Priming to the Oldies

I sometimes give my Favorite Panamanian what we used to call in the Army, “A ration of s----“ – (which means a hard time about something they do) for staying up into the wee hours of the morning whenever one of her cleaning frenzies grips her. I am now completely without basis to complain going forward after last night’s adventures in the new addition. I had steeled myself for a difficult evening after agreeing to go tile shopping with her and Deckzilla Dude after work.

A few weeks ago she purchased the tile needed for the new bathroom but her design calls for something called “rope tiles” and bullnose tiles. I now know more than I ever bargained or wanted to know about the aforementioned items. After two Home Depots (including a regretfully short FaceTime call with the FBR) we finally found the rope tiles but the bullnose is still in the wind. Since we were already at Home Depot I stopped by the paint department because the plaster guys strongly recommended we apply a good coat of primer before we tried to paint the walls and ceiling in the new addition. I had no problem finding that and my wife even made a final decision on the color of paint for the walls so we were on a roll, albeit a very expensive one.

What I looked Like Around 1AM

I wanted to get the priming done as soon as possible while the rest of the room is still unfinished. I know myself and my tendency to distribute paint in a pretty wide arc. While most of it does end up in the target area my wife does not allow me to do anything outside large muscle movements involving broad strokes. Since Deckzilla Dude is making noises of putting down the floor in the room I knew my ability to be messy was drawing to a close. We got home a little before nine and after unloading our haul I headed straight to work on the walls and ceiling.

Room This Morning

My wife was smart enough to stay out of my way since she didn’t want to end up with a coat of paint on herself. She was very supportive though and tuned the TV in a nearby bedroom to the oldies. This was perfect work for me because it was all brute force and ignorance, not requiring a fine touch at all. The music was a welcome addition to the environment and I found myself remembering some ancient times when these songs were current instead of what we both were now. It was a little challenging working around all the construction debris but I finished the whole thing in one go. Of course that ended just before 1AM. I’m sure neighbors driving down the streets late at night wondered what the hell was going on. There are no shades in the huge windows and the lights were blazing while I worked.

When I wandered downstairs for the cleanup I walked by a mirror and saw while most of the paint ended up on the walls and ceiling I had not neglected my face and hair. Luckily the white paint in the hair is almost not noticeable anymore with so much white already up there. It was a long night and the first time I can remember that I didn’t spend a single minute in the Man Cave. All I have left is the ceiling paint since everything else will require a modicum of care that last night’s experience demonstrated I lack the capacity for.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involed in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues

Incrementation

Hallway to the Addition

I’m exceedingly happy to have the renovation project moving forward again after some fits and starts due to waits for inspections, Deckzilla Dude health, and workers not showing up. There’s been a veritable whirlwind of activity on the project that Deckzilla Dude promised would be wrapped up by mid-October at the latest. The walls are all up and plastered and awaiting paint.

The Main Room

Bathroom Floor Started!

The painting is awaiting the installation of heat which would be nice. That’s supposed to happen today with the re-emergence of the plumber. Deckzilla Dude is working, as feverishly as capable of on knocking out the bathroom floor so we can finally move the huge vanity which has been sitting in our dining room for the last two months into place. Deckzilla Dude knows he’ll be dealing with an increasingly frantic Panamanian if he’s not done soon. Welcome to my world where incremental progress is something to be hailed.

Date night last evening saw us at the movies (I know – of all places!) to see Widows. I loved this movie because it was smart and didn’t fall for cheap sensationalism just because it involved a crew of women trying to pull off a heist. Viola Davis towers over the plot, as she is wont to do, but the gold plated queen from Guardians of the Galaxy, Elizabeth Debicki, also proved she is much more than just a pretty face. A high end heist crew is killed during a rip off of a crime lord who demands recompense from their surviving spouses. There is a series of subplots involving Chicago city politics as well which is expertly knitted into a movie for adults. I know the attention span challenged will have problems with this film because it does require a little patience but that patience is needed as actors build their characters into someone you can relate to. This is a very good movie.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involed in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues

Deer and Antelope Playing

FBR Decorating her Christmas Tree with Buzz Lightyear

When I was growing up the coyote was a mystical beast haunting the fringes of life in the far west. They populated western movies and Zane Grey stories but I could never imagine one in my back yard. I knew they’d steadily migrated east and when we lived in Charlton would regularly howl in the deep woods behind our house. They even helped rid those woods of a pesky turkey flock (another animal rare in my youth but ubiquitous now). I’ve always loved the forest and the attendant residents but figured I’d left that behind by moving into the city.

This is What He Looked Like

I was therefore a little startled when I looked out my window yesterday to see one of the squirrels that hangs out in the back yard in a pell-mell dash to avoid the pursuit of what I thought was a large dog. Unfortunately the squirrel made it to safety as I was reminded of similar endings for Buddy the Wonder Pooch. As the pursuer gave up trying to climb the tree and turned, not far from Buddy’s grave, I realized it was not a dog but a very healthy, large, young coyote. He seemed very nonplussed about the residential nature of his hunting grounds and casually meandered back across the street in front of the house. I wanted to point out the rabbit warren under Deckzilla but he was too quick. It was all pretty cool as the overabundance of rabbits and squirrels on our hill seems to have attracted a predator to address the population problem. Nature at its best.

