Thrills and Angst

Celtics are up 3 games to 2 over the Lakers with the final two games to be played in Los Angeles.  It's been a hard fought series and any doubt that Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game has got to be dispelled.  His ability to make contested shots is incredible.
~

But the Celtics counter with a team of solid professionals, each of whom have the ability to break open the game.

~

Its been a great series to watch.  The only downside is when the camera pans to shots of John Havlicek in the stands.  He really looks older and it seems like yesterday when he, Dave Cowens, and a different Celtics team was providing the same thrills, hope and angst.
~
Tempus Fugit.

Broken Plan

Sometimes a plan falls apart through lethargy.   That's what happened yesterday.  After I got back from the WhaleEye test run, I hit the couch and didn't emerge until it was time to take a shower before the company came at 5:00PM.
~
The plan went to Hell.  A lesser person may have sunk to the depths of self-loathing.
~
But that doesn't make me a bad person.   Even a Mountain of a Man can run out of gas once in awhile.   And it was overcast and rainy anyway, so my landscaping chores would have been even more miserable.
~
So I forgive myself and will try to get some productivity in today.   We're taking a break from a visit to FreshAyer this weekend, and I thought that I could get some stuff done, but maybe we just needed a rest.

Tuna Lips said...
au contrary mi amigo, it makes you a fine feller, in keepin' with the times. Lethargizin' is the wave of the future, me and Shoo been pre- science about that, true to the best practicatin' of Pappy. Sell some hooch and skunk bud on the side to make fer a special festivizin', and plain folk like us appreciates ye just fine.

Big Day

Big day in store for this Saturday.
~
I'm first heading down to the Pram at Village Wharf and will be taking that out to check on the WhaleEye.  We'll fire up the engine and christen the season with a litle spin around Salem Harbor.
~
But it's not a great boat day today, so I'm going to get to the Town Dump and load up the pick up truck with some loam to landscape the backyard with.
~
If I'm still ambitious, I'll try to finish the work on the Pram Centerboard and epoxy repair the Tender, although the odds are that rigor mortis will have set in after the landscape work.
~
4:00 PM is a big deadline to stop all activity and clean up because Buck Johnson and his Trophy Wife, Gail, are going over for dinner, with drinks starting at 5:00PM.  It's Gail's birthday weekend, so I'm sure that Joanne will rev up her culinary skills.

POTW Week 23

This weekend, we'll be dropping some lobster pots and reving up for the season on the water.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 23rd Week of 2010.

The Counter Clerk at the Groton Building Department.
Gail Johnson
Brady Boyle
Mark Rowe
Jai Singh Khalsa
Oprah Winfrey

Right now, there are some happy lobsters crawling around the bottom of Salem Sound, who have no idea how close they are to being dispatched to lobster heaven via a kettle of boiling water in my kitchen.

Orda Fo Nesta

We ordered Chinese take out from Fen Wang House in Marblehead this week..... but we got a white, suburban, nice young Anerican born girl who was the order taker on the phone.
~
It just wasn't the same.

Pisc said...
I like the Fresh Ayer Clock.

Change in Format

After almost five years of publishing this pathetic blog, I decided to change the presentation template.  Essentially I eliminated that background Lighthouse that had no real significance for me outside the fact that I thought it looked cool and this blog is supposed to be about boatbuilding.
~
It's not like the Lighthouse was located in Marblehead or anything.  If you miss it, you can always see it on Harvey's Thoughts, since Harvey Rowe plagiarized it from me along with my Crusher codename a year or so ago.
~
So I got a bit minimalist.... closer to the nitty gritty.... at the lowest common denominator.
~
I do encourage you Peeps to comment on these demented, dispicable postings as much as you can.  It's hard when me, Tuna Lips and Maria Rowen get stuck carrying the load most of the time.  Not that I don't appreciate TL and Maria.   But I miss comments from the Insidious Bob Wojcik and Archrival Joe Collins.
~
Relative Blog newcomers like Sue Sue Raiche and Jim L have helped to pick up the slack.  Plus Pisc can always be counted to sound in from time to time.
~
And guys like Tommy O know that this Blog can make you famous.
~
Who knows.... if you annoy/inspire, you might even become a POTW.   Irritating/inspirational Blog comments always grab attention when I get down to the weekly selections.  Although, I remain steadfast that anybody who asks me if they can become a Peep of the Week are banned from such designation for eternity.... or at least until I forget that they asked.    Which usually takes about a week or so.



Maria Rowen said...
Cheers to the change! It reminds me of a mission-style chair - clean lines and comfortable. For this appreciated peep...there is still lots more to learn about boats, birds and sometimes bears...

Freaking Bear

The Freaking Bear ate me again today in my favorite New England venue - the City of Groton, Connecticut.
~
I have never gone in that City Hall and come back with my objective in probably eight attempts now.   And it's not me.... because I'm wicked good at what I do.... by virtue of the fact that this stuff hardly ever happens to me.
~
But in the City of Groton.... I get skunked every time.
~
This is not to be confused with the Town of Groton, Connecticut, where I have been my normal, competent, productive self.  Which is even more maddening.
~
I came close though, gaining two out of the three approvals that I needed.......but really thought that I could close this project out today.   I'll make another run at it next week.

Bear Meat

Tomorrow I'm going to take another run at the City of Groton, Connecticut.
~
You know the saying "Sometimes you eat the Bear, and sometimes the Bear eats you." ???
~
Well....  the Bear has eaten me each and every time that I've gone to the City of Groton for the last year and a half.
~
But tomorrow, I'm going to eat the freaking Bear.

Bright Outlook

Sometimes you wake up, and it just feels like you are going to have a good day.
~
Positive visualization is so important.  I continue to harbor the potentially perverse belief that everything happens for a reason, everything occurs for the greater and ultimate good, and that the normal state of being for human beings is a state of pure joy.
~
That philosophy tends to piss off people who perceive their lives as fraught with sadness and difficulties.   But if I made a list of all of the bad shit that has happened to me in this life, I'd probably start each day by crawling into a ball, sucking my thumb and rocking back and forth.
~
On the other hand, I can look at all of the bullshit that I have endured and can assign a very positive outcome that is a direct result of the adversity.
~
Sure I'm not Donald Trump, which was my goal in my thirties, but I've been exposed to a lot of wealthy people since then, and wouldn't trade my life for theirs for a second.   And there has been some toxic relationships, but without which, some of our greatest relationships wouldn't have materialized.
~
If you look at negative situations as the pathway to a greater alliance with your natural state of pure joy, then your outlook can really change.
~
Like I said, I have a feeling that today is going to be a really good day.

Sue Sue  Raiche said...

It was a great day 37 years ago and will be today.
Happy Anniversary to you and Joanne.

Jim L. said...
It's probably a good thing your goals changed from 30 years ago. That hair wouldn't look any better on you.

Tuna Lips said...

Soundin' like a gay, no erfence meant to the missus, Man up, boy!

