Soggy Reunion

Dinner Last Night

My wife has been on a fairly impressive crusade all to clean the house to her lofty standards after being under my less lofty care for the past two months. We took a break from that exercise last night to sneak up to New Hampshire to take Keene Friend out for dinner. My Favorite Panamanian had been frustrated at being so far away when he went through his recent health crisis and needed to insure the rumors of his recovery were factual.

We talked about the visit earlier in the week but when I pulled into the garage after work I found her in sweat pants and t-shirt. I innocently asked her if she was ready to leave for New Hampshire which received an exasperated squawk as she charged upstairs to change. Her cleaning efforts led her to mix up the days – too much chlorine I think. She set a new personal mark at getting changed and we were soon on the very wet roads north. It was so good having my co-pilot back for the trip.

View from the Living Room of our Future Condo

We ran into a serious traffic jam in the middle of nowhere. The small section of Route 2 we normally use was completely jammed and nothing was moving. I immediately continued on the side road we were on and while my wife looked a little concerned. She doesn’t share my absolute faith in my land navigation skills. I figured if we kept heading north we would eventually hit route 12. For some odd reason I love being on roads I’ve never seen before and this offered me a chance to visit the thriving metropolis of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, so I can cross that off the bucket list. We hit route 12 amidst boasts of “Damn, I’m good” from the driver and were soon back on track.

Cake Suprise

My wife was relieved to see Keene Friend looking as good as he was. He stated that yesterday was the best day yet in his recovery and he looked the part. We kidnapped him for some dead animal flesh at the local steak house which was a lot of fun., at least for me. Keene Friend had to undergo the expected grilling from my Favorite Panamanian on his health situation, which included her personal theories on why it happened and everything he needs to change in his life. It’s kind of how she rolls. After dinner we returned to Keene Friend’s house where he surprised my wife with a cake for her February birthday. That’s how he rolls. Since one of us had to get up for work today we had to take off and I volunteered to drive back despite my wife’s planned substitution. It turned out to be a good thing because we drove through some really heavy rains to reach home. While driving at night in the rain is my least favorite option, the chance to hang out with Keene Friend for an evening totally justified it, especially since he seems so much better, health wise.

Charming Defined

Down in New Jersey the Frist Blog Reader continues her won recovery. In true family fashion she has refused to acknowledge that she’s even injured and continues to give Wingman a run for his money each day. He sent another of those heart melting videos yesterday which captured my granddaughter during a thunder storm that was passing by. He asked her what a thunderstorm does and she responded by pointing out the window and going, “Boom Boom”. If we can figure out a place to stash the Wonder Pooch we’re going down to New Jersey this weekend to hang with them.

Too Cute

Brushing her Own teeth

Helping mom Get Organized

Where Should I Throw this?

I didn’t blog yesterday (you’re welcome) because I was dealing with a series of Public Hearings with activists and the gathered masses of the Voices of Inappropriate Worth. The politicos are faced with a budget crisis due to a lack of state funding. The activists do not want to hear the truth and accused them of balancing our budget on the back of the poorly oppressed masses. When we countered that we are required by law to live within a defined budget and that means either service cuts or fare hikes they said that was unacceptable. It’s always fun to argue with people with such a firm grip on reality.

R.I.P.

The missing blog did cause some concern from the blog’s one fan. Great Aunt texted me while I was at dinner concerned nothing had been published. I assured her I was okay but I should add at this point there will be no Frail Deeds either Saturday or Sunday this week as the trip to New Jersey will happily consume my time. The Cantankerous Friend must be in mourning today because his idol has passed away. Don Rickles may have been the funniest comedian I ever saw. His quick wit and ruthless attack comedy made me laugh virtually every time I saw it. It was obvious he got away with it because it was not heartfelt and undeniably hilarious. He probably wouldn’t have succeeded in today’s hyper-sensitive politically correct era and that would have been our loss.

Post-Eyebrow Catch-up

None the Worse for Wear

Yesterday was completely consumed with reporting on the infamous eyebrow incident where the First Blog Reader decided she needed a sexy scar there. My daughter’s late arrival from her NYC commute meant we didn’t get a chance to see our granddaughter but Wingman reported that if anything she was even more energetic and precocious yesterday than normal. The only time she even acknowledged her facial injury was when she was in the car which has a mirror so the driver can keep an eye on the littlest passenger.

But of Course She Is

Since a mirror was near her genetic heritage required she check herself out and when she did she saw the bandage and told Wingman about her “boo boo”. Other than that she was her usual rambunctious self. Wingman and she surprised my daughter by meeting her at the train station as she was returning home from her second, much less eventful day, back in the NYC home office. We eventually did connect with them but the wounded one was already in bed. This did offer a chance to have an actual adult conversation with both our daughter and Wingman for the first time in seemingly forever. Our granddaughter usually dominates the conversation whenever she’s around. She’s hard to ignore.

