Welcome Delay

Yeah. I know. It’s been a while. You are most certainly welcome for the respite from my inane ramblings but that vacation is over. I have excuses, but as one of my former Army drill sergeants once told me, “The maximum effective range of an excuse is zero meters.” I first had to contend with yet some more painting as my Favorite Panamanian took advantage of the weekend tax holiday to purchase some more paint. The hallway of the main staircase was allocated to me while she pursued more important tasks with the Neighborhood Mafioso. That wall took a bit of stretching, even with a ladder in place on the stairs. Note to self – balanced precariously on a ladder placed on stairs is not for the faint of heart, but it got done.

Dinner Last Night

Late Monday the Maine Musquetera and her husband showed up for a welcome visit. It has been way, way too long since we’ve had the opportunity to hang with these special people. Job #1 on Tuesday morning for the ladies was, of course, launching on their favorite shared activity -  shopping. I may have made a critical mistake in showing my Favorite Panamanian how to enter her favorite stores in the Waze. Heretofore she’s always been dependent on the Neighborhood Mafioso to reach certain places. Her hunting grounds have therefore expanded. This could get expensive.

Newly Painted Hallway

While they were out, the two guys faced the task of assembling the other victim of the weekend tax holiday. The new kitchen table chairs were delivered and required assembly. We went to the store because they promised free delivery. When the salesman started to charge me $129 to deliver the chairs, I asked him about that offer. He said the free part meant they just dropped the boxes off and I would have to assemble. We went the free route as I thought, how tough would assembling chairs be? It wasn’t, but the fingers are a little raw from all those turns of the allen wrench. The musquetera’s husband was an immense help and by the time we were finished we could assemble a chair in about ten minutes, despite the English assembly directions composed by someone in Vietnam.

The New Chairs

While we awaited the return of the respective better halves, I introduced my buddy to the pleasures of watching a movie in the Man Cave. He was as thoroughly impressed as I anticipated and opined it was difficult to believe that I ever left the sanctuary. That struck a little too close to what I hear from my Favorite Panamanians at times. He marveled that this was the first full length movie he sat though in years. A good time although we had to take a break after a message from the musqueteras where we had to measure their car to insure a carpet they were buying would fit in their car.

The Musqueteras Talking with Tia Loca 

The ladies did eventually return (after some coaxing) and we set out for dinner. We were going to take them to Val’s but we learned Val’s was closed not only on Monday but Tuesday nights as well. A return to Worcester saw us in a well-appointed steak house where we had a really fun dinner with the added entertainment of a major dish falling incident. Our energetic waitress actually brought the other waitress that had dropped the dishes over to introduce her as the source of the evening’s entrainment. Which was kind of weird. We ended the night back in the Man Cave where all four of us enjoyed another movie. It is contagious. So much fun hanging with these friends. Tomorrow, we head south to retrieve the FBR for her two week stay with us. You’re probably going to get an even longer break from my inanity as it is hard to write when confronted with granddaughter energy levels.

While left to my own devices this past weekend I snuck out to see a horror movie, The Last Voyage of the Demeter. To say the Dracula legend has been thoroughly plowed for stories would be a vast understatement but filmmakers still try. The Demeter is the ship Dracula uses to get from Transylvania to England. Ignoring all the evil portents the crew takes on the cases including the vampire king. Vampiric hijinks ensue as members of the crew and assorted pets are drained. The film builds up a nice level of tension but drops the ball in the second half when they figure out where Dracula is hiding during the day. They then come up with an elaborate plan to trap him but wait until dark to do it. I know a certain level of imbecility is required for horror movie victims but this has to rank up near the top. The movie was well acted but knowing how it ends is never a good premise to build a horror movie upon.

Five movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, holds up well and that red bikini top; Faster, the Rock playing against type as vengeful force of nature; Father of the Bride, Steve Martin a bit annoying but still lovable; Father of the Bride Part 2, thank God Diane Keaton is around to save this; and Father Goose, one of my favorites of all time, “Married!? Goody two shoes and the filthy beast!”

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Italian Style Festing

Our quiet weekend as agreeably interrupted yesterday when my Favorite Panamanian and I joined the neighborhood mafiosos and other members of the Worcester Chapter of the Panamanian Mafia at Worcester’s annual Italian Festival. This used to be held near the center of town but the traditional Italian catholic church there was sold and it is now held in one of the southern neighborhoods. I wasn’t expecting much but they crammed a massive tent into a church parking lot and made a real effort to replicate the well-remembered center Worcester event.

