White Flag

I had to surrender.
~
Filed extensions for both Sundance and Nanepashemet with the IRS.
~
The corporate filing deadline is March 15, and I wanted to make it, but only an all-nighter would have pulled it off, and I'm saving those efforts for a special occasion. I do intend to stay on this task until the returns are filed, and my country knows exactly how much money we made last year.

Naive

Think that killing people to destroy the evidence will save you?
~
You forgot about the Law of Karma.
~
Don't be a Pussy and scream on the way down. Take it like a man.

Criminal Behavior

Some Crimes are not against the law.
~
Leaving millions on the table, and ruining careers based upon business incompetence and chronic, myopic, CYA is a crime that should be against the law.
~
And I'd love to be the Prison Guard.

Outlook

Nature played a cruel trick on us today... 60 degrees, like it's going to be like this from now on. It won't happen. Less than a week ago, I was freezing my ass off going to the Boston Govt. Center garage in single digit temperatures with a driving wind.
~
Today, the Sundance project hit the home stretch. Mike Rockett provided the catalyst, and Eyk Van Otterloo covered the unknowns. Sparky and Eric Rumpf filled in some other gaps. Sundance will be fine.
~
Nanepashemet Project Management also had a banner day. Huge potentials from two diverse clients. Waiting on one more, and it will be an unprecedented outlook. Peeps, I will tell you if it starts to suck, but it doesn't suck... the view from here and now is awesome.
~
Even finishing the Tender seems possible.

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.