Crisis Control

Now our friendly thought police at ABC News are telling us that there are "not one oil slick, but hundreds of thousands of small slicks."
~
That's a good thing.
~
An oil slick in the ocean is not a technological challenge to clean up.   You surround it with absorbent booms, then pump it up.  If there are thousands of small instances like this, then the challenge is not a technological one, but purely logistical.
~
How do we get the proper amount of vessels with booms and skimmers to the priority slicks???  I would think that even the Obama administration can figure this out.
~
And the other tactic that the ABC Shepard's are touting is to point out a floating oil slick and then lament that there are no clean up vessels in the area.   But with a finite amount of vessels available, the prudent thing is to attend to those slicks that are threatening ecologically sensitive areas first.... ie. the Coastal area.
~
A slick in the middle of the ocean is no big deal.  If fish are stupid enough to swim through it, or birds dumb enough to land in it, then Darwin's theory will fix those problems.
~
So the available resources should be deployed on a triage basis.  Tending to the worse cases first then moving to the rest.   I wonder if the alarmists can handle this approach.  What do you say, Congressman Markey???
~
If President Obama needs Nanepashemet Project Management to outline this approach and provide direction, we can fit this into our work schedule.  We will charge the government rate.
~
My prediction is that this crisis will have less legs that the Swine Flu pandemic scare.

Good Grooming

Today I've decided to get a haircut.  I know what you're thinking... "How does a Mountain of a Man like J. get the time to fit in something as mundane as a haircut?"
~
It's a solid query.
~
I always wait until everything is seriously overgrown and well outside the standards of good grooming.  
~
But there is never enough time, until I let it go long enough so that it tops the priority list for the day.
~
I would like to buzz it all off, but Joanne warns me that that might make my head look big.
~
Can't risk that.

Maria Rowen said...

From this female peeps perspective, any and all manscaping maneuvers are mandatory. Furthermore scientists in Germany have discovered people with big heads are smarter...So go get a good grooming guide then go get your buzz on...

Save the Pelicans

If you follow this Blog, you may have noticed that I am a bit partial to birds.  I just love the little critters.... the way they sing and chirp and stuff.

~

So it's been a little painful to see the Pelicans soaked in oil as the prime examples of the BP oil leak in the Gulf.
~
Seems like they are taking the brunt of the ecological beating.  I'm sure that if the media could find dead fish or ducks or dolphins, they would be mixing them in..... but so far, only Pelicans.
~
Never had a Pelican visit the feeder.... but that's not unusual.   It's usually stocked with sunflower seeds and I rarely stuff a herring into it.

Pram Launch

Mike came home to hang with the Grandkids, so I had the second pair of hands needed to get the Pram down at the ring on the Village Wharf.  Naturally a couple of little details became challenges such as the ring size being too small for the theft chain to pass through.
~
So I rigged up a temporary arrangement to lock down the Pram, which will require some future modification. 
~
I have to admit that the Pram cuts a fine figure next to the store bought fiberglass dinghies and inflatables that are the norm down there.  Maybe I'll take a picture and let you judge for yourself.
~
Shortly after we returned, a thunderstorm cell stormed through and dropped sheets of rain, so I went down before the Celts Lakers game got hot with the intention of hauling the boat onto the dock and draining the rainwater.   But a steady breeze was cutting across the harbor, really tossing the pram around and it seemed to be be holding its own with the rainwater that it took on, so I opted for tomorrow morning.
~
Plus, I want to row out to the mooring and check to see that everything has been seasonally maintained by Mid-Harbor Marine before I take Ryan Marine to task for failing to put the WhaleEye on the mooring as promised.

Pisc said...

I was telling my old man about Sammy Khairi and Hooters. And explaining how our friend of Jordanian background pounded vendors into submission, wearied by the hammers from Thayer El Samir Khairi, forged over centuries. A salaam alai'kum (and that predates Barry's nonsense).

Crystal Clear

Usually when politicians use the word "clearly", things are not clear at all.  They throw this adjective out there to sway people to their point of view.
~
When Congressman Ed Markey says that criminal penalties are necessary because British Petroleum has "clearly violated the laws of nature".... what the hell does that mean?  Does he know of some legal code that our teachers neglected to tell us about?
~
He reminds me of a eighth grade debater.   Lots of emotion, with big gaps of logic left out.
~
Markey isn't stupid.  So I wonder what his motives are when he spouts stuff like that.  Too often it seems that liberal spokesmen treat us like sheep.  They, as the shepards, herd us by whistling phrases that "clearly" point out the way we are to think.
~
Markey seems to be frantically striving to assign blame to this recovery effort.... which has to be frustrating because President Barack Obama has wisely assumed responsibility after some of his party faithful tried to knee jerk the blame onto the Bush Administration.  Obama did the right thing by nipping this strategy in the bud.

Harvey Rowe said.....
Ed Markey was a Malden Catholic Graduate.....I don't know what happened after that......



Pisc said...
Realize they drilled that far off shore because the green folks said anything closer was a hazard. Ironic, not in a smug way. a mile deep is a long way. The idea was to protect the environment.

POTW Week 22

Launching the Pram on the Village Wharf ring sometime today.  Before I do this, I have to dry fit the sprit sailing rig to the mast and finish the cap on the centerboard.  I'm toying with the idea of leaving the mast on the boat when I leave it on the ring.   Even if some nutcase stole it, it would be easy enough to replace.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 22nd Week of 2010

Bob Wojcik
Mark Ryan
Rafe Hershfield
Bianna Golodryga
Tipper Gore
Emily Engardia

Have to take a run down to West Marine for the final cleats and hardware required.  Maybe I'll take Grandson Will for his first of many trips to the marine hardware store with his Grandfather JJ.

Peruvian Prisoner

The little Dutch Boy from Aruba, Joran Van der Sloot, who killed Natalie Holloway now has murdered a 21 year old in Peru, Stephanie Flores.   Unfortunately, the Aruban judicial system could not convict him, so he was free to ruin more lives.
~
The self centered asshole was free to travel internationally and take a gambling holiday in Lima.
~
I hope the Peruvians find a nice piece of hell on earth for him for the rest of his selfish, worthless life.  May he live for many years in constant agony, then enjoy his eternal damnation.
~
It's times like this when I wish I was a Peruvian Prison Guard.

Beat LA

Game 1 of the Celtics - Lakers Championship series doesn't mean much.  The momentum can swing widely over a seven game series.
~
But I'm going to watch anyway.
~
Beat LA.

Pisc said...

If it were anyone other than LA, I wouldn't, but I will.

LA blows. Bunch of wannabes and half assed gangsters, talking big about shooting other half assed gangsters and making movies that go straight to dvd.

Banks shot wins this one. We invented the bank shot, Cousy, Hondo, Jo Jo, etc.

Between the Lines

There seems to be quite a bit of scrutiny lately of this Blog.  Peeps doing searches to see if I let my guard down and disclosed something.  That's possible... but unlikely.  I'm just too old and cagey.
~
You can draw your own conclusions here.  Read between the lines.  And if you are an offending party, and you think I'm talking precisely about you.... maybe I am, and maybe I'm not.  The fact is that probably I'm not, but I'll never admit anything one way or another.   I get some solace from the thought that this probably causes you Narcissists a great deal of extra angst and neurosis.
~
The bottom line is that 100 years from now, we will all be dead.... and you and all the drama will be totally forgotten anyway.   So it's important to live in the present, and make the best of the cards that you are dealt everyday.
~
If you don't do that, you tend to seem like a pathetic loser over this brief period of existence that is your life.

