North End

Dinner with DiMatteo and a player to be named later at Trattoria di Monica on Prince Street in Boston's North End.
~
DiMatteo is the zen master of North End Italian restaurants. Never a bad meal.
~
Always start at Cafe della Sport on Hanover Street.... always end at Joe's American Grille on Atlantic Street.

More Internal Revenue Services

So now the IRS sent me a bill saying that I owe $132 from my 2004 taxes. No explanation or anything. I'm paying them immediately, but I don't think they'll appreciate it. Just one adventure after another.

Suck Brothers

Joanne and I took a nice walk along Devereaux Beach in the 40 degree sunny weather. We saw some sea birds in the water that looked a lot like loons and we also saw Danny Marcus.
~
Danny was one of the original "Suck Brothers" of Marblehead Youth Hockey. A great guy.
~
He and Ralph Sevinor used to talk about who sucked on the ice, which could get on your nerves. Then we started to call them the "Suck Brothers", and everytime they said someone sucked, we would all crack up.
~
Funny how you can change your perspective from something that is irritating to something that is laughable.
~
BTW, Gill, you must be spelling the address wrong. Hundreds of other peeps got it right.

Saturday Night

Watching Borat on DVD with Joanne and Kathy Peabody. It is so funny, that it hurts.
~
I've also rekindled my interest in Whiskey Sours. So far, I've told you about the Dark and Stormies, and Seagrams and Cider, and I don't think that another favorite cocktail will confuse anyone.
~
So here is my famous recipe for Whiskey Sours.
~
Fill a mid sized glass half way with ice, cover the ice with Jack Daniels, add some concentrated lemon juice, put in half a packet of Splenda, fill to the brim with Ginger Ale (I prefer diet for health reasons). Adding fruit is optional. Stir briskly. Drink. Repeat.

Dump Run

Have to make a drive this morning to move clutter from the house and get it to the dump. I'll concentrate on bagging junk until 1:30 PM, then make a dump run.
~
After that, it's all taxes and accounting for this fun weekend.
~
Do we know how to party or what!!!!

Weekend Update

What's up for the weekend?
~
I really wanted to go x-c skiing up in No. Conway, but the more mature choice is to tackle the corporate taxes for Sundance Pre-School and Nanepashemet Project Management.
~
The corporate taxes are due March 15.
~
If you're expecting me to rant about taxes in America, then I'm sorry. I just can't go there every time. But then again, the oppressive tax system is stealing a weekend of my life.

Transition

It seems like an extraordinary amount of change is in the air, like the universe is switching channels. Some of those closest to me are undergoing various important transitions.
~
Change is always tough, because uncertainty of the outcome causes anxiety. Generally, we fear change.
~
But change is the opportunity for new experience, and growth. And that's what we came on Earth to do.... to experience things.
~
So embrace change. Don't be so judgemental.
~
Trust that God knows more than you do. And make the best of it.

Stock Tip

Now that Mike Nestor and Nathaniel Clarke are working together down in DC, it's only a matter of time before the BearingPoint stock spikes up.
~
I'm no Jim Cramer, but I know an investment opportunity when I see one.

Week 10 - 2007 Peeps of the Week

Sorry I'm late. The New England Wireless Association Meeting at the Bell in Hand Bar on Union St. in downtown Boston turned into an open bar four Guiness affair. Then a crawl through single digit temperature and cutting wind to Donovan's in the Faneuil Marketplace for a couple of single malts that tasted like Oban. Plus I had to listen to the DiMatteo boys wax about their tastes in music.

When I got home to Marblehead, I hardly had only ennough time to fry up two Bubba Burgers, and get to bed. So I'm getting the POTW selections out late. Get over it. I have a good excuse.

Announcing the Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week

Eddie Nabors (the guy who won Mega Millions)
Lou Tarmey
Jean Shepard (of the Grand Ole Opry)
Chris Crawford
Keith DiMatteo
Jeff Previte

I'll be back on track next week

Hold Your Horses

It's Thursday morning. You won't know the Peeps of the Week until sometime tonight. So back off!! What do you think.... that all I do is ponder about the POTW selections??? I have my own work to do. Why don't you consider doing your's and leave me alone.
~
It's not going to be you anyway.

