T-Bash 06 v.1

Scorecard for the 06 Thanksgiving Eve Bash -
~ Lewdness 2
~ Debauchery 3
~ Drunkedness 10
~ Nudity .5
~ Hysteria 4
~ Wholesomeness -4
All in all, no physical violence and the lack of police indicated a successful affair.

Happy Thanksgiving

Not to Panic

I've run out of Lagavulin.
~
The day before the Bash.
~
Don't worry though, the King is usually in stock at Beacon Hill Licquors in the Community Store.
~
Plus Bobby Brown is coming tomorrow, and he always knows enough to pack a
bottle with him. Bobby is such a mountain of a man.
~
No Worries.

Crawford's Modest Request

Normally, I wouldn't share my recipes with the Peeps. The exceptions are the cocktalls - Dark and Stormies, the Classic Autumn Seagrams and Cider - these are recipes that can't be withheld from mankind for the good that they provide for humanity.
~
Chris Crawford has continually tried to break me - asking how I made my Buffalo Wings, how I made my White Trash Balls, etc., etc. I've always been able to dodge these questions. But now Chris pitifully tells me that he is frying his first turkey, and wants to know some of my coveted superior methods.
~
Since Chris' wife, Sarah, always dances with me at weddings, even though I am a fat middle aged white guy, I guess I owe him this one.
~
OK Chris, here are my turkey frying recommendations.
~
Don't Skimp on the Peanut Oil. You will pay twice as much for this as for the turkey, but get enough to cover the submerged bird.
~
Fill the fryer pot with water, then place the turkey in to displace the water and see the resulting level of the liquid. Take out the turkey, pat it dry, and make sure that all of the water is wiped clean in the fryer. Make sure that the level of the water is not too close to the top of the fryer pot. This is Important. When you first put the turkey in the hot oil, it will boil up and if it crests the top of the pot and falls onto the propane fuel, run. You are screwed and Thanksgiving is a bust.
~
BTW, do this all outside.
~
Make sure that you have a long stemmed thermometer. Wait until the oil is well above 350 degrees - up to 400 degrees is acceptable. When you put the turkey in the pot, the oil will cool down and it is important to keep it at 350.
~
Know the turkey's weight. Calculate 3 1/2 minutes for each pound of turkey. Before you lower the turkey into the pot, inject it with some spices mixed in olive oil. Pick your poison - make sure that the spices are savory.
~
Put the turkey into the frying basket and lower it into the pot. Use gloves or the oil will splatter you, burn you, and make you cry like a sissy boy in front of your whole family on Thanksgiving Day.
~
After the calculated time, pull out the turkey, carve it into slices and enjoy Thanksgiving with your great family.
~
Some say that the fried turkey produces distinctive couch farts later on in the day. Please check with Ryan on this. His expertise in this field far exceeds mine.

A Clear Day in New York

I Love New York.
~
Great flight into LaGuardia. The temperature was in the high twenties, and visibility was crystal clear. The flight path took us low over Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. New York is an impressive examble of the current phenomonal state of modern mankind’s transformation of the environment. The infrastructure of buildings, water and land transportation from the sky looks so coordinated and well planned, while our knowledge of its actual development is haphazard, even chaotic.
~
The meeting with Cingular was as good as it gets. Total recognition of the talents and resources of Darwin. If we returned with a PO it would have been perfect, but that will come during the first of the year. All in all, Darwin has been successfully repositioned in this market and can expect significant business in 2007.
~
We caught a 3:30PM return flight and the clarity of the day allowed me to see Mount Washington as we were landing at Logan Airport.
~
I was able to extend my workout streak to 3 days in a row. Substantial strides in the Wealth and Health efforts today.

Leaning Toward the Peapod

More Visions of Matinicus Peapods. I'm also considering building a Swampscott Alpha Dory.

Paramus Bound / Bash Prep

Back to Paramus, NJ, via Laguardia Airport in NY tomorrow. Been there so many times over the past five years, and still dread it. It's just not a pretty trip. The people are great, but it is gritty Sopranos territory and the drive is very stressful through the Bronx and up the NJ Turnpike. Regardless, I've done a ton of business there, and all indications are that this will continue for the Darwinians. I'll be back in Marblehead by 6:00 PM tomorrow night.
~
Meanwhile, I managed to make it to Costco tonight and put a dent in the beer and wine needs for the Bash. Got the chicken wings but couldn't find the hot sauce. Can't forget that. All three kids seem to be psyched for the event, so it is shaping up fine. Since I'll be in NJ tomorrow, I'll probably have to leave Darwin by early afternoon on Wed. to fill in the rest of the provisioning details.
~
We've had some fun times in the past ten 13 years that this event has transpired. I'm looking forward to avoiding some of the past stuff though. Especially wrestling with McBurney.

