Solitary Sentence Begins

Yesterday was about as quiet as I feared.  Even Buddy seemed a bit depressed.  Yesterday was also the day to finally pout out all the debris from last week's party which had been getting kind of rank in the garage.  On a normal week we  put out one basket full of recycled bottles.  I was charging around ht basement trying to find additional containers for all the beer bottles.  I hope the trash guy is impressed.  We certainly overachieved.

Party Debris

My great boss declared a First Friday celebration and the outstanding waitress had our usual drinks placed in front of us almost before we were seated.  Something’s going on at Brew City because there are hardly any people there on Fridays anymore.  We used to have to get there early to stake out seats.  Nowadays it doesn’t seem to matter.  I think the phase they went through with some really bad wait staff must have hurt them, I hope not fatally.  It’s a pretty good watering hole.

Underpopulated Brew City Last Night

After checking in with the Wonder pooch I performed the weekly pilgrimage to Zorba’s.  I took up the post near the bar that I abandoned when my wife returned in March.  All of the waitresses stopped by and asked about my wife’s absence.  I think I’m much more approachable when she’s not around.  She can be scary.  Last weekend I was so psyched for this Friday because my keto sensei, the redoubtable son in law, had granted a weekly one day dispensation.  I was going to have pizza again!!!!  Unfortunately last night I didn’t feel very celebratory, only celibatory, so I assuaged my disappointment by suffering through another piece of prime rib. 

Back at My Solitary Perch - Pizza Next Week!

I returned to the empty home and switched on the Red Sox.  They were getting pummeled by the hated Yankees.  I continued to watch because my daughter and sensei were at the game.  She told me they would be on the third base side so I spent the night scouring the fleeting shots of the crowd for them.  I saw from some pictures they posted today that they were on the first base side, I was way off!  Thanks for the eye strain thoughJ  The Sox, as they have done all year rewarded our belief with a dramatic comeback that has to seep whatever fight the Yanks had left out of them.  Awesome win! 

The Most Beautiful Fan in Yankee Stadium Last Night
My Geographically Challenged Daughter

While attempting to locate my misplaced daughter I finally received a call from my absent wife.  She had just returned from seeing her father at the hospital and the relief in her voice was palpable.  I think she shared my fear that she would get there too late.  She eschewed the traditional six to seven hour bus ride to her hometown and flew on the local airline which only took one hour.  She went straight to the hospital from the airport. 

These Planes Are Faster than Buses - Go Figure!
My Wife Took this Waiting for her Flight

Her father’s doctor was a little pissed at some medical students who were supposed to have completed some of the testing so my father in law’s surgery could take place on this past Wednesday.  It now looks like the final tests will take place Monday and the surgery on Tuesday.  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

I had forgotten just how big this house is without my favorite Panamanian.  Apparently some of the back yard fauna had taken up residence in her tropical plants which I hurriedly brought into the house on Thursday.  I came down in the morning to find some very exotic insects perched on the window asking to be let out.  Buddy ate one but I enabled another to escape.   

The Surviving Overnight Guest

Since I lack any measurable supervision I had more time to read this week and finished off The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor.  I’ve been searching for a new thriller author since I’ve burned through all the output of my current favorites and I hate waiting for the next one to come out.  Apparently writing a book takes a long time, who knew?  Amazon’s algorithms based on my preferences recommended Thor and I dipped my toe with his first novel.

It wasn’t as polished as some of the other thrillers I like but he does a great job with location descriptions which I love.  His main character is a former Navy SEAL who now works for the Secret Service.  In this initial novel he has lost the president and everybody blames him.   It’s a wild ride to the finish and while I thought he gave the bad guys a little too much prowess I really enjoyed the book and will return for the next installment. 

Deployment Day

Yesterday dawned way too early, mainly because of the onerous task of taking the wife to the airport.  There are no direct flights between Boston and Panama which cuts the former day long travel odyssey down to a mere four hour flight.  This was her first chance to use this new service and it worked out admirably. 

I left the house at 6:30am which meant we had to pass through the meat of the Boston rush hour to reach Logan Airport.  I can’t believe people do this every single day as we sat in the parking lot formerly known at the Mass Turnpike.  It seemed like it took forever but the normal, traffic free 1.5 hour trip only took 2 hours so it was worse in my impatient mind than reality.  The flight leaves out of the international terminal which also helped speed up the process as it is much less crowded than the domestic ones.  It was so hard to let her go though, lot of dust in the air. 

