RIP BAM

My Mother-in-Law, Mary LeBlanc passed into the other dimension today.

She suffered a brain aneurysm 14 months ago, had a massive operation and fought her way back to a communicative state for many months.

Nine years ago, she was committed to a nursing home with fluid on the brain.   After a successful procedure, she made a complete recovery and enjoyed quality time with her beloved husband Joe, and her many grandchildren.

We counted her out back then, but she fought back and fooled us.

Then we counted her out 14 months ago, but she fought back and fooled us.

She ended the fight this afternoon.

Like all of us, she was no saint.  Over the years that I knew her... close to 50.... there were ups and downs in my perception of her.   But she ended the last stages of her life in a solid up.

After a long career at Lynn English High School where she was a Business Teacher and a Vice Principal, many knew her as a personable and helpful resource and she was widely accepted and loved

She enjoyed many strong relationships as a Communicant at St. Pius Church in Lynn as well as her neighbors at her apartment building on Victory Road.

But her greatest identity was being "Bam".,,, the grandmother of seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.  Her grandchildren truly loved her and developed a familial bond that was totally evident to all who witnessed it.

She was a wonderful wife to her husband Joe... the devoted "Bampy" who was such a loyal husband and life companion.

I will miss Bam.  I am glad to have shared this much of the ride with her.

Arts and Crafts Style

Example of James Hardie Cement Fiber Siding that we are considering for 70 Nanepashemet Street.

Gansbaai, South Africa - Shark Diving

Last September, Mike and I attended Nathaniel and Raelene's Wedding in South Africa.  Fond memories of Great White Shark Cage Diving in Gansbaai, which is a hundred or so miles east of Cape Town.












Having experienced this on a controlled basis from within a steel cage, I would not put my big toe in a salt water beach in South Africa.

Bruins Twitter

Grandson Will and his Uncle Mike at the Bruins Philadelpia game today.   Made it to the Bruins Twitter page too!  https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/840655682609242112/photo/1

Improving Marblehead Neck

Peeps....
Who hasn't dreamed of living on Marblehead Neck?  This North Shore neighborhood, situated on a penisula that borders Marblehead Harbor and Salem Sound,  contains some of the finest ocean front homes in the country as well as the prestigious Eastern Yacht Club and the Corinthian Yacht Club.

Our house renovation on Marblehead Neck has a month of construction work completed after our closing at the end of January.  Our Architect, Jai Singh Khalsa, has proposed an innovative design to open it up with a two story entrance vista and vaulted cathedral ceilings in the Kitchen/ Dining area.

And it doesn't hurt that the 19,000 square foot lot is nestled around a scenic pond replete with peaceful mallard ducks.

Last month was dedicated to permitting and demolition to envision the plan.  This should be accomplished by mid month, and we can start to install the HVAC, and Electricity.   The walls and ceilings will be insulated sometime at the beginning of April, and then the Drywall and Exterior Finishes will commence.

This is a high end renovation in a neighborhood surrounded by two million dollar homes.  We would sell this in its current, ready to develop situation for $1.35 Million.  If you wait for completion, the price will jump to $1.8 million.

A bargain for this incredible area.

Facebook Infatuation and Pluralism

Peeps....
My infatuation with Facebook continues unabated.... which is both entertaining and annoying.

But I am starting to notice trends.

Facebook used to be a status site.   "I'm at Dairy Queen in Everett eating Ice Cream with Henry".

Now it has morphed to extensive political debates and rancorous discourse.

I don't condemn this..... in fact I admit that I really enjoy it.

But I've started to develop some protocols for posting.

I'll respect you, no matter how much I disagree, and no matter how heated our threads get.... as long as the conversation doesn't deteriorate into a personal insult, or you whip out the Racist or Nazi card in your disdain for President Trump.   When that happens, I will do my best to aggravate the crap out of you in the thread,and  afterwards I'll defriend and block you from seeing any more of my posts..... and insuring that I don't see yours.

The reason is that after you show your character by getting underhanded, every time I see you after that, I get a negative feeling.   Life is too freaking short to get aggravated just by seeing your name at that point.  So Buh Bye.

Don't get me wrong.   I don't condemn you to everlasting Hell fire.  I just don't need a negative thought emanating from me just because I see your posts.

And I hope my Facebook experience doesn't get homogenized.... I actually really cherish the exchanges I have with people who I disagree with, but with whom the line of mutual respect for different opinions is not crossed.

 Liberals take Trump literally and don't take him 😒 seriously. Conservatives take Trump seriously and don't take him literally. I suppose something in you DNA determines how you react to him. 

I didn't make this up, Saw it somewhere on line, but this explains a lot for me.

After a number of years doing this, it is apparent that "facts" will never change people's opinion... so that is never my expectation to make you change your mind.   My goal in a Facebook political tread is to articulate my position (often so that I solidify it for myself), and have a little fun sparring with those who think differently than I do.

So if you want to be defriended, call me an Asshole, or call our POTUS a Racist.  You will get your wish, and I will move on with people who can respect others in a pluralistic society.

You Might Be A Snowflake

Political Correctness on the Run

For seventy minutes yesterday, President Trump took on the biased left wing media yesterday in a refreshing and open press conference.



It was incredible how he frankly and openly confronted the bloated and disgusting lazyness of a press that has lost its way after the fawning and phoniness of the Obama last eight years.

On ABC Good Morning America today, your MOAM was pleasantly surprised that George Steffy and his Liberal Syncophants were set on their heals by the President.s frank demeanor.   Their assertions that the White House is in Chaos were echoing with the insidious din of Fake News.

And BTW, don't you love it that the moniker FAKE NEWS is being pinned on the biased Main Stream Media to their utter dismay?   They are trying to make the term socially unacceptable like the "N"word.... it scares them so much.   And it scares them because it defines them.

No longer can they propagandize to the Sheep without consequence.

President Trump's openness is sometimes ackward, but political correctness is now off the table.

This is incredibly refreshing.

Documenting Illegal

So this event will be covered in the Main Stream Media as far reaching with an overwhelming impact.  Another opportunity for FAKE NEWS.

BTW  "Undocumented" is Libbie Speak for Illegal.

The effort to smear Republicans as being against Immigration only works if they leave out the "Illegal" part.

Immigrants make our country strong.  What is so wrong with requiring that they legally enter our country?

More Brady

ONE MORE TIME!!!!

This is the guy, Tom Brady, that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell tried to restrict by saying that he cheated by  deflating  footballs.  Like Brady ever, ever EVAH had to tamper with footballs.

Brady is an inspiration by his dedication to his career and his family.

Goodell on the other hand, looked like a cur with its tail between its legs as he handed the Lombardi Trophy to Patriots Owner, Robert Kraft, who put the disgusting bureaucrat in his place.

Roger that, Roger.  Karma is a Bitch.

Tom Brady is the Greatest Quarterback of all Time, and all of the Haters like Goodell have come up short.. ONE MORE TIME.

Best SuperBowl Ad

RogerThat_30.43_5th_Ring_WIP02_ProRes from Shields Health Care on Vimeo.