Fierce Feeder Action

A great morning for the feeder. Despite the usual gorging by the squirrels and a flock of about a dozen Common Sparrows, the following species made an appearance.

Male Cardinal
Downy Woodpeckers - Both male and female
Eastern Kingbird
Chickadees
Tufted Titmice
Bluejays
White Breasted Nuthatch

This is my first confirmed siting of a White Breasted Nuthatch, although it is reasonable to assume there will be more of them around. They nest in woodpecker holes and dead wood, and are frequently found in the company of Titmice and Chickadees.
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At first I thought that the Nuthatch was a female Downy Woodpecker, but the blue feathers gave it away. A reasonable mistake that even accomplished Birders like you Peeps would make.
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An exciting morning.

Stupid Good Morning

Fires in California.
Drought in Atlanta.
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Other good reasons to come from Boston.
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I'll admit that I've been getting a lot of my information on these unfortunate situations from Good Morning America. Such Sclock journalism. You would think that the entire state was ablaze and that every person in Cal. was in Qualcomm Stadium. They interview individuals who lost their homes until they make them cry. They ask the obvious questions.... "Is there anything that you forgot to bring with you?".... all to elicit an emotional reaction.
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I'm sure they dream of the day when they can "report" on the Apocalypse. But they are too egotistical to note that they also would be doomed.
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In the meantime, we have little info on the true scope of the issue. From what I can make out, these fires and winds are blowing ambers and sparks that are randomly causing house fires. 1500 homes are lost. No other technical coverage regarding spread or duration of the fires, or overall impact. Of course, it's my own fault for trying to get the facts from Good Morning America. I suppose that I could get off my ass and actually research and read something.
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Red Sox start the World Series tonight against the Colorado Rockies, and I don't feel guilty. I actually feel guilty about not feeling guilty.

A Legend is Born

International Affairs

I grew up during the Cold War. We fought Communism in Korea, the Cuban Missle Crisis, Vietnam, Granada, Panama, etc. It was all so simple... the Communists, like the Nazis before them, wanted to conquer the world, and we were bent on stopping them.
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Military strategy seemed to be very simple. How many warheads did the Soviets have??? We'll make more. How many nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, tanks, etc.?? We'll get more.
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Then the Reagan administration committed to Star Wars, and the Russians threw in the towel.. They couldn't compete with our technology or economic ability to outproduce them.
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The current situation is way too complex. Al Queda doesn't want to conquer us. They want to annihilate us. They are not a government and they hide behind the Islamic religion, which has been perverted and sacrificed to their twisted aims.
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I'll admit that I don't get it. It seems to be a throughback to a medieval way of thinking emanating from a deep pyscholgical sense of self worth and self esteem. But that is just my amateur conjecture. I haven't figured it out yet.
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My Middle Eastern friends always point to Israel and the support of the West for that Jewish state as the cause of all of the issues. But then why did Sadam invade Kuwait, and make vicious war on the Kurds and Iranians?
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See what I mean??? It's wicked confusing and illogical. I yearn for the good ole Cold War Days.

Being Manny

I'll be going to Sarah Crawford's "M" Halloween Party this weekend as "M"anny #24 Ramirez. I don't care who else goes as Manny. There are enough dreadlocks to go around.

Feeder Action

At the feeder this morning has been a Tufted Titmouse, Chickadee and a Downy Woodpecker. I'm not boasting, just stating the facts.


Also numerous Sparrows, Blue Jays, and Mourning Doves.
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Mammals have included some squirrels, my two Cats, Izzy and Roenick, and the stupid German Shepard from across the street who decided to chase Roenick up on the deck.
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The positive spin to that episode is that my knee didn't hurt me in my high speed chase after the dog off of the deck and around to the front of the house.

Video Request

The response to my Marblehead Rock video was amazing. Now a vast number of you want me to film all of the backsides of the islands in Salem Sound. Unlike most of your pathetic requests and suggestions, this one is actually quite good, and I may even comply.

Another World Series.

Sox won the pennant with a sensational catch in center field by Coco Crisp. A comeback from a 3 to 1 deficit.
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It has to be heartbreaking for Cleveland, and for the guys who sold the insurance policy to Jordan's Furniture giving free furniture if the Sox win the World Series. Brilliant marketing.
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Loyal Peeps will note that I called it two games ago with a lock on gut feeling. No need for excess praise, but I did call it right. Time to celebrate for Red Sox Nation. Bring on the Rockies.

Over?

Up by 7 runs in the 8th inning. Justin Pedroia has broken it open with two hits in the last two innings. It ain't over till it's over. But it sure feels like it's over for the Indians.
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Youkilis just hit one into the Coke bottles. Now the are up by 9. 11-2. 3 outs away from the American League Pennant and a trip to the World Series.

On a Roll

Patriots emasculated Miami, as they have done for the previous six opponents. This type of play is unprecedented in my memory - for a professional team to completely dominate all in its path.
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I'm just glad it's the Patriots and not the Jets.
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Now for the Red Sox - Cleveland rubber match. If the Sox go to the World Series, what's next for Nanepashemet Telecom???? I'm thinking there is a positive connection.

