Tiger on Top

With his recent victory in the 2013 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods has resumed his place as the Number 1 Ranked Professional Golfer in the world.
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I for one, am pretty happy for him.
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Yes, he cheated on his wife, having sex with any gorgeous white woman that came his way.
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Yes, he isn't a "give back to the Hood" ethnic role model trying to inspire other minorities to greatness.
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Yes, he seems a bit too self absorbed and stiff, rather than giving himself shamelessly to an adoring public.
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Peeps, maybe  I'm flawed as I'm sure you know, but I don't give a rat's ass about any of that Tiger stuff.  All I care about is the uncanny closeness to perfection that he has attained by hitting a dimpled ball around a manicured landscape.

Truth be told, if Lindsay Vonn made a run at me, I can't guarantee how I'd score on the fidelity scale.  I'd like to say that my life bond with Joanne would remain unscathed, but Vonn would be a hell of a challenge. 

But that wouldn't effect the thousands of you hapless Peeps who read this unsavory blog daily...... would it????
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So that's why I like Woods.   Off the course, he's just an asshole like me and you.  But on the Golf links... he's something extraordinary that we are priviledged to observe.
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.... Just like this Blog.

The Vikings

I've become a fan of The Vikings series currently being aired on the History Channel.

The historical context and acting is interesting, and the wooden long ships are the balls.

Contrary to popular opinion, the Vikings did not wear helmets with horns sticking out of them.

Spring Projects

Spring is here.  I don't care about the temperature, I'm done with winter and the cold weather as well.  And I've also rolled out my list of spring projects, few of which I can afford nor have the time to accomplish.
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Unfortunately, most of the stuff has to do with maintenance and remodeling, as well as getting the boats up to par.  The Aquaponics project is as the end of the list, and the Marblehead Gunning Dory can't even fit, so there is no real sex appeal.
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But if I can get in a good push, maybe those will see some life before summer is over.

Recommended by a Discerning Brew Critic

Dory Power Alternative

 Torqeedo Electric Outboard motors.

This might be the way to go with the Marblehead Gunning Dory.  They have a solar charge option and are equipped with GPS which measures the distance that you can cover with the remaining charge.

New Haven City Hall Wainscotting

Nanepashemet and Yale - Mano a Mano

Yale University Art Gallery

Outdoor Sculpture - Yale Art Gallery

I Don't Get Modern Art

Clinton, Kerry and Bush Recently Strode here.

Yale University - Old Money

Frank Pepe's Pizzaria - Must See in New Haven

 

Yes - My Diet went to Hell. But it was Worth IT!

 

Luck of the Irish

Happy St. Patrick's Day, or Lá Fhéile Pádraig if you are conversant in Gaelic.
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This is probably the most popular unofficial American holiday, and I'm told that it is more popular here than in Ireland.
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Fully 24% of Americans claim they have some Irish descent in them, with another bump claiming the heritage on this day.  The fact that this day is so popular would have been enigmatic in the earlier days of this country when the Irish were vilified and discriminated against.
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Every Boston kid with an Irish name knows what "No Irish Need Apply" means as the Yankees sought to subjugate and hold back the surging Irish Immigrant population.  I remember my mother clearly teaching me this fact at a young age.  And if you look at the history of the Irish, the phrase "Luck of the Irish" is enigmatic to say the least.
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The brutalizaton of the Irish and attempted genocide by the British over the past three centuries, causing widespread immigration to America, Latin America and Australia was a bit high on the unlucky scale. (And for the record, the potato famine of the mid 1800's could have easily been abated by the British, who stood by and watched millions suffer without offering aid).
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Maybe the Irish are looked at as "Lucky" because they persevered over egregious treatment by the British and then the American Yankees.  All the while, keeping their spirit, music, and culture alive and vibrant.
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I guess if you have that stamina and persistence, you are indeed lucky.
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The Americans and their friends who lift a brew and toast the patron Saint of Ireland today are the prodigy and embodiment of a people who could be bent but could't be broken.

 

Erin Go Bragh!

Ireland Forever!

Weighing In

Lately, Peeps, everytime I run into one of you, I get asked about the status of my weight loss program.   Which has it's own immitable message to me.   Obviously it doesn't look like I've dropped anything substantial.
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But that's ok... I started at a pretty hefty size, and this is a marathon, not a sprint.  I've allocated a considerable block to time....  up to Katelyn's September wedding date... to acheive my weight loss goal.  
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The first three weeks or so, I was a bit manic....watching every morsel consumed,  counting calories and weighing myself constantly.   That was good to convince myself that weight loss was attainable.  And it gave me a more indepth insight into the amount of calories that we can pack in without even knowing it.   But it also brought on an unacceptable level of self awareness and guilt.   Who wants to judge every bite that you take, then measure and fret that it might upset your daily goal?
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The most important thing is balance.  Watch what you eat, but don't obsess.  Enjoy in moderation, and above all, exercise.   It is the exercise that is the key to easing the manic issues of counting calories.  Plus the exercise makes you feel good immediately... despite the discomfort and pain of the actual effort.
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At this point, I don't know how much I've lost because I'm resolved not to let the scale set my state of mind.  I will weigh in when I can fit into my old jeans comfortably.  And I hope that is in a month or so of eating and drinking in moderation and daily gym sessions.

Black Joe's Pond

Steer Swamp

Steer Swamp

Ice Out on Hawthorne Pond

Ice Out, Ducks in.

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I went down to check out the possiblities of catching some Bluegill or Goldfish from Hawthorne Pond which is off of West Shore Drive.
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Maybe they could be introduced to the Aquaponics operation this summer.

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We brought the kids down there when they were little and the pond was filled with overgrown Goldfish or Koi.

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It is alot more overgrown now.
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Tomorrow I'll hike through Steer Swamp at the Beacon Street entrance and see what Black Joe's Pond has to offer.  \\
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Between, Black Joe's, Hawthorne and Redd's Pond, the aquaponics fish component should be adequately stocked this summer.

Papal Poetry

No Matter how much we Hope,
If its Black Smoke that means Nope,
But you really shouldn't Mope,
None of the Cardinals is a Dope.
They will shortly scale this Slope.
And choose a Brand New Pope.