Celebrate the Green

We had a nice time at the Boston Yacht Club St. Patrick's Day celebration.
~
Lots of of banging the bar at the "No, Nay, Never, No More" verses of Wild Rover.
~
Then  Maria Rowen stepped up to the mike wirh a sweet rendition of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."  She brought the house down with her soulful arpeggio stylings.
~
Filling out our group was Harvey Rowe, with whom we artfully substituted the Phrase "Oh Harvey Boy" instead of the commonplace "Danny Boy" in the classic ballad., his lovely wife Lisa Panakio Rowe, who expressed her disinterest in attending a viewing of the "Spartacus" finale at our house, and Lynda Murray our special friend.
~
I don't want to say that we carried the bar at the BYC, but we pretty much did.
~
A fine celebration.

Erin Go Bragh

Happy St. Patrick's Day.  Erin Go Bragh.

~

We celebrate this day to commemorate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who converted the pagan Celts to Christianity and reportedly drove the snakes from Ireland.

~

When I was a young upstart in the City of Lynn, MA, it was a day for exessive beers at the Porthole Pub after lunch and stopping off at the Commodore Restaurant in Beverly where politicians from all over the state would gather to throw good natured barbs at each other and show their singing prowness, bellowing out "When Irish Eyes are Smiling".

~

One of my fondess memories of the day was having a corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 10 in Lynn and listening to Senate President Billy Bulger immitate James Michael Curley as he promised to take the Golden Dome of the Statehouse and turn it upside down, and fill it with water to use as a swimming pool for the children of Boston, if elected Governor.  Bulger's rendition made you feel that it was really Mayor Curley on the podium.

~

When I was a little kid, I remember my father taking me and my brother to the parade in South Boston where we froze to death on the sidewalk until he took us into a neighborhood pub to warm up.  I can still feel that cold in my bones.  Later, my father told us the story about how he got into a ruckus in South Boston in his younger days, and that the Judge had told him stay out of South Boston.   I never got anymore details than that.

~

I think he liked the fact that he was returning to South Boston to watch the parade with his kids.  He'd probably get a kick out of the fact that two of his grandkids live in Southie today.

~

I can't deny that I've always been proud to be of Irish descent.  Sometime around the turn of the century, some Crowleys, Kelly's and Nestor's left County Cork and County Sligo and made their way to Pennsylvania to work in the coal mines, and finally landed in Lynn.  They aren't even memories now, just historical fact.   The only tie I have is this photograph of Darby Nestor taken in West Lynn, who bears a slight resemblance to my son Ryan.

~

I'm proud to be Irish, because somehow, their blood flowing though my veins has made it easier to live in my own skin.

Shit Happens

What a nightmare for the Japanese with this Nuclear emergency! 
~
It looks like a meltdown is imminent so the question is whether the containment vessels will hold and prevent a massive outpouring of poisonous radiation.  Aftershocks continue to pummel the country and the devastation from tsunamis has yet to be measured.  There are reports of whole towns with no survivors.
~
Could it happen here?
~
Absolutely.  Which will create a huge debate over whether nuclear power is necessary and if the safeguards that are in place are enough..
~
Our standard of living demands a high supply of electrical energy, but there are costs.... and shit happens.   I suppose that we could shut down the laptops, lights and TV's and huddle around the fireplace knitting and whittling wood.
~
Or we can live with the danger and try to mitigate the risk that our high energy level way of life requires.
~
I'm a pretty good whittler, so can go either way.

Antidote for Aggravation

OK....I've been watching the coverage of the Japan Disaster on ABC News against my better judgement. 
~

I actually like David Muir and Martha Radatz.... both former Boston protoges, but Diane Sawyer officially makes my teeth hurt.   Her feigned compassion and efforts to compell emotional response.... just tell us the freaking news, Diane.   It's not about how bad you feel, it's about what's happening to them.
~
Gag me with the proverbial spoon.

~
BTW, this is what came up when I googled for an image of Diane Sawyer.  It's most definitely not her, but I'm going with it anyway.
~
 Somehow I feel a lot less aggravated now.

TommyO said...
Hi Jay,
How about some local sports news.


Marblehead 3 vs Pembroke 2


Marblehead wins the D3 East Title and will play at TD Garden for the first time in many years on Sunday at 11:15. Let's bang the place out. This Blog has the power.


