Tunnel Exit

That light at the end of our Covid tunnel burst into flames a little bit ago when both my Favorite Panamanian and I tested negative. My wife is still feeling a little weak but this means I‘ll be able to score those bricks for the wall (why does a song keep bumping into my head when I talk about that?). If I was a betting man (and I’m not) I would lay money on an intensive sterilization of the house in the coming week. My Favorite Panamanian always keeps a very pristine house, despite my best efforts to the contrary, so I predict an intense scouring in the aftermath of this viral invasion. My “kids” will attest, when she goes on a cleaning binge, it is not a situation for the faint of heart. Stand by for reports of my entry into the doghouse this week when I’m am not properly supportive when she insists on dry cleaning well, everything.

Double Negatives!!!

I’ve moved some serious dirt (and rocks) over the past couple days in the back yard project. I made it all the way to the back of the hill on the left side of the style challenged fireplace. My Favorite Panamanian once again tried to get me to remove the fireplace, saying it looked like an easy removal. I think she was kidding. As I’ve been digging, the mind is bound to wander and I wondered if this was the first time this dirt had been exposed to the sun in thousands of years, if the local Indians would have camped there, etc. etc. All those amateur paleontological thoughts were eradicated when I started running into a huge swath of construction fabric near the bottom of the dig. I’m guessing when they were building our house there was a serious erosion problem at the base of the hill once they removed the trees. To counter that, they lay down a bed of gravel and then covered it with this fabric which was then covered by the dirt excavated for our basement.

The Fabric

Today's, Day 22, Progress

It is weird how the mind works (at least in my case). These thoughts of paleontology brought back memories of my junior high years, when there were still junior highs instead of middle schools. I remembered falling under the spell of Roy Chapman Andrews’ books in the junior high library and deciding I wanted to be a paleontologist like him. He wrote about his adventures in the Gobi Desert finding dinosaur eggs and other fossils. Those hopes of a life spent excavating ran into the reality of what science was really like and I knew that I wasn’t a good fit (bit of an understatement there). I fell into a career that involved digging though, defensive positions (not fun) with requisite fields of grazing fire but I digress. Here I am, in my late sixties, still digging. It felt kid of cool visiting the memory halls of Keene Junior High.

Mt Jr. High Hero

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers as I continued in my collection of the Alien movies: Prometheus (great theme song) and Alien Covenant (will someone please kill that android).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Clubhouse Turn

We are concluding our week with the wholly unwelcome houseguest, Covid-19, finally acknowledging its eviction notice. We can see the proverbial light at the end of what hasn’t been that dark a tunnel. My Favorite Panamanian finished her course of Paxlovid this morning and was up and dressed for the first time since Sunday. Too much time in pajamas is not conducive to feeling better. That is, of course, my humble opinion only. I’m into my second day of Paxlovid. As it has been since the start of my experience with the virus, it hasn’t been that bad. I can feel more serious symptoms lingering in the background but nothing manifests itself. My nose occasionally get stuffy and there is the odd cough every now and then but it hasn’t slowed me down at all.

First Friday FaceTime Last Night
Son Had Already Left to Chase Down BR3

My quarantine will continue for another day and then I’ll have to wear a mask for another ten days but it’s not as if we haven’t been trained in that over the past few years. In an indication of just what a stand up person Great Aunt is, when she read yesterday’s blog post about not being able to get more bricks for the wall (there might be a song in there somewhere) she offered to drive up and pick up the bricks for me. I mean, who does that?! She is special, especially after she was having a down day herself having to tackle organizing Soxfather’s clothes for donation, including a shirt that she hated but he loved which brought tears to her eyes. My elder sister is some kind of special. I declined her kind offer as I have more than enough dirt to move as I attack the meat of the hill.

