Gotcha George

George Stephanopoulos Sucks.
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There... now I've said it.  I've just been watching his perceptive interview about history this morning..... Gotcha journalism against Michele Bachmann.  Man... is he threatened by a strong conservative woman or what???? 

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He starts out by saying that "He doesn't want to wade into the "Flake" controversy."  Which is a backhanded smear on its own.   If he wanted to stay away from it, then why did he bring it up in the first place?

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He must have gotten beat up by the bigger girls in junior high school every day growing up.  Guess what George ???.... you still are taking a beating.  Michele just kicked your ass.

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When he's talking about Obama, you can almost see the bulge in his pants.   And his greatest moment was when he corrected BO when Obama spoke about his "Muslim Faith".  His bias for the Dems is overwhelming.

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Joanne says that he doesn't bother her.   But I think that he sucks.  Button your shirt Asshole.

Six Hour Round Trip

I had a meeting tonight in New Haven at 7:45PM, actually iin Ansonia which is about 20 mi. west of New Haven.  Got back in Marblehead by 11:45 and now I'm too jacked to go to bed.
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But obviously not too jacked to post something to this pathetic Blog. 
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Met about 25 members of the Three Saints Russian Orthodox Church in Ansonia to see if they would be interested in having a cell site antenna system installed in their church steeple.
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I guess that was a worthy reason to make the three hour drive.  The three hours back was a test though.

Surrender Sasquatch

Now that we have caught Whitey Bulger, I'm switching my priorities.

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It's time for the FBI to bring Sasquatch in.   Yes... Bigfoot has been on the lam for quite some time now, with thousands of sitings.

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Should be easy.  Sasquatch couldn't just hang around Santa Monica, strolling the beach and hitting the pubs and area restaurants.  He hangs out in solitude... in the woods, mountains and swamps.  The witness protection program rent must be way cheaper for Sasquatch than Whitey.   That's why the FBI has allowed him to stay out there so long... just not a burden on the budget.

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But enough is enough.

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We want Bigfoot... and we want him now.

Put Up or Shut Up

Didn't I tell you Peeps that the Nanepashemet 2007 volume will be available on Amazon in a few weeks????
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Then why is my cell phone choked with voicemails.... and my email account on overload with pathetic pleas from petulant Peeps asking where and when you can get your copy???
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It's my own God-Damned fault for letting you in early on the cover approval.
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I should have known that your lack of patience would invade any sense of serenity that I have foolishly tried to acquire.
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BTW, this thing is not free.   So in a few weeks, when Amazon is ready to take orders... it will be your chance to put up or shut up.

Required Summer Reading

Peeps -
Haven't finished editing the proofs, but I have given my approval to the publisher for the above book cover.
You won't be able to order this on Amazon for a couple of weeks.  After that, copies will be in every beach bag and lakefront cottage.  
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Required summer reading!

7 Years of College said...

That beach on the cover brings to mind the feminine hygiene commercial where the cool TV mom advises her woman child on how to fight that 'not so fresh' feeling.

Tuna Lips said...
I did some purusin' on the back cover of yer publication and, though never a Peep of the year or any such escalade, the aknowingment is apprecified, and a long time comin; like molasses out the jug in wintertime. I might take a copy or three gratis of course, and hold me a book signing cum bar-b-q, do me some whiskey preachin' and sell us a few books. I got a nack for ingeniusness. Hell, I can get my hand on some smoke damaged goods recently rescued from rig abandoned just outside the Pechanga Injun reservation. Something for everyone!

Something Stinks

They caught Whitey Bulger.
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As bad of a sociopathic criminal as he is, there is a lot to peal back here.
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I feel bad for his brother, former Senate President William "Billy" Bulger and his family.  A lifetime of public service is tainted by this, and the burden lies heavily and unfairly with them. 
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Also, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has a great deal of blame in the criminal career of Whitey Bulger; using him as an informant, and tipping him off on the actions of the Massachusetts State Police.  I generally am not a big advocate of conspiracy theories, but it's incredulous that Bulger could live in Santa Monica for 16 years, on the FBI's Most Wanted List.... and the FBI just happens to capture him now.
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Something stinks....  Actually, alot of this Bullshit stinks.  As time goes by, I have lost a great deal of respect for the FBI.
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Bulger should fry for crimes.... and so should the FBI.

Power Day

Peeps.
Suffice to say that today was a power day.
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• Nanepashemet Telecom bumped into three nice opportunities that could mold our future business.
• The lumber for the Sundance Deck was delivered.
• And the Greatest Grandkids in the world came to spend the night.

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Those things alone would be enough for a lesser man.... but a Mountain of a Man demands more... and gets it.
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Today, Amazon.com agreed to publish the entire year of the Nanepashemet Blog 2007 in print.  A real paperback book with a fancy cover and full color photos and illustrations that you can buy.
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Do you know what this means????
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Now you can review the highs and lows of the entire year of 2007 while doing more important things... like sitting on the john, or standing in your backyard waiting for your asparagus spears to get fat enough to harvest.
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Now the Pathetic Blog that you are so addicted to can sit smack in the middle of your coffee table, doing quality time as a drink coaster.
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Now we can send the Blog directly from Amazon to FreshAyer, where Ryan can demonstate to all of his new friends why being a middle class white kid is not as easy as it is cracked up to be.
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I could go on and on, but you get the picture.  And did I mention Royalties????  The money will be pouring in faster than B. Obama can take a vacation.
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Powerful stuff for a Power Day.

Strong Tie Excuse

It dawned on me when I was complaining about some of the cost of the deck hardware, that many of you Peeps don't have a clue what I'm talking about.
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Building Inspectors like these contraptions on wood framing because they add stability and lessen the risk of a poorly nailed joint causing some type of structural failure.
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They are called Simpson Stong Ties and are made of galvanized steel, coming in all sorts of wood joint configurations.

So naturally, being a compliant sort of guy who doesn't like to make waves, I bought a supply of these things for the Sundance deck framing.  The only problem is that I have all of the framing lumber, posts and decking material sitting in my yard, waiting for these suckers to arrive, since I bought them on-line from Amazon. 

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Best case scenario is that they get here by Friday, which is probably ok in the long run, because I have to keep focused on the production at Nanepashemet Telecom for the rest of the workweek.

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Looks like there will be no good excuses this weekend, not to get this deck off of the ground.

