Denuded

Note to self – when trying to fight off a nasty cold, do not, I repeat, do not, forget to bring your cold medicine with you to work. I, of course, forgot this maxim yesterday and paid for it with a particularly unpleasant afternoon at my desk. It’s one of those colds which endow surprise sneezing fits that last anywhere from 2-3 sneezes to a baker’s dozen in quick succession. In other words, not a lot of fun; Monday in spades.

I came home to find my wife had been extraordinarily industrious while I was away sneezing. We’re putting the house up on the market again in a couple weeks and she’s read literature that says personal photos and items shouldn’t be left up. This was a true conundrum for our house which is nothing if not prevalent with family photos.

The Denuded Wall

She’d taken upon herself to remove all the offending photos and I felt a real sense of loss when I saw the bare walls, especially on the stairs. We had liberally festooned that wall with photos of family throughout the years. Each morning when I came down the stairs I’d always glance over to recapture some special moment with the people looking back at me, some of whom are long gone.

In Better Days

I’ll miss giving my mom and dad a nod, thinking how much they’d love their grandchildren and the adults they’ve grown into. Pictures of sisters, cousins, and pets still possessed the power to evoke the sentiments which only family can provide. Most of all I’ll miss the cherished, fleeting moments with my children as I descend that staircase seeing them as babies as well as their college graduations. The little girl holding her arms out to be picked up and the tow headed boy with a mischievous glint in his eye keeping an eye peeled for that same older sister. The most memorable photo from my daughter's wedding day was her coming down those stairs in her wedding dress by all those photos of her life before. 

My Daughter on Her Wedding Day Five+ Years Ago

Making that walk down the stairs each day somehow reconnected me with these most important people in my life. I know it sounds maudlin and overly sentimental but the house seems less like a home this morning. Maybe this is the first step in letting go because we’ve never been in a home this long together. It’s tougher than I thought it would be.

My wife asked me why I was so quiet as I tried to spackle over the damage to wall her overly energetic removal of nails had produced. I told her how I felt about the missing photos. She teared up a little and at that moment I knew she understood and had experienced the similar emotions. She’d bottled them up until then and we shared some time reflecting on how blessed we were with memories.

Group Photo From Canadians Visit Last Week

Front Yard This Morning

Back yard

Avian Zombie Operations

Yesterday was spent almost entirely in recovery mode as both the wife and I battled illness. I was trying to vanquish a stubborn cold while my wife developed a scary series of eye pains followed by bouts of dizziness. As I’ve stated emphatically in the past, this getting old process is not without peril and kind of sucks. She’s feeling better this morning which mollified the worst case scenarios flitting around my cranium. My cold is hanging on but since its Monday it feels kind of appropriate.

How Buddy Imagined Himself

Buddy attempted to raise our spirits late yesterday by decisively defeating a zombie bird that had the temerity to invade our backyard. He loves to patrol the yard until he spies something we need protecting from. He then rushes inside and barks at the appropriate window to display his ferocity. He’s a lot like the punk in a bar that starts a fight and then retreats behind friends who are supposed to hold him back.

We were snugly encased under blankets in Couch Potato Position #1 when I noticed Buddy nosing something around on the carpet after his latest foray into the back yard. At first I thought he’d hurled but after turning on the light it turned out to be a partially decayed bird that the melting snow must have uncovered.

Buddy’s got a lot of black lab in him so some primordial gene must have kicked in to “retrieve” the dead bird to his master. He seemed actually pleased when I picked it up although a little perplexed when it ended up I the trash. His brief episode of channeling his inner “Lab” was not fully appreciated by my wife as she considered burning the carpet upon which Buddy’s bird lay. I don’t think she’ll be accepting “kisses” from him any time soon.

A video call with the Cali-Daughter and Wingman was the best medicine for our flagging spirits although they did win when we compared our respective weather conditions. It’s snowing again, but since, again it is Monday, it’s almost appropriate, mood wise. The ABFA continued her relentless drive to convince me to move to the seacoast area instead of Keene with a very entertaining text overnight. I think I’m in for a long campaign on that front.

Front Yard This Morning

Back Yard

Unveiled

The Future Home of Memories

The standard weekend snowstorm did not dissuade my wife and I from a trip up to Portsmouth to visit our son and the ABFA. Of even more note was the opportunity to tour the house they are in the process of purchasing. They invited us a long for the house inspection which allowed us to spend an unfettered two hours plus in the gorgeous house.

Kitchen Inspection

The only element present from the current owners was a feisty but extremely shy little “dog” that spent the day doing what little dogs do, bark and run around trying to look impressive. There’s a gas fireplace and whenever that was turned on the “dog” ran to confront the flames.