TommyO

Fragility of Life

The Japanese have a penchant for photography.   So there is no shortage of tsunami photos.   Such devastation.
~
And since Japan is so advanced technologically, the concern right now is if their nuclear power reactors will be damaged and spew radiation poisoning.
~
The resourcefulness of the Japanese people will ultimately prevail here, after a huge effort and cost. 
~
This is such a graphic example of the fragility of our human existance on the thin geological crust of this moving molten planet

London Loser

You know how I tend to stick my tongue in my cheek and call you Peeps "Losers" from time to time???
~
Well, some geek from London, England took it serious and sought to chastise me  for my arrogance.
~
Seriously.... how can anyone take this Blog serious.  
~
What a Loser.

Disaster Precaution

Now a Nuke is threatening to meltdown in Japan.  As a highly accomplished and competent nation, Japan will deal with this trauma, but it's still very heart rendering to see what is going on there.
~
This type of thing always makes people wonder how they would cope if it hit them at home.   Around Boston, even with stringent building codes, there are a lot of old dwellings that would be hard pressed to withstand an earthquake. 
~
But what worries me more, living near the harbor is the Tsunami.   We are pretty close to sea level here, and that would be a mess.
~
So, just in case, I'm going to unstrap the Herreshoff Columbia Tender on the trailer in the backyard.   That way, at least we can hop in and stay on top of the flow.

Blame for Tsunami

Japan has absorbed a massive earthquake and tsunami this morning.  The entire Pacific Rim, "Ring of Fire" has been behaving badly as this quake follows the recent ones in Chile and New Zealand. 

~

 With network coverage and extensive videos, the effects are readily observable, with the tsunami dramatically moving tons of water and debris on a march inland.

~

The only redeeming value regarding earthquakes is that the Democrats can't blame the Republicans for it.  Unlike the global warming debate, their seems to be no hook to hang the blame on for this.

Naming the Ax

Not to make a big thing out of it, but I got my Epiphone Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar delivered by UPS this week.  After a quick tuning, I was pounding out the Pentatonic Minor Scale in the key of E like it was yesterday.
~
I'm thinking of calling the guitar "Lucille".... but I don't want to piss off BB King.

Done with Sheen

OK, I've been sticking up for Charlie Sheen, but now he's starting to get on my nerves.  For one thing, put out the butt, Charlie.  Smoking is so passe.  Totally uncool.
~
I guess that's the main reason.

Philadelphia Freedom

I appreciate all of the emails and text messages asking how the Philadelphia meeting went today.
~
Really.... I do.
~
And that is said with no hint of sacasm.
~
Not even a little bit.
~
It's all part of the new, kinder, more tolerant me..... Regardless of the annoying, irritating and slightly neurotic attempts by some of you Peeps to track my every move, I've resolved myself to respond with a gentle retort to such inconveniences.
~
No more will I rant that you are freaking losers and need to seriously consider getting a semblance of a life of your own.   No... I now appreciate your freaking, assinine concern.
~
So if you want to know how good we did because you have nothing better to point the aimless direction of
your seemingly pointless life to.... I can simple tell you this....
~
We kicked ASS!  Scored BIGTIME!  Rocked the CASPAR!
~
I'm pretty sure that we nailed this deal.   
~
So we'll show a great deal of attention to the Phillies and the Eagles for the next year or so.

dougmaxfield said...

I'm pretty sure you mean gasbar.

Tuna Lips said...

If ise know my ole amigo Boomer, he was rockin' the azzzzbah, and you know that, you most certainly do. Azzz-bah. Sounds perty, don't it?!

Brian Butler said...

... or Casbah
Clash "Rock the Casbah" lyrics:
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/clash/rock+the+casbah_20031941.html

Anonymous said...


Why write a blog, why put yourself out there in the pubic domain, if you are then going to have the arrogance to call anyone who actually reads it a "freaking loser"? Seems like there's only one real loser on this site...

__________________________
Hey Anon.  -
Now that you've given your stiff ass opinion, you are right, there is only one real loser on this site... so keep the hell off.
With Kind Regards,
- John Nestor, aka Master J, Crusher, JJ

Telecom Success Mold

Tomorrow it's down to Philadelphia to profess the virtues of Nanepashemet Telecom to a very promising prospect..   If all goes well, we will crack a nice regional market of one of our biggest current customers.  Business development and capabilities briefings have always been one of my strong points, so I'm never nervous at these activities... but mainly curious as to the magnitude of the opportunity.
~
Since Nanepashemet Telecom is such a strong performer in this field, success usually revolves around the strength and staying power of the customer.  In this high tech, corporately financed environment, companies are constantly hitting the gas pedal, then slamming on the brakes when it comes to capital spending for infrastructure development.    You have to literally be at the right place at the right time, so if we are fortunate enough to have a relationship in place at the beginning of a capital project, we are usually highly successful in the implementation.
~
I'm hoping that the Philadelphia opportunity fits the mold.