Going, Going

Gone

She’s got me really trained though because when I heard the temperatures were going to drop into the high thirties last night (God must know its safe to do that now that my wife has gone south), I spent twenty minutes moving all of her tropical plants inside for the winter.  I also got to sleep with the windows open for the first time in a very long time since my temperature challenged sleeping partner was no longer preventing it.  I was exhausted by the end of the day but for some reason had a very hard time falling asleep.  That little Panamanian has thoroughly spoiled me and her absence is harder to take each time.



Rescued Plants Ready to Dominate Inside

The Red Sox were there for me with one of their endless Yankee games.  They blew a seemingly insurmountable lead and then rallied against Mr. Rivera.  To score the winning run in extra innings against the human dirigible know as Joba the Hut made even more satisfying.  I could almost hear my wife jumping up and down in joy next to me.  Almost.

Yes!

I received a call from my mother in law late in the evening to report my wife’s safe arrival in Panama City where she spent the night before traveling today to her home town to be with her father.  My mother in law said my father in law continued through another battery of inpatient tests yesterday in preparation for his impending cancer surgery.  He doesn’t really understand what’s going on and is fairly upset at all the poking and prodding. I’m glad to hear they’re taking precautions; any surgery for an 86-year old is fraught with danger.  I’m also glad my wife will be there when the surgery goes down. 

Wife (left) Out to Dinner Last Night in Panama

My wife’s extended family took her out to dinner last night and I’m so glad she had the chance to see these beloved family members.  I woke up this morning to find some photos of her posted by her favorite niece.  This is exactly what she needed prior to the ordeal she faces in her home town.  I really miss her.  A lot.

The Really Cool Niece

Pre-Deployment Day

Yesterday was spent getting ready to deploy the wife south to Panama so she can assist her family during her father’s health crisis.  I was distracted all day at work while she scurried around the greater Worcester area canceling appointments and attending to the thousand other details of everyday life that will be affected by a month+ long absence.

The best thing about yesterday were the numerous calls she received from around the world expressing concern and support for her during this tough stretch.  She literally spent the entire evening on the phone while finishing her usual epic luggage packing exercise. 

I was a little miffed that she and I didn’t have more time but I could see how much good talking to friends was helping her.  Most of all it distracted her from dwelling on what faces her in Panama and our impending separation.  It’s times like this when friends demonstrate how much they care about you.  If last night is any indication, my wife has built up an immense well of good will.  Even the cantankerous one came up on the net with a beautiful and elegant message that had my wife in tears, of gratitude.  She literally could not get to all the friends who tried calling in last night but wanted everyone to realize how much it meant to her.

My View for Most of Dinner
A Nice View Though

We went out for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.  She even managed to eat some food around fielding cell phone calls and receiving text updates on her father from her sister.  My daughter’s recent visit got my wife on the I-Phone application, What’s Up, which allows her to text back and forth to Panama.  It has been a Godsend over the last few days. 

Part of Keto Torture Last Night  - Not Being Able to Eat These Breadsticks
You'll Note There is not Much Steak Left

While my wife went through the packing and talking frenzy, Buddy and I decided to check out the Red Sox game.  It was another contest with the best team in the league and each of the past two have been tight, low scoring affairs.  This was not.  Eight home runs and 20, yes 20 runs, later the Sox pummeled the supposedly best team.  My wife would charge downstairs each time I yelled which became a bit too much exercise after the first ten runs.  I’m going to miss her.  Terribly.   

A Scene Repeated Eight Times Last Night - Signature Win

 

Deep in the Valley

I didn’t think I could get any lower yesterday, still mourning the passing of an all too excellent weekend.  Then life, as it has a habit of doing, decided to demonstrate the valley was even deeper than expected and lowered the boom.

I took a phone call from my wife who was sobbing uncontrollably.  Her father down in Panama was diagnosed with a very serious intestinal cancer.  She was clearly losing it by being so far away.  I’m putting her on a plane to Panama tomorrow for at least a month and maybe more.  Her father is in his mid-eighties and will be undergoing some major surgery maybe as early as today.  My wife’s panic is partly due to the socialized medicine Panama is blessed with and the somewhat less than top notch care. 

My Father in Law (last year) Surrounded by Family 

I’m going to miss her more than I can tell her but I completely understand her need to be near her family in this situation.  One of the biggest regrets in my own life is not being nearer to my own mother during her last days.  I was in my last military assignment at the Pentagon and missed being back in New England by only two years when she passed. 

My wife calmed down quickly when she realized she was gong to be back in time to see her father again.  She took calls from friends and family all day and into the night.  Two calls from our son and daughter did the most to help her through the evening.  I’m hoping she’s only gone a month but if that is the case it will probably mean bad news for her father.  This is one of the times you support family.  Please take a moment to say a few prayers for a tough old guy down in Panama who is waging the fight of his life right now.

