Kingesqv5

2012-01-06T12:55:00.003-05:00

2011-12-30T11:33:00.003-05:00

HNY

2011-12-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

2011-12-26T09:03:00.001-05:00

2011-12-23T09:12:00.002-05:00

Looks like a white Xmas after all.

2011-12-20T08:10:00.002-05:00

Your Type is

ENTJ

or

ENTP

2011-12-14T08:25:00.000-05:00

Rufus

Shake Your Head and See Lennon

2011-12-12T06:13:00.002-05:00

Airbrushed Lohan??

2011-12-12T06:12:00.001-05:00

2011-12-08T14:10:00.003-05:00

No alcohol for 33 days.

Dropped 9 pounds as of 5am this morning.

Getting stronger and feeling better. Ab definition is coming back.

Still enjoying the ganj.

New puppy comes home on 12/17. He's redbone coonhound. A real howler. Or as we say in these parts a howlah.

Pics later.

2011-11-22T12:45:00.001-05:00

wtf

2011-11-22T10:36:00.003-05:00

2011-11-03T19:47:00.002-04:00

Herman Cain. Not surprised.

Rick Perry...ditto.

But not thrilled with Mr. Obama.

Mr. Romney? eh.

Hillary. Like I've always said.

Friday/Sunday

2011-10-30T13:07:00.000-04:00

Halloween Snow

2011-10-30T13:03:00.002-04:00

2011-10-20T14:40:00.001-04:00

Ok, its time for a home office.

2011-10-16T18:12:00.000-04:00

2011-10-10T07:16:00.000-04:00

Torch in the Wind

2011-10-02T10:07:00.001-04:00

This is the torch marking the spot where Princess Di was killed.

Locks of Love

2011-10-02T09:55:00.003-04:00

While exploring Paris I came across a bridge that was adorned with various padlocks. A sh*tload of them. They were put there by folks expressing their affection for their truest.

Balls in the Air

2011-09-27T15:10:00.002-04:00

Holy crap. 2 jobs, a Selectman gig and running a tax conference with 2500 attendees. My life simplification strategy took a wrong turn somewhere.

2011-09-21T07:51:00.000-04:00

2011-09-21T07:36:00.003-04:00

2011-09-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

2011-09-19T08:24:00.002-04:00

Back from Paris. Another successful conference. I'lkl post pictures in the next day or so. Gotta catch up on work firts.

I also may have an update to the work situation. Probably will have an update and it will involve the former firm.

More later......

International Taxes r Us

2011-09-09T07:26:00.006-04:00

I'm heading to Paris tomorrow for the annual international tax conference that I attend. Gotta remember to charge up the camera.

I have a loaner phone from Verizon so I can make calls and check email while I'm over there. Last year in Rome I didn't have the global phone and it was a bit annoying. Now for .99 a minute and .50 an email I'm all set.

The social events sound good. Monday night is a concert at Notre Dame cathedral. Tuesday night we have a private party at the Louvre. Wednesday is free (see below) and Thursday the gala dinner will be at Versailles. Mon Dieu!! C'est bon!! Oui oui.

Also I'm hoping to check out Moulin Rouge while there.

2011-09-01T08:02:00.000-04:00

2011-09-01T07:58:00.001-04:00

2011-09-01T07:56:00.000-04:00

2011-09-01T07:54:00.000-04:00

2011-09-01T07:49:00.001-04:00

2011-09-01T07:20:00.001-04:00

Triangular Wedge of Zoom

2011-08-11T09:34:00.003-04:00

This is pretty cool...

Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. military is preparing to launch a test flight of a hypersonic aircraft capable of reaching any target in the world in less than an hour.

Designed by the military research group DARPA, which stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the triangular wedge of zoom is capable of reaching Mach 20, which is approximately 13,000 miles per hour, according to the agency. At such a speed, the aircraft will be subject to temperatures in excess of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

The test of the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2, called HTV-2, is slated for Thursday between 10 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It will be launched off of a Minotaur IV rocket and then re-enter the earth's atmosphere over the Pacific.

This is the second run for the hypersonic vehicle. A first test in April 2010 ended with the HTV-2 crashing into the Pacific after a loss of contact nine minutes into the flight. But those nine minutes provided DARPA with some key information about flying at 3.6 miles per second. The second flight will build on that as the team tests the capability of maintaining control and communications, resisting the intense heat and other effects of flying 22 times faster than a commercial jetliner. As DARPA puts it on the HTV-2 site, at that speed "air doesn't travel around you - you rip it apart."

The launch, originally slated for Wednesday but then scrubbed because of weather, will not be broadcast live but the public can follow progress on the DARPA Twitter feed.

