Jay B Goode

Even some of my closest friends will be surprised when they learn that I'm an accomplished guitarist.
~
Well, maybe not accomplished.... but I do know how to strum G and C chords.
~
And I can play "Stairway to Heaven".
~
But I haven't had a guitar in more than 20 years.
~
Lately though, grandson Will seems to be interested in music, so I thought I'd get back into the music world and toughen up my finger tips.
~
Bought a cool Alvarez RD20SC Cutaway Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Top Solid Spruce, Back and Side Mahogany from Amazon. It has a pickup for an amp and a built in electronic tuner.
~
Will and I will be banging out "Johnny B Goode" riffs in no time.

Health Benefits

There is nothing like a power nap in the late afternoon. About 30 minutes of sleep can completely revitalize you to plow through the rest of stuff that you have on your agenda that day.
~
But a lot of times, a nap is not appropriate.
~
First... it is socially unacceptable in a corporate work place. Anybody caught dozing, like President Reagan years ago, is thought to be incompetent for some reason. Of course this is complete Bullshit, but I'm not going to get revved up about this.
~
Second..... there is really no place that you can safely grab a power nap during the business day.
~
Third.... since I'm on the road alot, a nap can be downright dangerous.
~
Fourth.... there's only three things I can think of right now.
~
So when I get really drowsy, especially driving hundreds of miles, I usually bang down a can of Red Bull energy drink.
~
Katelyn and Ryan are all over my case about this. They say that Red Bull is bad for you. But my extensive research during 10 minutes of Internet browsing reveals that there is no obvious health risk. And it really perks me up.
~
I figure the health risk of falling asleep during a 65 mph drive is a lot worse than ingesting a can of Red Bull from time to time.

WordSmith

Does Pelosi seem transparent to you? How does a partisan rock thrower like her end up as the Speaker of the House?
~
A selective memory... blames everything on the evil Bush administration... now she is tap dancing around this water boarding bullshit.
~
If I was a member of a group that flew planes into the NY Trade Towers and killed 4000 Americans, I'd welcome a little splash in the face compared to what I really deserve.
~
Pelosi knew about the waterboarding. She is revealing her true nature with her wordsmithing denials.

Harvey Rowe said...

Right on!!!

Tuna Lips said...

Politickin' asides, I'd like to take baste miss nancy with my love honey, helps to relaxify this overwrought wench.

11:49 AM

Definition

Uncle Sam's Advice

Einstein's :Lament

We Know

You know that we know what you know.
~
Do you know what I mean?
~
And doesn't it piss you off that you know that we know?
~
Don't worry. Even though we know, we won't act like we know.
~
But we won't act like we don't know either.

Lobster Permit

Got my Massachusetts non-commercial lobster permit tonight. Stay away from the blue-green-purply buoys. Those lobsters will be giving it up for the Peeps all summer.
~
I plan to use my lobsters judiciously. Won't be giving them away to customers to curry favors. That would be downright unethical. I'm sure that the customers don't like lobsters anyway.

POTW Week 19

Heading into Friday.
~
But not until I get an ungodly amount of paperwork done tonight to beat a deadline for my largest customer. Like I always said to my staff at General Dynamics..... the job isn't done until the database is updated.
~
Although I never appreciated what a pain in the ass that could be until now.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 19th Week of 2009

Brian Butler
Will Smith
Whitney Watts
Bill Shanahan
Glen Davis
Kelly Light

Come to think of it, a lot of the stuff that I used to preach when I was on the top of the heap have come back to bite me now that I am a humble contractor. It's hard being a responsible businessman.

Island in Rhode Island

Man, did this week get away from me!
~
Monday and Tuesday I crammed paperwork in because I knew that I would have a long day on the Coast Guard project in Block Island on Wed. So up at 4:00 Wed. morning, I headed to Seekonk to pick up some ground rods then deadheaded to the Block Island Ferry at Point Judith, RI.
~
Naturally, Murphy's Law was in effect on the Block Island site, and we didn't pour concrete until 3:30PM.
~
Nobody told me that you couldn't drive onto the 5:15PM ferry to Point Judith at 4:49PM. When the ticket lady said I was too late, I sort of didn't give a shit. I was too tired to bitch at her, and I felt that I was in the wrong anyway.
~
My only real issue was that I was dirty and sweaty and needed a change of clothes. (Note to Self... in the future.... always stash a spare pair of scivvies in your briefcase for occasions like this.)
~
So I found a hotel room on the Island at a good rate, bought a clean t-shirt at the hotel shop, showered, and had beers and dinner with the Watts boys who were staying overnight to finish tooling the slab pours. It was an enjoyable evening and I awoke at 4:30 AM to a rooster annoucing the pre-dawn. Couldn't sleep, so I got up at 5:00 to cruise around the Island in my F-150 at dawn.
~
Block Island is really stunning. People are friendly, and there are some spectacular waterside homes. I hear that the fishing is great and was encouraged to see a keeper Striped Bass chasing some baitfish at the Ferry Pier in Point Judith.
~
Hope those bass are swimming this way.

Real Wealth

Such a highly eventful, fun weekend, filled with fun Peeps.
~
Among the notables....
~
Jim and Kathy Peabody at the Boston Yacht Club, where we ran into "My Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog, along with his lovely wife Nancy....
~
All of the forementioned Peeps at the Butler Surprize Extravaganza for Stacey....
~
Steve Lewis, who along with Mike, is about to take the White Soul Food Catering Market by storm with his slow smoked ribs, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese....
~
Auntie Susan Raich, who came through big time for Katelyn this week....
~
My old friend Harvey Rowe, who was in the middle of a 13 mile run with his jogging buddy whose name I forgot but will remember.
~
Grandkids Ethan and Will, who are undoubtably the best grandkids in the world....
~
Emily Inguardia, possibly the nicest Peep east of the Pecos.....
~
Bam and Bampy, Ryan, Katelyn, and Michael.
~
It was the kind of weekend that money can't buy. A true definition of real wealth. It will be a hard weekend to match this summer.... but we will give it a try.... each and every time.

