Stratospheric Endeavors

The Truly Fantastic Four  (Actually 4.5) -
 Wingman, Cali-Daughter, ABFA & Favorite Son

I sit here at the dining room table as some desperately needed (but on a weekend!) rain falls outside and reflect back on a singular Saturday. Events conspired so a truly remarkable block of very important people assembled at my son and the ABFA’s new home. My sister and brother in law drove up from Rhode Island while Keene Friend journeyed east from his namesake. My wife and I with the newly acquired Cali-Daughter and Wingman drove up in two separate vehicles which is a story in and of itself (see below). I’m a little upset I didn’t get any photos of that assembly of excellence but when you’re enjoying company as much as I was yesterday sometimes the mundane need to capture the moment falls by the wayside in favor of savoring the moment itself.

The stated purpose of the trip was to reunite my son with his possessions which had been languishing in our basement for the past ten years as well as donate a couple mattresses to the new house. My wife also tearfully gave up three of her huge plants because the new house will not accommodate her vast indoor plant holdings. Giving up the plants was a lot harder than she imagined but she consoled herself that her “children” were placed in a loving home.

Son Opening the Truck After Prayer

To transport this vast array of items I’d reserved a U-Haul truck from nearby Southbridge. I reluctantly awoke Wingman from his left coast oriented slumbers to accompany me to pick up the truck. He knew something was afoot when he saw the scruffy U-Haul dude throw his hands up in the air and point at a departing truck. I learned after nearly fifteen minutes on hold with the U-Haul national office that they had switched my reservation to nearby Sturbridge. It would seem this is the kind of information that would have warranted an email or text message. The truck was waiting and after loading it up Wingman and I trailed the ladies with my wife driving and quickly pulling ahead in her less encumbered car. My daughter later related she introduced my wife to something called the Uptown Funk which tapped into my wife’s well-known proclivity to dance. This is of course problematic while also driving at seventy miles an hour. My daughter wisely chose to avoid future dance tunes while riding with her mother.

Brute Force and Ignorance in Action

One thing I noticed during the drive up to Stratham was every single bump in the road and there were numerous thanks to the summer construction season. While this was mildly uncomfortable I was more worried about my wife’s precious plants which had to be bouncing around in the back. When we arrived at my son’s house I wouldn’t let him open the back until I said a little prayer which was answered when we learned the plant had serenely survived the bumpy ride.

It was so cool walking into the new house filled with a collection of most of my favorite people. It immediately started an afternoon of camaraderie that cannot be adequately described (or photo’d).

Wife and ABFA in the Garden

My wife and the ABFA went outside to transplant some other plants she had uprooted from out house as well. I made the unwise decision to answer her summons shortly thereafter. The prior owners had let a couple of their front yard plants completely take over the garden which my wife decreed had to be reversed. Neither she nor the ABFA (despite her athletic prowess) had the strength to uproot the well-established plants so they tapped into their favorite source of brute force and ignorance, yours truly. An hour later the dry shirt I changed into after unloading the truck was sweat soaked and begrimed but the garden was prepped for my wife’s ministrations. I was released back to the herd to continue my efforts of reducing what my son thought was a very generous supply of Coors Lite.

My Wife Completing the Transplanting

My son demonstrated his well renowned grilling ability on two separate occasions and the day was a great way to christen a house that I’m convinced will be a central family location for years to come. He and the ABFA had done yeoman’s work in the short time they’ve been in the house which already looks like a home versus just a house. We each had to go our separate ways as night fell and the Red Sox continued to implode but the day was spent about as well as could be imagined (and I have quite an imagination). My wife was the designated driver and woke the entire car in the middle of our passage down interstate 495 when my daughter played Uptown Funk again (some lessons need to be relearned). As busy as my life has been over the past few months (with no sign of slowing down) it was essential to have a day like yesterday where I realize, in the flesh, just how blessed I am with the people I’m surrounded with (even at the unfortunate great distances involved).

Proud New Home Owners on Back Deck

Worth Wait

Successful Link Up

A very short post today because I have miles to go and more importantly time to spend with a collection of the most important people in my life. A very brief First Friday was interrupted by the need and overwhelming desire to drive into Boston to pick up my Cali-Daughter and Wingman who flew in for the weekend. The normal 45 minute drive was transformed into a two hour ordeal that was only mollified by a dense fog bank which delayed their flight long enough to insure I was there to greet them.

