Today was another up and early day. The Building Inspector at the Town of Brimfield, Jack Keough, is only there for two hours on Friday morning and I had to make the 1 3/4 hour drive out to the Berkshires, leaving at 7:00AM. No problem usually except for the 4:00 AM gig the previous morning.
~
You know me....
~
I don't bitch and I don't complain. Those traits are just not in the repetoire of a Mountain of a Man like me.
~
But my concern is that these irregular starting hours have truly changed the routine that my body has been used to. In other words, I haven't had a solid waste passing in two days. That's right.... constipated..... damn constipated.
~
So by the end of the day today, my last stop was to get to Costco in Danvers and pick up a couple gallons of Newman's Own Grape Juice. This stuff has treated my digestive system like a ringer on a racetrack in the past.
~
After three big tumblers in the last hour..... nothing.
~
I'm starting to get concerned. No Camptown Races yet. Do Dah.
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Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Daily Grind
Started the day meeting my partner at 6:ooAM in Grafton on the MassPike, which is about 1 1/2 hours from Marblehead.
~
So you do the math. Got up at 4:00AM, printed out some stuff, hit the shower and jumped in the truck for the morning ride.
~
By 7:00AM, was sitting at the Charlton Town Hall, waiting for it to open at 7:30 so I could ask for the certificate of occupancy for the two sites that we built in that town. Left the files for the building inspector with the Administrator, Nancy, and went 30 miles further up the road to the Hampden County Registry of Deeds in downtown Springfield.
~
The Registry is on the fourth floor of the superior court building and there were tons of plaintiffs and defendants mulling around when I arrived at 8:30 AM. The security guards made me leave my digital camera with them which I hate because it could dissappear so easily, and I really need a good digital with me at all times.
~
After wading though the chainsmoking malcontents outside, I made it to the elevator and filed a decision of the Brimfield, MA Zoning Board of Appeals for recording. The stamp on the recorded docs would be proof to apply for the Building Permit in Brimfield tomorrow morning when the Building Department will be open to file between 10:00 AM and 11:30 only.
~
After Springfield, I deadheaded to Chelmsford to drop up some lease docs for execution at a Burlington site. Made it by 11:00 AM and was out by 11:15 and was on the road to Weston to file a permit to but an antenna on Regis College.
~
The good folks at the Weston Building Department have a lot of requirements and I found out that I had to get an original structural report from the Engineer in Downtown Boston, needed a signature from the College facilities VP on the Building permit application and needed to record a Zoning Board of Appeals decision at the Middlesex Registry of Deeds.
~
So that shot to hell my chances of filing for that Building Permit today with those three hoops in front of me to jump through. Put in some calls to see if I could get the Regis College signature, and made plans to pick up the structural on Summer St in Boston. I knew that the Middlesex filing would be a pain in the ass. It always is with the parking in Cambridge and the wait at the Registry.
~
Plus I had to deadhead to the Suffolk Registry of Deeds after picking up Katelyn for the passing of her South Boston Condo.
~
Got to Bowdoin St. outside of Katelyn's Beacon Hill office by 12:45PM, picked up Kate and went to park down at the Govt Center Parking garage. The closing went by without a hitch which is a miracle since everything in this deal seemed to be a chore. But Katelyn waded through it all, and I'm really proud of her.
~
After the passing, at 2:15. I was driving with Katelyn to her apartment in Southie and hopeing to grab a beer to celebrate and wind it down. But then I got a call from Regis saying that if I got back there within an hour and a half, I could get the permit signature that I needed. So I dropped Kate off and deadheaded to the College with a permit signature in hand by 3:30PM
~
I was in a debate with myself to see if I should go back to the Weston Building Dept and plead to file without the recorded ZBA decision, but ultimately resolved to go back to Cambridge and file in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds first.
~
Without a quarter in Cambridge, I took a chance at a meter and was in and out of the Registry by 4:00PM with no parking ticket. That was the fastest Middlesex filing in history. Virtually no wait.
~
The gameplan now would be to retreat back to Marblehead and make a run at the Weston Builidng Department tomorrow with all of their docs in place.
~
My GPS said I'd be back home by 4:30, but no freaking way with the Tobin Bridge traffic. Walked into Beverly Ave. at 5:15 pretty damn tired.
~
But it was a good day. and we kicked it pretty good on the Block Island RI project today too.
~
So you do the math. Got up at 4:00AM, printed out some stuff, hit the shower and jumped in the truck for the morning ride.
