Lifeline Thrown

I think my sister and brother in law sensed how solitary life is for me here in Worcester sans a certain Latina. This was not a condition they could easily tolerate and so they made their way north yesterday to rescue me from the doldrums. They arrived just in time to save me from yet another hour of Flip or Flop which I still don’t understand why I was watching. It was that kind of day. My spirits immediately skyrocketed to the stratosphere upon their arrival and Buddy was even more excited. He immediately escorted my sister to the kitchen in order to point out where I keep his treats, no moss growing on the wonder pooch.

The Lifesavers Last Night at Peppercorns

Since central Worcester was still under siege by Garth Brooks fandom we went to Peppercorns on the western side of the city. After a very short wait we set up station for a very lively dinner of catching up, reminiscing, and general camaraderie; just what the doctor ordered. As my brother in law was driving I wasn’t worried about beer intake which had the predictable result. While driving to and from Peppercorns we noticed a new fast food establishment on Park Avenue. We stopped by on our way home so I could take the picture below to inform Wingman of his new franchise. 

The New Addition to Son in Law's Vast Empire

We returned home and connected via Facetime to California where my sister and brother in law were able to bask in the reflected glow perpetually emanating from the First Blog Reader. She was every bit as charming as expected despite being close to bed time. She was even wearing an “aunt” themed shirt. She was advised by everybody participating that this aunt (my sister) would establish herself near the top of the auntal (I know it’s not a word!) pantheon. While it was all too short a time (aren’t they all) before they had to leave I went to bed thanking the Powers that be for blessing me with them.

Earlier in the day I came to realize how thoroughly ruined or I should say “trained” I’ve been by the Favorite Panamanian. I will never achiever her levels of household cleanliness which borders on surgical suite standards but I found myself actually bothered this week by some of the grime my lifestyle had imposed on our abode. I devoted the entire day to cleaning, vacuuming, and scrubbing. Buddy was very confused. I even employed scrubbing bubbles for the first time and used a quarter bottle of bleach in the bathtub which I had put an especially hardy beat down on.

When I proudly reported my activities to my absent wife she only nodding sagely as if she fully expected this; always two steps ahead. She spent the day being squired around Panama City by one of the Panamanians that visited us last year. We spent a couple days showing them around Boston and they more than reciprocated yesterday. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to one of them who rescued my wife from the clutches of a jewelry store clerk who was attracted by my wife’s shopping gene. It was a near miss and still regretted this morning when I talked to her.

I’ll have to accelerate Sunday’s usual program today because it’s Oscar night and as with any self-respecting movie nut I’ll be glued to the screen. I’ve high hopes for Spotlight and The Martian although it looks like the marketing campaign and industry sentiment for Sad Leo will carry Revenant to the lion’s share. The First Blog Reader’s arrival rightfully canceled my daughter’s annual Oscar party but I’m sure we’ll be talking as soon as the awards show concludes. Fellow movie nuts, don’tcha know!