Well Isn’t That Just Perfect

I like the first snow as much as anyone who grew up in New England. It’s a sign of the arrival of winter and, for me, a sign of Christmas!! I would posit that October is way too early for the white stuff to fall and impact but then again, this is 2020, so not unexpected. I awoke to find the yard coated and decided that flip flops were not going to be the shoe of choice for my swimming workout this morning. I took my wife’s Highlander instead of the Camry which turned out to be a wise choice. When I came out of the Y the snow continued to fall with a lot of vigor and the streets hadn’t been touched by plows since last winter. I had a couple other errands to run including stopping by my old office for a short visit. The new Highlander was excellent on the snowy roads and most of the flatlanders who cause so much trouble during the first part of most winters were not on the road. 2020.

Deckzilla When I woke Up

When I returned from the Y

We awoke this morning to a call from the FBR featuring her face in heavy mermaid makeup. This was not a visage for the faint of heart but she looked very cute in preparation for her pre-school’s Halloween party. The big guns come out tomorrow with her Oogie Boogie costume. The BRS was in high voice last night during our call. She loves to re-arrange the kitchen drawers which my son said he didn’t mind because she has some OCD tendencies and keeps everything in separate piles. Last night there was a disagreement with dad over her attempt to help wash the dishes. She took serious issue with not being allowed to wash a very sharp fruit slicer. She pleaded with her dad and even used what she thought the magic word was, “Please”. In the end he convinced her that keeping all ten fingers was a higher priority than her need to clean.

BRS & BR3 Being Sisterly

What is it With My Granddaughters and Unicorns?

I had to send a very difficult email this morning. Long time readers of Frail Deeds know how much I cherish the annual Thanksgiving gathering of relatives from my father’s side of the family. It’s a tradition that predates my birth and has been in continuous operation since at least the 1930s. After being battered by news of how dangerous these type gatherings would be this year I finally let the cousin in chief know that we wouldn’t be coming. I knew this a couple weeks ago but I guess I was hoping for some remarkable cure to descend from the heavens before turkey day (kind of like our president). It really hurt to send that message.

Keene Friend and I with Pittsburgh Celebrity (r)
A Few Years Ago

Also, a very happy birthday to the Pittsburgh College Roommate who gets to turn 65 today, well ahead of me. We’ve been friends since being in the same division (6-2) in 6^th grade. He was one of the first friends to reach out to me after my prostate diagnosis and that meant a lot. He’s a true friend and still allows Keene Friend and I a prime position in his orbit as a minor celebrity in Pittsburgh. You had to be tailgating with us at Gillette Stadium a few years ago to understand that reference.

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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 3^rd 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

Interesting Overload

There’s an old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times”. I can imagine the originator was thinking of something like 2020 when he coined that phrase. 2020 has proven to be the most “interesting” year of my existence on as many levels as you would care to imagine. It’s only fitting we’re heading into what has to be the weirdest and most divisive presidential election in history. I cannot, for the life of me, understand how anyone cannot see beyond the tragic level of narcissism the Twitterer in Chief is afflicted with. I know highly intelligent people who continue to support him and I’m just mystified. While the country is descending into another surge of the virus he’s claiming we’re “rounding the corner”. I know his appeal to some is the fact he’s an outsider but while I’ll agree with that sentiment he must at least be mildly sane which Trump is not. Others look at his supposed business acumen but as more and more of his past business dealings become public we know that to be a falsehood as well. The only thing he seems to have been good at was failing and then getting litigious. As with most things in life, the evil can be traced back to lawyers (sorry to my barrister friends and cousins). One of my biggest regrets in a year full of them (very interesting that) will be the lack of a celebratory party on election night.

FBR, Picture Perfect This Morning

My plumbing project is not going well. I did everything right but the new system while it works, still leaks. I think there might be a crack in the tank. 2020. Again. I’m getting my new driver’s license today. I had to schedule an appointment and will have to bring a boatload of documents to prove who I am as the state is moving to Real IDs, whatever the hell that is. I’m doing it through AAA which seemed a much safer place than the RMV office. Granted, a crack house is probably safer than that benighted place.

