Birthday Girl Operations

Birthday Girl and Wingman Heading out on their Date

Another September weekend spent traveling to one of my kid’s homes to inflict our presence on a granddaughter. The recipient this time out was the FBR but the real event was the birthday of my firstborn, my luminous daughter. Birthdays are important in our family so there was no doubt my Favorite Panamanian and I would journey to New Jersey to help celebrate the anniversary of that day when everything changed in our world – our first day as parents. She’s redeemed the effort a thousandfold since her arrival and I looked forward to letting her know how proud we were to claim her as our own. The Wingman had planned a night out at a fancy restaurant since we would be in residence as babysitters.

Abuela and FBR Waiting FBR's Turn with Presents

We had to leave Worcester at oh dark thirty because we wanted to take in the FBR’s gymnastics class. The benefit for leaving so early meant we pulled into New Jersey just after 9am and in plenty of time to distribute birthday and European gifts before gymnastics. Birthdays take precedence and the FBR exhibited a fair amount of patience as our daughter opened her gifts before the FBR was allowed to delve into her haul. Near the end you could tell she was really struggling in containing her levels of serenity, knowing there was a big bag of gifts for her as well.

FBR Demonstrating Rhythmic Gymnastics

FBR and her Talking Lamb

The big surprise was the mermaid dress. When we asked the FBR what she wanted us to buy her while we were in Europe she said all she wanted was “a mermaid dress”. Although we kept our eye out we didn’t run across a single mermaid dress while in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, go figure. Earlier this week my wife was conducting her requisite pass through the local TJ Maxx when she ran across – you guessed it – a mermaid dress. This allowed us to become instant heroes when the FBR unveiled it. She wanted to don it immediately but we felt it probably wouldn’t serve her well in gymnastics class. She also loved the talking lamb which we gave to each granddaughter. It repeats back anything that is said to it. The FBR was thrilled but Wingman less so. I’ll be surprised if the lamb doesn’t end up in a watery grave at some point.

After Gymnastics

Waiting for our Lunch Table

A Perfect Day

Gymnastics class was a lot of fun although my wife and I were kept on our toes by the FBR. We were sitting in a glass booth watching the class as the FBR made her way between different activities. She was constantly checking to see if we were paying attention and would wave to insure we were fully engaged. We celebrated with brunch at a new place Wingman had located. It was a lot of fun as occurs whenever we’re hanging out with this bunch.

Wingman in Front of His Front Yard Project

We returned to the house in time for the FBR’s nap which wasn’t at the top of her list of priorities but which she begrudgingly consented to. While she was out of the picture we helped Wingman with a landscaping project. He took advantage of the having the greenest thumb within the family, my Favorite Panamanian, present to advise him on the purchase of some front yard shrubbery (and without any Knights of Ni menacing). While we were making our way through the selections she found an immense, towering tree-like flowering shrub that she said she’d been searching for. I laughed and told her there was no way we could fit it into the car for the ride back home. Undeterred she kept at it while Wingman bemusedly made his purchases. We had to return to buy two more shrubs and while there, you guessed it, I now had to figure out how to get this monstrosity back to Massachusetts, more on that later.

Birthday Cake!

After the planting was done Wingman had to get cleaned up for his dinner date but we had a birthday cake to knock out after the FBR awoke from her enforced slumbers. Since the work was over for the day I engaged in my “food of the gods” selection of Coors Lite and cake – all was exceedingly right with the world. The birthday girl and her date cleaned up exceptionally well and looked like the New Jersey power couple that they are. My wife and I had a lot of fun with the FBR even though we were up against her bedtime. That turned into a forty minute exercise that her abuela did not mind, even a little bit. The FBR made only one serious attempt at escape and the busy day caught up with her resulting in deep slumber. Her grandparents were not in any better shape as we dozed off on the couch trying to watch a movie. My wife finally gave up and retired to our basement room while I was left on watch.

Abuela - FBR Cake Silliness

They have one of those internet based TVs which means you have to go through a bunch of different menus to find something to watch. I find it confusing at times but somehow stumbled onto a favorite old John Wayne movie, Eldorado, which I used to stay awake until the return of the birthday girl from their date. My wife heard the early morning calls emanating from the FBR’s bedroom summoning her grandparents. By the time I arose after hearing the frantic footsteps on the floor above my wife and the FBR, wearing her mermaid dress don’t ya know, had invented a new hide and seek game using the talking lamb toy. One would hide the toy while the other had to find it using the voice activated responses. Her parents’ reaction to the repetitious squeaky lamb voice only cemented my belief that the lamb will soon be encased in cement at the bottom of a New Jersey lake.

