Spooky Night

I usually don’t dwell on the emptiness of the house during my wife’s extended absences. Part of that is self-preservation as I combat the isolation with prolonged time in the Man Cave and the accompanying four walls of speakers. Since I am without my Favorite Panamanian I can raise the decibel level to truly wall shaking levels, that’s usually enough to keep my fertile imagination as to the source of the house creaking noises in check. Last night was kind of spooky though, I returned from the movies and paused to look outside and was startled by the stark beauty of the winter night. We had a super moon and the arctic air was so clear that along with the coating of fresh snow an interesting effect was created. Properly viewed from inside, of course, since I didn’t want the odd appendage to fall off from the intense cold.

Super Moon Last night

Night time always brings back a lot of Army related memories since we did so much of our field training at night. “Owning the Night” has been a catch phrase for the US military for a long time but it was not a lot of fun despite our advantages in night vision technology. While that technology provides some remarkable ability to see clearly on the darkest of nights, especially near the end of my career, the infantry always trains part of the time without that advantage. Just to show we could, I guess, but it was never fun. I will always remember the night land navigation course in Georgia. That had to be accomplished in total darkness as you had to follow a compass azimuth to specific points through the woods without a night vision device. The added fun was that all the owner occupied spider webs you walked carefully around in the daytime were invisible at night, at least until your face passed through them. This is another time my fertile imagination did me no favors as I imagined the huge yellow and black spiders taking up residence on my face along with their remnants of their homes. When reaching those designated points there was always a flashlight check to remove any non-imaginary hitchhikers.

Such a great View

Especially When You Add This Lady

How Was your Day?

As hauntingly beautiful as last night’s back yard was I much prefer the one my wife sent me from Las Lajas, see above. I’m so excited to show this beach to friends and family over the coming years. The FBR was in fine form last night during our call, she even asked me how my day was. It is hard to minimize any day when it involved a conversation like that. My daughter also passed on these photos from the award ceremony I wrote about last Friday as a proud papa.

I saw Phantom Thread last night mainly because it was nominated for so many Academy Awards. This is supposedly Daniel Day-Lewis’ final film but c’mon he’s an actor and he’ll be back. He plays a prima donna fashion designer in 1950s London and while up to his normal level but this felt a little workmanlike compared to some of his more memorable roles. The true revelations in this movie were the female leads, especially Lesley Mannville as the sister. She truly deserves the Oscar nod as it’s not often you see any actor stealing scenes from Day-Lewis but she does it repeatedly, just so good. Lewis’ character surrounds himself with women and always has a chosen one as a paramour. He bites off more than he can manage when he selects Vicky Krieps as the latest to fill that position. Their very strange love affair is the central plot line. I didn’t much care for the movie overall but it was definitely worth seeing if this is truly Day-Lewis’ last stand and more so to watch Mannville. She is really that good.

Two Worlds

I had more than a little fun with friends and family during my January stint in the tropics contrasting the polar freeze they found themselves in while I basked in the tropical sunshine. My basking days are certainly over as I find myself on the other end of the equation during my daily FaceTime calls with my Favorite Panamanian. She and the Neighborhood Mafioso continue their sojourn in our condo at Las Lajas while I was moving a fresh coating of snow this morning from the driveway. I think this clearly falls into the turnabout is fair play category which I’m sure the aforementioned family and friends that I tortured are enjoying immensely. My wife also provided the accompanying photos which demonstrate the two worlds we are currently operating in. She gets to experience her own brush with reality on Saturday with her return north.

The View out my Office Window This Morning (l)
Contrasted with My Wife's View from the Condo (r)

Some big doings at work as I have to plan around losing my assistant general manager shortly as she was selected to fill a general manager position in Springfield. I hate to lose her but when I heard the position was open and that she applied I started my own succession planning figuring she would likely win. That plan went into effect yesterday with my current operations manager proposed to fill the soon to be vacant AGM position. If corporate approves that move it opens an opportunity for Keene Friend to come work for me. He thinks I’m doing him a favor but in reality I end up looking like a hero by quickly filling the vacant operations manager position with an experienced manager.

A gathering of the Beautiful PanaGals

At The pool

At The Beach

Out to Eat

Late night Bingo

Wife and Her Two Sisters

Beachside Dining

Wife - Really Rubbing it in

one of those Las Lajas Sunsets

Gnocci and peas were central to a bold faced lie I was required to utter to the FBR last night. She was particularly talkative and has taken to commandeering the IPad for each call in order to take me on a tour of her toy stash. This is an improvement because before this if she got control of the device she always summarily hung up on me. I also joined her and her parents for their family dinner where the prevarications commenced. She loves gnocci as well as peas and dutiful asked if grandpa also liked them. I’m sure my own mother did a couple turns in the grave when I enthusiastically stated my love for peas. The only redeeming facet of this episode was the gratitude I received from my daughter and Wingman for my fibbing.

