Bitter Medicine.

There is another financial crisis looming is Washington.  This one involves legalizing a higher debt limit in order for the federal government to borrow and pay its bills.
~
Imagine if everytime you had to pay the bills, you just got a new loan to do so.   And that your expenses vastly outweighed your income, and you had no plan in place to reverse the situation and balance your finances.
~
Peeps.... that is our  situation in a nutshell.   And the people who vote to increase the debt have no real personal consequences.... no motivation to make the tough descisions about the expenses that have to be cut back to bring this situation under control.
~
We are into financial pain... which will get worse every year if we don't take some bitter medicine now.

the Why

The other day somebody asked me why I took the time and effort to add to this Blog every day.
~
It certainly is not an income producer, nor is it necessary to massage my ego and self esteem. That can happen in a lot of other ways.
~
Part of the reason is that I like to write and always have.  I started keeping a journal as a sophomore in college and have always made notebook entries throughout the years.  Maybe it's the Irish in me, but I get a lot of satisfaction in turning a word.
~
But that is a relatively small part.
~
Another part is that it is good emotional therapy for me which helps to even out the highs and the lows.   A professional friend years ago told me that he always writes letters to people that irritate him, then decides whether to send them after he's all cooled down.   Writing does tend to mellow you out somewhat.
~
I would say that this factor holds a little more weight, because I can write about the politcal issues that tend to irk me quite a bit, and diffuse the energy that can overcome and occupy my mind to an unreasonable extent.
~
After a little bit of introspection, I can truly say that the largest reason that I publish this blog is to share.  To share thoughts, ideas, advice and observations with my family and friends... and yes, my enemies.  What I say isn't always right, but it is absolutely always what I believe.  And even if some of it is in parables, it is always pure truth... or my version of reality.
~
Sometimes, it is fun to spice things up with a little satire.... like when I call myself a Mountain of a Man, or when I call the Peeps pathetic lesser beings.    I hope you can tell when my tongue is in my cheek.
~
I want my friends and family to see benchmarks... to feel free to agree or disagree... to see if my insight or remarks can help them in any way.    I've been accused in the past of thinking I was always right about everything.  That was an accurate observation then, and I stand guilty today.  Going forward, I always think I'm right.  Looking backward, I realize that sometimes I miss the mark.
~
But being wrong has value.  You have a benchmark to measure and probe so that the truthful reality ultimately shows up.
~
Sometimes my posts are personal and other times they are pretty mundane.  I know that most of you really don't give a shit if my deck gets built and stuff like that.   These are usually communications to my kids or close friends.
~
What this Blog has really given back to me is a sense of the depth and richness of life.   There is no way that I can communicate a sixteenth of the stuff that drifts by my earthly position every day.

Tuna Lips said...

Further to them points, yiz pervide a service to this here communitization, an "open mike" iffin' y'll allow, fer folk of bright cogitatin', such as myself, to get the message out on issues that effects one's day to day machinations in this woebegone vale of tears. Fer instance, I got me a stubborn case of crotch rot, and with no swamp weeds to swabble my whoochin' stick in, I am suffering like Jesus on the road to Calgary. Anyone, help a brother in need. Send yer homestyle cures for this most pernicious of malladies, forthwith. And on the double, too.
I digressify. Big mammal, you are a community organizer. Next step, the White House. And I will accept your nomenclature for head of the moonshine, smokes and gun shootin' board, straighten' things out right proper, I would.

Rock Star

Don’t want to be a Rock Star,
Take the chance of dying young.
Drugs and drink will come to stalk me,
Hold their fully loaded gun.

A demon drives my music,

Makes me think I’ve gone insane.

Need to find some peace and quiet,

Amy Winehouse Dead at Age 27

Next to the roaring freight train.

Where to find my self composure,

Riffs and chords to guide my ax.

Put a sheet to my exposure

Ease it up and just relax.

Don’t want to be a Rock Star,

Just want to jam and play..

Find some lyrics, write some music,

Live to rock another day.