Latest Man Cave Puzzle Completed

It’s picture day in New Jersey and the FBR is fully prepared with a new dress and an appropriate attitude. During our breakfast call this morning I could tell her parents were hovering close to insure nothing got spilled on the new dress. The FBR, for her part, seemed to revel in her notoriety. Nothing new there.

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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 3^rd 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

Increasingly Distant Gunfire

As my military career continues to fade into the mists of the distant past with each passing day, occasionally, I get a reminder of the life that defines my adulthood (despite those who claim I’m still trying to achieve that status). Today was a good example. Since I am now a less than proud possessor of a Medicare card, I returned to what used to be Fort Devens to renew my retiree military ID card. I expected to be there a couple hours wait but instead walked into an empty waiting room and was seen right away. This spared me seeing a bunch of Soldiers who I would think were entirely too young to be wearing the uniform. It was raining pretty hard when I got there so that may explain why no one else was there.

Wasn't Quite This Long Ago

As I was leaving, I heard the crackle of distant gunfire as there are still some active ranges at the former military post. I was transported back to the times we lived on post many times and would be lulled to sleep by the sound of artillery. I also remembered what a stone-cold bitch it was to hit the range on a rainy day as I always ended up caked in mud which resulted in a hose down in the driveway by my Favorite Panamanian before I was allowed to enter the house. Great memories but definitely a young man’s game.

BRS and BR3 Looking Incredibly Cute

I haven’t blogged in a couple days because the quarantine doesn’t offer much in the way of events to comment on. The confines of the Man Cave have become my lair and while that is not the worst location in the world to spend a quarantine it feels more and more isolated. I’ve made a couple trips to the store over the past couple days and each time I truly relished the opportunity to get out. To the Grocery store. Wow, did I just write that?!

BR3 HAs a Great Laugh, Usually When her Dad Tickles

We’re looking forward to the weekend as we’re heading up to New Hampshire to spend Halloween with my Favorite Son’s family. It will be fun to se the BRS as she can now understand all the fun involved with the spookiest day of the year. In preparation my wife has decided to make a Halloween cake with candy corn icing. We saw it together on Good Morning America and who am I to deny her the opportunity to excel in the culinary arts (as long as it doesn’t involve getting me to eat more vegetables).

BRS at Ballet Class

The canine/feline crisis seems to have abated a bit. The FBR and my Favorite Panamanian had been tag teaming trying to break down my opposition to getting a small dog. I’ve always referred to these creatures as “rats with hormone problems” and didn’t want one of those constantly yapping beasts haunting my life. I think my wife calmed down after she read that most of the small dogs are not good with small children; so, bullet dodged, for now. I’m not sure how long I could have held up under that kind of pressure. I’m hoping they’ll forget about the cat at the same time.

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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 3^rd 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

En Fuego

Since we’ve finally started getting some rain over the past two weeks my attractiveness challenged fireplace has been getting some work in. Last night my Favorite Panamanian and I were out back after dark to enjoy another conflagration. I was in a tee shirt while my wife was garbed as if a polar vortex was descended. This is a direct reflection of where each of us grew up. My New England versus the deep tropics. It was a beautiful fall night and the neighbors didn’t call the fire department on me, so, win. This is still my favorite time of the year even though I haven’t been able to get and immerse myself in the changing colors. I was almost startled when I drove by a lake on my way to Home Depot yesterday and was saw the incredibly beautiful colors surrounding the lake.