The Little Mermaid

After breakfast the FBR sat us down in the living room for what she’d been promising us would be a life changing event. During a recent mother-daughter evening they had watched the Pixar movie, Inside Out, which they both loved and declared they had to show to us. We settled in on the couch together with some popcorn and truly enjoyed this very funny and engaging movie. The FBR gave me some dirty looks when she realized my popcorn consumption rate was something she hadn’t had to deal with heretofore. I realized staying for the movie would mean we’d miss part of the Patriots’ game but I would trade any mere football game to spend time on that couch with those gals.

With her Mom the Birthday Girl!

Duty with Friend Calls

After the movie was over one of the FBR’s friends wandered up the street in his wagon with an invitation to the playground. We quickly assumed secondary status but still received some very heartfelt goodbye hugs from our gal. I had wrestled my wife’s new tree into the car and we’d gone about fifty meters when she started criticizing how I had done it. I mean I could kind of see the passenger side mirror between the branches. I pulled over immediately and informed her that 1 - I didn’t want to buy the damned thing in the first place. 2 - I told her it was too big for the car. She started talking to me again about a half hour into Connecticut. The tree and I both survived the trip home where we caught the second half of a lackluster Patriots win. We discovered a new neighborhood restaurant later in the day. The only drawback to our move to Worcester has been finding a replacement for Zorba’s, our beloved Friday night dinner spot back in Charlton. Table Twelve, a newly opened place just might fit that bill. We were very impressed with our first trip and plan on testing its viability again soon. Now I’m just left to contemplate the huge ass hole I’m going to have to dig this afternoon for that friggin tree – still even that arboreal contraption can’t dim the time I got to spend with the beloved New Jersey bunch.

Wife and her Newest Plant

FBR with Purple Bath salts - Explains A Lot

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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 3^rd 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

Wither We Travel Now

BRS and her New Beau

Before I get into my completely unqualified two cents worth on the latest Washington failure I have big news to report that has my Favorite Son a bit concerned. The BRS has apparently acquired a male suitor in day care. The charming pictures highlight her latest conquest. I had to laugh when my son indignantly reacted by saying he was advising the BRS that she couldn’t have a boyfriend until she was 28. I laughed because I remember saying the same thing to his sister back in the day (although I think the age was 40) and that edict didn’t survive adolescence. My son will learn the lesson all fathers eventually do – daughters are hard to deny anything to.

Not to Worry Dad - You Can Outrun Him

Now on to my ramblings. For those of you not paying attention we could be headed for some historic times if the House actually does impeach the Twitterer in Chief. I’d sort of been paying attention but up until the past couple weeks the impeachment calls had all come from the radical left who simply can’t stand the man. I’m not sure being an utter buffoon qualifies as the requisite “high crimes and misdemeanors” standard impeachment needs. That has all shifted with the revelation of his antics with the Ukrainian president. It’s almost like he can’t help himself. He’s been caught trying a back room New York City type dirty political trick that would have made Boss Tweed happy.

Busted?

You simply cannot do that as a president, especially in such a volatile region as the Ukraine. For the first time in a very long time I found myself nodding in agreement with what some of the democrats were saying, scary. My last job in the military involved conducting senior level investigations which were very unpopular with the senior level subjects of same. The 3-star general I reported to told me he could always tell the guilty ones because they always attacked the investigators. Trump has been caught red handed and he has no one to blame but himself and his overwhelming hubris. Someone (a whistleblower in this case) finally told the emperor he had no clothes. The saddest result of this is the potential damage this does to Biden. I’m not sure what qualified his son to run a Ukrainian energy company and that is now available for question. Biden seemed to be the only one capable of moving the democrats to the center. If this knocks him out of the race we will be left with one of the progressive wingnuts that could do even more damage to the country. It promises to be a very interesting run up to November 2020. Hopefully our political vision will match the year’s number.

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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 3^rd 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

Miniature Firebug & Audience Please

We had entertaining video calls with both the BRS and FBR last evening. The BRS definitely acquires additional attitude with each passing day. Yesterday she demonstrated the ability to scale the front of the stove in several vain attempts to immolate her hand. She understands something is “hot” when she is warned but seems more fascinated than fearful. My Favorite Son and the ABFA took turns scaling her back when she tried to reach the lit burners in the back – by necessity in the back. The FBR was outwardly serene as she deigned to allow us to join her while she finished off dinner. My daughter related a story about the FBR who, after watching a video of a rhythmic gymnast, decided she was all in. She grabbed some of Wingman’s kickboxing hand wraps to substitute for the ribbon she’d seen with the gymnast. She then gave a credible performance although she stopped whenever my daughter tried to join in the dancing. Finally she decided since the video was from the Olympics and included an audience she needed one as well. Soon her entire array of stuffed animals was positioned on the couch to view her performance. I vainly tried to get a copy of the hilarious video but, since I am Instagram averse, I failed. In my search I ran across what may be my favorite picture of the FBR and I together. It captures our relationship so well. We tend to bring the silliness out in each other.