Party Review

It was a nice surprise birthday party hosted yesterday afternoon by SuperPeep Brian Butler for his SuperPeep Spouse, Stacey.
~
Lots of former POTW's there including Jill Phillips, POTY Lauren Rathbone with Ethan and Becket, Tina Rhodes and Emily Azgardia.
~
Jack Dog had a little bit of distress going on as he mingled among the guests, but that doesn't have to be mentioned.
~
I think the highlight of the party was when Brian made me a highly creditable Dark and Stormy.... and then one more.
~
Dark and Stormies are like Lay's Potato Chips. Nobody can have just one. Brian planned accordingly.
~
The lowpoint of the party was definitely when Brian asked if he could be Peep of the Week for this fine effort. A major faux pas. It's an unalterable rule that you can never ask for this honor/disgrace.

Active Weekend

It's the weekend already.
~
Mike and Kate are in from Boston, and Ryan and the Grandkids will be around tomorrow, so this place will be really active. Plus when they all show, lots of you Peeps tend to make an appearance over here.
~
Any chance of peace and quiet is out the window.
~
Who needs peace and quiet anyway??? You can have plenty of that when you're dead, and you're dead for a long time.

POTW Week 18

Every once in a while, someone decides to muster up the courage to take a shot at me on this blog.
~
That's alright.
~
If you are an asshole, and you like me, then that would make me an asshole like you. Course, sometimes I do act like a bona-fide asshole. But I still don't want you to like me when I act like you .... you asshole.
~
Which makes this start to sound like a Zen Haiku.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 18 of 2009.

Peter Caruso
Kevin Gallegher
Sean Booth
Jennifer Geraci
Ellen Forgione
Maria Shriver

So you are really an asshole if you think that everytime this Blog mentions an asshole, it refers to you. But you already know if you are an asshole. You asshole.

Tuna Lips said...
Yer anger keeps me warm, like watchin' pappy pistol whip a no good poacher, poachin' on his poachin' ground.

Manny Being Banny

Manny Ramirez is banned for 50 games this year... it will cost him over $7M... for using a banned substance.
~
I know it is wrong and cheating and everything.
~
That's easy for me to say.
~
I've got the God given ability to eke out a living, but I don't have a rare talent that allows me to make millions of dollars playing a game.
~
If Manny wasn't a professional baseball player, he would probably be driving a bus in the Bronx or something similar.
~
His options are the bus or baseball. The temptation to secure even a little advantage in advancing his million dollar career must be overwhelming.
~
I can't say for sure how I would act in the same circumstance.

Class and Manners

Hey Clubber....
~
Isn't it the case that the people who try so hard to maintain a prim and proper image ultimately have the least amount of class and very poor manners?
~
You have spent so much effort trying to control the behavior of others, that you completely lose sight of the fact that you are so damn self-centered and crass.
~
What an Asshole.
~
You're such an Asshole that you immediately assume I'm talking about you. You Asshole. I guess that's crass to call you that, but you're an Asshole anyway. Asshole.

Channel Changing

Huge night for Boston fans.
~
The Bruins play Carolina and the Celtics take on Tampa with playoff games and the Sox are playing the Yankees.
~
There will be a lot of action with the remotes.
~
I'll probably have to see the results on the news tomorrow morning because today was a long day in Southern Connecticut, and I have a bunch of stuff to get done in the morning before a lunch appointment in Westborough and a preconstruction walk in Concord after that.
~
Sure, I know my life is exciting.... but it doesn't make me any better than you pathetic wannabees. It just seems that way.

Talking Trash to Tuna

Think you're all that???
~
You Big, Freaking, Arrogant Tuna!!!
~
You're Going DOWN.

Tuna Lips said...

Well choke my chicken, I hope yer not fixin' on findin a fued with ole TL. I once carried the water bottles for the local football club. You best not go there.

Sunday Setting

With the good weather this Sunday, it's time to get the Herreshoff Columbia Tender ready for the season. This year, I resolve to row that sucker at least a couple of times a week.
~
Getting the Tender ready will entail removal of the Piantedosi sliding sculling seat, power washing the interior, sanding the worn spots and hitting the whole boat with a couple coats of Epifanes Marine Varnish. While I'm at it, I'll sand the Shaw and Tenney inspired oars that I made a couple of years ago, and hit them with a couple coats of varnish.
~
After that, its a 220 sanding on Mike's coffee table, then the second coat of Epifanes.
~
Plus I promised Joanne that I would cut the doors to her bedroom closet so that they can open and close freely.
~
Hope I have time for the doors.

Peep Preference

Apparently Emily Ungardia is pissed at me because I keep spelling her name wrong.
~
Sorry Em.
~
At least Emily has the cujones to call me out when she is annoyed. The rest of you Pathetic Peeps just seem to seethe in silence.... keeping your emotions in check. Not necessarily the most healthy alternative.
~
Then when you finally blow, it's like a big freaking eruption.
~
Em's approach is more well rounded. That's why Emily Ongardia is one of my favorite Peeps.

First Coat

We got the sanding done, fixed the top to the base, and sprayed an initial coat of Epifanes Marine Varnish.
~
There are some flaws that trouble me, but nothing that an unsophiscated Peep like you could notice.
~
Six more coats and we'll be transporting it to Mike's South Boston Condo.

Magic Feeling

This weekend is shaping up nicely.
~
No particular plans.
~
No particular obligations.
~
No particular crisis.
~
"Oh that magic feeling. No place to go" - the Beatles.