Decking Sticker Shock

Took a break from grinding out paypoints at Nanepashemet Telecom this afternoon and headed over to Moynihan Lumber in Beverly to put the order in for the Sundance deck framing and decking.  Went with 2x10 pressure treated Joists when 2x8's would do, and 6x6 pressure treated posts when I could have used 4x4's.   The extra size framing materials will make for a much stronger platform.
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The decking is Latitudes Intrepid Composite Decking, whch is an engineered product designed for long wear and low maintenance.  It's nice, but freaking expensive.  A 5/4" 6"x 16' board comes in at $40.00 each, and I needed 30 of them.  You do the math.
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This is a plain vanilla deck... a little reposition of some hot water heating baseboards, breaking though a living room wall for a six foot wide sliding glass door, then constructing a 16' x 14' rectangular deck about five feet from ground level.  Shouldn't pose any challenges, even for a slightly overweight, midde aged guy like me.
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But I was shocked at some of the prices of the components.... $4.95 for a Simpson Strong Tie Joist Hanger (need 15).... $71.00 for a box of 350 stainless steel colored deck screws (and I need 3 boxes of these).  The job will be run as a business project, with meticulous record keeping and charging of all activity in order to get an accurate cost at completion.
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Will keep you informed.

Tuna Lips said...

It's been a spell since we had one of yer vitree all infused vague premonishuns about what the future hold for thems that does you wrong. I so enjoys them.

Pass the Torch

It seems like the torch is passed.   A new golfing superstar has arisen to claim the seat vacated by the foolishly horny Tiger Woods.

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Rory McIlroy, a 22 year old, grounded young man from Northern Ireland, with a beautiful golf swing, broke 70 four days in a row to take the US Open Championship yesterday, winning by 8 strokes.

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Seems like a nice kid.  It will be interesting to see if he can avoid the pitfalls that someone this young and talented  is bound to be challenged with.

Tuna lips said...

Like me them freaky yung things, sho nude does I tells ta! grip it and rip it!

Summer Launch

Sorry for the lapse in Blog posts, but it was a nice weekend, filled with friends, family, birthdays, anniversaries and FreshAyer.  Plus I reached into my MOAM reserves and managed to set and pour the concrete conlumns for the Sundance Deck.
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Something had to be left behind, and this pathetic Blog was it.
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This week should be a test for Blogging time as well since the WhaleEye is scheduled to be launched and we'll be sanding and painting the other watercraft.... the Pram and the Columbia Herreshoff Tender.  The Pram gets the priority because it is supposed to be on the ring down at the Rockett Wharf on Village Street.  I've been critical of those who leave their rings vacant before, and now I'm one of them.
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It seems like summer has kicked in bigtime.  Should be busy between fishing for stripers and lobsters, building the deck and keeping up the pace at Nanepashemet Telecom.  We had secretly hoped that FreshAyer would be out of the mix, but it looks like that will be in the picture until early next year.

Digging for the Deck

Yesterday, I took a break from Nanepashemet Telecom to dig the three post holes for the deck foundation in the back of the Sundance House.
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The Marblehead Building Inspector will be by this morning to measure and approve the depth.   Code calls for going 36" below the surface so that the concrete columns don't pitch due to frost.  I went an average of 42"  down, and the surprizing thing is that I didn't hit the ledge that protrudes throughout the property.  Pretty much sandy gravel all the way down.
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It's a fairly good workout to hand dig these holes and I'm feeling it today.  After the inspection, I have to meet Alex in Andover for a Nanepashemet job, but on the way home, I'll stop over at the Home Depot and get eight 80 lb.bags of  concrete mix along with some 5/8" J-bolts to secure Simpson 6x6 Post tie units.  Don't need 6x6 posts, but again I'd rather overengineer this, since I'm saving money on the labor by building the deck myself. 

Like the Beverly Ave deck, you'll be able to land a heliocopter on this baby.  Going with 2x10 pressure treated  boards for the floor joists,  But I won't be getting the pressure treated framing lumber from Home Depot.  For that I'll probably order from Moynihan Lumber in Beverly, and have them deliver. 
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The actual decking material will be Trex and I'll be buying that from Peabody Building Supply which has the best prices by far.   I'll also buy the dining room sliding glass door there.
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For this deck, I won't be getting fancy with curves and stuff.  Got that out of my system on the last deck that I built.  This deck will be a plain rectangle... but some future phases into the surrounding ledge might get kinky.... especially if it includes a Japanese water garden coming off of the rocks.
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Not going to put the pressure on myself and tell you when this project is slated to be complete.  Definitely not by the 4th of July.... maybe by Labor Day.  But I will guarantee that we will be on the deck for the Thanksgiving Day Bash!

Stanley Cup Champions

The Boston Bruins are the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions.

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They defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the seventh game of a best of seven series to clinch the professional hockey championship.
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I'm especially happy for my son, Mike, who has followed this team all year.  Plus Ryan got to see the whole thing out in FreshAyer. Not sure how he pulled that off.


I have to admit that I only really paid attention during the playoffs. 
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It's a nice lift for the City of Boston and a warm feeling for a lot of  Peeps up here in New England.

Consideration for Bachmann

I saw George Stephanopoulos interviewing Michele Bachmann on Good Morning America this morning. 

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 His obvious distaste of her picqued my interest.  A 55 year old three time Congressman from Minnesota who has seen 28 foster children pass through her home.  And a Tea Party leader who origninally broke into politics as a Jimmy Carter supporter.

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No wonder George is annoyed.  Here is another viable candidate who outshines Obama on a cloudy day.  And Stephanopoulos is an Obama Butt Boy without peer.

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A friend of mine suggested that I might enjoy a Michele Bachmann / Sarah Palin sandwich.  Just because I've repeatedly proclaimed Palin to be sizzling hot, I never suggested any impropriety, and I certainly hope that he has not gotten the wrong idea.  He must have been speaking figuratively... or maybe not.  I'll have to leave that thought alone for the time being.
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I'll be watching Bachmann though.  She just might be worth the coveted Nanepashemet Nomination. 
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You never know.

Childhood Memory

It is my Grandson Will's birthday today.  He is four years old.
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Can't say I remember much about my fourth year on earth.  Maybe a fleeting image or so.  All of the doting on Will and the schlepping back and forth to FreshAyer will be lost on him after a few years.
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But it won't be lost on me.  These are memories that I will fall upon in the years to come.  I'll bet he remembers one or two things that will happen in the year to come though.
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Happy Birthday Will Nestor.

The Way and the Light

It's important to respect people's beliefs - religious, political or otherwise.
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Who the hell really has a lock on the truth anyway?   Everybody sees things in their own way... their separate realities.
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So it just stands to reason, that when people proselytize, and tell me what to believe, it tends to be a turn off.  Present your facts, and back off.  Don't be telling me that you have a lock hold on true religious beliefs.
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And while we're at it consider one of my favorite passages in the New Testament, Matthew 6:6 ....."But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
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So shut the fuck up.   The more people tell me the way to paradise, the least I want to spend another second of time with them, let alone freaking eternity.

Activity Balance

It was an overcast cool weekend.... conducive to indoor work and bar hopping.  So I managed to get in an ample supply of both, and my bar tab at the BYC leaves a valid audit trail.
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But  the great room moulding is also complete, as is 90% of the backsplash glass tile in the kitchen.  Have to finish the dreaded drywall, and then all of the interior work will be done except for painting a final interior coat.
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The next push will be the deck, and cutting throught the living room wall for the sliding glass deck door. 
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A nice balance of weekend activity.