Master at Masts

The mast for the pram sailing rig is almost done.  
~
Three 3/4" thick, 2 1/4" wide 8' long boards were cut from a single piece of 1x8x14 clear spruce stock that was lying on the lumber rack for a couple of years.   The boards were then laminated with thickened West System, fast set epoxy, clamped, and left to dry overnight.
~
Then I cut the corners into an octogon with my bandsaw and sanded the corners to a rough curve with a spar sanding jig that I rigged up a while ago to use inverted sanding belts with a tensioning jig that is turned by my  25 year old, 1/2" Milwaukee drill.
~
I manually planed down the high spots with my Lie Neilsen Block Plane, which is easily the classiest tool that I own.  The final spar sanding was done with the heavy duty flap sander that I bought mail order from Grizzley when I used to be prone to irrational late night Internet tool ordering.   It's a damn nice flap sander though, and who knew that I'd be needing it for spar and oar fabrication at the time????
~
So with a little epoxy and varnish, the mast will be ready for line cleat hardware, and this Pram will be tested under sail.

Spilled Oil

I haven't told you how I feel about the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico yet.
~
That's because it's so hard to figure out what's going on after the Media rings the "Crisis" Bell.
~
And whatever you think of the Obama administration, you have to admit that they are a bit prone to exaggeration
~
Witness the recent Swine Flu pandemic, now that the government is dumping unused vaccine.
~
So when they say that this is an environmental disaster of epic proportions and that the crisis rivals the carnage of Hurricane Katrina..... I'm just not on board yet..... especially with news film of BO walking the beach and saying " These are the tar balls they are talking about."    Tar balls are not Katrina.
~
My favorite journalists on ABC News are all over this story.... Speaking with Passion.   The Governor's kid, Andrew Cuomo, pointed to some oil on some marsh grass tonight and said dramatically, "And when this is gone.... it's gone forever."   Ecologically and scientifically speaking, Andrew is dead wrong.  Nature has huge recuperative powers with this type of thing.
~
And Congressman Ed Markey, with his finger pointing and name calling..... all the while offering no solutions or alternatives.... well I guess that is Ed Markey for you.  He hasn't helped me to make up my mind either.  Plus I don't know why we are sitting back and asking British Petroleum to solve this.  Just because they have financial liability, it's the American Homeland that is supposedly under siege.
~
I'm pretty sure that there will be some ecological and economic damage out of this.  And my heart goes out to the people who live and work on that shore and are so frightened by the uncertainty.  But, just as we avoided the massive pandemic of the swine flu, maybe this too shall pass.

Memorial Musings

Happy Memorial Day.
~
Last night while watching Sixty Minutes , Andy Rooney, who is a WWII vet, pointed out that our forefathers didn't "give" their lives for their country.  Their lives were "taken" from them.   They were the victims of circumstance, but rose to the occasion, with the result being the preservation of our way of life.
~
Without their response and courage, we could be speaking German, and busy purifying the races.  We could be in a cultural Dark Age shackled by totalitarian repression.  Who knows what our lives would be like.
~
In my own case, my grandfather was gassed in the trenches of WWI France, my father spent a year in the hospital after his Coast Guard Ship was sunk in WWII and my father in law survived wounds and prison camp in the Korean War. 
~
To this day, I always have some guilt for not going to Vietnam, although my father claimed that he would shoot me in the foot to avoid being drafted.  Luckily, my draft number was high enough to preclude either alternative. 
~
I believe that we had a need to intervene in Iraq and Afghanistan, although the inability to reach closure in these conflicts is very disturbing.  At this point, it is overbearing to hear of the deaths of young Americans over there.

Tuna Lips said...

On the other foot, solgerin" gets all the prine hoors, most often at a rebate price. Shoo worked that angle, shameless as he were.

Official State Bird of Maine

A few Peeps mentioned that they were heading to Northern New England this weekend.  And I was really tempted to head to North Conway, New Hampshire, but Joanne had an open house for the Sundance School Program.
~
It's probably for the best, because this is really the peak of Black Fly Season on our pristine northern states of Maine and New Hampshire.
~
These swarming, blood sucking, bastards can really put a damper on your fun in May and June.
~
As bad as Black flies are, the worst are the Greenheads on Crane's Beach in Ipswich.   They don't just sting or bite, they tear out a chunk of your flesh.
~
So I'm going to hang around the driveway and work on the boats.
~
Have a nice day.

POTW Week 21

Last night, Tommy O set us up with some sort of shooters with creme and liquer at the BYC Bar.
 ~

Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 21st week of 2010.

Scott McBurney

Nancy Bruett

Aquinino Orichi

Maria Rowen

Rajon Rondo

Mark Vona

I'm sure that the Sam Adams had a lot to do with it too, but I am really heavy headed today.

Ready to Defer Maintenance

I was thinking that it would be a great weekend to head up to North Conway, but Joanne has an open house at Sundance Pre-School on Saturday.
~
So this long Memorial Day weekend will be a big push to get all of the rowing boat stuff done for the season including construction of the sail mast for the Pram, and the Tender epoxy and varnishing.
~
In the meantime, there is some trim paint and random shingling that still has to be done.
~
Because.... after this weekend.... all maintenance will be deferred until October.

Thick Skin

We'll be conducting a Balloon Test in Sturbridge this evening in order to ascertain the visual impact of a cell tower that we proposing.  The weather will be warm and summery and  there is a lot of interest from residents of a condominium complex that is relatively close by.
~
Should be controversial, and I'll have to put my thick skin on.
~
Then again.... I've had it on anyway for the last couple of days.... and have decided to keep it on for as long as it takes.

Key of G

I'm working on the G Major Chords and the G scale this week on my Goldstar GF 100 HF Banjo.  The instrument is tuned on open G which makes things easier.
~
A lot of bluegrass is played in G, but since I'm going to be a serious shitkicking musician, I'm going to learn all of the keys.

Allow to Retract

Now comes Gov. Deval Patrick showing true colors.
~
Patrick, a close friend and ally of Obama’s, said at a Suffolk University Law School event that he’s taken his share of criticism over the years, though not to the extent of what Obama is going through at the hands of Republicans.

“It seems like child’s play compared to what’s going on in Washington, where it’s almost at the level of sedition,” Patrick said.
- Boston Herald
~
To disagree is UnAmerican?  To disagree is Sedition?  This type of remark transcends mere liberalism.  It is a bit toward the Facist extreme.
~
I'll give the Governor room to maneuver on this one.   Allow him to back out if he chooses.  Even if this is his true feelings, he should be allowed to retract from such a despicable remark.  Because this attack on our freedom of speech is the slippery slope to totalitarianism, and I can't believe that he would stoop to that.

Jim L. said...

The fact is, the grads didn't know what sedition meant.

More Fees

Every slight, every insult, every manipulation, every fabrication and everyone of your outright lies comes with a price.
~
Can you afford to run up that tab?
~
Keep your wallet handy.  

Keeper Weekend

Mike and Mark Vona got into some mackeral and then some stripped bass yesterday.  Mike said that they caught around eleven at the power plant in Salem.  He harvested a 37" keeper which we grilled for an early dinner tonight.
~
Mike hung around to play with the grandkids after we brought them back from some FreshAyer with Ryan.
~
A most enjoyable day on many levels.
~
Next week, I'm going to start to hound Mark Ryan to get the WhaleEye in by Memorial Day.  There are some lobsters crawling around Salem Sound that will be out of the water and on the table is a couple of weeks.

Pisc said...
Sweet. I swam a plug last night off of worlds end, nothin', but Dan B pulled a keeper off of Poponneset last night.

Mike Nestor said....
The Boat caught about 8 I would say and I didnt catch the 37"'r...I think Vona did. Where is your work cited page??