Beatles are probably not in vogue. But I carry a lot of their quotes in my head. They were great innovators for their time, excellent musicians and poets, and worked very hard trying to find meaning in a world that was in extreme transition.
~
Sorry.
~
I didn't mean to veer off like that. But that's what happens when the immediate future is wide open.
~
Back to the weekend.
~
Have to get a workout in on the Cybex, finish sanding Mike's coffee table, and get the first two coats of marine varnish. We also have to attend a wake and funeral. Maybe that is an obligation..... so I guess I spoke too early. The magic feeling is fading.

Peep of the Week - 17

So the PC Police have changed the name of the Swine Flu - ostensibly to save the lives of innocent pigs who were being slaughtered in third world countries.
~
No word lately from Mexico. Now that a few Americans, who went South of the Border, have the sniffles, there is no attention at all given to that hot bed of influenza. If the flu was so catchy, they should be running out of body bags in Baja California. But no word.
~
I personally think that the pandemic is a bust. And Joe Biden, telling people not to ride the subways, is quite the leader to be a spokesman for this crisis. Is he an idiot, or is it just me????
~
That was a high soft one, by the way.....
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 17th Week of 2009

Jenny McCarthy
Jill Phillips
Emily Angardia
Paul Pierce
Eric Johnson
Jay Severin

So stock up on the Purell and don't be spreading your Swine viruses my way.

Adirondack Kate

Katelyn seems to be on the verge of securing her South Boston Condo, after quite a few title challenges.
~
She's asked me to construct an Adirondack Chair for her deck, and since I've always wanted to build one, and she'll never back off, I decided on this design.
~
This one is 5/4 red cedar.I'll probably build Kate's in 3/4 merant1 mahogany and finish with Epifanes Marine Varnish.

Susan Raiche said...
This is a perfect design for Kate!
Beware though, she will probably want a matching pair.

That's a good point Sue. But being the Master of my Domain, I take orders from no one. Particularly Katelyn!

Condo Coffee Table

I dry fitted Mike's Coffee Table base to the top today, and to my amazement, it was the freaking balls.
~
The proportions fit very well and the contrasting fir and mahogany looked fine.
~
I was shocked because I had been pretty down on it. You can judge for yourself by the pictures to follow.
~
By the weekend, I'll get the final sanding in and fasten the top to the base. Then the spray coats of Epifanies Marine Varnish will begin.... at least seven thin coats. With the proper sanding between coats, and cure time, this will take about 1 1/2 weeks.
~
It will fit great in Mike's new South Boston Condo.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise dry humps my coffee table when the spirit grabs me. Good fer you, dry fittin' indeed.

Mega Millions

Mega Millions Jackpot is $181 M range, so I bought two tickets. If I am the sole winner, I'll probably opt for for the $111Million lump sum payout, which would net me about $50M after taxes.
~
That should be enough working capital to start Nanepashemet Boatbuilding on a full time basis with a waterside boat loft and everything.
~
Otherwise, I'm going to have to keep banging away at this Nanepashemet Telecom business.
~
Which really isn't a bad alternative.
~
But I like the $50M option better.

Peep of the Year, Lauren Rathbone said...
Love the adirondack chair!! Purchased my mega millions!!! I will take a lump sum, but remain anoyonmous (spelled that wrong) until i work out the details. so if someone wins and does not come forward it may be me.

Fallen Off Track

It was the first warm day of the year.
~
A great day for dump runs. The warm weather makes you take a walk around the property. With the fire on New Year's Day and the resulting renovation, there is a tremendous amount of trash all over the place, and we succeeded in getting a good bit of it to the Marblehead Transfer Station this morning.
~
My plan was to make a serious dent in Mike's coffee table project, and to transition into the Workbench project. After the first dump run, I made it over to Moynihan Lumber in Beverly to pick up some meranti mahogany 2x4's to complete the workbench base.
~
As soon as I got back, Harvey Rowe showed up on his weekend run from the Marblehead Y and I introduced him to Tommy O'Shea.
~
When I got back to the driveway, I remembered that I had to make a second dump run since I missed the trash pickup this week. Plus I was fresh out of Dark and Stormy supplies so I stocked up at Beacon Hill liquors.
~
After the dump run, I remembered that I hadn't touched base with "My Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog" lately.
~
I found said "Friend" and his talented authoress wife, Nancy, on their back deck and FWDWHNMITB succeeded in breaking my will power with the first beer of the day, on or about 12 noon.
~
When I got back home, Joanne had a big priority for me to build a gate for the deck so that our Grandson, Will, could go out there without tumbling down the deck stairs. All the stock for the gate was readily available from the stuff that had been removed by the fire and basement renovation.
~
By the time that was done, Tyler Gill dropped by to see Ryan, and the call went out at about 4:00 PM to break out the Dark and Stormies. Priorities and job plans went to hell shortly after that.
~
Mike, Kate, and Superpeep Emily Engardia showed up for dinner and the beer flowed like wine.
~
So I'll regroup, and see what I can salvage tomorrow.

Sniper

This contribution from master wireless sniper, Bill Hillegas.


~
Tyler Gill said...

A Special Forces Sniper when interviewed by Katy Kouric in Afghanastan.

Kouric
"what do you feel when you shoot one of these terrorist?"

Marine Corp Sniper
"a slight recoil....."

Excellent Contribution Tyler!!!!
~
Despite our loathing of the bias and closemindedness of the self righteous Katy.... we need to highlight the wisdom of Couric more often!

POTW - Week 16

I've already worked about 50 hrs. this week. And we still have Friday to go.
~
But it's starting to get me a little tired.
~
I know what you must be thinking.... that a Mountain of a Man like me would even be a little fatigued after only 50 hours of work.
~
It's true. I'm freaking tired. Just like the rest of you... I can get a little run down. I'm clearly not superior to you in all respects... only the majority of them.
~
Announcing...
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 16th Week of 2009

Harvey Rowe
TimmyBassett
Tyler Gill
Rob Wise
Ethan Nestor
Patrick Piscatelli

Maybe I'll knock off a little early tomorrow.