A very Fun Group

We met up with friends at one of the many tables and spent the rest of the evening warding off other attendees looking for a place to sit. It was fun watching all the young families running around and reveling in the fact that the days as a parent chasing young children were far behind us. I temper that revelation with the realization that by the end of this week we’ll have two granddaughters to perform the same tasks for. It was a fun night hanging with friends as the festival flowed around us. As usual, the Neighborhood Mafioso had friends and acquaintances stopping by all night. I believe they qualify as bona fide Worcester min-celebrities.

More of the Mafia Arrives

Inside the Tent

After dinner a band started up playing 1970s classics, so right in our wheel house. It wasn’t long before we were out on the dance “floor”. My Favorite Panamanian kept trying to guide me away from the area in front of the stage. I was trying to figure out why when I looked over my shoulder and the truth was starkly revealed. The band featured two singers, the lead singer was a guy wearing as really bad wig and a rather stout young lady who had a much better voice. The lady was wearing a short skirt that was billowing up with the wind. My glance back educated me to the fact that she should have worn a more robust set of underwear. She was about 150 pounds north of qualifying for the ones she had on. My Favorite Panamanian had tried to protect me. Still, once my eyesight was restored a very good evening spent with great friends, lots of laughing.

The Band

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch as I finished my run through the F&F universe, all keepers, Fate of the Furious, Theron deliciously evil and fighting a submarine; F9, The Fast Saga, Dom’s brother appears great climatic battle; and Fast X, cliffhanger as everyone return from the dead

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Stairtread to Thunder

I don’t require a lot of or very deep reasons to sneak north to my hometown, what is called amongst the chosen, a Thunder Run. Yesterday, however, I had a very valid excuse. Keene Friend had asked me on a prior thunder run if I would help him install a new stair tread on the front steps of his house where the old one had split in half. He had to make this request over a couple thunder runs because I’m finding memory banks are now routinely scrubbed after (or maybe during) the runs. Originally my Favorite Panamanian was not going to accompany me but we have granddaughters inbound in a couple weeks so shopping was required.

The Penuche's Quorum

She gave me a hard time about all the tools I loaded into the car for the trip but I’ve learned a very hard lesson. It’s okay to have tools you don’t need but it’s a stone-cold bitch to need a tool and not have it. We arrived at Keene Friend’s house, dumped all the tools and she disappeared until the evening. Keene Friend and I tackled the initial step which was removing the tread. That was fairly easy although it was evident this was an old set of stairs, more than the thirty years Keene Friend has owned the house. The bottom step of the riser cracked on one side so we had to cut a piece of the old tread to latch onto the intact part of the stringer and create a new bed to nail the tread into. After dry fitting the new tread in place, we learned that back in ancient times (when these stairs were first built) a 2” by 12” was just that. Two inches by twelve inches. In the intervening years the standard size of lumber has shrunken and the new tread would leave a gap if we moved it forward enough to take the bottom on the banister footing.

The Original Damaged Tread

This is where we got creative and ripped an inch wide strip of the old tread to fill that gap. It actually turned out looking okay and the banister was bolted into the new tread. Success. This meant we were ready for a garden variety thunder run. We walked down the street to Penuche’s Ale House where the bar was full of locals just getting off work and debating baseball rules (Keene can get weird). In short order my Kindergarten Friend joined us to provide a quorum. We tried to place a call to the PCR (a thunder run prerequisite) but he was obviously ducking the call. Luckily his much more conscientious wife noticed we had called and forced him to call us back which led to the usual hilarity. This was followed by a trip across Keene so the Keene Friend could feed a cat he was babysitting for and then a Margarita’s dinner. We stayed over so Keene Friend and I could watch the first Patriots’ preseason game but that turned out to be a dud so we switched over to the Sox game. A great day, not because of the successful project but because I got to hang with my friends all day long.