Mental Exercise.

Try this exercise.
~
When you get up in the morning, visualize what your day will be like. What appointments do you have? What things are you working on? What issues are you trying to solve?
~
Now visualize that everything that happens in the day is a good thing and in favor of you. Imagine that it is the end of the day, and everything that happened was great.
~
I swear to all that is holy, that this freaking exercise works. Take it seriously. It freaking works.
~
You will have a great day. What does it hurt to try?

Real Progress

Tender remains unfinished. But Sundance is really on a roll. The Rockett crews are in high gear and the place looks great. If I was a toddler, I'd love to go there.
~
Even the freaking elevator is in construction.

Lottery Malfunction

We lost.
What a shocker!
Must be a mistake.
Didn't hit on one number.
Back to making millions the old fashioned way.
Damn!!!

When I Win the Lottery

I've been thinking about what I'm going to do when I win the Lottery.
~
To say that your life will not change is ludicrous. All of your relationships will be altered by people being envious, disengenuous, spiteful or otherwise. Virtually no one will think of you in the same way.
~
Your true friends will be diluted by pseudo wellwishers and phoney hangers on.
~
So far, not a pretty picture.
~
But I've already been through extreme ups and downs. And I know who my friends are. So I'm prepared for the reactions. That will not deter me.
~
I will pay down my mortgages first, and own my real estate outright. Then I will establish liquid investments that will pay for the taxes, insurance and maintenance of my house, condo, and the Sundance Pre-school. I will then invest enough for minimum annual income. Maybe kicking off $200k per year. That will stabilize my current situation for eternity.
~
I will also give all of my kids and extended family $1m each.
~
After capitalizing my businesses and current partners, I will open up a boatbuilding shop that manufactures cedar strip wooden boats. I will create a market for sailing dories and traditional Herreshoff styled boats throughout the Eastern Seaboard. I'll initiate fishing and sailing clubs as well as boatbuilding classes. And I'll write about it all.
~
What will you do?

Charge Numbers

So... You're sitting at General Dynamics, bored out of your mind. Believe me, I know the feeling. But that doesn't mean you can take that valuable time to bang the Nanepashemet blog for over 7 hours and easily 50 hits.
~
Do you have a charge number for this?
~
Searches for Lou, Mike, GD. Seriously, I'm a stockholder and a pensioner. Get back to work and Get a Life.

Mega Millions

A $355M Jackpot - Lump Sum $147M - After Taxes - $70M.
~
So we're really aiming for a $70M payday. That's good enough. But then if you gave $1M to each of your family, they would have to pay gift tax on that.... probably about $500K. I've already paid the taxes on that money!!!!
~
Do you see why I get riled up over the tax system??! We get crumbs, relatively, compared to the money that we actually earn or win.
~
So what would you do with the $70M?
~
For starters, I would buy a bottle of Lagavulin.... at the distillery in Scotland.

Laid Back

Lots of mental activity, but hardly anything physical. Lack of balance doesn't seem healthy. I will press to rectify the imbalance this week. There is no redeeming value in a couch potato.

Johnson's

We had dinner at Dale and Gail Johnson's house last night. Grilled Lamb, Salad with avocado and papaya, Dark and Stormies, Brussel sprouts, Sweet Potatoes. They also supplied fun and thoughtful conversation.
~
I highly recommend having dinner there.

Basement Remodel

Ripping out the cabinets and the carpet. As usual, the projects are getting out of sequence. I really wanted to get the Tender done first.

Enough Already

Have you noticed that in the last five posts, three had quotations from the Bible? WTF is going on?
Sorry.

