Eclecticism

It’s been that kind of time since my last post. A wild variety of activities undertaken. I made the mistake of deciding to start packing my suitcase for Panama and was sucked into the vortex that is my Favorite Panamanian. She takes luggage prep as an almost holy undertaking. I thought I’d set iron clad terms that I would get one suitcase out of the six we are taking. My agreement was worth the paper it was printed on. I left a pile of my stuff next to my alleged suitcase. Two days later I found she had shrink wrapped everything and “re-distributed” it across all of the suitcases in order to fit all of her stuff as well. I’m not angry because I knew it was bound to happen and at least everything I wanted to take is packed (I think). I should probably check under the bed.

Wife and I at the BrickBox

I was also reminded of a forgotten promise I’d made weeks ago to assist her with the preparation of empanadas. The kids love them and over the years of our marriage I’ve been drawn into that process as well. Sensing a theme here, aren’t we. She does all the hard work preparing the stuffing while I’m charged with the final sealing of the edges. Life can get so busy that times like this, when we both are working on the same task, where we can joke and converse, becomes not only fun, but important.

Empanada Prep

We had a Friday night date in downtown Worcester. The main theater in Worcester is the Hanover, but I learned that they have a smaller, cozy theater around the corner called the BrickBox theater. The method of my education was, once again, my Favorite Panamanian (yet another theme emerges). She glommed onto an internet ad for something called “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold”. Falling victim to one of her harangues (when she really wants something), I bought tickets during a moment of weakness. While I love going to live theater, this didn’t seem like my kind of event. However, my wife was psyched. I was a little concerned this comedy might be a little touchy for my very catholic wife.

Worcester Common Friday Night

I shouldn’t have been. The persistent Friday rain stopped long enough for us to walk across the Worcester Common, beautifully lit for Christmas, to the theater. The BrickBox was cool; very small but well set up with three small bleachers of chairs arrayed around the open stage. There was a Christmas chorus singing as the pregame show. That included one of the funniest versions of the 12 Days of Christmas I’ve ever heard. The song featured what happened to all the various gifts after Christmas. Most of the birds ended up in the cook pot while everything else met similar, sometimes bloody, fates. The show itself had a very funny lead actress portraying a nun-educator.

Pre-Game Chorus

Nun with Audience Member

My Favorite Panamanian did not stop laughing for the entire time we were seated. That made the night worthwhile. I think you had to experience Catholic Schools (which I certainly did not) to understand a lot of the subtle jokes. The show was respectful to church which made all the difference for the wife, who thought the whole thing was hilarious. The second half was particularly painful as various audience members were brought on stage by the nun to be dressed up as a living nativity scene. I worked really hard at shrinking into my seat to avoid detection. A very fun night hanging with that lady I’m married to.

The Nativity Scene

She must have been in a good mood from Friday night because she agreed to accompany me Saturday on an unscheduled trip north to Keene. This didn’t qualify as a thunder run because no bars were involved. I was on a mission to rectify my faux pas from the last thunder run when the three new copies of the house keys disappeared. Keene Friend hadn’t been able to find where I dropped them, so that was the only excuse I needed to head north. We went out to eat lunch, secured a new set of keys, and then paid a visit to the housebound Cantankerous Friend to deliver some needed supplies. He can’t drive with his new knee yet, but continues to impress with his post-surgery mobility.

Mercy Mission to Cantankerous Friend

My wife then, finally, made a mistake. She dropped Keene Friend and I off at his house so we could watch football while she went shopping. She conveniently forgot that Keene Friend, being a fabulous host, sported a full refrigerator of beer. While his house lacked the atmosphere and scenery of the Lab ‘n Lager, his chairs are so much more comfortable. This meant we could doze off for the boring parts of the game (something I’m sure the Lab would frown upon). My Favorite Panamanian was a little miffed to find out she would be driving home instead of me when she eventually rejoined us for pizza. I didn’t tease her (too much) about paying the price for extended shopping time. My wife found another large suitcase and as my mother was fond of saying, it was “such a bargain”.

BR3 in Baking Attire

BRS Always Ready to Help

Dynamic Duo in Action

Wit the Head Chef

While all this was going on, some very important, no, I’ll go further and say holy work was going in New Jersey and the seacoast of New Hampshire. Both my son and daughter were engaged in the divine endeavor of baking Christmas cookies. They were both assisted by my granddaughters so I’m sure the cookie count took a hit. I’m so pleased both of their families are following this tradition of Christmas cookies. My mom used to make each of the cookies prepped. I can still remember the smell of the house when that was going on. It smelled like, well, Christmas. While my wife created Spritz cookies earlier this week, my son prepped peanut butter blossoms and sugar cookies, while my daughter also created the blossoms as well as her signature chocolate cookies. Their new cats, Walnut and Pistachio’s first experience with this effort. Walnut was confused enough to “buzz the tower” during chocolate kiss unwrapping while Pistachio seized control of a fallen apron. Of course, this has done nothing but get me more excited for the upcoming holiday when all these worthies (and their cookies) will be in house.

FBR with her Friend Helping my Daughter
Walnut on Watch

Pistachio and the Stolen Apron

Walnut Buzzing the Tower

Successful Mission

Six movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: Van Wilder – impossibly young Deadpool that hasn’t aged well but still funny; Varsity Blues – solid Texas high school football flick with dynamic cast and then there’s the teacher dance; V for Vendetta – interesting to watch this nowadays with comments on fascism; Venom – love the interplay between Hardy and Hardy as both Eddie and Venom; Venom Let There be Carnage -  Woody is a great villain and Michelle Williams dominates as well; Venom the Last Dance – great farewell to Venom.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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