FBR and Vet’s Day

My annual Veteran’s’ Day post is included below. Something happened six years ago today out in Southern California that kind of one upped the national holiday – the arrival of my first grandchild – the incredible FBR. We connected with her last night in a Facetime call where we saw her open our first birthday gift delivered to her house. It was an LOL doll dress. I have no clue what the hell an LOL doll is but that is going to be the self-decreed theme of her birthday celebration this year. Her abuela, my Favorite Panamanian, has been laboring all week to make first LOL doll sugar cookies, followed by last night’s creation of an LOL doll cake. We woke up this morning to sing the FBR Happy Birthday to find her already garbed in her new dress and surrounded by the accumulated presents and dozens of balloons Wingman stayed up last night blowing up. She even had an LOL doll hairdo in place. Not that I know what that is, but my wife seemed to know so I nodded sagely. It was so nice to see her bouncing around, obviously reveling in her birthday. Birthdays are important to properly recognize.

The Birthday Girl This Morning

Trying on her Dress Last Night

Surrounded by Balloons and Presents This Morning

At The Bus Stop on her Way to School

Her Class Singing Happy Birthday to Her

We also had a very fun Facetime call with the FBR’s two younger cousins last night. Apparently fueled by a massive intake of sugar gleaned from their still existent Halloween candy stash, both the BRS and BR3 were literally running around the house with their dad in hot pursuit. It was nice to see the BRS letting BR3 work with her. This was all happening with screaming at the highest pitch to add to the excitement. BR3 later acquired my son’s iPhone and took us on a lap around the house from where these screen shots were taken. It was all way too much fun. I can’t wait to get together with these people over the next few weeks. We head to New Jersey tonight to start the FBR birthday celebration which will spill over to my birthday followed by my birthday pub crawl next weekend followed by Thanksgiving and then, 44 short days from now, the granddaddy of them all – CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

BRS and BR3 Hiding from Dad

BR3 Carrying us for a Ride

Careening Around the House

My usual Veteran’s Day Post:  Today’s Veterans Day and causes me to reflect on how I ended up wearing a uniform for the majority of my adult life.  I blame my uncles.  I grew up idolizing my father’s brothers and sisters, all of whom served in World War 2 along with my father and his brother, Uncle Pete, who died in combat on Guadalcanal.  My family has a long history of military service; my great grandfather’s brother, Warren, was killed crossing the Wheatfield at Gettysburg and his father died in service in the 5^th New Hampshire Regiment down in South Carolina near the end of the Civil War. I was a typical kid growing up in the 1960s drawn in a lot of directions by the cultural forces trying to pull the country apart.  I kind of wandered into the military after college and found a home.  I met leaders who reminded me of the gentle uncles with the steel lightly disguised behind eyes that had seen too much.  I also found a love of America these aunts and uncles had imbued me with.

I’ve written about this before and decided to repost a couple of those thoughts because they’re appropriate today when we should all be remembering the sacrifices made and thanking those who donned the uniform for the belief in this greatest of all countries. I was brought up, without ever realizing it, to have a deep abiding love of this country and serving in the military only refined those feelings. To serve in the military you have to believe in what you’re fighting for. I think, that, more than any other factor can determine an Army’s success on the battlefield. I know that a lot of civilians don’t “get it” and at times even ridicule those who profess a love of country. To be honest, certain fanatical factions of the far right have attempted to hijack patriotism as their sole property while also serving as the judge of who is “patriotic”. This could not be farther from the truth.

Patriotism means standing up for the values your country is based on, not on the convenient truth of the latest politician. True patriotism is found in hating a hateful message but loving the freedom to send it. If nothing else America stands for freedom, an escape from the notion that your station of birth determines your station in life. This is such a precious commodity. I believe in the bedrock decency of America and hold in utter contempt politicians and intellectuals who attempt to denigrate who we are and kow tow to their foreign counterparts to curry favor. They don’t fully appreciate or understand what America means to us. We as a nation comprise the most startlingly successful expression of the basic human need for individual freedom that the world has ever seen. Since we are humans, we are certainly not perfect but we, as a nation, dare to believe we can be better than we’ve been. That is the marrow of this country and the profound, immense strength that fanatics will never understand or successfully confront. 

I post this every Veterans Day because it says what being a veteran is much more eloquently than I ever could, they are some of my favorite words in print:

What is a Vet?

