Eve of Relief

Cali-Daughter Reuniting with NYC Friends Last Ngith

Yesterday was spent totally immersed in feelings of anticipation since I’m getting the Cali-Daughter, Favorite Son, and the ABFA as visitors today. It will mark the first time we’ve all been together since Thanksgiving 2014 before my daughter and the WingMan went left coasting. It’s kind of a shame because this feeling of eagerness totally overshadowed a perfectly good Friday.

First Friday at Brew City

My excellent boss took me out to lunch and then we held forth, as required, for the celebration of the First Friday of the week. I couldn’t however shake the feeling of “let’s get this over so we can move on to Saturday and the kids’ arrival”. I hope the time I have with them will plod along as slowly as the time waiting for them but if it holds true to form it won’t.  There seems to be an inverse relationship between the amount of fun/joy you’re having and the speed of time.  At any rate the day is here and I won’t be allowed to wallow in despair when they depart tomorrow because later that day my favorite Panamanian returns home!

Meanwhile Down in Panama My Wife is Enjoying the Last of her Tropical Days

La Barqueta Beach Near her Home Town of David

And Some Tai Chi

Her arrival necessitated the week long cleansing ritual where I transform the house from good enough for bachelor living to something in the realm of barely acceptable. I don’t want here to think she hasn’t been missed so I will not raise the cleanliness level to the sanitary clean room standards she achieves.

Newspapers in the Snow

I was performing my morning ritual of chipping the ice that formed on the driveway from hell overnight when I noticed several newspapers peeking out of the snowbank. This is a sign the snow has melted to the levels where they were when I returned from Panama. These were the newspapers that kept jamming up my snow blower as I attempted to cut my way into the house. I shoved them into the snowbank once I removed them from the blades.

My Cali-Daughter recommended a book for me last week and since we don’t always share the same tastes in literary pursuits I went into reading Night Film by Marisha Pessl with a little trepidation. I shouldn’t have worried because it turned out to be one of those books that putting down involves actual physical pain. It was so good. The main character is an investigative journalist trying to track down a mysterious film director after the death of his daughter. He picks up a couple young sidekicks along the way and the bulk of the book is their dogged pursuit of clues left in the wake of the daughter’s death.

The story veers into the occult where the journalist, a skeptic, has his beliefs challenged to the core and the reader is left to make their own call on the ending. Some will probably take Ms. Pessl to task for some of the whimsy she engages in but I love it when an author stakes out a claim on your imagination and then leaves it to you to interpret. I liked this book so much I immediately bought the only other book she’s published. Maybe my daughter knows me better than I thought.

Here are some of Ms. Pessl’s words as the journalist observes one of his young cohorts:  “and anyway, he’ll answer to God for what he did.”  She announced this with great certainty. For a girl with nothing to her name but a parakeet, to have such unwavering belief in the reckoning of evil in the world-a belief I could never bring myself to have, having seen, time and time again, depravity go unchecked-it awed me, and it was some time before I could bring myself to speak.”  

Front Yard Today

Back Yard

House Fallen

Race relations in the US is a subject fraught with peril because anyone choosing to talk about it in a rational tone will probably be labeled an inveterate racist by the far left forces of polarization that have staked out this issue as their sole property. I know racism exists but I honestly believe the US does more than any country on earth to confront it. Racism will eventually die because it makes no sense and cannot stand to have light shed upon the basic ignorance required for its continued existence. The US takes a lot of heat from around the world because of the “newsworthy” coverage of racial incidents but at least we’re talking about it. I’ve been all around the world and racism occurs in every single country I’ve ever visited and you rarely hear about it.

Moron Captured in his Natural Environment

The latest incident involved the idiotic behavior of the SAE boys in Oklahoma. While it strains credulity these morons thought this type behavior was even remotely acceptable in a modern society – it was exposed and dealt with. It’s provided a valuable tool that will go a long way towards eradicating yet another bastion of exclusiveness, college fraternities – both white and black. Racism is not the sole property of the Caucasian race and I ran into more overt racism from African-Americans during my military career than vice versa. Whoever chooses to judge somebody on the color of their skin versus the content of their character is fundamentally flawed. (Someone much smarter than I am said that a while back).