"Dog" Guarding the Flames

The home inspector was a crusty old guy who obviously knew his stuff and found a couple things the current owners will get fixed before the closing. My son was eyeing the unfinished basement and attic as future home improvement projects. I think a man cave is destined for the basement.

Son in the Living Room

Towards the Kitchen

Upstairs Hallway

Looking Towards Dining Room

The ABFA arrived a little late but she and my wife were soon conspiring to change my mind about moving back to Keene. They both agreed we would be better off moving into a condo near their new seacoast home so we would be available for grandchild babysitting duties. I pointed out that according to both she and her husband, grandchildren were not imminent and a Portsmouth to Worcester commute was a completely different animal. This did not dissuade them in the least. Even the distant prospect of a future grandchild is enough to rob my wife of certain degrees of reality.

Son and  ABFA in Their New Home

I spent a lot of time reflecting on the future. The house was a stranger to me but I know it will serve as a repository for a lot of memories currently imprisoned by the future. I’m excited for the opportunity to break these as yet unexperienced times out of confinement. I tried to communicate the importance its future held for us and prayed it was up to the challenge.

After the home inspection we adjourned to their apartment which glared its inferiority compared to their new digs. Our son talked us through the check in process for our upcoming cruise. Although my wife and the ABFA were still house hunting for a fictional future residence near their new home they did take a break long enough to decide which excursions we’ll pursue on the cruise.

We then set off for central Portsmouth. My favorite son and I ended up in Two Ceres Street Martini Bar (it did serve beer) which had a fire going on the hearth. The wives set out in search for chocolate wine (don’t ask – I still don’t understand). They failed in the wine search and joined us to wait out the time before our dinner reservations in the wine bar.

Dinner was scheduled at the Martingale Wharf just a couple store fronts down the street from the wine bar. We walked there via “the decks” a series of outdoor bars along the Piscataqua River which are mobbed in the summer time. It was a little sad to see them snow covered and deserted.

Martingale’s was a very pleasant new place with a circular bar surrounded by the restaurant tables. A wall of windows allowed great views of the river and we watched the sun set there behind the I-95 bridge in the distance – so it wasn’t that romantic. The food was however every bit as good as promised.

Too Much Fun With This Bunch to Adequately Describe

Dinner was a lot of fun as our female contingent continued their relentless assault on my refusal to consider a move to the seacoast area. It was highly entertaining as they both employed their not inconsiderable female wiles to full effect.

I was fighting an incipient cold all day but that could detract from what was a very special day. My wife volunteered to drive home which was a Godsend. The snow had stopped everywhere along our route except, of course, Charlton, where we found 3” of fresh snow on the evil driveway from hell; a harsh return to reality after such a great day.

Front Yard This Morning, Snow Covered Again!

Back Yard

Canine and Equine Demonstration

I should be checking on the progress of emerging spring flowers at this point in the year but as I look outside the first snowflakes of yet another weekend storm start to fall. It’s supposed to be just 1-3 inches so there will be no impact on today’s planned journey north to inspect the future home of my favorite son and the ABFA. At the same time this winter just keeps hanging on, a real personality disorder.

The Camera Crew Interviewing the Political Boss

I had very little time to blog yesterday, something my Cali-Daughter called me on as I was drowning sorrows with her mother at Brew City late in the day. I spent literally the entire day hosting a pack of Canadians who wanted to learn about our use of electric buses. They were from Montreal and were a lot of fun. I was impressed with their professionalism and how similar the transit industry experience is north of the border.

Fuzzy Look at the Candians

I thanked them for not bringing up the recent domination of a certain hockey team from their home town. I think they realized they were in serious Bruins country and were gallant enough not to rub it in. Worcester served as the northern clime test bed for the new technology so the Canadians were very interested in our experience. The sales reps from the electric bus company trying to sell the bus to the Canadians hovered around the choreographed dog and pony show all day. They were a little nervous when I made my presentation about the operational issues we’d run into but it’s been mostly a good news story.

The Canadians were clever enough to shut the sales men down when they intruded too much and tried to get the straight information from us. It was a painfully long day because everything else on my plate had to be postponed while we were hosting. I even had to arrange some camera shoots for a CBC camera crew that accompanied the group. My final act of the day was taking the head of the transit agency to the local AAA office. He was a very personable guy and when I asked him as we were driving back why he’d gone to AAA he revealed he’d been looking for a new way to drive back to Montreal. He wanted to go through a certain New Hampshire town called Keene!

The trip advisor from AAA was out to lunch so he didn’t get real good directions but by the time I linked him back up with the rest of his entourage he was squared away with the best way to go to my home town. I even ventured some recommendations on dining at the Elm City Brewery.