~
By 7:00AM, was sitting at the Charlton Town Hall, waiting for it to open at 7:30 so I could ask for the certificate of occupancy for the two sites that we built in that town. Left the files for the building inspector with the Administrator, Nancy, and went 30 miles further up the road to the Hampden County Registry of Deeds in downtown Springfield.
~
The Registry is on the fourth floor of the superior court building and there were tons of plaintiffs and defendants mulling around when I arrived at 8:30 AM. The security guards made me leave my digital camera with them which I hate because it could dissappear so easily, and I really need a good digital with me at all times.
~
After wading though the chainsmoking malcontents outside, I made it to the elevator and filed a decision of the Brimfield, MA Zoning Board of Appeals for recording. The stamp on the recorded docs would be proof to apply for the Building Permit in Brimfield tomorrow morning when the Building Department will be open to file between 10:00 AM and 11:30 only.
~
After Springfield, I deadheaded to Chelmsford to drop up some lease docs for execution at a Burlington site. Made it by 11:00 AM and was out by 11:15 and was on the road to Weston to file a permit to but an antenna on Regis College.
~
The good folks at the Weston Building Department have a lot of requirements and I found out that I had to get an original structural report from the Engineer in Downtown Boston, needed a signature from the College facilities VP on the Building permit application and needed to record a Zoning Board of Appeals decision at the Middlesex Registry of Deeds.
~
So that shot to hell my chances of filing for that Building Permit today with those three hoops in front of me to jump through. Put in some calls to see if I could get the Regis College signature, and made plans to pick up the structural on Summer St in Boston. I knew that the Middlesex filing would be a pain in the ass. It always is with the parking in Cambridge and the wait at the Registry.
~
Plus I had to deadhead to the Suffolk Registry of Deeds after picking up Katelyn for the passing of her South Boston Condo.
~
Got to Bowdoin St. outside of Katelyn's Beacon Hill office by 12:45PM, picked up Kate and went to park down at the Govt Center Parking garage. The closing went by without a hitch which is a miracle since everything in this deal seemed to be a chore. But Katelyn waded through it all, and I'm really proud of her.
~
After the passing, at 2:15. I was driving with Katelyn to her apartment in Southie and hopeing to grab a beer to celebrate and wind it down. But then I got a call from Regis saying that if I got back there within an hour and a half, I could get the permit signature that I needed. So I dropped Kate off and deadheaded to the College with a permit signature in hand by 3:30PM
~
I was in a debate with myself to see if I should go back to the Weston Building Dept and plead to file without the recorded ZBA decision, but ultimately resolved to go back to Cambridge and file in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds first.
~
Without a quarter in Cambridge, I took a chance at a meter and was in and out of the Registry by 4:00PM with no parking ticket. That was the fastest Middlesex filing in history. Virtually no wait.
~
The gameplan now would be to retreat back to Marblehead and make a run at the Weston Builidng Department tomorrow with all of their docs in place.
~
My GPS said I'd be back home by 4:30, but no freaking way with the Tobin Bridge traffic. Walked into Beverly Ave. at 5:15 pretty damn tired.
~
But it was a good day. and we kicked it pretty good on the Block Island RI project today too.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Shift to Adirondack
Mike's Coffee Table is now living where it was designed for.... in Mike's South Boston Condo in a renovated brick foundry. He says it looks great, and I can't wait to see it.
~
While building his table, I had hoped to get some work done simultaneously on my Workbench project, but that fell by the wayside.
~
Now the demand to build Kate's Adirondack chair looms forth with her condo passing due tomorrow. I want this to be a unique piece with some tenon and mortise joinery that is not common in this type of piece, and have modified my original plans to match a design that I downloaded from SketchUp.
~
The first step will be to make some patterns for reproduction of all of the parts, because I think a lot of the Peeps will want one of these chairs when I get Kate's done. Joanne is already talking about getting two of them.
~
I have a feeling that the Workbench will be back burnered.... and I wanted to get that done before resuming work on the Marblehead Gunning Dory. Conservatively, the Dory probably gets started in mid-summer.
~
While building his table, I had hoped to get some work done simultaneously on my Workbench project, but that fell by the wayside.
~
Now the demand to build Kate's Adirondack chair looms forth with her condo passing due tomorrow. I want this to be a unique piece with some tenon and mortise joinery that is not common in this type of piece, and have modified my original plans to match a design that I downloaded from SketchUp.
~
The first step will be to make some patterns for reproduction of all of the parts, because I think a lot of the Peeps will want one of these chairs when I get Kate's done. Joanne is already talking about getting two of them.
~
I have a feeling that the Workbench will be back burnered.... and I wanted to get that done before resuming work on the Marblehead Gunning Dory. Conservatively, the Dory probably gets started in mid-summer.