With yesterday’s breathless reporting I failed to acknowledge the start of another baseball season and my beloved Red Sox opened with a bang, winning 5-3 over the Pirates, weirdly. It was strange to have them open against a National League team but Rick Porcello picked up right where he left off and the Sox batters eventually figured out the impressive Pittsburgh hurler. A lot has been made of the David Ortiz’ absence but I think this team will be okay as a potent group of youngsters continue to mature. One of them had the key hit, a 3 run bomb, in the opening day win. They resume tonight with the big off season acquisition, Chris Sale, taking the mound. High end pitchers tend to struggle in the first year in Boston so I’m hoping he proves to be the exception. At least they should be fun to watch this year.

It’s always fun to watch Scarlett Johansson and last night, WITH A DATE on date night we took in Ghost in the Shell. I’m unfamiliar with the mythology surrounding the source material but this was a compelling story told in very uneven fashion. Johansson plays a female cyborg with the brain of a woman she’s told died in a tragic accident. She uses her superhuman strength and capabilities in tracking down super criminals. The latest task is going after a highly dangerous hacker who also holds some mysterious clues to her origin. The action is top notch and Johansson is perfect for the physical action sequences but it felt wildly uneven as stirring action is followed by deadening dramatis. I actually caught myself falling asleep a couple times during these interludes which is unheard of when Ms. Johansson is blessing the screen with her form. The whole story is told on a very impressive backdrop of an unnamed urban area of the near future. I liked it but it was more of a chore than I thought it would be.

Hockey Girl

No High Sticking Major Was Called

I was watching a hockey game the other day and through the wonder of HD reception the inevitable facial cuts and bruises on the players were rampant – especially this time of year with the season winding down. The very last thing I expected was to see the First Blog Reader join that club. In an episode all young parents eventually confront, my granddaughter decided to head butt her new table yesterday which opened up a cut over her left eye which needed stitches.

In the Emergency Room

She was hanging out with Wingman during my daughter’s first day back in the NYC office. They were working on her latest Lego project when Wingman left the room momentarily to refill her water bottle. She was spreading her Legos out when apparently she slipped and the edge of the table caught her eyebrow. Wingman was understandably distraught to have this occur during his watch. He got the bleeding under control and somehow managed to get her strapped into the car and into the emergency room.

Pirate Impersonation

My granddaughter was reportedly remarkably unfazed by the whole experience. She charmed the emergency room personnel and even fell asleep while a plastic surgeon stitched up her brow. As I mentioned above this was my daughter’s first day back in the office after several years of telecommuting and her anguish was compounded when a train derailed at Penn Station which delayed her rush back to New Jersey.

Back Home

By the time we caught up with them our granddaughter seemed oblivious to all the concern she generated and was bouncing around as if nothing had happened. Wingman was still a little shaken but this is what happens sometimes with small children. Despite the parental imperative to prevent something like this sometimes fate has other plans. You can't encase them in a bubble wrap – although my granddaughter would probably love that. My own daughter, her mother, experienced something eerily similar when she wasn’t much older herself. She and the Great Aunt were playing at my mother’s house when my daughter took a header down the stairs that resulted in a seven stitches. As difficult as this episode was it seems to establish the First Blog Reader is a pretty tough little cookie.

Laughing at Dinner Last Night

Back at Offending Table and Legos this Morning

Initial Ice Creaming

ABFA, Favorite Son, and Wife at Meola's Yesterday

Despite the coating of sleet and ice that was falling victim to the onslaught of an actual spring day yesterday the first outdoor ice cream order of the year went down yesterday afternoon. With the assistance and moral support of that world renowned expert on frozen lactose, none other than the ABFA, we finally patronized Meola’s Ice Cream Shop in nearby West Boylston. Every time I’ve driven by it I’ve thought that we needed to get the ABFA there. Yesterday provided the perfect opportunity as she and the Favorite Son journeyed down to welcome home my Favorite Panamanian.

Favorite Son's Eyes Were Bigger than his Stomach
But ABFA Gleefully Helped with his Sundae

Decorating Dog

They brought grandpuppy Riggins, fresh off his ignominious defeat at the hands of the ABFA’s parents’ cat. He seemed to bounce back from this embarrassing loss of canine face and gave Buddy a run for money in the attention department. He also tried to help my wife in the home decorating area by moving several low hanging items around usually with my son in hot pursuit. It was a great afternoon and not because everything was melting. There is an undeniable medicinal effect to having the people you care most about in the world in close proximity.

Granddaughter in Flight

We finally were able to get that social butterfly, The First Blog Reader, to slow down long enough to have a FaceTime call with us. She was part of a 2d Generation Curbside reunion in a nearby park and had a lot more important things to do than chat on the phone. Earlier in the day we had one of those “moments” on another call with her. That call caught us pulling into the grocery store. My wife expounded on the fact that I had done a piss poor job of laying in appropriate victuals for her return which was of course compounded by the storm which kept us inside for a time. After hearing her abuela complain about the lack of food in the house our granddaughter began offering us some of her food through the video screen. I think this young lady may indeed be something very special.

2d Gen Curbsiders Cleaning Up

Granddaughter Showing off her Dance Moves

Dad - I Can Help!