Two Very Happy Future Grandparents

In a side note I do apologize to the SUV owner in the central parking garage that I used to mask an emergency call and the contamination to his front tire. The drive did take more than twice as long as anticipated. Fortunately the long wait for the flight and drive in allowed the outbound traffic to dissipate and 45 minutes after leaving the airport we were pulling into Zorba’s.

My wife arrived shortly thereafter and saw her daughter in the flesh for the first time since learning she was pregnant. I warned my daughter ahead of time to expect emotion and my wife delivered. Too much fun but I expect today to trump that and that’s where I’m headed. Frail Deeds Dancer out.

The Greeting

Anticipation of Tomorrow

That’s about all I will say about this weekend. First of all I get to pick up not only my daughter and the first blog reader but Wingman will be making his long awaited return to East Coast duties. I found it hard to concentrate yesterday as I look forward to getting my arms around these three again. They’re flying into Boston to spend the weekend with us before moving on to New York City for her quarterly coordination with the home office as well as a curb side baptism.

These Two +1

Another highlight of the weekend, other than my wife’s continuous happy dance, will be a trip up to New Hampshire to see the favorite son and the ABFA in their newly acquired abode. I’m renting a truck to transport the remains of my son’s possessions from our basement as well as a couple of my wife’s plants as we start the downsizing. She was actually in tears last night about the prospect of her “children” leaving the nest. The prospect of being near her future grandchild will certainly help.

Despite the busy timetable of the return to work, vacation recovery, impending visit, need to restock house, sell house (continuing dueling lawyers), rent a house (lease signing imminent), Panamanian Residency Visa application, land sale, and beachfront condo construction we took time out to see a movie last night because it’s the height of the summer blockbuster season and well, I’m me. We saw Tomorrowland which immediately tapped into several pillars of my childhood fantasies. I actually attended the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City which is the starting point of this Disney vehicle although I think Clooney had more fun on his ride through It’s a Small World than I did. I wanted so much to love this movie because it did tap into those youthful dreams cultivated each Sunday night watching Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

It just misses though by effectively hiding the message of hope and imagination in an obscure plot. Clooney and the young female lead, Britt Robertson, are very good although they lose each scene they share with Athena (watch out for her in the future). The movie spends too little time in the fantastical Tomorrowland and too much getting the heroes there although it was instructive to learn where Gregory House ended up after his television show ended. The movie briefly soars with a siege at Clooney’s house and a briefly glimpsed commercial but I wanted the whole thing to fly and it didn’t. I’ll see this again and I’m willing to bet I’ll enjoy it more because the wasted need of obscurity will be removed.

Saddle Backed and Bro-Day

I find in somewhat eerie/sublime that I woke up in far western Panama yesterday morning but find myself back at my desk at work this morning after a good night’s sleep. I owe that heretofore improbable scenario to Copa Airlines who are firmly established as my favorite airline ever. We wandered down to the David Airport around 8am to board a flight to Panama City and were able to check our bags all the way to Boston. The flight was on time, comfortable and afforded a fairly leisurely walk through the ever expanding Panama City terminal in search of our Boston Flight.

Plane We Were On Yesterday

They opened a new series of gates and hadn’t bothered to put up signs directing people to that location yet. My wife marveled almost as much as I cringed at the increased duty free shopping opportunities offered at the new gates when we stumbled onto them. The flight to Boston was on a brand new jet colored festively in honor of Panama’s famous Bio-Museum. Each seat had its own personal television screen with an assortment of movies and TV shows to select from. While the equipment on Copa is world class the best thing about flying with them is the service where they still treat you like a welcome customer instead of the herd mentality of most American airlines.

I almost (a very large almost) hated the flight to end but we were back in Boston just after rush hour was petering out which was a good thing since we were going to use I-93 south out of Boston. We discovered our semi-legally parked car in the economy lot had not been ticketed which was a huge relief. I almost killed both of us on I-93 with the very confusing HOV configuration but we survived to rescue Buddy from his nirvana like existence at my sister’s house.

Regular Commuters Must Have Been Laughing at My Confusion

He was in his usual frenzy to greet us and for some reason was soaked in wine, testament to the lethal aptitude of his tail. It was so good to see my sister and brother in law (more on him in a bit). Apparently my nephew was making plans on hiding Buddy (good luck with that) so we couldn’t take him home with us. After a quick stop off for some dinner we returned home to find our home reminding us entirely of Panama – as the heat over the past few days was stifling.