Official Marblehead Restaurant

Last night, we had a great meal at Ataraxis in downtown Marblehead with Lou Panakio, Harvey and Lisa Rowe. I had the pulled pork burrito.
~
There are a lot of restaurants that I like in Marblehead, including Cafe Italia, the Landing, the Barnicle and Maddies to name some of my favorites, so I haven't named an official restaurant of Nanepashemet.... outside of pizza (Vesuvius) and Chinese Take Out (Feng Wah). But Ataraxis, which is the former Flynnies, came close to getting the nod last night.
~
Course, we don't eat out that much because Joanne is such a good cook.  Not to mention that I am a Tour de Force on the Grill and at the Turkey Frier.

Pisc said...
Time to catch some fish. Hope you have registered with the Federales.

Sail On

With most of the painting except for some touch up in place, the Pram has some final details before I bring it down to the Ring at Village Wharf.

• Install Tie up Hardware
• Install bumpers
• Screw in Seat Plate
• Install Rudder Plate
• Fabricate Center Board
• Glue up Mast

Should be able to launch the first sail on Memorial Day.  Today though, I have to fit in power washing Tommy O's patio and it is a perfect day to finish seeding the back yard.
~
If there is any downtime, the tender needs some sanding, epoxy and marine varnish touch up too.

TommyO said...
What a most excellent job you did, the patio looks incredible. Mrs. TommyO is very happy.
Thanks J

POTW Week 20

Today I have three quick permit stops - all close by - in Saugus, Billerica and Methuen.
~
Then I can spray the fourth and final coat of Interior Top Coat on the Pram and I'll touch up paint the rails.
~
Then it's the weekend. We'll be taking the Grandkids for some FreshAyer and I'll be working on the sail rig for the Pram around that.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 20th Week of 2010

• Katy O'Shea
• The Counter Clerk at the Providence KFC that made me the Double Down
• Greg Bruett
• Mike Nestor
• Rand Paul
• Robin Roberts

I'll be taking pictures of the Pram, because it looks pretty good.

Double Down

It was so nice today, I was tempted to call in sick.  But I work for myself and the Boss would see right through it.  He is really sharp.
~

I did take an hour in the morning to spray the second coat of InterLux Top Coat on the interior of the Pram, then headed out to Rhode Island for another day of Permit chasing.  Fairly successful and I rewarded myself by stopping at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in North Providence and ordering a Double Down.

~
That's two slabs of chicken with cheese and bacon on the inside.  No bread.  

~

It was freaking sinful.
~
When I was a sophomore in high school, I worked a summer at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lynn and it is a very clean operation.  But I really haven't eaten there much since.
~
Maybe I'll go back a little more now.

Jim L. said...

I never liked that place because it bumped Johnny Joyce's out of Joyce St. I miss those 10 cent chopped ham sandwiches!
_______________________

Everybody remembers Johnny Joyces.  Chopped ham, Easterns and Westerns on white bread.  Now that was eating!

Bob Hill worked in the Dairy Swirl that went into the Johnny Joyce space for awhile.  I used to sneak out some leftover cold chicken breasts from Kentucky Fried Chicken and trade with him for a large cup of chocolate soft serve.  Good Times


Rafe Said...
So read the blog this morning, as I do every morning. Here was the exchange between Tom McMahon and I about todays entry;

Me: "Jay Nestor ate the double down from KFC, I shit you not.

Tom's reply: "There are a few guys at my work that are all about that thing. I don't see myself ever trying one. J is a "mountain of a man". He can do just about anything."

Needless to say we are both impressed that you even purchased the DD, yet alone eat it. You are the first person I know to order it, eat, and talk about it. Truly a mountain man.
Rafe Hershfield

Official Stuff of Nanepashemet

The other day, a truck drives by me on the highway claiming that what was inside was the "Official Window of the Boston Red Sox".
~
That got me thinking of what was the "Official Stuff" of Nanepashemet.
~
Such as.....

• Official Scotch of Nanepashemet - Lagavulin 16 Year Single Malt
• Official NCAA Football Team of Nanepashemet - Merrimack College Football Team
• Official Pizza of Nanepashemet - Vesuvius of Marblehead  - Garlic, Pepperoni and Extra Cheese
• Official Summer Beverage of Nanepashemet - Dark and Stormy (Black Seal Rum and Stephan's Ginger Beer)
• Official Autumn Beverage of Nanepashemet - Seagrams and Cider
• Official Winter Beverage of Nanepashemet - Classic Winter Cocktail (Seagrams and Cranberry)
• Official Summer Dinner of Nanepashemet - Lobsters and Stripped Bass from Salem Sound
• Official Autumn Dinner of Nanepashemet - Deep Fried Buffalo Wings while watching the Patriots
• Official Winter Dinner of Nanepashemet - Macaroni and Cheese
• Official Hand Plane of Nanepashemet - Lie-Neilsen Adjustable Mouth Block Plane
• Official Chinese Restaurant of Nanepashemet - Feng Wah of Marblehead
• Official Domestic Beer of Nanepashemet - Sam Adams in their patented Lager Glass
• Official Imported Beer of Nanepashemet - Guinness
• Official Has-Been Hockey Team of Nanepashemet - MooseKnuckles
• Official Tablesaw of Nanepashemet - Jet 708480K JPS-30: 10" ProShop 1-1/2HP 30" SW
• Official Clam Shack of Nanepashemet - Essex Seafood of Essex, MA
• Official Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Flavor of Nanepashemet - Cherry Garcia
• Official Jig Saw of Nanepashemet - Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw
• Official Feeder Bird of Nanepashemet - Chickadee
• Official Epoxy Resin of Nanepashemet - West System Clear Coat 206
• Official Vegetable of Nanepashemet - 8 oz bag of Lay's Potato Chips.
• Official Five String Banjo of Nanepashemet - Gold Star Model GF-100FE
• Official Sander of Nanepashemet - Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander
• Official Charity of Nanepashement - My Brothers Table in Lynn and anything else that Harvey Rowe Supports.

I am sensing a theme here that most of the Nanepashemet "Official Stuff" appears oriented toward eating and drinking.  But that's all I can think of for now.  There will be more.

Voodoo Pins

While we're on the subject of truth....
~

If I were one of those prep school kids, studying my ass off and sweating bullets to be accepted into Harvard, I would be sticking pins into Voodoo Dolls the likeness of Adam Wheeler, the guy who lied on his entrance application to Harvard University and forged recommendation letters.
~
Said he had a perfect 4.0 and a perfect SAT score.
~
But in reality, he is pretty freaking stupid.
~
Lying like this is so disrespectful to the majority of us who pay the price.  You took a shortcut allright.... but it was a shortcut to a place that you didn't anticipate.

Election HiJinx

Looks like the incumbents took a beating in the primary elections yesterday as the trend established by Senator Scott Brown continues to have legs.
~
The first Tea Party candidate, Rand Paul, trounced his Republican opponent in Kentucky.  Naturally, Robin Roberts of Good Morning America hailed the victory as an "impact to the Republican Establishment".
~
What???!!!  Say again Robin???  It was a Tea Party candidate overturning an Incumbent.  If I were an incumbent President (ie Barack Obama), this wouldn't be sitting well with me.   The Republicans have been out for 14 months.
~
The GMA Liberal spin is so obvious, and I am such a Moron for continuing to watch this insidiously untruthful daily broadcast.
~

I'm particularly glad that Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, running for a seat in the Senate, who claimed that he was a Vietnam Veteran when he actually remained Stateside during the War, was defeated.
~
He deserved to lose, and he also deserves to go to Hell.  Lying like that negates the sacrifices made by real Vets who legitimately suffered and solely deserve the credit to say that they served in Vietnam.
~
There should be a law against this...... this guy should serve jail time.

