I was back in the pool this morning for
the first time in months and it was predictably painful as the long layoff has
not been kind to my aging infrastructure. I’m angry at myself for letting myself
go with the all too convenient excuses of multiple trips to Panama, Mohs
surgery, and late nights on house renovations all supplanted the motivation to be
up early and into the pool. In my own defense the pool was under construction
for five of those weeks but the maximum effective range of an excuse remains zero
meters.
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| What I Looked Like Entering pool Today |
My hope is the Christmas cookie
enhanced poundage will fall victim to this increase in exercise and I did
notice how much better I felt over breakfast this morning. That euphoria dissipated
after a couple hours at work where every time I stand up from my desk I’m
reminded in no uncertain terms by aching muscles just how long it had been. I
have to get myself into a routine for any exercise program to take hold. I blame
the Army for this where routine was not only encouraged but required. Civilians
are decidedly less inclined so I must be nearly completely civilianized at this
point (family and friends aren’t buying that either).
Yesterday was spent down in the Man Cave
hiding out from my Favorite Panamanian as she engaged in her post-holiday final
cleanup. There was a TV commercial from my youth for some cleaning product that
talked about a “white tornado” (less PC back in the day) which meant someone totally
dedicated to cleaning every dust mote from existence. My wife was definitely in
that mode yesterday which dictated as wide a distance between us as I could
justify. I contented myself with returning the Man Cave to pre-renovation
status by sanding and then painting the walls that were violated in the name of
new piping and an entire new wall used to encase another pipe.
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| FBR - Fashion Explosion Note the Unicorn Slippers |
In addition to the aching muscles I discovered
another indicator of my advancing age. Both of my granddaughters were more socially
relevant over the weekend than I was. The BRS attended a birthday party on
Sunday before returning home to continue her campaign to circumvent parental
security measures. While we were talking with her she tipped over the large
Christmas doll and then used that as a platform to reach over the top of some fencing.
Based on her demonstrated abilities my Favorite Son was upping his game over
the weekend. He emplaced the cabinet door locks and security measures to keep the
BRS safe in the kitchen. Convenience died yesterday for the ABFA and my son for
the next couple years in their kitchen. I’m still amazed how my mother, and her
peers from back in the day, managed to keep four kids safe without the help of
all these modern devices. I guess it really was the Greatest Generation but of
course she didn’t have to deal with the distractions offered by modern technology
(cell phones – I’m talking about you!).
The FBR was even more engaged over the
weekend, attending two different parties. She didn’t feel the need to converse with
her grandparents when we finally tracked her down last night. As soon as she
heard we were on the phone she walked over to the kitchen table and decreed she
wanted to color in her Moana coloring book. Our daughter was then required to
catch us up on their activities while the FBR studiously ignored us. Ah, the
fleeting nature of fame, I guess I’ve got to look into some sort of Polynesian
costume (grass skirt?) to re-acquire target lock with the FBR.
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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 involved in planning; Maine
and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US
sisters, my wife is the 3rdmusquetera (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
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