Fish Petting

We were afflicted today by another rainy day which comes with a variety of threats when in charge of a seven-year-old who holds you personally responsible for her entertainment. Great Aunt, as she is wont to do, came to the rescue with an idea. She had last been to Biomes when the Namesake Nephew was in pre-school, so a few years ago. It was still fondly remembered and she learned it was still open. She mentioned this to the FBR on Sunday and when that young worthy heard about the opportunity to pet a shark, that was all that was needed. Biomes Marine Biology Center is a private marine education facility and boasts a hands-on aquarium. It’s located a few miles from Great Aunt’s Rhode Island home.

Lunch with Great Aunt

We drove down around midday only to have Great Aunt treat us to lunch before heading to Biomes. The FBR was enchanted from the minute we walked in and she was petting a large turtle. It turned out petting the shark involved sticking your hands in the water which the FBR wasn’t that thrilled about. She soon realized Great Aunt was almost as easy a mark as her grandfather is. As they walked around the many aquariums, invariably she would ask Great Aunt to do the petting. It was a very cool place dedicated to preserving marine life so the FBR actually received some education, although we kept that on the down low.

Turtle Petting

Great Aunt and the FBR at the Shark Tank

Considering

FBR Showing Great Aunt Where the Fish are to Pet

FBR Acting Submerged

Transfixed

Good Buddies

After leaving Biomes the FBR requested some play time with Remy, Great Aunt’s hyperactive lab (I know, saying hyperactive and lab is redundant). Remy was initially all for the play but I don’t think he used to that level of activity for as long as the FBR was ready to. Eventually he coaxed her into some couch time. On our way home from Cranston, we stopped by the house we lived in while I was stationed in Rhode Island to take a picture. The FBR’s mom lived in the when she was the same age the FBR, her daughter, is, right now. Some serious nostalgia was at play for my Favorite Panamanian and I as we imagined our daughter, who looks so much like her own daughter, in front of the same house. Another good day.

Remy Time

A Tired Lab

Our Old House (1989-1992)

This is the FBR's TV Watching Position in the Man Cave
Unexplainable but Very Cute

One movie fell in my A-Z watch, a keeper, Focus, lots of twists but uber-star power.

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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; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him 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); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; 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

Purgatorized

After the few days of all three granddaughters in residence, both my Favorite Panamanian and I needed a day of rest on Monday. Of course, rest is a relative term since we had one of the world’s leading opponents of grandparent rest, the FBR, still inhouse. She ended up accompanying my wife on a shopping expedition yesterday and returned, predictably, with a veritable treasure trove of new acquisitions. I’ve written before how much joy there is for my Favorite Panamanian to finally have a kindred soul in the family, at least when it comes to shopping. Of course, there is some pain associated with this relationship, isolated to me when I open credit card statements after a FBR visit. Totally worth it, to see the light dancing in her eyes as she excitedly reveals her purchases to me.

The Intrepid Clamberers Leaving the Chasm

The plan for today, based on the weather forecast, was a trip to the movie theater. The expected day-long rain didn’t materialize so I had to pivot. I was going to jettison the movie until I realized, after being reminded by the FBR, that I had promised a movie. I decided we’d go to nearby Purgatory Chasm which the FBR loved last year and is just a short distance from the movie theater. She’s a real fan of clambering over rocks and this was a perfect opportunity to do just that. My Favorite Panamanian, in deference to her balky knee, decided she wouldn’t join us but prepared a cool picnic lunch for us.  

Point man at the head of the Chasm

C'mon Grandpa, Keep Up

Conquering Hero

Cute As Well

There wasn’t a big crowd at the chasm which made the rock clambering (that was mostly the FBR) ideal. I made a mistake by still doing the stationary bike workout this morning and then forgot the knee brace. This made my “clambering” a lot more sedate, bordering on a shamble. My biggest job was insuring the FBR didn’t “overachieve” in cliff climbing since my ability to effect a rescue wasn’t at full strength. She was starting up a tough stretch when a teenage boy from further up yelled down, “Be careful, it’s kind of scary”. The redoubtable FBR immediately replied, “I’m not scared, I watch horror movies”. When I stopped laughing, I cautioned her to stop before the fifty-foot drop-off. The FBR assured me this was “good practice” for our Thursday climb up Mount Monadnock. (Note to self – don’t forget the knee brace for that climb).

Waiting for Me to Catch Up

Let's Explore this Cave

"Still Waiting Grandpa"

Lunch Time

View from our Lunchtime Perch

Despite my wife’s concern with my tendency to get injured, we made it through the chasm unscathed. I allowed the FBR to choose the picnic location and we dined on a cliff overlooking chasm. On the return trail along the top of the chasm the FBR wanted to go through a deep cleft which I thought I avoided by stating I could get some cool pictures from above. Those hopes were dashed when she complained about the slope and requested I accompany her. I kind of fit through. It was a fun time which concluded with the semi-obligatory trip to the on-site playground.