Discretion

A friend yesterday said that he is not on Facebook, because he doesn't want to put everything out there. 
~
Just because you have a Facebook page, you don't have to expose your private life.  Twitter, Blogs and Facebook should be for your social recreation.  It starts to get creepy when people put their private issues in detail out there.  And there is no requirement to do so.... so why would you?
~
This medium is a way to send your message, but if the message is your private information, you have taken it too far.   That should be reserved for you, your family and your inner circle.
~
I'll admit that I have a lot of fun with this Blog, and it has been a great outlet for letting off steam with a rant or so, but rest assured that you don't know shit about what is really going on with me and mine.

The Pacific

Just finished watching "The Pacific" produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
~
Warfare reached its most vicious apex in that conflict.   The intelligent weapons of the future will be much more targeted so that the overall scale of slaughter will be reduced.
~
The sacrifices and horrors endured by the veterans of wars for the overall welfare of our country are beyond comprehension.
~
I vastly prefer to watch this series by myself, because it's always embarrassing if someone catches me with tears in my eyes.

Tuna Lips said...
Ise thinks that tearin' up is occuring due to the stench youget to reekifyin' whilst in the privacy of yer own cellar. Open a window.

Pram Processing

After some intensive cleaning of the spray gun, I did get the first coat of polyurethane top coat on the interior of the Pram.
~
I'll give this coat a good sanding in the morning, then spray another coat.  It will probably take four coats, but I think that it is going to be worth it.  With 16 hours recommended between coats, this job won't be done until next weekend.... given that weather and Nanepashemet Telecom don't get in the way.
~
Before I put the Pram down at Village Wharf, I definitely want to fit it out with a mast and centerboard for sailing.  The rudder can be borrowed from the Tender.  Shouldn't be that big of a deal because I have a sheet of 3/8 inch okume marine plywood that I bought from Boulter Plywood in Somerville a couple of years ago that I will laminate and epoxy for the centerboard, and the 8 foot  mast will take a glue up of whatever 3/4 inch spruce that I have lying around.
~
I'll have to make a custom tiller to use the Tender rudder on the pram though.
~
By Memorial Day, we should be sailing around Salem Harbor.

Spray Gun Delay

Naturally, when I went to use my Fuji HVLP spray paint gun yesterday, I found that I hadn't cleaned it since last fall when I sprayed the last coat of marine varnish on Katelyn's Adirondack Chair.
~
Huge mistake...... which sent me into an intense session of self loathing.  What kind of asshole doesn't clean out his spray gun????   I guess you now know the answer to that question.
~
Anyway, today, I'll eventually spray a coat of Interlux Polyurethane Top Coat paint onto the interior of the pram.  After a little heavy duty spray gun maintenance.
~
When I finish that by late morning, you can bet I'll be cleaning the gun

What's Up for the Weekend?

So many of you irascible, irritating and as well annoying Peeps have emailed me with your pathetic questions regarding my weekend plans this morning!
~
You just have to get your own lives, and stop this insidious practice of living vicariously through mine.
~
This is almost too much to bear sometimes, and I have to draw deeply into my Mountain of a Man reserves to find an appropriate copeing mechanism.
~
It's a burden that I accept.  "To whom much is given, much is expected."
~
Anyway....
~
I plan to work on the interior fit out of the Pram, and get it all painted for launch on the Village Float next week.  Taking a break from FreshAyer since Joanne and Kathy Peabody made the trek yesterday afternoon.
~
What's up with you?

Pisc said...

Thanks for the POTW props.

I got a call from the 206 area code, a gravelly voice on the other end. William Hillegas has resurfaced. Sends his regards, he is in Lancaster. We oughta get him up here for a few laughs.

POTW Week 19

 Last week, there were no Peeps of the Week chosen.... for the first time in four years.
~
Does that mean anything?
~
How the hell do I know????

Announcing....

Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 19th Week of 2010

Kathy Peabody

The Guy with the Beard at the Boston Beer Company

Art Kreiger

Ben Aquinno Orichi

Maria Rowen

Patrick Piscatelli

I can't be blamed because I only do what the voices in my head tell me to do.  And nobody told me to pick the Peeps last week.  We'll have to begin a new streak.

Special Glasses

On the way home from Sturbridge today, I stopped at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain and picked up some Boston Lager specialty glasses.
~
I swear that the Sam tastes better in these glasses.
~
The Brewery was packed with people taking tours and I had to wait in line to buy the glasses.
~
You have to love a business that produces a product which people will pay to see being made.
~
I didn't take the tour, but I probably will go back one of these days.  The location of the Brewery, right in the middle of triple decker residences in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, in a refurbished brick brewery building, is impressive in and of itself.
~
Plus....I saw one of the bearded guys  who appears in the TV commercials.

Maria Rowen said...

Wow...Can you imagine a career in beer? I wonder if they 'toast' all day long...Personally, my passion and my palette are more poised for the purple pinot...but I could be persuaded to take a tour...purchase some beer glasses or perhaps some beer goggles...*_*

Tuna Lips said...

Lotsa dykes in that JP neighborhood. I likes dykes. We on the same team. Like to get me a triple decker dyke sammich.

Maria Rowen said...

Throw in a slow pitch softball game and a soft swirl from J.P Licks and you got yourself a perfect day...

Tuna Lips said...

Missy Rowen, now thats what Ise talkin' 'bout. You git yerself a parade with tanks and them baton twirlin' nymphs, and its the heart and soul of this here U-S-A!

Hatched

Maybe I spoke too soon.
~
Sometimes goose eggs hatch.
~
I got calls from the Building Departments in North Providence and Johnston, RI saying that my permits were ready and that I could pick them up.   So I feel a little foolish about whining.
~
As for the zoning hearing, I still got my ass kicked and nothing can cure that.  Although my client is resolved to follow this through to the bitter end.  And judging by the condominium residents, the end will be bitter one way or another.
~
Tomorrow, I have a sit down with the Sturbridge Town Administrator, Town Planner, and DPW Commissioner to see if we can sort this out.

Goose Eggs

Thanks for all of the calls and emails asking how my permit work went yesterday.
~
It still is mind numbing why you would give a fart about this, but I'll answer your irritating inquiries anyway.
~
I got Skunked. Pummeled. Goose Eggs.
~
I needed an additional engineering report in Peabody.  The Building Commissioners in North Providence and Johnston, RI wanted to hold the applications for a while, and we got hit with a buzzsaw of opposition from condominium residents at the zoning public hearing in Sturbridge.
~
The hearing in Western, MA lasted until 11:30PM and the trip back to the North Shore through Boston was replete with detours due to highway repairs conducted in early morning hours, so I didn't hit the sheets in Marblehead until 1:30AM in the morning.
~
That's a long day to come up with nothing.
~
I'll try again today.