Fair Warning to Fish
The WhaleEye is in the water. I don't ever remember getting my boat launched in May and got caught short when Ryan Marine put it in before Mid-Harbor finished the mooring work.
~
Thankfully, we are on a temporary empty mooring in Salem Harbor while mine is being set up this week.
~
So it's only a matter of time before fish and lobsters start to die.
~
Thankfully, we are on a temporary empty mooring in Salem Harbor while mine is being set up this week.
~
So it's only a matter of time before fish and lobsters start to die.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Countertop Threat.
Now they are trying to sell me on the idea that my granite countertops can kill me. Researchers say that they emit radon and radiation.
~
Let 'em try. I'm not scared of a damn countertop.
~
Sooner or later, the researchers will come to the realization that we are not going to get out of this life alive.
Tommy McMahon said.....
Researchers are now finding that doing research causes cancer. Who knew.
~
Let 'em try. I'm not scared of a damn countertop.
~
Sooner or later, the researchers will come to the realization that we are not going to get out of this life alive.
Tommy McMahon said.....
Researchers are now finding that doing research causes cancer. Who knew.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Jay B Goode
Even some of my closest friends will be surprised when they learn that I'm an accomplished guitarist.
~
Well, maybe not accomplished.... but I do know how to strum G and C chords.
~
And I can play "Stairway to Heaven".
~
But I haven't had a guitar in more than 20 years.
~
Lately though, grandson Will seems to be interested in music, so I thought I'd get back into the music world and toughen up my finger tips.
~
Bought a cool Alvarez RD20SC Cutaway Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Top Solid Spruce, Back and Side Mahogany from Amazon. It has a pickup for an amp and a built in electronic tuner.
~
Will and I will be banging out "Johnny B Goode" riffs in no time.
Health Benefits
There is nothing like a power nap in the late afternoon. About 30 minutes of sleep can completely revitalize you to plow through the rest of stuff that you have on your agenda that day.
~
But a lot of times, a nap is not appropriate.
~
First... it is socially unacceptable in a corporate work place. Anybody caught dozing, like President Reagan years ago, is thought to be incompetent for some reason. Of course this is complete Bullshit, but I'm not going to get revved up about this.
~
Second..... there is really no place that you can safely grab a power nap during the business day.
~
Third.... since I'm on the road alot, a nap can be downright dangerous.
~
Fourth.... there's only three things I can think of right now.
~
So when I get really drowsy, especially driving hundreds of miles, I usually bang down a can of Red Bull energy drink.
~
Katelyn and Ryan are all over my case about this. They say that Red Bull is bad for you. But my extensive research during 10 minutes of Internet browsing reveals that there is no obvious health risk. And it really perks me up.
~
I figure the health risk of falling asleep during a 65 mph drive is a lot worse than ingesting a can of Red Bull from time to time.
~
But a lot of times, a nap is not appropriate.
~
First... it is socially unacceptable in a corporate work place. Anybody caught dozing, like President Reagan years ago, is thought to be incompetent for some reason. Of course this is complete Bullshit, but I'm not going to get revved up about this.
~
Second..... there is really no place that you can safely grab a power nap during the business day.
~
Third.... since I'm on the road alot, a nap can be downright dangerous.
~
Fourth.... there's only three things I can think of right now.
~
So when I get really drowsy, especially driving hundreds of miles, I usually bang down a can of Red Bull energy drink.
~
Katelyn and Ryan are all over my case about this. They say that Red Bull is bad for you. But my extensive research during 10 minutes of Internet browsing reveals that there is no obvious health risk. And it really perks me up.
~
I figure the health risk of falling asleep during a 65 mph drive is a lot worse than ingesting a can of Red Bull from time to time.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
WordSmith
Does Pelosi seem transparent to you? How does a partisan rock thrower like her end up as the Speaker of the House?
~
A selective memory... blames everything on the evil Bush administration... now she is tap dancing around this water boarding bullshit.
~
If I was a member of a group that flew planes into the NY Trade Towers and killed 4000 Americans, I'd welcome a little splash in the face compared to what I really deserve.
~
Pelosi knew about the waterboarding. She is revealing her true nature with her wordsmithing denials.
-
Right on!!!
-
Politickin' asides, I'd like to take baste miss nancy with my love honey, helps to relaxify this overwrought wench.
- 11:49 AM
Friday, May 15, 2009
We Know
You know that we know what you know.
~
Do you know what I mean?
~
And doesn't it piss you off that you know that we know?
~
Don't worry. Even though we know, we won't act like we know.
