Elm City Elementary

A very late post today because I’m in my usual recovery mode after a full day of reuniting with friends and consuming several adult beverages in my home town. My wife dropped Keene Friend and I off in the early afternoon and made her usual bee line for the tax free shopping offered in the granite state. The abandoned males of the species took up residence initially in Elm City Brewery where we were attended to by our favorite bar tendress.

The Crew Late Night at Margarita's

The place was packed with several people ordering food at the bar which meant no seats would be coming available in the foreseeable future. Although leaving meant hurting the bar tenderess’ feelings, we were not going to spend the afternoon standing up, those days are sadly in the rear mirror. A short walk downtown on a truly spectacular spring day brought us to the Scores sports pub and the land of ten thousand televisions. There was literally every sport imaginable showing as we settled down for a long afternoon of waiting for the Favorite Panamanian to finish her re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the shopping emporiums who sorely missed her over the past months.

My Wife Edited this non-flash Photo and Said I had to Include it

Keene Friend now comes to these soirées with a list of phone numbers we’re obligated to call to check on availability. The Cantankerous One was afield with his father, Keene Friend 2 was running around with his girlfriend, the Pittsburgh roommate was wallowing in Penguins’ playoff failure, and another high school classmate was doing her usual running up and down 4000 foot peaks (not sure where she gets the energy). That left it to Keene Friend and I to rescue the day by catching up with each other. Keene Friend could also critique the upcoming move across the street which he didn’t. It was a good afternoon watching the Red Sox win yet another game while watching Keene stroll by outside on Main Street; one of those afternoons which arrives at its own comfortable pace.

Wife and Cantankerous with their Birthday Cake

The sun was starting to fade when my Favorite Panamanian finally relinquished her hold on the shopping haunts. We moved across the street to Margarita’s for dinner and reported the move over the phone tree. We were joined in short order by a thinned down version of the Cantankerous Friend which permitted some belated birthday beers to head down range. We placed a chicken quesadilla order for the ice climbing classmate who showed up late in the evening to join the reunion. A return to Keene Friend’s house resulted in a birthday cake for both Cantankerous and my wife (that’s how Keene Friend rolls). In the midst of celebrating I made an inappropriate FaceTime call to the left coast which caught my daughter and Wingman out on their first date since the arrival of the First Blog Reader. I was roundly chastised by my wife for forgetting this and the ensuing faux pas. Despite this blunder the day goes down in the win column. Any day I get to spend with old friends in my home town counts as a win, some more than others and yesterday certainly qualified.

Rock n Roll Genes Asserting Themselves

Who's That Beauty in the Mirror?

Hey Dad, Did You See me Flip Mom Off?

Holding Hands at Play Date

Yeah it was Cool!

Starting a Book Club

We Have to Leave Already!