Saturday, December 23, 2006

Christmas Eve

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. I'll have the usual insecurities to get out and buy some additional stocking stuffers, even though nobody in my family needs absolutely anything else.
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We'll start out with Cocktails and Dinner at Jellison's. Last year we really kicked back and had a great time... we never got to any of our other obligations.
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We'll leave Jellison's and head to Murray's, then end the evening at Bruett's great new home. The trip home from Bruett's in previous Christmas Eve's were harrowing affairs. Ten mph down West Shore Drive with two hands on the wheel.
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I'm hoping this year to behave myself, but the Nance Nog cannot be denied. Should be alot of POTW at Bruett's. The infamous Murph will definitely be there. It is always a highlight event.

Jumping the Gun

I know that Christmas isn't here yet, but I've been thinking a lot about New Year's Resolutions. 2007 is just giving me a good vibe.

Old Clothes

I hate to throw stuff out. I'm always thinking that I may need it for something someday. This is a real weakness. It's an assumption that you won't be able to take care of your needs in the future, so you should hoard your resources now.
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Sometimes, things like old clothes have all sorts of memories attached to them so that I can't throw them away. It's like if I don't see the clothes, then I'll forget the memories behind them. This too seems pretty neurotic.
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Sooner or later, I muster up the guts to put the clothes into a plastic bag and haul them to the Salvation Army dumpster. Hope today will be one of those days.

Rainy Saturday

A great day to do nothing. Business is shut down for the most part. We'll start up the day after Christmas with a lead paint certification inspection and a meeting with Eric and Steve Livermore on design issues for the Sundance move.
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So I got a haircut and am planning to actually clean around the house. Joanne is giving me dirty looks while I blog this, because she got up and got into action in the heavy cleaning routine. It's hard to just jump in though.... I have to get my big toe wet first.
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Can't work on the tender when it is raining, because I have to move stuff into the driveway to make room.

Friday, December 22, 2006

General George S. Patton

This guy had a brutal management style. But millions lived, who would otherwise not have survived the ravages of WWII because of his audacity.
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Christ says to turn the other cheek if someone offends you. Practical advice to exterminate the pattern of revenge and retribution.
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So often it is the opposite tack from what our ego demands, or comfort level urges, that is the prudent course of action.
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"L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace"
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Patton offended his peers, his superiors, and his men. But his passionate and forthright actions saved the world. Thank God for assholes like General George S. Patton.

Finally Friday

I'll admit that I am tired. Between the effort to get Darwin out front in the market, and the Sundance move, there has been a lot of mental activity. With every step forward, there are always raised expectations and setbacks. These are taxing to the vitality of a body.
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I am looking forward to kicking back and low keying the Christmas celebrations. Fat chance of that!

Mild December

I don't remember a milder weather approach to Christmas. The shallow pond next to the Darwin Wakefield office has a skim coat of ice in the morning which is completely melted by the afternoon. Although the temperature dips below freezing at night, 50 degrees is the daytime norm. Very Unseasonal. There have been years when we skated at Parker's Pond in Nov. Not this year.
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Too bad I'm so far behind on the Tender. I could varnish in these temperatures, but I haven't had the luxury of getting into the garage and putting the hours in.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Merry Christmas for the Politically Correct

I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty sick of saying "Happy Holidays". "Merry Christmas" makes a lot more sense.
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Why?
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Because December 25 is a national holiday. Everybody has it off. It's Christmas Day. It is a day of peace on earth, good will toward men. Most of everything we do on Dec. 25 has nothing to do with your religion or your cosmological beliefs.
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Santa is not Jesus, and Jesus never saw a Christmas Tree. There were no reindeer in the frigging manger.
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So... Merry Christmas.
If you don't like it, then screw you.
Joy and Peace.

Tao Te Ching

"Get rid of wisdom and reason
and people will live a hundred times better
get rid of kindness and justice
and people once more will love and obey
get rid of cleverness and profit
and thieves will cease to exist
but these sayings are not enough
hence let this be added
wear the undyed and hold the uncarved
reduce self-interest and limit desires
get rid of learning and problems will vanish"
- Lao Tzu

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POTW Selection criteria for future reference...

Did the Peep do something stupid?
Did the Peep do something annoying?
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Is the Peep living and not dead?
Is the Peep a Human and not an animal?
Did the Peep give John Nestor a bottle of Lagavulin in the past seven days?


So you see, it's easy to become a repeat Peep of the Week every week by invoking the automatic Lagavulin gift criteria. Much more difficult to fill the other criteria.