Dory Return

Thinking about the Gunning Dory. We're getting closer to putting this project on the front burner.

Mahogany Base

Spent a long time this weekend getting the hang of the Grizzly Tenon Tablesaw Jig and the Jet Mortising machine.
~
With the help of my radial arm saw and band saw, I fabricated these legs and bases out of mahogany for Mike's coffee table.
~
The base is coming out so good that the fir slab top is starting to look a bit unsuitable.
~
I'm going to finish it anyway, and if Mike doesn't like it, I'll make a different top to fit the base.


Bob Villa said...
It looks like Samson should be chained between those two pillars. Let my people go, Pharoah!

Character Test

The test of character is made when things are not going well.... when the unexpected happens.... when unpleasant and hurtful events predominate.
~
Anybody can express their loyalty and love when all is smooth sailing. But when the weather gets ugly, and the ship starts to toss and turn and take on water.... that is when those with the real strength of character shine through.
~
Those who pass the test show a selfless sense of compassion and support, that intensifies as the going gets tougher. They resolve to find ways to remedy the situation.
~
Those who fail concentrate on the unfortunate events solely by their fear of the effects on them. They search for blame and wallow in self pity.
~
You can almost predict who will pass the test, and who will fail. Even though you hope for the best, sometimes the facts that have always been obvious prove to be right.
~
Too bad.
~
I've been watching a number of people taking the test of character lately. Most are down right inspiring.


Okay J. Made it Monday in just under 3 hours. Now I'll be retiring from Marathon running for a few years now. That is unless you are ready to race some time in the near future.
-McMahon

An excellent marathon time by our 2006 Peep of the Year, Tommy McMahon.
Way to go Tom.

A Tad Resentful

I paid my taxes last week. An obscene amount of cash money because I didn't have withholding for the entire year of 2008.
~
The whole withholding process dulls you to the immense amount of taxes that we pay. It is only when you have to pay out a lump sum when you realize the bite that the government takes out of you.
~
Imagine that your gross pay is what you actually have to spend. You would be far better off, wouldn't you?
~
It didn't bother me as much in the old days, when the Russians were pointing missiles at us. I figured as long as I didn't have to speak Russian, the taxes were worth it. But as I get older, and more savvy in business, and see the incredibly wasteful processes and spending in the public sector, I tend to get a tad resentful.

POTW Week 15

Today was a great driveway day. Made the measured tenon cuts for Mike's coffee table with my new Grizzly Tablesaw Tenon jig. It's not the best piece of equipment that I've ever bought, but I eventually figured it out and got the job done.
~
Mike's coffee table top was refinished and I like the bottom side a little better. All in all, I'm dissapointed in the fir slab and actually considered another top. But it should fit well in Mike's new condo in South Boston, which is in a renovated foundry building with exposed brick walls and high concrete ceilings.
~
The fir slab has the mass to fit the surroundings.
~
I'm using the same base design for both Mike's coffee table and my Workbench.... mortised and tenoned, glued up 4x4 mahogany legs and 2x4 mahogany stretchers.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 15th week of 2009

Martha Stewart
Patrick Piscatelli
Courtney Jellison Nestor
Perry Dinatale
Tommy O'Shea
Danny Ainge

Tomorrow, I use the new Jet mortising machine to cut the mortises.

Apology

Sorry Peeps.
~
I know that the last post was a bit harsh, a bit terse, a bit grouchy.
~
Even a Mountain of a Man like me can let his guard down once in awhile.
~
But if you don't forgive me, I really don't give a shit.
~
So..... Maybe it's too early to apologize.

Big Freaking Deal

Peeps.
~
So you noticed that I haven't posted for almost the whole week.
~
Big Freaking Deal.
~
What do you want.... a medal or something????
~
I was damn busy with my own shit. And I couldn't care less how much you bitch and howl.
~
I'm not even going to choose the POTW until tomorrow.
~
How do you like them apples????

Coffee Table Redo

After two coats of West System Special Coating Clear Epoxy on Mike's coffee table, I've come to a conclusion. It is not acceptable.
~
The sanding job is just too sub par. So I'm going to refinish the bottom of the tabletop and get the sanding done right.
~
The problem is a penetrating stain and swirl marks that have shown up through the finish.
~
I'm sure that the vast number of you unsophisticated Peeps would find no problem in it, and would give your usual annoying "oohs" and "ahs". But my standing as a Mountain of a Man cannot compromise on this.
~
It must be redone.

Tuna Lips said...

Looks like my shorts after a few days on the road and a tad too much fiber, what with that big racin' stripe down the middle.

Happy Easter

Easter is a nice holiday. You don't get any days off, and it doesn't get controversial in church and state debates, so the PC police have yet to infiltrate it. There are no big expectations for rituals, so the family pressures are generally low.
~
Maybe it's because the day fluctuates - never falls on the same day.
~
Anyway, some of my best memories revolve around the Easter Egg hunts that Joanne used to stage for the kids.... and just the family getting together and horsing around.
~
Now it's even better with the grandkids in the picture.
~
I'm sure that my grandkids probably aren't the cutest in the world, but they are until you can beat this.

Masters in Augusta

I'm totally into the Masters this year... and I haven't a clue why. Those of you who know better understand just how bad I am at golf. I make Charles Barkley's swing seem sweet.
~
But the Masters definitely caught my attention.
~
My friend Bill Hillegas is a buddy with Jim Furyk and he is in the race after the first day. I like Furyk, and also like Mike Wier, and Phil Mikelson, because they are lefties.
~
My favorite is a little known African Filipino American named Tiger Woods. Keep your eye on him... he's a comer.