~
But we won't act like we don't know either.
~
Do you know what I mean?
~
And doesn't it piss you off that you know that we know?
~
Don't worry. Even though we know, we won't act like we know.
~
But we won't act like we don't know either.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Lobster Permit
Got my Massachusetts non-commercial lobster permit tonight. Stay away from the blue-green-purply buoys. Those lobsters will be giving it up for the Peeps all summer.
~
I plan to use my lobsters judiciously. Won't be giving them away to customers to curry favors. That would be downright unethical. I'm sure that the customers don't like lobsters anyway.
POTW Week 19
Heading into Friday.
~
But not until I get an ungodly amount of paperwork done tonight to beat a deadline for my largest customer. Like I always said to my staff at General Dynamics..... the job isn't done until the database is updated.
~
Although I never appreciated what a pain in the ass that could be until now.
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 19th Week of 2009
Brian Butler
Will Smith
Whitney Watts
Bill Shanahan
Glen Davis
Kelly Light
Come to think of it, a lot of the stuff that I used to preach when I was on the top of the heap have come back to bite me now that I am a humble contractor. It's hard being a responsible businessman.
~
But not until I get an ungodly amount of paperwork done tonight to beat a deadline for my largest customer. Like I always said to my staff at General Dynamics..... the job isn't done until the database is updated.
~
Although I never appreciated what a pain in the ass that could be until now.
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 19th Week of 2009
Brian Butler
Will Smith
Whitney Watts
Bill Shanahan
Glen Davis
Kelly Light
Come to think of it, a lot of the stuff that I used to preach when I was on the top of the heap have come back to bite me now that I am a humble contractor. It's hard being a responsible businessman.
Island in Rhode Island
Man, did this week get away from me!
~
Monday and Tuesday I crammed paperwork in because I knew that I would have a long day on the Coast Guard project in Block Island on Wed. So up at 4:00 Wed. morning, I headed to Seekonk to pick up some ground rods then deadheaded to the Block Island Ferry at Point Judith, RI.
~
Naturally, Murphy's Law was in effect on the Block Island site, and we didn't pour concrete until 3:30PM.
~
Nobody told me that you couldn't drive onto the 5:15PM ferry to Point Judith at 4:49PM. When the ticket lady said I was too late, I sort of didn't give a shit. I was too tired to bitch at her, and I felt that I was in the wrong anyway.
~
My only real issue was that I was dirty and sweaty and needed a change of clothes. (Note to Self... in the future.... always stash a spare pair of scivvies in your briefcase for occasions like this.)
~
So I found a hotel room on the Island at a good rate, bought a clean t-shirt at the hotel shop, showered, and had beers and dinner with the Watts boys who were staying overnight to finish tooling the slab pours. It was an enjoyable evening and I awoke at 4:30 AM to a rooster annoucing the pre-dawn. Couldn't sleep, so I got up at 5:00 to cruise around the Island in my F-150 at dawn.
~
Block Island is really stunning. People are friendly, and there are some spectacular waterside homes. I hear that the fishing is great and was encouraged to see a keeper Striped Bass chasing some baitfish at the Ferry Pier in Point Judith.
~
Hope those bass are swimming this way.
~
Monday and Tuesday I crammed paperwork in because I knew that I would have a long day on the Coast Guard project in Block Island on Wed. So up at 4:00 Wed. morning, I headed to Seekonk to pick up some ground rods then deadheaded to the Block Island Ferry at Point Judith, RI.
~
Naturally, Murphy's Law was in effect on the Block Island site, and we didn't pour concrete until 3:30PM.
~
Nobody told me that you couldn't drive onto the 5:15PM ferry to Point Judith at 4:49PM. When the ticket lady said I was too late, I sort of didn't give a shit. I was too tired to bitch at her, and I felt that I was in the wrong anyway.
~
My only real issue was that I was dirty and sweaty and needed a change of clothes. (Note to Self... in the future.... always stash a spare pair of scivvies in your briefcase for occasions like this.)
~
So I found a hotel room on the Island at a good rate, bought a clean t-shirt at the hotel shop, showered, and had beers and dinner with the Watts boys who were staying overnight to finish tooling the slab pours. It was an enjoyable evening and I awoke at 4:30 AM to a rooster annoucing the pre-dawn. Couldn't sleep, so I got up at 5:00 to cruise around the Island in my F-150 at dawn.
~
Block Island is really stunning. People are friendly, and there are some spectacular waterside homes. I hear that the fishing is great and was encouraged to see a keeper Striped Bass chasing some baitfish at the Ferry Pier in Point Judith.