Back at the cinema last night to see Hostiles which could have been a bit depressing if not for the fantastic acting on display. Christian Bale plays a deeply conflicted cavalry officer in the dying days of the old West. He’s been fighting Indians for his entire career leading to a bone deep hatred for his enemy. His last job in the military is to escort a dying Cheyenne war chief, one of his former antagonists, 1000 miles north to his ancestral home in Montana. The journey is really about a search to rediscover the officer’s own humanity, lost in the atrocities he’s seen and participated in. His traveling party soon runs across a frontier woman whose family has just been massacred by Comanches. The cinematography is world class as the group travels north through the vast wilderness. Wes Studi redeems the promise he demonstrated early in his career with the Last of the Mohicans by portraying the dying chief with dignity and inner conflict of his own. Bale has to be the unluckiest commander in military history as his command is constantly whittled down by the events that cause him to rediscover himself. In the end, a very interesting look at the issues of the waning days of the Indian Wars and man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. As I stated above though, this is a story of redemption and despite its dour outlook for most of its run I really liked the subtle final scene.

Page Turning

I’ve been disappointed in myself over the past few months. When we first moved to Worcester a few years ago I got into a very productive early morning routine where I would get up and spend a half hour in the pool at the local Y. When we moved across the street I started a lot of projects where I convinced myself I was getting enough of a workout to replace the early morning gyrations. I still did my morning exercises and stationary bike ride but got away from the Y. Since a lot of those projects involved some repetitive and heavy lifting I probably had just cause. I’m disappointed that I let general lethargy insinuate itself between and after those projects were finished. It seemed there was always some small ache or age related discomfort that let me put it off. I say age related because I would always tell myself that I was in pretty good shape for someone a couple years into their seventh decade but these are all excuses. One of my favorite sayings from Army days is, “The maximum effective range of an excuse is zero meters.”

I’m writing about this because this morning I finally turned the page on the sloth that’s creeped into my sedentary life. I went out of my way last night to prepare the gym bag that’s been waiting patiently since it was last utilized. I set the alarm for the obligatory half hour earlier than usual and then found myself waking up each hour after midnight to insure I didn’t miss it (an Army related character flaw). The swimming was a lot more painful than it should have been as I only completed about three quarters of what I used to do in the same time but I consider it a start. For me an exercise program has to include a routine that I can settle into and this was the first step.

I went decidedly out of my comfort zone yesterday at the movie theater with Call Me by Your Name. This is a coming of age story involving a homosexual relationship between a young man and the slightly older assistant to his professor father. I enjoyed the movie because it accurately captures the pain, anguish, and heartbreak of that first great love. Young Timothee Chalamet certainly earns all the accolades he’s been receiving for his portrayal of the young man. Shot in gorgeous Northern Italy as the professor’s family summers there and nothing extraordinary happens but that is really the pull because the behind the scenes this young man is experiencing the heart rending depth of that first plunge. I was wondering at the parenting on display as they let the boy smoke, drink, and generally do whatever he wants to include sending him away on a vacation with his older lover. I was then chastised by what for me was the defining scene in the film. Michael Stuhlbarg as the professor in a soliloquy explains to his heartbroken son how happy he is for him. He relates how people sometime forego or fail to cherish a deep relationship because it happens too early in life and that experience shouldn’t be trivialized. True love is so rare that it has to be embraced despite any noise associated with it. That hit fairly close to home for me and I suspect most people if they are truly honest with themselves. Finally I have a question – Is Michael Stuhlbarg in every movie currently being made?

Welcome Respite

The weather finally turned a little bit yesterday as the penetrating cold retreated for a mild January thaw over the weekend. This allowed me to fairly comfortably address some minor snow blower repairs because I’m not delusional enough to believe that the New England winter is through with us. I stole a march on my usual Sunday chores as well as I’d planned on running up to my hometown to haunt Keene Friend until I received a very welcome text from Great Aunt on Friday. She and Soxfather declared they were coming north Saturday evening to take me out to dinner.

