Astrological Forecast

Happiness is not necessarily discovering new things.  It is enjoying the things that you already have.
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That is a paraphrase of my horoscope this morning.   While astrology seems illogical and silly in concept, the forecast that I read once in a while from Jonathan Cainer, http://www.cainer.com/, often contains a bit of thought worthy general advice.  
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You're an idiot if you mould your behavior around what your horoscope tells you, but you're smart to take good advice wherever you find it.
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Sometimes, to enjoy the things that you already have, you have to get analytical.  You have to look at things from different angles, and try to see how everything fits in the big picture.  You have to examine how different factors interact with the things that you have. 
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Many times, a depressing situation can be defused and turned around merely by reflecting on new directions and possibilities that the situation points to.  Making lemonade from lemons so to speak.  I don't mean to sound too "New Age" but if you believe that everything happens for the ultimate good, then it makes sense to appreciate your surroundings and find enjoyment in the ride that you are currently experiencing.
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I take some of this inspiration from Ryan, who has truly made the most of a situation that most of us would have defined as abysmal.  As juxtaposed that it would seem, I'm really proud of him.
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Many times in my life, I've seen circumstances that appear to be insurmountable.... a financial problem with no solution, a social situation in a complete dead end.  But then people who say they can't get a job develop a full new career.... financial opportunities fall from completely unforeseen sources.  I could tell you specific instances, but you are better off filling in the blanks with your own experiences, because you know that it is true for you as well as for me.
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So find your happiness today, by enjoying the things that you already have.

Change of Scenery

It's mid January, the dead of winter.
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  Time to think of a warm summer day in Rockport. 
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It will be here eventually.

Agony of Defeet

The Patriots lost to the Jets yesterday, ending the road to the SuperBowl for New England.
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It's a sunny morning in Boston, but I'll bet there is denial and depression within the bright rays of the cascading sunshine.   It's just a game, but if you were going to be elated at the victory, it's only right to be deflated at the defeat.
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Jets Coach Rex Ryan, complete with his publicly exposed foot fetish, will be enshrined as a heinous villain in this area for years to come.

Countdown to Super Sunday.

The road to the Super Bowl for the Patriots will be through the Jets this Saturday, the Steelers next week and then the SuperBowl on February 6.  By that time, the kitchen will be in at Sundance and we will have moved in.
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So SuperSunday will be even more significant.
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But there is a lot of work to do before then.  This morning we will take the Grandkids to see Ryan at FreshAyer, then I will be mudding drywall throughout the afternoon.  Joanne has done a good job painting the newly installed raised panels and this has significantly taken the pressure off for meeting the complettion date.

Moulding Miscue

So I foolishly didn't buy enough of the 3 1/2" primed crown moulding from Peabody Building Supply at 65 cents per foot.  Now they are all out, with no clue when another supply will be available.
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They had unprimed, finger jointed crown at 40 cents per foot, and I'm hoping that it can be installed and integrated with the original stock that I bought.  So I picked up forty feet and will hang the moulding this morning.
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After I inflate the grandkids snow tubes, I'll be up at the Sundance building checking this out.

Solidly Booked.

Looking forward to seeing the Grandkids this weekend.  I know their Dad misses them more than we do so we'll all get a little FreshAyer.
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Between that, the Patriots - Jets, the Sundance Renovation and the fabrication of a ramp to easily get the new Ariens snowblower into the F-150... this weekend is freaking booked.
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That's right Ethan... so don't pull any funny stuff.

Not on Our Watch

This rush to point fingers at Conservatives because a sociopath decides to go beserk in Tucson is starting to get under my skin.  At least Nancy Pelosi hasn't blamed the Bush administration yet.... but maybe I'm speaking too soon.
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To those editorial writers who say that we should "calm down the rhetoric" and only point to the Right while whackjobs like Keith Oberman and Nancy Pelosi spout off with impunity.... come on.
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The old adage that Liberals act on emotion and Conservatives act on thought really comes to the surface here.  We should all be shocked and saddened by random senseless shootings in Tucson.  But to blame anyone other than a crazy sociopath is the height of irresponsible classlessness. 
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Claiming that Sarah Palin is responsible for using "Crosshairs" in her campaign literature is pathetic pandering.  Politics is a contact sport, with all sorts of aggressive metaphors.  To say that these are the cause of a shooting is silly and worse.
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A study of our political history will show that aggressive rhetoric has always characterized our democracy.  When the Lefty Editorials and media call for the tone down of Conservative rhetoric, they are really advocating for a facist, one thought government.  Nice try... Not on OUR WATCH.

Mayan Trash Talk

Nostradamus says that he could see out to the year 3797 AD.  That puts a lot of pressure on the Mayans, who are counting us out by the end of  2012.
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I'm not buying the Mayan prophecy for the end of days, and after December of 2012, I was thinking of heading down to the Yucatan Peninsula for a little trash talk. 
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Stuff like..."Hey Mayans... nice end of the world... Way to Predict... Nostradamus kicks your ass."  But then I'd cool it down by setting them up at the bar with a few Dos Equis and some Nachos.   Hopefully the Mayans down there have a sense of humor. 
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I'm sure they're not happy about their dire prediction anyway.  A few good Mexican Cervages should soothe over any ruffled feathers.

The thing about lies is that they have to be rehearsed.  It's much easier being forthright and genuine, and takes much less effort. 

Snow Emergency

Peeps....
Those of you who know me best, know that I'm a tolerant person.... willing to live and let live..... with an appreciation of diversity and my fellow man.
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Why is it then, that I feel such seething hatred for these irritating assholes on Channel 5 Eyewitness News this morning who are trying to make a major issue over a few freaking snowflakes???
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When did a snowstorm emolt into highly charged news in New England?
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We've had the Governor on the line, and some asshole from the Town of Marblehead called me at 9:00PM last night with a computerized message about the "Emergency Blizzard".
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The "Emergency" is not the freaking snow... it's having to put up with these egotistical assholes who have nothing better to talk about.
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I suppose this post sounds a little grouchy, and maybe it is, but I'm not in the mood for silly bullshit this morning.  We'll be firing up the new snowblower soon enough.

Snow Low Blow

Big snowstorm coming.

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Bring it on.
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Bought the Ariens 920014 Compact ST24LE (24") 205cc Two-Stage Snow Blower today.
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Just look at this baby....

•  205cc OHV 900 Series Briggs & Stratton® engine
•  120 volt electric start with recoil back-up
•  2.9 quart fuel capacity
•  6 forward speeds / 2 reverse speeds
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I had held off from the purchase of a snowblower throughout my adult life, but the configuration of the new Sundance House on the corner of West Shore Drive and Stramski Way, with two driveways and all of the paved parking area is a hell of a lot of shoveling.
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Plus, I could always depend on TommyO to come across the street with his snowblower at Beverly Ave.  The least that Tommy could do is move across the street from us up at West Shore Drive.
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But with all of the driveways and no TommyO, I broke down and grabbed the last snowblower left at the Danvers Home Depot.
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It's no replacement for TommyO, but it will have to do.

TommyO said...

Not Bad,
Jay cranked this boy up this morning and took care of the 'hood here on Beverly Ave.
The legend grows.

Peep of the Week - Week 1 of 2011

2011 started off pretty good for us in business and the Sundance move is coming along nicely as well.  I don't hold out any hope that major irritation won't occur in 2011, but I'm thankful for the first week.

ANNOUNCING....
Peeps of the Week for the first week of 2011

Brian Stanton
Brendt D'Orio
Brian Butler
Dave Bruett
Chris Crawford
Jim Lundgren

A good start of the year.