FBR and I

Lunchtime Progress

Our house is now solar equipped although we’re not completely hooked up yet. We still have to get an electrical inspection and then the power company has to install some sort of device. I was totally impressed with the installation crew. They showed up right at 7am and worked non-stop throughout the day. I stopped by for lunch and they were more than halfway done. When I came home from work shortly before 5pm they were done and gone. I’ve been impressed with this company from the get go. Now we’ll see if it all works out as I transition into an energy producer.

Installation Complete

Back at the cinema last night to see Ad Astra. This is a very interesting take on science fiction. Brad Pitt, who towers in this, plays an astronaut in the near future whose father may or may not be sending deadly waves of energy from across the solar system after being considered dead for many years. Pitt is charged with journeying to Mars to make radio contact with him. Along the way he runs across pirates on the moon and Norwegian space baboons. This sounds like an action packed sci fi frolic but it was anything but that. It was an intensely personal and uniformly bleak journey for Pitts character to rediscover his humanity. It’s easy to forget just how good an actor Pitt can be until you see him in something like this. He has to be that good because the movie is so personal despite the breathtaking scenery he journeys through. Too many sci fi films focus on the scenery and forget about the story. This was so good and features the first ever climatic scenes in the rings of the planet Neptune (didn’t even know they had em). This movie is completely in Pitt’s hands and he delivers. Some viewers may be put off by the austere pace and settings but the movie inexorably hits all the right marks on Pitt’s journey.  

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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 3^rd 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

Greenifying

I know some of the more progressive of my friends will be shocked to learn that today my house begins the process of converting to solar power. While I may not be a poster boy for most of the “head in sand” progressive causes I’ve always been concerned for the environment. Strangely it dates back to my 4^th grade teacher in Lincoln School. Mrs. Mason was instructing us about natural resources and made the point that while the earth is blessed with abundant assets they are, in the long view, finite. At some point in the future we are going to run out of oil, coal, and others. This made a big impression on me and I’ve always sought information about renewable energy sources. I know the industry’s answer is to always minimize the issue, saying we have over a hundred years’ worth of oil reserves but in the back of my mind I’ve always thought a hundred years is not a long time if you’re talking about completely revamping energy resourcing and an economy built on top of a fossil fuel industrial base. Anyhoo my small contribution is having a solar array installed on my hilltop house and it will feed its output into the energy matrix and I’ll be credited with what I produce off my electric bill. I know some people are still are in shock at this revelation and not to worry, I won’t be out gnawing on any tree bark.

Workers up on the Roof This Morning

It was weird to take a shower this morning with the installers pounding on the roof right over my head. They showed up, as promised, right at 7am and immediately set to work. I was a little impressed. My Favorite Panamanian was less so because she felt the floors needed sweeping before workmen should be allowed to tramp through. Wifely logic I’m still trying to understand. I know, fruitless. Granddaughters, this was in large part for you. Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, many years in the future, the Saudis are back to chasing camels and oil based energy will be a quaint memory.

FBR With a New Friend

Both granddaughters checked in last night in fine form. The BRS reportedly assisted a day care employee with a crying peer yesterday. Apparently one of the other kids at the was crying after waking up from their nap and the BRS went over, put her head on the crying kid’s shoulder, and began rubbing her back. It was one of those moments that renews faith in human nature. The FBR was full of her usual P&V anticipating our visit there this weekend. She recently made the acquaintance of the new born sister of one of her friends. I couldn’t help projecting a few years into the future when they would be buddies. It’s so cool that my grandchildren will be able to have their roots down that their itinerant, Army brat parents never did.

Date night so, so a movie was in the offing, Rambo Last Blood. Old friend John Rambo certainly wears his years and scars in full evidence. We last left him finally making his way home to the Arizona ranch of his father. This latest movie picks up his story a decade later and he evidently spent that time tunneling around underneath the ranch and dealing with PTSD which makes a whole lot of sense considering what his character has been through. A Mexican drug/human trafficking cartel makes the mistake of taking someone close to Rambo and the bodies are soon piling up. There seemed to be a rush to the signature revenge porn without the semi-necessary buildup. We all know Rambo is going to spend the last third of the movie eviscerating the bad guys but, again, it all seemed a little rushed. The bad guys are certainly qualified to appear in one of Rambo’s patented kill montages through their brutal acts. I wish they’d spent some more time exploring the life Rambo built up in the preceding decade to highlight what was lost but that may be just me wishing the poor bastard got a little bit of a break. This would be a good place to end the series with Rambo literally riding off into the sunset. We don’t need to see Rambo on Mars as an octogenarian dispenser of justice.

