Bliss Continues

I’m using my time away from the sun (mid-day 10am to 4pm) to write because the FBR doesn’t permit such a diversion when she oversees my activity, which is basically every time we’re together. She’s rarely out of the water, be it the pools or the ocean. She now has my Favorite Panamanian and her mom in the pool. I’ve been in happy servitude since her arrival. She’s proven to be an adept boogie boarder and joins me each morning on the waves, followed by my pool workout. She’s decided I’m not paying close enough attention to her during this time and invented a game where she disconnects my anchor cords and then swims away, chuckling madly.

With my Supervisor

We’ve had a bit of excitement over the past couple days. Sunday evening, as we were saying goodbye to Tia Loca, one of our neighbors told me I had a severely flat tire on our car. My wife, during her drive to church, had acquired a large nail. I was changing the tire when my Favorite Panamanian came up to supervise but seemed to think I had everything under control, a rare moment that. She stayed behind me the entire time which I thought was weird. She later informed me that during my gyrations changing the tire, I had created a fairly large “plumber’s crack” which was on display to a large number of other departing guests. I told her it was one of those things I should have been informed of immediately but she said she didn’t want to embarrass me. Too late.

Balcony Reads

Sunset Excavations

My Boogie Buddy

It's been a real joy having my daughter and the FBR in residence. I was archly informed by the FBR that she missed having the BRS and BR3 with her this year. That means I’m not living up to filling that entertainment gap. In my defense, I do not have the energy reserves of her young cousins, much less that of the FBR’s which appears unquenchable. On the rare moments she’s isn’t submerged in a body of water she’s usually reading on the balcony, storing up more energy for her next adventure. Yesterday we found one of the omnipresent “Halloween crabs” in the bottom of the pool. She had me rescue it and it was feebly still alive. She had me move it to one of the crab holes that dot the beach. We later saw some ominous bird tracks next to where we left him meaning he probably ended up as an avian lunch.  

Monday's Epic Sunset

The Crew

The sunset ceremonies have been more fun with the additional personnel. The FB entertained us last night with a dance recital which predictably had her abuela joining in. The entertainment was needed as once again the sunset wasn’t up to standards, after a glorious Monday. Just before we headed upstairs, the FBR had coaxed my Favorite Panamanian back down to the water’s edge where they engaged in a flashlit game of hop scotch. As I said, endless energy.

Sunset Entertainment

Including Dance Concert with Abuela

Tuesday Sunset

The Crew, Photo by FBR

Abuela and FBR at the Shoreline

We usually convene for some post dinner movie watching as the FBR decided I needed to be exposed to the world of Paddington Bear. Both last couple nights we’ve witnessed a minor miracle where the FBR decides she’s too tired to continue and voluntarily heads to bed. That is definitely completely out of character for this young lady who has inherited her mother’s animus for bed time. My daughter was right though (as was Nicholas Cage), Paddington Bear 2 is a great movie.

Love Talking Movies and Reading with Favorite Daughter

After last night’s injection of the bear, my wife and I watched Flight Risk. This isn’t a very good movie but it was entertaining. Mark Wahlberg goes against character playing a truly evil hit man masquerading as a pilot to Michelle Dockery’s federal agent. Almost the entire movie plays out in the small plane as they fly over Alaska. Dockery is awesome as the lead dealing with the semi-bald Wahlberg. You’ll have to see it to figure out that comment. Eric for the 70’s show is the witness being protected and the object of the hit man’s wrath. He holds his own and steals several scenes. Again, a mile wide and an inch deep but I found myself enjoying the ups and downs.

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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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course