Digging Out to Dig in

Our Table at the Party

Yesterday morning was spent waiting out the hopefully last winter storm that dumped a few inches of sleet on top on the inches of ice deposited while I was trying to drive home with my Favorite Panamanian on Friday night. The snow blower was up for this final challenge but I’m going to have to get that impellor cord fixed before next winter, holding my jury-rigged contraption can be embarrassing during a daylight cleanup.

Lego Work

An early morning FaceTime call with the First Blog Reader was fantastic as she seemed very pleased that both of her grandparents were together again. She spent the last two months asking whichever one of us called where the other one was. She gave us a tour of her latest Lego endeavors and delivered a series of ringing hugs to the IPad. It suddenly didn’t seem to be snowing so badly as the room brightened considerably, of course that could just be me.

Mafioso Surrounded by her Family

We eventually excavated the solid ice off the driveway so we could escape north into Holden for a surprise 65^th birthday for the Neighborhood Mafioso. He daughter, also our neighbor, had set the event up and the Mafioso walked into a room filed with most of her friends in the world. It was a fun night because her friends constitute a viable percentage of excellence in Central Massachusetts. Val’s Restaurant, where we also had the baby shower for my daughter, was completely up to the task with large windows offering a panoramic view of the surrounding snow covered hillsides.

Dance Floor In Action

Since Panamanians were involved dancing was the highlight of the night. As soon as dinner was polished off the dance floor became a hub of activity. I spent a significant amount of time out there which rendered some dormant muscles a bit painful this morning. We were also dancing on carpet which wasn’t the best option. If I was a bit younger I could have created some serious static electricity but middle age saved me from spontaneous combustion. After so many months of solitude, despite the Great Aunt’s and Soxfather’s efforts, it was soul lifting to be out with friends again. My Favorite Panamanian’s only been back for a day and is demonstrating her usual abilities in making life interesting.

Helping Mom Out by Moving Those Pesky Neatly Stacked Books

They look So Much Better Strewn

Don't You Think?

Icy Reunion

Together Again

She’s baaaaaack!! My Favorite Panamanian returned last night and all warning signs of spring disappeared with her return. It’s almost as if Mother Nature wanted to remind my wife of all the weather fun she’s missed over the past two months. It sprayed a combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain all day but the roads were still in pretty good shape when I set out for Boston after an abbreviated but still enjoyed First Friday. I left with plenty of time to spare given Boston’s usual traffic situation compounded by the weather and a Celtics game.

Roses Were Rendered

Getting there was no problem as I watched the temperature climb steadily as I got closer to the coast. It was in the low forties when I reached Logan and raining steadily. Her flight landed a half hour early but it took an hour to get through the customs and baggage claim processes. I later found she stopped to help a couple older ladies trying to figure out the robotic immigration machines and that put her at the back of a very long line.

Back Deck this Morning - Coated in Ice

It was so good seeing her finally emerge from the double doors at Terminal E that I’ve spent so much time waiting outside. The delay in getting out only made the challenge of the return home greater though because as soon as the sun went down everything turned to ice. Being a good Soldier I’d followed orders and brought along a pair of her boots because sandals were not going to cut it. She was not pleased with my selection though saying I’d tapped a pair that was wildly out of date (who knew they had expiration dates?).

You Guys Are Back Together!

She was pleased with the roses and a bag of her favorite candy which waited in the car for her. The drive home was one of those out of legend. It will rank up there as one of the toughest drives I’ve ever made. In a reverse of the drive in I watched the dashboard thermometer drop a couple degrees every couple of miles I traveled west. By the time I reached I-95 the car was coated in ice. I stayed on the Pike figuring it would be in better shape than some of the other choices but it was still a huge challenge. Worcester was in a shambles when we arrived as we passed several cars off the road or communing with fixed objects. I made the last turn towards home to find a car struggling to make it up our hill. There was room to go around and our Highlander, in snow mode, worked like a champion. We slid into the garage and I put my head onto the wheel so thankful the stress of that drive was over. My plans for a welcome home dinner at our favorite restaurant were dashed as no sane person would choose to drive if they didn’t have to.

Time to Dance

My wife loved the new kitchen adorned with yet another dozen roses and the Wonder Pooch was ecstatic to have another human around. However that well accomplished escape artist knew the law had returned. When I tried to get him to demonstrate his newfound facility opening the basement door he refused under the scornful eye of my wife.

Sending Hugs

It was too late to get a call into the First Blog Reader but we did connect with our daughter where they were experiencing the same storm we were (nice that we can share weather again) although it was all rain down in New Jersey. Wingman was performing Dutchman duty in the basement trying to keep the flood waters at bay. They are discovering the joys of home ownership also have a down side.

We’re still homebound this morning as the storm continues to rage but now that I have my partner in crime back at my side I find that scenario a lot more palatable. It will be nice to have hot chocolate waiting for me when I come back in from hopefully the last snow blower ride of the year; of course it’s the preparer of the hot chocolate that makes all the difference.