Turn About

In a turnabout in gender roles within our house that is sure to shake the cosmos to its very foundations my Favorite Panamanian went to the movies last night while I stayed home. I know. I’ll give you a few moments to recover from the bone deep shock I’m sure this revelation caused. She and a contingent of the Panamanian Mafia wanted to see a chick flick while I wasn’t geared up for any of the other movies playing so there it is; a very simple explanation of this earth shattering development. In a nod to advancing age the ladies gathered at one of their houses for tea following the movie instead of the wine of earlier years.

This freed me up for an extended time in the Man Cave and a slasher flick my wife would never have tolerated. Come to think I wasn’t that enamored of it either – that’s why God invented the Fast Forward button. Once that was done I finally got around to binge watching a few episodes of the Netflix series Mindhunter which I am firmly hooked on now. Wingman clued me in during a recent visit to New Jersey. It’s a fascinating look at the start of the FBI’s serial killer profiling. I was trying to figure out who the female professor was for a long time until I realized it was old friend Anna Torv from the beloved old Fringe series. If you haven’t seen this show yet – do yourself a favor.

Winged Success

Speaking of Wingman he imparted some very good news last night during our nightly FaceTime call. He’s been working at a newly opened restaurant for less than a month and they’re already elevating him to a managerial position. He as typically humble about the elevation but it speaks volumes to his hard work. I also made the mistake of mentioning to the FBR about the possibility of a fire in the back yard when she comes up this Friday. She immediately wanted to see what it looks like and I’ve learned she doesn’t forget anything so I better start gathering some kindling. She comes from a strong maternal tradition of excellent s’more creators so I’m sure that will be on the menu.

The Bad Cinema project count rises to #66 out of 100, with Escape from Galaxy 3 – an Italian version of erotic star wars.

Shots Fired

I ran into issues yesterday with my primary caregiver over the flu shot. Note it was not the doctor but my Favorite Panamanian. She jealously guards her role overseeing my health. She claims it’s because she wants me around to supervise for many years to come. I came home for lunch yesterday and proudly proclaimed I’d gotten my flu shot during my annual physical that morning. I thought I’d get brownie points but instead received a veritable broadside of condemnation. The FBR’s parting gift to both her grandparents was passing on the cold she fought her way through last week. My wife claimed having this cold should have precluded me from getting the shot. I told her that was only if you had a fever which I did not. She was even less pleased when I checked the internet and confirmed my side of the argument. Sometimes you lose by winning.

We overcame our medical dispute to honor date night and saw Lady Bird which is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. My daughter raved about it and claimed it reminded her a lot of her own teenage years with her mother. That’s the core of the story – the difficulty of a highly creative Californian teenage girl’s senior year in high school surrounded by drama on all sides, especially from her mother. My wife rightfully took exception to being compared to the emotionally callous mother in the movie – played with exquisite depth by Laurie Metcalf. The real message of this refreshing movie is the emotional byplay of the mother-daughter relationship when the younger one moves from child to woman. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done better and that is a tribute to Metcalf but more so for Saoirse Ronan in the title role – she owns this movie. I truly believe she’s incapable of doing anything badly. This is a movie with heart as Lady Bird sails through her senior year beset by both family and social challenges but remains true. There are excellent subplots involving the value of friendship, home, and several aspects of teenage angst. This movie is squarely aimed at mothers and daughters but it was fascinating for an old dad to see and learn from as well.

I noticed old friend L.E. Modesitt had published a new novel set in the world of Recluse which is where I first fell in love with his writing. The Mongrel Mage sports one of his usual understated heroes growing into his role as an Order based mage. He was raised by his uncle who was a Chaos mage and then has to flee the power mad mages of his home. You have to understand the world of Recluse to know what that means but it’s significant. The story is set in the middle of the timeline of the many other Recluse novels but Modesitt has created such a multi-faceted world that the hints he drops about famous characters from preceding novels are like glimpses of old acquaintances. The mage eventually has to assist his new homeland in a war against the army from his original home and once again Modesitt is completely at home blending magic into the close, medieval close combat. I loved it.  

The Bad Cinema project count rises to #65 out of 100, with Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star which surprisingly had some good production values.

Stickered

I’m a little late posting today because I had to go through my annual physical this morning along with all the attendant probing of the nether regions. I emerged with a passing inspection sticker so I’m good to go for another year, despite my wife’s opinions (she never met a malady that doesn’t require immediate hospital care). The doctor did recommend that considering my age (don’t you love it when they say that) he recommends I go to a low salt diet. That DOES NOT SOUND LIKE FUN! I can just imagine my Favorite Panamanian in the salt Nazi role over my remaining years. Great Aunt will be happy in that I am following her guidance on keeping her informed of my medical prowess.

Back in the Zone

Nothing but Net

Dad - Take the Picture Already

Future Teenager Face

I had a very entertaining video call with the FBR last night. We talked while she ate dinner and she asked me if I also like broccoli which she was wolfing down. Her parents thanked me profusely when I lied convincingly. We also created a new game where she would wave her arm in a circle and I would mimic it with my head giving her the impression she could control my head’s movements. God knows she already is in charge of my heart. That may be why the doctor noticed my stiff neck movements this morning and recommended some physical therapy. I’m still letting her control my head though – too much fun.

The Bad Cinema project count rises to #64 out of 100, with Alien Factor when several aliens crash into a weather challenged town.

Victory Fire

My Fire and I Last Night

The wife captured the above photo last evening after the Patriots’ win – it was too cold for her to venture further outside (one of her few character defects). I love being outside on a cold night in front of an open fire – dedicated pyro that I am. One of the things I wanted to accomplish over the past weekend was to have a fire in the style challenged fire pit so we could introduce the FBR to intricacies of s’mores. Events were too hectic to allow that so it was put off for a later visit. 