A Moral Duty

I've never disclosed this to anyone, Peeps, and maybe the heat has gotten the best of me... but my secret ambition in life has been to be a Philanthropist..... someone who gives their money away for worthy purposes.
~
I feel that it's my calling... my special purpose... to make billions, and give millions away.
~
Not for Nothing, but you're really not chipping in here.
~
I mean, not many of you have stepped up to the plate and bought my book.  Put your money where your mouth is so to speak.
~
How the hell can I live my dream of being a Philanthropist, if you won't even shell out a little coin to buy my pathetic book???  I don't mean to lay guilt on you, but think of all of the needy people who won't be getting grants from me, if you don't start the ball rolling.
~
So order the freaking book.  It's the moral thing to do.

Beat the Heat

Thought I could get through the summer at the Sundance House without having to install a room air conditioner.
~
No Freaking Way.
~
I broke down yesterday and bought two 5000BTU LG room air conditioners at Home Depot in Salem.  I was looking for a 10,000BTU for our bedroom, but Home Depot only had a few 5000 BTU's left, so I installed both of them into the master bedroom, giving it the distinctive appearance of a double wide house trailer.
~
Seems like yesterday when we were battling snow drifts to move into this house.  Now it's time to beat the heat.
~
Cool.

National Source of Pride

The United States Manned Space Program ended today.
~
It's a little sad.

~

I don't know anything about the economics of the program, or it's production capability.

~

But having the US in space and the only nation to put its citizens on the Moon was a backdrop of national pride.  It said.... despite our many faults, this nation is indeed special.... and can literally reach heights that are unattainable to other nations.

~
A lot of rightwing dialogue says that the Obama administration has a distaste for America and is determined to bring it down to a level that third world nations can relate to.

~

I don't buy that.   Seems a little far fetched... even though Michelle Obama claimed no pride in her country until her husband's Presidential campaign.  In Madison, Wisconsin, she said,   "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I'm really proud of my country, and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change."

~

I'm sure that the Obama's have a perspective spawned by guy's like Rev. Wright, their longtime former lefty pastor who said a lot of off-the-wall incendiary stuff.

~

Is it coincidence that the space program... our major source of national pride has taken the plunge during the Obama administration?   You make the call.

~

Already, there are those who make the conspiracy claim that the US never landed on the Moon at all.  And it is easy to imagine that the space technology could be lost in a short period of time... like we never even did it.  

~

It's happened before.  We don't even know how the Roman's operated their catapults... and that was only 2000 years ago.

~

Emanating from the vow of President John Kennedy, the Space Program has always been about national ego, and pride.  Not sure what we have lost, but I feel a loss with its demise.

Trophy Wife

There certainly are advantages to having a trophy wife.  Rupert Murdoch seems to be enjoying his.... and Lord knows that I enjoy mine.
~
An added benefit for Rupert is that his spouse, Wendi Deng, has catlike reflexes and a great right hand, as she smacked a humiliating cream pie out of the hands of a dipshit trying to embarrass her husband who was testifying before the British Parliament.
~
Not sure if Joanne could move that fast, but I bet she cooks better than Wendi.

Maintenance Phase

We've moved from the development phase to the maintenance phase at the Sundance House.  Which is a big plus in the quality of life.
~
In the development phase, you live in a mess.  Tools, building supplies, and debris are left out and always in the way.  The job is always weeks in length.  The development phase involves a lot of sawing, sanding and dirt.  Nerves, Tempers, and relationships get frayed.   That's how it's been here for the last six months or so.
~
But now in the maintenance phase, it is more caulking, painting and cleaning, with no heavy lifting.   You can sneak in a job, take out the tools, do the work, put everything back and everything seems normal.  You may even get a compliment or two.  Spouses and family don't get nearly as crazy.
~
Plus the maintenance phase makes everything look nicer when you are done, while the development phase always ends in a mess, even if you worked your ass off.
~
Course, the maintenance phase will last for another six months.  But  it will be more tolerable.

