Patriot Lessons

Tom Brady is the real deal.
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In the midst of the Superbowl hoopla in Arizona, he has been pummeled with all kinds of stupid questions by idiots with press credentials.
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Yesterday, someone asked him what he thought the "meaning of life was".
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In a perfect display of grace and poise, he answered "I throw footballs.... we're not out here curing cancer or anything." Then he went on to say that the stature that football gives him and his teammates might enable them to do something worthwhile for humanity off of the field.
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I think that his football work is much more worthy than he evaluates. By demonstrating a very visible professional demeanor, he gives valuable life lessons that his fans can emulate in almost any endeavor.
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Preparation
Focus
Staying in the Moment
Losing the Ego
Humility
Crediting the Team Role
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These are lessons that Brady and his team impart directly in the way that they play football. It's not curing cancer, but it's damn worthwhile.

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Plus Brady Dates Hot Chicks.

Tuna Lips said...

Therein lies his weakness, the dating part. Love 'Em and Leave 'Em is what ole TL does. Shoot, if he is anything like me, that boy would be gettin' more ass than a toilet seat. Not just one piece of pouty model pooh nanny. Don't get caught up in some sort of "who I'm supposed to be" dialectics, son. Just throw footballs and humps the honeys, Tommy Boy, its best to do yer thinkin with a cooz thats got a daddy complex ridin' like Mustang Sally. Shucks, line 'em right up, I got a lot of love to give!

McMahon said...

Hey J.

Don't forget that tomorrow is Peep of the week day. Can't have any more slackin out of you.

State of the Union

Watching President Bush address the Congress is a scary thing. Grown men and women, sitting in their party chairs in a ritualized display of approval and distain. At the same time, either clapping wildly or sitting glumfaced, based upon the political leanings of the President's remarks.
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We get older, but we really never abandon the behavior that we had in the schoolyard during recess. We just disguise it with different rituals.
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When I was younger, I used to think that there was a type of order and that the best example of this was in our governmental system. Now, as I have grown older, increasingly it seems that our civilized society is a big free-for-all, with the rules made up as we go along.

Christening

After the Nursing Home visit, Joanne and I decided to christen our new club card at the BYC. Didn't want to waste the nose hair trim.
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Joanne knows a lot of people in Marblehead because of her years at Sundance, and she immediately ran into friends. I may have a harder time fitting in.

Patrick said...

Everyone, be sure to vote on Tuesday, February 5th here in MA. And if you haven't selected a candidate, I would urge you to consider John McCain as the candidate who can best lead our country in the coming years. A man with the bearing of a stateman, respected around the globe, across classes, and among his peers. A collaborator, he will bring the leadership (not the PMBOK type, mind you)necessary to move the country forward, and empower each person in their own right to move forward. Not an abstraction. the real deal.

Underpowered Nose Hair Trimmer

So I'm taking a shower to get ready to visit Joanne's mother (i.e. my mother-in-law) at the nursing home. Everything went fine in the shower.... no mishaps or unusual circumstances.... but when I was toweling off, I noticed that my nose and ear hair was getting a little too bushy and required my monthly maintenance trim.
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Naturally, my Panasonic Nose Hair trimmer that runs on double A batteries could hardly power up. Just when you really need to trim, you get let down again.
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My Bad. I really have to invest in the heavy duty industrial model.

Tuna Lips said...

My 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Thistletwat, coulda used one of them new fangled nose-hair trimmers.

Saturday Satisfaction

Yesterday was a fun day.
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A little bit of Nanepashemet Telecom in the morning, then I shut it down to do a dump run. Two weeks of missing the curbside trash collection can be a messy thing - a bit of an overflow. So I brought four barrell loads to the Marblehead Town Transfer Station, which is a fancy name for the Marblehead Dump.
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I love it at the Dump.
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Everyone you see is always pretty friendly.... it seems that you capture the essense of their goodness.... at the Dump. In over 20 years, I've only had one bad experience there, which I won't tell you about. Painful memory.
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When I got home, Ryan and Will Crawford came over with a load of scrap wood from Ryan's basement renovation project. I was getting ready to knock apart some hardwood delivery pallets from our Telecom warehouse anyway, and cut it to size to burn in the fireplace this weekend. So I cut up the load of scrap wood and worked up a little sweat in the garage.
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Then I went to see my friend who doesn't want his name mentioned in the Blog. I can understand his concern. Anyone I name here usually attains instant celebrity, and many of you can't handle that type of pressure. My "Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog" is one such individual.
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So I had a couple of beers with "FWDWHNM in the B," then suggested that I pick up Joanne and make some pizza's for dinner.
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"FWDWHNM in the B" is allergic to cats, so he only comes to my house at special occasions, like when he has to borrow some tools. So when we want to invite him and his fascinating wife to my house for dinner, we usually pick up the meal and bring it to their house.
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Joanne bought some artichokes, roasted peppers and pancetta at the Community Store. Pancetta is Italian bacon and Joanne fried it until it was crumbly and crumbly and crispy. It was killer topping of the pizza.
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I'm not saying that my pizza is better than Vesuvius', but it's still damn good, and last night was some of the best that I've made in some time.

