Czech-ing In and Door Out

I’ll get to the door out part next, but I want to thank the Czech Connection for making Friday even more tolerable than usual (and that’s a hard pull). We realized that we spent way too much time last year after we got back from Panama waiting to get together with these great friends. They took the initiative this year and after extensive coordination with my Favorite Panamanian (who also serves as the family social director) arrived at a date when both families would be available.  We arrived late (more on that below) as my social director refused to believe the GPS and her husband’s opinion on location of the Czech’s house. We eventually walked in and were immediately escorted in for a fabulous dinner.

The Great Dinner Crowd

My Czech Shadow was in mid-season form charming the entire table with stories of her high school adventures. We were happy to learn she thrived in her first high school drama club outing as a member of the chorus for Mama Mia. That meant my wife was singing some of the songs from her favorite play before the evening was over. We were joined by our good friends from the Latina Mafia who live close by and were the ones of introduced us to the Czechs. It felt like another milestone on our return home from the tropics was accomplished as we sat around the table and caught up with these good friends.

Our Host in the Middle

The meal was beyond outstanding with schnitzel and potatoes that had me remembering my time living in Germany and the attendant beer fests. Again, the best part was simply sitting around and talking. The most interesting part of that conversation was the indication they may be up to visiting us in Panama next year. I was trying to behave myself as far as sweets went, because I was finally nearing my weight goal. That goal will have to wait as our host once again proved he is an accomplished baker with not one, but two delicious desserts. I let my Favorite Panamanian indulge in the blueberry cheesecake while I dove into a plate of some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. I’ve never tried cocaine, but this must be what it’s like because I just couldn’t resist taking one after another.

Wife Sizing up the Desserts with our Hosts
Those Magnificent Cookies in the Fore

It was a truly great night and rejuvenating. The rejuvenation was needed as I was fairly tired for no good reason and we get to why we were late arriving (finally). We decided a couple weeks ago to replace our front door after we noticed some wood rot in the door frame; courtesy of the flawed storm door I removed when we got back from Panama. Since they were scheduled to arrive at 8am, I didn’t think there would be a problem with the early evening dinner plans. I was wrong. The strange spring nor’easter that blew through on Thursday backed up the installation company. That’s why I felt tired. There’s just something about having to wait (even in the comfort of home) that saps energy. The alternative theory is that I may be getting old.

Old Door Getting Ready to Depart

After a couple phone calls trying to track them down, they showed up around 3:30pm. That wasn’t the only adventure surrounding the installation. You remember that storm door? It had been languishing in the garage since removal and I thought this would be a great opportunity to get rid of it. I put it out on the front porch in the morning so they would take it, along with the old front door. I remember when I stood it out there that I better brace the glass door so the wind wouldn’t blow it over. Of course, I forgot. I was reminded when I was in the basement and heard a massive crash from the front door area. I rushed out to find the wind had done its job and the front porch was now festooned with what looked like a billion shards of glass. At this point I was glad the installation crew was running late. I spent the next 45 minutes trying to pick up the glass. I’m sure the neighbors were a little confused as to why I was using the vacuum in the garden. I’m still picking up pieces a couple days later.

Removed

New One Coming in

Fully Installed

To the crew’s credit, they showed up with a full team and in a little over two hours had the new door fully installed and sealed. By the time they left, we were already thirty minutes late to the dinner and still had the half hour drive to the Czech’s house. So, even though I didn’t do any of the labor and spent the day just waiting, I was tired. Luckily, we had the Czech’s and our other friends to rescue the day and breathe new life into my spirits. As we were leaving after the fun night, the Shadow told me she had a surprise for my granddaughter, the FBR. They’ve bonded over the few times they’ve spent together and are both voracious readers. The Shadow recently cleaned up her room and she had a huge bag of books for our granddaughters. As stated above, rejuvenating.

View Outside

Four movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: The Patriot – Mel giving us an American Braveheart, well done epic; Patriot’s Day – awesome re-telling of that awful day, focusing on the heroes; Patriot Games – taut action, with Ford in his first time as Ryan (still too old for the part); Patton – holds up well, Scott in his best role and great music as well.

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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