The Birthday Boy

Now as to that brother in law of mine who’s really the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real brother. It’s his birthday today and he characteristically failed to mention that when I saw him last night. He’s one of the best people I’ve met in a life spent wandering the globe and meeting thousands to compare him to. He has a heart of gold and that isn’t said in any way as typical. He loves my sister (which is fairly easy) but he’s been a stalwart friend and advisor to me ever since I met him which is not easy. I cherish every moment we get to spend together and he is deserving of the happiest birthday possible – Happy Birthday Brother!

A File Photo With My Sister

Hasta La Vista Day

Our last full day in Panama was certainly a full one and that wasn’t the plan, but that’s kind of how my life’s been dealing with me of late. First thing in the morning our immigration lawyer bailed on us which left us high and dry with the required step in attaining my residency status in Panama. Luckily my wife’s family stepped up, as they are wont to do. We were supposed to head out for a quick trip to the mountains and Boquete to check out possible vacation rental houses for next February’s massive 60^th birthday party for my wife but were instead trolling for lawyers.

Boquete

My brother in law showed up and said he had a good friend who was a lawyer in the immigration department but he couldn’t handle our case because of ethics (who knew).  He did however have a sister who was a lawyer who could see us at 1pm – SCORE!!! We were shortly on the road to Boquete which proved every bit as charming as always and our prime suspect house is in a perfect location. We stopped at a favorite bakery for a quick snack before heading downhill to David and picking up my wife’s twin sister, whose car we had commandeered.

Mother in Law and I in Boquete for a Snack

Returning to David we read head-on into an important message from the bank saying we had to return for yet more signatures. Both my wife and I were concerned that the signatures would involve her and that meant a half hour lost trying to re-create an acceptable signature. Luckily it was just one form and it was my signature needed, we were in and out in quickly and on to meeting with our new lawyer. She was much more on top of things that the last one so this may be a welcome development. She’ll be preparing a list of the documents I’ll need to assemble so I can add that to the list of important tasks laying around.

The Street in Front of the House At the Height of the Storm

I was taking my wife’s family out for dinner on our last night in Panama but we had to survive the standard afternoon thunderstorm first. This was an impressive piece of work which had the Panamanians running for cover and myself roundly castigated for staying out on the front porch to watch the storm. They see such continual evidence of nature’s power that they hold a healthy respect for same. These storms are real events and loud. The rain falls in buckets, literally, and since most houses have corrugated tin roofs, the resulting noise is arresting. The street in front of the house was literally awash –resembling a small river and yet within ten minutes of the rain slacking the water was practically all gone and this was the third day in a row of this type gutter washer.

Same Scene Ten Minutes After Rain Slacked Off - Where Does All the Water Go?

Dinner was everything I hoped, grabbing a last dose of laughter with my wife’s family. Even her elderly parents joined us which was a real treat. They don't have much in the way of possessions but they have each other which is more than enough. An object lesson in the intrinsic value of family. 

The Panamanians Smartly Ran for Cover

Signing Day

A very short post today because other than accomplishing the whole reason for coming down to Panama for the third time this year nothing much happened. We showed up at the bank as promised, right at nine in the morning and because this is Panama, were told the paperwork would not be ready until 1pm. Panamanian bureaucracy is all about delays.

Finally Got the Paperwork Signed Here

Luckily the paperwork was ready at the appointed hour and we were ushered into a very impressive conference room for the signing. Obviously no one had checked the room ahead of time because the prior night’s heavy rains had exposed a leak in the roof and there was a quarter inch of water on the floor. My wife spent a good twenty minutes trying to re-create her signature as it appeared on her ID card which is very important in Panama. They have to match exactly.

Wife Practicing her Signature

While things were very calm here in the tropics my Cali-daughter achieved a landmark event in what should be a distinguished writing career. Whenever I think my scribblings possess any talent I then read something by a real author, such as my daughter, and am properly humbled. She had one of her short stories published yesterday and it was a delight to read here at her grandparents’ dining room table. She combines a great tale of ships passing in the night with the intricacies of modern relationships. Talent. 

Artwork Accompanying my Daughter's Published Story

While her aunts were conducting a fashion show of clothes my wife brought down to donate I felt compelled to reach out to her after reading the story and was lucky enough to catch both her and the Wingman on their couch via Facetime. There ensued an excited bevy of aunts and grandparents jockeying for position around the computer screen to view the increasing evidence of our first grandchild. It was a perfect way to end what had been, up to that point, a moderately frustrating day.

