Common Sense

Common Sense has left the area, and has been replaced by rules, regulations, and bureaucracy. It would be nice if you could hire competent professionals and say "Protect the Town, Do what's Right, use your good judgement".
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But the system dictates that competent professionals must say "There is nothing I can do. Despite the inapplicability of it all, the law is the law."
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You have to wonder if the sturdy Marbleheaders who rowed Washington across the Delaware would be satisfied with this type of response.
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Have you checked your pay stub lately? We are unbelievably accepting of the huge levy that the government exerts upon us. I doubt that our forefathers, who wouldn't stand for a tax on tea, would admire our acquiescence.

Big Push

Tomorrow we will try to alleviate the curb cut and handicapped access issues, and get the Sundance building permit.

Coquina

Plans are available to build this beautiful 18' Herreshoff "Coquina" Cat Yawl.
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I'm still building the Matinicus Peapod next though.... no matter how good the Coquina looks.

AFC Champions.

Not the Pats. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts deserved the win and the trip to the Superbowl, primarily by their defense, but Manning is the real deal.

The Patriots played very well to stay with the Colts, who just seemed to be relentless on both sides of the football. It was a great season.

My only problem is Tony Dungy thanking the Lord for the win. I think that the Lord is probably neutral with regard to who wins a professional football game.

Sunny and Cold

Ten Degrees in Boston. No Snow. Weird winter.
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When I was a kid, I loved the snow. I guess you never get over that basic emotion. But now, snow costs money. Plowing at Sundance. So I'm happy both ways this winter.
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Pats at Indianapolis tonight. I'm not going to predict a win, but I never saw the Patriots get this close without going to the Dance. The Bruett's invited us over to watch the game, but I don't know. The chances of losing are slim, but it would be embarrassing for Greg to see me weeping like a girlyman.

Jeremiah Johnson

A 1972 film starring Robert Redford and depicting "Liver Eating Johnson" who carried on a twenty year vendetta in Wyoming against the Crow Indian Tribe who had killed his wife.
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Easily my favorite movie ever. I must have watched it fifteen times before tonight. The soundtrack is great if you like acoustical music like I do. Very simple, brutal, survivalist theme. I've often wondered why I like this movie so much, and have developed a few theories, which I don't think I am ready to share with you.
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"The way that you wander, is the way that you choose.
The Day that you tarry is the day that you lose.
Sunshine or Thunder, a Man will always wonder,
Where the fair wind blows.
Where the fair wind blows."

Tender Waits

Even if I had good weather like this, I couldn't get stuff done on the Tender because of all the other things going on.
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Darwin and Sundance have me straight out, plus some more stuff that I'll tell you about later.

About 19 hours of interior sanding remain on the Tender before we can install the seating and sail supports.

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week - 3-07

Man, the weeks are spinning by. The Sundance school is progressing acceptably, except for some asshole who creeped out the Building Dept. I'm not going to mention his name, but we'll keep the cross hairs on him for years to come. Bad move on his part, and he'll never know what hit him when the time comes. I'm not vindictive, but that m-----f---- is going down.
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Now for the Nanepashemet Peep of the Week Selections.

• Steve Lewis
• Nathaniel Clarke
• Ryan Nestor
• Ivan Salaberrios
• Dan Ross
• Frank Gaul

I was tempted to break the rule on the animals given the last two posts, but you have to keep some standards. It would be nice, though, if someone used the Lagavulin loophole one of these weeks.

Halifax and Rigger

Steve Lewis' dog in laws, Halifax and Rigger, obviously like a nice fire in a field stone fireplace.
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They also are ineligible for POTW.

Exception to the Rule

As you know, animals can not become a Nanepashemet Peep of the Week.
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So no matter how Jack Dog tries to convince me that he is worthy, it is to no avail.
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I don't care how sad he looks.... POTW must be denied to him.
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It's out of my hands.
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So stop looking at me.
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There's nothing I can do.
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If I made an exception for JackDog, then how could I ever face Ronick. Plus it's pretty cold tonight, and I need Ronick the cat to warm my feet at the foot of the bed. So I can't afford to piss Ronick off.
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Jack Dog, you're plumb out of luck.

Entitlement

A sense of entitlement typically causes hurt and resentment, when things don't work out in the manner that you think you are entitled to. For instance, you feel like you are entitled to honesty and loyalty from members of your family, and when that doesn't happen, it can really be painful. Best not to expect that you are entitled.

Bears Repeating

From Investor's Business Daily.

HOW YOU THINK IS EVERYTHING

Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.