Our Replacement

Wednesday night was date night and we went see my Favorite Panamanian’s boyfriend’s latest movie, Meg 2, The Trench. This is a direct sequel to the first one with some of the main characters returning although they killed off the romantic lead for Statham’s character in between the movies which was a mistake as she was one of the truly watchable parts of the first one. She’s replaced by her now teenaged daughter whom Statham’s character is raising. She’s every bit as annoying as most teenage girls are expected to be however, in this case, her hijinks inevitably lead her straight into a Meg’s jaws which, of course, requires Statham to save her, repeatedly. While there are plot holes you could swim a megalodon through, the action sequences are well done with significant tension. That’s really what this movie is, a two-hour long action sequence with the plucky heroes standing off mercenaries and 80 foot sharks. What the hell, it’s a summer popcorn movie. I liked it.

One movie fell in my A-Z watch, a keeper, Furious 7, maybe the best of the bunch with Kurt Russell chewing up some scenery and that car jump between Abu Dhabi buildings and saying goodbye to Paul Walker.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Back to the Ballpark

It was truly appropriate that last night was Italian Heritage Night at Polar Park here in Worcester. Polar Park is the home of the Worcester Red Sox, known locally as the WooSox. Appropriate, because the night was replete with memories of Soxfather as Great Aunt journeyed north to join my Favorite Panamanian and I for a WooSox game. The fact that my sister enjoys baseball games can blamed totally on Soxfather, although she does seem to have an almost unhealthy appreciation of ballplayer posteriors, dating back to Dwight Evans in the first game Soxfather ever took her to. She came up early so I could continue her exposure to the wonder that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the first (and some say best) Ironman 1.

At the Game Last Night

We arrived at the ballpark to see the grounds crew putting the tarp on the field instead of off. Not a good sign. My Favorite Panamanian who professes to be allergic to rain, despite coming from one of the wettest countries on earth, began to panic. A brief shower passed through delaying the game for nearly an hour which allowed us to grab dinner and eat on the covered concourse. Once under cover my enterprising wife took advantage of the delay to do some shopping in the team store. Consistency. The game was about to get underway when we noticed a beautiful rainbow over the right field wall.

Great Aunt Waiting out the Rain

That Rainbow

As I sat next Great Aunt during the game the conversation inevitably returned time again to Soxfather and the many memories he bequeathed both of us to us through his love of baseball and the Red Sox in most particular. We could almost see, from where we were sitting, where his grandparents, fresh off the boat from Italy had first settled in the United States. The game got off to a great start once the tarp was stored with the Sox quickly up by six runs. That all changed with one of the longest innings I’ve ever seen as the bad guys scored nine, yep, nine runs in the 6^th inning. This all happened after the Sox took their starting pitcher out to be followed by two guys who served up the nine runs. It’s kind of appropriate that one of the pitchers that got torched was one of the guys the Sox got for Kike Hernandez in a trade. He pitches as bad as Kike fielded.

Great Seats

Due to the delay and Great Aunt’s need to drive back to Rhode Island, we left after the seventh inning debacle. Note – Soxfather would not have approved. He must have been watching because we learned this morning that the Sox rallied to win the game 10-9. The game didn’t end until almost midnight so our decision was valid. Nothing could detract from the time I got to hang out with my big sis though. Time well spent. I’m hoping my younger sister’s husband’s health improves to the point we can all go to a game together. Soxfather would approve.

Wingman and Favorite Daughter, Best Weekend Ever #1

Yesterday and today were also noteworthy as they marked the wedding anniversaries of both my daughter and son. I always remember them as the Best Weekends Ever 1 and 2, separated by five years. My daughter’s was special because it marked the best time we ever had in our beloved Charlton home as we were immersed in the great assembly of family and friends for the weekend. I still remember the heart clenching emotion as the church doors opened as I had to walk my daughter down the aisle. It will be one of those memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. Likewise, the same moment, five years later, in a different church, we were standing next to my son when the doors opened and he saw the ABFA in her wedding gown for the first time. If there had ever been any doubt in my mind (there hadn’t), I knew I was in the presence of true love. Another one of those memories. Spookily the reception took place just down the road from the home of my first fiancé, different class of memories.