FBR Lamenting her S'more-less Existence by Helping Dad Clean the Deck this Moring

After the Patriots convincing win over the trash talking, totally undisciplined Dolphins who seem to want to fill the Rex Ryan void for teams of disorderly conduct, I decided to start a new tradition. After each Patriot win I’ll head out back and light up a fire – this could be a challenge once we reach January but a promise is a promise. The fire also signaled the end to what might have been the best Thanksgiving weekend ever, at least until next year.

Kevin Kline as George in a Great Movie

I emerged from the Man Cave post-Red Zone to find my wife watching one of my favorite movies of all time upstairs – Life as a House. We adjourned to the Man Cave to watch it together in full theater mode. If you haven’t seen this movie then you have done a dis-service to yourself. It’s a movie about death that has so much to say about life. I could watch it every day.

The Bad Cinema project count rises to #63 out of 100, with Invaders from Space a black and white Japanese TV show merged for an equally pathetic movie.

Doing the Math

The Fam gathered for Canine Funeral

Well the house is empty again after a glorious couple of days filled with family and friends. While dealing with the aftermath (hence the title) of said bliss is always a chore nothing can detract from the time spent with some of the most excellent people currently striding around on this good earth. Both my wife and I took advantage of having our preferred breakfast assistant for two breakfasts. The FBR demonstrated her proven ability at scrambling eggs and helping in the hojaldra creation process.

Receiving Guidance from the FBR

Together Forever

Always a Big Help

Assembled Mourners

Since this was the first time I had both of the “kids” back in the house since Buddy’s demise I decided to finally inter all three dogs’ remains out back. I’ve had Skyla’s and Estrella’s ashes sitting in the Man Cave for years now and when Buddy’s was added to the mix I felt I was doing them a disservice. Every time I walked by them I knew they would have hated sitting on a shelf. Since we finally seem to have put down some permanent roots in this house I thought it was fitting that I bury the ashes when the kids, who were so much a part of the Sklya and Estrella’s lives should be present. I chose the back hillside because they would love the commanding view of the neighborhood and the occasional squirrel foray. Assisted by the FBR I dug a hole, made a quick speech, and poured a beer over the ground after covering up the boxes of urns – all three loved to steal beer from me. It touched my heart that none of the assembled family thought I was too silly.

Angry Sleeper - Just Like her Mother

Great Aunt's Layout

After the brief funeral we hit the road to Rhode Island for our annual second Thanksgiving at my Great Aunt’s house. This was a tradition that grew up after my parents’ divorce where I would come back from wherever the Army had me sequestered to attend my father’s family Thanksgiving and then follow that up with this second one at my sister’s house with my mother in attendance. After she passed we decided it was so much fun that we’ve kept up the tradition. The second dinner is always followed with a party that night with Soxfather’s fabulous family.

This was the FBR’s first time attendance and she immediately bonded with Great Aunt’s two dogs which spent most of the day incarcerated due to their counter climbing abilities. It’s obvious the FBR has the family canine love gene despite my daughter’s overabundance of cats. The FBR even tested one of the dog’s cages for a while but declared emphatically that she was not a dog but raising her hands – loudly declared she was human.

Portait Mode Photos - ABFA with Daughter

FBR - With Canine Filter

FBR with Godfather

And Great Aunt

Great Aunt and Always Photogenic Soxfather Sister

Favorite Son and Keene Freind

With the Favorite Panamanian

Daughter with Soxfather Niece

Two Wingmen Together

Great Aunt truly outdid herself in the meal prep this year and was completely on top of every aspect. Keene Friend (or the “Senator” as he is known in Rhode Island) was also along to complete the family assembled for another memorable meal. Soxfather was still working but showed up just as the party was getting underway. Soxfather’s family showed up completely out of character – that is – on time.

It was one of those great nights when beloved friends and family swirled around as people came and went. The FBR was in the thick of the action and is following in her mother’s and uncle’s fascination with silly games with Soxfather. The FBR fell victim to impending bedtime and accompanied by the increasingly pregnant ABFA departed early while some of us remained for the rest of the party. My wife, not wanted to be separated from the FBR, tagged along and soon called the party to ask us to search for her missing cell phone.

Self-Imposed - I Hasten to Add

We completed an in depth search of the entire house as well as the outside. She eventually called back when they reached Worcester to report that she found the phone – in her back pocket! By that time we were engaged in an all too funny attempt to name my Favorite Son’s impending baby. He and the ABFA already have a male name selected so our efforts were confined to the female side. Names were pulled from legend, movies, books, and not a few of the decorative signs Great Aunt had posted on her walls. That was me and people were beginning to doubt my sanity (yet again) until I revealed where the outlandish suggestions were coming from.

Breakfast Assist with Grampa 

Really Miss the FBR

Hojaldra Prep

Yesterday was spent in a totally vegetative state recovering from the good times as each departing car left with a part of my heart. There was also the failing inflatable bed I negotiated Friday night after we gave up the master bedroom to the pregnant couple. It would only deflate a little bit but enough that every time I turned I had a Panamanian deposited on top of me – so maybe not a totally bad thing. My wife joined me in the Man Cave as we watched a lot of movies awaiting news of safe returns from the departees and eventually emerged after dark where I took my Favorite Panamanian out to dinner and we topped it off with a surprise visit to the always entertaining Neighborhood Mafioso. Just about a perfect weekend so far.

The Bad Cinema project count rises to #62 out of 100, with Extra Terrestrial Visitors and Star Knight – both signaling a return to abysmal cinema standards.