Business Confidential

There is a ton going on now, but most of it can't be let out because of business confidentiality. Maybe I'll disclose some of it in the book, when the heat is off. Probably not
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BTW, when the book is published, the loyal Nanepashemet Peeps will get complimentary signed copies. I know who you are.

A True Professional

Have I mentioned to you lately what a great mortgage broker Steve Lewis is?
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Well, he is freaking awesome, and a tremendous asset to VIP Mortgage. Thanks Steve. It takes a lot for the Crusher to be so impressed.

Raiders of the Northeast Kingdom

The quiet and tranquility of Vermont was grossly disturbed by these unabashed thrillseekers this weekend. While I was silently gliding in North Conway on my XC Skis, Katelyn, Jay, Stacy and Brian were adding carbon dioxide to our overburdened environment while screaming along in their God forsaken snowmobiles.
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Looks like they had fun.

Chinese Food for Thought

It's always interesting to see where the hits to this blog come from. Of course, there are the loyal Peeps who show up regularly, and if if wasn't for their involvement, I probably wouldn't be posting on this hideous site every day.
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But curiously, a great deal of the international hits come from China. Not sure why this is.

Almost There

I've got a feeling about this week. Something is going to pop. Lots of wheels have been turning on a big, complex machine for some time now.
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Hopefully, it will crank out a product that helps everyone. A win-win machine producing the greatest good for all concerned.
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A Nice Resource

The woods in North Conway have great groomed trails, and I can ski right from NorthBrook.
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Saw two small red squirrels, a chickadee and a mallard duck. I was pretty surprized to see the duck in the middle of the woods in a stream. Don't ducks fly south for the winter?
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This one didn't.
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The trails had about three inches of snow that was packed and grandular - no ice. Good conditions. It would be nice to get a couple more days like this in before the season ends. I'm not optimistic. Taxes and Sundance have to get done first.

Steamy and Scary

Would you get into a hot tub with this guy?
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Me Neither.
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Then there was the issue of having a deadly icicle thrust at us while we were innocently sitting on the couch.


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We were looking for a quiet evening, but then were forced to fend off these challenges!
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Other than that, we had a great time with Lynda and Will Murray at their condo in No. Conway

Weather Report

Really cold... the longest cold snap that I can remember... and no snow. Meanwhile, Al Gore and the Virgin Airlines guy are beating the global warming drum. A weird winter.
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BTW, you know the commercials about skiing at Wachusett Mountain with the fortyish two brothers and sister? Do they irritate you? Me too. WA WA Chusett. I will never ski there.
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This is the last weekend that I can kick back. With taxes and Sundance revving up, as well as a host of other ventures, there won't be anymore leisurely weekends until the spring. So, I'm going to get some XC skiing in up in No. Conway, do some serious couch potating, and gather strength for a big push.

Under Full Sail

Seems like a fair wind was blowing today.

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Lots of stuff falling in place. Sometimes when you listen to the voice in your head - your random thought - and follow it without judgement, things naturally seem to come together.

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I know this sounds New Age, but today it eerily had some relevance. I'll utimately disclose a lot of the details behind this stuff in my book, but I have to be discreet for the time being...

Week 6 - Peep of the Week

This was an easy week for POTW Selections. It was pretty obvious who should get the nod for a host of unambiguous reasons. Regardless.... that doesn't lessen the prestige or disgrace that a selection brings to a chosen Peep of the Week.

These peeps have the right to be proud, or embarrassed as the case my be.

Announcing.....
The Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the sixth week of 2007.

• Ben Martin
• Brian Butler
• Drew Jellison
• Steve Lewis
• Tommy Kallopoulos
• Lynda Murray

That felt good. Now back to more of the mundane and insignificant daily grind.

Thursday Again

That means that by the end of the day, there will be POTW thrills and disappointments.
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Who knew that Thursday could be such an important weekday???

KMA

I'm asking you nicely.... Please stop emailing me on a constant basis asking me how much weight I've lost. I don't think that I deserve having my mailbox clogged with hundreds of emails a day requesting that I divulge such private information.
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Just to stop the hysteria.... I've only lost 2.5 lbs. in the first week of my healthly lifestyle binge.
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This is a high achievement given the mountain of stress that the universe has steamrolled down on me last week. Usually, I resort to a double cheese, double pepperoni from Vesuvius, or a kettle of Macaroni and cheese when confronted with too many of life's challenges at the same time.
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Bring it on. Give me your best shot. Regardless of the crap ahead, I'm going to be one buff son of a bitch by March 21.

