I
find myself abandoned again. My Favorite Panamanian is returning to David in able
to spend a few days with her mom. Before those of you who don’t know better start
feeling sorry for me, let it be known that, in my abandonment, I am ensconced
in a veritable tropical beach paradise with the NFL playoffs on tap and a ready
supply of Atlas beer. I realize not many people were feeling sorry for me but I
am allowed to gloat. Especially since all my friends and family back in the Northeast
are suffering under yet another polar vortex. Sorry guys.
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| Wife and I at Lunch Yesterday |
I
had a couple interesting meals yesterday. My Favorite Panamanian had a yen for
fish so we journeyed down the beach to Pliniyo’s. I like the place because of
its nearness as well as the healthy canine population in residence. Beach
restaurants in Panama are a lot more laid back than stateside. The sides at
Pliniyo’s are open to let the breeze blow through and he has around six or seven
dogs. They’re really well behaved and don’t bother diners but have been known
to scare the hell out of wandering beach crabs. There are also a half dozen parrots
that provide some interesting sound effects.
 |
| Pliniyo's |
 |
| Re-Connecting with Buddy |
 |
| You're not Finished with the Ears |
There
were three labs, two chocolate and one black, snoozing nearby as we sat down.
The black one was a doppelganger for Buddy the Wonder Pooch which had me a
little misty eyed when I first spotted him. I eventually coaxed him over for an
ear scratching (his not mine) which he really enjoyed. I thought I was finished
but he jumped into my lap to inform me otherwise. It was a very Buddy kind of
thing, misty eyes returned. I was able to smuggle some chicken bits under the
table despite the Favorite Panamanian’s vigilance.
 |
| Dinner Last Night |
 |
| Our Dining Companion |
We
continued our First Friday of the Week routine with the Family Facetime call,
followed by the daily sunset appreciation ceremony, followed by a trip into the
village for pizza. The last two activities included our peerless upstairs neighbors
with whom we have become fast friends. We’ve become regulars at Sunset Pizza
and took up our usual seats in the back dining area. We were joined in short
order by the neighborhood kitten. He’s a character and was soon purring in my lap,
wondering when the food would arrive. Even my Favorite Panamanian was charmed enough
to share some pepperoni with him. He ended up scrounging bits from all four of
us and when another group arrived, he was so full that he settled down into a
corner and fell asleep. I couldn’t help but think how much the granddaughters
would have enjoyed these pet-filled locales.
 |
| My Workout Buddies |
 |
| My Bike Station |
I’m
trying really hard not to read anything into the fact that as I look up each morning
during my ab workout I see a couple vultures circling above me. I do my workout
poolside and shortly after I lie down the buzzards appear. I truly hope they’re
not privy to some inside information that I am blissfully unaware of. On the other
hand, it’s a good sign that Mother Nature is taking preventive measures, just
in case, a cleanup is needed. It probably says something about my workout that
buzzards think I’m dead. I try to be a little more active so I’m not mistaken for
true carrion. I’ve added the stationary bike to the daily routine. I’ve set it in
the master bedroom where I can pop in a movie to watch while I peddle with an
unmatched view of the beach as well.
 |
| Wingman in Boston |
Finally,
I ran across these pictures of Wingman from the Boston stop on his current reunion
tour. Both my son and the ABFA attended so it was a family affair. Both of
those worthies are recovering from colds as we talked last night and neither
the BRS, and certainly BR3, had any sympathy for them during the Friday call.
Both of the granddaughters were psyched about the prospects of their upcoming
visit here. They understand that they, as well as the FBR, are being tasked
with naming the condo parking lot iguanas. Of course, I include the last few sunsets
for all of you undergoing the strictures of the latest polar vortex.
 |
| Beach This Morning |
 |
| Paraglider Buzzed us Last Evening |
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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 3rd 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
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