POTW Week 14

Since I've been fairly out straight with Nanepashemet Telecom this week, it was nice for Tuna Lips to make an appearance. He is one funny sonofabitch, and really takes the pressure off of me from having to come up with pithy remarks on a consistent basis.
~
And I haven't been feeling too pithy lately anyway.
~
Today would have been a great day to put in some time on the Workbench and Mike's Coffee Table, but I had to spend the whole freaking day trying to make money. How Lame is That!!!! It's about time that somebody offered me one of those paid sabbaticals that the college professors get, so that they can allow their creative juices to rejuvenate.
~
Need to get one of those gigs.
~
Announcing....
~
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 14th week of 2009.

Dale Johnson
Dustin Padroia
Sarah Crawford
Jessica Rincon
Terrence Swhwab
Kevin Calnan
~
Don't worry.... If I had a sabbatical, I'd still keep posting to this pathetic blog.

Paypoint Pain Killer

Made the drive to Old Lyme, New London and Groton, Connecticut this morning with a modicum of success. But a 2 3/4 hr. one way drive always takes it out of you.
~
Anything over two hours in a car is physically taxing, but it helps if you make a paypoint. This trip brought Nanepashemet Telecom closer to two of them that should be realized by the end of the week.
~
That definitely dulls the pain.

Tuna Lips said...

You might consider stopping in at them injun gamblin' parlors along the seaboard there. Dens of iniquity they is, pour a mean glass of free fire water. Them redskin's slaked they thirst on Pappy's 'shine til we could rob 'em of what they had in their satchels! I got me an on-again-off-again gal down there, I calls her Lil' Spread Eagle to protect the innocent. She gets a little ornery about my breathin' on her, but otherwise, I'd recommneds her to the Spirit in the Sky - that's injun parlance for the Almighty, 'cept they heathens. Cheap enuff too, at a sawbuck per table dance.

Coffee Table Surge

Didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked on the workbench today in a sunny afternoon in the driveway.
~
Figuring out how the tail vise was going to work turned out to be problematic.
~
But Mike's coffee table is another matter.
~
I never thought that I would get it all sanded with a sealer coat of clear epoxy applied so soon.
~
Maybe it will even get done in time for his move in date.

The pictures detail the glued up panels prior to sanding, the completed sanding and the first coat of epoxy.
~
The base will be constructed of 2 in. thick, glued up meranti mahogany stock.
~
One more coat of epoxy to the top and then about 4 coats of sprayed marine varnish over the entire table to follow.
~
Double click on the pictures to zoom in.

Forging On

When the sun made an appearance this Saturday morning, I decided to take advantage and move forward with the workbench and coffee table projects. Gluing panels always takes a lot of room and I had to move the operation into the driveway. But I got both the tops for my workbench and Mike's coffee table glued and ready for sanding and finishing.
~
I know that a I owe you pictures.
~
I also set up the Jet mortising machine, the Grizzly tenon tablesaw jig and the Leigh dovetail jig upgrade.
~
So it was a very productive day in the garage and driveway.
~
Tomorrow, if the weather is right, I'm going to trim out the dovetailed aprons of the workbench and see if I can install the tail vise.
~
Then we will concentrate on the bases for both the Coffee table and the Workbench.

Check Please

We had a nice dinner last night with Will and Lynda Murray at the Boston Yacht Club.
~
I just bought an industrial condo from Will in Peabody to use for Nanepashemet Telecom, and it was Joanne's birthday, so he picked up the check.
~
A class move.
~
Generally, I like to pick up the check. Not because I am overly generous, but because I always get embarrassed splitting the check for some reason. Don't know why. So usually I reach for the check to avoid what is, to me, an awkward situation.
~
But it's nice when someone beats me to it.

Testing the Water

Jim Cramer says it's time to get back into the stock market.
~
It does seem like the market has hit bottom and is starting to turn back up. The telecom stocks seem to be fairly undervalued.
~
The trouble is that every time I've entered the market, I have lost money.... not a ton, but enough to feel like a dufus.
~
Maybe I'll just stick my big toe in.

Peep of the Week - 13

I had the opportunity to select the Peeps yesterday.
~
Thursday is the official selection day. But I didn't feel like it. And you can't make quality and responsible decisions if your head isn't into it. After all... the POTW selections are just too important to handle on a casual basis.
~
But this morning is another story.
~
I got up feeling ready to challenge the day, and my first task will be to Purposefully Perpetuate this Pathetic Peep Process. ("P" is one of my favorite letters.)
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 13th week of 2009

Ryan Nestor
Mike Rockett
Kathy Peabody
Lauren Crawford
Peter Krupp
Jeremy Johnson

Next week, I'll try to get this done on Thursday, but I'm not promising anything.

Bad Addiction

Everybody copes somehow.
~
My coping mechanism is to buy tools on Amazon late at night.
~
And ... Oh Baby!..... Have I been Coping lately!!!!
~
This week's stress has been Amazon's gain.
~
Did I need a Specialized Power Mortising machine??? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Did I need a Tenon Jig for my tablesaw???? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Did I need an upgrade kit for my Leigh Dovetail Jig???? Nope.
~
Did I get one?
~
Yep.
~
Believe me... this list can continue to the point where you can ascertain that I have a real problem. Lucky for me that Joanne doesn't read this Blog too often, because the cost of this stuff is really starting to add up.

Pier Four

After a lovely afternoon at the Joe Moakley house, we went over to the venerable Anthony's Pier Four restaurant, which is still serving one hell of a slice of prime rib with a popover after all of these years.
~
It was Joanne's birthday, and the dinner was spur of the moment, but we couldn't have planned a better venue.
~
Maybe we'll grab another meal there around August or so.

Deferring

Normally I like to multi-task..... Handle a bunch of issues at the same time.
~
But for the next two days, I really have to limit my focus. Emotionally and intellectually, I just don't want to take on too much.
~
So if you have some big problem to lay on me.... wait until Thurs. You'll simply have to deal with the fact that I won't be addressing you until then.