The One Shot I got Before I was Summoned Below

Near the End Where it Got Less Deep

Emerging

She Got the Camera Away from Me as we Were Leaving

Playground Time

Still Climbing

We were right up against the start time for the movie when we left the chasm. The FBR told me not to worry as there would be a bunch of previews to delay the start of the actual movie. Insert comment here about the apple falling circa the proverbial tree. We saw the latest iteration of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which was actually kind of entertaining. I thought back to the distant past where I remembered taking her mother to the first movie version back when she was about the same age as her daughter is today. So, another good day thanks to little bundle of energy who keeps jumping in my lap as I try to type this. She considers blog writing a waste of valuable “grandpa attending to granddaughter” time (so you see, you have an ally in reducing my nonsensical prose).

At the Movie Theater - Setting up Her Parents
for the Next Movie They'll be Taking her To

One movie fell in my A-Z watch, not a keeper, Fly Boys, just a silly World War 1 story.

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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; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him 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); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; 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

Goat Patting and Decompress

Coming down from our first time alone with all three granddaughters which was a confirmed high point of the year. BR3 joined us Friday for a three day stay, joining the FBR and BRS. There were some road bumps as the BRS had to adjust to having to share the FBR’s focus with her younger sister. That could have been a problem on Friday when our planned trip to Davis Farmland was rained out but the girls were true champs rallying around their abuela’s garage craft-a-palooza. All three mornings saw the day start with energetically voiced chants for hojaldras which their abuela graciously provided. I served more as a landing pad for the charge of the wakeup brigade.

All 3 Garbed up with their Camp T-Shirts

Straight to the Goats

BR3 Likes Fake Cow Better than Goats

Cow Feeding

The rain finally broke on Saturday and instead of heading to the Polish Festival in town, as planned, we diverted to David Farmland. The granddaughters were excited to replace their canceled Friday plans. It turned out the late summer Saturday was a good time to go as the crowds were less than we experienced the last couple years during a weekday. We bought the obligatory cups of animal feed at the entrance but BR3 quickly disabused us of the notion she was going to endanger her hand by actually feeding the insistent goats, or anything else for that matter.

Bird Enclosure

Goat in the Lap

Brushing the Calf

The FBR and BRS more than made up for her reluctance, much to the resident goats’ delight. I hung back with BR3 while the two older granddaughters ran from goat to goat. BR3 liked to get close enough to appreciate but not necessarily touch. I think the camel was a little insulted when she ignored it though. She finally broke through when she had the opportunity to join the other two combing some calves. It took some effort but I made no jokes about the cute calf’s future as steaks. There was a final stop at the “baby goat in the lap” enclosure before hitting the petting house. The FBR decided she wanted to adopt one of the kittens, luckily her parents were safely in Oslo, Norway.

Lunch Time

Into the Suds

Waiting in line for Slide

They're Out There Somewhere

After a quick lunch we made a bee line to the water park section, stopping only to bestow the remaining goat food. This was used to distract the granddaughters from the large tortoises engaged in carnal activities on the other side of the walkway (things you see on a farm). The water park was the anticipated high point of the day. My Favorite Panamanian and I took turns in following the gals as they wound their way through the suds machine, the slide, the slip and slide, and the various waterfalls. It was a great day which we topped off with an ice cream stop which induced the predictable brain freeze for all involved.

The Grandpa Warming Station

And More Suds

Ice Cream!

And Brain Freeze

Sunday was pack up day as my son was coming to extract his two for a return home ahead of the BRS’ Monday kindergarten debut (which was every bit as cute as anticipated). The granddaughters behaved perfectly at church although the expression “herding cats” leapt to mind a couple times. They had a very nice surprise waiting them as we returned home following church. Great Aunt had driven up to spend the day with her nieces. The FRB was very soon in charge of Great Aunt’s I-phone sending silly texts to her parents. My Favorite Panamanian was decisively engaged all day getting the two departing granddaughter’s accoutrement assembled and separated from the FBR’s as well as preparing a truly fantastic pork roast dinner. She also guided the granddaughters though painting some of the pottery they created on Friday.

BRS First Day of Kindergarten Today!

FBR Reading to her Cousins

Great Aunt Surprises the Kids

Painting Pottery

My Son Arrives to Daughter Tackles

My son, still recovering from a guys’ Saturday night at his house, arrived and sadly had to leave with his daughters. All of a sudden, the decibel level in the house dropped dramatically. The FBR was very pensive as she admitted she really missed having her cousins around. I told her that her grandparents would try our best. In a truly rare moment, the FBR volunteered to help me dismantle the garage house since all of the Styrofoam needed to be in rubbish bags for Monday morning. I thought I could be in for a late morning today but the FBR tried to make up for the lack of her cousins with an especially effective dive onto my sleeping back at 7am. Still, I’m going to miss those wakeup calls.

Random Selfie that I Found on my Phone

Finished first 1/3

A momentous occasion in my A-Z watch as I finished the last movie in the first section  of the movie library. Only took me a little over a year to get 1/3 of the way through the main set of shelves. Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers, A Fish Called Wanda, forgot how spectacularly beautiful Jamie Lee was and that Otto character; Flash Gordon, camp sci fi raised to dizzying heights;  and Fly Away Home, cute story but the final flying scene with music always steals my heart.

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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; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him 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); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; 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; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; 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