After we sent the Canadians on their way I only had twenty minutes at my desk and a stack of work that grew exponentially in my absence. I chose loyalty to the appointed hour for First Friday celebrations over the work that can wait until Monday. My wife had come into work with me in the morning so she could spend the day reacquainting herself with her favorite TJ Maxx and Marshall hunting grounds before joining me at Brew City. She and another member of the Panamanian Mafia journeyed into Framingham where she claimed she was stuck in traffic when she was supposed to be in Worcester.

Wife and Excellent Boss at Brew City

She eventually made her way to our location where she met the fabulous Brew City gals who take such good care of us each Friday. I think she realizes now we’re looked upon as elderly uncles instead of any real danger by these fine ladies. My wife did take my excellent boss to task for the recent spate of coronary problems in the management levels of the company. He took it in stride. It was a lot of fun to have her join in the Friday fun.

At the Zorba Bar

We ended the night at Zorba’s which was uncharacteristically crowded so we spent some time at the bar waiting for a table, you know I hated that. There is such a different vibe when I’m there with her as opposed to my two months of solitude. The change is welcome; and then some.

Great Way to End the Day

Front Yard this Morning

Back Yard

Late But It’s Friday

Extremely late and extremely short post today because I’ve been fending off hordes of invading Canadians all day and this is the first time I’ve escaped to my desk. More on this incursion from the north in tomorrow’s blog.

In a continuation of our winter of discontent it rained, hard, all night long but the snow is refusing to give up the ghost. The back yard is still covered but the front yard had been routed.

We spoke with our son last night as we are traveling up to see him this weekend. He invited us along for his new house inspection on Saturday which had his mother doing cartwheels in the kitchen.

My wife got up early with me today and rode into Worcester so she could link up with a shopping partner from the Panamanian Mafia while I dove into my sea of Canadians. I sure the owners of Marshalls and TJ Maxx were wondering about the downturn in their cash flow during her absence. Something I’m sure she’s addressing today. She’s also going to join me for First Friday celebrations at Brew City where she can meet my Friday evening girlfriends; this promises to be high theater.

Front Yard This Morning

Back yard - Still Covered

Gunning for Spring

Well, winter finally lifted her skirt a little bit and let a very sickly spring peek out yesterday. It’s apparently only a two day preview as temperatures are supposed to plunge tomorrow but we could actually walk around without scarves and gloves for the first time in what seems like an entirely too long a time. The warm weather also brought rain for the first time in months which thankfully didn’t evolve into the white stuff overnight. In a truly startling development the ice tunnel at the bottom of the highway from hell didn’t freeze either. Dare I hope?

Wingman and Cali-Daughter Enjoying the Sun in L.A. Yesterday

Weather is certainly not a problem for Cali-Daughter and the Wingman. They reported in from L.A. “suffering” through a heat wave. I could hear a little self-satisfied lilt in her voice when we discussed my delight at temperatures above forty degrees around here. Now they’re finally both in the same place for a little bit of time they plugged into the heartbeat of the L.A. lifestyle over the past few days.

The Backs of Their Heads on Comedy Central

We were instructed to DVR a show on late night Comedy Central appropriately titled, @midnight. They scored a couple tickets to the show’s taping and were sitting in the front row. All we could see were the backs of their head when we saw the show yesterday but still, kinda cool.

Action movie from the director of one of my favorite movies, Taken, I’m in as my wife and I went to see The Gunman last night. A Sean Penn vehicle in which he tries to follow Neeson’s footprints into middle aged kick assery. Penn, one of the least likable actors around, struggles to be someone you can root for here. He obviously got himself in great shape for his role, obviously taking the Stallone process of heavy P.E.D. use. Unfortunately this meant he felt the need to take his shirt off in nearly every scene, even in the middle of a gun fight. We get it Sean, you worked your ass off but get over yourself.

Meanwhile back in the slip shod plot Penn (also a co–writer) managed to shoe horn in the predictable ultra-evil multi-national corporation while he surfed the yet undiscovered beaches of war torn Congo. This film lacked the relentless pace which made the first Taken so enjoyable. Events would start build up and then come to a screeching halt as we had to let Penn emote about his choices in life and a recurring headache. He would have been better advised to not take himself so seriously, channel a little bit of his inner-Spicoli and have some fun with the role.

Front Yard This Morning - Finally Some Progress

Back Yard

Surging News

As the discontented winter continues to hold court in the environs yesterday was nonetheless a watershed day for good news. First and foremost my maintenance manager came through his cardiac surgery with flying colors; something that had everybody at work on the proverbial pins and needles all day. In a huge surprise, he just called me from the ICU to report he was taking a sick day today. The operation did not excise his sense of humor.

