as your personal agent... there are other, less noticeable reasons.

The First is Attention to Detail and Attention to You, the Nanepashemet Customer.   Your home is typically one of your most important assets,  and you can spend a lot of money in real estate commissions and leave quite a bit on the table if you sell with bad advice.

• When you List with Nanepashemet, your property is our only concern.  My committment to you is that..... if you hire me as your Listing Agent, I will not accept any other client  until your property has been brought under agreement with a price acceptable to you.  You have the full attention of Nanepashemet.

The Second is the cost of  Brokerage Services.   Many people think that Real Estate Broker's fees are set and standard, but that is not so, and a violation of commerce laws.

• When you list with Nanepashemet, we will thoroughly discuss fees and give you the best deal possible.  For  instance, if your intention is to List and Sell your home, and then buy a new home in the area within a reasonable time, Nanepashemet will substantially discount our listing fees based upon our subsequent role as your Buyer's Representative.  In a $500,000 sale, taking 1% off of a real estate commission represents a savings to you of  Five Thousand Dollars!  
  

The Third is taking advantage of professional experience and expertise.  The proper presentation of your home for sale is a multidisciplinary exercise that involves both business and construction skill sets.

• When you List with Nanepashemet, not only will we give you advice to maximize the value of your house in the market, but we can direct or manage improvements or repairs that will substantially upgrade the value of your property.   We have licensed construction managers on staff and partner with the finest craftsmen in the region.  Many times, the cost of improvements will add substantial value at the time time of sale, or make your property easier to finance for prospective buyers.  We roll the cost seamlessly into the final sale closing.

So now that Nanepashemet Real Estate Services has decided to list properties, you should take advantage of the benefits that will come your way if you list with us.

Peeps... it's a rising market.  there is a lot of money to be made .... and more if you make the right decisions.

Lesser of Evils

I've been sitting in my living room, this first Sunday morning after Daylight Savings time, watching the early Sunday local programming on local issues. Massachusetts is embroiled in a tight Governor's race between Marsha Coakley and Charlie Baker, and New Hampshire sees a good contest for Senator between Jeanne Shaheen and Scott Brown.

I'm also interested in the 6th Massachusetts District fight for Congress between Seth Moulton and Richard Tisei.

My criteria for supporting politicians has less to do with party affiliation and more to do with the following.

Who seems honest?   I hate it when candidate treat the electorate like a herd of sheep who will bleat acceptance with any baseless diatribe that is handed them.

Who seems smart and based in reality?   Some candidates are mindless Moonbats that present themselves based upon urban myth and their massive egos.

Who projects themselves as a leader?  Not interested in someone who is in lockstep with Obama or Boehner.  And I don't care what your opinion of your opponent is.... or how you distort his or her record.   I'm only interested in seeing what you think the problems are, and how you would wield the policy to solve them.

Based on these standards, every candidate probably falls short.   But I believe that we all are human with shortcomings and our duty as members of a republic is to support and elect the lesser of evils.

MOAM Broker Madness

Peeps....

In case your didn't know it, your Mountain of a Man is possibly one of the greatest Realtors who ever lived.

Even though I don't sell residential real estate for a living, I get immense satisfaction by doing it for friends and family.... and the latest success story is the great deal that we just closed for Katelyn and Brady's South Boston Condo.

Like Muhammad Ali said, "If you can do it... it ain't bragging."

We'll bring this transaction in for a landing after only 10 days on the sizzling hot South Boston residential market.

Wicked Saturday Workload

So much to do this weekend.   Even a Mountain of a Man like myself can sometimes feel a bit daunted by the tasks at hand.   But there is nothing to it, but to do it.... one thing at a time.

• Make the dough for the pizza's that we will grill during the Patriots Broncos game.
• Rake and mulch leaves before the Nor'easter hits later this morning.
• Process and execute the offer that we received on Kate's Condo last night.
• Work on drainage in the backyard.
• Make a dent in the pile of Nanepashemet Telecom outstanding action items.

I know that it seems insurmountable....and that the majority of you pathetic Peeps would head out to Dunkin Donuts and console yourself with a chocolate cruller or two, rather than deal with this wicked workload.  

But after all.... I am a MOAM, with more than enough stamina to plow through this Saturday.