Accurate Accounts

It was one hell of a Monday at Nanepashemet Telecom.  A computer glitch caused me to lose a major file and I had to reconstruct.  Luclily, there is a lot of redundancy in what we do.  There are financial tracking files, project milestone tracking files, and in the Cloud accounting files.... all of which look at our data from a different viewpoint.
~
So the reconstruction of a file is a nuisance and not a disaster.  In fact, it sometimes allows you to think of the status of an action in a different light.  So it is really a management exercise to reconstruct the file.
~
But the bottom line is to keep your accounting up to date.  Without accurate accounting information, you are the victim of your assumptions, and whims, and ultimately fears.  Did I say fear???? It goes without saying that a Mountain of a Man doesn't know the meaning of the word.  But I bring it up because ordinary Peeps like yourselves can actually project all sorts of bad situations in the absense of the right information.
~
At least, that's what I've heard.

Deck is Done

The deck is done.  All of the railings are up, the slider is roughed in, the staircase has an Ethan proof gate, and Tommy O helped me move the grill up.   We had our first successful night on the deck with grilled sausages, chicken, beer and Dark and Stormies with Linda and Tommy O on Saturday.
~
I have to add lights and an outlet, trim out the slider and build the stair railings, as well as put up a screen on the West Shore side and straighten out under the deck.... but otherwise... the deck is done.

Making Room for WhaleEye

It's the middle of the summer, and tommorrow the deck is usable.  We will be moving our grilling operations out of the driveway, which had a sort of white trash charm to it.
~
There still is a ton of finish work on the deck, particularly with the slider and staircase. And the deferred maintenance to the rest of the landscaping will hit first priority now that the deck is up an running.  Stuff like cutting the grass and trimming the bushes.
~
But by next weekend, I'll have to take the WhaleEye out for some striper fishing.
~
Enough is enough.

200 to Go

200 days left in the FreshAyer ordeal
~
Time to reflect and give thanks to all of the support that has come our way.  We knew that our true friends would tip their hand, but didn't expect the volume and outpouring.  You know who you are... and so do we.  And we hold our gratitude to you for the long haul.   We will support you unconditionally on the road ahead in any way possible.
~
Those who perjured and betrayed were also totally exposed, and that was a plus.   No need for phoney friendship in the future there.
~
This is actually a harder time than at the start.  With 1000 days initially, it was absurd to tick off the days, but now every day seems to have significance.   For all of you who are talking about the homecoming celebrations, you should take it down a notch.
~
There are still 200 days to Go.

Roger That

Roger Clemens walked on a mistrial.
~
Roger is an idiot, and if not for the uncanny ability to deliver a baseball at a high speed past a batter to a waiting catcher's mit, he would have had an uneventful and mediocre career as a truck driver delivering freight over our interstate highway system.
~
Roger That!
~
But instead, the Lord gave Roger a peculiar combination of sinew, tendons and muscles in his right arm that allowed him to pitch at a major league level.
~
Clemens had a great career as a pitcher for our beloved Boston Red Sox, and when his career seemed over, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays and eventually made his way to the hated New York Yankees, where his career saw a miraculous resurgence.  Some of Roger's buddies on the Yankees say that steroids were in the mix, but Roger went before Congress and denied ever taking the banned physical enhancement substances.
~
Congress?   Why the hell were you talking to Congress, Roger???? Oh Yeah, I forgot... you're an idiot.
~
Now you're up for a contempt of Congress charge by lying blatantly to them that you never took steroids, when all of the evidence points that you regularly let Dipshits stick you in the ass with soringes that were filled with the naughty shit.
~
Here's the thing...
~
I could care less if you cheated using banned substances to extend your career.  That's stupid and you're stupid, and that's how those things tend to end up.  But you were caught lying to Congress, which never should have given a shit about anything you did.   That was up to the fans, and Major Leauge Baseball to regulate.... Not the frigging Federal Government.
~
So for that reason, and that reason alone... I hope you walk.   I don't want to spend money to house you in the Federal Pen just because you are an idiot.