POTW - Week 4

I can't believe all the angst and vituperation caused simply by missing the POTW deadline.
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Peeps.... for two solid years, you've had your pathetic addiction tended to by the narcotic, narcissistic, and somewhat nasty, Nanepashement Peep of the Week selections. Do you think I'd let you down now? .... when you are hopelessly and hypnotically hooked on this hapless process?
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You have to admit, alitteration is definitely in my skill satchel tonight. W. Shakespeare would have had to take note.

ANNOUNCING
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 4th week of 2008

• Mike Rockett
• Dick Man
• Tito Francona
• Jim Plunkett
• Katelyn Nestor
• Tina Rhoades

I know it's a day late.... and I promised never to do it again.
Now you all know what Joanne goes through.

R & R

Starting feel like the walls are closing in. Time to bust out with some R&R. This week's successes in business are heartening, but I'm definitely feeling physically tired.
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The need to convert the business from Excel spreadsheets to Access databases has proven to be a sound move, and we haven't missed a step, but it's tapped a lot of energy.
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Once again, I fail to see how a lesser mortal could have coped.

Iceman said...

Makes me think of some of the BS business speak we used to hear from the Yeti. Applying gigantic termslike "holistic", "massage", "drill down" to essentially linear problems, and insisting on whole scale changes in thinking and work. No human insight whatsover, a chalk board leader. Most sentient beings understand that people hate change, and if it is to be done it must be incremental, essentially to get people to feel they own it. Not by friggin' fiat. Running a business like a newly ascended junta in a banana republic, great idea. that works, a lot. In Dreams.

So well done on the system upgrade, having the right tools that get the job done (instead of becoming to job) is huge. Working on an access db myself. Talk to me Goose. Roy Orbison was the man.

Anonymous said...

I guess we don't do peep of the week on time anymore?

I officially dropped out of my marathon training as well J. I peaked at 25 I guess. My knees can no longer handle the pain. Clearly you are the mountain of a man you claim to be because I don't think I could even consider it 20 years from now.

-mcmahon

Anonymous said...

This is great news! Maybe now you can squeeze a in workout?

Btw... can you send me your workout plan? I've read about a lot of different ways to get in shape but haven't come across the one you are on. Where did you find it? Muscle and fatness? What the hell is this???

-work out 3 days, take 1 day off;
-work out 1 day, take 1 day off;
-work our 1 day, take 20 days off;
-work out 1 day, take another 20 days off.

Way to test and push yourself. It goes without saying that your college roomie would not be proud of these efforts.

With these results, I can only hope that your commitment to your Customers exceeds the commitment to show to yourself.

Memo to John: Stop the excuses; find the time and get in shape. A healthy body is a happy, productive body.

Wojo

Tuna Lips said...

I find a nice relaxin' break from the type of stress you can only blog about is to glaze yourself a nice ham, break open a bottle of some fortified wine, grab the remote and wave your troubles away. And, of course, if you gots troubles in the form of a repo man or irate business partner, leave the hounds unfed and ready to release, maybe keep yer squirrel gun at the ready, like the minute men of olden times. I find random acts of sodomy is also a good stress breaker. Creativity is a must in my worlds. Its an empty canvas, paint yer pallet !

Facebook

A good start to a conversation has always been.... "Do you know What's-His-Face?" If a common friend or acquaintance is found then a kinship and frame of reference is established between the conversants, and it's easier to speak to the other person.
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Facebook does this on a global cyberspace scale. It's a comforting way to feel that you belong to a group and makes it easy to stay in touch.
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As you may know, I am not a superficial conversationalist. I'm probably too deep and complex for Facebook. But I recommend it for Peeps seeking solace.

Tuna Lips said...

By virtue of an FCC rulings, two court orders, and a ruling by the elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints (applicable only in Utah and the state of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico, birthplace of George Romney, Mitts daddy) I can not have a Facebook page. And those Mormons, Why that shouldn't even count. There is nothing, I mean nothing, wrong with donkey on consenting adult relations, and the documenting thereof. Thems the true sodomites. They can kiss my taint.