2011-08-05T07:15:00.002-04:00

Over the past several months, and I mean several, I've been reading Revolutionary War books. I started with Richard Ketchum's "Saratoga", then on to David McCullough's "John Adams", and I finished Ron Chernow's "Washington" a couple of days ago.

Yesterday I was walking by a bookstore at lunch and went inside to take a look around. I've been at the new job in Concord, NH since mid-June and I've only had brief opportunities to look around the neighborhood. The bookstore is a classic small town independent shop. Great atmosphere. I headed over to the biography section and was pleased to discover the next book on my Revolutionary War list...

Alexander Hamilton is one of the great Founding Fathers of our country and yet one of the most overlooked and misunderstood. He was only 49 years old when he was killed by Vice-President Aaron Burr in their famous duel.

After Hamilton I'm interested in James Madison and perhaps John Marshall and then I may move on to a later period. I could read about Jefferson, Franklin, Monroe, but I think I'll be ready to move forward in time. Maybe I'll come back to those guys later. I'm interested in Andrew Jackson and the years from him on to the Civil War. There's a shitload of ground to cover.

I should be all set for several more months.

2011-08-03T20:39:00.004-04:00

Fun with autocorrect

2011-07-27T13:21:00.002-04:00

2011-07-23T18:39:00.000-04:00

2011-07-23T18:25:00.001-04:00

2011-07-23T18:19:00.001-04:00

2011-07-23T18:12:00.001-04:00

2011-07-23T18:07:00.000-04:00

2011-07-23T17:53:00.001-04:00

2011-07-23T17:29:00.003-04:00

2011-07-21T05:55:00.000-04:00

2011-07-06T14:50:00.000-04:00

2011-07-06T14:46:00.002-04:00

2011-07-06T14:46:00.001-04:00

2011-07-06T14:44:00.000-04:00

2011-07-06T14:42:00.000-04:00

2011-06-28T12:28:00.003-04:00

I'm boring.

Work work work. 2 jobs at the moment.

Weekends have been spent mowing, cutting wood and shingling (sp?) the side of the house. FINALLY. Yes after 5 years we are finishing. Welcome to Cow Hampshire.

A good friend of mine committed suicide the Saturday before Father's Day. 51 years old. He was diagnosed with a degenerative nerve condition several months ago and he decided he didn't want to live with his body breaking down. So he ended it. Shot himself.

So we went to his wake/calling hours last Friday night. His wife decided no funeral service, just calling hours and maybe a memorial party in the future. At the cal;ling hours she was wearing a red mini dress. No widow black for her.

I need to post some pictures. I've seen more bears, moose and foxes. We're having a wildlife expolosion this year.

But I'm lazy. Hopefully this weekend.

Another bear and stuff

2011-06-16T16:59:00.004-04:00

2011-06-14T15:35:00.001-04:00

Bears like birdfeeders

2011-06-05T08:38:00.001-04:00

2011-06-05T08:27:00.002-04:00

2011-05-20T09:03:00.001-04:00

2011-05-16T15:36:00.001-04:00

2011-05-12T08:35:00.000-04:00

Switching jobs is complicated.

2011-05-09T07:58:00.000-04:00

2011-05-09T07:54:00.000-04:00

2011-05-09T07:49:00.000-04:00

2011-05-04T10:15:00.002-04:00

Ok, I've been wf busy:

Drove to Pittsburgh last week to pick up the Young Man.

Had a surpise 50th partay for the Queen. 19 people at a Boston restaurant. She loved it and I earned major husband points.

Have been working on the porch. Post and beam construction takes a lot of time. I've spent about 40 hours over the last week planing, grinding, sanding and oiling the wood.

Various Selectman duties including attending meetings and working on contracts. Interesting stuff actually.

Preparing for my departure to the new law firm.

Client matters.

2011-05-01T20:58:00.001-04:00

2011-04-28T18:20:00.001-04:00

2011-04-28T07:17:00.001-04:00

2011-04-27T23:12:00.001-04:00

Got it.

2011-04-20T07:58:00.003-04:00

Finally after 5 years in the house we are going to put up the screen porch and finish siding the east side of the house.

Pictures next week.

Once the porch is built I am going to build a chicken coop and pen.

Hee Haw.

2011-04-19T11:06:00.002-04:00

Freedom.

Now I can get back to procrastination, effing deadlines mess with that shit.

Partners meeting this afternoon to discuss the BIG CHANGE.

Camera shopping later.

Porcupine Pie

2011-04-15T09:02:00.002-04:00

The other day one of my friends decided he was going to trap some porcupines. He wants to try eating them. Apparently they taste good. ?????????????????????????????

