Lake Side Tributing

My recovery from my latest Mohs battle was going swimmingly when, on Wednesday, my Favorite Panamanian reminded me that we had a social engagement on Thursday. She and her accomplice in crime, the Neighborhood Mafioso, decided in June that it would be fun to attend a concert at the Indian Ranch at Webster Lake. At the time, not knowing about the future biopsy results, I agreed since it’s always fun hanging out with the Mafiosos. The group we were scheduled to see is called, Yächtley Crëw, which I took to mean some sort of tribute band. The mafioso had seen them before and attested to their quality.

Pre-Concert Dinner

The Mohs headache was reduced in scope by Thursday and I was finally able to shower and remove the huge pressure bandage from the side of my face. I was a little surprised at the size of the cut but glad to get that thing off my face, replaced with a much smaller gauze pad and tape. We joined another fun couple for the drive to the lake for dinner at a local restaurant, right next to the ranch. As we pulled up, I was reminded that Webster Lake is an easier version used instead of the lake’s true name, which is, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. I know. A humorous translation of this Indian name is: "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side, and no one shall fish in the middle.” The reminder came from the sign over our chosen eatery.

See, I wasn't Kidding About the Name

The food and company were excellent. We were just about to start eating when a group of beautiful younger ladies entered the restaurant. I know, as a dedicated married man sitting across from my wife, I’m not supposed to notice such things, but who are we kidding. I was scrupulously trying to camouflage my attention when my wife rose to greet them. It turns out one of the group was none other than the Mafioso’s own daughter. Neither she nor her parents knew that the other was attending the concert.

Indian Ranch Stage

We took so long at dinner (I blame my Favorite Panamanian for ordering that lava cake), that the regular parking lot was full. Our driver spoke with the attendant and got us in for a “special rate” at double the usual cost but right next to the venue. With three contributing it was more than worth it. I was genuinely surprised at how packed the place was. Apparently, Yächtley Crëw is one of the biggest attractions of the year. A large percentage of the arriving crowd sported yachting captains’ hats. We arrived early enough to get some really good seats.

With the Mafiosos at the Show

Again, this was my first time at Indian Ranch. I saw it from the lake once from a friend’s boat. I loved the location surrounded by pine trees with the lake visible behind the stage. The arriving crowd once again tested my abilities in camouflaging attention again, you gotta love summer temperatures. The band turned out to be another surprise because they were very good. They played a number of hits from the 1970s and 80s with a lot of flair. The crowd was truly into the performance, including my Favorite Panamanian who only stopped dancing in place a couple times. A lot of the crowd spent the entire time on their feet, singing and dancing along with the band. There were a large number of boats out on the lake also taking in the show.  

The Crew Takes the Stage

When the sun finally set, the setting was further embellished with a light show and the frenetic performance on stage. They played non-stop for over an hour and a half. At that point our driver asked if we wanted to leave to beat the rush. There were only a couple more songs scheduled and from the look of the packed and sold out arena, getting out was going to be a long term project if we waited, especially since we were parked the furthest from the road. Surprisingly, the ladies agreed and we made our leisurely way out. I know, if we had waited, it would have taken at least an hour to get out of the parking lot, instead of the two minutes it did. It was a great night spent with great friends enjoying some nostalgic music from our younger times, enthusiastically performed in a beautiful setting. My face apparently didn’t enjoy it as much (that might have been the accidental headbutt from my wife precisely to the incision site). As predicted by the doctor, that side of my face was swollen up yesterday like I had taken a punch to the face. My live in commander in chief directed that I take it easy this weekend. Some orders are easy to comply with.

The Friday Face

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Mohs Better

So, I’m sitting here typing with yet another hole in my head. I know there are those of you out there (you know who you are) who claim this is an infinitesimal addition to the staggering amount already there. That being said, if not acknowledged, I am safely through what turned out to be my 9^th session of Mohs surgery yesterday. I actually went back through my medical record to confirm that number. This was, arguably, the most “pleasant” of the 9 since the surgeon got all the cancer with only one cut. I’m still sporting the huge pressure bandage and 6 stitches on my face until tomorrow which only adds to my “seasoned” look. I don’t think I can claim all these facial scars are the results of past knife fights anymore because, with so many, I’d seem to have never won.