Mountain of a Man Reserves

Yesterday's "day off" was fruitful as I was able to hang all of the first phase moulding at the Sundance house.  Finished in plenty of time to have dinner with Dale and Gail Johnson at the Dolphin Yacht Club where their wayward attorney son, Jeremy, called his Mom to wish her a happy birthday... a day late.  As you know, Jeremy is a former Peep of the Year, and a world class lawyer who has carried the day in FreshAyer more than once, so he gets a pass in my book.   I'm sure that Gail will get over it too.

The moulding in the front hall is not done but that can qualify as a second phase once some other priorities are finished.   These include hallway drywall finish coats, painting and the tile backsplash of the kitchen counter.
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It seems like a lot of work, but it all has to get done because I told Scuba Steve Lewis that the house would be ready when the bank appraiser showed up for our mortgage appraisal.
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I can definitely sense your doubt and skepticism about the prospects of this happening.  But a Mountain of a Man doesn't let the lowly opinions of others dilute his march to accomplishment.  And I won't be letting Scuba Steve down after his yeoman effort of mortgage brokering.
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So... I will have to draw on some MOAM reserves......watch and learn, Peeps.

Day Off

Tomorrow... I'm taking the day off.
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Do you hear that World????    I won't be answering your calls, paying your bills or reading your emails.
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So Don't freaking bug me.
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I've got some personal stuff to take care of.

Official Mortgage Broker Endorsement

It's been awhile since we've made an addition to the Nanepashemet Official Endorsements, but the events of the day have caused this delay to end here and now.
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Many of you know Superpeep Scuba Steve Lewis, his trophy wife Jill, and his beautiful new born daughter, Kiley.  What you may not have known about Steve is that he is the best darn mortgage broker this side of the Pecos.
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But now you know, because we have a new Nanepashemet Official Endorsement.
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• Official Mortgage Broker of Nanepashemet - Scuba Steve Lewis.

Weiner's Junk

I'm sorry, but I have to sound in on this Weiner episode.
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I think that this whole controversy has God's sense of humor written all over it.  It has to be through divine intervention that we have this stupid scandal that involves a guy named "Weiner. "  It could only be better if his name was "Schlong."
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And his suffering wife is the top aide to none other than Hillary Clinton, whose husband, Bill the President, liberated all of us who used to think that getting a blow job was having sexual relations.  I was driving in a California Bay Area canyon at 5:30 AM going to the airport to catch a flight when I heard Hillary proclaim that Bill didn't have sex with that intern and that he was the victim of a "vast right wing conspiracy".  
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For some reason, that time and place is frozen in my consciousness.... along with the day I heard Kennedy was shot, and the Space Shuttle exploded.
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This stuff could never stand as a work of fiction.  It's too unbelievable.   Thus, I leave it up to God to conjure up this shit.
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That observation aside....
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If a corporate employee was caught posting his junk on Facebook, he would be fired.
If a student was caught, he would be expelled.
If I was caught, my wife would slice my gonads cleanly yet painfully from my crotch as I was serenely snoring away.
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But this Weiner says that he didn't do anything illegal, and won't resign his seat from Congress.
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I guess he has been a faily outspoken liberal democrat from a district the includes Brooklyn and Queens, and he says that he will let the voters decide his fate.  In other words, he's pretty certain that a majority of his constutuents are pervs  like he is and will see him through this little junk bump.
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Let's retrace our steps here.
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A Congressman named Weiner sends pictures of schlong to a half dozen women on Facebook.
He lies and says he didn't do it, then cries and says he did.
But, no biggie. 
He won't quit the Congress and has his bet hedged that his constituents will "hang" with him.
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I think I have it straight now.
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This is a good one....What else you got, God???.

Blog Upgrade

Peeps... there is some good news for you who search the web on your mobile device.  Up to now, this pathetic yet venerable blog has looked pretty crappy on an iPhone.   But not anymore!!!!
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There is a cool new mobile device interface that makes the Nanepashemet Blog a fulfilling yet disturbing expeience on your Droid or iPod.   Now your annoying addiction can be fed while on the go during your listless existence.
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That's progress!

Feeling the Fury

On the way to New Haven, at Route 84 just south of the Massachusetts Turnpike there  is incredible evidence of just how powerful a tornadoe is.   It looked like a giant weedwhacker was used to cut an uneven swath through a mature hardwood forest on both sides of the road.
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The trees were pushed around in a haphazard fashion and most of them were snapped in half about twenty feet from the ground.  But they were not snapped cleanly and the tall standing trunks had frayed shards of wood dangling from them.   This thing must have hit so fast and with so much initial force to snap hardwood -trees in half ....midway up the trunks... and then uproot and push them around like so many matchsticks.
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The havoc stretched about 100 feet wide but unevenly and there was a heavily damaged house and garage nearby.  You could feel the force and fury that would have rumbled across the highway and caused such destruction.
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Scratch that.  I can't imagine what it must have been like to rip a path like this.
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By the end of the day, I felt like I must have imagined the scene but on the drive home, there it was again... no exaggeration.

No Trust Funds

Off to New Haven tomorrow morning.  Not a ride I'm looking forward to, but it makes sense business wise.  So I'll gladly make the trek and survey about five sites for Nanepashemet Telecom before turning the F150 back for the three hour drive to Marblehead.
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It would be nice if I had some trust funds ready to kick in, and didn't have to bang away at this making a living routine, but none of my ancestors saw fit to endow me with a chunk of money to kick back with, and at this rate, I will be doing the same for those in my own downline.
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What the hell.  If I had a trust fund, I'd probably just be wasting more time on this pathetic blog.

Poison Ivy

Heading out to FreshAyer with the Grandkids.   I've positively determined through a Google search that I contracted poison ivy last week and a nice rash has developed on my lower legs.
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Not to worry.  It is not contagious nor is it lfe threatening.

Good Mood Morning

Woke up in a good mood this morning.
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Then Joanne starts sarcastically asking me, "Why are you in such a good mood?"
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Which pissed me off a little.....
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So now I'm feeling kind of regular.
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Anyway... Today I have to hang the doors on the storage sheds that I built recently, then I will tile the kitchen counter backsplash, then I will scrape the pram to get it ready for painting and launch next week.
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Which again would question why the good mood.  But the grandkids are due by and their Uncle Mikey and Auntie Kate will be in to see them too.   So that trumps all the other stuff.

Warning to Fish

There have been a lot of inquiries lately about when the WhaleEye will be launched on the mooring in Salem Harbor.  I've been in no hurry this year.  But I finally got around to getting my work order into Ryan Marine and the legendary fishing machine will be in the water next week.
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Fish will soon die.

