Frantically Sandwiched

You remember all those hero points I earned with my Favorite Panamanian on Thursday? They lasted just a little over 24 hours. I had a great early Friday night and a fabulous Saturday, but they were sandwiched around probably my worst night of the year so far late Friday and early Saturday morning. First, the good part of Friday. We were invited out to the wilds of Leicester once again to enjoy dinner at our Czech Friends. That always promises to be a fabulous time and Friday was no exception. The Czerch Shadow was in residence, avoiding work assignments that have kept her away from the last couple get togethers. We were also joined by the Peruvian Friend who lives nearby, her husband, and some visiting friends of theirs from Peru by way of California.

Very Fun Friday Night Crowd

The food was amazing, as usual, although, in character, I avoided the more exotic offerings. The conversation over dinner was energetic as we caught up with our friends and the Shadow’s latest accomplishments. She recently earned her black belt in karate, so I’ll probably have to be more careful kidding with her in the future. The most dangerous part of any diner with the Czechs are the desserts and Friday was no exception. They brought out their usual apocalyptic level dangerous chocolate chip cookies. I am simply helpless in the face of their excellence as the additional stationary bike miles required to deal with my gluttony built steadily. They then unveiled a marble pound cake which was also additive. I’m lucky to have survived.

I Wasn't the Only One with Dessert Issues

With the Shadow and her Mom

Now the frantic part. We returned home fairly early for a Friday and I set out to the Man Cave to continue binge watching Supernatural while working on the latest puzzle. At a certain point, around midnight, I noticed that I didn’t have my cell phone with me, usually perched on the arm of the couch. I thought I’d left it upstairs and did a quick check, no luck. I tried to imagine where I last saw it and clearly remembered I’d used it in the car during the ride home for the Waze navigation app. I checked the car but, no luck, and did a cursory check of the Man Cave sofa which has deep crevices, again, no luck. At this point I figured I’d wait until the morning and then find it. You know what it’s like trying to fall asleep when something is bothering you? Damn near impossible. Around two in the morning, I gave up and started a determined search. My Favorite Panamanian, noticed my absence and upon learning of my dilemma, joined the search (hero points forfeited).

Finished the 999 Piece Puzzle

We were at until 3:30 in the morning when I admitted defeat. I had virtually torn apart the Man Cave couch and lifted it up, allowing me to clean up nearly ten years’ worth of accumulated popcorn debris. I was bleeding from sticking my arm into the nether regions of the couch which caused my wife to shake her head in disbelief. I used my iPad which confirmed the phone was in residence, but the battery had died from repeated calls to locate it. We retired for what was left of the night but I was up at 7 to continue the search. My wife reached out to the Czechs to see if it had been left there, despite my assurances that it had come home with us, since the house had basically been razed at this point. The Czechs joined the search at their end. We returned to the garage and wife got in the car which I assured her I had scrupulously searched three times. I gave her my flashlight and inside of one minute she found the phone. It had fallen next to the driver’s seat and the center console. Since it was black and the carpet was also black it was nearly invisible but still, I should have found it during my initial search. Something I was reminded of no less than a dozen times (and counting) since then. She archly reminds (also a dozen times) that I should have been wearing my glasses so I could have seen it. She’s still my hero. I’m just happy the phone is back because so much of my life seems to be tied to it, including contacts and other sundry IDs.

Wife and I in Front of Tree She Loved in Keene

The Pumpkin Tower

Main Street

While the phone was missing, our planned trip to Keene to take part in the annual Pumpkinfest was in doubt. Despite just a few hours’ sleep, with the phone back in play, the trip was on. The drive north was truly picturesque as the foliage was once again fantastic. I laughed a couple times as my Favorite Panamanian excitedly tried to snap photos of the colors while also reciting her rosary. We arrived to find our host, Keene Friend, ready to escort us downtown. The fest is toned down from its height, emerging from the shadows after the riots by incredibly stupid college kids had ended its run. It’s much more family oriented and easier to get around. They still block off Main Street and it becomes a pedestrian park with local charities manning booths selling food and mementoes amidst the stacks of pumpkins.

Keene Freind and Wife Festing

Dinosaur Loose in Keene

The weather was sunny but also definitely signaling that winter is around the corner. My Favorite Panamanian handled the cold weather as well as I’ve ever seen. That could be attributable to the shopping available or the very cute kids costumed up for the parade. There were also a group of dancing witches and a wandering dinosaur. It was a fun day on the streets of Keene. We ended up back at Keene Friend’s house while the wife reconnected with old friend, TJ Maxx. The sun had set by the time she returned but that allowed a whoopie pie laden late afternoon of college football watching with Keene Friend. When we got home, I took extra special care in getting my phone into the house.

The Dancing Witches

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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