Memorable Day

First of all I’d like to add my thoughts and prayers to those who remember today isn’t about barbecues and beach frolics only. It’s about remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice to insure we’re free to barbecue and frolic. It’s all too easy in Obama’s America to minimize and marginalize the herculean efforts and sacrifice of these heroes and try to assign some measure of underserved guilt but that isn’t America. I keep seeing a video posted by some well-meaning, liberal friends that features Jeff Daniels bemoaning the state of the USA in a diatribe against patriotism hitting all the progressive talking points. He points out the USA isn’t the only country with freedom and then lists a series of countries that while they do have freedom, they have it in large part due to an American soldier pressing his buttons into the mud on their behalf. I see the left led by their bannermen of Obama and Hillary trying to harken back to the heady days of the Carter presidency when we were forced to not believe in ourselves and the promise of the America that was only solved by the arrival of Reagan. While at times I’m worried about the insidious nature of their posturing I’m not worried about America; because we still produce young people like the 11 year old featured in this video about Omaha Beach. A friend posted it on Facebook yesterday and I watched in awe. America will never descend into the morass of false European egalitarianism which is a myth even in Europe because the West is always going to need its sheepdog.

Of course I’m down in Panama still and they don’t celebrate Memorial Day but they do like to barbecue. We established residency yesterday at the home of the cousin with the legendary laugh along with a bevy of the infamous PanaGals.

Wait, Zumba to Start off a Party?!! My Wife in the Middle of It Of Course

As soon as we arrived everyone was summoned for a Zumba workout with an all too fit instructor my wife’s cousin had contracted for to lead. This was not my idea of a good way to start a party, especially given the 90 heat and 100% humidity of the Panama’s rainy season. I retreated to a nearby bohio, a safe distance from this insanity. I was truly impressed as the group went at it for an hour in the stifling heat and never slowed down. Panamanians and dancing seem like the natural order of things. I don’t know if I could have hung with them, even in my youth.Once the workout was completed we commenced with the more civilized aspect of the party which boasted the typical ingredients of beer and lots of laughter.

My Safe Haven of the Bohio in the Rear (r)

The Bohio Crowd

My brother in law was manning the charcoal grill which labored mightily to handle the serious amount of dead animal flesh heaped upon it. They use a different kind of charcoal which required repeated re-ignition and support. They were even using a small PVC pipe to blow air into the charcoal to maintain it.

Brother in Law and his Wife on the Grill

Right on schedule in mid-afternoon Panama reminded me why they call this the rainy season (winter to the Panamanians). The rain descended in remarkable amounts, the proverbial bovine urinating on a flat rock. Those of us in the bohio tried to ride out the storm by retreating to the middle but this wasn’t the normal short duration storm; it had some legs. A shuttle system of umbrellas and towels was used to transfer everyone to the front porch where the party continued unabated.

Then the Rains Came

My brother in law struggled mightily to keep his barbecue lit in the face of the inundation. This was the Panama I remembered from so many nights spent in the jungle as a young man with the rain pouring down and trying to remember what it was like to actually be dry. Fortunately in my dotage I could watch from a covered porch with an Atlas beer in my hand which is definitely preferable to my earlier incarnation.

My Sister in Law Defying Rain in Typical PanaGal Fashion

Brother in Law Eying the Steady Encroachment of the Rain

PVC Pipe to the Rescue!

The rain continued for several hours and it would have flooded any place in the USA but they’re used to it here and shortly after it stopped there were just a few minor lingering puddles. My wife and I spent the latter part of the party trying to convince as many people as possible to come visit us in the coming year. I think we were moderately successful but there was a lot of Atlas downrange on both sides of the conversations.

My Wife, Serial Hugger that She is, Grabbing her Father

These parties are so much fun because the laughter and joy of a gathered family continued uninterrupted by almost biblical level weather. I swear I’d fly down just for a weekend with these people, which is kind of what I’m doing anyways. I just love these people.

Some Early Starters in Karaoke

Serious Déjà vu

Somehow, against all odds, inexplicably (tongue firmly placed in cheek) I find myself writing once again from the dining room table of my parents in law in David, Panama. This is my third trip back to Panama this year – a new record and decisively in the explicable category. We have to finally sign the paperwork with the bank for the beachfront condo construction. This was supposed to take place on our last trip but the Panamanian bureaucracy and their innate love for serial stamping of official documents meant I had to return.