Today's, Day 21, Progress

Our Family First Friday call was its typical hilarious. The FBR projected superiority as only a six-year-old can. At the Hampton Beach House my Favorite Son was trying to keep up with the antics of the BRS and BR3. The BRS was typically naked, something her dad is sincerely hoping she outgrows before her teenage years. BR3 was in high voice and we learned they had taken her to her day care class on Thursday. Apparently BR3 doesn’t like the beach in the morning and wants to leave after five minutes. Any parent will tell you a determined two-year-old can be a major disrupter and BR3 is more talented and determined than most. It was a win win situation as she loves hanging with her friends at day care while the family had a peaceful morning at the beach. I told them I would still put it in the blog so BR3 could read this when she was eighteen and learn she preferred day care to the beach.  

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers as I continued in my collection of the Alien movies: Alien 3(Fincher should be shot for what he did to the franchise) and Alien Resurrection (Alien meets Firefly).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Isolated Rest

I’m taking some semi-serious flak from a certain Panamanian about my insistence to continue the daily two hours (that’s why it’s taking so long – I only work in the shade) digging into the back hill on my patio project while I/m dealing with Covid. I would agree with her if this felt anything more than a mild cold. Bowing to the female pressure of the impressive tag team of my Favorite Panamanian and Great Aunt, I acquired some Paxlovid yesterday. I understand what my wife has been saying about the sour taste as there’s a lingering metallic taste after starting it. It also helped me sleep last night which I guess is a good thing. The progress on the back hill wall will come to a screeching halt after today as I’ve run out of bricks and can’t leave the house to pick up more until my quarantine ends on Sunday. I don’t think it’s something I can ask my Favorite Panamanian to do (and remain married).

Today's Progress - Day 20

That’s fine though as I’m now entering the meaty part of the hill so there will be plenty of dirt to carry up the hill until I get more bricks; for those of you who were worried. I’m sure there were many of you intensely concerned I would be facing First Friday celebrations today without beer. Perish the thought. I dipped into my ample reserves and have more than enough to properly recognize this august day of the week. No contact with the grandkids yesterday. It’s almost as if they have lives of their own to lead. Go figure. Happy First Friday everybody!

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers as I start in on my collection of the Alien movies: Alien (holds up so well especially with 1970s special effects) and Aliens (definitely in my top 100, Ripley rules!).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Life in the Infected Zone

One of the scary things about life in our Covid saturated home is that it isn’t radically different than normal. We have a lot less (zero) guests dropping in on the Favorite Panamanian. I never have drop ins. I’m just not that popular. Other than that, it’s been pretty much like the past year of retired life. There is the small matter of being confined to the house, so no movies or errands to be run. Based on the intense pressure from my wife and Great Aunt, I reported my positive Covid test to my doctor. He then referred me to the Covid treatment center where they issued me some Paxlovid today. I just enjoyed getting out of the house for a bit. I’m so glad I’ve got the back yard project to keep me “entertained”.

My Son Beaching it with the BRS
He May Supplant me as the Whitest Man in Panama if he Visits

I made the turn in front of the fireplace today; an area I was a little worried about. I was concerned about the bottom of the fireplace meshing with the wall. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky rather than good because it went in with almost no problem. I did have to chip a bit of an edge of one of the fireplace’s stones (my forte – brute force and ignorance) but now that edge is resting directly on top of the wall. I’m glad that retaining wall is now up on the downhill side since that was where I was most concerned about the fireplace falling once I removed the hill. We’re finally going to get some rain tonight so that bracing was timely. The wall progress will come to a halt tomorrow when I use up the last of my bricks. I’ll have to wait out quarantine until I can get some more. No problem though, there will still be plenty of dirt to move. My growing hill of dirt carried up the hill is approaching impressive.

Day 19 Progress

We had fun conversations with the grandkids yesterday. The New Hampshire bunch is still enjoying their beach house vacation. The BRS wanted to demonstrate her improved ability to catch a ball. While she as doing that with my Favorite Son, BR3 insisted on participating in the activity (the BRS was not happy about this development). BR3 didn’t quite get the concept of playing catch since my son had to pry the ball out of her hands each time. I really miss being there with them in that fantastic house.

