An event I anticipate all year is what
we used to in the military call “imminent” – the annual pub crawl. This will
mark the 6th year in a row where I return to my home town and make
my way up Main Street through a series of pubs. I started out in 2013 with just
my son and I with guest appearances along the way by Keene Friends 1 & 2.
It’s grown over the years to resemble a high school reunion and usually
generates a story or two. My daughter and Wingman found out they got the L.A. apartment
they were hoping for which led indirectly to the arrival of the FBR. My favorite
cousin made an epic wrong turn out of the last bar a couple years ago which led
to an equally epic late night search by the rest of us. Alas the beer towers of
Scores no longer beckon after the Pour House turn since Scores went under earlier
this year. The best part of this event has always been the time I get to spend
with family and friends. An added bonus this year as both of my “kids” as well as
Great Aunt and Soxfather will attend. Anticipation is heavy enough to slice
with a knife.
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| FBR Stylin This Morning |
Worcester is in mourning again today
as we lost yet another firefighter on Wednesday night. On the same day when the
soon to arrive Red Sox AAA affiliate revealed plans to honor the Worcester 6
from the tragic Cold Storage fire of 1999 Lt Jason Menard was killed trying to
save a reported baby on the third floor of a fully engulfed house. I can see the
fire station he operated out of from my office window. This occurred less than
a year from the date we lost another firefighter. Worcester has thousands of
what are called three-deckers. Three storied homes dating back to the industrial
peak of this mill town. Many are now huge firetraps and this is the third firefighter
to die in action since I arrived here in 2005. Just way too sad but Menard went
out a hero as he guided two members of his team out of the inferno before
becoming trapped.
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| R.I.P. |
We missed our nightly call with the FBR
where she refuses to talk with us but the BRS was in full voice. We now play a
game with her where she gestures towards the IPad and we act as if we were
thrown back by the force of her gesture after which she giggles uncontrollably
at her power.
We were back out in the frigid conditions
last night for another movie. We went to see Midway, a truly epic retelling of the
turning point battle of World War 2 in the Pacific. I wasn’t sure why this
needed to be redone but I’m glad they did because this is case where the real
events didn’t need to be embellished and CGI technology brings you right into
the pilot’s seat as they dodge flak on their bombing runs. The plot is loyal to
the actual history depicting the futility of the early American failures in the
initial attacks followed by the sublime courage of the naval aviator attacks on
the Japanese carriers. It was a little jarring to see Ed Skrien with his heretofore
very British personae sporting a Brooklyn accent but he carries it off. The rest
of the cast is equally good with a real attempt to be historically accurate
with every aspect, including hairstyles and uniforms. It was an almost
impossible task to capture the sweeping world changing events of the short
months from Pearl Harbor to Midway but the filmmakers accomplish this and get
you to invest in a couple of the well-defined characters as well. I found myself
actually gripping the arms of my seat when the dive bombers started their runs
through the flak – awesome war movie.
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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
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