Religious Sayings

The problem with a lot of religious sayings is that you tend to read them, then not see the practical relevance because on the verbiage or context in which they are written. Let's face it.... biblical quotes are written in a version of English common over 400 years ago. It's hard to feel the relevance behind the prose. But if you peal it down, it can hit you hard with the practicality.
~
Like the story of Jesus turning the other cheek.

"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." - Matthew 5:38
~
It is really practical advise on the only true way to disarm your adversaries and gain the upper hand.

Doesn't Hurt to Try

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." - Luke 11:9

"If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. " - Matthew 18:19
_________________________________

Imagine that the Bible is real, and you can have anything you want, simply by asking sincerely and prayerfully, and that by believing that you have already received your wish, it comes true.!!! That's what these authors are saying.
~
Why don't you try it? No one has to know, there is no embarrassment. It's a silent exercise between you and your Almighty.
~
Just make your request to God and instill your belief and feeling that you already have what you wished for.
~
Let me know how you make out.

Onward

Both DiMatteo and I gave our resignations today. A most surprising turn of events. Destiny beckons.

Never Say Never

Christ said that if a man would have faith, he can move mountains. I used to think this was bullshit, now I know that it is rock solid. Nothing is insurmountable. Every problem can be solved by the exercise of truly trying to resolve it. And the results can be miraculous.
~
Mountains can be moved.... Instantly.... If you have the will and resolve.
~
If you want something, truly want it, you can attain it.
~
Be careful what you ask for, and have the courage to seek what you truly want.... not what you think that you deserve, or should have.

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

- J. Christ

~
So... What are you waiting for?

Departed

I'm getting ready to watch "The Departed", a Martin Scorsese film based upon Whitey Bulger in South Boston.
~
I hope they don't glorify him.
~
People who think that the Sopranos or the Corleones are something to emulate have a screw loose.
~
Ultimately, those mobsters all get ruined. People who think they are cool, always forget the ending of the stories.

Imus

Don Imus of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning gets it. Plus he has an attitude. I fully expect him to promote my book soon.

Nice Evening

Finz
Glenmorangie
Balveinie
Salem Waterfront Hotel
Jameson
~
Damn... if you overlook the myopic stupidity of those who insist on losing millions to save thousands... it's still all good.
~
I don't understand it. But I've seen it before. They declare victory.... and lose a fortune. To call them losers doesn't seem to do it justice. They are colossal, stupendous, humongous losers.
~
That's a better description.
~
Putting them in the rear view mirror.... receding fast.
~
Enough of that.

Peeps of the Week

Regardless of my vacation day, I have no choice but to get the POTW selections out for Week 9 of 2007. It's been a real interesting week... with a lot of annoying stuff, but also a a lot of inspiring stuff. Nobody gave me a bottle of Lagavulin like last week, so there will be no automatic selections. Maybe next week.

Announcing ...
The Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for Week 9 of 2007.

Al Perkins
Sparky Spillane
Dave Bruett
Steve Garten
Ed Hudson
Natalie Jacobson

Winners/Losers All.
Ok, settle down, It's not all about you!!!
Let them have their glory/disgrace.

Vacate

Trying to take a vacation day this Thurs. and Fri. If you check your email and your voicemail while you are on vacation.... then you are not on vacation. The vacation part has to do with your mind, not where your body is located. I don't have any admiration for workaholics.
~
Despite this lofty position, I always answer my cell phone. And the good stuff keeps on coming in!!!! Man, I wish I had this streak on the BlackJack tables at Vegas.
~
It will be good when I come back from vacation.

How True

"There is nothing worse than aggressive stupidity."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You go, Johann Wolfgang!!!

Morning Outlook

Do you believe that you create your own reality? If that is the case, then this is going to be a great day... not to mention year. I'm expecting some awesome results from the reality I'm about to create.

GD Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of my severance from GD. As part of the terms of my relatively lucrative severance agreement, I was not supposed to say anything bad about General Dynamics, or recruit their staff, or work for some of their competitors for one year.
~
As if a multi-billion dollar defense contractor had anything to fear from me. But now the year is up.
~
I wouldn't worry if I were them. They owe me a pension and I want them to be around when I retire.