Fire Time Last Night
Quick, Pick Out the New Englander

I was headed to the Depot because I’ve started another home improvement job. I’m replacing the guts of the two of the toilets upstairs. At least that what my plan was. I started off poorly getting the wrong part but even after I got the right one today, I ran into an uncooperative plastic nut trying to remove the old one. I learned early in life doing these type projects for my mother that not having the right tool can be catastrophically frustrating. Unlike my formative years I can now choose to delay the project until I buy the right tool. That will have to wait until tomorrow because, well, NFL Red Zone!!!! I pledge not to call in a plumber unless something untoward develops which is certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

FBR Hosting a Buddy on her Brand New Lawn

She Finally Got Pee Wee to Sit on Her Lap

It's Been a Lifelong Effort

I am fighting what may be a losing battle against whom I have chosen to name the “Dog Team”. I am a lifelong lover of the canine species and would dearly like to have a dog again, but our plans to live four months out of the year in a third floor beach condo mitigates against that. I refuse to have small, yipping, ankle biting dog and here’s where we get to the team arrayed against me. The FBR heard my wife wanted one of these small dogs and despite growing up in a cats only house the FBR loves dogs (in the genes). She and my wife were soon tag teaming me in an over the top campaign to convince me to buy one of the annoying beasts. It flipped the script totally during Facetime calls. Now the FBR only wants to talk to my Favorite Panamanian and I am an afterthought.

FBR With Yet Another Sprinkle Laden Cake

Wingman's Oogie Boogie Mask

Today's Improvements

That’s not the only thing going on in New Jersey. As I mentioned earlier this week the FBR wants to celebrate Halloween as Oogie Boogie, a character out of one of her favorite movies, A Nightmare Before Christmas. Wingman has done an impressive job turning a hockey mask into a professional level mask using some modeler’s clay. Her abuela was actually scared by the FBR when she put it one. My wife fondly remembers when she wanted to be a princess.

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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 3^rd 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

First Friday Fun

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I have always been a huge fan of celebrating the First Friday of the Week. I also find it personally devastating that I haven’t been in a bar since March; 2020 indeed. One of the best developments out of the restrictions forced upon us by the pandemic has been the First Friday Family FaceTime video chats. My daughter has organized them since the spring and it never fails to have a marked improvement in my morale. My daughter always receives a less than welcome text from me at 4:59pm requesting the start time. To her credit she always rushes to complete work to get us started.

BRS & BR3 in Matching Outfits Gifted by my Daughter

My overly large Mexican sombrero has become a signature feature of the calls although I am no longer allowed to perform my beer bottle balancing trick on its brim, especially since the cold weather forced us inside. I truly appreciate my two kids for putting up with these as I know what a challenge trying to have a conversation while chasing down my energetic granddaughters. A case in point would be last evening when the BRS figured out how to lock her dad, my son, out of the house. The rest of us laughed uncontrollably as the BRS looked out a side window, with a disturbing evil grin, at her frustrated dad.

Hard to Believe she can Manage an Evil Grin

Luckily he was outside awaiting the ritualistic Friday pizza delivery which he was able to bribe his way back into the house with. The other challenge for the call is that Friday night is movie night for the New Jersey bunch. If the FBR behaves all week in school she’s rewarded a full-on movie night with popcorn and all the fixings. After about thirty minutes of the First Friday FaceTime call she starts campaigning to end the call so they can get on with movie night. That leads to what has become one of the best parts of our Friday calls.

BR3 Now Objects to Lying Down
She Wants to Sit up and Observe

As both the kids’ families fall off the call my Favorite Panamanian and I continue the fun with Great Aunt and Soxfather. It has been so frustrating not to be able to hang out with them for so many months that this helps in a large way. Last night both kids were off by 5:40 but we continued laughing and reminiscing with the Rhode Islanders until after 7pm. It helps push back the loneliness of quarantine a little; especially as we march into the holiday season where so many beloved traditions will have to be modified. Long live First Friday!

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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 3^rd 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

4 Weeks and Generational Shoe String Catches

It has been 4 whole weeks since my encounter with the robotic prostate remover. While I wouldn’t describe these as the shortest four weeks of my life it’s nice to feel incrementally better each day. This means in two weeks I’ll be able to lift something weighing more than ten pounds. I have a live-in weight lifting monitor who is as incredibly vigilant as she is cute. I’ve gotten back into a semblance of the shape I was prior to September. I changed my swimming workouts to mid-morning instead of first thing. I count this as a true benefit of semi-retirement and I’m usually the youngest guy in the pool. A social situation that is becoming increasingly rare.

