Kryptonite Encounter

I know there are literally thousands of you out there waiting with semi-bated breath for more news on Great Aunt’s “cat from hell” who emerged from her lifelong antipathy towards anything or anyone human last week. During our First Friday call, the cat would not abandon her perch on Great Aunt’s lap and demanded almost constant attention. You have to understand what a sea change in behavior this represents because this was a cat that engendered a standard warning to anyone entering Great Aunt’s house, “don’t try to touch the black cat”. My Favorite Panamanian believes it is Soxfather reaching out from beyond to change the behavior of one of his least favored beings. I opined to my big sister that the cat, up there is years, in probably getting ready to croak. She did not appreciate my bloodthirsty prediction and believes her decade long effort to reach the cat’s psyche might be finally paying off. I talked to her this morning and she says the cat is still affectionate – five days now. I’m really beginning to doubt reality at this point.

The Cat from Hell Still on Great Aunt's Lap

My loneliness was dealt a body blow last evening when I was invited over to the Neighborhood Mafioso’s home to help celebrate their youngest granddaughter’s confirmation. I apparently lucked out by missing the actual ceremony where the local bishop spoke, spoke, and then spoke some more. It was so fun seeing a healthy portion of the local Panamanian Mafia again. I was a little stunned when the two granddaughters walked in. It’s a sign of how long I’ve lived in one area (a novel experience after my vagabond Army days) in that I first met them they were not even teenagers yet. They walked in yesterday looking like two elegant ladies. I felt old but the company made up for it.

The Proud Grandparents With their Son, Daughter
and the Two Elegant Young Ladies Yesterday

A game has developed with the Neighborhood Mafioso’s husband and I where he sneaks beer refills to me under the watchful eye of my Favorite Panamanian who never misses the opportunity to scowl at our subterfuge. We remarked last night how much less fun it was without that needed ploy but the beer still tasted appropriate. I Facetimed my wife in so she could say hi and predictably she and one of the PanaGals were in the condo pool. Since a couple of us just had to come inside as the temperature dropped with the sun, she was suitably pleased. I had the advantage though since I got to spend time with these more than excellent people just by walking across the street. I was having such a good time I forgot to take any pictures of the gathering so you’ll have to take my word on it. I’ve been doing well in my comeback from a week of excess food after redeployment from Panama. That effort came to a screeching halt last evening when they rolled out the desserts which included my personal kryptonite. Yes. Whoopie Pies!!! I was helpless in the face of a package of mini-whoopie pies and did my very best to demolish as many as possible. I’ve never tried cocaine but this must be what it’s like because I just couldn’t stop. Not that I wanted to. Exctra laps this morning in the pool and for the foreseeable future. 

On Friday I saw the funniest movie I’ve seen in a very long time. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is awesome. It features Nicholas Cage doing a heartfelt send up of Nicholas Cage. He’s been the center of so many memes over the years that there was rich territory to explore on this effort and they mined it for all its worth. You have to admire him for this because 99.9% of actors wouldn’t be secure enough to so thoroughly skewer their cinematic personae like this. It’s also a very funny buddy flick as Cage teams up with superfan Pedro Pascal in a kidnapping plot worthy of Cage’s Con-Air era. This is Pascal’s best work since he was a Dornish prince. There are also some hilarious bits where Cage interacts with a younger version of himself. I can’t recommend this enough, Funniest movie I’ve seen in years. Cage is my new hero, taking direct aim at Hollywood’s endemic self-importance.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course