Some veterans bear visible signs of their service:  a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye.  Others may carry the evidence inside them:  a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg – or perhaps another sort of inner steel:  the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity.  Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.  You can’t tell a vet just by looking.  What is a vet?  He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.  He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.  She, or he, is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.  He is the POW who went away one person and came back another – or didn’t come back at all.  He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.  He is the parade riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.  He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.  He is the three anonymous heroes in the Tomb of the Unknowns, whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.  He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket, palsied now and agonizingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and wishes all day long that his wife was still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.  He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being, a person who offered some of his life’s most vital years in the service of his country, and who sacrificed his ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.  He is a Soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.  So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You.  That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.  Two little words that mean a lot, “THANK YOU”.  Remember November 11th is Veterans Day.  “It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.  It is the Soldier, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.  It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.  It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.” – Father Denis O'Brien, USMC

Those are powerful words and I know it’s hokey but they still bring tears to my eyes because of their intrinsic truth.  My proudest moment in uniform was not at a promotion ceremony, a change of command, or a medal ceremony.  It was while I was at Washington’s Union Station, in uniform, waiting to pick up my daughter.  A businessman noticed me, walked over, and said, “I just wanted to thank you for serving your country.”  As stated above, that meant so much to me, more than any medal or accolade.  So, if you have a chance today, say thank you to a veteran.  He or she has earned it.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Disposably Eternal

So, I am the proud owner and operator of a brand new garbage disposal, an Insinkerator Badger 500, I think. It was installed yesterday by a couple Brazilian guys who seemed to know what they were doing. As I watched them I fully understood the folly of thinking I could have done it since it involved rearranging and resoldering the pipes under the sink. This was definitely a spectator sport for yours truly. I’ve noticed how many Brazilians have taken up the trades in the local area which used to be dominated by Spanish speaking Latinos. I guess its an evolution brought on by immigration trends. All I know is I called on Monday and they scheduled us for Tuesday and showed up early in the ole, “12-4” window.

So True, I Miss Buddy, the Wonder Pooch

I’m getting stoked for the upcoming weekend which would normally have been my pub crawl weekend but I have loftier goals in mind (and the pub crawl will happen a week later anyways, so win). We’re heading back to New Jersey to celebrate the birthday of the first granddaughter, the FBR. Her birthday is tomorrow, appropriate for the daughter of an Army brat. We were going to drive down on Friday for the Saturday party but now are thinking to travel on Thursday night. Buoyed by our recent nocturnal travels from New Jersey, this will allow us to avoid a fairly robust Friday of rain that is almost certain. Connecticut and heavy rain is not the formula for sustained sanity while driving.

Back to regular date night of just my Favorite Panamanian and I yesterday. We saw Eternals, the latest Marvel installment. This is a completely different kind of Marvel movie which I’m sure some people/critics will find fault with. It doesn’t have the same whiz bang relentless pace of its Marvel predecessors but it brings a lot of heart with it. I liked the time it took to lay out the complete mythology surrounding the Eternals, surely the best looking group of superheroes ever assembled (I mean two Kings of the North!). There are a lot of twists and turns as we follow the group of saviors, sent to preserve the human race, over thousands of years. The story is told with a heavy reliance on flashbacks which can be problematic if less well done. I was really impressed with the story arc and the care told in telling the story. There were the usual state of the art special effects and sly humor laced throughout so I didn’t mind sitting through the very long movie. Another feather in Marvel’s cap as they choose to evolve instead of following the same well worn and highly successful path.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Dispossessed

Well, not really, but my 2021 winning steak with appliances came to an end over the weekend. My Favorite Panamanian was in one of her cleaning frenzies. In a side note, I believe I should qualify for combat pay during these episodes. At any rate, she was scouring the kitchen and noticed some water in the cabinet under the sink. I moved everything out and since nothing was dripping assigned the blame to over energetic application of water in the cleaning effort. Everything was fine until the next morning when the water was back where it shouldn’t be. I unloaded everything again and tested the different possible culprits. The garbage disposal was the criminal. It still works fine except for a constant drip whenever water enters that side of the double sink.

Shoulder Rides
FBR Putting Leaves under my Hat

So, the plumber will be here tomorrow to install a new disposal. It’s something I could probably do myself but when it comes to electricity and plumbing, I always veer towards using the professionals. Experience can be a hard teacher in that regard, but I digress. We were juggling a lot of activities this morning because we had to drop off the car for a service but my Favorite Panamanian had also volunteered for garden work at our church. Luckily our dealer provides a shuttle service which allowed me the opportunity to experience a genuine effort at setting a land speed record for the trip to our house from a very nice and speedy young man. I would have lost serious cool points if I’d objected, especially given my driving style.