FBR This Morning - Much Better Without Mask

My Favorite Panamanian and I watched the entire debate last night even though we’ve both already voted. It was obvious someone finally got through to the Donald because he was at least mildly coherent. I was impressed with Biden whom I’ve never been a fan of but at least he seemed presidential. It will be nice to have an adult in the White House again. Trump tried to jump on Biden’s comment about oil eventually being phased out. I actually liked that because it’s going to have to happen if we are to survive as a species. Besides, it is a finite resource where renewable energy is just that, renewable. For the first time in four years I feel a little bit of hope for the world my granddaughters will inherit. It will also be nice to see the Saudis, Venezuelans, and Russians try to eat oil they can no longer sell.

Ready for Action!

We were called this week to schedule the state supplied additional insulation for the attic space. It will be interesting to see what that combined with the new heating system does to our winter heating bills. I starting to re-think my decision to re-start having the local newspaper delivered each day. While I love reading the paper, out of the seven days since I started they failed to deliver on three of those days. How can a struggling industry accept that kind of performance?

Stylin On her Way to School

Some funny moments last evening during our granddaughter FaceTime calls. The BRS was lying down next to BR3 who looked thrilled by the attention. The BRS said she liked “patting” BR3. BR3 would grab her arm every time the BRS put it in front of her. My Favorite Son was hovering close enough to intervene if needed. I was transported in time back to when he was the same age as his youngest daughter. My wife had reluctantly left me in charge of my two kids and my impression I was doing a good job was thwarted when I saw my two-year-old daughter trying to lift her brother by his waist. I was charging across the kitchen in an attempt to keep my son’s neck intact and had to make a shoe string catch. I wonder if that is why he was hovering so close? The FBR woke us up this morning wearing a Jason Vorhees hockey mask. That was startling enough but we were reassured by her mom that it was just going to be the base of her costume. She’s going to be something called an “Oogy Boogy”. I guess I’m going to have to watch the Nightmare Before Christmas to learn all about that. 

Waving Bye to Mom

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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 3^rd 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

Cabinated Living

One of the most compelling aspects of my semi-retirement has been really living the quarantine for the first time. I cannot complain because I enjoyed a lot more freedom as an “essential worker” during the most restrictive times of the pandemic. While I don’t miss the work, I miss getting out of the house every day. Although I’m developing an even more troubling attachment to the Man Cave (and who thought that was even possible?), my Favorite Panamanian’s concerns about having me around the house during her usual duty day have not materialized, mostly because I sentence myself to the cave for most of the day. I’m not saying my presence goes unnoticed however, especially since I figured out how to play bagpipe music over the Cave’s robust sound system. Sound at this level can have an almost physical presence.

The Birthday Girl and her Lady Friends

I must call attention to the fact that yesterday marked the birthday of none other than the Absolute Best Athlete in the Family. The ABFA was typically understated during our call yesterday but that could have been because she was subjected to our singing voices. The BRS tried to join in to give us a touch of class during our rendition of Happy Birthday. BR3 just looked confused at all the noise surrounding her mom. The ABFA has been one of the most welcome additions to our family, bringing her grace and a level of care that never ceases to amaze me. Now if we could just get her to like horror movies, just kidding, Hallmark Channel it is! There was some additional good news from my Favorite Son’s casa as Riggins’ psychotic episodes seem to have abated which means the clicking back yard light was probably the source of his issues.

Happy Birthday ABFA!!!!

This “getting old” scenario I find myself immersed in can have its funny moments. This morning I brought my water bottle and salt shaker to the breakfast table and promptly tried to salt my eggs with the water bottle. I fortunately made the mental correction in time that only a few drops of water diluted the eggs. I’m guessing I’ll have to start being careful when I try to multi-task. Speaking of those heading for dotage the final presidential debate is tonight. It will be interesting to see Trump’s reaction when they cut off his mike so he can’t interrupt. I’m guessing he’ll either raise his voice or try to commandeer Biden’s mike. Less than two weeks to election day!

Finished Another Puzzle - Told you I spent a Lot of Time in Cave!

