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.