FBR Shoe Modeling

A Concentrated Effort

Certainly Got her Abuela's Shoe Gene

Switching to the New Jersey crowd, the FBR was all over my daughter’s new shoe purchases. The company my daughter works for occasionally offers amazing discounts of their high end products for employees and yesterday she scored some shoes. She knew talking about shoes and discounts would definitely cheer up her mom and my Favorite Panamanian certainly appreciated talking shoes with her. The funniest part of the conversation was the arrival of the FBR who immediately began modeling the new shoes in a mirror. She always makes a bee line for her abuela’s prodigious shoe collection when she visits. It’s something they share and I’m glad my long-suffering wife finally has another gal in the family who truly appreciates shoes and shopping.

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, one keeper while the other didn’t make it: A.I. Artificial Intelligence (kid robot was kind of creepy but Spielberg knows how to make a movie) and Alexander (Oliver Stone should be summarily executed for denigration of the greatest military leader of the ancient world). Guess which one was the keeper.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

The Dreaded T-Line

The inevitable has happened. I kind of figured I’d catch Covid after my Favorite Panamanian tested positive when we returned from New Jersey. I was negative on Sunday but having spent three+ hours unmasked in the car with her on the drive back from New Jersey, the two drives to/from Rhode Island and then sleeping in the same bed on Friday night, I figured I was doomed. I started feeling a scratchy throat on Monday but it never got any worse and still hasn’t. I had to run out for a couple errands on Monday but I was masked up for the entire time. I also didn’t go to the Y for my swim workout since I figured I was dangerous.

I agreed to take another test today and it came back very positive, no faded t-line here. This was just the ammunition my Favorite Panamanian needed to pursue some serious supervision. She said I shouldn’t be working on the back hill, even though that hasn’t been a problem, even after the symptoms appeared. It’s like therapy for me, so I’m going to keep that up. I also said I didn’t need to contact my doctor since I knew what protocols I should be following and didn’t need Paxlovid. Undeterred, my Favorite Panamanian reached out to Great Aunt, the family health expert. She came up on the net in her MOSP personae (her childhood appellation of Miss Oh So Perfect) and said I needed to contact the doctor based on my two bouts of cancer (prostate and skin).

On, With Some Help Blowing out Candles

Birthday Body Surrounded by Beautiful Ladies

Cake Passing Inspection by BRS & BR3

Great Aunt apologized for her advice but claimed it was her duty as the eldest (her words). I told her that my Favorite Panamanian needed no help in the supervision department as she is the closest thing in my life to inevitable. She would have kept at me until I did it. I bowed to the pressure of these two ladies and have informed my doctor of the positive test. I’m still going to keep working on the hill though. Therapeutic properties are just what is needed in this situation. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Speaking of the hill I achieved a significant milestone today by finishing off the hill to the right side of the style challenged fire place. The wall is creeping around to the front. I’ll count it as a win if the fireplace doesn’t fall into the newly excavated area.  I love the pick axe. I now know what they meant with the old saying, turning big rocks into small ones.

Coming Around the Fireplace Turn
Day 18 Progress

Speaking of therapy, I’ve reached the end of the first shelf of my DVD rack in my A-Z effort. 44 movies down and only two didn’t make the cut; only 26 more shelves to go. At least I have some alone time coming to me during quarantine. We were able to see my Favorite Son blow out the candles on his birthday cake via Facetime last night. It brought home how much we missed being there but my heart was filled when the BRS asked where the sword was to cut the cake. Bonecrusher was missed! I assured her that it remains a family tradition to cleave birthday cakes with the broadsword and we would do it any the earliest Non-Covid convenience.

