Raise Some Cash

Just so you know, I think that this real estate slump is about to end.  At least up here in the Boston area.  Course this is not based upon empirical, economic data... just my base feeling.  I've been helping some friends look for a home in Central MA, and the good ones are getting scooped up within a week on the market.  Nanepashemet Real Estate buyer's brokers are on the case.
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True, these are reasonably priced homes, in mint condition, and in an up and coming market around Route 495.   But since when have you had to rush to put in an offer on real estate?
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There are some real bargains out there, buying from people who have been hanging on during this slump and are getting desperate.  Now is the time to raise cash and buy some real estate.  Within a year, things will be heating up.

Pisc said...
Not so sure. Money will become more expensive before the year is over. The Fed has to move the inter-bank rate - gas prices are going up not because the economy is cranking along, its because the dollar is increasingly worth less. In order to shore up the dollar/fight inflation, the cost has to go up. I think people are rushing to move property before that happens. When that happens, fuggedaboudit.

More Meaningful Masters

Phil Mickelson winning the Masters was the best thing that could happen to Tiger Woods.  If Woods had won, and he certainly was in a position to do so, the backlash and reaction would have been acute.  Mickelson grabbing the spotlight was a nice diversion from Tiger.
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Mickelson looked awfully good.  And I always like it when a lefty golfer wins a golf tournament.  But the added story... that he was preoccupied this year with the cancer that his wife and mother were both battling... stands in sharp contrast to Tiger's battle with a sex addiction.
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So maybe those who are inclined to follow professional golf can back off from the Tiger topic, and embrace a more "healthy" situation with Mickelson.

Tuna Lips said...

Truth be told, most rite minded fellers would prefers to embrasify them blonde trollops with the ponderus hooters like Woodsy done do.



Pisc said...
For the Bruins fans out there, could not have happened to a nicer guy.
http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/04/10/matt-cooke-suffers-one-punch-knockout-by-evander-kane/




TommyO said...


Could not have happened to a nicer guy.
The first right sent him down, the right on the way down kept him down. Kane was certainly Able.
- OZone

Migration on Hold.

With the fence done, the messy woodpile at the side of the house was scresaming to be moved.  So I completed the wood rack and saw jack under the deck and moved half of it yesterday.  After a visit to FreshAyer this morning I will complete that project.
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Then a thourough raking and clean up will be in order.
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I uncovered and moved the Tender and the Pram yesterday as well and each will need a fairly serious overhaul of all surfaces to be ready for the season.  The Appalachian project will be put on hold until these boats are ready to be launched for the season.
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But that will only take a few weeks and the migration of the backyard from Appalachia to New England will continue.  The problem is that everytime one component is finished, other parts emerge to be intolerable.

POTW Week 14

It was a nice turnout at the charity auction last night that Melissa Sherwood coordinated at RockStar Fitness in Marblehead. 
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My friend Harvey Rowe did a great job describing how the event would help the "My Brother's Table" soup kitchen in Lynn where Harvey has done such inspirational work.  And my friend Mike Rockett really revved up the bidding, and literally put his money where his mouth is.  Another great job.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 14th Week of 2010.

Mike Rockett
Harvey Rowe
Sarah McCormack
Norm Sherwood
Stephany Connolly
Tom McMahon

It's nice when something that you drag yourself out for turns out to be such a fun time.

Goofy Golfer

Once again our thoughts turn to Tiger Woods....
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He comes out after a harrowing 6 month ordeal away from his craft and shoots 4 under in the first round to be tied for 3rd in the Masters.
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That would have been a great step in his re-entry after embarassment and scandal.  That should be the story of the day.  No more.
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But then he allows a Nike ad to run with his dead father's narrative and a contrived baneful look on his face.
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Jeez Tiger... you went to Stanford.  I thought that was a good school..... but you are freaking stupid.
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Just swing the club.  None of your perverted personal life is any more than gossip and voyeurism to us.  Why the hell do we need to see you pretending to listen to your father speak from the grave????  You have completely lost your way.

Tuna Lips said...


This here feller bangin' the next door neighbors daughter and not so much as a barn burnin', well, the end of civilezatin' as we knowd it caint be far off. Before that happens, I does want to git my hoe-down on like he do whith them adult movin' picture show hore-type starlets. So much to get done.

