Darwin Rocks On

Many of my Nanepashemet Peeps have been asking me about Darwin lately.
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I touched base with a lot of my wireless colleagues at the launch meeting of the New England Wireless Association, and I truly felt that I was a Darwin guy rather than "ex-GD". As much as I was dedicated and loyal to General Dynamics, it feels good to be with a group that is vibrant, business-minded and ready to make a real industry mark again.
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I don't like to talk freely about the specifics because of business security, but I am really psyched about the forward view that I am seeing. Today gave some particularly good signs of things to come.
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Indications are that Darwin is on course to pinch the industry in the ass. We will get some attention in 2007. Inspire some people, piss off more.

Herreshoff Columbia Tender Launch Prospect

It's feasible to launch the tender now by Thanksgiving. But I think I'll give myself leeway and launch over the holidays. Not the time to take shortcuts or rush things after so long.
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With the seat support planks in place, and the flooring supports down, everything else should measure fairly easily.... theorizing of techniques is no longer required. Now the process is "do it", not figuring out how it should be done.

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By the way, this Peapod and shop on the right is not mine. (I wish!). I'll probably build a double ender like this for my next project. Also, the guy in the Dory below is not me. (Thank God).
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Tomorrow I'll take the afternoon off, get Mark my tax and deposit information for the the Sundance School acquisition, and get a couple of things done on the tender, hopefully ending with a coating of epoxy. A mild November day is forecast and I'd like to take advantage of the higher temperatures for epoxy and varnish curing as much as possible.
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Once I finish the tender, I'm going to find time to row around the harbor on weekends and at least one or two weekdays every week. I will utilize it to find my buff inner self. I like building boats. It remains to be seen whether I will like rowing or sailing them.

Democrats In, Rumsfeld Out

Dems captured the House and Senate, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco is the new Speaker of the House. President Bush countered by replacing the Secretary of Defense lightning rod, Donald Rumsfeld.
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Good conciliatory move by Bush that he is willing to compromise in the face of changing political winds. I read this election wrong. I thought that the overall economic health of the country would sustain the Republicans, despite the war.
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I just hope we pull out of goddamn Iraq. Don't care who does it, or how it is done.

Reaching Back for an Old Friend

"I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience, and be able to give a true account of it in my next excursion."

- Henry David Thoreau, Walden, Chapter 2

It's been over thirty years since I read these words in a third floor cubby hole among the stacks in the old Goodell Library at UMASS Amherst.

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His pure action of contemplation in a small cabin in the woods outside of daily human interaction continues to be a source of inspiration to many. I was surprised that Ryan and Courtney visited Walden Pond in Concord two weeks ago. Interesting the effect that a human can have - just trying to understand life - on people over two hundred years later.
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Thoreau would have had a killer blog.

Kennedy Mystery Vote Solved

Imlac hit it on the head.
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I voted for Ted Kennedy out of loyalty. I didn't see it before.
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Loyalty to a prior choice and a chosen path. Loyalty to what was, regardless of what is. Loyalty that transcends human frailties and says "No matter what, I'll support you. Even if you and I go down different roads."
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I feel a little better now.

Katelyn Offered to Help Move

I'm not lying!

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She offered to help us move Sundance.

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This is a sign that this move was mean't to be.

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Financing continues to progress due to Mark and Steve. Mike Rockett and I will be doing a work write up on the property improvements this Saturday.

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The announcement of the move went well today. Overwhelming support - a small bit of disidence centered around the fear of change. Time will cure these concerns.

Change of Season

The boat is out of the water, Thanksgiving is around the corner. I'm ready for winter.

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Hit me with your best shot. Bring it on.

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Autumn wasn't brilliant in New England this year. Something about the amount of water early in the year.

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I'm looking forward to the Holidays this year.

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... the traditional night before Thanksgiving Blow Out Open House,

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... Christmas Eve Dinner at the Jellison's,

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...Bruett's Nancy Nog Blast,

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a head pained and hazy Christmas morning.

It's all good.

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This year the Sundance move will also me mixed in. Shaping up to be really busy and fun.

It's a Tough Job...

... But somebody's got to do it.
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Who do you think is better looking - me or Fortier?

Moonshadow Check Points

Thank you to Paul Lynch and Bob Doane for clarifying the permit procedure. We are cleared to go.
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Check.
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Thank you to Dana Lothrop, Alan Ball, Bob Crosby and Harry Christiansen. The deal is cut.
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Check.
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Thank you to Mark Ferrante and Steve Lewis. Money is in place.
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Check.
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Thank you to Dave Fortier, Tom DiMatteo, and Jay Ohanian for putting up with ranting and raving.
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Check.
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Thank you to Eyk and RoseMarie Van Otterloo for agreeing to make this possible without hassle.
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Check.
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Thank you to Mike Rockett for always listening and caring about what we try to do.
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Check.
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Thank you to the teachers and parents who were so positive at the initial announcement.
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Check.

There will be many more thank you's to check off before we pull this off.

Commando

I have found that wearing underwear is the best policy.

Voted for Ted Kennedy Today

Why?
How the Hell do I know!
I have no logical, rational answer.
Certainly not because I agree with his politics, behavior, scandals, etc.
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I probably think I voted for him out of deference to the potential that the Kennedy ideal once had for the country and the past memories and pride that my Irish Catholic family once had by seeing one of their own in the White House.
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I also voted for Johnny O' Brien as Register of Deeds for the Southern Essex County Registry - a truly lovable rogue from the old Lynn days.

Election Day

Big race in Massachusetts is Patrick v. Healy for the Governor's seat. Black v. Woman. It's a sign of the maturity in our culture that this fact - a historic demographic matchup - is only a footnote and is only mentioned in passing.
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A nasty and expensive race. Over $40M spent. Theoretically, there is no return on this investment by the candidates. I suppose that I should say say something cynical here.
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Nationally, the control of the House and Senate is at stake, with the Democrats having a chance to grab the leadership of the Legislature from the Republicans. The national media is playing this as a referendum about President Bush.
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My prediction is that the discontent is not as deep seated as portrayed by the Press. I hate it when people try to tell me what to think. Give me the facts, I'll make up my own mind.
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Meanwhile, I'm hopeful that UPS will deliver my new sander today.