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers: Air Force One (maybe a top 100, great action) and Airplane (silliest movie other than the Holy Grail ever made and still funny)

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Miracle Drug and the Big Guy

Thank you to all who reached out to wish my Favorite Panamanian a speedy recovery. It meant a lot to both of us. I’m more than happy to report that she is definitely on the mend. I picked up that new drug, Paxlovid, yesterday and she had her first dose last night. While she is a little unhappy about the taste it left in her mouth, it gave her a great night of uninterrupted sleep. In addition, anything involving taste when you have Covid is a good thing. In another sign of her improvement, she beat me out of bed this morning. I was deciding whether I should get up and fix her breakfast when I heard someone puttering around downstairs in the kitchen. Since she was only logical candidate as the putterer, I rushed downstairs to find her transformed, almost back to her pre-virus self, and making her own breakfast. So, thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers, they seemed to have worked, well that and Pfizer.

The Birthday Boy and I

A Few Years Ago, He'll Always be Super

While that is verifiably outstanding news, it is tempered but what we both should be doing today, which was joining my Favorite Son at their beach house in Hampton to celebrate his birthday. I had been looking forward to this for months, birthdays are important. I am so proud of this man. Those of you who are prone to easily gagging from too much saccharine might want to skip this part because I’m going to do some serious bragging on my Big Guy. That’s what I called him growing up and he’s more than filled that appellation in the man he’s grown into being. He’s just fun to be around and while I know he likes to project an image of seriousness (he’s an engineer and I think they issue that mien upon graduation) all you have to see is how he interacts with his daughters to understand the depth of his soul.

He Still Holds 5 School Records at UNH

Great Smile from Way Back

Still Smiling for Good Reason - Marrying the ABFA!

Nails Are Still Being Painted

BRS Painting BR3's Nails

Meanwhile, in New Jersey

FBR Preps her Dad's Welcome Home Meal

Now, if we Could Only Get Her to Eat It

The other day while we were talking via FaceTime, the BRS was painting his nails while he looked on patiently bemused. For some reason he wouldn’t allow me to take a picture of this. It was as if he was worried they would appear here on Frail Deeds. In a departure from our usual tactics, we let him sleep in this morning before we called. Sleep, while serving as a parent for young children, is such a precious commodity. When we did reach him, both the BRS and BR3 were in loud voice, obviously greatly enjoying his birthday as well as the beach. He’s going to see the horror movie we had planned on seeing together. While it was so good seeing him it was also bittersweet since we should have been in the same room hugging it out. It just means another birthday party for him when we are out of quarantine. Bonecrusher must be wielded.

Today's Progress, I Reached the Fireplace!
Day 17

Three movies fell in my A-Z effort (what can I say – I’m in quarantine), all keepers: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai (talk about your guilty pleasures), Aeon Flux (Charlize is so dangerous), and After the Sunset (Salma, Salma, Salma).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Dodge Fail

Ever since this benighted virus descended on us three years ago my Favorite Panamanian and everybody else in the world  (who’s not a Trump supporter) have been trying to dodge that pesky little virus. Our efforts included following all the guidelines, including masking up and getting four different vaccine shots. Those efforts didn’t prevent an infection, though I’m sure the vaccines will prevent a serious case for my Favorite Panamanian. Last Friday, on our return from New Jersey, she developed a small cough. Neither of us were concerned because she had a similar cough a couple weeks ago that was probably caused by pollen. While we were enjoying Great Aunt’s and the Soxfather’s family’s company on Saturday night she grew rapidly worse, necessitating our return early from that gathering.

Wingman Has Returned!
Much to the FBR's Delight

The ride back was not fun as she had to drive despite a wracking cough. We tested as soon as we got home and we were both negative. Sunday brought a worsening condition for her and when she said she felt too sick to go to church I knew this was different, she is a serious (but not fanatical) Catholic. We tested again and she popped the dreaded T-line on the test indicating she had Covid. I still tested negative so I assumed the support role while she took to bed. I was also consigned to the other master bedroom for the duration (harder than is sounds after 40 years of marriage). We know she picked up the virus during our trip to New Jersey based on the time her symptoms appeared. We were together for virtually everything while there and had the FBR with her summer camp cooties crawling over both of us.