This picture is his first one.

Maybe he'll do a Porcupine Pizza in his outdoor pizza oven.

2011-04-15T06:26:00.004-04:00

4 more days. Including today. 4 more and I am free. I've been in the office working for 19 straight days, Mon-Fri for 15 hours each day, Saturdays 8-9 hours and the past 2 Sundays for a measly 6.

Yesterday I felt like I turned the corner and the next few days while busy, won't feel as bad. I know I can get it done.

Next year tax season will be radically different as I will be at the new place.

And next week I will get the new camera and make up for lost time.

In two weeks the Queen and I are driving to Pittsburgh to pick up the boy. He'll be finished with his 1st year at UPitt. Hmmmmm, at 19 I guess calling him the boy isn't quite right. I'll have to think about that. I'm old.

Trace Adkins - Honky Tonk Badonkadonk

2011-04-09T06:37:00.000-04:00

2011-04-08T07:43:00.004-04:00

So a good friend asked me if my upcoming lifestyle changes (move to a new law firm and election to the town selectboard) are indications of me winding down. Hmmmmmmmm. Although I am at the ancient age of Five-Two I'm hardly ready to be put out to pasture. I have way to much energy and am still going strong here.

The new law firm is an interesting opportunity. Its a chance to join a well established firm and bring along/build a practice area (international tax) that they don't currently have. I'm looking forward to new people, places and challenges.

I'm 5 weeks in to the selectboard gig. I haven't been able to give it adequate attention yet due to tax season, but I expect its going to be about 10-20 hours a week of time going forward. There is so much to do. We're basically the executive office/town manager. I'll talk about this more later.

And last, but certainly not least, the new move allows me to be home every night of the week for the first time in 6 years. Its been a long haul since we first bought the store and I began splitting my time betwen Mass and NH. Me and the Queen (mostly me) are looking forward to expanding the farm side of home. We already have a nodest vegetable garden, but now I'll be able to expand it and add corn, pumpkins and all sorts of other veggies. Plus I've been looking at planting apple trees, pears, blueberry bushes and I'm have a whole section of the property for Christmas Trees. No shit. Last year I planted a few and I'm planning on getting about 30 more this spring.

Also this spring I'm going to build a chicken coop and a pig pen. If we don't do it this year we will definitely have pigs and chickens (and perhaps turkeys) next year.

And I will buy my new camera in s weeks. After the taxes are done.

Oh yeah and as I mentioned a few posts ago. I've always wanted to have cows, but have been talking to a bunch of local farmers and am start to think that perhaps buffalo might be better for me. They require less attention and can handle harsh winters. And I have the space for it as they need to roam.

But thats down the road a year or two. Just the fencing is going to take time and $$$$$.

So although I have pasture its not time for me to be put out to pasture. Unless I have to go work on the fence or something.

Yee haw.

2011-04-05T07:17:00.000-04:00

2011-03-28T07:13:00.000-04:00

2011-03-25T06:36:00.000-04:00

2011-03-24T10:07:00.000-04:00

2011-03-22T12:47:00.002-04:00

Ramblings in lieu of new camera...and while waiting for tax season to pass.

Tax season. Its a mixed bag. After 16 years this may be the last time I do it so intensely. I expect next year's load to be much lighter as the new firm I'm joining doesn't do any compliance work. So the question is how much do I want to build it up once I move. Not sure, but it can be lucrative.

The transition between firms is going to be awkward/painful/slow. The current firm is still working through feelings of denial and anger. Acceptance has not settled in yet.

Meanwhile the Selectman gig is going to be ok. Its heavy on administrative/procedural detail. But I like it. Once tax season is over I'll be able to put a lot more into it.

The new law gig is going to require that I drive about 80 miles a day. With gas prices being so high, I'm seriously thinking about using a motorcycle during the summer. I used to have one up until about 10 years ago. I've been meaning to get another, but it was low on my asset acquisition list (after tractor, log splitter, plow truck etc).

The snow is finally melting in NH. Its been a great couple of months for relaxing on the weekends and not doing much, but I'm ready to get started on next winter's firewood, the vegetable garden and building pens for some critters. This year we are probably going t9o get some chickens and perhaps a pig or two. Down the road we're aiming for cows or buffalo. More on that, in detail, later. Apres tax season.

2011-03-21T14:58:00.000-04:00

2011-03-11T05:17:00.001-05:00

Selectman.

I won. 230-223.

Not a mandate, but I'll serve.

2011-02-28T06:27:00.003-05:00

Still no camera.

Its been a relaxing winter so far. Lots of snow, plenty of wood in the shed so the weekends are spent with a bit of exercise and lots of reading and napping.