Forward Progress

Do you ever have days when everything clicks? From 8:30 this morning to 5:30 tonight, it was all good... a very powerful day.
~
You have to take the time to appreciate a good day like this. Reflect on why things went so well. I'm thinking that when you eliminate the negative environment, and start to think the positive thoughts, you get flooded with the good stuff.
~
I won't be putting up any sand bags to stop this flood.

Thanks to Eric

Eric Rumpf from the Rumpf Design Group dropped by tonight with the plans for the Sundance elevator.
~
Eric is one of the all time good guys..... a real professional with tons of talent, who is not full of himself. He has a great sense of humor and is fun to be around. If he is working for you, then good things are going to happen. I really respect him.

Choices

To the paranoid losers out there. You know who you are.
~
You'll get treated the same way that you treat others..... No better, no worse. So it's up to you if you want to get your ass kicked. I'm from Lynn....
~
Plus I'm Irish....
~
It's been said that the Irish hate to fight... until they get into a fight. Then they love it. I learned a lot at the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 10, when I was a young man. My patience is getting short.

Roman Addiction

All week you look forward to Sunday night to see the next episode of Rome on HBO. Then they show repeats!!!
~
Damn... it's still great.

Personal Improvement

I have to confess that when people tell lies, and try to manipulate me, I tend to overreact.
~
That's just the way I am. It's kind of my pet peeve. Really sets me off. Gets my Irish up.
~
I'll try to be the bigger man, and not be so damn vindictive. Common sense says that vengeance gets you nowhere.
~
It's not easy.

Triple P

I'm pretty sure that I'll look back at this day as being one of the great ones. ....
Pivotal to a Positive Position.

Whatever

Joanne is making me watch Brokeback Mountain with her. And I am definitely grossed out. She says that I have a double standard because watching Lesbians doesn't bother me.
~
OK
~
She's right.

At Rest

I found out today that the graphic that I like so much... of the peaceful Maine Matinicus Double Ender lobster boat... is the work of Christine Knight Coombs from South China, Maine, and entitled "At Rest".
~
If you found solace from that work, I highly recommend that you visit her web site. http://chriscoombsart.com

Opening Doors

Interesting opportunities are cropping up. Getting the calls. It's weird how one door opens when another closes, but nonetheless this theorum is valid. I wonder how long it will take before science validates the law of attraction.
~
We have already proven that the universe is composed of various combinations of atoms - all of which have different degrees of attraction to each other. We are truly one with each other and with the universe. How our thoughts and actions affect the interaction of these atoms has not been defined scientifically, but certainly philosophers and religious leaders have filled the void with perceptions of this truth.
~
My own experience tells me that the coincidences of life events are too bizarre to be left to random chance. Something guides the synchronicity of circumstances that affect us daily. Calling it God suits me. You can call it anything you like, but something is pulling the strings.
~
Time for a scotch.

Sure Cure for Stress

Feeling stressed out?
~
I highly recommend a large, pepperoni, garlic and extra cheese pizza from Vesuvius Cafe in Marblehead. Sure cures the hell out of me.
~
Course there are some side effects. Like feeling like a fat shit the next day.

Saturday

Even though Thursday has so much significance as the Nanepashemet Peep of the Week day, I have to admit that Saturday is my favorite day.
~
Sunday is good, but you always have that nagging..."What the hell do I have to do at work tomorrow?" ... feeling. I don't know about you, but that "tick, tick, tick" stopwatch sequence on the Sixty Minutes program on Sunday night always is a downer for me. It means that the fun weekend is over.
~
But Saturday is perfect. You have your Friday night blowout behind you, and a leisurely Sunday morning in front of you... and nothing but Saturday in between. Even when I work on Saturday, it's always an informal, get something done and out of the way day.
~
There's always a chance that Joanne and I will get to see some of the kids on Saturday.
~
Saturday is the best bet to catch some work on the Tender.
~
I usually fish in the summer on Saturday.
~
Saturday night is the best night to have dinner and hang with your friends.
~
It's Saturday. Rock on.