FreshAyer and North End

Ryan was in high form, explaining the in's and out's of life at FreshAyer to Gail and Dale.   The day will come when we don't have to make the pilgimage to see him, but until then, his attitude and outlook makes the ordeal highly tolerable, even enjoyable.
~
Afterward, we detoured into the North End and had an early dinner at L'Osteria on Salem Street.  http://www.losteria.com/,
~

Dining Room at L'Osteria

The proprietor pull us in from the street, and the menu looked good, so we gave it a try.  An excellent happenstance as the food was as fine as can be found in one of Boston's North End Italian restaurants.  A stop over at Mike's Pasty  on Hanover Street capped a very satisfying afternoon.

Fresh Start

Heading out for some FreshAyer with Dale and Gail Johnson this morning.  Ryan will be fired up to see them.   Before that though, I hope to finish purging my files and throwing away the irrelevant ones.
~
Finished sorting through my books and clothes yesterday, and a fair amount went to the Book Bin or to the Salvation Army clothes container at the dump.   I can easily now fit my books into the bookcase, and my clothes into my closet.
~
With the essential files neatly filed in the file cabinets, we can easily organize the family room and the last bedroom, and then I can resume the wainscotting and trimwork for this house.  Then we can attack the backyard, which has been transformed into Appalachia during this move.
~
As soon as the weather improves, the deck and tool shed will start.

Alternative to Dumping

We've moved a number of times in my adult life, and everytime, all of the stuff from the old place doesn't fit into the new place.  In the past, we would end up junking stuff and we did a lot of that this time, but I also found an interesting phenomenon.  If I put unwanted furniture or TV sets out on the curb in the morning, they were gone by the afternoon.
~
Saving me the trouble and cost of bringing that stuff to the dump.  Today, before it starts to rain, I'm going to put a chest of drawers out there and see what happens.
~
Feels pretty good that some of my stuff will be of good use to others who need it.

Blues are Back

So I never told you that somebody stole my Epiphone LP Standard Les Paul Collection Electric Guitar, Ebony.  What an Asshole!

~

But I bought a new one.... same model.

~

I know I'm an Irish American White Man, but the Blues can't be denied.  

Guinness for Sheen





Charlie Sheen has been noted as having the "Fastest Time to Reach 1 Million Followers" for a Guinness World Record.  
~
He also holds the record as the  "Highest Paid TV Actor Per Episode -- Current" at $1.25 million.

~

This guy is money.  I predict some serious chewing on crow from CBS Executives before this outburst is over.

Trade Show

There is a lot of pressure on me from industry colleagues to attend the CTIA Wireless Trade Show at the end of this month in Orlando.  
~
When I was with General Dynamics, I would attend regularly and usually got a lot out of it... networking and stuff.   But that was when they picked up the tab.... and there was a bunch of staff to cover for me to be out of pocket for a couple of days.    
~
With Nanepashemet Telecom, none of the above applies.  Plus our focus is almost solely in the Northeast, and the show is national in scope.   So the cost -benefit ratio is a lot higher for Nanepashemet. 
~
It was actually the CTIA that dragged me back into Wireless after I left GD.  When I didn't show up that year, got a lot of contact from people wondering where I was.... and I realized that these relationships could not just be dropped.  I'm glad now that I jumped back in.
~
Maybe I'll show up in Orlando.

TommyO said...


Got to love the Trade Show scene.


I am going to attend the Boston International Seafood Show on 22 MAR. Love this show, lots of samples, cocktails and pretty girls serving up the goods. Oh yeah, not a bad way to meet new prospects and say howdy to our current clients.


TommyO

IPad Lust

New IPad upgrade is out.  Faster, higher resolution, better battery life,  two cameras for video phone, and a rumored chip that will work on GSM, CDMA and UMTS mobile phone networks.
~
I want it.   
~    
Don't need it, but I want it anyway.

Nothing to Say

If you have to think about what you want to Blog, then maybe you shouldn't.
~
Because a Blog should be a flowing,, free wheeling, spontaneous expression.... can't be forced or contrived.  When you can't think of anything to say, then don't say anything.
~
So....
~
I still can't think of anything.  Except the topic of not being able to think of stuff to say.  Maybe I'm topic free because I'm not pissed about anyone.   Even those phony  ABC Good Morning America Spindoctors didn't bother me today.
~
I got a lot of shitty little things done at work and felt pretty satisfied about the day's effort.  And not one Asshole made a run at me for their own Asshole reasons.
~
Have to quit before I say something stupid.  Suffice it to say, that I'm not going to say anything.