Sorry

I’m not really, but I feel the need to apologize to my loved ones and friends. They are bracing for an epic winter storm. They’ve been spared that over the last few years but the one that is bearing down on them reminds me of 2015 which is the last time I recall one so big. Of course, I was still employed at that time and required to go in to work until the governor shut down all the roads. I don’t think that will happen this time. During yesterday’s Frist Friday Family Facetime call I was speaking with Great Aunt about the cool fact of being retired means you can hunker down during these big storms instead of worrying about how to get to work. We had this conversation after my son and daughter had signed off because I don’t think they would have embraced our feelings as thoroughly.

Sunset Pizza Last Night

Meanwhile, Back in New England

The apology part comes in when I consider what I’ll be doing during the storm. The attached photos show the view from my usual spot at the beach under my favorite rancho while the other depicts the view from our condo. I took these yesterday when the Pacific was looking particularly picturesque. I did my time behind a snow shovel growing up and then fought the good fight against the driveway from hell for ten years at our Charlton home. In my mind, I’ve earned the right to bask in the sun while New England gets buried in snow.

My View from the Rancho

From the Condo

At least New England knows how to handle snow. I expect everything to be back to normal by Wednesday after the Monday cessation of the storm. I also note that our nation’s capital is receiving over a foot of snow. I pray for those poor souls. I lived in that area for a  total of ten years over the course of my military career. It snows there every year, but it seems to surprise them every year. An inch of snow calls for widespread panic and the closing of just about everything. I can only imagine what’s going on there now with this much inbound.

Yesterday's Sunset Social Crew

For those of you worried about the state of the condo and my Favorite Panamanian’s impending return, I’m happy to report that I passed with flying colors when she returned on Wednesday. The last part of my geographic bachelor time was spent in cleaning and laundry. I then vacated the condo and spent most of the day on the beach so I wouldn’t mess up the results of my efforts. Sacrifices must be made. It was good to have her back, and she decided to join me for a couple early morning beach walks after her return. In a major surprise, she grabbed her boogie board and joined me yesterday to ride the waves, the first time in 2026 for her. It helped that the Las Lajas surf has finally returned to its usual power and height after a very tepid start to 2026. We completed First Friday celebrations with the sunset social hour followed by pizza/gelato in the village at Sunset Pizza. We were joined in these efforts by our most excellent Upstairs Neighbors who make those efforts sublime.

Yesterday's Sunset

Finally, I know this might set off some of my very liberal friends as well as those who occupy the other end of the spectrum, but I’ve started watching some videos from Bill Maher who I never  thought was very funny. That opinion has changed and I also like some of things I hear from him on that spectrum. He echoes a lot of my own thoughts on the need to move political discourse to the center versus the firmly entrenched viewpoints for the both far ends of the right and left. I know liberals experienced apoplexy when he had the temerity to accept an invitation to dinner at the White House. He still criticizes Trump but he also rightly goes after the hypocrisy and idiocy the far left inflicts on us daily. I know Trump provides such a glaring and rightful target but that doesn’t mean the left should get a free pass. Maher does in with humor and without the vitriolic you get from Fox “news” pundits. I especially like what he says in this video about the state of news. It highlights something important we’ve lost.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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; Upstairs Neighbors – American couple and great friends who live in condo above us in Panama; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course