Immigration and Single Malt

Politicians in the Massachusetts cities of Boston, Springfield, Worcester, and Lawrence are voting to boycott the State of Arizona because of its crackdown on the enforcement of US immigration laws.
~
Am I missing something here?
~
Massachusetts mayors and city councilors are protesting the enforcement of the law in Arizona?
~
Things must be really good in their own Massachusetts communities for their focus to be on the people of Arizona.  How would I boycott Arizona anyway?  Refuse to drink Arizona Ice Tea?  Mayor Thomas Mennino of Boston is threatening to cancel contracts from Arizona based companies.
~
Kids are getting shot in Dorchester drivebys, Tom.    I wouldn't spend a second researching who is headquartered in Arizona if I were you.
~
This foolishness will ultimately be great for Arizona, because of all of the people who will book Arizona vacations in order to aggravate the boycotters.   I won't be going to Arizona though.  If I can muster a vacation this year, I'll be heading to Scotland for a single malt scotch distillery tour.

Maria Rowen said...

Who cares about the driveby shooting of a 14 year old kid shootin' hoops in Dot when the likes of Willy Lantigua from Lawrence can use Arizona as a platform for personal politics? How do these people get elected? I am not really looking for an answer to that question. Maybe it's time for a little break from all this boycotting...maybe it's time for a double single...Slainte!

Permit Granted

Tomorrow, I have permit work to do in Peabody, Sturbridge, and North Providence, RI.
~
I know what you are thinking..... "How does he accomplish so much in just one day?"
~
It's true that it is damn impressive, but really it's just an average day for a Mountain of a Man.
~
Truth be known, I enjoy getting Building Permits for my telecom clients.  It ties me in with the type of  people in the municipal offices that I started my career with years ago.   Straight forward, friendly people with no pretense or corporate doublespeak.  It's refreshing and fun work, and I feel very comfortable doing it.
~
Too bad it's only a small part of our business.  But then again, I like building the sites too.

Ivy Issue

President Obama is nominating Elena Kagan, Dean of the Harvard Law School, to be a Supreme Court justice.
~
I have no knowledge of her, but it looks as if Obama is reaching back to his experience of people when he was a student at Harvard.
~
That's his prerogative as the President... but the older I get and the more experienced in business that I become... I have grown less and less impressed with people who have emerged from this prestigious university.   I'm not saying that I am biased about all people who come from Harvard... there are always exceptions.
~
But, there is an aura of entitlement and an inability to get things done in many of the people that have come from Cambridge.  Give me a UMASS alum any day if you want someone hungry who will put the work in.
~
Yes, it's true.... I would accept the President's nomination if he was inclined to appoint me to the Supreme Court.  But,  I wouldn't have a chance in Hell of getting the Senate confirmation.

It's Aways Something

Between hectic activity at Nanepashemet Telecom today, I was able to get the final coat of bottom paint on the Pram.  Tomorrow I'll tape off and paint the accent strip between the botton paint and the top coat at the end of the gunnels.
~
Then, just as I thought we were in cruise control, and I was headed a much needed session on the Cybex stationary bike, I get this chickenshit email from an unfortunate who is hopelessly challenged by simple facts.

 ~
I had to counter his BS  by pointing out some simple truths, but this killed the Cybex workout, because I had to view a property in Central Mass and ran out of available afternoon workout time. 
~
It's always something.

Cheezits, Tuna and Boats

Katelyn and Mike pulled out the stops and grilled some tuna steaks for Joanne's Mother's Day dinner last night.  The meal was perfection and couldn't be matched at any restaurant. A very nice touch.
~
Then we had brunch at the BYC this afternoon and spent some quality time on the porch watching the pre-season boating activity.
~
 We also really enjoyed the Cheezits that we got from the FreshAyer vending machine with Ryan and the grandkids in the Children's Room yesterday morning. 
~
I think that Joanne had a Happy Mother's Day.

Sweet Dreaming

Last night, while having a weird dream, I fell out of bed. At the time, the dream seemed perfectly natural.  But,  after getting back into bed, both pissed and embarrassed at myself, I was able to recount the dream in great detail. 
~
Why is it that when you are in the process of dreaming, everything seems so logical, but when you wake up and reflect upon what you were just dreaming..... it seems so wacko???
~
Anyway, this dream had me back in my childhood home, throwing various types of kitchen appliances at my brother.  Does that seem Freudian to you?  I have nothing against my brother, and have no inclination to throw toasters, blenders and convection ovens at anyone.  But in my dream, it made perfect sense.
~
Not sure why I was so unsettled so as to throw myself off the side of the bed either.   It couldn't  have been the Chinese food and Sam Adams from dinner.  That is not so extraordinary.  I've had way more beers with fried rice, and never fell out of bed before due to an extra crab rangoon or so.
~
Work is fine, no big beefs with family or friends and things like FreshAyer have become fairly stable.
~
I'm not worried about the Mayan end of time, and there had been no liberal fiascos that have gotten me wound up lately.
~
So I'm not sure what the hell was going on.

Good Morning Bianna

Those of you who follow the pathetic posts in this hapless blog must have realized by now that I have a love/hate relationship with Good Morning America.
~
As in.... I watch the show every day, but generally despise the people who operate it.
~
Bianna Golodryga is the exception.   Not only is she pretty hot, she is also wicked smart.
~
And I haven't noticed any taint of liberal bias in her yet.

Clean Water

So the water in Boston is now safe to drink.  Course it was safe to drink all along.  But it was a great chance for politicians to shine.  Solving a crisis which wasn't really a crisis.
~
It turns out that we just needed to call a plumber... for a big pipe.
~
Crisis Solved.

Wesley Makes His Entrance

Welcome Wes Rowe to the Family of Man.  Happy Birthday.
~
What a great time to be born!!!  Here and Now.
~
We'll be keeping an eye of you.  You come from good stock and have a lot going for you right from the start.  You have good people around you who will help you find your way.
~
Make your Mark.  And Make a Difference.

Karmic Issue

Don't forget about the Law of Karma.
~
That's that lttle annoying problem that you reap what you sow.
~
You know what I mean???? If you lie and screw people, you end up getting screwed right back.
~
Man... What a Bummer.
~
You think you're getting over by nailing someone when they're down, then your life starts to suck and you wonder why.
~
Law of Karma.
~
Maybe you shouldn't forget about it from now on.

Pram Pondering

In getting the Pram ready ready for the ring down on the Village Street Landing pier, I'm starting to think that I'll spend a little more time and get it rigged up for sailing.  It will be a great opportunity to learn to sail in the protected waters of Salem Harbor and there will be a lot more use for the Pram than just transport back and forth to the WhaleEye.

All I have to do is assemble the mast and fabricate a center board.  The Sail is all ready from my initial use of it on the Tender.

Pisc said...

S.S. Never Sail
Credit to Bobby Brown

Maria Rowen said...
Let the 'little skippy' set sail...and be ponder this...the eight foot dinghy responds very quickly...sail on...sail on...

Too Much Tazer

They had to taze a guy who jumped on the field during the Philadelpia Phillies game.
~
Highly unnecessary.
~
If Philadelphia had anybody with the specialized skill of former POTY Tommy McMahon, they could holster all of their tazers.

Tom McMahon said....
If I worked there he never would have made it to the grass!

Self Fulfillment

It's so important to take responsibility for yourself.
~
The minute that you blame another for the circumstances of your life, you severely disempower yourself and eliminate a host of opportunity.
~
As perverse as it sometimes sounds, everything happens for a better, greater purpose.  If you continually judge the individual components of this process as good or bad, right or wrong.... you miss the point that these ups and downs are simple milestones of a path that you and God have chosen for yourself.
~
Observe rather than judge.  Act on the feelings, hunches and intuition that are sent your way as directions and guideposts to your truth and destiny.  Feel yourself move down your own path to self fulfillment.
~
And stop all the freaking whining.