DECIDE UPON YOUR TRUE DREAMS AND GOALS

Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them.

TAKE ACTION

Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it.

NEVER STOP LEARNING

Go back to school or read books. Get ` training and acquire skills.

BE PERSISTENT AND WORK HARD

Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.

LEARN TO ANALYZE DETAILS

Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.

FOCUS YOUR TIME AND MONEY

Don't let other people or things distract you.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO INNOVATE; BE DIFFERENT

Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.

DEAL AND COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE EFFECTIVELY

No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.

BE HONEST AND DEPENDABLE; TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Otherwise, Nos. 1-9 won't matter.

Disciplined Action

Isn't it weird that weight loss and obesity are such a national obsession? I personally struggle every day with overeating and gaining weight. I know that flies in the face of my image of being "rough, tough, hard to bluff, and damn good looking".... but it's true.
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Probably for the first time in history, we are not preoccupied with getting enough food. We are obsessed with finding ways to keep from eating too much!!! I suppose this is one of those good problems to have.
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All achievement comes from discipline.... taking a course of action and maintaining the discipline to stay the course.
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Getting into shape and losing weight is the most obvious example.
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Business success requires that you identify what you should be doing, and what you shouldn't be doing and continually redirect yourself to take consistent and coordinated actions.
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Better said than done.
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There are so many diversions, and uncertainties that interfere with your ability to take concerted, direct action. Basic lazyness and procrastination lie in between the diversions and uncertainties. Also time constraints and conflicting interests become deterents to disciplined action.
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No wonder it is so hard to lose weight... or succeed in business.

From Good to Great

Do yourself a favor and check JimCollins.com. He is a Stanford professor who wrote "From Good to Great" which I will read as soon as possible.

He asks three fundamental questions.

1) What are you deeply passionate about?
2) What are you are genetically encoded for -- what activities do you feel just "made to do"?
3) What makes economic sense -- what can you make a living at?

If you can come to the brutally honest answers to these questions, and discipline yourself to adjust your actions to work in concert with them, you can achieve greatness. At the very least, you could be happier at your everyday work.

Pats Beat SD Chargers

Phew! Patriots grit it out. Great competitive game 24-21. Hard hitting, grinding football. Not pretty in the vintage Patriots style.
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On to Indianapolis and Peyton Manning again in the AFC Chamionship Game next Sunday. Good Stuff.

Looking Back, Thinking Ahead

Some nice 1900 vintage Marblehead Neck Postcards.

Good fishing for Blues and Bass here.

I'd like to get the Herreshoff Tender out working these rocks this summer.

Balzac Discovered

My apologies to Mike Nestor and Tyler Gill. I was so sure that one of those two were hiding under false moniker of "Balzac". But Balzac recently came forward and identified himself.
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I can't reveal his identity. If he were to be known to be corresponding with Nanepashemet, the retribution from his peers and colleagues would be swift and deadly.
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I simply respect the fact that he mustered the fortitude to unmask his burdensome secret identity. A true profile in courage.
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Once again.... Mike and Tyler.... I am sincerely sorry. But then again, both of you are capable of saying the same stupid shit as the real Balzac. So I don't feel that bad.

Waiting Patiently

I've had my book proposal out for about two weeks now.
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No response.
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How do they expect me to help millions of peeps in need if I can't get one freaking book published??? Do these literary agents realize that they are delaying the advance of culture in our society??? Do they realize that people's livelyhoods and well being depend on this book being published? How do they live with themselves??
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Looks like I might need some divine intervention. I can't leave something this important in the hands of fallible humans.

Logo Update

I found a 14" round clock in the garage that I had made out of 2x6 hemlock about 30 years ago, so I used that for the sun part of the logo. The rays were cut from a 2x6 clear piece of spruce stock that I was saving to make spars with.
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At Home Depot, I picked up a 12 MM piece of poplar plywood that will be painted white and used as a backdrop for the logo. Primed everything with Rustoleum white primer and I will paint and install tomorrow.
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Rockett cut down the four spruce trees for the Sundance parking lot on Friday. It's too bad, they were over twenty five years old, but I have to deal with this rediculous off street parking requirement.
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In the meantime, Joanne has been wonderful to live with in response to Michael's relocation to Washington, DC. This will be an interesting transition.

Tuna Fish and Ginger Ale

Some things are made for each other. The best example is tuna fish sandwiches and ginger ale. Milk and tuna, coke and tuna... it's just not the same.

I'm sure you wise asses will come up with some other lewd combos. This is just a simple observation. Why do you have to drag everything into the gutter? Perverts!