Bookmarks

Christmas is such a bookmark in time for people in this culture.
~
You can't remember what happened year after year on April 22, (unless that's your birthday or anniversary or something) but December 25 evokes all sorts of memories and emotions.   I feel bad for Ryan and his companions at FreshAyer during this time when separation must make the emotions intensify.
~
On Christmas, your parents are young again, all of your pets are still alive, and you relive times when all of the bullshit that you have been sledgehammered with never hit.
~
Not that I would change a thing.   All of the past Christmases add up to this morning.... here and now.
~
Merry Christmas.

Peace on Earth

It's Christmas Eve. A time to reflect on "Peace on Earth" and "Goodwill towards Men".
~
Course... we don't have "Peace on Earth".  And the "Goodwill towards Men" sometimes seems lacking as well.   But Christmas reminds us, that these goals are laudable and should be striven for.
~
The life of Christ, for whom this holiday is originally dedicated, doesn't give rise to visions of peace and goodwill..... although his words did.
~
So maybe we should hope to attain these states... but not necessarily expect them.
~
The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.  -  Theodore Rubin
~
I think that Ted is on to something here.  Peace on Earth is not a situation without problems.   It is the ability to face and deal with the problems of life that inevitably arise.  And even rising above that.... aren't problems just a bend in the road from your own perception of "what should be" and God's plan for "what is"?
~
So many times in my life, I've been dissapointed by setbacks and outcomes initially, yet time shows that these bends in the road were the best outcome for all involved.
~
Attaining "Peace on Earth" must mean that we let go of our singular and egoistic notions of how things should be and allow God and his Universe to show us the way.
~
I'm still working on the "Goodwill toward Men" part.  There are some Assholes out there that I just can't offer the goodwill to.  You know who you are.
~
So Merry Chistmas everyone.... or just about everyone.

No Deterrence

Peeps....
This morning, I cannot be deterred....
~
Not by Phoney Lefty Moonbats.... not by Prospering Passing POTY's.... not by Nanepashemet Telecom ToDo's......nor by the majority of you Pervasive Pestering Peeps.
~
This morning, I must finish laying down the Brazilian Cherry hardwood kitchen floor at the Sundance house.  And I cannot be deterred.  The floor has to be completely nailed down so that I may rent a random orbital floor sander the Sunday after Christmas for sanding and polyurethaning the floors for the rest of the Holiday week.
~
Some highly deserving Peeps wish to share some Holiday cheer in downtown Boston this afternoon, and I won't be lifitng a glass unless I've laid that floor.

Nina Stupidberg

The other day, that pseudo-intellectual moron, Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio excused herself for using the expression "Christmas Party". 
~
The fact that Christmas is an official national holiday, signifying peace on earth, goodwill toward men, and characterized heavily by a non-secular Santa Claus.... seems to have been misplaced by the self-absorbed, lefty "journalist".
~
I'm actually past being aggravated by phonies like Nina... they are so out of touch, that they have become amusing.
~
Scatch that.... they still piss me off.  Egotistical Stupid Morons.

A Futuristic View

The internet and it's information revolution have given us powerful tools that will profoundly change the way that we act in the next generation.
~
For the most part, the demand for office space and retail space should curtail dramatically.  With Skype and other tools, there simply is no reason for people to have to congregate in the same physical space to conduct business.  And on-line purchasing negates the need for retail stores to a large extent.
~
Online banking and direct deposits have dramatically reduced the time needed to go to a branch bank office.
~
The fact the people continue to go to offices to work, and stores to shop is a habitual mode of thinking that will become increasingly obsolete as the next generation emerges with no such behavioral habit.
~
The shift that this will cause in employment and land use practices will be profound.  All new homes will be equipped with home work station offices, and low paying retail employment will shift to logistical, delivery services.  Retail shopping will evolve to "Demo" rooms where people go to actually see the stuff that they will then order on-line, and shopping centers will be characterized more by restaurant choices and entertainment venues.
~
Course... all this depends on the Mayans being wrong about  the end of days in 2012!   And if the Internet power sources are interrupted by any means, the new order will come crumbling down.