~
Hope those bass are swimming this way.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Real Wealth
Such a highly eventful, fun weekend, filled with fun Peeps.
~
Among the notables....
~
Jim and Kathy Peabody at the Boston Yacht Club, where we ran into "My Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog, along with his lovely wife Nancy....
~
All of the forementioned Peeps at the Butler Surprize Extravaganza for Stacey....
~
Steve Lewis, who along with Mike, is about to take the White Soul Food Catering Market by storm with his slow smoked ribs, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese....
~
Auntie Susan Raich, who came through big time for Katelyn this week....
~
My old friend Harvey Rowe, who was in the middle of a 13 mile run with his jogging buddy whose name I forgot but will remember.
~
Grandkids Ethan and Will, who are undoubtably the best grandkids in the world....
~
Emily Inguardia, possibly the nicest Peep east of the Pecos.....
~
Bam and Bampy, Ryan, Katelyn, and Michael.
~
It was the kind of weekend that money can't buy. A true definition of real wealth. It will be a hard weekend to match this summer.... but we will give it a try.... each and every time.
~
Among the notables....
~
Jim and Kathy Peabody at the Boston Yacht Club, where we ran into "My Friend Who Doesn't Want His Name Mentioned in the Blog, along with his lovely wife Nancy....
~
All of the forementioned Peeps at the Butler Surprize Extravaganza for Stacey....
~
Steve Lewis, who along with Mike, is about to take the White Soul Food Catering Market by storm with his slow smoked ribs, pulled pork and macaroni and cheese....
~
Auntie Susan Raich, who came through big time for Katelyn this week....
~
My old friend Harvey Rowe, who was in the middle of a 13 mile run with his jogging buddy whose name I forgot but will remember.
~
Grandkids Ethan and Will, who are undoubtably the best grandkids in the world....
~
Emily Inguardia, possibly the nicest Peep east of the Pecos.....
~
Bam and Bampy, Ryan, Katelyn, and Michael.
~
It was the kind of weekend that money can't buy. A true definition of real wealth. It will be a hard weekend to match this summer.... but we will give it a try.... each and every time.
Party Review
It was a nice surprise birthday party hosted yesterday afternoon by SuperPeep Brian Butler for his SuperPeep Spouse, Stacey.
~
Lots of former POTW's there including Jill Phillips, POTY Lauren Rathbone with Ethan and Becket, Tina Rhodes and Emily Azgardia.
~
Jack Dog had a little bit of distress going on as he mingled among the guests, but that doesn't have to be mentioned.
~
I think the highlight of the party was when Brian made me a highly creditable Dark and Stormy.... and then one more.
~
Dark and Stormies are like Lay's Potato Chips. Nobody can have just one. Brian planned accordingly.
~
The lowpoint of the party was definitely when Brian asked if he could be Peep of the Week for this fine effort. A major faux pas. It's an unalterable rule that you can never ask for this honor/disgrace.
~
Lots of former POTW's there including Jill Phillips, POTY Lauren Rathbone with Ethan and Becket, Tina Rhodes and Emily Azgardia.
~
Jack Dog had a little bit of distress going on as he mingled among the guests, but that doesn't have to be mentioned.
~
I think the highlight of the party was when Brian made me a highly creditable Dark and Stormy.... and then one more.
~
Dark and Stormies are like Lay's Potato Chips. Nobody can have just one. Brian planned accordingly.
~
The lowpoint of the party was definitely when Brian asked if he could be Peep of the Week for this fine effort. A major faux pas. It's an unalterable rule that you can never ask for this honor/disgrace.
Friday, May 08, 2009
Active Weekend
It's the weekend already.
~
Mike and Kate are in from Boston, and Ryan and the Grandkids will be around tomorrow, so this place will be really active. Plus when they all show, lots of you Peeps tend to make an appearance over here.
~
Any chance of peace and quiet is out the window.
~
Who needs peace and quiet anyway??? You can have plenty of that when you're dead, and you're dead for a long time.
~
Mike and Kate are in from Boston, and Ryan and the Grandkids will be around tomorrow, so this place will be really active. Plus when they all show, lots of you Peeps tend to make an appearance over here.
~
Any chance of peace and quiet is out the window.
~
Who needs peace and quiet anyway??? You can have plenty of that when you're dead, and you're dead for a long time.
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I applaud yer runnin' hither and yonder to get stuff done. I am missin' the part about takin' some cash down for all this sweatin'. Be right kind of you to let us knows when you gots the jingle we gots comin' to us, so we can help youse congratulate yerself.
I am all above showin' the love.