MOAM Progress

Can't believe it is Thurs. already. 
~
It's been a hectic and tiring week and the Blog gets the short end of it.  Between work trips to New Haven , CT and Swansea, MA and a lot of paperwork activitiy in between, the activity index at Nanepashemet Telecom was hitting the high level, but I couldn't afford to let that gap in the house stand unattended with the thunderstorms that were sweeping through.
~
So I did get the sliding glass door on the deck buttoned up and even got some of the railings in place.
~
Being a Mountain of a Man pays off sometimes.
~

Hole in the Wall Kudos

There is a 6' x7' hole in the wall of our dining room with an uninstalled sliding glass door leaning roughly against it.  I have to block out the hole with 2x4's and then insert and finalize the sliding glass door.  The problem is time.
~
Needed to make the trek today to New Haven for business and tomorrow will be all out with Nanepashemet Telecom production until 3:00 in the afternoon.  So the door and the freaking hole will stay put until at least then.
~
Kudos are due for Mike Nestor, Jim Peabody and his son Andrew who helped get the door up on the deck.  A very heavy and stressful manuver.
~
And while I'm in a kudo handing out mood, Dale Johnson came up big in a dinner that he made last night for Joanne and I.  From the shrimp cocktail to the raspberry sorbet and everything in between, it was a memorable meal.   Dale has a peculiar way of plating and he demonstrated how he can flip grilled salmon around the kitchen.   That was weird, but everything else was 5 star restaurant quality.

The Ancient Mariner said...

Aye, the gales came fast last night, many a pilgrim lost a sheet or three to the storm. Prithee tell, Master Seafarer, how yonder gaping hole fared through the torrents. Arrgh!

Request for Peep Assistance

Lots of Peeps have been asking me how the deck is coming along.  You know how irritated I get when I get annoying inquiries like this.   But.... Once Again... I have the ability to summon my Mountain of a Man capabilities and overcome the elevated levels of consternation that such moronic gestures impose.
~
Anyway... the Deck is coming along fine.
~
I finished the planking and all of the roughout of the staircase today, then headed over to Peabody Building Supply to pick up the sliding glass door.  When I got back, Jim and Kathy Peabody were over with some chicken salad and a 12 pack of Corona Extra, so the heavy lifting was done for the day.
~
Tomorrow, I'll secure the planking for the top step, then will cut through the dining room wall for the rough opening for the slider.  By 12:00 noon, I will be at the mercy of others as the slider will have to be lugged into place onto the deck.  Mike should be getting back from FreshAyer by that time, but if he is late, I'll be putting out an RFPA  (Request For Peep Assistance) to help me with that task.
~
By the end of the day, the door will be in place and we will be planning the trim and finish work.

See You Next Tues.

I've stayed away from the Caylee Anthony issue on this Blog until the verdict.
~
The downside of our American system of justice is that sometimes murderers like OJ and Anthony go free.  Based upon the evidence, they have to be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
~
In both of these famous cases, the culprits hid behind the system and complicated it by issuing "The Big Lie".  The reason that these court dramas garnered such intense scrutiny is because everybody knows that they are lying... that they committed a hideous act, and now are denying it.  The more these people stand behind their unlikely lie, the more attention they secure.
~

Doesn't matter what the evidence points to.  They say "Prove I did it, beyond a reasonable doubt... and I'm going to continue to lie to you all of the way."

~

So some sociopaths will always fit through the cracks. They will take advantage of our rights, and hide behind our flag.
~
But the system prevents government from just pointing the finger at anyone they feel like and laying some propaganda down with a conviction right behind.
~
Anthony murdered her daughter and goes free because she is a sociopathic liar and got lucky with the evidence.   It's a stiff price to pay for our system of justice.
~
Regardless.  That little "See You Next Tues." walks and we have to wait another 207 days so that the FBI could have their newsprint.  Bullshit.

Tuna Lips said...

Looks like that young vixen needs a solid pole from which to fly that flag. Come tell ole TL about it, I can help you expressicate yer patriotic urges.