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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 3^rd 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

Granite Crisscross

Okay, so it somehow became autumn today although Mother Nature apparently wasn’t informed since it’s already 80 degrees outside. We started our European acquisitions distribution tour this past weekend up in New Hampshire. Our first stop was Stratham and some time with the BRS and her parental units. We arrived to find the BRS commenting loudly about the fact she was put to bed before she could properly greet her grandparents, who’d been held up by Friday evening traffic. Of course it could have been the persistent cough she was experiencing, but since I’m writing this I’m sticking to the grandparent angle. My Favororite Panamanian volunteered to go upstairs and help. Ten minutes after listening to her abuela lullabying the BRS was fast asleep, much to surprise of the other adults in the house.

Wife and BRS Saturday Morning

My wife and I volunteered (well that was mostly my wife) to assume BRS duties when she awoke early on Saturday so my son and the ABFA could grab some extra sleep. That turned out to be a lot of fun as the BRS has evolved into quite a little entertainer. Unfortunately she was fighting the same tough little cold that had her hacking and coughing. There are very few tougher things than having to see someone so young having to suffer through something like this, especially since they cannot possibly understand and expect all the magical adults that surround them to fix it.

Grandpa Put Through his Paces

Very Happy Abuela

Trying to Figure out the Throw Stick

Very Happy with Gifts

Reading With Abuela

And Dancing

Of Course

Backyard Tomato Harvest

My wife administered dancing lessons and when the parents arose the medicinal effect of hojaldras were explored. The BRS gamely tried to ignore the cold. She picked a mountain of tomatoes in the back yard and even tried to use the throw stick for Riggins with limited success. When we distributed the gifts the BRS now understands the concept and was all in. She loved the European sourced presents as did the ABFA with the focus on Swiss chocolate. We tried to video call the FBR a couple times but that worthy was a moving target and when we finally did catch up with her the BRS grabbed the phone and muted the call beyond her grandparents’ ability to quickly resolve.

Daddy's Girl

From When She was Feeling Better 

After the all too short interlude the BRS went upstairs for her afternoon nap and we set out for the other side of the state on our next mission. We were entroute to my hometown to take Keene Friend out for dinner in celebration for his birthday which passed while we were in Europe. While we were driving across New Hampshire my wife noticed a text from an old military buddy. We’d served together in the mid-1980s and he’d gotten out to pursue a career in business. Last year we reconnected via Facebook. His message said he was in New Hampshire for a  wedding. It turned out he was in the town right next to my son’s which we’d just left. Insert small world comment here.

Dinner with Keene Friend

Keene Friend received his European cache and somehow, against, all, odds, we ended up in the Pour House at the head of the square while my wife investigated the status of the local TJ Maxx. I’ve come to really like Pour House with the demise of Scores as it offers some interesting views of Keene passing through the central town square. I liked it even more when I went to pay the tab. After two hours and several rounds of beer the tab came to $6! When I protested (honestly I did) that I thought I owed more they admitted they’d made a mistake and I was good to go. I left a hefty tip as we eased down Main Street to meet up with the spousal unit for dinner. Some of the other denizens of Keene were unavailable but we had a very enjoyable time wishing Keene Friend his just deserts.

Navalized Snow Man Depiction

Wingman Time

Completed Maze

Fashion Domination

The FBR, as mentioned above, was a moving target all weekend. She had gymnastics on Saturday which she loved. She also sent us some art work including what may be the definitive American portrayal of a snowman, complete with belly button. She amazed her parents by figuring out one of those maze puzzles without any assistance. I’m sure I could not have done that when I was three years old. He mother, my daughter, wandered into New York City to attend a book festival and a presentation featuring one of her favorite authors, Joyce Carol Oates. My daughter was a little stoked when Oates tweeted out a picture of the event with my daughter sitting in the front row. The FBR made do with Wingman in my daughter’s absence where she continued her domination of the local playground while maintaining her status as a fashion icon.

Daughter in Brown Jacket

The Patriots continued their steamroller approach to the football season. I’m wondering if they are this good or if they’ve just played three patsies to start the year. The defense certainly does look legit. I don’t watch the Emmys but I did catch the summary and was pleased to see that Fleabag and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, whom my daughter got me hooked on, won multiple awards as did the lamented heavyweight, Game of Thrones. Hopefully Martin will now get back to work and finish the damned books.

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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 3^rd 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