Gail said....
Jay, you are so right. It's not always easy during the tough times to accept that things happen for a reason and I'm still learning that lesson. I sometimes have to just step back, take a deep breath and make my choices. For the most part things do work out although you certainly can't forsee the outcome which is the lesson we learn. Trust in yourself and as you have said "act on the feelings, hunches and intuition sent your way as directions and gudeposts to your truth and destiny". Thank you for this, Jay. I needed this today.

Gutter Minds.

Now the pundits are claiming that Barack Obama had an affair with this women, Vera Baker.
~
Isn't this a private matter???
~
All the talk of Michelle kicking Bo's ass is so inappropriate.
~
You shouldn't even be thinking about it.
~
One of the reasons why being a Mountain of a Man is often a good thing is that I can move thoughts like this out of my mind at will.   I know that it is none of my business......that President's having a little monkey business has nothing to do with me.
~
Although, I sometimes feel sorry for the rest of you weak-minded, pathetic peeps who have such sordid thoughts and voyeuristic tendencies.
~
Get your minds out of the gutter.

Tuna Lips said...
I likes this queen, and thinks it would be a right fine thing to pleasurify hers with some delicate play from the left.

Double Pump Bird

Flipping  the Bird to people who offend you in traffic is a time honored Boston tradition.
~
And so it was offered to Harvey Rowe in the Sumner Tunnel last Sunday morning at 6:00 AM as he was manuvering a van of Walk for Hunger volunteers down the center line.
~
Granted, Harvey was having a bit of a challenge staying in his lane, but was that a reason for an irate cabbie to speed by and offer Harvey a big waving Bird, followed by an additional pump of the Bird???
~
Driving isn't Harvey's strong point, so maybe the cabbie had a point, but the cabbie is lucky  that he wasn't trying to pass Harvey a few months ago...... before Harv had the cataracts removed.  
~
Then the Bird would have been downright polite.

Maria Rowen said...

We (I mean me) recently regaled the benefits of a well placed 'f'bomb. How could we (I mean me) overlook the 'finger' in lieu of the aforementioned 'f'bomb when hand gestures are truly universal. So 'thumbs-up' to Harvey and
bras d'honneur to the cabbie...add a pump and that is so 'Bang'...*_*

Sunny, Warm Weekend

It's shaping up to be a warm, sunny weekend.
~
This morning, I'll strip the bottom paint from the pram, then repair the plywood at the bow, which has delaminated.
~
If I still have the time and energy, I'll sand and varnish the Tender and get that ready for launch.
~
Tomorrow, I promised to help Harvey Rowe set up water tables for the Walk for Hunger in Boston.  The bus leaves My Brother's Table in Lynn at 4:45AM.  If you are thinking that it doesn't seem like me to be doing such a selfless altruistic thing, then I don't blame you.   I feel the same way.
~
But Harvey is a good guy and he's done a lot to help me in the past, and this is important to him, so that's the gig for tomorrow morning.  Harvey says we'll be back in Lynn by 11:00 AM.

Harvey Rowe said...

Hey.....MOUNTAIN MAN don't give yourself a "bad rap"......Every time you go for Fresh Ayer.... and you and Joanne do all the other responsibilities that "come with your "Turf"......I see unselfish and loving acts.......sorry to tarnish your self imposed image....

Pisc said...
El jefe:
I got some foreign guest workers to clear the back quarter on my lot (total size 0.3 acres) and lay some 10 yard of topsoil. The house was built in 1890, and that corner of the lot was used as the "dump", a spot where the homeowners threw all of their (mostly) biodegradable waste. Rich black soil and a lot of rocks, and even more broken bottles, china shards, and weeds with roots that spanned the whole area. There were rocks the size of Rob Jones' head all over the place, I mean really big nuts. So we had some fill work, and a decent bit of grading to do.

And of course, putting down grass seed over a decent sized area, and waiting and hoping. That not being my style, I raised a few blister working the seed into the soil, and then using a hand spreader to fertilize, and the a shower sprayer (as opposed to the sprinkler that moves the soil and floats the seeds) to water, at 5 am and at 8 pm

And it looked like a pile of dirt for a week.

But the recent sun, and some luck, have raised a peach fuzz growth of grass over this, the mountain after the last mountain summited in the home owner universe.

Sitting in the middle of all of this is a Japanese Stewartia (google it), that we planted when Phoebe arrived.

The yard is gonna be wicked sweet.

POTW Week 17

Oprah Winfrey wants to limit the use of a cell phone while driving.
~
She is absolutely correct.
~
Nobody should endanger the lives of another so that they can conduct business or chat at their convenience.
~
Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 17th Week of 2010.

Tom Holmes
Ed Davignon
Ray Crews
Joanne Nestor
The Administrative Assistant at the Groton, Ct. Building Department
Riell Hunter
~
Even a Mountain of a Man has trouble concentrating on two things at once.

Classic Conumdrum

I'm thinking seriously of renaming the "Classic Winter Cocktail". 
~
Since it's now spring, and I show no signs of  backing off, maybe its time call the satisfying combination of Seagrams Seven Canadian and Ocean Spray Cranberry something like.... the "Classic Multi-Season Cocktail".  Or the "Classic Six Month Plus Cocktail".
~
None of these sound right.
~
But "Classic Winter Cocktail" doesn't fit anymore.
~
Part of the problem is that spring came early this year.  It's one of the five warmest Aprils on record here in Boston.  So who would have thought that the weather would screw up the harmonic seasonal nature of the official Nanepashemet beverages???
~
Dark and Stormies in the Summer.
Seagrams and Cider in the Fall..
The Classic Winter Cocktail in the Winter.
~
Course,  Lagavulin, the King of Scotch, rules over all seasons.... but this goes without saying.
~
Now we are left with quite a dilemma, and it's probably those freaking Mayans who are screwing with us again.

Tuna Lips said...
I does like the white rusky fer a drink come candlemas. Its liquored enuff, yet somewhat mild, allowin' fer several long quaffs. Get yerself under a warm blanket, best served with a Injun squaw and a pipe of skunk bud ala Shoo Fly. You will be singin' "I am Superman" in short order. In concludifying, and I thinks milk and vodka wuz part of that teachable merment, so Ise vote white rusky.

TommyO said...

"Seven Seas Cocktail"

Think about it....

Ocean Sprays from the Sea, You are a Sea-Goin Guy, Seagrams Seven, Lucky Seven, Seven-Eleven
Seas or C's (Celtics) Bruins in Seven. To the Ancients, Seven meant "Many"

O-Zone.

Barack's Birth Certificate

This whole controversy over Obama's birth certificate is bogus.
~
I know what the Constitution says.... that you have to be a natural born citizen to be elected President.  But as a nation of immigrants ....(except for the Native Americans that we wiped out with disease or  rounded up and put onto reservations.... but that's another story).... I should be able to vote for Arnold Swartzenegger if I wanted to.
~
Barack Hussein Obama was duly elected as President of the United States.   I don't care where he happened to be when he popped out of his mother's womb.
~
Put your focus on stuff that matters.

Pisc said...

I agree with the sentiment of let it go. But we are a nation of laws, first and foremost. Without them (e.g. the Constitution of the United States) this whole thing falls apart.

Maria Rowen said...
This Barack-‘birf’place‘bidness’ has some‘Birther’s-bloomers in a bunch. House Arizonans passed the ballot-bill ‘requiring’ Barack to belly-up his birth certificate. At the same time… the finches return to the feeder. It all matters…but... in a moment of merriment…peeps should pass on politics, pursue pleasure and on May day...dance around the Maypole.