Selling with Whales

The WhaleEye performed well yesterday as we took an important prospective client on a boat trip out to Stellwagen, then around Cape Ann and up the Annisquam tidal river..
~
The weather and waves came through, but for the first time, Stellwagen came up short.   No whales or any other fish for that matter. I've never been skunked at the Stellwagen National Wildlife Sanctuary before, so that was kind of a shocker.

 If the day wasn't so spectacular, Stellwagen would have been a disappointment, but it was just so nice to be out on the water.  I think our potential customer enjoyed the effort.
~
Today we present to another prospect at the UMass Club in downtown Boston.  There are no whales anticipated there, but the stakes are just as high.

Walnut Wallop

I read an article somewhere that said eating a handful of raw walnuts every day is good for you because of the anti-oxidant property of the nuts.  Plus they are supposed to be a good source of Omega 3 Fats.   So a handful of walnuts seems like a reasonable practice to ward off cancer and heart disease.
~
What the article left out is the tendency for the tasty little nutmeat to make you glued to the shitter for the better part of the afternoon, after munching on your happy little handful for a late morning snack.
~
The first time this happened to me, I thought that I had contracted a bug.   But now I know it is the freaking walnuts.  They should label freaking walnuts with a warning...."Eating this product while driving can leave you screaming for a McDonald's or highway rest stop."

Tuna Lips said...

I could a learnt yiz about them walnuts affectating the need to squat and deliver. Hooooey, etted me enough Horse Chestnut Stew back in the lean days of '59. Rubbed my copper penny raw with oaks leaves and loose scraps o' burlap tryin' to stem the seepage. It was a mean brew, found it efficashus in keepin' panthers out the camp area. Wearing skivvies was out the question. A sound practicum at that soily juncture.

McBurney Tamed

You know that things are getting better with the world when a crazy bastard like Scott McBurney is trusted with a baby carriage... occupied by his beautiful new daughter, Anabelle Grace McBurney.

A hearty welcome to you Anabelle... you have tamed the savage beast.

Not in Kansas

A Shrek movie was playing in the background while I was putting around the house today.  The Grandkids were glued to it.  From what I saw, it seemed like an epic battle was taking place between trolls and witches.. or something like that.
~
Why do we make movies for kids that basically set up life or death frightening circumstances?
~
I remember when I was little, being scared shitless watching "The Wizard of Oz".   Evil witch looking to kill Dorothy and threatening the same for poor Toto the dog.   Flying monkeys and lots of evil castle henchmen marching around.
~
It was dark and freaking scary, with a high point where Dorothy kills the Witch when it turns out a bucket of water had the same effect as sufuric acid on the  evil Wicca practitioner.
~
What is the point of scaring the shit out of little kids?  Seems like there is enough life or death stuff in real life without reinforcing horrendous possibilities during a chance to relax while watching some fantasy film.  Maybe it would have been better if Dorothy stayed in Kansas.

Jim L. said...

Oh, come on, its fun! And, they usually don't know enough to retaliate.

POTW Week 26

As I was reading "Nanepashemet 2007" I noticed that I have been particularly lax in selecting the Peep of the Week on a weekly basis in the past year.    And I know why too.
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It's because it is a big time pain in the ass.  If I could include dead people and animals, the weekly selections would be far easier, but I'm forced to limit the choices to those who have either been annoying or inspirational in the previous week. 

And, it's been a long time since I've gotten an automatic... which is making a Peep of the Week of the person who lowers himself to present me with the gift of Lagavulin, the King of Scotch..... which explains why my supply of that beloved beverage is so low these days.

Announcing...

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 25th Week of 2011

• Ben Mottola
• Brian Butler
• Kevin Callahan
• Lou Panakio
• Chris D'Orio
• Mark Ryan

Time to get the discipline back.

pat pisc said...

How about doing a semi regular post on the tribe for which this blog is named, drop some knowledge and shizzle

Going Viral




So I get this frantic email from Amazon.com saying that the "Nanepashemet 2007 - Start of the Journey" book is flying off of the cyberspace shelves faster than they can keep up with the physical printing process. 