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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 3^rd 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

Finish Line

We are thankfully approaching the finish line for this year’s presidential election. Something I think the vast majority of Americans have been looking forward to for four years since that bleak day in 2016. As we approach the Twitterer in Chief seems to be getting more and more desperate. He has turned into a real denier of scientific research and even more unbelievably, the pandemic, despite having caught it himself. He’s trying to tap into the prevalent Covid fatigue as everyone is sick of the needed restrictions. I’m not sure if this is a chosen strategy or he really is this stupid. I long for the day when we won’t have a national policy set via Twitter. It’s too bad that, being 2020, we won’t be able to celebrate as much as election day will warrant.

BRS on Her Nature Walk

I’m no pundit but I’m guessing this could be a Reagan-esque level landslide and Trump has no one to blame except himself and his uncontrollable ego. He just can’t help himself. Some of my left leaning friends and family have expressed concern that the military and other executive branch offices will back him if he tries to deny the results of the election. I assure them the military takes it oath to the constitution and we take that oath a lot more seriously than the Commander in Chief. I mean we stood by while Bill Clinton won a second term and there has not been a president more reviled by the military than that asshat.

All My Granddaughters are Fashion Explosions

My Son Nature Walking with BR3

I'm Guessing an Example of a Native American House

We’ve been a bit out of touch with the FBR as apparently our cache for FaceTime is wearing thin. It’s inevitable as kids get older but we hope this is only a blip. No such issues with the other granddaughters. The BRS was delighted to see us last night and would sound off if the camera was turned to her equally delightful sister for any stretch of time. They were coming off a weekend adventure where they took a family nature walk through the Great Bay area of New Hampshire.

BRS Consoling her Good Buddy Riggins

Riggins is undergoing some sort of psychological issue. He’s always been sensitive to alarms or even minor mechanical sounds, such as the kitchen vent. Dogs can also hear sounds we cannot so my Favorite Son and the ABFA are going through the treasure trove of child toys and their attendant noise making capabilities to see if that is spooking him. My son thinks it could be an ultimate breakdown with having to deal with the two interlopers (granddaughters) that have cut into his peace and quiet.

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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 3^rd 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

Physical Frustration

I’ve always been a quick healer but this latest surgery is putting that theory to the test. While I generally feel better each day it is frustrating to not be able to do more physically. I’m reminded of this all the time, such as this morning, when my Favorite Panamanian had to carry the rubbish out to the curb. I think I could have done it but that same Panamanian is a strict adherent to following the doctor’s orders about lifting no more than ten pounds for six weeks. While the scabs and surgical glue strips are finally falling off, my body is telling me not to try and push the envelope.

FBR On a Play Date This Weekend

Yesterday my wife and I had a tiff because we had agreed to mow the lawn after the Patriots’ game. When I emerged from the Man Cave after that debacle, she was decisively engaged on the phone with one of the Musqueteras as daylight was fading. I went out and did the edges with a weedwhacker since I assured her it was less than ten pounds. I had only been doing that for about five minutes when I could tell I was operating at my limit physically, hence the frustration. My wife was equally frustrated when she emerged form the house in what I call her “mad as a wet cat” mode. Apparently the Musquetera had heard me talking about her promise to mow the lawn and ended their call. She accused me of ending her call early and I responded, “When have you ever gotten off the phone at my request?”. She then admitted it was her friend and begrudgingly mowed the lawn since I can’t. Yet.

All Masked With at Least Some Toys

I can do more mundane, less physically challenging (mowing the lawn = physically challenging – how low have I sunk?) tasks. I re-grouted the upstairs shower floor which became more of an adventure than it needed to be. I was using the vacuum to suck up the dust from where I scraped out the old grout when the vacuum sucked up a couple of the tiles. I was hurriedly taking the vacuum apart in search of the missing tiles before my in-house supervision showed up to comment on my technique. Luckily, all was in place when she showed up.