Woodpile Delay

I had planned to move the woodpile from the side of the house to underneath the deck by this time of the week.  But like most plans, other factors caused some changes.
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The first was that pesky virus that overtook Joanne and I at the beginning of the week.  That killed Monday.  Then I had to make up the work at Nanepashemet Telecom on Tues and Wed..
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But during that time, in considering that a lot of the wood that I would be moving won't fit into the wood stove without being recut, I decided to make a cross jack chainsaw horse first.  Then I have to make a wood storage rack out of pressure treated lumber that I salvaged from a telecom shelter that we demolished.
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So when I move the pile, it won't be transferring one mess to another mess.
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My primary project for the weekend was to paint the pram, but the woodpile delay will push this off to next week.
 Former POTY, Tom McMahon said...
Yes, I know you hate being called big. But this video is why you should love it. Play it between the 5:12 - 6:15 time period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdE1C6NaT5Q

Have a good one Big J.,
McMahon

No Nukes unless Necessary.

The US has announced that it would not be using it's nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them.
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This appears to be a plea for countries to resist a nuclear bomb development program.
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It won't work.
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Crazy regimes will continue to try to have nukes and we will find an excuse to nuke them if the occasion exists.  What we say now has no bearing on future actions, so I wish the conservative talk shows wouldn't get so freaking strung out.

Spring Season

Trees are budding.  Tomorrow the temperature is set to go to the eighties.  The Red Sox are playing the Yankees tomorrow.
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So Spring must be here.
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After this, there is only one more Spring to go.

Project Management Success

Wayne Murray, a good PM at GD from my memory, asks the following question on LinkedIn.

What is the key to being a successful Market Manager/Program Manager in todays Commercial Wireless environment?

I know that I sound presumptuous, but I really feel confident with the answer here.

You need the following elements to be a successful project manager.

• A solid knowledge of the contract work breakdown structure resonating through the market organization as well as the market customer staff.
• Production metrics tied directly to the WBS and staffed by competent professionals who are enpowered to make decisions at their staff level. 
• Metrics must reflect reasonable contract monetary milestones.

If you can line up knowledge, metrics and competence along with a healthy customer contract, you will hit program goals and achieve customer satisfaction. 

If any component is missing... the compensatory strain will ultimately affect the project.   All of these components must be looked at continuously and tweaked as necessary during the project.  That includes staff changes and contract modifications.

I have walked away from projects where the components cannot be lined up.   Better for the customer to throw stones at you at the beginning based upon an untenable situation than to slog through and with a project that cannot work and hurt your company and career... all the while screeching "I told you so".

Nobody listens to "I told you so" when a project has gone to hell.  Memories are short and corporate careers are being protected.   Take the hit up front and project your company.  Negotiating the right contract terms is 60% of project success.

Tuna Lips said...

Ise finds horse wippin' the non-acomadatin' dirt peoples is an efacaseshus way to gettin' er done. Kernel Sartoris learnt me that, back in Chickesaw County days. Kill the monkee and the hens get to layin' eggs right quick.

Give Us Barabbas

Happy Easter.
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One of my favorite holidays because it signifies spring and rebirth, and the ultimate hope.  Plus there are cool Easter movies, like "Barabbas" and "Ben Hur".
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They just don't make actors like Anthony Quinn and Charlton Heston anymore.

POTW Week 13

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day.  Mike helped me to finish the fence, and the back of the house has officially moved from Appalachia to the North Shore of Boston.  Once all of the trim is painted it will actually look really good. 
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I'm concerned about the water table though in the backyard since the willows have been cut down.  It's like the Everglades back there.  So maybe we are moving the house from Appalachia by way of the Everglades.
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Announcing ....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 13th week of 2010

Ben Martin's girlfriend who is from RI but I can't remember her name.

Ben Martin

Craig Murray

Mike Nestor

Rakesh Goel

Tommy O'Shea

Tomorrow is Easter.  And I will give an appropriate amount of consideration to the day, since I'm a cultural Catholic and believe in the divinity of Christ.  But I'm also going to try to move the firewood storage from the side of the house to the underside of the deck.
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Then we'll be concentrating on getting the pram and the tender ready for the season.  Hopefully the back will dry out.

Bird Seed Generosity

The other day, Stevie Lewis asked me how the action at the Feeder was.
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It dawns on me that I have been keeping this to myself and not sharing the daily Bird Feeder goings on with the multitude of you Peeps yearning to know any insignificant thing imaginable.
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So it does seem a bit selfish on my part.
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Anyway.... over the last two days, numerous Blue Jays, Sparrows, a House Finch, Chickadees and a male and female Cardinal have been observed partaking of my bird seed generosity.  I've also seen Robins and a number of Mourning Doves in the general vicinity.
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This should cover the Feeder report for the time being.