Tuna Lips said...

Did ye git on yer bike and ride this mornin', like youse was supposin' to do? Or did you slather some cream cheeze on a bagel and get to thinkin' "the other feller must be doin' this, too, I can lean on my shovel a few more minutes."

Layin' about is the road to ruination, sure as corn likker and peep shows at the road house, so mammy said. Mammy was one to talk.

I'm gone.

Establishing Routines.

I know that I've been harping on the weather lately.... but it's been so cold and clammy, wet and miserable. It is permeating.
~
This day came together well. I've decided to take the advise of my friend, Lisa Rowe, and work out first thing in the morning. Especially if you are not traveling, it seems to make the most sense. So today, that's what I did. Jumped out of bed, had coffee, took a massive dump, exchanged niceties with Joanne, then hit the Cybex for 12 miles.
~
By 8 o'clock, I was on the regular Nanepashemet conference call, and already had an item ticked off of my to do list. Everything else seemed to come together pretty smoothly after that too.
~
So tomorrow, I'll try the same routine.

Tuna Lips said...

I gots an established routine of loosin' my bowels when i arises to greet the day, and then pleasuring myself whilst perched atop the porcelain honda. I find such ablutions most effifecious, and quite effevesent. Multitaskin, the Wall Street types calls it. On Stall Street we call it Coppin' a squat and rubbin' one out.

Waiting for Trust Funds

Someday, when all of my trust funds kick in, I will buy a beach house in some warm tropical place, and go there for the entire months of March and April every year.
~
I don't really suspect that I have any trust funds, so this is probably an unrealistic fantasy.
~
But what is definite reality is that March and April suck in New England.
~
It's not cold enough for winter stuff, and typically wet, muddy and uncomfortable. Plus, the temperature is just below a nice warmth that starts to make you feel good.
~
I would rather go from the winter right to the summer, hence the tropical beach house fantasy.
~
Maybe I can substitute the trust fund approach with a couple years of kickass business years with Nanepashemet Telecom.

Weather Delays

It was supposed to be a nice sunny spring day today.... in the sixties. Instead it lurked in the low forties, with clouds and fog.
~
Once again, the freaking weatherman throws us a curve ball.
~
If he was under oath, he'd be doing time for perjury.
~
But I've always prided myself as being a forgiving person. Forgiving is fine, but forgetting is not my policy.
~
Anyway.
~
I got into the driveway, built the case for my workbench tail vise, cut the tails and pins for two dovetailed DVD cases, and milled the top for Mike's coffee table.
~
No freaking weatherman is going to slow down this Mountain of a Man.

POTW - Week 12

Joanne and I headed over to the Salem Country Club this evening with Harvey Rowe and his lovely wife, Lisa.
~
They've just completed the insurance claim adjustment on our New Year's Day fire and did a most excellent job. The Salem Country Club serves a damn fine meal.... much like the Oakley Country Club in Watertown that my archrival, Joe Collins, espouses to.... but the good ole Boston Yacht Club beats them both..... hands down.
~
That's not to say that it wasn't a great meal. It just didn't beat my club.

ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the Twelfth week of 2009.

Bill Hillegas
Bobby Brown
Tom Raich
Emily Ingardia
Lauren Rathbone
Tyler Gill

I mean.... It's no big deal if your club isn't as good as mine.

Harvey Rowe said...

You will have to take us back to the BYC to see if I agree.

Bird Preference

So the other day, I get this annoying Peep question that went like this....
~
"Which do you like better??? Blue Jays or Cardinals?"
~
As I've often said.... there are no stupid questions.... only stupid people who ask questions.
~
The answer is that I like any bird that seeks to take nourishment from my feeder. Don't care if it's a gull or a crow. They all make a mess, and they all shit everywhere.
~
So they are pretty much equal in my view.

Herreshoff Maintenance

Took the tarp off of the Herreshoff Yacht Tender this weekend. What a mess. Looks like at least ten hours or more of sanding and varnishing to get ready for the season. It will be worth it though.... that boat has such nice lines.
~
I'll probably buy a case of Epiphanes Marine Varnish from Jamestown Distributers and wait for a good weekend to sand and start spraying coats.
~
No wonder that wooden boats from the past century are so rare. There is a lot of work and care just to make them presentable each season. If left fallow for a season or so, it would probably seem like an insurmountable job.

Tuna Lips said...

Prioritize getting us a peep of the week. I makes book on this sorta thing, and the street don't likes to wait.

What is wrong with you son? Snap out of it!

Getting Back to It

Even though the temperature never reached 50 degrees this afternoon, I got into the driveway, set up the workmates and cut the 3/4" maple plywood into two 2' x 6' pieces that will be laminated together to provide a heavy enough top for the long awaited workbench project.
~
The 3" thick plywood top will be trimmed with 3/4" solid maple that will be attached to the 1 1/2" thick mahogany endpieces with half blind dovetails. Plus we have to precisely cut in for the end vice that will be integrated into the top.
~
Tomorrow, I will glue and screw the top pieces of the worktop, then design and layout the end clamp.
~
It's good that the long awaited workbench project is underway, but I must simultaneously start the coffee table that I promised Mike that I would build for his new condo in Southie. That tabletop will be constructed from the thick fir mantle piece that we removed from the living room after the fire.
~
If this Spring proves to be relatively warm and dry, the Marblehead Gunning Dory will be resumed in full swing by June or so. It's conceivable that the Dory hull be substantially complete by the end of the summer, although the interior fit out will take quite a bit more time.

Fire Away

Is it so wrong to desire peace? The world has an infinite number of moving parts... all colliding and smacking into each other. Every day offers challenges that you can never predict.
~
I almost dread an outlook of peace and quiet when I get up in the morning, because it is so certain to be shattered by some crazy unforeseen circumstance. Maybe the best outlook is to get up, stare the world in the face, and goad it to give you its best shot.
~
Then at least, you won't he so shell shocked when the bombs land.