PEEPS - week 8 - 2007

Today was particularly stressful. While I don't believe in Black and White, today the shades of grey were excessively dark.

Truth is relative, but you cross the line when you get to half truths. My problem is that I am just too nice of a guy..... then people get caught off guard when they see what a crazy prick I can be. I should be more of a prick all of the time to lessen the shock.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week

Tom DiMatteo (automatic Lagavulin rule)
Jennifer the Atlanta Delta passenger
Rose Nyguen
Eric Johnson
the Puerto Rican Porsche Driver
Bill Hillegas

Screw it. I can't shake the Mr. Sunshine image overnight.

Fortitude

Between San Juan and Atlanta, we had some very revealing meetings with the carriers for Darwin. The projects we are pursuing take a good deal of incubation before they hatch, but Eric Johnson and Jay Ohanian are definitely up for the task. Not everybody has the intestinal fortitude, patience and insight to make money in this industry and market.
~
Today is POTW day. Those unfortunate/lucky individuals will have their glory/disgrace by 8:00PM this evening. Have a nice day.

Panera Bread

In Atlanta with Jay Ohanian at a Panera Bread accessing the net for free. This chain could be my office away from home. Good food, healthy selections, free internet... a good find.

Lapse

Sorry for the lapse in posts. I had to go to Puerto Rico Sunday morning for two business meetings and got home at 3:00 AM this morning after a huge screw up where the connecting flight crew didn't show up in Charlotte, delaying a 9:00 PM departure to 12:00 midnight. Plus, there was never an opportunity to log on. I know this is boring and of no interest to you, but it must be entered for the record.
~
After all, this blog is destined to be a side bar in the Akashic Records of man's existence on earth.
~
As for this blog getting sluggish, I agree. There actually are some extremely exciting and stressful things going on which I can't reveal at this time for a number of confidential reasons. Hang in there, things will pick up when the coast is clear.... probably in the next few days.
~
BTW, Puerto Rico on business is the pits! I'm sure that if you are on the tourist trail, you can find nice places, but the Marriott Courtyard in downtown San Juan is as painful as anywhere, and the area creeps you out with the bars on all the windows and barbed wire in great abundance. I get a kick out of Joanne who was semi-disappointed that I didn't take her.
~
I took out some frustration by trying to race a Porsche with my rented Nissan Altima. The guy didn't even realize that I was trying to make the challenge.

Dinner Party

Had a nice visit with the DiMatteo's tonight. Joanne did her magic in the kitchen and created an unbelieveable pasta with lemon, asparagus and red peppers - along with her usual superb pork loin roast. Tom and Laurel are great company.
~
Tom also brought me a bottle of Lagavulin... you know what that means! He is the first automatic Peep of the Week for 2007.

Tax Time

Time for our government to keep the money that they've taken from you all year, and ask for more. Strike that.... Take more.
~
It's enough to make you lose your sense of humor.
~
Regardless.... the latest undetectable by radar fighter jet that the Air Force is developing costs $28M each... and we are making over 300 0f them.
~
It costs money to kick the shit out of anything that enters our air space.
~
So let's pony up. It's tax time.

Rejection

After about two months of correspondence, I was rejected by the last two book agents that I was dealing with. What's up with that? Don't they realize the huge opportunity that they have passed up? Not to mention the money, prestige and honor???
~
Obviously fate has picked another as yet unknown agent to represent the "Nanepashemet Boatbuilding" book. I'm sure that the worthy agent will appear as soon as I conduct the next email blitz.
~
All of the book publishing pundits say to expect a lot of rejection, but this book has too much to give to humanity to go unpublished for long.

Loss Update

5 lbs. in two weeks. At this rate, I'll be at my desired weight in 20 weeks. That's four months.... July!!!
~
They'll be some awesome topless cookouts this summer.
~
Now I have to figure out what to do with the hair on my back.