The Hanging Upside Down Portion of the Day

We had some very fun talks with granddaughters over the weekend. The BRS was in high form and voice wile BR3 turned on her megawatt smile for her grandparents. The FBR was a typically moving target throughout the weekend, although she did make time to call us three times each day, waking us up on both Saturday and Sunday. It is a very nice way to wake up. She had a couple pandemically influenced play dates. These are held masked and outside within their close circle of friends. During breakfast this morning I asked what the FBR missed most over the past few months and she said “playing with my friends’ toys”. I thought I had misheard and asked if she meant she missed her friends and she blithely answered no. My daughter explained that most of her friends’ toys are kept inside and since no one goes inside any more, etc, etc. Pandemia.

Pandemic No Match for True Friends

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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 3^rd 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

Fired Up

I have, for the past couple years, endured the slings and arrows of well warranted jibes at my style challenged backyard fireplace. I built it out of the large rocks I found excavating to build the garden terrace walls and it has always had a strange place of unwarranted pride in my heart. It allowed me to embrace my lifelong love of open fires which was a small price to pay for its reputation for a complete lack of beauty. It’s been so dry for so long around here that I haven’t felt free to use it. That all changed with two deluges this week. 

Wife Toasting Last Night

Firebug Getting Started

Mouse Habitat Departing

I was back out there last night feeding the wood from our garage mouse’s former habitat into the flames. My Favorite Panamanian donned her winter gear (I mean temperatures had fallen into the 50’s!) and braved the artic temperatures to roast nearly half a bag of marshmallows we had hoped to use for the BRS. It was a very fun evening and the neighbors didn’t call the fire department, so win! I finally got to burn the wood out of the broken shovel head that I’ve been jonesing to replace, now all I have to do is figure out how to remove a rivet, one step at a time. 

Happy Anniversary to Two of My Personal Heroes

Yesterday also marked the anniversary of a landmark event in not only Great Aunt and Soxfather’s lives but also mine. I’ve often stated that I wouldn’t have gotten married when I did if I hadn’t had such a great time at their wedding, now, seemingly impossible, 39 years ago. I was so fortunate that the first gal I dated after returning to Panama from that memorable wedding was my Favorite Panamanian. Happy Anniversary for two of my favorite people in the world and two of my best friends. 

Colors Are in Full Bloom But we Can't Get Out to Leaf Peep This Year

Speaking of best friends, my Pittsburgh College Roommate called the other night and we had a great conversation with his wife and him. They’re still trying to figure out the logistics of attending the Annual Birthday Pub crawl in November in my hometown. They committed early this year to showing up since this marks the 65th birthday year for our group of high school friends. Then, of course, the pandemic showed up to screw up literally everything socially related. I really hope they can make it up for what I am sure will be a much smaller, fully masked gathering this year. Pennsylvania is still on the pariah list so we’ll have to see. 

My thoughts and prayers are with one of my distant cousins, she who created the quilt I now spend most nights huddled under in the Man Cave. She sent me the quilt when she heard about my prostate cancer diagnosis and has always been one of my favorite people. She is now facing a renewed battle against cancer herself so please add her to your prayers, she’s one of the best people around. 

Wife Wasn't the Only One Toasting Last Night

While my October continues to be better, on a geometric scale, than my September, 2020 still has a couple punches to throw. I had hoped to get the garage door repaired yesterday but the repair guy showed up and after a few minutes declared the entire thing a lost cause. When we added the room over the garage last year the construction guys apparently reinstalled the opener incorrectly. For the past year just the motor was lifting the door and the side springs were never re-attached. This meant the door had warped and the very abused motor was about to give up the ghost. I ordered a replacement door and opener and hopefully will have them in place within a month. 2020. At least the new door will up the R-value for the garage which is in line with the tightening of the house I’ve been embarked upon. 

The New Heating System

In other construction related news, the installation of the new heating system has reached its blessed conclusion. Late Friday afternoon we had hot water in the house for the first time since Monday. This meant hot showers which was greatly appreciated by the gal I’m sleeping with. The new system is incredibly quiet and promises to save significantly on energy costs because it is a full twenty per cent more efficient than the old system.  

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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