In other good health news my brother in law was sufficiently recovered from his Sunday ordeal which saw him in the emergency room for the better part of the day to go to work Monday morning. This is a guy who truly loves his work. I’m sure he didn’t want to miss a single particle of news leaking from the environs of Fort Meyers, Florida where his beloved Sox are preparing.

Son and ABFA's Future Hangout

The bombshell of the day though belongs to my favorite son and the ABFA. Their offer for their first house was accepted yesterday afternoon and I couldn’t be more excited for them. The property received numerous offers but none of the others were accompanied by a personal letter from the ABFA. She can be a very persuasive young lady. They close on May 1^st to start this next phase of their married life. It couldn’t happen to a nicer pair of young people.

Buddy Trying to Convince My Wife his Increased Couch Time
Developed in Her Absence is a Good Thing

Date night had the wife and I at the movie theater seeing The Divergent Series: Insurgent which was pretty good. I’d hazard to say this was even better than the first movie which is hard to do with a sequel. Shailene Woodley continues to blaze and carries the movie with ample help from a coldly evil Kate Winslet. Woodley as Tris and her boy toy have escaped the remains of walled in Chicago and are fomenting revolt against the very uptight Winslet.

If you have trouble suspending disbelief it begs the question why Winslet armed with fabulous futuristic technology can’t find a bunch of teenagers running around inside the walled city with her. Miles Teller still hasn’t recovered from Whiplash because he couldn’t pick a side but plays a bigger part in this movie which was also welcome. The finale was highly predictable but satisfying and the special effects were dazzling. Go see this movie though for the interplay between Winselt and Woodley, two generations going head to head with the viewer as the winner.

Front Yard This Morning

Back Yard

Monday Coronation

As if Monday was not sufficiently challenging in and of itself I took the extraordinary measure of scheduling a dentist appointment for yesterday morning. I figured the day was already a lost cause and why detract from a more hopeful day later in the week. I was back in the chair to have a crown placed on one of my rear molars. This was the first time I’d ever gone through the process which I have to admit doesn’t have a lot to recommend it; except for continued use of the tooth. Okay, so that’s a fairly robust recommendation.

My very attractive dentist continuously asked me if I was feeling any pain, like I would admit that. The tooth receiving coronation had a huge silver filling. I didn’t realize how big until it plopped onto my tongue and nearly sprained it. The assistant snagged it before it slipped down my esophagus. While in the military the dentist always draped the tooth they were working with scaffolding and plastic barriers which was kind of a pain but now understandable. My civilian dentist is more adventuresome. So I’ve got this temporary crown for a couple weeks while they create the permanent crown. The only problem with that is that whenever I’ve got something new on one of my teeth my tongue feels obliged to continually check it out. I can only hope the temporary crown can withstand the assault over the next two weeks.

On a more serious note my maintenance manager is undergoing some very serious cardiac surgery today. He’s an Arab American who smokes like a chimney (at least he did until he received notice of the need for today’s surgery) and is one of the guys I consider a true friend, despite our sometimes diametrically opposed political views. My excellent boss and I took him out to lunch yesterday to wish him luck. I made the mistake of letting him choose the cuisine which landed us in a Middle Eastern restaurant that I didn’t even know existed before yesterday.

My Excellent Boss and Maintenance Manager in Front of Yesterday's Lunch Location

I am the least adventuresome person I know when it comes to gastronomy and certain people reading this are laughing right now understanding my quandary. It turned out to be a lot of fun as the guest of honor took great pains in explaining each of the somewhat mysterious looking concoctions we were presented with. I settled for some very spicy chicken which was very good. My boss and I were the only non-Arabs in the place and I did get a little nervous when our guest started repeatedly referring to me as he does at work – “colonel”. I’m sure the bleak looks I received from a couple of bearded young jihadists were meant to be friendly. My thoughts and prayers are with “my favorite Ayyyrab” and his family today, hoping for the best.

Not

The 2016 presidential campaign lifted off yesterday with the first major candidate to announce his candidacy. Senator Ted Cruz is probably the last thing the country needs right now to break up the inability to govern that has marked the Obama presidency. He’s every bit as obstinate as Obama when it comes to compromising to get the people’s business done, albeit coming from the exact opposite end of the spectrum. It would be so interesting and downright inspirational to have someone from the middle of the political continuum with the courage to withstand the haranguing of the party hacks and govern. Cruz certainly doesn’t possess those credentials.

Front Yard this Morning - Still Limited Progress

Back Yard