My Negative Test Result - You Grow to Hate the T-Line

The only event she attended but I did not was church. She went to mass each morning we were there (like I said, a serious Catholic). It could have been something as simple as touching the door knob as she walked in. I’m refraining from telling her my lack of devotion may have saved me from the illness. I don’t think she’s ready to joke about it yet. The one silver lining in having dodged it for so long is that the system is now more prepared to deal with it. I called the doctor yesterday and this morning I picked up some Paxlovid. If it’s good enough for the commander in chief I figured we could chance this new drug. She’s doing about as good as can be expected and says she feels better today.

Still Digging This Morning
Day 16 Progress

The worst part about this is it will keep us from joining our Favorite Son for his birthday tomorrow. Something we’d looked forward to all year, especially after we learned they were once again staying at the fabulous beach house they rented in Hampton Beach last year. It was so tough to hear the excited voices of the BRS and BR3 in the background as I broke the news to my son. Typically, he was more worried about his mom and getting her better than worrying about us missing the festivities. There was also very good news in New Jersey where Wingman returned home after spending all summer on tour. I was at the bank today (fully masked) and was asked by the teller, “How was your weekend?” I don’t think she realized the depth of my sarcasm when I answered, “Oh just great.”

Two movies fell in my A-Z effort, both keepers and about as different in tone as possible, but still fun: The Addams Family (Angelica Huston and Raul Julia – too funny) and The Adjustment Bureau (who wouldn’t love Emily Blunt).

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

McShawn’s Return

Last evening marked a return to a cherished event that hadn’t been possible since Soxfather’s untimely departure. We call these things a McShawn’s night because they started out at an Irish bar named, obviously, McShawn’s. With the arrival of the pandemic, we didn’t want to miss out on the always fascinating times these nights entail so we began having them at one of the homes of either Soxfather or his family. The attendees are based around Soxfather and his family and I was privileged enough to be included despite Soxfather’s sister absolute hatred of my photographic abilities, or lack thereof.

Soxfather's Sister (r), Sister in Law & Great Aunt in Shadow

McShawn's was Back!

Last night we gathered at Great Aunt’s house which was a big step for her. She hadn’t hosted a group at the house since Soxfather’s death. She admitted to a bit of nervousness but was more than up to the task and performed her usual sterling hostess duties. My Favorite Panamanian and I arrived a bit early since Great Aunt also invited us for dinner before the gathering where we were joined by Namesake Nephew. We gathered on Great Aunt’s back deck for the McShawn’s night and in the biggest surprise I’ve had in a very long time, all of Soxfather’s family arrived on time. That is virtually unheard of and we had a practice of inviting them a half hour earlier than the actual start time because we could count on them being at least that much late.

My Favorite Panamanian and I

Soxfather's Sister Commenting on my Photography

She's a Real Fan

Day 15 Progress

It was another fun night only marred by my Favorite Panamanian’s deteriorating health situation. I had to pay particular attention since she was my designated driver for the ride home. We had to leave earlier than either of us wanted to because of that. Soxfather’s memory was a palpable presence all night for those of us gathered. I’m sure he was on everyone’s mind as we navigated this first McShawn’s night without him. The coolest part was no one was afraid to bring him up and talk about the wealth of memories and emotions he bequeathed us. So, this was an important baby step towards moving forward without his beloved presence but, as I said, he was there with us (and probably very pissed about the state of the Red Sox)

Wingman's Reunion Tour Culminated Last Night in Minneapolis
He Returns Home Today

FBR was at Chuckie Cheese's Yesterday

A Real Competitor

With a Slimmed Down Chuckie

One movie fell in my A-Z effort, Ad Astra, a keeper and much better than I remembered.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                        

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course