There is not a lot to report other than a seemingly endless supply of contentment associated with hanging out with the New Jersey bunch. This is certainly the medicine my battered sprit was calling for. I say not a lot to report because we’re not visiting anywhere; just spending time with each other. So, there is your regular, garden variety “just” and this more highly evolved version of the word.
First Friday Fun
I was fortunate enough
to be present when the FBR invented a brand new game – Lion Shark. The game
involves she and my Favorite Panamanian safely positioned in the playground tower
(the bridge of a mythical ship) while I serve as the aforementioned Lionshark.
I circle around below while they throw balls at me to keep me away from their
ship. I, as any self-respecting lion shark would do, am allowed to throw the
balls back at them. It is even sillier than it sounds but, we were all laughing
so hard for more than an hour while doing it, we declared victory over the
Pandemic blues for a little bit.
The FBR can Get Silly At Times
In the Pool with FBR
The FBR continues to
be a huge fan of swimming pools, at least until she gets into one. I’m the designate
swimming partner in the small pools but each time we’ve gotten into one she’s
declared that it is too cold and wants to get out. Wingman says this is just a form
of acting out because she, heretofore, always jumped the water no matter how
cold. So, I guess I just bring it out in her. Eventually I convince her we’re
missing out on some aquatic fun and she forgets how cold it is long enough to
dunk her grandfather a few times.
Grampa About to get Dunked
Walking Back from Neighbor's Pool with Abuela
We had a memorable
First Friday last night, even though we were down to one screen. My Favorite
Son couldn’t attend due to workplace beer drinking requirements (hoisting a few
with co-workers – which is what First Friday is supposed to be all about). That
left Great Aunt and Soxfather as the lone target of the FBR’s attentions. She
did not disappoint. It was nice being able to share a perfect summer evening on
the back deck while the FBR pelted around. 
Painting the Hunted Rocks with Abuela and my Daughter
Meanwhile in NH - BR3 is Sounding Off
We had to end early
because, well, in New Jersey, Friday night is movie night (as long as there
have no serious FBR behavior issues over the preceding week). This was accompanied
by some of Wingman’s incomparable homemade pizza utilizing his dough that was
three days in the making. It certainly lived up to its billing and there is a
remarkable lack of their usual supply of leftovers. Something I proudly take
full credit for. I brought a copy of the Wizard of Oz to leave with them. The
FBR was a huge fan of the movie (and who isn’t) after seeing it back in January.
It wasn’t on any of the streaming services so Grandpa delved into the movie
archives and provided.
Screen Captures from a Very Fun Video
Movie Watching protocol
The FBR and I were
talking all day about the impending movie and I told her, that as a military
man, my favorite part was the scene with the witch’s soldiers marching to the Oreo song. Unfortunately, I had to sneak upstairs
for another Roothugger zoom call with my beloved Army buddies. That was a lot
of fun although we all struggled with the technology initially. There wasn’t a single
nine-year-old in sight to help us out. We eventually got everybody connected,
including my friend who had the same prostate surgery I’m facing. He had the
operation on Thursday and was back home swigging beer with us yesterday night,
so that did wonders for my morale.
Daughter Continues Her Cat Whispering Ways
FBR Swinging into Friday
The biggest morale
boost continues to be spending time with my daughter, the FBR and Wingman. One
of those things you don’t fully appreciate until its taken away from you for a
while. Oh, the FBR and I got to watch the Oreo song this morning as she
insisted on watching the entire movie again. It’s at this point you insert the
apple not falling far from the tree comment
A Fashion Icon
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2 Very Happy Grandparents
RECURRING CHARACTERS
BR3 – granddaughter #3, 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; 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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her
single days in Brooklyn
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