Thursday POTW

Once again.... the burden of responsibility. Peeps of the Week must be chosen despite the cold and icy weather. After all, it's Thursday. The burden cannot be taken lightly.
~
Let's see...
~
Who was inspiring? Who was annoying? Who deserves the ultimate honor and/or embarrassment?

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the seventh week of 2007

• Dave Fortier
• Magnus Ojert
• Jill Peabody
• Thomas Peabody
• Mike Lane
• Emily Engardia

Now let's move on.

Oracle

I've never seen a robin in the snow, in Feb.... until today. Seemed weird. Lately I've been seeing birds in places that don't seem right - the Mallard in the woodland brook, and the robin.
~
If I was an ancient Greek, I'd probably consult the oracle at Delphi to see what these omens were about.

Law of Attraction

It's not bullshit. More to Follow.

One More and We'll All Leave Together

"I love Scotch. Scotchy, Scotchy, Scotch." - Will Ferrell

Happy Valentine's Day

Nice pictures of the Peabody Twins and beautiful Pheobe Piscatelli made it to us in time for Valentine's Day. There is hope for humanity.
~
They will be contemporaries for the Nestor boy who is supposed to make an appearance in June.

A Beautiful Heads Up.

And while we're on the subject of cool peeps, Brian Butler tells me that there is a liquor store in Peabody that sells Lagavulin for under $60.00 per bottle.

http://maps.google.com/maps?source=ig&hl=en&q=south%20peabody%20liquors&btnG=Google+Search&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

~

Knucks to Brian.

Old Age

Hryhory Nestor, at 115, living in the Ukraine is believed to be the oldest living human in the world.
~
No relation.

Snow Day

We live in New England. Ice and Snow is not a phenomenon.
~
So why does the TV news coverage treat a snow day as a major reporting event? On Boston Channel 5, WCVB, reporter Shiba Russell is demonstrating how to scrape your windshield.
~
Give me a break! If you can't think of any news, put some music on or something.... Don't treat the New England audience like they were born yesterday.

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
~
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?
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
Hopefully, it will crank out a product that helps everyone. A win-win machine producing the greatest good for all concerned.
~

A Nice Resource

The woods in North Conway have great groomed trails, and I can ski right from NorthBrook.
~
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?
~
This one didn't.
~
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?
~
Me Neither.
~
Then there was the issue of having a deadly icicle thrust at us while we were innocently sitting on the couch.


~
We were looking for a quiet evening, but then were forced to fend off these challenges!
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.

~

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.

~

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.
~
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.
~
Just to stop the hysteria.... I've only lost 2.5 lbs. in the first week of my healthly lifestyle binge.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
Well done with acting and sets, down to the colors of the buildings and the extensive graphic graffiti on the walls.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
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.
~
I can't really explain without compromising business confidentiality.
~
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.
~
I also had a nice conversation about China with a guy whose name I cannot reveal.
~
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.

Squaw Sachem, Wife of Nanepashemet

The Mark of Squaw Sachem

Terrorism

When I was growing up, we were afraid of being nuked by the Russians. I remember the Cuban Missle Crisis, and the fear that I felt that a nuclear war was pending. We used to have air raid drills in elementary school where we would kneel in the corridor with our head against the walls.
~
As much as that sucked, I think that the environment that my grandkids will grow up in is worse, where people from a range of countries wish to bring havoc upon us for reasons that make no sense. How do you defend against an enemy that has no distinct country, and hates with no distinct reason?
~
At least fearing the Russians was easy and logical.

Not a Setback

I forgot that Ryan and Courtney were coming over for dinner, so I missed the burn, but it was worth it to see them. They are pretty excited about a bunch of stuff. All good things.

Negative One.

Since yesterday. I'm psyched. With a 1/2 hr. burn in this evening, I should be able to drop another one. Let's see if it's this easy after 15 lbs. or so.

