Saturday Morning Stress

I'm trying to have coffee this morning in the same room with Katelyn and Joanne. Sorry if I have to breathe. They get pissed off at anything I say. And I haven't farted or anything.
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BTW, it's a sure sign that Kate spent the night with us here in Marblehead when I get up and find a Magic Hat 9 opened with two sips taken out of it. A fine beer wasted.
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Thank God it wasn't a glass of Lagavulin.

A Peter Crawford Tale

This unlikely story has been circulated by Peter Crawford. Since he is a former POTW, I feel compelled to pass this on....
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On a warm May day, paparazzi roaming the boatyards in Historic Marblehead
came upon a scene never witnessed by neither man nor beast. Chuck Bridges,
retired airline pilot, was actually seen in dirty old clothes, with latex
goves, mussed up hair, and blotches of blue bottom paint all over him. The
photographer was drawn to the scene, when he blood curdlling moans coming
from under the boat, as Chuck was attempting to roll on bottom paint with a
disintegreated foam roller. Others in the boatyard were aghast, saying that
Chuck always showed up to "watch" others work on their boats, neatly attired
in khaki pantrs and an oxford cloth blue and white stripe Brooks Bros
shirts. It is well known that Chuck has always been allergic to anything
with the word "work" attached to it. And spends most of his days loitering
outside the local Starbucks, where he tells stories about his childhood in
rural Kentucky, where he was raised by sheep. Could this be a new Chuck, or
maybe just a Confused Chuck. Only time will tell.

Memorial Day Weekend

With the three major balls firmly in in air, I covered a sales meeting at the Hotel, then started the Memorial Day weekend. Mark Ryan called to say that launching the WhaleEye is doubtful, but I still have hope. I bought the first motor from him when he got the Honda dealership and had to remind him that I'm his best customer.
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It doesn't matter.
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Boat mechanics in Marblehead have you at their mercy. It will happen when it happens, and there's nothing you can do about it. Every year it's the same. They say anything to you, but you get it when you get it. Someday, I want a job like that.
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So I took it out on the Tender. I fiberglassed the lead on the rudder, and mortised the brass hardware into the oarloacks. Also epoxy glued the centerboard case into the keel. The Tender is now water tight.
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Kate is in Marblehead, and we're waiting for Mike to come in from DC. It's going to be a great weekend.

Peep of the Week - 21 of 2007

The POTW selections were thrown off by Joanne's Sundance Staff shower for Staci. I didn't think that I would have any role, but I had to man the grill and then I had to handle all of the "oohs and ahhs" surrounding the display of the yacht tender.

To make the Peep Choices in the midst of all that would have been way too stressful. So, once again, I have been tardy with the crucial announcement. Shit Happens... Deal with IT!

Announcing
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week - 21

Mark Ryan
Andrew Card
Nancy Pelosi
Samantha Larson
Mike Nestor
Rick Rockett

Thanks for not freaking out.

More Staci

What's it going to take to get Staci Mallette married off to Brian Butler????
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As yet another bridal shower.... obviously.
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Joanne hosted a great get together for the Sundance Pre-School staff with her culinary skills, but I inadvertently carried the day when I rolled the Yacht Tender out of the garage by popular demand.
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Who would have thought that the Tender was going to be a chick magnet!!!
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If I had known this, I would have finished the damn thing a lot sooner.

Fine Public Administration

Apparently, this guy, Dan Grabauskas, is responsible for the improvements that I observed at the RMV yesterday.
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Nice job Dan.
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He's now running the MBTA. Maybe I'll try the bus.

http://www.massinc.org/index.php?id=500&pub_id=1770&bypass=1

Massachusetts RMV

Man...
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If you want a slice of American demographics, go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. That is the land of the General Public. Multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-multi. It's a good chance to see how the other half lives. Or make that the other 80%. Not many of us middle aged white guys left.
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I remember when the Registry was the place that you went to when you wanted to be treated badly by political hacks with no work ethic and a bitchy attitude.
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That wasn't the case today.
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The people were given a number when you came in, which printed a pretty accurate projection of the time that you had to wait. Also... no lines anymore. You sit down on a fairly comfortable bench and wait until your number is called and listed on a screen. Plus, the lady who handled my Trailer registration was downright hospitable. Even nice.
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An entirely enhanced registry of motor vehicles experience.
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I walked out with a register boat trailer and trailer plates. Society is making strides.

High and Low Technology

As the Vice President of IT at Sundance Pre-School, I had my hands full tonight as I had to do a system recovery procedure on Joanne's computer. It was taking forever so I left around 9:15 PM. Since I have a meeting in Boston at 8:00 AM tomorrow, I won't be able to follow up in the morning. Hope nothing is broken. I like my VP of Facilities Management role there better.
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The Boat Trailer assembly took longer than expected today, and I had to make a run to Marblehead Ace Hardware for some missing nuts and bolts. I still can't get over the shock of having to manufacture a trailer.... and that Boater's World had the stones to ship me boxes of steel, nuts and bolts, and called it a trailer. Won't be making that mistake again.
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It actually doesn't look too bad, and will be functional for using the Tender in Marblehead Harbor and NH lakes.
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Now I have to get it registered to tow on the road by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Bonus Time

My morning business meeting has been postponed and it is a good time to catch up on paperwork and accounting. So I think I'll spend a couple of hours on the Boat Trailer assembly.

Booyah

Jim Cramer says that he is celebrating the recent stock market surge by switching from Johnny Walker Red to Lagavulin 16 year old, single malt scotch.
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I'm impressed.

Mooring is Ready

Went down to the Harbor today to check on my mooring. We are in good shape for a WhaleEye launch this week.
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BTW, A Blackbird visited the feeder yesterday. Just one. It had a black body and a purple head. Maybe it's a sign.
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Right now there is a beautiful red cardinal out there. As pretty as a cardinal is, it's song .... a distinctive, high pitched "chew, chew, chew"... is just as neat.
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I don't know how a Blackbird sounds.

Soprano's Wrap Up

Two more episodes left. I'm thinking that Tony gets whacked.
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How else can the series end?
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I predict that his Shrink knocks him off in self defense when he tries to murder her for knowing too much.