We had the rare quiet weekend which was needed after several days trying to keep up with the FBR. Those shoulder workouts helped when it came time to provide the seemingly obligatory shoulder rides. I’m waiting to see who outgrows the rides first, her or me. Old friend Dexter Morgan was back on TV last night which was a lot of fun, especially since they shot a lot of the series in the local area over the past year. Still weird to have a serial killer as a hero but it improbably works and getting him out of Miami was a great idea. I spent yesterday in close communion with the football gods through their chosen medium, the NFL Red Zone. The Patriots, while no one was watching, have turned into a formidable team with their third straight win. The mad genius Belichick has built another winner that the rest of league should be worried about.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Autumnal Zoo and Night Run

Well, back in the Man Cave, deprived of the company of the New Jersey bunch, but I’d like to think we made the most of our short time down there. We capped it off yesterday with a visit to the Turtle Back Zoo, a small zoo near their house. The FBR had told me a lot of stories about the place and was excited to escort us around. Wingman and Wingmom accompanied us for a very fun afternoon. I was surprised at the collection of animals available and for once they were up and about. Usually when I visit a zoo, the animals are sleeping, usually behind a strategically placed rock so you end up seeing a paw sticking out. Not this time, they were up and about, something I attributed to the brisk fall air as opposed to the humidity of summer when I usually patronized animal parks.

Outside the Zoo with the Inevitable Shoulder Ride

With Abuela

Showing Abuela How to Pat Rays

The FBR coaxed her two grandmothers to help her pet the sting rays. Since I run into enough of these beasts down in Panama I wasn’t that thrilled with this. I had a couple land on my back when I was boogie boarding earlier this year. We saw some beautiful leopards, lions, wolves (a personal favorite), and giraffes. The FBR got to feed the giraffe which was kind of cool. It seemed she always wanted to be somewhere else within the zoo while the rest of us wanted to see the exhibits. She eventually calmed down enough to permit a casual viewing, after a promised pony ride, of course. The goal of the entire quest was to reach the miniature train which ran through the woods near the zoo.

FBR Head Popping up in Prairie Dog Village

Cheetah with a Dog as a Partner

The Pony Ride

Giraffe Feeding with Abuela

FBR not Shying Away

FBR Ignoring Sign trying to Pat a Bear Through Glass

We eventually reached it and the FBR was mollified to the point that she shifted her focus to the next thing on her wish list, which seemed to expand every time we walked by an attraction. These attractions usually cost a couple bucks but she knew grandpa was usually good for it. Overall though it was an afternoon I’ll always treasure because I got to spend it with some very special people and a very excited granddaughter.

FBR and Grandpa on the Train

The Grammas Right Behind Us

FBR and my Favorite Panamanian

FBR and Flamingoes

We changed up our travel plans so we could have the special afternoon. Instead of trying to shoot the gap between the two rush hours we waited to leave until after 7. It turned out to be a smart choice (I do get them, every now and then). The only downer was having to pull away from my daughter’s house with the FBR wailing in despair at our departure. We thought we’d leave after she went to bed but that didn’t materialize. Despite that sour farewell we made excellent time and even Connecticut wasn’t prepared for this change in tactics. We made it back to Worcester in less than three hours which is a new record for the trip. I was so psyched that I even decided to finally turn on the heat in the house. Although, to be perfectly honest, that had more to do with some extremely cold Panamanian feet that kept getting shoved under my legs in bed.

The Wolves, Very Cool

Who Knew?, Cheetah's Best Friend Also

Leopard

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Shot Heard ‘Round, well, the House at Least

Yesterday marked yet another step out of the pandemic darkness we’ve found ourselves submerged in over the last nearly two years. On Tuesday night the children’s vaccine was approved and predictably the FBR’s parents were completely on top of it and she had an appointment the following day. The FBR professed some trepidation, based on a recent Walgreen’s flu shot experience, but enjoyed hearing about all the benefits such a development would bring – friends inside the house again! We were drafted to accompany Wingman and the FBR to the appointment to provide the crucial grandparent support element.

The Hero

Appointment Time

The shots were delivered in an old Sears store and I have to give the New Jersey authorities credit – it was a lot better organized than my experience back home. They had a huge TV screen playing cartoons in the post shot waiting area and although there were some lines, we never waited longer than ten minutes. As we were waiting in the last line, we heard a lot of crying emanating from where earlier vaccines were being delivered to other children. When we made it into the booth the FBR wanted to sit in her abuela’s lap and I told her to look into my eyes during the shot. Her abuela then gave her an iPhone and the FBR never glanced up again, even when the needle went in and the vaccine was injected. The attendant said she was the first customer that day that hadn’t cried. Wingman says she’s never cried at any of her shots over the years. She proudly proclaimed, “I didn’t even have to look at you Grandpa!”