I took ownership of my newest toy yesterday when I picked up my new snow blower from my arch enemy Sears.  It almost didn’t fit into the car but with some creative maneuvering I was able to get it in.  There was a scary moment when it rolled during the trip and almost shattered the back window.  That would have been hard to explain even with the savings from the exorbitant delivery charge.  For that one time yesterday my luck held.  I just dumped it into the garage because I was needed upstairs, there'll be plenty of time to put it together in the coming weeks.  I’m going to get the puzzle table set back up tomorrow.  

Newest Toy Awaiting In processing

Piper Paying

This is the problem with fabulous weekends and cherished times – they all eventually end.  The weather yesterday mirrored my mood exactly – dreary rain.

The Keene Friend was the first defector, pulling one of his patented early morning exits, much to the consternation of Buddy the Wonder Pooch who was expecting a goodbye walk.  Buddy’s tough day continued as he endured several more thunderstorms and spent most of the day heavily medicated.

The late rising New Yorkers gathered for one more breakfast as I handled the keto assignments while my wife produced a bumper crops of blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes.  It was so fun having the house full of people for the entire weekend and I loved the banter of the still awakening crew.  After breakfast we gathered in the family room for a photo and most of the New Yorkers loaded up the car to head south.  Riggins quickly assumed a supervisory position on the dashboard. 

The Gang - One Last Time

I had an entire afternoon with my daughter son in law and the last of the New Yorkers which I really cherished but I couldn’t escape the feeling of impending doom.  I knew I had to say goodbye to them shortly.  No fun.

After a dispiriting Red Sox loss, we loaded the car, said goodbye to a groggy Buddy and left for the dreaded holiday drive through the apocalyptic traffic that typifies Connecticut on a holiday weekend.  The “kids” first treated us to dinner at Cracker Barrel only a table away from where we breakfasted on Sunday.

Then came Connecticut which was almost eerie due to the lack of traffic.  I had been girding for a big fight and there was nothing.  No backups, everything was flowing smoothly, very un-Connecticut like.  This did nothing more than hasten the departure of two of my most favorite people so I guess Connecticut decided to torture me in a new way.  

Deepest Point in the Valley - Having to Say Goodbye

I found it really hard to say goodbye.  It must have been the pollen in the air because I couldn’t even watch them into the terminal in New Haven.  I didn’t want them to leave.

The drive back only compounded my fears that something really bad had happened somewhere.  Where were all the people?  I didn’t have to use any of my shortcuts and made almost record time back home, very strange.  Of course the house was empty when we got there.  Medicated Buddy didn’t even frolic when released from confinement – he’s good at sensing moods.

I reestablished control of my television for the first time since Friday but would gladly cede it back as long as some of the excellent people returned to distract me.  That’s the problem with peaks, the inevitable valley always comes.  We’re back to one bedroom, with three spares.

Good Times Roll On

This is really turning into a weekend for the ages.  Yesterday we had to say goodbye to some of the participants from the epic Saturday party but enough hung around for continued awesomeness.  

MEF and Son Cleaned up ad Headed Out

The Keene Friend, son, MEF, and wife snuck out early from underneath the sleeping noses of the New Yorkers for a Cracker Barrel breakfast.  They are so unaccustomed to the quiet countryside as opposed to their normal haunts that they’ve been sleeping really late; or it could be the late Saturday night carousing.  My son and MEF are trying to set a new record for weddings attended in a calendar year.  They had to leave early in the day to hit their second wedding of the weekend.  We did have a lot of fun deflating their bed and they cleaned up extremely well, looking very distinguished for their latest wedding.

Buddy Supervising MEF and Wife Bed Deflating Work

Looked Like So Much Fun I had to Jump In

The rest of the daylight hours were fairly quiet as the New Yorkers slowly emerged from their self-imposed catatonic state.  The guys were forced inside by thunder storms (much to Buddy’s displeasure) so the yard games had to wait until late in the day.  This gave my superb son in law the opportunity to install a new router for the home wireless network which significantly improved speed.  It seems the house takes a major leap forward every time my daughter and son in law grace us.   

The Latest Leap Forward Courtesy of my Son in Law

My wife prepared a fabulous dinner for the assembled masses before she the Keene Friend, and I departed for points south for a Rhode Island birthday party for my brother in law’s May birthday; don’t ask.  

