I had to come up with a label for this
summer and decided on the Summer of Sublimely
Awesome Weekends.
Those of you reading the blog over the past couple months can empathize with me
for having entirely too much fun. I had a plan to build a new mini-wall in the back
yard in front of the fireplace but that plan is still awaiting inception because
I’ve been distracted each and every weekend by the world of my family and
friends who have effectively conspired to be more than simple labor can compete
with.
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The Fun Saturday Crowd
Ill-fated Beers on the Right Side of the Table |
This past weekend is a perfect example
of what I’m trying to explain. Saturday involved yet another thunder run up to
my hometown since my mother in law hadn’t been up there during her entire trip
this time. The siren call of tax free shopping beckoned while I was more than
psyched to conduct the needed reconnaissance for the November birthday pub
crawl since the Keene bar scene seems to be in flux. I approached this sacred
duty with an appropriate level of professionalism.The stalwart Keene Friend was ready to
assist in this needed investigation. Our first stop was the site of the former Waxy
O’Conner’s which rumor had placed a new Irish pub in residence. We confirmed
something had in fact replaced Waxy’s but Willie Mac’s (the new place) didn’t
open, even on Saturdays, until 4pm. This places is well outside the itinerary
of our November pub crawl since by 4pm I wouldn’t trust any of the crawlers to
travel that far from the center of Keene – although come to think of it - my
favorite cousin gave it an unintended effort a couple years ago.
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Sunday Arrival in Stratham
ABFA and BRS Waving Behind the Door |
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| Reuniting with the BRS |
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| Means a Happy Grampa |
We therefore made a semi-triumphant
return to the Elm City Brewery where my favorite Bartendress in the whole world
treated Keene Friend and I like returning heroes. It should be noted that when I
started the pub crawl a few years ago with just my son and I, Elm City was pone
of the stops and could be back in the running, depending on the size of the turnout.
We paid proper respect to a superb cheeseburger and Keene Kolsch which was suitably
seasoned with the arrival of the Cantankerous Friend.
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| Tomato Picking with Abuela |
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| And Riggins |
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| Insert Thumb Into the Tomato |
We adjourned following lunch to the
Lab n Lager on Main Street continuing our discussion on solving all the world’s
and, more importantly, the Red Sox’ problems. Time as it is wont to do when I’m
enjoying my friends’ company sped by. I received simultaneous notifications
late in the afternoon. First my Favorite Panamanian called to report her in
depth inspection of TJ Maxx was concluding and therefore she would meet us at Margarita’s
for dinner. The second notification was from my best friend from kindergarten who
informed he was literally across the street in the Cobblestone Ale House.
Quandary! Decisiveness was called for and immediately employed as we journeyed
across the street for a hasty beer with my friend - figuring my wife still had the checkout to
go through. We dodged the crowds of returning college kids to enjoy a hasty
beer with my friend. I must have been enjoying it a little too much because I received
a call from the aforementioned spouse who semi-politely inquired where the hell
I was since she and her mother were already seated at Margarita’s.
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| Abuela's Bracelets Migrating |
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| BRS Acquires |
This occasioned a fairly mad dash down
Main Street to join them. We were seated for a short timed when the Cantankerous
Friend’s new biking buddy, yet another high school classmate, wandered by on the
street and took up on an invitation to join us. To give you a proper idea of
the metal of which my high school class was forged from – this young lady had
spent the day before attending the wedding of her daughter in Boston and
partied till the wee hours of Saturday morning but here she was back in the
fray with us. Due to the previous few hours reacquainting myself with the
results of the brewer’s arts I was expounding on some forgotten subject and apparently
using at least one too many broad hand gestures which deposited my half full
glass of beer on the table. Since we were outside and the table was mesh the
beer proceeded directly to my wife’s pants. This did not endear me to her on
any level.
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| Lunch! |
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| Favorite Son at Garage he Built |
The Cantankerous One was gathering forces
to comment on my abject failure, this action being ripe for one of his patented
expositions on my shortcomings, when he did the exact same thing, spilling his
beer into his dinner and onto his biking buddy. The women at our table may qualify
for combat pay after this interlude but they took it as well as could be
reasonably expected but if my wife’s eyes were laser capable I doubt I would be
writing right now. Despite our abject failure to maintain standards it was a
near perfect gathering of friends on a sublime late summer evening with my
beloved hometown passing by on the sidewalk – too much fun.