My Bandage and I This Morning

A friend suggested I say they were attained while saving a family from a burning house. I made the mistake of bringing my Favorite Panamanian along with me (as if I had a choice). To clarify why this was a mistake, she got to listen to the discharge instructions on wound care. I always take these with a grain of salt and push the envelope, if you know what I mean. There will be none of that for the next week as she is very strict about following doctor’s orders. She seems to enjoy the power she acquires through knowledge, but don’t we all. She also took photos every chance she could. The nurse offered to show me what my head looked like before the stitching, but I did that once during prior surgeries (never again).

Wife Taking Photos - Prepped and Sanitized

Awaiting Test Results After First Cut

As opposed to the last time, there was no pain at all this time, except when they poke the needle in and out to deaden the area. I was worried because last time at the top of the skull, there was a lot of pain as there is so little meat there to retain the anesthetic and the same would seem to apply to the temple area. By the time they got around to cauterizing, I was feeling everything. It also meant the stitching was a “lot of fun”. None of that this time out. The pain waited until about noon when I noticed that every time I smiled, that seemed to stretch the skin of the face in exactly the manner needed to tweak the wound. So, no smiling for a couple days.

Stitched Up

That became impossible last night when my daughter and the FBR called to check in on me. While that was the best possible medicine I could have received, the smiling that automatically results from seeing them, well, you get the picture. I’m not saying my granddaughter is the vicious type, but she proceeded to make me laugh almost continuously throughout the call. She’s figured out how to superimpose cartoon faces on her and her mother’s faces during the call. That had her abuela in stiches (joining me). It was great seeing them and really helped as the pain meds still had another couple hours before renewal.

Recovery Puzzle

I worked on another puzzle because my warden (whoops, I mean my wife) wasn’t allowing any other physical activity, in accordance with discharge instructions. It was weird sleeping in an elevated position, something I would have ignored except I sleep with that warden. I surprised myself by sleeping though her departure for daily mass this morning and not waking up until after nine, which is two hours later than usual. I guess the body needed some additional recovery time. I wish it would do this in the mornings after pub crawls, but I digress. I get the pressure bandage off tomorrow so I’ll look less like the Frankenstein monster. The downside is I won’t be able to exercise until next week and can’t get back into the pool for two weeks. I guess I’ll have to watch what I eat, well, except for the half gallon of fudge ripple ice cream I devoured yesterday.  

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Panama Invasion

That may be an unfortunate title, given past geopolitical indiscretions, but it accurately expresses what I’ve happily undergone since last Friday. The Panamanian Mafia met last week at the 4^th of July party and decided they missed some of their usual dishes and resolved to get together to prepare them together. They, as it inevitably happens with Panamanians, decided to turn it into a full blown Deckzilla Party on Saturday. My Favorite Panamanian volunteered to lead the effort and was ably assisted by the rest of the mafia. Their lead elements assembled on Friday night to prepare some of the dishes.

Wife with the Food Table and her Mounted Gown Behind Her

I sought sanctuary in the Man Cave as the decibel level rapidly rose in the kitchen as more and more arrived. I was summoned only to mount the grain mill to the counter so they could grind up some corn. I expected to be called upon to perform said grinding since this is usually my lone task in such events. I am trusted to turn the crank while the more enlightened Panamanian women feed the hopper. As I was watching the Red Sox in the cave, I heard the cranking start up and was not in the least bit upset that someone had taken over for me. I went upstairs to check on progress to find the Neighborhood Mafioso was ably manning the device.

