Holidaying, Again

We were off to the holiday races again this past weekend with the Christmas open house at the home of one of the mafia members, near our old Charlton haunts. These very good friends are justifiably famous for their gatherings, this one or the annual 4^th of July bash. There would be none of the summer immersion in their pool, of course. They had a very fun group of friends and neighbors, including the renowned Czech Friends and the Czech Shadow (fresh off her triumphant school play audition). My Favorite Panamanian and the host had conspired to continue with the best holiday games they could glean from YouTube. There was also the obligatory table full of delicacies which had me in abject pain that I couldn’t devour more than I did (still working the November excesses off the belt line).

Saturday Party, Shadow Next to my Wife

The games were a lot of fun. There’s something of very lighthearted competition that can be bonding. We also indulged in the left-right-center game where I continued my lifelong losing streak in that benighted game. One of the Czech friends won and the Shadow immediately assumed control of the money; I’m sure discussion followed at home. It was exactly the kind of party that makes this season so special for me, hanging out with good people and celebrating life. Sometimes it takes Christmas rolling around to fully appreciate it. Many thanks to our stalwart hosts for that special Saturday night.

Source of Consternation

Host Explaining Game Rules

This season also calls for doctor’s appointments, at least for my wife and I. The annual physicals have been migrating in this direction for years as they have to be more than a calendar year after the previous one. It’s testament to how long we’ve been in one place that these started out in November and are now invading the last weeks of December. We started out bright and early with my Favorite Panamanian’s knee surgeon follow up. She presented him with a picture of her hiking up the rock-strewn path in Medjugorje in way of thanks. I then had my annual physical a couple hours later followed by my wife’s this afternoon. New England helped by providing some freezing rain for the roads to ensure blood pressures were elevated.

L-R-C Game

Wife Setting up Next Game

Competition was Fierce

I’m honor bound to report my health stuff because Great Aunt chastises me if she discovers I’m dealing with something she hasn’t been advised about. Therefore, I can blissfully report that I came through this year with flying colors. The only follow up is with an eye doctor and only because it has been a couple decades since I’ve seen one (I love the Lasix surgery that allowed that). In discussion with the doctor, she says it’s recommended that someone my age should limit his alcohol consumption to one drink per night. While I understood her advice, I told her I have a much younger body that it may appear. I don’t think she bought it. I have a bone to pick with Great Aunt which is health related. She knows I’m doing this A-Z watch, but she still recommended a Netflix series, Black Doves, that is decidedly affecting my sleep schedule since I stay up even later than usual to watch.

Three movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: The Night Before, some really knock down drag out jokes in this holiday movie, Rogen in church hallucinating may be his funniest screen moment ever; The Ninth Gate, spooky thriller with Depp sleuthing amongst devil worshippers assisted by hottest demon ever; Noah, was wondering how they could make an entertaining film about the most famous boat trip ever, somehow, they did it, Crowe helps a lot in that regard.

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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; CRC - 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; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course