Do the Time

John Edwards, the former Presidential candidate, is expected to be indicted  today because of misuse of campaign funds.   His wife died of cancer after throwing him out for fathering a child with a bimbo that he used campaign money to conceal.

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Plus he's a Democrat.
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Man... What a Mess!!! 

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Apparently he is really scared about going to prison and was trying to get the Bimbo, Rialle Whats-Her-Name, to marry him so that a "wife" couldn't testify against him as a husband.   She probably planned to live with him in the Big House anyway, although the White House is not exactly the Big House domicile that they're heading to..

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Advice to John.... Do the time.   Lose The Bimbo.  You don't get out of DoDo by piling on more shit.  And try to keep your Pussy Ass Face out of the media if possible.

The Purpose of Powerwashing

I don't have time to give you a thoughtful blog entry tonight.
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First of all... I don't feel like writing anything.   The Bruins lost, we had tornadoes all over Western Mass, and I spent most of the day preparing the tax information for the Sundance Pre-School.   I hate anything about taxes, and working on them is always a downer.  So I'm not in the mood for any upbeat shit, despite my recent exhortations.
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Plus... I have to deliver my power washer over to Dale and Gales' so that they can powerwash their deck.   Obviously they're rubbing it in that we don't have a deck here at the Sundance house, so we might as well let them use the powerwasher.
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Being a Mountain of a Man means that your have to overcome an insult or a slight from time to time.  I'll let them use it anyway.

A Simple Choice

The other day I got an email from one of you pathetically misguided peeps, asking me one of the annoying personal questions that I occasionally have to endure.
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Naturally, I don't overreact to this type of malfeasance.  Being a Mountain of a Man means that you have to have patience when those of lesser bearing seek out your advice and  consolation.  And as you know, I'm always up to the task.... at least most of the time.
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So to paraphrase this sorry solicitation, it went something like this.... "Master J.  How come you are always in control, never seem to lose the faith, always upbeat, never down in spite of all of your troubles and challenges?"
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I wish there was an easy answer.   Something like... "Silly Rabbit... Trix are for kids!"
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But life isn't a freaking cereal commercial.   This is for real, and it's not God Damned sugar coated either, with fruity crunchiness inside.   So I overcame my contempt for this invasion of my sanctum santorum, and decided to dish out a straight answer.  And this is it.
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In about a hundred years, you will be gone without a trace.  No one will remember you.  No one will even know that you are dead.  Your kids will be dead.  Their kids... your grandkids... will be old at best and won't have a clue where you are buried.
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Nothing that you said will be known.... no one will know or care whether your bills were paid, or whether your promises were kept.
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And if you think that I'm off base on this.... then tell me what your great-grandfather's first name is.   This is a person who had all of the hopes and fears that you do.  Probably looked like you, and had your same types of thoughts and mannerisms.   Don't feel bad, because I don't know mine either.    Yet if he hadn't been born,  you wouldn't be sitting here, wringing your hands and reading this pathetic blog.   And you don't know Jack about him... not even his first name.
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So to get back to the original self centered, neurotic and annoying question.... you have a simple choice in this minor piece of consciousness in the midst of human existence that you call your life.  Joy or Sorrow.  Good Will or Evil. Contentment or Grumpiness.  It is entirely up to you and nobody else is to blame.  No matter how bad it seems that other people screw with you, it is your choice to pick the emotions to react to them.
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So make the best choice, the one that benefits you the best, and makes you feel good.  And the only way to feel good is to stay upbeat.   Because, despite all or your ego centric drama, a hundred years from now, you just won't count.   Might as well enjoy the ride.

Canucks

The Bruins begin the Stanley Cup Champion Ice Hockey Series against the Vancouver Canucks tonight in Boston.   Mike has tickets but I think he might be on a sales trip.  It's always exciting when a Boston team plays for a championship.   We love our pro teams here.  
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Plus the Canucks have a backup goalie named Cory Schneider, who is from Marblehead.   I remember him playing for Mike's High School Hockey team here when he was a Freshman, and followed his career as he excelled at Phillips Academy, Junior Hockey, and Boston College.  It will be an exciting series and a good reason to watch hockey in June.
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BTW, doesn't the name "Canucks" seem a little politically incorrect?  I mean, if it was a Japanese team called the Tokyo "Gooks" or an Italian team called the Milan "Warps".... wouldn't you think there would be some raised eyebrows???? 
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But apparently, Canadians are fine with being called "Canucks".   What would you call a Black Canadian hockey player anyway?... an African-Canadian?  It's easy to get confused these days as we temper our freedom of speech with political correctness.
~
I've actually been to Vancouver.  It's a beautiful  city in the Pacfic Northwest. with a strong Asian influence due to an influx of Chinese immigrants when Hong Kong was transitioning to Communist control.  Ate some great dim sum there... delicious Chink food.

Thinking of Those Who Fell

Every year on Memorial Day, I have a need to post something about the significance of the day.  It's because  the day evokes such mixed emotions.  
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It's the start of summer, a day off, grilling, having beers with friends.... but it is given to us by those lost their lives in the service of our country.  So, as much as I enjoy the day, I also feel a little guilty about having such a fun and relaxing time.... thinking about those who fell to preserve our country.

POTW Week 21

It's been one of the nicest Memorial Day weekends that I can remember weatherwise.
We've taken advantage of it on the porch of the BYC and will undoubtably be gracing the Corinthian soon as well.
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Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 21st week of 2011.

Brendt D'Orio
Will Crawford
Katelyn Nestor
Jessica Rincon
Nancy Kerrigan
Lindsay Kepnes Joffe
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I'll be spending more and more time on the porches.

Otherwise, the power washer will be the focus of this morning's activity within the driveway, with the tender and the pram getting a thorough washdown to get them ready for varnish and paint.    I also want to powerwash the boulder stock for the stone wall in order to identify seams for spltting.

Euphoria

Red Sox are in first place.
Sarah Palin is running.
It's fishing season.
All is right with the world.
Life is good.
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Now if we could only get the boy out of FreshAyer, my euphoria would be complete.
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Go Bruins!

Modern Family

My favorite comedy, now that McHale's Navy is off the air, is Modern Family.  It's on with back to back episodes for an hour tonight.

~

I've always liked Ed O'Neill, since Married With Children and also his appearance in Wayne's World.  And his wife in the series, Sofia Vergara, is both hot and hilarious.   I'm too lazy to type out what I like about the rest of the cast, but I really like them too.

Sudden Death

Every morning lately, we've been waking up to horrific stories of killer tornadoes in the Midwest.  The death toll is up to about 500 people this year.  There is obviously a change in atmospheric patterns that is spurring these violent storms that randomly cut a small swarth of destruction .
~
Apparently these things can formulate quickly and sneak up on you.   Tornadoe alarms are frequently drowned out by the roar of the winds, and buildings get torn apart and leveled in minutes.
~
The odds of getting killed by a tornadoe are infintesmal, which probably is not much solace to the 500 or so that are the grim statistics this year.   Death is a part of life.... but sudden death always seems too harsh.
~
My prayers go to the families of sudden death victims.