The Family Gamesters FBR and her Dad Back Together

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involed in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues

Firsts

Son, ABFA, Great Aunt and Soxfather with the BRS

Everybody is back in their assigned places after the holiday weekend and while that is certainly not a win on an emotional level it does provide some perspective on how much fun we had together. My Favorite Panamanian and I are a little gassed after hosting both granddaughters and accompanying adults over the back end of the Thanksgiving holiday. At the same time this was going on we had (finally) the wall boards and plastering done on the new addition – so a little busy around the homestead.

Very Happy Abuela

Friday was our traditional Day after Thanksgiving trek to Great Aunt’s for our second Thanksgiving dinner. This was a tradition that grew out of the divorced status of my parents. My mother wouldn’t attend my father’s family gathering, even after he died, despite loving the people that met there (kind of how she rolled). We therefore started having a dinner the day after at my sister’s place. Since Great Aunt usually had to work on turkey day it all worked out well; especially since it directly impacted the Favorite Panamanian’s availability for Black Friday shopping.

Second Thanksgiving Dinner

We linked up with my Favorite Son and his family who had arrived earlier at Great Aunt’s house and was immediately consigned to potato peeling. The resident dogs had been sentenced to deck time as the exuberant Remy is not a good mix with any assembled crowd with attendant food. He was bounding up to appear in the kitchen window to keep track of his humans. Great Aunt treats the dinner as an annual challenge to have everything ready as we put the meal together.

Abuela Dancing with her Two Geranddaughters

She outdid herself this year having everything we needed when called for. She sheepishly admitted to losing the required electric knife to carved the turkey until I opened a drawer and asked her what “this” was? It was the knife and Namesake Nephew produced the accompanying blades and we were back in business with Great Aunt’s record completely intact.

FBR Trying to Break her Freind Remy Out

My Favorite Panamanian was in heaven having both of her granddaughters to fawn upon. It’s easy to see a little green tinged jealousy creeping into the FBR’s repertoire seeing her former sole status challenged by the ever smiling BRS. At the same time it is cool to see the BRS light up and squeal in delight whenever the FBR deigns to bestow some attention upon her. One of my favorite event of the day was seeing my wife dancing with the BRS only to have the FBR show up and demand to be included. My wife’s smile could have powered a small city, dancing AND granddaughters! The FBR was particularly entranced by the family turtle which has grown to behemoth status. She also, predictably, bonded with Remy seeking all sorts of subterfuge to break him out of his kennel when he was inside. One prankster recognizing another.

Soxfather Appeared!

Soxfather returned from work shortly after we finished eating and immediately set about his usual winning of the hearts and minds of the youngest amongst us. He has a special affinity with kids and I was transported back a few decades to see him doing the same things with the parents of my granddaughters on the same day after Thanksgiving day gathering. The day followed the usual post eating recovery period followed by gathering around the table once again as Soxfather’s outstanding family arrived for socialization.

Namesake Nephew and the FBR

The two young moms had to bundle the FBR and BRS up for the trip back to our place in order to meet their established bedtimes while the rest of us awaiting the onslaught of Soxfather’s family. Keene Friend showed up fifteen minutes after all the kids departed which was a downer for both parties but the room was soon filled with the people I’ve shared this day with for decades now.

The Evening Bunch!

FBR in Full Dazzle Mode

They didn’t let me down as the beer flowed freely and the laughs were almost non-stop. We adjourned briefly to the TV room to see the first fifteen minutes of the episodic Netflix movie by the Coens called The Ballad of Buster Scruggs which my daughter had shown me the night before. That first episode centering on Scruggs was possibly the funniest Western since Blazing Saddles – just side splitting with the usual Coens’ flavor of embellished soliloquy. The rest of the evening was spent around that blessed, crooked dining room table relishing the company of these fantastic people.

FBR Showing Off her Big Girl Bed to the BRS

The next morning dawned early, more so for some, like my Favorite Son who steadfastly refuses to avail himself of the healing qualities of Alka Seltzer administered the night before. It  was a great breakfast gathering with the BRS and FBR flitting around in the most entertaining manner. The FBR quickly conquered the latest jigsaw puzzle she received as a gift from Great Aunt. The BRS happily crawled around delighted to be in the company of her cousin and assembled family.

Puzzle Master Strikes Again

Happy Girl

The New Hampshire contingent had to depart all too early but the day had another big event – the first time to a movie theater for the FBR. If you know us at all you know what kind of cinema fiends my family is with me as the worst of the bunch. I was therefore pleased to be witness to this auspicious occasion. The FBR took a little bit of that wind out of my sails as we walked up to the movie theater and she loudly proclaimed that it looked like a bathroom. Seems her recent exposure to massive rest stop bathrooms may have colored her outlook.

Megawatt Smile

Happy Grandpa

And Aunt

And Abuela

And Cousin

We went to see the new Grinch movie which was delightful. One of the coolest things about hanging out with someone as young as the FBR is being able to see movies like this again without recrimination, self or otherwise. It was a huge amount of fun. So this was added to the FBR’s weekend of first, first movie after the first time ever sleeping in what she termed, a “big girl bed”. The weekend, as long as it was, ended way, way too soon.

At the Movies!!!!!

Cousins

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RECURRING CHARACTERS

BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé & MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involed in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; PanaGals – female relatives/friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at work; Deckzilla Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public assistance along with demeanor issues