New Motivation

I have to admit that during this snowless winter in Boston, I'm starting to really miss being out on the water. The Sundance Pre-School new site build and Darwin has pulled all of my time away from finishing the Tender, but I have to find a way to get it done in the next few months.
~
My appointment with Dr. Casale is in Mid-March, and he wants me on fish oil, aspirin and the HBP med. I'm also supposed to exercise for at least 30 min per day. As much as the Cybex stationary bike is great, I think it would be cool to get that half hour in rowing around the harbor.
~
That means I have to get the trailer assembled, registered and finish the damn Tender. Probably a good motivation. I'll be honest. I'd like to lose 20 lbs. in the next 50 days before my appointment. That's 3 lbs. a week for the next seven weeks.
~
Really, How hard can it be??? Go low on carbs, cut down on portions, no cookies, lay off the scotch (weekdays anyway). Get the 30 Min. in everyday, and gut it out for 7 weeks.
~
Time for a gut check.... literally.
~
I'll let you know how I'm doing, +/- , when I publish the Peeps of the Week each Thurs. for the next seven weeks.

Vertical Lift

Choosing the elevator for Sundance has been fairly stressful. Probably because it will be very expensive, and is only needed to meet regulartory requirements.
~
I don't even mind the matching handicapped "his" and "her" bathrooms on the bottom level, because I know that they will at least be used, but the elevator requirement is silly and bureaucratic, based upon the amount of times that it will be operated for the use intended.
~
I have to bite the bullet and make the order, because there is a four to five week factory lead time.

Melt Down

With all good intentions today, I was home from No. Conway by 12:30PM. Ryan came over and told us about his trip to Arizona. By then it was 2:00 and rigor mortis set in. I was really paralized, and couldn't get to any action items. Took a power nap, but never rallied.
~
I did manage to read up a little on high blood pressure on the internet. Apparently one in three adults has HBP. Looks like I have to get serious and attend to this. Means losing weight and working out. How bad is that? I have another check up with Dr. Casale in mid March, and hope to make a push to change things between now and then.
~
Tomorrow, I'll be up at 5:30 AM, heading for the ariport to fly to LaGuardia for my Paramus Meeting with Cingular. I hope the lethargy has left by then. There is too much to do for this couch potato bullshit to be in the mix.

Sunday Anticipation

I have 19 hours of sanding to go with these 60 grit hook and loop beauties on the Herreshoff Columbia Yacht Tender interior work.
~
I'll leave North Conway by 9:00 AM after a quick try out of the new XC Skis. Home by noon, and hopefully I can fit in 2 hours of sanding then. Leaving 17 eventful hours. I don't care. The Tender will rock when it is done. And I'm not taking any shortcuts.
~
More basement clean up in the late afternoon, then get ready for the Paramus trip. No more Patriots games tying up productive Sundays.
~
I still haven't heard from my book agent. Looks like I have to toss the passive waiting mode and start barking. Nobody said it would be easy.

Time for the Time

I broke down today and bought a pair of Rossignol XC Touring skis at Joe Jones Sports in North Conway. The ones that Joanne and I bought when we were out at UMASS in the seventies are virtual antiques. I'm not kidding. I've seen the same model nailed to a wall in a restaurant.
~
My walk today convinced me that I should get out in the cold and solitude more often. Very cleansing, both physically and spiritually. So I figure that with skis, all that good stuff can get done quicker. Just kidding. But I think that physical exercise in solitude can get rid of a lot of demons. The key is to find the enablers to do it... XC skis, rowing the tender, jogging (ouch).
~
It's time to find the time.

Winter Stroll

OK, so I didn't go skiing afterall, but at least I got out for a walk around the North Conway cross country ski trails; eventually coming out to Route 16 at the Scenic Vista in Intervale.
~
Probably a three mile loop. I brought my camera, but didn't see any wildlife or birds, however, heard some chickadees. They obviously were mocking me.
~
BTW, the Scenic Vista is the sight of an annual Abenaki Tribe summer camp, whereby the Indians made a trek down from Quebec to fish and trade. The last encampment was in 1964.
~
It was pretty cold... under 10 degrees.

