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.

Pats Come Up Short

Too many errors against an undefeated team is impossible to overcome. Despite this, the Pats only lost to the Colts by one touchdown - 27-20. Manning is the real deal.

Moonshadow Revealed

Moving Sundance Pre-School will be announced tomorrow. All in all, it should be a win for everyone - more suitable space in a location surrounded by Stramski Park. Access to playground facilities and the Salem Harbor waterfront.
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Eyk is looking to reuse the Pleasant Street property and it will be interesting to see what direction he takes it in.
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Goal is to close on the Stramski property and make the move after the Holiday Break in Jan. It will be a ton of work, but should be motivating. I'll be blogging the details.

Batch of Wings

Ben Martin, Steve Lewis and Mike are claiming that I have just served up the best batch of Buffalo Wings ever.
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Maybe.
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I've had some great batches before, so I'm not willing to concede that I have reached the pinnicle tonight..... But they were damn good.

Pizza

For months now, Nanepashemet Peeps have been asking me "Where do you get your take out pizza?"
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Normally, I don't disclose this type of personal detail, but I'm feeling rather vulnerable this evening in anticipation of the Pats punishing the Indianapolis Colts starting at 8:30 tonight.
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So here it is.
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Cafe Vesuvius
18 Bessom St
Marblehead, MA 01945
View Map
781-639-8120
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If I have to wait to get my pizza because of the surge of business that they will receive from this disclosure, I'm going to be pissed.

Kristen on the List

We were really impressed to see Kristen Bitter make the Boston Globe Best of Boston list for #21 in Boston's Stylish.

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"Kristen Bitter, owner of Baranzelli Silk Surplus on Beacon Hill, said she wears clothing that reflects a mood or personality."

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Awesome Kristen.

Floor Support Slats

These had to be spiled and cut on the bandsaw. Lots of trial and error. If done right though, the flooring will be a huge correction to the irregularities in the hull planks that were unruly at the bottom of the boat.
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It's 11:15 AM on Sunday. I'll epoxy glue the slats to the bottom of the hull, clamp and glue the seat support planks to the gunwales, and finalize the centerboard sanding and attach the bottom logs with epoxy. Should be done by 2:30PM.
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A shower, trip to Crosbys for the wings and other Patriots game stuff, and then I'll be ready for the Indianapolis Colts.
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Not a bad plan.

Iraq - Time to Leave

Saddam got the death sentence today, from a trial that witnessed the death of a couple of his defense attorneys. I'm no fan of lawyers, but I can't think of any case in the United States where the defense team endured murders. If that unthinkable event happened here, the outcry would be deafening.
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Let's disengage from this medieval part of the world. I don't know what our continued role is, and for our kids to keep dying without a clear definition of what we are trying to achieve is unconscionable. Time to leave.
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Earlier, the war had my unequivocal support. It was valid to take out the murderer Hussein. We met that clear objective. Time to leave.
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Iraq and the Middle East has evolved a culture that has not embraced the system and institutions that are successful here. That is clearly their choice. Our efforts to establish an elected government are laudable but ultimately artificial, manipulative, and doomed to fail. Vietnam survived our disengagement. Let's get out of Iraq.
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We are not making the world safe for democracy. We can find enough oil. What's the point?
Time to leave.

Gerry 5

Going with Mike and Steve Lewis.
Details to follow.

Saturday Actions

Operation Moonshadow in the morning. Finance the activity and cover the Netherlands.
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Then on to the Tender. ....
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Cut and epoxy the floor board supports.
Epoxy the seat support planks.
Sand and add the support logs to the centerboard case.

Stupidity and Incompetence

Man.
Amazing that it is a full moon today.
There has to be something to that.
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I think that I can tolerate stupidity better than incompetence.
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Stupid people doing stupid things is understandable.
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Smart people acting incompetently is so difficult to endure.
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Had my share of both today. Must have been the full moon.