I was in a fraternity during my college days; we were the northernmost chapter of a southern fraternity, the token “yankees” at the time. We had two members who were seriously racist, made liberal use of the n-word, and were vocal about keeping the frat white only. I remember thinking at the time that their attitude was wrong on an essential level and being embarrassed for them. It only took one negative vote to keep someone out of the frat so they effectively served as a barrier although I cannot recall a single minority clamoring to join us.

I’ve checked back periodically and my old frat now has a healthy amount of diversity, as it should be. I ran into one of the racists about ten years ago at a fraternity reunion and he had done nothing with his life which said volumes about his quality.

Speaking of lack of quality, I just finished my run through season three of the Netflix series House of Cards and was completely underwhelmed. The first two seasons were riveting as Keyser Soze and the Princess Bride established themselves as the political couple from hell as they moved from the House of Representatives to the Vice Presidency to the Presidency (this season). This year sitting in the oval office seemed to stymie what made the series so good – their hidden lives and political backstabbing.

The Underwhelming Underwoods

The finale made back some of the lost ground with a couple of “whooah” moments but overall I was severely disappointed in the season. We as viewers didn’t want to see the Underwoods as anything other than cold, insidious object lessons in the filth of Washington politics but this season that was only a background theme as trivial story lines were pursued. Severely disappointed in what had been one of the best things on television.

Front Yard this Morning

Back Yard

Rampant Bad Ideas Amok

New England is up to its old tricks again after two days of teasing us with some long overdue snow melting. The roads this morning were frozen as all that former snow was solidified overnight in yet another attempt at soul crushing by Mother Nature. We’ve taken Her best shot over this winter though and know deliverance is just a few days away.

This turn in the weather led to some truly disturbing thought processes in Panama. My wife asked if it didn’t make sense for her to stay in Panama for another month. We’ll both be flying down there is April to finalize some bank documents on our future second home and when she heard the melting had come to a screeching halt she had second thoughts about abandoning tropical climes. She claimed it would save us some money but I disabused her of that notion.  You can’t put a price on soul mate time.

Cali-Daughter and WingMan Shortly Before Red Eye

I blame my Cali-daughter for the change in weather. She’s back on the right coast this morning for a coordination meeting with her New York office. Winter came back just to show her what she’s been missing out on. She had the unenviable pleasure of taking the red eye flight, complete with unruly child in the seat behind her. I’ve taken quite a few of these flights and it’s akin to sprinkling your morning cereal with broken glass. On the upside I get to see her and maybe even her brother this weekend.

I was back at the movies last night seeing the sci fi movie Chappie. I really wanted to like this but failed. I’ve been a big fan of South African director Neill Blomkamp since I saw District 9. He explores the well tread territory of a self-aware robot but the transition he chooses is so flawed as to defy adequate condemnation. The film includes his usual breathtaking special effects and gore spattered fire fights which are the only things making this watchable, well that and Dev Patel.

Patel plays the inevitable brilliant scientist who creates Chappie only to run afoul of dastardly Hugh Jackman in one of his rare bad guy turns. Chappie’s education falls into the hands of what might be the two most annoying characters in cinema history. I guess they’re rock musicians trying to be actors and I truly hope their band is successful because they had no business being in this movie. Their turn as a pair of gangsters and the huge amount of time Blomkamp stays with them really sunk the movie for me. I know this is science fiction but the plot has to make some kind of sense and I could have looked beyond the gaping plot holes if not for the soul grating presence of Ninja and Yolandi. Pass on this.

Having These Two as Major Players?!
Bad Idea Hall of Fame Decision

Front Yard Today

Back Yard - Deck Appearing

Rainy Day Business

Wife and In Laws at El Fogon Last Night

I was driving home from the movies last night (huge surprise – I know) in a steady rain storm when I realized just how long it has been since the stuff falling from the sky wasn’t frozen.  I literally could not remember that last time it rained instead of snowed but it had to be as far back as December. Today we’re supposed to crack the 50 degree barrier for the first time since Christmas day. The snow is fighting a desperate but losing battle to remain relevant, I can even almost see over the snow tunnel at the bottom of the haunted driveway. I am so ready to be able to walk across the lawn again. I know it’s under there somewhere.

