We’re having one of those rare (this year at least) day-long rainy days which makes it harder to get out of bed. I should mention at this point that the new bed has already made that task infinitely more difficult. This means I must hear an “I told you so” from my Favorite Panamanian every time I mention how much I love the king size bed. A small price indeed. A large part of the luxuriating comes from the Leesa mattress (thank you daughter and Wingman) as well as the increased area to roam. Speaking of roaming, I’ve had to pay more attention during the inevitable late night wandering to the rest room as the larger bed has intruded into my chosen, well worn path to that important destination.
The New Hampshire bunch had a very fun, Christmas
themed weekend when my son and the ABFA took the BRS and BR3 on the Polar
Express. This is a themed train ride out of Portland, Maine. I could tell how
much the kids enjoyed it because I usually get a well coaxed hello from the BRS
and a collection of primordial screams from BR3 during our Facetime calls, but
when I asked about the train ride they were both almost too excited to talk about
it. The ABFA provided the attached photos which document the experience. You
just gotta love the matching Christmas outfits. It seems I’m not the only one
in the family excited about the 25th.
Friend Sent us This From Past Weekend's Party
Wife Dangerously Trying to Supervise me when I have an
Electric Knife in my Hand
ABFA and BRS 
Son and BR3 
All Aboard the Polar Express 
Sister with Golden Tickets 
But, Where's Santa? 
Oh, There He is! 
BRS Meeting the Big Guy
This is already one of the busiest times
of the year for us because of the holiday but we’ve decided to make it more exciting
with telescoping a lot of our doctor and dentist appointments as well. I have
my annual physical next week as well as the dermatologist (praying for no more delving).
You’ll notice there are a lot of movies in the A-Z section below. This is a
result of the most important aspect of our trip back to Panama following Christmas,
the spousal luggage packing extravaganza which meant I was on my own in the Cave.
As I’ve documented in the past, my Favorite Panamanian takes packing very
seriously. For the past weeks she’s been extracting items she’s bought over the
past year for the condo from well-hidden caches, as well as presents for her
family. I checked in a couple nights ago to survey her initial load plan. As innocently
as possible (well, maybe not so innocently), I reminded her that I also needed
to pack some clothes and there was no room for anything of mine in the current,
very full suitcases. That sent her into a mild depression followed by re-packing,
which is still going on and will continue until the day before we leave. I’m confident
at least my underwear and shaving kit will make it with me. I don’t need a lot
more for the beach but am hoping, pray for me. 
Very Happy Santa Girls
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 3rd 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
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