Once the snow melts we'll worry about next years wood.

Oh and I have been drafted to run for political office.

Go figure.

2011-01-30T16:49:00.002-05:00

2011-01-26T11:44:00.000-05:00

Still waiting on the new camera.

2011-01-24T16:14:00.001-05:00

Frickin cold.

-12 this morning in NH.

2011-01-19T07:53:00.004-05:00

Sports. Its just a game. We had a fun season, unfortunately it didn't end the way we wanted but I got my money's worth. I'm still a fan and looking forward to next year. Depressed about it??? No way. Its a game. Theres winners and losers. And always another one.

Job. Mine may be changing. This is a good thing. Details later.

Intoxication. Sigh. Its boring these days. I hate wine.

Winter. I like it. Went cross country skiing the other day. Perfect snow. Its work, but its also fun when you get the rythym

Exercise. Getting there. Never ending. Need flexibility.

Money. Never enough.

Family and health. True blessings.

2011-01-18T11:58:00.001-05:00

Powering down soon. No camera. No time.

2011-01-13T07:30:00.001-05:00

So this weekend I'll look into getting my camera fixed.

My Blackberry's pics don't come out so great, but maybe I'll try posting a few.

2011-01-12T08:34:00.002-05:00

Snow day today in the city. There was about 9 inches on the ground when I headed to work at 5am this morning. 4 wheel drive and a new tires = no problemo.

Only 5 out of 26 have made it in to the office so far. Thats cool. I hope no one else comes in. It will make for a quiet but productive day.

2011-01-10T07:08:00.002-05:00

My camera is broken. Crap. I had a bunch of pictures to take yesterday too as we were out for a winter's hike. Iguess I'll just have to describe it...

Cold. No snow but ice. Wind. Mountains. Lots of wind. Bobcat tracks. Frozen river. Frozen waterfall. Home. Wood stove.

Home - Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros Acoustic Cover (Jorge & Alex...

2011-01-07T07:22:00.000-05:00

2011-01-04T14:45:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year.

Back soon.

So much for doing nothing

2011-01-01T18:16:00.000-05:00

Currently Reading

2011-01-01T18:11:00.001-05:00

2010-12-29T12:43:00.003-05:00

Today is the last day of work in 2010.

Tomorrow and Friday I'm planning on doing NOT MUCH. Now that snow is on the ground I'm going to take a break from firewood processing for a few weeks.

New Year's Eve we're going to our friends' house for a typical partay with the usual folks. I'm cool with that. The Queen wants to do something "fun" for NYE, but has no actual suggestions. My grinchy opinion is that its impossible. All the "first-night" type activitis suck major dick because:

1. Too crowded

2. WF Cold

3. Too crowded

So I'm content to hang with the usuals and enjoy responsible intoxication. (aka no hard liquor)

The first 2 days of 2011 will also involve NOT MUCH.

So, to sum up, I don't have much to say and I'm planning on being boring over the next few days.

Then tax season starts....

Oh and here is a gratuitous photo...

2010-12-27T13:04:00.004-05:00

So its now been one week on the wine and beer only kick. Its working out ok. I don't get as drunk as drinking Gin but the good news is that I don't get as drunk. So I'm good with it.

One problem is that I seem to have substituted junk food for the missing alcohol calories. I'll have to stop that post-holidays.

Only 5 of us showed up for work today due to the snowstorm. 5 out of 24. I have the longest commute by an hour. (So obviously I'm great)

Heading to the gym after work to burn off some of the junk. Then home to watch MNF.

Go Pats. The road to the Super Bowl goes through New England at least once.

2010-12-26T17:49:00.000-05:00

Confessions of an Alcoholic

2010-12-21T11:17:00.002-05:00

Ok. No more drinking Gin. It was fun but enough is enough.

I have now added gin to the scotch, whiskey and tequila list.

In fact, no more drinking hard spirits. From now on its wine and beer only.

I don't moderate with hard liquor and end up getting sloshed way to fast. And too often I go out to events already stumbling and bumbling way too early in the evening. (fortunately most of the time its with close friends who are cool, but lately its happened a few times in public. To my horror the next day.)

So this is it. Wine and beer. They have built in moderating factors for me...wine = doesn't taste that good and the buzz doesn't wipe me out...beer = too filling. I can't drink much.

Hopefully I stick to it.

2010-12-19T15:16:00.000-05:00

2010-12-19T15:12:00.000-05:00

2010-12-15T08:25:00.000-05:00

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Home (JVTP)

2010-12-10T12:08:00.000-05:00

GOLDFISH - FORT KNOX (OFFICIAL)

2010-12-10T12:06:00.000-05:00