Friday Night Prep

Mafioso Manning the Mill

Saturday morning was pre-party prep which my children will acknowledge turns their mother into a fairly strident taskmaster. It helps that she’s also fairly cute. I was charged with preparing Deckzilla which included a full washing and then assisting the CinC with decorations. This meant taking down the swing so there would be room for the food and dancing (because with Panamanians, there’s always dancing). In addition to the Panamanian flag, I assisted my wife in mounting her beautiful folklorico dancing gown as the centerpiece.

Deckzilla Prepped for Party

As the crowd started showing up, I was charging around arranging additional extension cords as several heating plates were deployed at the far end of Deckzilla. As the party was starting to crank up, I had to sit down because I felt uncomfortably tired. I self-diagnosed that I was dehydrated (part of the whole getting old scenario), so I downed a couple bottles of water before I continued with Coors Lite. This produced a remarkable turnaround. It was a very fun crowd with the mafia and the Czech Friends (at this point honorary Panamanians). I am under strict orders from the Czech Shadow to give her appropriate credit for most the photos that accompany this post.  

Gang Starts to Assemble Czech Friend with Mafia Husband

My Incredible Frail Deeds Photographer The Czech Shadow

I was "Required" to Wear this Hat
No one Mistook me for a Panamanian

Very Fun Crowd

Mafia husbands and a Syrian(c)

The food kept coming and I was impressed with the sheer amount that made its way to the Deckzilla tables. We needed more than a couple to handle the load which is testament to the ladies involved. This is a short list of most of what was presented: Empanada de maíz con carne, empanada de harina con carne, enyucado de carne, yuca frita, tasajo, hojaldre, chicharrón, almohabano, plátano a la tentación, chicha de piña, chicheme, pinolillo. Those of you who know me are probably pondering what I would end up eating as most, if not all, of that list is way too exotic for my simple tastes. The Czechs came to my rescue by showing up with a healthy plate of schnitzels, so my requirement for dead animal flesh was sated.

Some of the Food

The World Cup game was important to most of the guests (if not their host). I kept the game on in the kitchen and decided to root for England since all the ladies were enamored of some ponytailed Norwegian guy they were playing against. We checked in on this game as well as the follow on one involving Argentina which had most of the Panamanians rooting for their fellow Latinos. That game seemed to turn on a play where a Swiss guy obviously took a dive to try and draw a foul which is one of the reasons I don’t enjoy watching these games, with their almost WWE level of acting. At least they caught this guy and he was kicked out, crippling his team.

The Extra Hot Plates

Exotic Beverages As Well

Best Part Were the People

Star of the Show

With her Husband

The Panamanian Mafia

Honorary Panamanians

Mafia Husbands

All the Ladies

It was a great party with the usually festive Panamanians. Once the food was sent downrange, the dancing started up since we had a lot of excess consumption to work out. We added Ghana to crowd when my wife’s newest acolyte, the other next door neighbor’s daughter, wandered over. She was immediately sucked into the vortex of dancing. At one point a series of folklorico music came on and my Favorite Panamanian, an accomplished folklorico dancer, performed a series of dances to demonstrate she’s still got it. I got a little misty eyed watching her and remembering seeing her perform the same dance in the dress hanging on the wall over forty years ago. I was so touched that I sent the video (below) to her kids just after she finished.

Wife Starts the Dancing

Guys Did Get out There Eventually

We decided to spare the neighbors the continued loud music as the night wore on. This meant a game of left-right-center was bound to break out. I’d like to say that I was able to break my life-long losing streak in that benighted game but it was not to be. It didn’t help that the Czech Friend won and happily reported this was the third time she had won in the last couple years. Despite this debacle, nothing could take the shine off a very well spent Saturday night on Deckzilla with those incredible Panamanians, one of which I am lucky enough to be married to.

