Dance Drought

We were all set up for a Friday night of dancing. Some might say taking my 90-year-old mother-in-law out for dancing is irresponsible but she is Panamanian so it’s kind of expected. We drafted the Neighborhood Mafiosos to accompany us because it’s always more fun when they’re along. We planned on hitting the Auburn VFW club where we’ve always had a lot of luck with both food and dancing. The food was still awesome but instead of a band to dance to they had a single female folk singer. She didn’t have a bad voice but there was nothing she could present that would induce even the three Panamanian ladies to dance, which is an extremely low threshold.

At the VFW

After the ladies put their heads together, we decided to try Rascals in Worcester where we’ve also had a lot of luck in the past. We were initially encouraged when we pulled up and saw a lot of couples dancing through the window. That turned out to be the last class at the Arthur Murray Ballroom Dancing Class. Rascals was a little further back but boasted a huge dance floor that was packed when we checked it out. We hadn’t been sitting for long when we realized the evening was devoted to country line dancing lessons. I mean, c’mon, it’s Friday night and your club is devoted to classes. Worcester, I’m so disappointed in you. The Neighborhood Mafioso’s husband, being of irrepressible spirit was the only one that joined the lessons which may have had something to do with the scenery directly in front of him, spirit indeed!

Mafioso's Husband (Yellow Shirt) Venturing Out

I’d planned on a thunder run up to Keene on Saturday to continue my reconnaissance activities ahead of next month’s pub crawl. Unfortunately, my Favorite Panamanian and her mom have run out of shopping urges (I know – amazing – I’ve lived to see it). Since they were the designated driver crew and Keene Friend wasn’t available for an overnight, I was stranded in Worcester. It turned out to be a restful day and was so nice outside I voluntarily went out to pull out weeds from the lawn. I think Keene would have ben more fun. Luckily my Kindergarten Friend volunteered to conducted clandestine reconnaissance activities in my stead. A true friend.  

Fall Colors Popping in Back Yard

Three movies fell in my A-Z effort, all keepers, Bridesmaids (way, way too funny, when you knew McCarthy was headed for bigger things), A Bridge too Far (when heroism and sacrifice could still be celebrated), and Bridget Jones’ Diary (Zelwegger nails it, Grant proves he can be a great cad).

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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; Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; 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); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; 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