I love the returning part because there are few places (and the people I find there) in the world that I love visiting more. The timing (with everything else going on in my life) ranks right up there with some of the world’s worst disasters but in the immortal words “It is what it is.” Now to make the most of it, not a hard or unpleasant prospect, given present company.

First Friday at Brew City

To catch up with what’s transpired since I last posted, despite my wife’s stated desire to spend all of Friday packing suitcases (her well known favorite hobby) I somewhat typically decided that the First Friday of the week had to be observed. My excellent boss was on vacation but he called in to Brew City to pay for our first round (hence the excellence).

Due to my serial travelling over the past few weeks, my operations manager tried to cast aspersions on my First Friday attendance record - something of a running joke due to his own spotty record. I reported conducting First Friday operations both afloat and from Portsmouth. He retorted that photographic evidence to the contrary this should not count. Luckily the waitress’ had my back and thoroughly dismissed his baseless accusations (proving once again the value of generous tipping). After he left he sent a photo of himself which I replied with a photo of the waitress’ reaction to same – priceless.

The Waitress Reaction (l) to the Operations Manager Photo (r)

I pulled my wife away from packing long enough for Zorba’s pizza and yet another wifely mudslide. I may have to reassess her designated driver status after experiencing her parking effort when we returned. We were immediately thrust into packing for the trip, an effort assisted by the Red Sox who were getting their butts handed to them once again. In complete compliance with the title of this blog post I innocently asked my wife where her Panamanian passport was so I could do the web check in. The emotional squawk she replied with told me all I needed to know and brought back some dark February memories of my own passport adventures.

Wife and Her Latest Mudslide

She removed her Panamanian passport (she has dual citizenship) from her usual cache when we traveled to Bermuda since she only needed the American one and she could not for the life of her recall where she put it. Two hours later the passport was still missing but at least she still had the American one to travel on. She did have to bite back a little pride when she had to pass through Panamanian customs with the rest of us gringos instead of the fast track reserved for Panamanians. I figure we’ll find the passport and the location she placed it (so she would remember where it was) when we pack the house out in a couple weeks. Like I said, a serious case of déjà vu and yes the first place I looked was in the hidden compartment of my briefcase.

Wife With her Mother and Sisters Last Night

Traveling out of Boston on a Saturday morning (even a holiday weekend) has everything to recommend it. We breezed through the city and while parking was a challenge in the economy lot (very cut throat) we walked right up to the security check point with no line whatsoever. I was looking around to see if this was some kind of clever reality television plot or something.

After a couple hour layover in Panama City we boarded the flight to David (now only forty minutes) where they figured out how to cut ten minutes form the trip since I was here a month ago. So after leaving Boston around 9 in the morning, by 6:30 that same night I was sitting on my wife’s ancestral home sipping (well sort of) my first Atlas beer. This is so much better than the old eight hour bus rides from hell. This is the first time in years I’ve traveled back to Panama during the rainy season. I was reminded of how green everything gets and the desperate humidity brought back the Panama I remembered during my three years of patrolling the jungles there as a young man.

The Prodigious El Fogon Plate Under Attack

We reconvened at the El Fogon (fast becoming our “go to” place) just down the street where they produced a truly amazing appetizer plate as well as some sangria, pina coladas and the default Atlas’ as well. The best part was sitting around the table with my wife’s brother and sisters just laughing non-stop for three hours. As I’ve said in the past, with my wife’s family you inevitably end up serially laughing. The best medicine possible for the trying week as the detritus of the past few days melted away in the face of the collected excellence.

Bedlam Reigns

This chaotic phase of my life continued full bore yesterday as all the inordinate details of my personal life had not one but two pointless yet required meetings with the political leadership superimposed. The monthly board meeting was a bad enough way to start off the day but then my excellent boss took off for Maine meaning I had to spend two hours in the afternoon explaining reality to college administrators. They left their ivory towers briefly for a foray into transportation planning which was eye opening, to say the least. At the same time this was going on the upgraded scheduling software crashed spectacularly that had IT people from Long Island to Montreal running for cover. That was kind of fun to watch from the outside (guilty pleasure). While observing their scurrying to assigning blame I also filled out the rental application for our June move. I think we’re a good risk.