Peep of the Week - Week 11

Spring has sprung. Astronomcally at least. But by the 20 degree temp this morning, it's not so apparent.
~
So I broke down and got an Apple Ipod Touch this week. Holy Shit.... what a freaking device!!!!
~
I've downloaded about 100 bucks worth of songs and applications. Everything on freaking earth is online at the Apple iTunes store. Plus, it will go online and you can email.
~
But the pain is not just financial. I downloaded a pushup training program that tracks your progress to where you can do 100 pushups at a setting. I haven't done a pushup in over 20 years, and after the first day routine, I feel like someone has been pounding me from armpit to armpit with sticks and clubs. It's a wonder that I didn't throw out my back.
~
ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 11 Week of 2009

Courtney Nestor
Liam Neelson
Phil Freeman
Kurt Bagwell
Alex Watts
Mike McLellan
~
Who would have thought that an Ipod would be so physically challenging!!!!

Turn on a Dime

The tragic death of Natasha Richardson is a disturbing reminder of how fragile the parameters of your life can be.
~
A talented actor with a young family, in the prime of her life, takes a harmless tumble on a bunny ski slope, and dies in a day.
~
Never take any day for granted.
~
Always appreciate the people that you care about.
~
Life can turn on an instant..... at a time when you least expect it .... in ways both bad and good.
~
Mark 11:22-24
²² And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. ²³ For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. ²⁴ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
~
The power behind this Biblical quotation is so simple as to be unbelieveable. Christ simply says to ask God to give you what you want, believe that you will receive it, and you will get it.
~
Be careful what you ask for!
~
The hard part is believeing in the receiving.
~
Plus, sometimes, you receive what you want and don't even realize it.

Tuna Lips said...

We all gots it comin' to us. Make ready the way of the Almighty, ye sin smeared heathen. The Man comin' round takin' names. What side will you choose?

Like I said, did me some preachin' on AM radio back in Galveston days. Met some wonderful sinners, taught me plenty of what I do.

Better Deal

Hi Peeps.
~
Just coming up for air after a worldwind three days this week, pumping the production from the Nanepashemet mill.
~
Tomorrow will be no different. We are going in four different directions and will be covering projects from Harrington, Maine to New London, CT.... with two points in between.
~
If you want to know where the hell Harrington is, we were wondering the same question. It's six hours drive north from here... about an hour north of Acadia National Park. My partner, Mike Elsier, is handling that one and I'll be in southern Connecticut, pulling permits and attending a hearing. I was feeling bad about having to drive all the way to New London, until I Google Mapped Harrington.
~
Now I'm pretty certain that I have the best side of that deal.
~
It's a glamorous job... plus we get paid for doing it.
~

Economic Stimulis

How bad is it when you start looking to Tuna Lips for solace and advice???
~
It's time to start to turn this tanker around. Set a new course for commerce and prosperity.
~
Sometime today, this Blog will receive a hit for the forty thousandth time. 40,000 times people have sought out Nanepashemet for one pathetic reason or another. What really irks me is that not one of you "suspects" have ever sent me a dime to support this oasis of insight and rationality.
~
It's not that I haven't asked.
~
I am 100% in favor of capitalism. Let the money come and go. It's not like I would take your contributions and invest them in stocks or something.
~
Be assured that your money would be recycled in the most worthy of places.
~

• Like buying extra cheese, garlic and pepperoni pizza from Vesuvius of Marblehead.
• Like purchasing bottles of Lagavulin, the King of Scotch, Stephan's Ginger Beer and Black Seal Rum from Beacon Hill Imports at the Community Store.
• Like keeping the garage full of meranti mahogany and red cedar from Moynihan Lumber for those beautiful Nanepashemet boats.
• Like ponying up for rounds of Bud and Miller High Life for the Peeps at the Gerry Club.
• Like stocking up on paper towels, 48 rolls of toilet paper, and 7,000 packets of Splenda from Costco.
  
• Like late night purchases of power tools that I will rarely use from Amazon.com.
• Like dining on the world's best lobster rolls and Sam Adams at the Boston Yacht Club.

~
I'm doing my part to keep this economy going. You can too.... by contributing to Nanepashemet.

Revenge

They say that living well is the best revenge.
~
They are right.
~
We will have our revenge.... and the naysayers will be continue to anguish as they wallow in their putrid pool of palpitating protoplasm contemplating the utter injustice that we will not be stifled.
~
Miss Rogosa, my ninth grade English teacher, would have appreciated the onomatopoeia.
~
She was an old spinster who was crippled by polio and got around with huge metal braces.  We used to call her "Rogo Stick" in our insensitive 9th grade way.  Read a lot of Edith Hamilton's "Mythology" in her class, and we spent an inordinate amount of time on the works of Helen Keller. Now I think I know why..
~
Haven't thought of Miss Rogosa in 40 odd years.

Tuna Lips said...

My pappy was one fer blowin his stack, no douts about it, and but fer me mammy I think a few more charges woulda stuck.

As I mentioned afore, mammy was visionary, seein' things and oppertunities when ole pappy was just seein' red. She was fer the simmerin rage - she bein' of the lady persuasion - and was all fer servin' it cold. This way, she saw to it taht on the front end, no one bounced us off the mule, and thussin they had nary a finger to point. And when they did, agin and agin and agin, as hard ons like thems like to do, our uncivilization eventually waranted the point no more. It become about them sayin' they was better than someone else. It become them hatin' on us, and they fancy friends all tight up with Jesus had no choice but to think twice.

Give it time. Tehn we'd burn them sumbitches barn down, and cover it good, make it look like the Almighty raining his justice on they asses fer what they had done to us (forgettin on what we allegedly had done to them). Justice with mammy was best done slow, like molasses in winter. Nice and cold.