Salvageable

The Town of Swampscott lost big yesterday when they failed to elect Sue Sue Raiche by a couple hundred votes to a seat on their Board of Selectmen. 
~
But  before anybody panics, you have to consider that Swampscott isn't going anywhere, and Sue Sue isn't a qutter.
~
Even though the Town will be worse off by the time she runs again and gets elected, there still will be enough to salvage.

Pretty Good Day

Those of you who know me best, know that I'm not a boastful person.  Don't really like to brag.  I definitely maintain a certain degree of humbleness. ..... and humility.
~
But when you are a Mountain of a Man like me, that isn't always easy.
~
Like today.... when everything in Nanepashemet Telecom went right.  I don't mean just good.  I mean "kick ass" GOOD.
~
Left the house at 6:00AM and got back by 3:30 PM.... a whole lot better than when I left.
~
I'd like to tell you about the good stuff, but then you may not understand.  This is high level stuff.  Not easily understood by laymen.... or laywomen.
~
Now if Sue Sue Raiche pulls off the election in Swampscott, then this will cap it pretty well.  We'll see.

Return of the Prodigal Birds

After a full year's absense, two goldfinches showed up on the feeder today.
~
I am pumped.

May Day

For some reason, May Day was a big thing when we were growing up in Lynn.  Kids would dress up in costumes and wrap strands of paper around a Maypole.
~
The significance of the event has escaped me, but I dug out this old photograph of the kids in my neighborhood standing on the sidewalk in front of my old house in the Highlands.
~
I'm the good looking one on the left in the Fireman suit.

Sue Sue Raiche said...
That little firefighter looks just like Ethan!

Tuna Lips said...
look like them munchkin folk from the wizard of oz. Theys sure growd them freaks good in Lynn town

Dubious Award

This would seem like an impressive award, but the fact is that we are the only radiotelephone communications contractor in Marblehead.
~
Just want to keep things in perspective.
~
But that doesn't mean that we won't raise a glass or two in raucous celebration of the achievement.
~
And.... there's a good chance that we'll repeat in 2010.

Sue Sue for Selectman

Town faces fine for moving sand at Fisherman's Beach - Swampscott, MA - The Swampscott Reporter

If I lived in Swampscott, I'd vote for Susan Raiche this Tuesday for the Board of Selectmen.  If you want to know why, read the above article from the Swampscott Reporter.

This article is about a citizen who asks a simple question to intrenched bureaucrats. I sincerely hope that the people of Swampscott elect Susan Raiche to their Board of Selectmen. Wish I could vote!

More FreshAyer

Heading out with the Grandkids for some FreshAyer this morning.
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As weird as it sounds, this is always a fun trip that we look forward to.   Ryan always has new stuff to tell us, and seems to know more about Marblehead than we do thanks to all of the people who visit and email him, and he has indepth knowledge in the fields that he has been reading.  He is in unbelieveable shape and holds the camp record for fastest lap around the track.
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It's a no win system that ultimately the taxpayer pays for.  Makes no sense and I can think of many ways  to change it for the better.
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But....the  kids are always thrilled to see him and he's the same.  If the weather is good, everybody is in non-stop motion outside.  It makes for a really good time.
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Like I said... pretty weird.

Gardening , Football, and SuperPeeps

We took the grandkids over to Merrimack College today to see Ben Martin's Football team put on an exhibition at alumni day.   Scuba Steve and his fetching wife, Jill, were there too.
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Ben is the Offensive Line coach, and he has some big bruisers under his mentoring.  Merrimack Football is the official NCAA Football team of the Nanepashemet Blog, so it was an important event.
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Ben taught Grandson Will the three point stance after the game.  All in all, a very worthy and enjoyable endeavor for a warm Saturday afternoon.
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I was pretty sore though, due to the events of the morning.   Superpeep Brian Butler had asked to borrow the F150 for some dump runs and showed up around 7:15 AM to pick it up.   Since I was up anyway, I decided to get some work done on the Appalachia Project in the backyard before I had to shower for the Merrimack event.
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The water table and mud had finally subsided and I raked, weeded and spread grass seed on about 1/3 of the backyard before it was was time to clean up and drive to North Andover.  Worked up a nice sweat and maxed my back to the limit.   Ethan and Will had a great time watching Ben's team despite their limited attention spans.
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But I was pleasantly surprized when I went to get something in the F150  after we got back.  Brian had left a bottle of Black Seal Goslings Rum with a nice thank you note for using the truck.   Even though it was entirely unnecessary, it proved once again why Brian bears the coveted title of "Superpeep".
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There are not a heck of a lot of Superpeeps.   And you don't often get contact with many of them in the same day.   But between Scuba Steve, Jill, Benny, and Brian.... it was one of those days that make everything seem right with the world.

Grenade Pin

Clammers found cases with 126 grenades in New Bedford.  Some were live.   They were safely detonated and no one was hurt.
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That reminds me of an old college incident, in James House at UMASS.  The Vietnam War was in play, and a crazy vet was visiting his friend in the dorm room next door.
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In those days, a lot of guys would come back from the war, fresh from firefights and other horrific shit that only happened a week or so ago.  One day, you are on patrol, firing off your M1 in DaNang at VietCong hell bent on killing you, and the next week you are hanging out on campus at Amherst, MA.  I always felt bad for these guys who didn't have a college deferment, and was enrolled in Army ROTC preparing to go myself.
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This guy was really jacked in a lot of ways, and we all were leary of him.  It was my freshman year and he used to drill Aaron Boykin and myself when we had our uniforms on to go to ROTC class.    But that's another story.
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One day, he came into my room with a grenade in his hand, stuffed it into the hand of my roommate, Jeff Middleton, pulled the pin, and told him to hold the lever, or we would all die.  Then he left the room.  Jeff and I stood there with a WTF look on our faces.
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After about thirty seconds of standing there stunned, I said to Jeff that we should carefully take the grenade outside, walk it across the athletic fields, and heave it into the woods.  Jeff stood there ackwardly holding the thing with his hand clasped on the detonation lever.  We were too dazed to be afraid.
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Before we got the plan into action,  the crazy vet came back, put the pin back into the grenade, quietly took it with him. and left without a word.    We never mentioned it again.... like it never happened.
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I often wonder whether that grenade was live, and what would have happened if it blew up on the edge of the intramural field.  My guess is that if it was a dud, the vet wouldn't have come back so soon to take it back.  He would have let us sweat a lot longer.
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It's one of the many things in my life that could have gone drastically wrong...... but didn't.... so I'm sitting here blogging today.  There is enough stuff that could have gone wrong and did.... but I'm here anyway.

MattyL said...

this blog is the ultra balls.

-- Matthew Lyons

POTW Week 16

Joanne and I took the afternoon off and headed up to the coast of Southern Maine.  A nice drive along the ocean through Kittery, York, Wells and Ogunquit. 
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It must be soothing to live on the water like that.  Maybe a nice place to retire.  But I'll need a to win the lottery or make a score before I can pull that off.

Announcing....
Nanepashemet Peeps of the Week for the 16th Week of 2010.


Ben Martin
Brian Butler
Wayne Webster
Kelly Light
Jill Phillips
Maria Rowen

Plus it's close to the outlet stores in Kittery.... particularly the Kittery Trading Post which is my favority place to buy fishing tackle.