ABFA and Favorite Son, Best Weekend #2

Jumping back to the present. My son and his family successfully if, regrettably, redeployed back home from the beach. Both the BSR and BR3 enjoyed rooming with each other so much that they wanted to keep doing it back home. The parents, envisioning bedtime antics, firmly rejected that offer. Since the BRS has finished with the Day Care center in preparation for her entry into kindergarten shortly, she is spending this week with her other grandparents, the ABFA’s folks. This led to an incredibly funny moment for BR3. She was a little put out to see the BRS packing up and leaving with her dad. She told the day care teachers that her dad wouldn’t be picking her up because he had left, quote, “on vacation with her sister and left her behind”. Too funny. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the FBR is in full preparation mode for her two weeks with us later this month. During each call she reminds us of what she expects in the way of events for her, the BRS, and BR3. Anticipation, at the grandparents level is starting to peak.

Spiderman Spotted with the BRS

Who is that Masked Superhero?!

None other Than BR3

Then it was Disney Princess Time with a Friend

FBR Garbed Up for Summer Camp

Two movies fell in my A-Z watch, both keepers, Fast Five, getting series back on track, if silly, the safe through Rio - classic; and Fast and the Furious 6, when we really started to go bonkers taking on a tank on a Spanish super-highway.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Redecorating Memories

The first-floor re-imagining continued over the weekend as I was called upon to install window treatments over the four front facing windows. With the new kitchen table, a sideboard next to it is being consigned to the granddaughter area in the basement. Apparently, it just did not go with the new table. While it looked fine to me, I am not authorized nor qualified to offer opinions in the style area. I mention the table because as my Favorite Panamanian was cleaning it out for the move, she ran across a small booklet of old photos. It was timely coincidental for my former XO because the photo below depicts him as well the lieutenants that he and I talked about at length last week when we got together. They were a great bunch of guys. This photo was taken at our Annadale, Virginia home, I’m guessing in 1985. My Favorite Panamanian and I are in the back with much darker hair than nowadays. The other photo was of me with two of my friends on one of our Sunday excursions to the Amador Causeway in 1981 in Panama. I’ve written before about how much the area has changed since I was stationed there. The area behind where we were seated is now covered in huge hotels and restaurants. Yep, feeling old.

The Lieutenants and I, XO on Bottom Right as well as a Gal
Who I believe Became a Wife to Second Row Left

L-R, Jim, Fred and Me on the Causeway 1981

In addition to installing the new curtains, we now have a completely new entry foyer (what the hell is a foyer anyways?). There’s a new table there as well as a couple new pictures, which I guess qualifies this as a new wall treatment. You see, I was paying attention during the HG Channel exposure. Before my Favorite Panamanian allowed me to install the new curtain rods I was counseled to watch a YouTube video on the right way to do it. Although I’ll never admit this to my wife (as if you didn’t know who the counselor was), I did pick up a couple tips that were useful. I also have to admit as more of the “projects” come on line that the first floor does look much better. Shhh, do not mention this to my Favorite Panamanian as it will undercut my complaints about the attendant costs.

New CUrtains

New Foyer

Newly Painted Garage Door From Deckzilla

And Entry Door From Garage

Five movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers, Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer, well done follow up; Fantastic Four, the terrible one from 2015, but it has Kate Mara who I remain in love with; Far and Away, entertaining epic, makes you want to strangle Kidman for the whole movie, so there’s that; Fargo, great movie, Sherriff Marge, one of my favorite movie characters of all time, Yap; and Fast and the Furious, funny to see the humble beginnings before the serial shark jumping this series has followed up with.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                      

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course 

Table Motioned

I thought a family tradition died last night. One of the very few good things to come out of 2020 and the Covid pandemic was the Family First Friday FaceTime call. This replaced the First Friday time at the bar, which were, of course, all closed. I’ve noticed the waning of attendance as the granddaughters have gotten older, but they were never the focus as I truly enjoyed the times speaking with my son, daughter, Sister, Wingman, and the ABFA. Yesterday my son was too busy to participate and after a brief drive by with the FBR, she had to sign off to appropriately hostess a movie night with some her friends. Great Aunt was late, so after a couple minutes, it was just me and my Coors Lite on the call. Great Aunt did eventually log on and was followed in short order by my daughter who snuck away from the movie night festivities. When I mentioned it might be time to pull the plug on the Friday calls, they both vociferously disagreed. Apparently they look forward to them as much as I do. The calls will continue.