Was Having too Much Fun to Take Photo Last Night
But this in an Archival Photo of the Gang I was Hanging With

I shifted focus and invited Keene Friend to come down for the dinner so I’d at least have a date. I was also going to use the opportunity to convince him to come work for me in the near future. After the obligatory movie (see below) Keene Friend blew into town to catch the end of the movie It with me in the Man Cave while our dinner compatriots journeyed north from Rhode Island. Upon their arrival we connected with the ABFA of the swollen feet and Favorite Son as their waiting period is entering the critical final weeks. The ABFA continued to bustle around the house seemingly immune to being 8.5 months into her work on the BRS. We also caught up with the FBR, Daughter, and Wingman. The FBR seemed a little confused by the gathered worthies as she tried to steal some of her mother’s food – she is a veritable chow hound. They also reported the FBR had started speaking some Spanish words courtesy of her abuela and Dora the Explorer.

Cold No Deterrent to the FBR

Hair is Getting So Long

Still the Cutest 

The Panamanian Ladies at the Condo

That abuela was having adventures of her own down at our beach condo. She and the Neighborhood Mafioso had no less than seven of my wife’s family show up for a girls weekend at the condo. I’m sure the decibel level reached near record levels. My Favorite Panamanian was a scandalized at the beach on Friday when a gringo renting a house down the beach from the condo showed up on the beach au natural. She felt obligated to take the accompanying picture.

Naked Gringo on the Beach!

We went to Brew City for dinner because that’s never a bad idea. It was packed and we were told it would be a thirty minute wait for a table. While we were waiting I maneuvered to a spot I could see into the main room and my guardian waitress from First Friday spied me. She immediately to came the maître di and told him she had a table available for us. He meekly escorted us to the table and said we must know some important people because we were seated ahead of six other groups. I said no, I just tip very well. The magic that is First Friday continues to permeate. It was a great dinner with three of my favorite people in the world.

Earlier in the day I saw The Post. I figured this would be an overblown Oscar platform for Hanks and Streep but it turned out to be one of my favorite movies in a long while. They’re no denying the immense acting talent on display but it was the story that caught me up even though I lived through it and thought I knew all about the Pentagon Papers. It’s a timely lesson as well on the bedrock importance of a free press and the responsibilities that come with it. Timely in that the news media tries to re-invent itself in the social media age and is in danger of falling into a morass of its own making. Streep plays the understated Katherine Graham struggling to emerge from the male dominated world she finds herself surrounded in while Hanks as Ben Bradlee fights to publish an important story in the face of Nixonian attacks. While it may sound dry it’s anything but that. Expert story teller Spielberg is at the top of his game with this very important basic civics lesson of a republic.

The Bad Cinema project count finally, thankfully reaches #100 out of 100, with Silver Needle in the Sky, yet another one of those annoying Rocky Jones, Space Ranger TV series from the 1950s. I don’t know what I was thinking when I embarked on this masochistic enterprise and am truly thankful my ordeal is over. I may be off bad cinema for a long, long time.

Proud Papa

I received a shy email yesterday from my daughter in which she passed on a recent accolade she received on the 10^th anniversary of her employment at a prominent Madison Avenue company. I’ve made it a policy not to mention names or personal information on Frail Deeds but as any proud father is wont to do I’d like to brag a little bit about the superstar that is my daughter. I’ve edited the letter she received from her firm’s vice president substituting her old nickname “Cali-Daughter” in place of her name and removed all of the company identifying information. It’s still a ringing endorsement of my long held views as to her uncompromised excellence and intelligence. It’s nice when other people see the same things I’ve always seen in both my “kids”:

This Gal

Today I have the privilege of acknowledging Cali-Daughter for her 10 years of service here.

Back in 2007 I was already deep into managing Replenishment when I was asked to take on additional responsibility. Cali-Daughter was working as a temp at the time and my partner thought she would be a good fit for my team. I brought her in as a temp, helping to keep the wheels on the bus while we figured out our longer term strategy. Cali-Daughter quickly proved herself as essential to the team, contributing from the get-go to standardize the reporting and processes, which set the foundation to enable us to continue to take on new businesses while keeping the team small. Ultimately Cali-Daughter came on board full time and took on the responsibility for managing replenishment across all brands.