The Birthday Boy on the Deck

 

We spent the entire evening out on the deck trading stories and eating a fantastic amount of food and well, a couple beers.  The Keene Friend, known as "the Senator" in Rhode Island, held forth at the other end of the table while we re-captured the merrymaking spirit we thought exhausted the night before.  I’ve written before about how much fun this group of special people are; last night was no exception.   

The Senator Dispensing Wisdom at the Other End of the Table

The time flew by and we had to re-board for the return trip all too soon.  I was feeling magnanimous so I “allowed” the Keene Friend to drive back.  As you probably realized, it had more to do with the number of beers downrange versus any magnanimity on my part.  My wife was exhausted and was soon asleep for the duration of the trip while my buddy and I listened to Blue Collar comedy for the entire trip.  John Caparulo is one of the funniest SOBs I’ve ever heard.   

We arrived home shortly after midnight to find the New Yorkers in full party mode.  My wife and daughter were soon dancing in the kitchen around additional I-Pad lessons.  We all stayed up until 2am talking, laughing, dancing, and various card games.  I finally admitted (my body was sending me desperate messages about rest) defeat and fell into a nearly unconscious sleep.  We were down to six bed rooms but I can’t remember a recent weekend with more fun crammed into it.  The crash, when it inevitably comes will be devastating.   

Mother and Daughter's Late Night Dance

Last Game of the Night

 

Party Centralized

Okay, I didn’t think there was any way we could match the fun and camaraderie of the son-MEF engagement party from earlier this summer.  Yesterday my daughter’s crew from NYC gave it a pretty good shot with a totally outstanding gathering. 

It helped that we had a lot of the same characters to include the son, MEF, neighbors, the Worcester chapter of the Panamanian Mafia, and in a rare weekend appearance, the Keene Friend.  The day started with a household full of late rising New Yorkers and a panicked discovery of a breakfast faux paux involving frozen bread dough.  It was so fun having a full house again and I reveled in the chaos.  Buddy and his new, un-shy friend Riggins were constantly charging around adding to the fun and the bedlam. 

Buddy and Riggins

The afternoon arrived and a rare timely appearance by my older sister which was semi-shocking.  I think she and the most excellent brother in law were drawn back because of how much fun the engagement party was.  Since they were significant donors to that good time this was an auspicious start.  We were soon overflowing with a great mix of friends and family and everybody seemed to get along famously.  Some of the kids took over the television but parents and I decreed the back yard was more appropriate where they had a lot more fun. 

Yard Games Under Son in Law Supervision

My son in law was frustrated that no ski poles were available and charged out to purchase some to balance beer bottles on top of.  He takes games very seriously.  He and the New York crowd braved the late cloud of mosquitoes to play games well after sunset. 

Best Part of the Party - Having Son and Daughter Back

I promised my wife that I anticipated no problems with the grill this time out.  She was skeptical and I admit to a small amount of prayer on my part as I started it up.  Everything seemed fine so I went into grab the burgers slated for immolation.  I was distracted for a few minutes until I glanced outside to see a huge cloud of smoke billowing from the grill as well as not a small amount of flame.  The grill apparently was working just fine as it was amount to achieve melt down temperature. 

Dinner is Served

The food was my wife’s usual supreme effort as the party moved inside coincidental with the arrival of the insects. I sat back and just basked in being around such a great group of people.  The MEF’s parents also made the effort to  come down and added their usual touch of excellence. We even had a birthday cake for one of the New Yorkers.  My daughter had sent a very embarrassing photo of the birthday girl to me earlier in the week.  We had that transferred to a cake which she took with a lot of good nature.  I even sampled the cake in a small non-keto moment.  My son in law counseled me that since I have achieved my target weight I could now choose one day a week to eat whatever I want.  Friday Zorba’s pizza – here I come! 

Birthday Cake Revealed

Of Course We Used the Sword

We snuck away from the wife long enough to turn on the Red Sox game which quickly drew a large crowd which prevented summary involvement by the spousal element.  The Sox dominated and it was a lot of fun watching the game with a bunch of like minded fans. 

Son and MEF Enjoying the Game

As with all these affairs, time ran out before the fun did.  The elders headed upstairs while the New Yorkers, determined to keep partying, established residency in the basement.  Our house, newly equipped with eight bedrooms, very slowly slid into the evening.  The downstairs bedrooms had a little harder time achieving sleep due to the aforementioned NYC seizure.  It was a day of realized hopes for a truly memorable party.

I'd Put These Guys Up Against Anybody - Why Party Was So Much Fun
Keene Friend, Sister, Bro in Law, Son in Law

Even Riggins Was Partied Out