The Call Last Night, so Much Fun

The first-floor redecoration project (of my Favorite Panamanian, of course) took a huge step forward today with the acquisition of a new table. The current table is too small for the entire family at Christmas breakfast, so needed replacing. I guess. She and the Neighborhood Mafioso are always dangerous when they disappear into the sopping nether world. That happened yesterday afternoon as they set out in search of the elusive curtain rods. I failed to mention that my wife failed to find them during the thunder run to Keene. That didn’t curtail additional shopping though while we were there. We do have time with granddaughters coming up, always a source of motivation when it comes to acquisitionary behavior from their abuela. At any rate, they found the curtain rods (I knew you were worried), although to get the four we needed, required trips to three different stores. That’s the cool thing about living around Worcester, there are so many stores in the surrounding communities that they check inventories of sister stores and send them on their way.

The New Table

There so many stores that the ladies, in their search, came across the aforementioned table which they proclaimed was a perfect replacement for the existing glass topped table next to the kitchen. The kicker was delivered when I asked when it was going to be delivered. She answered by asking me when I could go get it; the store doesn’t deliver. The glass top for the table is huge and my track record with breakable items isn’t strong. My Favorite Panamanian is well aware of that well-earned reputation so she was a more than a little nervous. They drafted the friend of the Mafisoso’s daughter to volunteer to help with his truck. I brought a lot of cushions and quilts for the glass and got it into the house without breaking anything although it was a bona fide workout. A true victory.

Five movies fell in my A-Z watch, four keepers, Expendables 3, weakest of the bunch, tried to do too much and at PG-13; Extraordinary Measures, more of a TV movie, not worth keeping; FaceOff, sublimely ridiculous, over the top action; Fall of the Roman Empire, a true epic, a bad movie but keeping for Sophia; and Fantastic 4, Jessica Alba and Chris Evans in his first go round as a superhero.

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Mid-Week Thunder

I am back in the Man Cave undergoing the rest and recuperation phase of my latest thunder run to my home town. My Favorite Panamanian, in her first-floor redecoration mode, declared she needed to buy curtain rods. Trying to be ever helpful (my story, I’m sticking to it), I mentioned that they sell curtain rods in Keene. I will admit to ulterior motivations in this declaration. I had already checked to see if Keene Friend and the Cantankerous One were available. While the price of the gas spent on reaching Keene more than offsets any savings on sales tax, somethings don’t have a price, such as time spent hanging with my oldest friends.

Lab 'N Lager Think Tank Gathering

We swung by Keene Friend’s house to see his recently remodeled bathroom. He then made a rookie mistake that had me cringing when I heard him utter it. He asked my Favorite Panamanian her opinion on what color he should paint the bathroom walls. Anyone who read last week’s blogs understands this an avenue fraught with deep cogitation by my wife. We were already a little late to rendezvousing with the always punctual Cantankerous Friend (something he would not fail to point out if it was longer than a minute). Eventually she decided on a color but cautioned Keene Friend that she would have to see the room at night and in morning light to be definitive. I just shook my head. I wasn’t asked for my opinion for all the obvious reasons.

Dinner at Margarita's

We set up camp in the Lab ‘n Lager which is quickly becoming the go to place for weekday thunder runs. We were joined in short order by Kindergarten Friend. As we now had a quorum, we set about solving the major political, social, and cultural issues of our time. It was a glorious summer day as Keene’s denizens strolled by outside. Cantankerous had just returned from a week-long bike tour through the northern Rockies and is setting out tomorrow for another one on the Michigan Upper Peninsula. He does present a moving target. After concluding our high brow discussions, we adjourned down Main Street to sit outside Margarita’s for dinner.

View of Downtown Keene from our Table

Downtown Keene has survived as a true downtown and social center for the city when so many others have been eroded. That’s what makes the time I get to spend there so special. This was the same downtown at least six generations of my family have walked down. We received a message from the PCR asking why he hadn’t received his usual drunken phone call from us after I posted on Facebook that we were at the Lab. We rectified that when we got back to Keene Friend’s house but the PCR had trouble staying awake. It was, after all, after 8pm; luckily his stalwart wife was around to insist he talk with us. Mission accomplished.