Yes You Did

There is a philosophy around hiring where you should look for people that fill in the gaps of your own skills. Some of you may know, I can talk and I can talk a lot. Cali-Daughter is a listener. She can find the nuggets of relevance from all of the cross talk and BS to get to the heart of the issue. That same listening skill is evident in her ability to articulate a strategy, troubleshoot a problem or brainstorm on new ideas. Cali-Daughter’s impact goes beyond Replenishment. During the dark days of the transition our colleagues came to Cali-Daughter again and again to understand this new system from a business stand point – Cali-Daughter took the time to write process guides that bypassed all of the tech speak and help the broader teams understand how to actually get the work done. Cali-Daughter’s ability to bridge the business needs and system functionality has allowed for a parallel track at the company. In addition to the ‘day job’ of managing the replenishment businesses mentioned earlier Cali-Daughter has also worked very closely w/ IT and other partners on testing, reporting and business process, always with an eye to simplifying and streamlining.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. For almost 2 years Cali-Daughter worked on the west coast, but kept east coast hours. She is so ‘present and available’ to her colleagues that most did not even notice, or it barely registered.  It is a great example of how a partnership w/ HR allowed us to hold onto a valuable employee who was willing to do whatever it took to continue working here. 

Cali-Daughter’s partners throughout the company jumped at the chance to provide feedback to me……from senior people who value Cali-Daughter’s attention to detail, dedication and the ownership she takes in running her businesses, from her co-workers on our small but mighty team who value her organizational skills and thought partnership as we set a new course for the future; from her broader working team, all around the company, who value her collaboration, and attention to detail. 

All true, all relevant, all valuable. But the secret sauce to Cali-Daughter, I believe, is in the comments from those same groups that mention her kindness, her willingness to take time out to explain an issue and answer any question, her enthusiasm in taking on a new challenge and the help and guidance she provides to anyone who asks. So Cali-Daughter, on this 10th anniversary, allow me to offer, on behalf of all of your colleagues here,  an enthusiastic and heartfelt congratulations and sincere thanks for all of your contributions and especially your kindness over the last 10 years.   Well Done!

The Lucky Mentee

The Little Girl Who used to Demand After Work Hugs

I’m sure you can now understand the depth of my pride in the gal who used to greet me in pigtails and up thrust arms when I’d return home from work all those years and seemingly only minutes ago. I’m so glad the FBR has such a powerful and relevant role model to grow up with. I was finally able to connect with them yesterday although I caught the FBR in the middle of play dough gyrations. She assiduously ignored me for most of the conversation until I convinced her to start throwing play dough balls at the screen which I would react to. She thought this was great fun as I tried to hide and then dodge the balls. While we enjoyed the time, I’m not sure my daughter was completely on board to having her kitchen pelted with all this debris – it was fun though.

Wish I Could Have Done This After Reading that Letter

I also connected with my Favorite Panamanian along with the Neighborhood Mafioso who had arrived at the condo. They were out on the beach catching the sunset so intense pain was inflicted as I cowered in the Man Cave waiting for the heat to beat back the frigid basement temps. My wife is importing a full stable of female cousins for the weekend – I predict an extended period of laughter will likely ensue. She sent me these pictures from their recently completed time in Panama City.

At the Canal with my Wife's Uncle

Patriots' Game Gathering

Cuna Indian Stand

Touring Casco Viejo with Lucky Uncle

Then Up to the Mountains in Boquete

The Beach Sunset Last Night that Had me So Jealous

As any self-respecting movie nut undoubtedly noticed the Oscar nominations came out this week. I was generally happy that the Shape of Water, Lady Bird and Three Billboards were deservedly recognized but sad that Wonder Woman was snubbed. I’ll be torn between Saoirse Ronan and Frances McDormand in the lead actress category. I haven’t seen Phantom Thread yet but it seems to me that any time Daniel Day Lewis breaks wind the Oscar voters fall all over themselves to fawn. It must be like how the legions of Patriots haters must feel each year around this time. This gives me a few weeks to check out as many of the nominated films still out there.

In a huge twist of fate I spent another evening at the movie theater where I took in I, Tonya. I was wondering about this since I vividly recalled the scandal involving Harding and the infamous attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan. The movie provides a new monster who can take her place in the pantheon of cinematic villains right next Dr Lector, Jason Vorhees, and Norman Bates. I’m not talking about the skater but her mother played in a towering effort by Allison Janney as possibly the worst maternal figure ever portrayed. I thought Margot Robbie was too attractive to play Tonya but she nails it combining Harding’s redneck character along with her powerful physicality. The movie is told through a mockumentary style with repeated breaking of the 4^th wall by the central characters. The film starts out declaring it was put together from dramatically conflicting personal statements from the people involved and there is abundant dark comedy laced throughout this story. The funniest part is that this all really happened and the people involved were really this clueless. We all know someone like the buffoons Harding’s life was surrounded by and if anything the film was testimony that Harding really is sympathetic in that she didn’t end up as an axe murderer (that we know of) considering her mother and husband. Well worth the watch and especially for the performances of both Robbie and Janney.

The Bad Cinema project count remains at #99 out of 100, as I steel myself to complete the task this weekend.