Short Workweek

Should be relatively quiet in telecom due to Thanksgiving. A good time to flesh out work breakdown structures and similar pricing analysis to compare customer needs and service delivery requirements.
~
Also have to develop a project schedule for the Sundance move, finalize the P&S, and make the additional deposit.
~
Not to mention planning and provisioning the Thanksgiving Eve Bash.
~
Short workweek, but it should be hectic.

An Optimistic Assessment

No. This is not my tender. It is a picture of what I intended it to look like by now. Actually, I'm not too far behind.
~
After 4 to 6 more hours of sanding, the entire interior will be coated with epoxy twice. Then these coats will be sanded smooth - another 4 hours.
~
It will take another six hours for the seats, oar locks, and mast supports to be cut, coated with epoxy, and installed. 6 to 8 hours. Final coat of epoxy, then a light 220 grit sanding.
~
Then we start the marine varnish routine. Sand, Spray 5 days in a row.
~
With the holidays and the Sundance move, we might have to settle for a New Year's Day launch. The sailing rig won't happen until the spring.

Looking to Row Soon

Nice Postcards of dories in Marblehead Harbor in the early 1900's.

Steve's Chili

Awesome chili from Steve Lewis for the Pats Games. More vindication for the talents of POTW. Plus the Pats dominated 35-0. They either look great or horrible. It was great today.

Time to Get Back on Track

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-3) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-5)

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Lambeau Field (72,922)

1:00 p.m. EST

Im going to see how much I can get done on the Tender this morning before kickoff.

New Light

Braeden Turner made an appearance yesterday. What a cutie! She is a fine addition and the first 2 year old to crack into the Inner Peeps Clique.

Saturday Morning

There are about one dozen common sparrows all over the Bird feeder on a crisp November morning in the 30 degree range. As soon as I finish watching them, I have to attack the list.

• Sand Tender
• Finish Cut and Assemble Flooring
• Do bank errands and pick up disposable gloves.
• Coat Interior and Floor boards with Epoxy Resin.
• Clean up Office.

There is the rumor that we may have a Kate sighting this morning as well. That could change everything.

Rev Up

Scenes from Last year's Thanksgiving Eve Blowout.

~

Let's get this party started!

Planning for the next Boat

After the Herreshoff Yacht Tender is finished, I'm thinking that my next project will be a 14' Maine Matinicus Peabod. These were lobster boats at the turn of the century and popularized at Matinicus Island. They seem to have taken some inspiration from Indian canoes. The version that I'm contemplating would also be equiped with a centerboard and Sprit Sail rig.
~
The issue is whether to go with a cedar strip technique such as I used on the Tender, or to try a glued lapstrake planking method using scarfed 3/8" Olkume mahogany marine plywood.
~
I really like the lines on these double enders.
~
Realistically, I have to remodel the basement first, before I begin the next boat. This may make the remodeling go faster though.

Sexual Content

Just so you know, Darwin, this is as sexy as it gets on this blog. Blocking access was uncool and a karmic mistake. You are just hurting the Darwin peeps who would get off seeing Ronick in these provocative poses.

Banned

Can't access the Nanepashemet Blog on the Darwin Server because of its strong sexual content.
~
Sorry, I've been accused of a lot of stuff in my career, but never strong sexual content. You can be the judge of the validity of that determination.
~
Nonetheless, I do feel a bit flattered.

Worth the Lagavulin

Remember how I told you that Jay and Katelyn owed me a bottle of Lagavulin? I have a deal with them to remove her IM Pei Pyramid pic, and they will pony up the Scotch at the Thanksgiving Eve bash. Seems like a suitable risk.
~
If they come up short, I have a ton of pics to choose from... I got a great one tonight from one of the Peeps of the Week.
~
My guess is that I'll be happily sipping the King this weekend sometime.

Nanepashemet POTW

It's Thursday, which is "Peeps of the Week" day.
~
Unfortunately, the selection criteria has to be clarified again due to the confusion yesterday.
~
To be named a Nanepashemet POTW, you must have been annoying, stupid or inspiring, and you can't be an animal or dead.
~
That stated..... the NANEPASHEMET PEEPS OF THE WEEK are...

• Nathaniel Clarke
• Jose, the Ticket Agent at Airtran in Chicago
• Mike Rockett
• Stacy Millett
• Emmit Smith
• Laurel DiMatteo

If you are a loser this week, just keep acting in according with our selection criteria, and you may yet reach the pinnacle that these Peeps have achieved.

Dancing with the Stars

I suppose that everybody is going to start in calling me Gay because I like to watch "Dancing with the Stars."
~
As experienced Nanepashemet Peeps know, I am confident enough in my manhood to admit that I hope that Emmit Smith walks away as the winner.

~

Pretty interesting that Smith can retire as the leading rusher in the NFL, and still have the fluidity to move like he does.