Almost Over Oprah

Oprah is supposedly shutting her show down this week... And shutting it down... and shutting it down.
~
What a freaking good bye.
~
That women is a money machine.   She'll make more money saying goodbye than most of us will make throughout our entire working life. 
~
Part of me wants to be aggravated by Oprah.  Lots of self aggrandisement and stuff.   But the other part of me stands in total awe and admirataion of the way she has succeeded in her career and touched so many people.
~
So she gets a pass for the aggravation part.

One True Religion

I actually got sucked into a conversation about religion yesterday.  Apparently there are a lot of people who have taken this "end of days" dialog seriously.
~
I'm not one of them.
~
It is so pretentious for any man, Pope, or pauper, to claim to have the inside track on God's purpose and truth.  And also dangerous.   Because as soon as you get people claiming to act for God's side, then the atrocity to others begins.  They can kick the shit out of you because they are on the side of the Lord.
~
Can anyone say "Islamic Jihad"?
~
American Indians took the brunt of the largess of European Christianity.  And I wouldn't have wanted to be a Jew during the Spanish Inquisition.
~

The truth to me is that there is no one solid truth.  Right and Wrong, Good and Bad are constantly evolving and changing.  Walls and rules come up and are knocked down.  The Taoists have tried to represent this fluidity with their intertwined circle symbol.

But I bet people have been killed over this as well.

Crime of Blood Doping

I was just watching Tyler Hamilton, the world class cyclist from Marblehead, on 60 Minutes accusing Lance Armstrong of using illegal substances and blooddoping.   Hamilton has an immunity deal from the FBI, and is singing like a lark.
~
Why don't the Feds attack the World Westling Federation about steroid use?  How else would those guys get so big and stupid?   Why don't they test hard rock bands for illegal drugs which would stimulate their guitar riffs and shreds?
~
Seriously, why should the government be involved in persecuting anyone who wants to screw around with their body for a sport.  Isn't that their right?   If others in the sport feel that it is cheating, then they have the ability to regulate themselves.  The FBI has no business in the sport of riding bicycles.  Or how many home runs an idiot can hit, or how fast a sprinter can run. 
~
Obviously, the FBI has its fingers in this mess for the publicity. They actually send people to jail for this stuff. How absurd!  I'm not in favor of the cheaters... but it's really none of my business, and certainly none of the business of the government that I support with my tax dollars.

~
The cheaters should be banned from the sport, by the body that governs the sport.... not the FBI.  Let the sport judge who really won the race.   Keep the freaking FBI out of it, and don't jail these idiots at my expense just to ice the cake.
~
If Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Lance Armstrong choose to cheat, that is the business of themselves, their sport, and their fans.   The only time it huts me is when I have to foot the bill for the Federal Government to investigate and jail the participants.  And that is the real crime.

Shed Start

It's good that this Rapture stuff is behind us.   Bring on the Mayans.
~
Heading out for some FreshAyer with the Grandkids this morning.  Hope that the rain holds off so that we can run around outside.
~
Otherwise, I want to finish the trash barrell shed that I started yesterday.  Had some nice interruptions from the Crawford kids. Mac, Will, Phoebe and Charlotte, who dropped by and played at the park, along with Cam and Francesca D'Orio who came by with Brendt and Kerry after a successful day of flounder fishing outside of the Lighthouse at Marblehead Harbor.
~
Brendt brought over some of his catch, which is worthy of a POTW mention.... although if he brought a bottle of Lagavulin, then it would have been an Automatic.   The fish is a nice substitute though.  And Sue Sue came by for her Will and Ethan fix.
~
So a one day project moved over a day or so.  It was worth it.

Skank Clarification

Last night I was having a little fun on Facebook threads about the "Rapture".   Lots of comments back and forth about the pending end of the world that was supposed to happen today.  I have some great friends on Facebook and enjoy bantering with them.
~
But the problem with Facebook is the delay in comments.   So I called someone a "Skank", and two of my lady friends immediately thought I was disrespecting them.... because of the timing of my "Skank" comment.
~
Damn....
~
I don't need to be misconstrued by females on Facebook!  I get enough of that in person, sitting in the living room with my wife, Joanne, without getting into a jam with other women on FB.  
~
Why is it so easy to piss off women??? It's something that I'm wicked good at... and I don't practice it or anything.   I guess it's just a natural talent that I have.
~

For the record... I never called Denise or Liz a Skank.    The Skank above is the only Skank that I called a Skank.

Good Luck Tomorrow

Just in case tomorrow turns out to be Judgement Day, there are some things that I wish that I would have done in this life.... some things that I'm sorry about.... some people that I could have treated better... and some others whose ass I should have kicked when I had the chance.
~
But all in all, I have no regrets.  Took my chances.....sailed the boat out of the harbor and into the open ocean.   In the end, the real satisfaction in life is in helping people, and in seeing the beauty and harmony that lurks quietly all around us.
~
Course I'm not exactly done helping and harmonizing.   So if would be fine with me if that wacky minister touting our demise was dead wrong.... instead of us getting dead.
~
Good Luck Tomorrow.

Maria Rowen said...


Good luck to the MoaM too...It's been a great ride...and if the lights go out tomorrow at 6:00 PM, some of us belive in the 'group souls' theory...so...where ever we end up...we will all still be doing the same thing...How exciting is that! So stock up on the red, white and Canadian Club...'cause next weekend is the Memorial Day Holiday and we are overdue...*_*

Tuna Lips said...


Sitch Apocalipsis makes fer staging a revival! Lotta room in the tent, make way fer thems that needs healin, that saw buck won't do yiz no good in the hereafter, unburden thyself!

Rapture Rumination

Apparently, some Christians are touting that the Rapture is about to happen... maybe this Saturday.  
~
The Rapture was never described in the Bible, but it is supposed to be an end of the world event where born again or chosen Christians will dramatically disappear and will be swept to a heavenly aferlife, leaving the sinners to bear the brunt of the gruesome destruction of the world.
~
I don't buy it.
~
It just seems too wacky and complicated.
~
When the world ends, we will probably all go together in a cataclysmic disruption.  God can always sort things out in the afterlife for whatever exotic punishment we require.
~
But if the Rapture does occur, I'm sure that I will be around to put a Blog post together about it.... and I'm equally sure that most of my Peeps will be here to read it.

Arnold Phucked UP

The indiscretion by Arnold Schwarzenegger, in fathering an illegitimate child ten years ago, has struck a resonate chord with my wife Joanne and a lot of my female Facebook friends.

~

As in... they are really pissed off and are calling him names that normally would emanate from the mouths of truckdrivers and bricklayers.