Home of the Brave

You had better be damn brave with the IRS and their power to assess charges in view of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Home of the Brave, but land of the free is a stretch.
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Don't tell me that freedom isn't free. We're outlaying our economic privacy to a ruthless, faceless bureaucratic agency who holds us guilty until proven innocent.
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So.... How is your day going?

Better Late Than Never.

I saw a couple of these Catbirds in my driveway last summer. and just identified them now. Never forget a face.

House Pets

We had a nice dinner last night at the Barnicle with Jay and Kate, who came to Marblehead with their dog, Jack.
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Jack Dog, the Pug, was excited to be here and kept running around the house, creating a mountain of concern from Isabelle and Ronick. The cats emanated a little hissing, but thankfully no domestic pet violence.
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Izzy and Ronick both slept with us together last night though. I can't remember the last time that they were both on the bed at the same time, for any continuous period. Jack Dog deserves the Nobel Peace Prize if he can bring those two together.

Rome Again

The HBO series, Rome, is back with season two. This show alone is enough to subscribe to HBO. We can never truly know, but it seems to depict a realistic version of how life might have been in Italy at the time or Julius and Augustus Caesar. The story of Caesar motivated Shakespeare and remains today as the highest form of drama.
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Well done with acting and sets, down to the colors of the buildings and the extensive graphic graffiti on the walls.
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One thing that is perplexing though.... Why is it that the film industry always represents Romans speaking with English accents?

Superbowl Sunday

An unofficial holiday in the United States. With the Patriots not in it, you have to root for the Colts. Manning deserves it. Plus the Patriots annihilated the Bears in the regular season. Sarah Crawford invited us over because it is Chris' birthday.
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No offense to anyone, but I had plans to stay at home and eat Buffalo wings with Joanne. Lay low and stay out of trouble.

Wardrobe Threat

By the way, I'm kicking ass with my weight loss program. 2 1/2 lbs lost since Tues. Course I haven't really eaten much except for when Ryan and Courtney came over, and even then.... no carbs. Plus I've been working out semi hard on the Cybex stationary bike. Joanne cleaned out Mike's room since he moved to DC, and she moved the Bike there.
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The last time that I had a significant weight loss, I got off of the carbs, but never really stopped having a beer or two at night, and certainly didn't get a daily exercise burn in. That time I lost 20 lbs in about a month.
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This time, it's diet, exercise, no weekday evening beverages, and probably a lot more business stress. The deadline is March 21. Plus I have the Peeps to cheer me on this time. Can't miss.
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Hopefully my clothes will still fit, but it would be a pleasure to buy smaller sizes. I do have some really cool clothes though.

Metz a Metz

One of those days. Got a lot done, but didn't feel good doing some of it.
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I can't really explain without compromising business confidentiality.
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On the good side, I settled the Sundance Elevator order, finalized the handicapped Bathroom issues and bought some real nice entry doors that will open to the outside per the wishes of the Marblehead Building Dept. These were special order doors that I got at a real nice price from the Peabody Building Products Outlet. A great referral from Sparky and Mike Rockett. Paid some bills that were due. Always a good feeling when you have the funds.
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I also had a nice conversation about China with a guy whose name I cannot reveal.
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Some really unpleasant shit happened that I can't tell you about. Business is Business. Some things never change.

Week 5 - 2007 Peeps of the Week

Another Thursday. POTW Day.

The elevator issue at Sundance definitely has me frazzled.... because it is going to make me broke. Plus, the Cingular capital freeze is a downer. Two money issues that have been playing havoc with my nervous system. Experience tells me that this too shall pass. But that simple phrase doesn't loosen the knot in my stomach.

At least I can turn to the weekly POTW selection process for solace and consolation.

So....
Announcing the Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 5 or 2007.

• Sarah Jane Freymann
• Dr. Louis Casale
• The Salesguy at Joe Jones who sold me the XC Skis
• Jan Cyr
• Mike Chandler
• Ben PC Wong

Now back to the hand wringing.