The Patriots took a gut shot last night when they ran into a player who was every bit as fiscally ruthless as they are and lost their best defensive player to their hated rival. Revis was a total professional while he was here and transformed the defense but the Patriots, as usual, were not willing to mortgage the future for immediate returns. At this point I acknowledge I am not worthy of second guessing their personnel movies based on their legacy of success, but this one hurts.

My wife took my in laws out to dinner last night to one of my favorite restaurants in David – El Fogon. She’s prepping her parents for her departure in a couple days (that would be me dancing a little jig about that deadline). In one of those unscripted but welcome surprises that make life worth living she ran into a gang of her high school classmates who were also out celebrating at El Fogon.

Classmates

After dinner and returning her parents home my wife and her twin sister returned to join in the fun. A number of her classmates had returned to David for a reunion and were leaving this weekend, just like my wife. A significant amount of sangria was donated to the cause. I know how much fun these type reunions can be, I love it when I run into high school friends when I regularly return to haunt Keene. My wife blew off our nightly phone call and if her eyes are indication from this morning’s FaceTime call – she had a very good time. Sangria is her kryptonite.

Sangria Time

The movie I was making my sodden way back from Unfinished Business which is an apt title for this mess. I’m a big Vince Vaughn fan but he clearly mailed this one in. He was going for a raunchy comedy and while there were dozens of female breasts on display the movie just wasn’t funny and I think they wanted this to be comedy. Vaughn plays a small business owner competing for a huge German contract against his much bigger, former employer.

Even when these comedies miss there’s a couple laugh out loud gags except for this movie. I kept waiting for it to take off but it jumped all over the place and spent too much time on the failing business aspects instead of the party scenes which at least had the potential to be funny. Tom Wilkinson is criminally underused and Dave Franco creepily plays a special needs businessman. Do not spend money on this; it is not worth your money or time despite the impressive female anatomy.

Front Yard This Morning - Walls Re-emerging

Back yard

Crashing Melt

What is going on with all the train and vehicle collisions. Yesterday another train plowed into a truck that was stuck on the tracks. I’m not sure if this is happening more nowadays or there are just so many cameras around that we hear about it when it does happen more readily. You know if it bleeds it will lead the news. Maybe it’s just we’re all a little too impatient. I do know that the train has won every one of these engagements so I’ll wait when the gate comes down.

Top of Fence Emerges

We had some honest to God, actual melting going on yesterday as temperatures pushed well into the forties. I noticed this morning that the top of the five foot fence in our side yard was visible for the first time in weeks and grass was observable along a couple fringes (with a  couple feet of snow still above, of course).

Some Tough Winds this Winter

As the snow recedes some of the other damage is becoming apparent. At some point in the winter the combination of wind and snow blew out the latticework under the front porch. I’m not crawling under there to repair it until some more melting occurs.

Meanwhile in a Nearby Port City Favorite Son and ABFA Were Mystery Dinner Dining

I had great conversations with both the wife and Cali-Daughter last night centered on the fact that I will see them both this weekend. Cali-Daughter is flying back to confer with her NYC home office and scheduled it over a weekend so she could sneak up here and receive some long overdue Christmas hugs. We agreed that she and WingMan picked the perfect winter to decamp for the warmer climes of the left coast.

My Poor Attempt to Capture This Morning's Majesty

I went outside on the front porch this morning to take my daily photos and was greeted by a truly stunning sunrise. My camera in no way does it justice. Despite all the complaining I’ve done about the brutal winter Mother Nature still has one terrific sense of style.