Powerful POTY Partner Promotion

As most of you know, this Blog monitors the goings on at the Minneapolis, Minnesota law firm of Grey, Plant, Mooty very closely.
~
That's because our 2010 Peep of the Year, Jeremy Johnson, has been an associate grunt there for the past few years.   Generally, my opinion of lawyers is pretty low, unless they are protecting me or mine, and I was concerned that our POTY might have surrounded himself with the wrong kind of crowd.
~
But GPM did the right thing recently and made the POTY a Partner.
~
Peeps.... I hate to have to state the obvious.... but once again we see an example of the overwhelming and undeniable power of the Nanepashemet Blog.    Here Jeremy was laboring year after year as a low rung legal grunt at a huge Minnesota law factory.   Then, with his designation of Peep of the Year, he rises to the top of the ladder in this momentous last twelve months.
~
Freaking Powerful POTY Promotion.
~
Congratulations Jeremy.  You have served your POTY year admirably and reaped the appropriate rewards.
~
Soon, another will receive the coveted mantle, and witness the supernatural powers that the POTY title conveys.

Jeremy said.....

Jay, thank you for the props and the free marketing.  The power of the POTY designation is undeniable.  Exhibit A:  Recent photo of me dazzling a jury.  Next year's POTY better prepare for a whole lotta snappin' necks and cashin' checks.

___________________________
Excellent likeness Jeremy.
Grey, Plant, Mooty and Johnson..... has a nice ring to it.

Rented

We rented Beverly Ave. today.   There were a lot of good times in this house, and not all of them by our family.  It is definitely a place of growth and joy.
~
I hope that the new family that is renting has the same experiences.
~
Looking ahead, the Sundance West Shore Drive house has the potential to be awesome for our family, our friends and our grandkids.  Lots of boats to be built, Thanksgiving Eve bashes, and lobster dinners.   A new venue, but maybe a little bigger and more comfortable for you Peeps.
~
Granted....TommyO, Rinda, Kelsey and Kate won't be living across the street.... we'll just have to intercept them on the way to the Community Store.

No Crying Shame

There has been a decent amount of discourse lately about the fact that the new Speaker of the House, John Beohner. is a weeper.  He breaks down and cries easily.
~
You would think that a Mountain of a Man like myself would condemn this type of response as that of a wussified girlyman.
~
And you would be wrong... as usual.
~
A real man isn't afraid to cry, to let his emotions show.   People who don't cry generally don't give a shit.  They are not committed enough to give their all to a job, a relationship, or a situation.   I'm not saying that you have to be a blubbering crybaby..... but a genuine tear is no sign of weakness.

Cool in the Cold

It's cold.
~
Normally, winter weather doesn't bother me this time of year, but it seems to have gotten really cold, really fast.... and I haven't taken the time to mentally adjust.  I find myself running out the door in a sweatshirt, then feeling the frigid bite.
~
The key to beating the cold is to recognize it, and dress accordingly.  Katelyn said she bought me a work coat from Duluth Trading Co. for Christmas this year.
~
So I'll be warm, but still look cool.

No Complaint

I've been trying to get back to the Brazilian Cherry hardwood floor job at the Sundance building.   Every day missed is a big slip in schedule.
~
But Nanepashemet Telecom has been keeping me pre-occupied.  Rightfully so.
~
The wireless telecom business always gets crazy as the year draws to a close.  Lots of companies have bonus plans based upon completion of site construction milestones, and people get nutty to make the numbers.  I shouldn't complain, because the compulsion to reach milestones usually means that our end of year is filled with billable events.
~
But it is a little annoying to see everyone else rev down as you are forced to gas things up.   This year, the move to West Shore Drive cranks things up even more.
~
Once again.... I'm not complaining..... just observing.
~
A Mountain of a Man rarely complains.

Christmas Card Originals

Seems like Ryan has made a hit with his Christmas Cards.  Two Blogs, NorthShoreWaterMan and Harvey's Thoughts have been touting them and numerous Peeps have remarked about how nice they were.
~
From an artistic or literary standpoint, they aren't particularly noteworthy.... but they are proof positive that it's the thought that counts.
~
You can sit around and be pissed off about your situation, or you can spread a little cheer.   I've seen both choices in action, and I'm really proud of Ryan's choice.
~
Next year, there will be no more FreshAyer, and probably no original cards either.   But this year, they have served a good purpose.

Ready for Cherry

Peeps....
~
How the hell do you expect me to meet my goals at the Sundance building if you continue to email me and text with your pathetic inquiries into my current progress????.
~
I can't afford to pay attention to these annoying, persistent pleas for information.
~
Yet... despite these irritating contrivances, I was still able to meet all of my lofty objectives today, as we picked out and ordered the counter top granite, ripped up the vinyl as well as well nailed plywood, and prepared the kitchen floor surface to receive the Brazilian Cherry 2 1/4" hardwood.
~
The day ended suitably when Jim and Kathy Peabody dropped by at 5:00 PM with some Sam Adams and wine to check on the progress.
~
Tomorrow,  I hope to get a good portion of the cherry installed.... barring interruptions.