~

As much as I like Arnold... and I do admire the way he has mastered so many areas that he has entered... bodybuilding, acting, business and politics.... it seems that he has crossed a big time taboo line. 
~
Knocking someone up, other than your wife, just isn't cool.   It stirs a reaction deep within the psyche of females that is freaking frightening.

~

I'm positive that I never knocked up anybody but Joanne... three times.

~

But  Arnold is truly fucked.

Pisc said...



And think about the kid. His life forming event is referred to as an "indiscretion". A little better than being called a mistake, but not much.


Tuna Lips said...

Speakin' fer thems that feels an extraordunary need to sires some offsprouts, some of us gots that primal itchin to spreads our seeds and water it were the ground lay tilled for plantin. Its a burden, havin' to bring pleasure to as many as I does, and to see that my pleasurizin' is available fer thems that come after me, should that cryo freezin' thing not work out. And the insensitive among yiz, bein' the simple stump-trained filth of the lower breeds of folk, well yiz might take a minute to considerate that Arny might very wella been compassating for his poor English verbalating. somes gets theys point across best via the gentle whisper of the ole hickery love stick. Plain and simple.

Bored

Donald Trump pulled out of the President's race.
~
Arnold Swarzenegger fathered a child with his staffer ten years ago.
~
The Queen of England is visiting Ireland.
~
Are you as bored as I am?   I guess we could all key in on that French Politician who jumped a room maid in a New York luxury hotel.
~
They say that no news is good news. 
~
So maybe I'll have to focus on my favorite subject.... which would be me.  What am I doing?  How am I feeling?  Why am I saddled with the burdens of a Mountain of a Man?
~
Actually, even those intriguing topics offer no real interest this morning.
~
That's how bored I am.

MOAM Agenda

Lots of stuff on the agenda for next week.
~
Taxes.
~
Back on the lose weight regime.
~
Our Pennsylvania Nanepashemet Telecom initiative.
~
Splitting stone for the dry stack stone wall.
~
Builidng a wood stacking shed and a trash barrell shed.
~
And just the run of the mill Mountain of a Man stuff that us MOAM's do. 
~
The weather outlook is rainy, it but most of the stuff will get done. 

More FreshAyer

Heading out to FreshAyer this rainy Sunday morning with the GrandKids.
~
We're on the back nine  now, and in some ways, it is harder to take.because this is the time that didn't have to happen.   It would be over now if it wasn't for a bit of lying and deceit on the part of those whose karmic reward is yet evolving. 
~
If you think that I'm talking about you, then I probably am.

PS
When we got to the Camp, Craig :LoConte was already thete with Ryan.    I had forgotten what a class act Craig is, since he's been living in New Rochelle for so long, but after two seconds, it was all back to me... just a hell of a human being.
~
Even with a little depressing news, it was a great visit.

Stone

For some reason, I've become fascinated with stone walls lately... specifically dry fitted fieldstone walls.  Maybe it's because of all of the ledge that is found around the Sundance house.  Somehow, I want to stay even.

~
Anyway... it is far easier to split fieldstone than I had previously imagined.   You just drill a couple of 5/8 inch holes with a hammer drill and a masonry bit, insert a steel wedge with a widening wedges on both sides called feathers (feather and wedge technique) and tap these contraptions in place until the stone cracks and then splits.

~

A few blows with the masonry hammer to dress up the stone, then it is ready to be fitted into a wall.
~
A slow, painstaking process.
~
But just my speed.

Please Give Me a Break

http://www.peoplenotpolluters.org/

The League of Women Voters just ran an ad on WCVB, Boston Channel 5 intimating that Republican Senator Scott Brown was voting to hurt a little Black girl by voting to help the Polluters.
~
Cut the shit Scott.
~
Leave that little girl alone.
~
You should be ashamed.
~
Thank god for the League of Women Voters for objectively pointing out to me what a bad person you are.  Keep of the good work, Women.   Let me know if any other politicians are harassing the little Black kids.

Stranger Than Fiction

I'm writing this post because I want to remember something that happened to me today, on Mother's Day, that is stranger than fiction.   You couldn't make this shit up.   And I'm not even going to tell you what happened.  It's  for me to remember when I finally  write my overdue book
~
Holding back on the book until I have enough money to hire the legal help that I will need to fend off all of the libel and slander lawsuits.

Extension

I did what I do everytime I start running again.... overextended myself and pulled a calf muscle.  So it's back to the Bike for a while.   Maybe I'll go up to North Conway and get on the Mountain Bike.  That wouldn't be overextending would it?
~
Nice visit at FreshAyer yesterday.   Interesting prospects.   Ryan continues to glean the best from every situation.   Not once have I ever seen him wallowing in self-pity, or whining about his situation. 
~
He has a forward looking outlook and has taken some very positive insights from FreshAyer.
~
When this is over, it will seem like it never happened.  We have all been changed... but maybe in a good way.   Scatch that.... Undoubtably in a good way.  Ryan will take his energy, drive and positive outlook and rebuild a stronger and thriving life for himself and his kids.  It will be a good restart, in the right direction.

Slab Foundation for the WorkShed

Village Idiots

I guess that it is President Barach Obama's prerogative not to release the photos of Bin Laden.   I can see both sides of the issue, and compelling arguments exist for both.
~
But I'm not surprised at BO's decision.  A year ago, he was teaching us how to sneeze on our sleeve.  The Democrats know what's best for us.  It takes a village, and apparently, we are the village idiots.
~
Can't wait for the next "Teaching Moment".

*=*

Murderer's Backlash

There is a chance of a backlash from people who think that bin Laden did a noble thing when he ordered the murder of 3,000 people in the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.  Despite this, we should show his death photo, no matter how gruesome.
~
There is a lack of closure if we don't see the holes in his head.
~
And the conspiracy mongers will have a field day.
~
I don't think that the threat will ever go away anyway, so I don't mind it if some medieval whackjobs, who still think we are fighting the crusades, get more pissed off.  We always have to be vigilant about murderers, and it is appropriate to show them what happened to their leader.

Good Job BO

Even though I've been critical of President Barach Obama in the past, a tip of the hat goes out to the way this Osama Bid Laden hit went down.
~
Damn good job.

Don't Mess With the US

Don't mess with the US.
~
The snide, snickering, dispicable mastermind of 9-11 has been taken with two bullets  to his ugly head issued by Navy Seals last night.
~
He is now fish food.
~
Apparently the Ultra Scum Bag was living in comfort in a Pakistani city just steps from their Military Academy.  That will be another chapter to deal with any who gave hime aid and comfort.
~

BYE BYE ASSHOLE.

Tap Tap.  Bye Bye.   Don't mess with the United States of America.