Dissapointing

My flight to Dallas had a layover in Chicago. We landed at 8:00 AM and were supposed to take off 25 min. later, but the segment was cancelled due to wind in Dallas. The next flight was 1:00 PM which coincided with my lunch appointment so I came back to Boston. First aborted business meeting in my 10 years in telecom.
~
But that wasn't the only dissapointment!
~
I get back at my desk in Wakefield at 2:00 PM, check the blog for "Peep of the Week" Nominations, and found only two. Two paltry nominations out of the thousands of peeps who hit this blog everyday! WTF! What a downer.
~
But it doesn't end here.
~
The two nominations were for my cat, Ronick, and the guy who invented Lagavulin 200 years ago.
~
Let me make a point here that I kind of think should have been self-explanatory.
ANIMALS AND DEAD GUYS CAN'T BE PEEPS OF THE WEEK!!!
~
Man... am I worked up. I have to cool down now.

Off Line - A Panic Situation

Since I'll be in the air about 8 hrs. tomorrow, I won't really have a chance to post to the blog.
~
Please do not panic. Take deep breaths.
~
That's right..... Inhale... Exhale... Inhale... Exhale.
~
See? You were obviously overreacting.
~
Now that you've composed yourselves, I have a suggestion for you to fill the deep void that tomorrow will bring.
~
Place a comment on the Nomination Button at the bottom of this posting detailing your choice for Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week. The nominees can be of any religion or political persuasion, but there must be a cool reason for you to place them in nomination. It could be that they were particularly annoying or stupid or inspiring this week. We don't even have to know the reason, the honor system rules here.
~
All comments will be published as soon has I get back on line Thursday morning.
~
Make your comments on your Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week nominations starting.......................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................NOW!

Nomination Button

Texas Bound

Up at 4:30 AM for a 6:25 flight out of Logan to Dallas to see T-Mobile. Back in Boston by 11:00 PM. Looking forward to it.
~
It means that I have to get to Mike Rockett with the Sundance plans tonight.
~
Also, I won't be able to get on the stationary bike tomorrow.
~
It feels so good on days that you get a burn, that you wonder why you don't do it every day. But sometimes you have to go to Texas. Then I'll be screwed up from lack of sleep by Thursday, so that I will come up with some lame excuse not to get the exercise in.
~

By Friday, I'll blow it off and not even think about it. I hate to think that I will be lacking buffness for the rest of this Earth ride. Something has to change.

~

Exercise and working out used to be something that you did to look good. Now I have to do it to keep from feeling shitty. Interesting what the next stage in this progression might be.

Computer Aided Design

CAD programs have really gotten user friendly. It's not like the original AutoCAD which was hard as a bastard to learn. The new CAD programs have you laying out a floor plan, turning it into 3D and rotating it all over the place in no time.
~
Took the measurements at the new school building today and dumped them into CAD. It's great to be able to manipulate the plan easily and see different options. Now I have to commit the whole Operation Moonshadow affair to Microsoft Project and jam this thing together before the end of the Holiday break.
~
It will happen... but not without some serious nailbiting. I may need some moving help from the Peeps before this thing is over.

Ronick is no Help

There I am, killing myself to get the Herreshoff Yacht Tender done by Thanksgiving, and our cat Ronick just sits there... doing nothing.

~

You would think that I could duct tape a random orbital sander to his ass, and he could be useful with the endless sanding that this project entails, but no. He just sits around, giving me aggravating looks.

~

In this way, he is a lot like DiMatteo. I would hesitate to give DiMatteo a sander as well.

Borat Backlash

They are sueing Sasha Baron Cohen. Proof positive that he has become a commercial success.

Mixed Emotions

Pats lost to the Jets yesterday, 17-14. A very dissapointing game. But I had a great time at the Darwin Box in Gillette Stadium! Russ Francis, Steve Nelson and John Hannah dropped by and were really interesting. I'm pretty sure that they never read the Blog, but it was great regardless.
~
Francis roomed with Steve Prefontaine at Oregon in the 70's and knew all of the track legends. He was the high school javelin record holder at 256' and held that record for 17 years. He said that he set the record 40 days after he first picked up a javelin and had a track scholarship in college, not football. He was well known to track and field diehard fans like my brother Jamie and I in the old days.
~
He said that when the next guy broke his record, 17 years later, he pledged to send he and a friend to Hawaii, but the guy's coach objected, saying that it would violate amateur rules. Russ then waited five years until the kid ended college, then made good on the Hawaii trip. Pretty cool.

~

He also said that just before Prefontaine died in that car crash that had a jolting effect on American track and field, that Pre had asked him to invest $25,000 in a business venture that he a Coach Bill Bowerman were starting. That was Nike shoes. Pre would have been an awesome businessman.
~~
Older Pats fans like myself will remember that Francis was a force at tight end and was a great football player.
~
Nelson told me that his Curry College team that he currently coaches is 11-0 and he is waiting for an NCAA berth.
~
It also appeared that the Cingular guys enjoyed the game and the Darwin hospitality.
~
All in all, a fine way to watch the Pats lose to the Jets.