Ending with a Game of R-L-C

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Date Night Surprise

For those of you with excessively dirty minds (guilty), no, I’m referring to a completely innocent experience. It was with my Favorite Panamanian, but was completely above board and in public, so there. We executed our usual date night. My wife was so pre-occupied with texting on her cell phone during the ride to the cinema that she didn’t ask what we were seeing until we were sitting in the theater. That’s when I broke the news to her that we were seeing Young Washington, the biopic about George’s early years. She gave me one of those wifely looks that said, rather eloquently, “I’m not going to like this and how did you get me here?”. As with most wives, she conveniently forgot that she never inquired.

The surprise. She loved it, as did I, see review below. We rolled into the theater on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, and the parking lot was strangely full. I figured that, it being summer and raining, that parents were escaping the hell that is young kids trapped inside with a trip to see the latest Hollywood attempt to extract money from them. I think this week’s effort involved minions, whatever the hell they are. While I’m sure that was part of the crowd I was surprised to see the Tuesday matinee showing of Young Washington was absolutely packed, with both young and old (again, guilty). Another surprise, at the end of the movie, the large crowd actually started clapping. I know this is standard in California, home of the movie industry, but this was the first time I’d ever seen it happen in New England.

That got me to thinking (yes, I know, dangerous territory). The crowd and its reaction was a comment on Americans. There’s a burgeoning majority of us that are still very proud of our country, despite the efforts of the far left (Democrat Party) and their enablers, the news media, to damage that. I think that’s why they failed so miserably in 2024 elections. The Democrats mistakenly believed we, as a country, were ashamed of ourselves, but that couldn’t be further from the truth and for the very obvious reasons that life in our country provides daily for those open enough to see it. They and the Russian and Iranian internet bots will never be able to address the deep-seated love most Americans feel for their country, despite all its obvious warts. They continue down the same path today embracing socialism which has failed so spectacularly in so many places. The most obvious evidence of how wrong they were/are is the fact we actually elected who we did as president. Again, maybe I read too much into it, but it warmed my heart to hear that unexpected applause.

Finished Another 1000 Piece Puzzle

My Favorite Panamanian, a naturalized American citizen claimed the movie made her proud of “her” country, ‘nuff said. She certainly has not forgotten her own roots though. As is wont to happen whenever the Panamanian Mafia gets together, like last Saturday, they have so much fun together that they plan another follow-on event. This Saturday they’re getting together on Deckzilla with each bringing a Panamanian dish and creating more when they arrive. I should probably warn the neighbors that at some point Saturday evening, dancing will break out on Deckzilla. This should be fun.

FBR(r) with her Curbside Cousins

Speaking of fun (I was wasn’t I?), the FBR recently attended a get together of Curbside cousins (see picture). I was so glad to see that and that those incredible Curbside girls are passing on their deep friendship to the next generation. One of the things I’ve re-learned since returning to New England is how important the friends I made as a kid are to me. The Cantankerous Friend and Keene Friends are the most obvious examples but there’s been so many I’ve reconnected with since my return that has made all the difference for me. I’ve heard rumors that the PCR will be returning for the monthly KHS 73 luncheon in July and I may have to abandon a day at the beach to properly welcome him home. More on that in the coming weeks. Also, a shout out to the Cantankerous Friend who will be riding his bike (no surprise there) in the annual Northern New Hampshire Prouty bike ride, for which he has raised $12,000 for cancer research. He’s not always arguing.

Young Washington was a huge surprise for me. I knew Washington’s history of his early years but this film expertly portrays them for what they were, exciting. Washington is nearly always portrayed in his later years, leading the Continental Army in a powdered wig, but here we see him as a vibrant young man being forged into the leader who was so instrumental in establishing our country. It shows his failures as well as his successes and his early over weening ambition. It’s telling that the class system so endemic to the British (still is) was dismissive of him despite his early support of the royal government. We see him rising above the petty class snobbery to embody what the country is about, hard work combined with courage. The message isn’t over the top and lets Washington’s actions speak for themselves which is why I found them so effective. I’m sure the elitist professional film critics won’t like it, but when the movie ended, the entire audience stood and clapped in appreciation. That was as eloquent a statement of the quality of the movie than I can think of.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course