Marblehead Rock

Back side of Marblehead Rock. On a beautiful October day. Maybe it's good that my left leg won't let me run. I never would have gotten out to row.

Boston Bounty

I hope that you dudn't hit this Blog to see if the Red Sox won.
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What do you think I am???? The freaking Associated Press?
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If you don't know who won by the time you get here, then your priorities are way off.
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BTW, Red Sox beat the Indians 12-2 and the American League Pennant is up for grabs tonight. But before that happens, we will be watching the Patriots tool on the hapless Miami Dolphins. With the Pats undefeated and some touting them as having the best offense ever, every game is an extra treat.
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Plus, we are looking at summer like temperatures today. A nice Sunday to look forward to if you're from Boston.

F-150 and Lobster Transaction

Broke out of the malaise and got some Dory work done today. Tyler Gill and Chris Crawford actually got me into gear, because they wanted to borrow the truck and the inside was such a mess that I had to get off my sedentary behind to clean out the cab.
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After that, I sanded all of the frames with the belt sander and the rotary Grizzly monster that I bought during a late night frenzy of irrational internet purchasing a number of years ago.
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Gilly and Chris returned the truck with a cooler of 10 lobsters. Excellent trade.
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We will boil them over at the Peabody's deck with the O'Shea's and be ready to slumber by the third inning of the Sox-Indians playoff game.
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Tomorrow, I will measure and attach the frames to the Dory bottom and the Strongback.
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Add another three hours to the Dory for a cumulative project amount of 23 hours to date.

Playoff Prediction

Game 6 will be at 5:20 p.m. Saturday, with Curt Schilling scheduled to start for Boston and Fausto Carmona for the Cleveland Indians.
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My prediction is a Red Sox win tonight, another one tomorrow and on to the World Series on Wed. Just a feeling that I have.
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If I'm wrong, you can rank, condemn and vilify me. What's the difference??? You'd just find another excuse to do it otherwise.

Cap It Off

A good week. Breakthrough actually.
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We penetrated a bit more into our most important carrier customer, made some inroads with a new carrier, tied into a nice tower company to contruct their towers, and picked up upon the scuttlebutt that our reputation is being "super responsive".
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I like that reputation. There's a lot of companies that can get it done, but being responsive is the key to delivering service beyond expectations.
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And Nanepashemet Telecom is "super responsive".
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I've had great success in this business working for the Man. But now we're the Man. And we're not doing anything different. This is going to be good.
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OK, I know you're saying that the Dory hasn't moved in weeks, the basement job is fallow and my marathon training is almost out the window.
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Thanks for wreaking it for me.

The Wocjik Supremacy

The thing that Bob Wocjik has going for him is that he is a PMP. It's kind of like being a "Made Man". You can screw with anybody, and nobody can screw with you. He must think he's Tony Soprano or something.
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Well Bob, I was a PMP way before you, so that tactic just doesn't wash here. We're on to you and your insidious tactics to mess with my training progress.
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This weekend, I'll rev up a workout by rowing the Herreshoff Columbia Yacht Tender a couple of miles around Marblehead Harbor.
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By the way Bob, it's a Tender.... not a dinghy. A real PMP would be getting it right after awhile.

Manny Being Manny

If the Red Sox lose tonight, then Manny Ramirez is a bona fide idiot.
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"Don't worry, be happy", just doesn't cut it sometimes. You just have to hustle a little down the first base line. This walking by Manny after he hits the ball ,is really starting to get on my nerves.
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This is for the World Series. Get freaking serious.
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At least Josh Becket is looking like the stopper. If the Sox can get back to Boston, it's a whole new ballgame. Cleveland is the real deal.

POTW 42nd Week of 2007

I made a huge mistake yesterday.
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Telling a few Peeps who I thought I could trust, that the reason I fell off of my workout plan was because of Bob Wojcik. I should have never followed his suggestion to stretch out my calves at the edge of a curbstone. It's been a ordeal even to walk since.
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But that's no reason for all the resentment, vituperation and vitriol that so many of you have been trying to lay on Wojcik. It's my bad... my fault.... my stupidity.... for taking his advise. He doesn't deserve your derision and blame. You don't even know him (he lives in Albany, NY, about six feet tall, blond hair, vacant stare).
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Even though he really screwed up my marathon chances. I will overcome this.

Announcing.....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 42nd week of 2007

• Bob Wojcik
• Brendt DiOrio
• Tyler Gill
• Mirela Marku
• Deborah Norville
• Coco Crisp

I'm begging you to leave Wojcik alone. Even though it wasn't his fault, he really didn't mean it. Being a peep of the week is punishment enough.

Hitting Stride

A Salem Waterfront Hotel meeting, then coordination with our largest carrier customer, then a reconnaissance trip to a Methuen lattice tower made for an interesting day today. And that was just me. The other guys were on another construction job.

Kicking Ass and Taking Names.

Damn... we're getting good.

Mucho Molar

Dr. Danny Levy capped a broken molar for me yesterday, so now I have molar caps on both sides of my lower jaw. There will be trouble free chewing on both sides of my mouth for the foreseeable future.
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The novacaine is all worn off. They didn't even have to use the straps.
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I just thought that you should know.