Returning home I was reflecting that I’m actually enjoying the pressure and difficult deadlines life has thrown my way of late. It reminded me of my time in the Army when drives home were inevitably spent turning the myriad different missions I was responsible for over in my head. I found myself doing the same things yesterday as I switched mental gears from the house sale, to this weekend’s trip to Panama (buying and selling down there), to the move into Worcester, as well as the serial conundrums work presented this week. The only difference in mindsets being in the military success was required while in civilian life it’s merely preferable.

When I made it home I found my wife once again veering madly between anger at leaving the house and anticipating the move. I think we’re both feeling the siren call of our nomadic blood cultivated during my Army career though as I’m actually starting to look forward to the thousand details involved in moving. I’m just a little rusty at it. Yesterday’s issue was the bathrooms which she upgraded last year with some custom mirrors and was adamantly refusing to leave the house without. I said we couldn’t leave the new owners with no bathroom mirrors so I added reinstalling mirrors to the move list critical path list.

I had the sad yet enjoyable (since I got to hang with my sister and brother in law for an all too brief time) task last night of once again delivering Buddy to his second home in Cranston for the duration of our trip. Before leaving for that trip he helped me in the disassembling of my wife’s old garden cart. It used to be a mainstay of maintaining her vast array of gardens, a plastic cart with multiple levels. It made several moves with us but the last few years has languished behind the house since a wheel fell off.

Aftermath of the Cart's Demise

I dutifully tried to disassemble it in a civilized manner in preparation for today’s consignment to the rubbish bin. My genteel approach involved carefully removing all attaching devices and trying to reduce it to the component parts. When that failed I returned to my default position of brute force combined with ignorance and went to get the axe. I got the whole thing into two garbage bags!

The chaos refused to die for me as I returned home near 11pm from Rhode Island still having the day churning around the cerebellum. I decided to watch a Netflix rented movie to calm down a little, expecting to see only a few minutes before nodding off. I didn’t count on Salam Hyek and Everly though. Salma has always been one of my favorites and I guess she felt the need to remind everyone that as she approaches middle age she’s still got “it”. Curiously she chose to do this portraying a prostitute fighting off hordes of Yakuza assassins and killer whores while skimpily dressed. While I certainly enjoyed the skimpy part (the “it” I was talking about – still there) the rest of the movie was kind of an incoherent mess, like Tarantino on some really bad drugs. She even pauses in the middle of the attack to clean up bodies and stash weapons away since her young daughter is coming for a visit, because that’s what you want to happen in the middle of a blood bath. The movie ends poorly descending into a weird sadomasochistic miasma – who saw that coming!

Chaotic Salma

It was truly like an automobile crash scene – impossible to look away from and my wife even wandered over to watch the pandemonium unfold. As the movie wound down to its predictable finale I couldn’t believe we’d stayed up to watch the whole thing and it was well after midnight. I guess the movie resonated based on my last few days – then again Salma in a nightie!

Progress

Finally felt a huge surge of relief yesterday from the most pressure I’ve felt since civilianizing. We finally reached an accommodation with the buyers on the radon levels which helped but the big event was finding a place to live once we move out in late June. All this took place at the same time I was deeply involved in a day long negotiation session with the union. During the lunch break my wife joined me and we snuck out to inspect the potential rental home.

Wife in Front of Our Future Home - Notice the Short Driveway, YES!!!!!

The home turned out to be perfect and is less than five minutes from work. The location is not without peril as it is immediately next to the home of my wife’s fellow Panamanian and shopping enthusiast. These great people and cherished friends first clued us in on to the house. I may have to seize credit cards before leaving for work each day. I kind of surprised myself that I was so excited about almost eradicating my commute. I was talking big story about moving to Keene and making a daily hour plus back and forth commute to Worcester each day. I guess I was lying to myself about that. I am looking forward to getting into the city and being closer to amenities not to mention friends – I really am ready to move.

Wife at Zorba's Last Night Sliding Away

I felt so relieved by the end of the day to put these two huge issues behind us that I took my wife out for dinner and then we stopped by stalwart ole Zorba’s for a couple of very uncharacteristic work night drinks. I think the wait staff was a little confused about our mid-week appearance. I guess they assumed we only existed on Friday nights. My wife was able to indulge in her cruise inspired discover of the venerable mudslide.

We head down to Panama on Saturday for the third time this year to finalize (or at least I’m promised but that’s what they said last time) paperwork. One of my wife’s relatives posted these pictures earlier this week of the massive new Panama Canal that is nearing completion. They were allowed to tour the new canal and it looks impressive. It is being constructed right next to the old American built canal.