Astounding

Patriots won the 18th game in a row. They've gone all the way to the Super Bowl. But I figure you already know this.
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Now let's see if they play the Packers or the Giants.

Tuna Lips said...

What's astounding is the size of the ass on my son's lady friend. Jesus. Boy is licensed to drive the big rigs, I reckon. She was calling out Matt Lyght as a "big ole pussy". Light is one thing she aint. She drank the house dry and did some property damage before taking her show on the road, dragging my eldest, Ephus Jerome, along with her. Shame.

Mikey's Home

Mike came home from DC today. Always an event.
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Katelyn came in from South Boston and Ryan, Courtney and Will came over. Joanne is psyched because Will is spending the night, and she can be the Ultimate Nana.
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The Dark and Stormies have been flowing.
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Right now, Ben Martin, Steve Lewis and his girlfriend Jill, and Mike are strategizing in the kitchen over the course that the evening should take. Will they go to the Gerry, Flynnies or Three Cod???
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I'm thinking all three.
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We'll see how this works out at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning when I have to take Mike back to Logan for the flight back home.

Burdensome Dilemma

The pressure is on.
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Wojcik has me really on the ropes to get back in the mainstream of Blog culture. And in my heart, I know he's right. As pissed off as he makes me, I actually like the little peckerhead. He's Polish, but he's smart. And Tuna Lips was way too harsh on Wojo. TL .... there's a difference between evil and deranged. Learn to recognize it!
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But I digress . Let's continue talking about me.
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It's just that Nanepashemet Telecom has been so busy. Really crazy busy. Which is good, but it has crimped my style big time. I need to be calm, and a little bored to get creative, and it's been anything but that. If we just perform on the stuff that is in front of us in the first quarter alone, we could make our whole year financially as well as solidify the position of Nanepashemet in the marketplace. All we have to do is keep our heads, work hard, and do what we know how to do.
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So the dilemma is .... do I stay focused with my eyes on the prize, or divert into the itinerant world of blogging to satisfy the likes of Bob Wojcik and thousands of other pathetic souls who seek me out for daily and incessant guidance and inspiration???
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What would you do if you were me..... with an incredibly needy, almost cult-like, Peep following to support?
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Sometimes it's a burden to even breathe.

POTW Week 3

"The blog is suffering, much like your workouts!"
- Wojo

So Bob Wojcik decides to tell me that the Blog is suffering.... Et tu, Brute.
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Do you think I'm stupid Bob???
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Don't you think I know crap when I see it????? Not to mention write it????
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Once again, Wojcik succeeds in infuriating me. Go ahead... kick a guy when he's down. I know that the Blog is hurting... that I haven't had time to properly craft the level of literary excellence that you Peeps have grown to know and expect. I even went to the trouble to explain that I am completely preoccupied with some other stuff for the time being. But No. I'm held to an impossibly high standard by the pathetic, wanton, grasping masses.
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Don't you think I deserve a pass once in awhile????
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Man... why don't you just kill me and get it over with?

ANNOUNCING....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the Third Week of 2008

Bob Wojcik
Bill Hillegas
Vince Antonnacci
Tedy Bruschi
Leonardo Di Caprio
Lynda Murray

At least I'm trying.

Wojo said...

Do you think it is easy, calling out my Mentor? The man I look up to with utmost respect. Hell no!!! Nevertheless, somebody had to sack up and call you out. Had the roles been reversed, you would have had me for lunch a long time ago. In fact, if I were you, I would be disappointed that it has taken this long for any of the Peeps to question your efforts. That, in my opinion, is VERY unnestor like! We all deserve shame for giving you this extended free pass. At least I will be able to look in the mirror tonight. Question is, will you???

Tuna Lips said...

Good Christ on the road to Calvary, who is this ignant feller Bob who needs to get a new last name? Doedn't he know that those Polack types is among the dumbest breeds of humanoids? Don't go advertisin it, let alone braggin' on yer smarts, there, Bobinski, criticizing the like of a real American mick. And how bout you buy yerself another vowel from Vanna White there, Kielbasa boy, get in line with the times.

I do admire the on-line porn that originates in the regions formerly ruled by the czar, I grant you that. But shut your one-foot-out of-the-gulag arse and be thankful you are eatin' more than grass and moldy potatoes. I'm out.

Access Addiction

Trouble is brewing.
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One of our main customers wants our reports done in Microsoft Access rather than Excel.
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Access is a programmable database program. Years ago, I learned to program in dBase, then Hypercard. It is brutally addictive to me. And I'm not even that good at it. The other night, to the huge detriment of the Nanepashemet Blog Peeps, I didn't make one Blog entry as I obsessively worked on our Access database until David Letterman came on.