Post Shot Cartoon Watching

Cinnabon!!!!

Courage such as this had to be properly recognized and since the vaccination site was attached to a mall, we went in search of the food court. Soon the FBR and my Favorite Panamanian were devouring a full size serving of Cinnabon. I was surprised to see the entire order go downrange as quickly as it did. The FBR, in good spirits, extorted a couple more dollars out of her grandfather as we left the mall when we passed by the strategically placed kiddie rides. We triumphantly returned home to be greeted by my daughter who proudly hugged the star of the day. We then engaged in a dance game invented by my wife. Unfortunately, the mat was kind of small and I couldn’t participate, because every time I did, I ended up shoulder checking my opponent off the mat, mostly unintentionally.

The Dance Game

We Also Helped FBR Clean her Room

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Jersey Run

For reasons no one has been able to explain to me, the FBR’s school district is having a school vacation this week. Mine is not to understand, only enjoy. My Favorite Panamanian and I jumped on the road yesterday to travel down and a spend a couple days with the eldest granddaughter. She was pleased with our appearance and immediately displayed the overflowing accomplishments from trick or treating accompanied by the strong advisory not to pillage same. The trip actually went very well, even in Connecticut which must have been caught off guard by our late planned trip. I worry about the return now that they know we have to come back. The view was incredible throughout though as the fall foliage is in full color, a full three weeks late.

Mummy Movie Watching

We were assigned to the couch fairly quickly and told there was a movie we just had to see. A Disney mummy movie called Under Wraps. The FBR claimed it was scary but it was Disney so not so much. We had a very fun afternoon although it came with the usual physical challenges. I was drafted to provide shoulder rides all the way to the neighborhood park. While there I ran into the dad of one of the FBR’s classmates. Interestingly he also graduated from BU like my daughter. He had been in the Massachusetts National Guard and knew one of the cadets I trained in the early 1990s, small world indeed.

FBR Directing Coloring Effort

We ended the day on the carpet with the FBR where she put both me and the Favorite Panamanian to work helping her color in a puzzle. My usual excuse of not being able to stay within lines didn’t save me this time. The FBR turned out to be a tough taskmaster and wouldn’t let us slack off at all. I guess she got the Army gene as well. In great late night news, the Covid vaccine for kids was approved and her parents were able to get the FBR signed up to get it today. The FBR wasn’t as pleased at the news as the rest of us were until we explained how much freedom this would allow, such as having fellow vaccinated friends back inside the house for visits.

She Was Pretty Strict

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn

Duck Tales

We had a heartwarming event yesterday as BR3 became the third granddaughter to don the Halloween duck costume originally purchased for the  FBR when she still lived in California. All three wore the costume when they were one year old and BR3 seems to be the biggest of the bunch which is probably explainable due to the amount of food she ingests. It was so much fun seeing them all decked out last night. BR3 was bouncing off the walls already because she had snuck a half a Kit-Kat bar ahead off their trick or treating foray. This morning the FBR was back on speaking terms with us so she could proudly display the results of her trick or treating. My daughter was struggling to keep her from augmenting her breakfast with some of those treats.

Over the Years FBR - BRS - BR3

BRS With Her Mom a Couple Years Ago

FBR with her Mom Back in L.A.

Last Night, Kit Kat Evidence on her Chin
With her Sister and Daddy Blippy

I felt bad for the neighborhood kids here in Worcester as there were some cold rain showers throughout the trick or treating hours. I ended up manning the door and watching the Patriots game on the kitchen television because I didn’t want to miss out on the candy doling. There are so many good memories associated with Halloween from my own youth that I experience extreme nostalgia every year on this night. Many of these memories are associated with protecting my candy horde from my voracious sisters. Since there were only intermittent customers each got a full handful of treats which meant we had to make the “cool” house list amongst neighborhood sites.

BR3 Ready to Rock

Riggins in his Lion Costume but not very Enthusiastic

FBR in L.A. 

The First Wearer

The Patriots finally won a game against a good team as they handled a solid Chargers team out in L.A. It was kind of cool that there seemed to be as many Patriots fans in the stands as there were for the home team. That’s L.A. for you. The Chargers never should have left San Diego. I was most pleased with the defense which finally showed the inclination to stop the other team on 3^rd down a couple times. Still a work in progress but this could be a good team by the end of the year.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS                                           

BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3, BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter, ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete = my daughter in law; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Soxfather - my brother in law; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd musquetera (musketeer); Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; 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; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member, Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during her single days in Brooklyn