Fallen Off Track

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

Sniper

This contribution from master wireless sniper, Bill Hillegas.


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Tyler Gill said...

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

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

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

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

POTW - Week 16

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

Harvey Rowe
TimmyBassett
Tyler Gill
Rob Wise
Ethan Nestor
Patrick Piscatelli

Maybe I'll knock off a little early tomorrow.

Dory Return

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

Mahogany Base

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


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

Character Test

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


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

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

A Tad Resentful

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

POTW Week 15

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

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

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

Apology

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

Big Freaking Deal

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

Coffee Table Redo

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

Tuna Lips said...

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

Happy Easter

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