BC-BU Hockey

Watching the BC - BU hockey game. BC is winning 3-2 in the second period.
~
Maybe I should root for BU where I went to grad school, but my son, Mike, played with the the BC goalie, Cory Schneider, in Youth Hockey and on the Marblehead Hockey Team. Then Cory went on to glory at Phillips Andover and BC. Cory is a great kid. It's kind of neat to see him excel at BC, and move on to the pro ranks next year.
~
Brings big time hockey to a personal, manageable level. I'm happy, though, that I'm not slepping to rinks every weekend now, like Cory's parents are still doing.

Skiing

I'm up in North Conway and thinking of going skiiing tomorrow.
~
I know what you're thinking..... He's old, he's out shape, he's going to hurt himself.
~
Yeah, I think I will go skiing...... Screw you.

Misdiagnosis

My doctor thinks that I might have high blood pressure and that I seem stressed out. What an Idiot!!! What a Moron!!!! What the hell does he know about stress????
~
I'm freaking fine.

Thursday POTW Time

I almost went to bed after having my celebratory Lagavulin in honor of the Sundance permit. But then I remembered....It's freaking Thursday, and Thursday is Nanepashemet Peep of the Week day.
~
Imagine if I had forgotten to select the POTW???
~
Earthquakes, Tsunamis, possibly the end of life as we know it would undoubtably have been the result.
~
So don't panic. Ease the drama already. Here's the selections.

Announcing Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week 4-07

Amanda Johnson
The Bali Hai waitress who remembered that I always order the No. 32
Maddie Gill
Nancy Bruett
Alan Hezekiah
Bobby Wojcik

That's it. Now you can relax.

Reasonable Query

So often, my peeps ask me, "When you look out of your window at Darwin Partners, what do you see?"
~
It's a reasonable question and, since I am patient and amiable by nature, I am always happy to respond.
~
After all, there are no stupid questions. There are only stupid people who ask questions.

Building Permit Granted

Got the permit. Someday I'm going to tell my grandson how his grandpa stood there and took it like a man. Course, his inheritance took a major hit over this project. Time for a scotch... maybe even a Lagavulin.

Another Run

Eric Rumph and I are meeting with the Bob Ives of the Marblehead Building Department at 4:00 this afternoon. Since the New Sundance School site project is technically moving along under the residential renovation permit that I pulled, and other efforts that we can undertake, we are making progress, but I have to get the change of use permit which entails the requirements of a public building, namely handicapped access.
~
I really hope that the permit phase is behind us by the end of the day.

Buried with Paper

It's amazing how much crap gets mailed to me. And then I keep most of it! My initial emotion is always that I may need the information, so I better not throw it out. What a sickness this is!!! A couple of months of this behavior causes my home office to look like an archealogical dig.
~
No More! For now on, every piece of mail will be either filed or thrown away.... every day. The criteria for keeping something will be if I owe money, or can immediately make money. Otherwise, it gets tossed.
~
Magazines will be held for one week, then gone. (except for Wooden Boat and Fine Woodworking). I am going to clear the decks for action.
~
Let's see how long this resolution lasts.

All Fired Up

Captain Mike Porter of the Marblehead Fire Dept. has restored my faith in humanity. Thanks for the fire prevention plan approval Captain Porter! I was beginning to feel paranoid, plus I thought that everyone was out to get me. Operation Moonshadow is back on the happy path.

Thanks for the Inspiration

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26
times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed
over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

Thanks to Balzac for this great insight by basketball legend, Michael Jordan.

The interesting fact is that we have unlimited strikes at the plate... we have unlimited downs to make a touchdown. We just have to keep stepping up to the plate and take our swings. You won't be remembered by the number of swings you took, only by the hits that you made.

So... just keep running plays.

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".
~
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."
~
You have to wonder if the sturdy Marbleheaders who rowed Washington across the Delaware would be satisfied with this type of response.
~
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.