Front Yard with Grass at Fringes

Back Yard

Counting Down Earnestly

My Favorite Panamanian in Las Lajas

Yesterday I passed inside of one week until my wife returns from her tropical sojourn. I first had to engage in some recovery operations from a little too much Keene Kolsch on Saturday night. I pulled a page out of Keene Friend’s own playbook by sneaking out of his house before he awoke. Buddy was a little upset that he didn’t get his usual morning stroll with Keene Friend but Sundays are a busy day in my wife’s absence.

The Fun Bunch at the Beach

After the shopping, laundry, cooking and painting were done I devoted some serious time to couch potato duties to pursue the delayed recovery operations. My wife called in a couple times to report on her Saturday which was spent at Las Lajas, my favorite beach in the world. She and her family went for a farewell visit and had the usual fantastic time. 

Unfortunately she acquired a cold at the same time and that’s never fun in a summer like environment.  She’s got a full plate this last week in Panama finalizing some bank transactions associated with our future second home. For the first time in a couple years I’m confident we’ve achieved some forward momentum. More on that in April.

We still haven’ achieved any serious melting around here yet and this is a time we should be looking for the first signs of spring peeking out of the ground. That may be happening somewhere under all this snow. We were beset with a series of fairly serious snow flurries all day yesterday because this winter has selected Sunday as a required snow day. We’re supposed to get above freezing for four consecutive days this week so a small stirring in the seed of hope. But it's still a Monday so I don' want to get all emotional.

Wife and Cousin with Best Laugh at Best Beach

I forgot to note that I finished my latest Kyle Mills book last week, Sphere of Influence. He thankfully returns to his unconventional FBI hero Mark Beamon in this book. Beamon is drawn into a terrorism investigation and soon finds himself undercover globe trotting with one of the world's biggest crime lords. Beamon as always is one step ahead of being arrested himself as he fights both the FBI bureaucracy and the CIA to prevent an impending attack.

Mills has really grown on me and he seemed to hit his stride with this book. He expertly wove action, comedy, and plot into a very entertaining page turner. I feel a lot better about his taking over the Mitch Rapp character after reading this book.  

Front Yard This Morning

Back Yard

Painting My Way Home

Just got back from my latest Keene thunder run where I was more than ably hosted by the Keene Friend. Before I left yesterday I started my kitchen ceiling painting project. Each year I devise some project to accomplish during my wife’s absence and not just because the absence of supervision makes the work go a little faster. I realized that this was my last free weekend to complete this year’s project.

Yesterday's Project Site

The ceiling was repaired a couple years ago and I have always meant to get around to it but intention and motivation never collided sufficiently to get it done. Since Keene Friend had invited me up earlier in the week I needed to knock it out yesterday before I left. When I finished I discovered the problem with painting white on white. It was difficult to ensure everything was evenly painted before moving to another section. I’ll attempt to close the gaps today on the patchwork quilt like results.

Keene Friend on Station at Scores
Forgot to Capture Cantankerous Friend Before he Escaped

The time up in Keene was everything I’d hoped for. Keene Friend and I took up station in Scores and were shortly joined by the Cantankerous Friend who was only able to stay a short time since he was squiring a bikini model around town later in the evening. While his time was short he was able to pummel us with cogent arguments concerning his effort to have President Obama declared a saint.

The Newly Crowned Champion Bar Tender

After he left, Keene Friend and I decided to change things up and pass on dinner at Margarita’s. We went instead to another favorite haunt, the Elm City Brewery, which had been sadly neglected over the past few thunder runs. We lucked into having our favorite bartendress on duty and were soon Keene Kolsching our way through a great dinner at the bar.

The Rest of the Gang Last Night

At a certain point in the evening I received a text from Keene Friend 2 and vectored him and his girlfriend to our location. The kolsch continued to have its way with my central nervous system and at one point I declared the bartendress the best bar tender in the city. We ended up spending a couple hours catching up and solving most of the world’s problems in the intervening time; a just a little too much fun.  I’m told Buddy knocked me on my ass when we got back to Keene Friend’s house but I think it probably had more to do with the amount of kolsch sent down range.  The whole time spent in Keene was another of those brief episodes of finding home again, because of the great friends I’m blessed with.

Front Yard Today

Back Yard