B-ALERT April Evaluation

At the beginning of April, I mentioned that I'd let you know about how the B-ALERT system worked at the end of the month.   That's the technique detailed in "The Power of Focus" by Jack Canfield et. al.
~
The technique worked well.... actually really freaking good!  Without getting into stuff that's none of your business, suffice it to say that my business and finances improved, my weight dropped, I consistently started running again, and there is not one nagging "to do" item left on my desk, when last month.... it was covered with them.  I even improved my guitar playing.
~
And there was no additional stress on my time, or regular Mountain of a Man routine.  
~
Basically... the success confirmed the Power of Focus.   All of the tools to make personal improvements are readily at hand... they just have to be aligned and focused upon.

You will recall that B-ALERT is an acronym that stants for....

B - Blueprint - create a daily plan that links to your short and long term goals.
A - Act - overcome inertia and take action on your Blueprint
L - Learn - take time everyday to read and study in your fields of endeavor.
E - Exercise - You can't afford to neglect the health and strength of your body.
R - Relax - If you need a power nap to recharge in the day... take it.  Your productivity will soar later.
T - Think - Evaluate the events of your Blueprint at the end of the day.

So you Peeps should really stop centering your lives on this pathetic Blog every day.  You can emerge from the hopeless rut that has become your existence.  
~
There is more to life than panting for daily tidbits from this Mountain of a Man.  
B-AERT!

Heartbeat

About a year ago, some misguided POS stole my Garmin Forerunner 305.  At the time, I had bigger fish to fry, and I wasn't exactly in an exercise mode, so I didn't move to replace it immediately and just got around to it this week.

~

I forgot what a dynamite piece of equipment that it is.  Plus I never got the original heart monitor to work, but it works perfectly with this replacement.

~

I now know that even during the stress of composing this Blog post, my Mountain of a Man heart pumps happily along at 75 to 81 beats per minute.

~

It also seems to pick up the satellite signals faster.  It will be interesting to see how it performs in the 3 mile run/jog (slog) that I'm planning on doing later on this morning.
~
Metrics and measuring for goals is an important part of my B-ALERT regime.  This baby should help me keep on track.

Technically Cheating

Day 5 on the Dukan was a little hazardous.
~
After the euphoria of watching the Royal Nuptials in the norming, and then kicking ass with a vengence at Nanepashemet Telecom to mid afternoon, I brought Joanne down to the Boston Yacht Club for a glass of wine.  After three of those, and some nice conversation, we headed home and had another diet dinner... but the wine was technically cheating.
~
Whatever....
~
I'll make it up with some running this weekend.  I also owe you an update on my B-ALERT program before the weekend is through.

God Save the Queen

OK...
~
So I'm taking in the Royal Nuptials this morning before starting my hectic day at Nanepashemet Telecom.
~
Does that make me less of a man????
~
Probably.  But it's important for me to see what all of these women on Facebook will be fawning over all day.
~
Even though we have evolved a democracy here in the Western Hemisphere, there still seems to be a need for us to have a King and Queen, ordained by God to lead us.   We in America have never broken the ties with Britain in this regard.
~
There is a niche in our collective psyche that a King or Queen needs to fill.  It covers a host of things to fantasize about.

Tornado Outbreak

This latest outbreak of tornadoes in the American South is unsettling.

~

Much loss of life, which doesn't ordinarily occur in this country.

~

Is this more than usual? or is the news coverage via the Internet Age giving us national news that would have only been local before?

~

Or are the freaking Mayans right? 

~

If they are... then we only have about 600 days left.
~
So we should really cherish each day.   Because you never know when a tornado might hit.

Tuna Lips said...

they aint makin' 'em like that mayor of muchin city anymore. Back in the day,we'd a got at least a couple o' show tunes and some midget dancing troupe out of this sort of cyclone related caterwalling.

Dukan Digestion

Day Three of Dukan was a challenge because I was in my truck from 6:30AM to 6:30PM on a roadtrip to numerous sites in New Haven County.   Stopped at a Stop and Shop in Waterbury, CT and ate a package of processed turkey slices... and consumed a 2 liter bottle of Coke Zero throughout the day.
~
Roadtrips always screw up my natural rythyms so to speak, and I had to stop at a rest area to take care of business, which I hate.   But I think that I would have had lower tract issues regardless today.
~
So far, there has been absolutely no cheating on this diet, and I think that I have a good chance to go the distance.  Tomorrow morning, I have a light workload, so will get another run in, then check my weight.

Shut Out Shocker

It's official.

~
Joanne and I have NOT been invited to the nuptials of William and Kate.

~

I have no idea what we did to offend the Royals.  Never trashed them, and I've kept all of their confidences.
~
But this shun will not be ignored.  I will have my say.

~

Regardless.....Being shut out is a shocker.

Dukan Day Two

Day 2 of the Dukan Diet.
~
So far, so good.  I was sore from running on the roads from Sunday and got a sluggish workout in on the Cybex.  Had the oat bran for breakfast with non fat milk and had a can of tuna with cottage cheese for lunch, with a few slices of ham and fat free American cheese in between.  For dinner, Joanne roasted a chicken which I had with cottage cheese, some scallions and Coke Zero.
~
Instead of a wine or scotch in the evening, it was a glass of non-fat milk.
~
Got up this morning at 6:00 AM feeling fine and ready to face the day.  No big road trips today, but tomorrow I head to New Haven and cravings on the road have always been a challenge.
~
Everything I eat is recorded on Loseit.com and I have been keeping track of workouts on LogYourRun.com.     I'll weigh myself today after my workout.  Dukan says I should be 2 lbs. lighter.

Tuna Lips said...

and dont ferget that dumping permit you needs from the town offices. I reckon youse might considering making a go of it in the night soil bizness.

Dukan Deliverance

This is the first day of the Dukan Dient Attack Phase for Joanne and I.
~
That means we will be consuming all protein in the form of meat, eggs, and fish, and tying to strictly prohibit any fats or cahbohydrates.  The only exception is a tablespoon and a half of oat bran which we will eat as hot cereal or as a galette in the morning.  You have to work in a quart and a half of water, and diet soda can substitute.  And you should get a 20 minute walk in. 
~
Also.... no alcohol.  Last night, I had a Jameson or two after some white wine at dinner.  Then put the bottles way back in the kitchen cabinet.
~
Coffee and fat free skim milk is ok, as is Splenda, so our morning starts off like any other.  Yesterday, I ran down to Grace Oliver Beach and back for a two mile loop and my legs are sore after taking such a hiatus from running, so I'll so some cross training on the Cybex stationary bike.
~
My goal is to stay on this regime for the next ten days and lose 20 lbs as a jump start to getting down to my going forward weight.  I'll be weighing myself daily and telling you the result.  Not disclosing how much I weigh now, but suffice to say that I'm starting out at 14 lbs less than my all time high and will be looking to end up weighing more than 50 lbs less than here.
~
I can sense you snickering, and will not deny that I too have my doubts.... but I'm out there now, and this is the start.