Our benighted former president was indicted, again, earlier this week for his role in trying to remain in power after the last presidential election. This is, by far, the most serious charge of the many he faces and he is, of course, using this as a method to raise more money from his misled followers to pay his legal bills (despite still claiming to be a billionaire). I’ve written before that I just cannot understand why people cannot see through him. I’ve prided myself on being a lifelong Republican and conservative but the party has been hijacked by his minions, much as in the democratic party has by the far left. Why can’t people see Trump for the fraud that he is? He cares only for himself and could very well be an undeclared agent for a foreign power. How does he get away with it? It’s a form of group think that I just cannot rationally explain. People I know and respect actually, and in some cases fervently, support this bloated scam artist. He doesn’t have a leadership bone in his body. He attacked and continues to attack the basic foundations of the republic he claims to love. How has this happened?

BRS and BR3 Remain in Beach Mode

The New Tattoo

In happier news, another big event happened out in Missouri this past weekend during the FBR and Wingman’s epic trip to St Louis. Wingman is justifiably proud of his many tattoos (even though he tried to disguise them from me when we first met). He somehow added another one while on the trip and it’s a tribute to the FBR featuring her favorite stuffed animal, a teddy bear we gifted her with. She was suitably impressed and delighted to see the new artwork. While my son is back to work this week, the rest of the fam remains at the beach house while he commutes daily from there. The BRS and BR3 appear to be browning up nicely from their beach time, especially the BRS who is a bona fide beach nut. I scared myself earlier this week in my A-Z movie watch progress when I thought I had to watch The Exorcist. The scariest movie ever made. I texted my son that I had to figure out a way to watch it during the day. He rightfully called out my wimpiness and said I had to watch it at night with the lights out (damn it). I didn’t think I owned a copy and it turned out that I didn’t, it was The Exorcist III (the one with George C. Scott). When I relayed this crisis averted information to my son he, with a bit of relish, said that he an extra copy of the original and would gift it to me (double damn it!).

For date night this week we took in the Barbie Movie. I think I’m a victim of over anticipation. I expected too much form this movie and it didn’t deliver. It was cute, with some funny lines (mostly by the narrator) but it felt kind of flat to me. I mean, I get it. This is supposed to be a movie aimed at attacking the patriarchy and raising up womankind but it was a bit too silly to be taken seriously. Men, in the true tradition of the Lifetime channel, were portrayed as inept, boorish, and idiotic; cleverly trying to cast them in the same light women are all too often. I get it. When a film with a message tries to beat you about the head and shoulders with that message the message gets lost. The actors were uniformly good, especially Margot Robbie in the title role and Gosling as a hapless/evil Ken. Again, I think I know what the filmmakers were aiming for, but they missed, not badly, but clearly. Maybe I should have worn pink to the movie.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers, Exorcist III, not as scary as original but it has its moments; Expendables, Stallone returning to his 80s action roots; and Expendables 2, goofy fun as more and more 80s action stars cameo. Guess what’s next?

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RECURRING CHARACTERS:                                     

ABFA – Amazing Best Family Athlete - my daughter in law; BR3 – Blog Reader #3 – granddaughter #3; BRS - Blog Reader the Sequel - second granddaughter; Cantankerous Friend – friend since grade school who likes to argue about everything, poses as radical leftist to attract women; CRC - Connecticut Riverboat Captain – another close friend from high school, renowned sailor of the big river; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during him her single days in Brooklyn; Deckzilla – our backyard deck which grew to monstrous dimensions once my wife got involved in planning; Favorite Panamanian - the wife (of course); FBR - First Blog Reader - first granddaughter; First Friday – celebrations to mark the First Friday of the Week; Great Aunt - my elder sister; Keene Friends 1 & 2 – friends since high school from my home town of Keene, NH; Kindergarten Friend – friend since kindergarten whom I reunited with after many years; Maine and Virginia Musqueteras – two close friends of my wife – her US sisters, my wife is the 3^rd Musquetera (musketeer); Namesake Nephew – son of Great Aunt and Soxfather named after me; Neighborhood Mafioso - wife's close friend and Panamanian mafia member; PanaGals – female relatives /friends of my wife from Panama; Panamanian/Latin Mafia – inevitable group of Latino friends my wife accumulates wherever we have lived & their spouses; PCR - Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; PCR+1 - Pittsburgh College Roommate’s wife; Riggins - also known as the Grandpuppy, son's dog; Soxfather - my brother in law; Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course