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| FBR and I Posted by my Daughter |
I had a unique experience on my
birthday yesterday which is saying something considering the number of the damned
things I’ve acquired at this point. For the first time ever I had to contend
with a snow storm on my birthday. It was supposed to be a minor thing, a couple
inches and then rain over night. It turned out to be something a little more ambitious
with ten inches falling over just a couple of hours. My wife made a gallant
effort to make my day special but it was fairly mundane given the whole requirement
to attend work. We went out for a very nice dinner and then cleaved a marble
cake at home while fielding calls from the progeny. You’ll note my wife has
taken to putting my birthday cakes on glassware in anticipation of my wielding
of Bonecrusher
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| BRS Wife and I posted by My Son |
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| BRS and I posted by ABFA |
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| Also by ABFA |
The FBR was in full snow play mode since
the storm arrived earlier down in New Jersey. My daughter made the mistake of
allowing the FBR out onto the deck while we were talking and then had a hell of
a time coaxing her back into the house. My Favorite Son and the BRS also called
in for an entertaining call where my son revealed that the day care teachers
noted the BRS was incredibly more verbal since her visit to New Jersey over the
weekend. Apparently hanging out with her cousin, the FBR, caused serious
motivation towards a higher level of communication. Both of my kids and the ABF
shared these photos on Facebook to mark my birthday which caused some serious tightening
in my chest when Is aw them, thanks guys.
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| Bonecrusher Deployed |
Thank you to all the friends who
reached out via Facebook for the many well wishes I received yesterday. This is
one of the coolest features of that beleaguered platform. After destroying a
huge hunk of prime rib we would normally have ended up at the movie theater but
the storm’s arrival prevented that. I didn’t want to be a wimp but that turned
out to be a good call because the snow piled up faster than I’ve seen in a long
time. We retired to the Man Cave where we watched a movie recommended by my daughter
called Juliet Naked which was very funny and possessed of serious heart.
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| Deckzilla Last Night |
I awoke around 3am and peeked outside to
see the extent of the storm and was shocked to see how much snow had
accumulated. I actually had trouble falling back to sleep as I cursed myself
for not laying in a supply of gas for the snow blower. I was out there three
hours later in what was now a driving rain storm. My off season practice of
starting the snow blower each month paid off as it started right up and went to
work, for about fifteen minutes. I ran out of gas just after clearing the street
side of the driveway. Luckily my neighbor chose that moment to walk his dog and
I was able to beg enough gas off him to finish the job. By the time I was
finished I was thoroughly soaked and what I think of as my “snow removal
muscles” were at the failure point. These are muscles used to push the snow
blower and shovel around and were dormant until awoken from their summer slumber
earlier than expected. Thank God this is the First Friday of the Week so
appropriate medicinal concoctions can be consumed this afternoon. All of this
in direct preparation for the tomorrow’s annual, epic pub birthday crawl back
in Keene.
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| I Really Miss Having Access to my Garage |
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| Great Aunt and I |
Today is also auspicious because it
marks the day all those years ago that I ruined the Great Aunt’s first birthday
party with my untimely arrival the day before. It was a little difficult following
her through school because she set such lofty standards and we always had the same
teachers. Despite the carping from me and my younger sisters she never wavered
in providing a sterling example which I credit directly in helping me navigate
through life. She developed into a true friend once I matured enough to realize
what I treasure I‘d been blessed with. So happy birthday Great Aunt, thanks for
evolving into that role from being a great sister.
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| Mi Queridissima Hermanita! |
In an example of kismet run rampant
today also marks the birth of my wife’s sister, one of the key figures in the
gang known worldwide as the PanaGals. My wife’s younger sister and I had a
difficult start to our relationship all those years ago as she was very young and
resented the big, dumb gringo who could barely speak Spanish who was kidnapping
her favorite sister. Over the years our relationship has evolved to where she
is truly one of my favorite people in the world. She shares the flashing eyes
that my Favorite Panamanian uses to such great effect and I love spending time
with her as it always involves some extending time laughing. So, Feliz
Cumpleanos to mi queridissima hermanita!
We did get to the movies on Wednesday night
as saw Bohemian Rhapsody. This was a lot of fun as Remi Malek continues his impressive
start to a career. He totally nails the complicated and, at the time,
controversial lead singer of Queen, Freddy Mercury. The film follows the
formation of Queen and Mercury’s ups and downs over the ensuing years. I’d
forgotten just how many iconic songs Queen was responsible for and I found
myself transported back to the many memories of my youth the songs evoked.
Mercury thrived during the time before all of a celebrity’s life was considered
public domain or maybe he was one of the first victims of the information age’s
intrusive ubiquity. While the film does descend into some tepid melodrama the music
and Malek transport it to another level. In the immortal words of Conner Macleod
and Queen – “Who Wants to Live Forever!”
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RECURRING CHARACTERS
BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR
- First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA –
Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law, formerly known both as MEF – Most Excellent Fiancé
& MEG – Most Excellent Girlfriend; Wingman – my son
in law; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school
from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great
Aunt = my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since
grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to
attract women; Pittsburgh College Roommate – high school
friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla
– our backyard deck which
grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involed in planning; Maine and
Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters,
my wife is the 3rdmusquetera (musketeer); Buddy – AKA
the Wonder Pooch – family dog, a black lab – hates squirrels, died
in 2017; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy,
son's dog, surrogate grandchild while awaiting arrival of the BRS; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close
friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife
(of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday
of the Week; Excellent Boss – my former direct boss at
work; Voices of Inappropriate Worth - members of public who
come to every Worcester public meeting to complain, all are on public
assistance along with demeanor issues
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