Good Horoscope

"Nothing, ultimately, makes any sense. You can be as purposeful as you like, as efficient as possible. It doesn't matter how much you achieve. One day, the game will be over. Then, only one question will be asked. It won't be, 'How much did you earn?' Or, 'Did you pay your rent?' Nor will it be, 'Did you obey all the rules?' Or, 'Did you understand what was going on?' It will be, 'Did you appreciate the magic and then do what you could to help others appreciate it too?' "

-   Jonathan Cainer, British Astrologist

Moving to Stud

Check this out Peeps.
~
It's called an Oat Bran Galette, and I'll be eating these bad boys for breakfast everyday after Easter.
~
Basically, it is 1 1/2 tablespoons of oat bran, 1 1/2 tablespoons of non fat yogurt, and an egg.... fried up like a pancake.
~

Took delivery of six boxes of Oat Bran from Amazon today.
~
You thought I was kidding about the Dukan Diet, didn't you.   But I'm one serious Buckaroo.
~
This Oat Bran is going to be central in the irreversible campaign to move from Fat Shit to Stud Muffin.
~
You'll see.


Tuna Lips said...


I reckon you forgot ta menshun them sixty rolls of terlet paper you conjured up from the river god "Amazon" (I respects that hoo doo, sure does) down way south of ole Mexico. Like peas and carrots, best to have one with the other, arse parchment along with them bran flakes. Arse ammo is what we calls it. Happy spacklin! Stay out the splash area, gentlefolk.

Tax the Fat Cats

President Obama is taking dead aim at the "Fatcats" who make over $250K to increase their tax rate.
~
I'm not saying that I make over $250, but I'm not saying that I don't.
~
But suppose I did.....
~
In order to get that $250K every year, I have to work 50 to 60 hours a week.... and think about work in the meantimes... and that's no bullshit.

In order to get that $250K every year, I have to maintain a business that directly provides jobs and income for four other people...... not to mention the money that I shell out to subcontractors, suppliers and other vendors.

If I don't get off my ass everyday, no money... not a cent.   And I have no paid vacations, or job benefits.   I pay full price for everything.   And you don't want to know how big my tax bite is, because I have to perform financial miracles to get up the scratch for that bill every year.

So.... bring it on BO.  I'm probably one of those Fat Cats that you're aiming for.   But if you push me too far, maybe I'll just quit... get on the dole... those people who look for me for their jobs will be on their own, my subs can look for other business, and you can kiss the money that I currently generate for taxes good bye.

That's if I did make over $250k per year.  And I'm not saying that I do.

Tuna Lips said...

Now yer talkin' son. Why, generations of my folk has done well scamming under the table while making the once a month trek, pecker in hand to the local people who are paid to pay thems that works money to thems of us who gots better things to chase after. Perty simple, if you ax me.

dedicating to Dukan

After Easter Sunday, Joanne and I are jumping on the Dukan Diet.
I'm going to try to stay on this high protein, no carb phase for 10 days.
Here's what you can eat.....

•  Beef Steak
• Filet of beef
• Sirloin Steak
• Roast Beef
• Rump Steak
• Veal Chop
• Cooked ham slices (no fat, no rind)
• Cooked chicken and turkey slices (no fat, no rind)
• Fat reduced bacon
• Cod
• Halibut
• Haddock
• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Sardines
• Sea Bass
• Smoked Salmon
• Swordfish
• Tuna
• Clams
• Calamari/Squid
• Lobster
• Mussels
• Oysters
• Shrimp
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Hen's eggs
• Skim milk
• Virtually fat-free cottage cheese
• Fat-free greek yogurt
• Fat Free natural yoghurt (plain or no-sugar sweetener only)
• Scallops

Plus no alcohol or salt and you have to drink 1 1/2 qts. of water each day
You're also supposed to walk 20 Min. a day, but I'll stick to my 30 min sessions on the Cybex

I swear to all that is pure and holy, that I'm going to stick to this plan.

Marathon Day

It's another Boston Marathon Day.
~
I remember when local guys like Amby Burfoot or Bill Rodgers used to win it.

~

Now for the past few dozen years, East Africans from Kenya and Ethiopa have dominated the event.  Last year, the guy ran it in 2 hours, 5 minutes.   That's running 26 miles at 4:46 per mile.

~

When the average person sprints acoss the street, he or she is not running faster than a 4:46 pace.  The average person who has trained and in shape to run the marathon couldn't keep this pace up for a quarter of a mile.   Think of it.   That is a 72 second quarter.   Maybe if you were working out every day at FreshAyer it could be done, but otherwise.... no freaking way.

~

The people who can run that fast for so long are really other worldly.   You can't even fantasize being able to win the Boston Marathon.

Good luck to Peeps Tommy McMahon and Jill Phillips.  If you see a Kenyan, get out of the way.

UPDATE!
Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya won in a world record time of 2:03:02... an unbelieveable world record.  With temps in the 50's and a tailwind he clicked off 26 successive miles at a 4:41 per mile clip.  To understand this accomplishment, it takes a good high school athlete to break 5:00 minutes in just one mile and you are exceptional if you can break 10 minutes for two miles.   This guy just ran 13+ of them in a row.

No Beer

Seriously....
What's with all of your super annoying questions asking about how the Chicken Pie was last night?
~
If you had dropped by with the beer, you would have known.

Crystalizing

Will Barach Obama be a one termer?
~
As Donald Trump gets more involved, I'm starting to think that he could be a major challenger.
~
Certainly when you add up the life's experiences between the two, Trump wins hands down.  He is an accomplished producer who has overcome downtimes with incredible perseverence and ingenuity.  He is forthright and outspoken, and it will be interesting to see how he articulates policy positions.
~
Plus, there are no wacky associates in his past like Bill Ayers and the Rev. Wright.   Still can't figure how Obama gave people like that so much room in his life.
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Who cares about the hair.

Maria Rowen said...

The Don...Bye-Bye BO...Buy-Buy Mitt's hair..winning!...

POTUS Process

The Nanepashemet Blog endorsement for President of the United States will be out shortly.
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As you know, the endorsement virtually assures victory for the endorsed, so this can't be taken lightly.
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Please feel free to send me your recommendations, although I probably will neither read, nor consider them.
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And that definitely includes you, Tuna Lips.

Maria Rowen said...

Bring on the Dawn of the Don…tenacious, veracious and perspicacious…Trump, trumps them all… (TL should cogitate on that)...tla

Chicken Pie

On my way home from doing some permitting this afternoon, I stopped by Ken's Kickin Chickin tucked behind the Hess Station on  Franklin Street. in Salem, MA.  Five pounds of chicken pie and $20 bucks later, I was barrellassing home, hopeing that Joanne hadn't started dinner yet.
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Unfortunately she had another masterful meal in the oven, so the chicken pie will wait in the refridgerator until tomorrow, Friday Night.
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If you want to drop by for some pie, bring beer.