Cranston Again

Back to Cranston.
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Yesterday's snow day was a good chance to catch up on paperwork, which I did to a certain extent.
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Now back to juggling office and field work.

Tuna Lips said...

I tell you what else is abrewin', a big numero two for ole TL. That Green Chili Corn Chowder the illegals in the cafeteria stewed up has set my belly to a rumblin'. Look out below!

Whoa!

Did you ever feel like you were at a vortex.... a turning point..... that everything from here on in will be different?
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That's the inspirational and somewhat creepy feeling that I have now.
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It's definitely positive, but also challenging.

Tuna Lips said...

Sure have. Why, just last week I had such a feeling. I had just taken a dose of Cialis in anticipation of the wife swap soiree at the condo function hall. I was also tinkering with the stocks we had voted to implement at the last condo board meeting. See, some people don't follow the association rules, and we have no way to punish, shame and humiliate them. Until I harkened back to the treatment my pappy got back is Hecubus, Missoura. Pappy was found to be in violation of the local blue laws. The town leaders threw him into the stocks in the town square for all to see. Sweating like a whore in church in the noonday sun, pappy was a stoic feller, even whilst retching blood and bile.

So, we voted on implementing such a device so for as to stop such miscreant behavior as parking in the handicapped slot when you have a perfectly functioning walker, not offering likker at a house warming, or getting yer pet spade or neutralixed. So, I had used the mitre saw I found in Mr. Twatzinsky's locker to fashion a stock. I was varnishing the stock to give it that well-worn look, having recently taken what I call my "rocket launcher" with a gulp of chardonnay from the box. Vortexed the shiznit out of me. I got to trying out that huffin' like the way Shoo Fly did afore we had to have him institutionalized. That varnish packs a kick. Straight to the outer spaceosphere. So I know of what you speak.

Ticking Them Off

Remarkably, I ticked off every item in the to do list today.
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Doesn't happen often.
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With the big Nor'easter snow storm predicted for tomorrow, the schedule for the week is undergoing substantial revisions, which is not too bad, because a snow-in will allow me to get alot of the bookkeeping and other housekeeping chores that I have been neglecting in Nanepashemet Telecom.
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That's right..... even I have some loose ends to tie down every so often.

Sunday Fun

Peeps -
I can't deny that I am somewhat flattered by your concern, but why all the emails asking me what my plans are for this Sunday????
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Don't you have your own stuff to do? You shouldn't be so obsessed with my paltry, unpunctual plans.
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But just so you don't flip out and pull a nutty, here's what's in store for me today....
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• Put seed in the feeder.
• Check on the Lynn property offer that I'm brokering as a favor.
• Build doors for the trash bin at the side of the house.
• Make a visit to the Nursing Home.
  
• Clean up some Nanepashemet Telecom bookkeeping.

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Happy????. Maybe now you can make your own damn list.

Perfect Role Models

Last night the Patriots did what the Patriots do.
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They won the football game with a 31-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium.
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Next week they play in the AFC Championship game.
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17 Wins - 0 Losses. Against football teams whose players are all elite professional athletes.
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Tom Brady completed a record 26 or 28 passees, and said it was easy when the receivers all get open and the linemen keep the opponents away from him. I'm sure that his contribution wasn't easy, but he clearly understands and appreciates the interlocking contributions that produce this type of performance. He is certainly the type of leader that warrants a winning organization.
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The Patriots' focus and preparation on the present task at hand, and their resulting patient execution is a prescription for success in most all endeavors.

Clubber

I was never a big "joiner".
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Yet in the past year, I've joined the UMass Club, the Gerry 5 Volunteer Fireman's Association, and the Boston Yacht Club.
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Clearly something is going on here, and I'm not exactly sure what it is.
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I'm definitely not looking to make new friends, nor am I a social climber, but here I am joining these diverse groups and incurring charges for dues.
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In the case of the Gerry, a decent monthly bar bill as well. Somebody must have really banged my number that last time I was there.
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I did meet up with Greg at the Gerry this afternoon, and I guess it's cool to grab a beer in a place that you can claim for yourself outside of your home from time to time.
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The BYC and the UMASS Club also have great potential for entertaining Business clients.

Binnacle Definition

binnacle
noun

1. (nautical) The wooden housing for a ship's compass, its corrector magnets and illuminating arrangements; the log and other equipment for measuring the ships speed is also stowed there.