~

Then they ask if they can make it a little smaller and cut back on all of the full color illustrations and graphics.



~

And I had an immediate answer for them.  "NO Freaking WAY. "

~

We won't be compromising on the quality of the binding, the glossy covers, or the full color spectacular photos.

~

It's not like I didn't warn them that this thing was going to go viral right away.   That this would spark a phenomonal response to a pent up demand that had been lying dormant under almost volcanic pressure until now.

~

So, suck it up Amazon.  Print the masterpiece and stop your pathetic whining.

~

The Nanepashemet Peeps deserve nothing less.

Buy the Book

Click on the Cover to Buy the Book

This is the day that you have been waiting for.   I'm not talking about the beginning of the big July 4th weekend.  I'm talking about something far more fulfulling and enjoyable.

~

Today our Book  "Nanepashemet 2007 - Start of the Journey"  hits the cyberspace newstands and bookstores.  Amazon has been smoking with a press run of hundreds of thousands of copies to prepare for the anticpated crushing demand.

~

Early reviews are pouring in.... ranging from "Highly Nauseating" to "Lifechanging Inspiration".

~

I personally think it is a damn good read, and if you all would buy a couple dozen copies, that would be right in keeping with my long range financial planning.

~

and YES... there will be sequels and prequels to this epic piece of literature.

No Boners

It won't be long now.
~
I received the proof copy of the Nanepashemet book this afternoon from UPS, and we are busy with the final edits.
~
I know that most of you feel that you shouldn't tinker with perfection, and I generally agree with you on that point.  But even a Mountain of a Man can make mistakes, and we have to sift through to see if there are any boners... so to speak.
~
At any rate, we probably will give Amazon the publishing go ahead by this weekend, so that the holiday week will see a surge in book orders... just in time for summer vacation.
~
BTW, all profits from the sale of this book will be donated to my favorite charity.... my lawyers.
Happy reading, and remember... if it is true, then it isn't slander.

Gotcha George

George Stephanopoulos Sucks.
~

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???? 

~

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?

~

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.

~

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.

~

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.
~
But obviously not too jacked to post something to this pathetic Blog. 
~
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.
~
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.

~

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.

~

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.

~

But enough is enough.

~
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????
~
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???
~
It's my own God-Damned fault for letting you in early on the cover approval.
~
I should have known that your lack of patience would invade any sense of serenity that I have foolishly tried to acquire.
~
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.  
~
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.
~
As bad of a sociopathic criminal as he is, there is a lot to peal back here.
~
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. 
~
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.
~
Something stinks....  Actually, alot of this Bullshit stinks.  As time goes by, I have lost a great deal of respect for the FBI.
~
Bulger should fry for crimes.... and so should the FBI.

Power Day

Peeps.
Suffice to say that today was a power day.
~

• 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.

~
Those things alone would be enough for a lesser man.... but a Mountain of a Man demands more... and gets it.
~
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.
~
Do you know what this means????
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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. 

~

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.

~

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.
~
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.
~
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.

~

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.
~
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.
~
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. 
~
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.
~
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.
~
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. 
~
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.

~

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.
~
I'll be watching Bachmann though.  She just might be worth the coveted Nanepashemet Nomination. 
~
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.
~
Who the hell really has a lock on the truth anyway?   Everybody sees things in their own way... their separate realities.
~
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. 
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~

• Official Mortgage Broker of Nanepashemet - Scuba Steve Lewis.

Weiner's Junk

I'm sorry, but I have to sound in on this Weiner episode.
~
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."
~
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.
~
That observation aside....
~
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.
~
But this Weiner says that he didn't do anything illegal, and won't resign his seat from Congress.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~

Man... What a Mess!!! 

~

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..

~

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.
~
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!"
~
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.
~
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.  
~
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.
~
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???? 
~
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.
~
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.
~
Now if we could only get the boy out of FreshAyer, my euphoria would be complete.
~
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.
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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.