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| Lunch with my Favorite Panamanian |
So how do you top a Saturday like that
– the S.S.A.W. had the answer and it involved another trip to New Hampshire but
one decidedly more easterly. We joined my Favorite Son, the ABFA, and the BRS
up on the suddenly semi-brisk coast. We pulled into the yard and the BRS was
out there to greet us. Her abuela quickly imposed eminent domain on all other competitors,
which the BRS was more than fine with. In a trend I’ve noticed in both granddaughters
the BRS decided the bracelets my wife was wearing would look much better on her
arms, I’m thinking genetics are involved here. The BRS showed her abuela the tomato
patch and with Riggins’ able assistance harvested several although the BRS will
have to work on her technique. Sticking a finger into the tomato is not the best
way to go about it. After a very entertaining lunch where were all regaled with
the antics of the BRS we left her and the ABFA for nap time (her not us I
hasten to add). We drove into Portsmouth for lunch and, you guessed it,
shopping. Portsmouth was packed but there was ample parking due to the new garage
my son oversaw construction of last year. That was kind of cool to experience.
We went to our usual underground pizza place for lunch and then the females
broke cover and headed out to shop. My son and I passed a thoroughly enjoyable
time walking the streets of Portsmouth and then spending a couple beers worth
of time in the Thirsty Moose. We so rarely get time to just hang out that I treasure
those times when we can.
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| Ball Tent Time with Abuela |
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My Wife Patted the Couch to Get the BRS to Join Her
She Got Riggins Instead |
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| Happy Girls |
We were summoned back fairly early for
assistance in finding a rest room for my mother in law and while we were walking
back noticed the center of Portsmouth had been cordoned off. Two buildings up
from where we found our Panamanians the fire department had just finished extinguishing
what looked like a fairly serious blaze. I immediately checked to see if it was
a shopping establishment, worried my fiery wife might have been involved. Luckily
she had her mother around to monitor and it turned out to be a greasy kitchen.
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| Finally Close with the Bis-Abuela |
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| Pointing out Airplanes |
We picked up some burgers and dogs on
the way back to the house for a backyard barbecue. The BRS was fully recharged
from her nap and was set at “full charm mode”. She finally allowed her great
grandmother to get close to her. My mother in law was apparently on the stranger-danger
list in the BRS’ very active mind. Their house is close to where the old Pease
Air Force Base was and is still an active airport. The BRS loves seeing
airplanes fly over. She immediately stops what she’s doing to point them out to
whichever adult she is currently charming. The BRS can now speak several words
and my wife was completely floored when the BRS managed a garbled “abuela”. I
joined her when a “Grandpa” also was vocalized. The BRS is a very determined young
lady and picked up Riggins’ leash to take him out for a walk. Since Riggins is
at least six times her size that wasn’t going to happen but it was too funny to
watch.
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| Another Airplane Mom! |
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| Grillmaster at Work |
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| 4 Generations Around Dinner |
The FBR has been a bit of a moving
target over the past few days. She was at the New Jersey lakehouse of a
Curbside Gal where she reunited with another 2d Gen Curbsider. They frolicked
in the lake and grew mermaid tails under the sand. She was back in her home on
Sunday chasing dogs with someone’s tricycle. My daughter commented that the FBR
was turning into a dog person – once again – genetics cannot be denied. We got
her on a video call late in the day Sunday and once she saw we were in the company
of the BRS the FBR wanted nothing to do with us. Yes grandparents can rapidly
transit from supreme beings to chopped liver when cousins are involved. The cutest
moment was when the two cousins tried to reach through the screen to touch each
other’s’ hands. One of the aforementioned words the BRS can now say is the FBR’s
name.
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| 2d Gen Curbsiders |
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| FBR Fully Equipped |
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| Mermaid Tails! |
The only problem with the “W’s” in the
S.S.A.W. is that they end. We left as the sun was setting and just beat all the
road construction crews getting ready to set up and snarl the heavy beach
traffic as it tried to get home. I, predictably, ended up in the Man Cave where
I watched a movie recommended by my Favorite Son while we were at the Moose, The
Babysitter on Netflix. I loved it as it brimmed with the silly, dark humor he
and I gravitate towards. I beginning to realize with the assembly of friends and
family I’m blessed with, the S.S.A.W. is almost certain to evolve into the F.S.A.W.
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| FBR Running into New Friend |
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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; 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 involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two
close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3rd musquetera
(musketeer); 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; Deckzilla
Dude – senior citizen carpenter/contractor; 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