Think on that. TL is everyman.

POTW Week 10

Tons of annoying stuff to choose from this week.
~
But also an extraordinary amount of inspirational stuff.
~
A truly Nanepashemet style week!
~
ANNOUNCING.....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 10th week of 2009

Steve Lewis
Will Murray
Amy Mann
Tricia Rockett
Claudio Alvarez
Nate Clarke

There were so many more that deserved it.

Moral Judgement

Someday, when this is all over, I'll tell you the story about the guy who married his cousin and fathered a number of morons. Now he spends his time making moral judgment of others, while being obese and on the public dole.
~
I'll tell you the story, but it's not really funny.
~
Nobody's perfect. Which is why a lot of people are intrigued with the imperfection of others. It makes them more comfortable with their own imperfection. Or at least draws attention away from it.
~
There are a lot of Bible quotes to turn to.... "Judge not lest ye be judged." "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."
~
I vastly prefer the less civil.... "Why don't you kiss my royal Irish Ass? You pompous, moral high ground, Hypocrite!"

Tuna Lips said...

I find "eat the peanuts on my feces" especially effective at displayin' my effrontery sentimentality. A bit too far, somes would say, but it breaks er down to the bottom line. You knowds where you stands with ole TL when I suggest where you can get some corn niblets to snack on.

I suggest you don't publicate this here thinkin, it might break down the last remainin' strands of the yacht club community you palavers with. I mean, can you see Mrs. Wilhemina Wasp tellin' Candice Throttlesnot to snif her smelly briefs? The bar would dry up and not another glass of non-fortified wine would be poured, spilled, or, later on, end up in a pile of sick next to a marcedes bens.

But what they heck, plain speakin' folks is my cup o' tea.

I'm gone.

Katelyn Party Post Mortem.

I never gave you the post mortem of Katelyn's 30th Birthday Party.
~
By all accounts, it was a clear success with no incidents at all.
~
Except for that little Table Dancing episode by Emily Engardia. But we were long gone by then.

Quaint

I have to get up early tomorrow.
~
Heading down to Cape Cod to pull a permit for the Coast Guard.
~
The Cape is one of my favorite places - I really like the quaintness.
~
Quaint is cool.
~
I am cool.
~
Ergo, I like quaint.

Toning it Down.

Did I sound a little harsh in that last post?
~
Like I wanted to smash somebody's head like a cantalope melon with a sledge hammer?
~
Yeah.... I guess that was a little harsh.
~
I'll tone it down a bit.
~
Just a little.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise finds that bomastin' is good fer the sole, like takin' a dump on yer neighbor's porch and ringin' the doorbell. All American style, that's how we roll.

Cowards

The Haters and the Cowards have made their appearance.
~
They absolutely know that when they look into the mirror, that they are scumbags and cowards, so they are constantly looking for someone else to blame.
~
Have your day, Bitches. You've never gone out of your way to help anyone else in your pathetic, self-absorbed life. You say that you've never done any evil, but you've never done any good either. A waste of freaking protoplasm.
~
I'll take one mistake in a lifetime of good over your putrid, one-way existence anyday.
~
So take your judgemental, fat assed, self righteous bullshit, and kiss my ass.
~
Wouldn't trade our tainted life for your pathetic, hypocritical, shill of a life in a million years.

Bucking the Trend

It's been awhile since I've boasted to you about how well Nanepashemet Telecom is doing.
~
How we are Kicking Ass and Taking Names.
~
It's come to the point that if we take on more work. we will be bucking the economic trend and hiring people.
~
This week, we will have been down to Richmond, RI, over to Concord, MA, down to to the Cape in Orleans and then over the Ferry to Block Island. Plus processing the hell out of our current backlog.
~
So despite all of the other Bullshit, Nanepashemet is firing on all cylinders.

Choked Up

ok
~
I'll admit it.
~
Even a Mountain of a Man like me can get choked up once in awhile.
~
The calls and messages we got today, expressing so much support will never be forgotten. They are engraved in the Akashic Record. And we appreciate it deeply.
~
Mistakes that were made will fade, but your outpouring will always live with us.
~
So there it is.... you've got me where you always wanted me..... misty and emotional.
~
Soak it up. It won't freaking last!

Tuna Lips said...

That's which don't kill ya makes fer bein'stronger, that is what my mammy would say. Her bein' all loopy on cough syrup, notwithstanding, she was visionary.

Face forward.

Juicy Tidbits

The emails are streaming in.
~
We definitely know who our friends are, and gradually over the next few weeks it will become apparent who are not our friends. Some will come as no surprise, but others will shock the hell out of us.
~
That is valuable, but I've already been through something similar, so I don't wish this process on anyone. Even those of you who are enjoying this juicy tidbit.
~
That's basically the end of this topic.... so don't be hitting this Blog to see if you can get a juicy tidbit, because that will just be a waste of good internet browsing.

Taking the Hits

Tons of hits on the Blog today.
~
You probably know why.
~
All I can tell you is that it is not what it seems. Stupid mistakes were made and already paid for.
~
The reports leave out some crucial facts.
~
And when all is resolved, there will be no reports at all.

Cosmic Wink

I was really getting depressed about something, then I came upon this entry into my own Blog from a couple of years ago.

_____________

What's your Great Grandfather's first name? That's your father's or mother's grandfather. I don't know either!
~
That is a whole life that went by, directly related to your existance, and you don't know jack about him - even his first name.
~
How important can our life's issues be if in less than 100 years, nobody will know if you even lived?
~
Makes you wonder about sweating the small stuff, or taking life too seriously.

_____________

So there it is.... the "present me" gaining solace from the "past me".
~
In a short wink of a cosmic eye, all of this stuff won't matter, and will seem not to have even existed. This is getting too weird.