Without the Cat This Time

I wrote earlier about failing to see the new Exorcist movie with my son over the past weekend. I rectified that failure today as I attempted to reunite with the two people I saw the original with back in 1973. That remains the single scariest movie experience I’ve ever had. That was capped later that evening when I was nervously trying to fall asleep when the family cat perched above my bed, looking down on me with green eyes glowing; just as Linda Blair had for most the original movie. That cat earned her airborne status immediately that night. I saw the movie with Great Aunt and Keene Friend. The latter was unavailable today but Great Aunt bravely made her way north to join me. It was a great afternoon hanging with my sister, review below. Even though no cat was present, at least in my house, Great Aunt received a scare when she got home. She found a guy passed out on her front lawn who leaped to his feet and started practicing karate moves when she woke him up. Emergency personnel arrived quickly and took charge of the idiot. What is it about these movies?!

Great Aunt and I Today at the Movies

One of the great family mysteries has finally been solved, after two long years. Every year my Favorite Panamanian removes glass shelves from a living room curio that houses a bunch of fragile statues. She does this so she can place her large Mary statue inside while the granddaughters are careening around the house over the holidays. For Christmas 2021 the glass shelves were removed and hidden away to protect them from the same careening and, well, my proclivity to break things made of glass (the old brute force and ignorance tendency). Those shelves were not seen again until this morning. When we couldn’t remember where they were, my wife immediately accused me of breaking them and then being rightfully afraid of telling her.

The Found Shelves

The Curio They Were Missing From

At least in this instance I could profess my heartfelt innocence but I’ve lived under that suspicion ever since. I would periodically search the house without luck as the missing shelves were a constant reminder in the living room. This morning my wife was looking for a neighbor’s book she had borrowed and opened the large credenza under the master bedroom television and there were the shelves. I always assumed the drawers were too small to have the shelves but there you go. Vindicated at last. I did not receive an apology for the two years’ worth of probation I served.

The Exorcist Believer attempts to breath new “life” into the iconic 1973 film world that I still consider the scariest cinematic experience of my life. Predictably, it fails to be as scary, although it certainly has its moments. We get two possessed teenaged girls this time who return from a three-day romp in the underworld fully possessed. There was great texture to the movie but it lacked the suspense and build up of tension the original was steeped in. They bring back a couple of the actors from the 1973 film to connect with which was really interesting. In typical “meta-fashion” they had to make the exorcism a more inclusive affair trying to include as many faiths as possible, only missing a druid and an African witch doctor, but the kitchen was only so big. I was nervous going in but I didn’t have to close my eyes once. It shows how good/scary that earlier film was. I still enjoyed it because it was so well done, but, again, nowhere near as scary. But, again, what is?

Four movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: GI Joe, Retaliation, embarrassing sometimes but still great action and that red dress; Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Lisbeth Slander, one of greatest cinema heroes ever; The Girl in the Spider’s Web, a new Lisbeth, every bit as dangerous, great movie, and Girls Trip, forgot how fall down funny this was, Tiffany Hadish is an absolute riot.

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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

Mission Drift

I’ve always been fairly, if inaccurately, proud of my ability to stay healthy while my Favorite Panamanian regularly battles seasonal colds. Last week she was engaged in combat with her usual autumnal sinus cold which had me banished to the old master bed room for a few days. Channeling that inaccurate feeling of superiority, I returned to the marital bed a couple days too soon. Our upstairs neighbors from the condo had departed Friday when the wifely affliction landed squarely on me with spiked hobnailed boots. I’ve written before that I’m a very poor patient, probably due to my time in the Army, where “good” Soldiers are expected to ignore minor physical issues like colds or the odd fractured bone.

BRS on her Brand New Bike

Apparently I am now a full-fledged civilian because there was no ignoring this cold. The additional problem involved the timing. We had a very busy weekend scheduled with a trip up to New Hampshire to assist my son with the BRS and BR3 while the ABFA was away, followed by a trip across the state for Keene Friend 2’s stepdaughter’s wedding celebration, followed by our annual leaf peeping trip today. I claimed to feel better later on Friday so we launched for New Hampshire although I spent the entire weekend masked up while around the granddaughters, bringing back unpleasant 2020 memories.

BR3 Ready for Dance Class

Back Yard Practice with her Sister

Chow Time

The granddaughters were oblivious to my condition and demanded I play the part of tickle monster. Luckily they spent most of the time in the “safe zones” where the tickle monster is not allowed so there wasn’t as much chasing involved. They also invented a new game where they piled every blanket, pillow, and (strangely enough) placemats, on top of me and then tried to steal them back while I defended the pile as “mine”. I know it sounds extraordinarily silly (it was) but I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. The BRS had two birthday parties to attend over the weekend so my wife and I were in charge of (in thrall to in reality) BR3. She remains chaos incarnate in the best way possible.

The New Pile Game

My Favorite Panamanian finally convinced me that I had to stop the daily workout routine until I was feeling better as the body needs some rest. There wasn’t a lot of work involved in the new pillow game so she allowed that. She picked up the slack with the ever-energetic granddaughter duo. My son was fully engaged all weekend in the absence of his better half. We had planned on sneaking out Saturday night to see the new Exorcist movie but he was admitted he was too tired to do that. I now have to find a new partner for that as there is no way I’m seeing it alone. 

Test Drive

Little Miss Chaos

I had to admit that I would be doing a serious disservice to Keene Friend 2’s assembled family if I tried to attend the wedding party on Sunday. This is not the kind of cold I would wish on my worst enemy (well, maybe him) but certainly not the awesome people attending the party. We also postponed the annual leaf peeping trip until later in the week where I plan on feeling better (that is still the idea).

Wife Picking up the Slack While I rest

Shoe Decisions are Not Easy

Down in NJ, Another FBR Tooth has Fallen

So, we’ve had to drift away from highly anticipated missions because I’m now a civilian wimp who can’t easily ignore a simple cold. In my defense, it’s pretty nasty. We’re also keeping an eye on Israel as we have a planned trip there in a couple weeks. Hamas exploded out of the Gaza Strip over the weekend in an unprecedented attack. The Israeli response will likely be swift and large portions of the strip will become a parking lot. I can’t see how Israel can allow the Iranian surrogate, Hamas, to remain in power after this, but it is going to be costly. I shouldn’t worry about the money I’ve already spent when there are so many lives in real danger there now. I’m guessing the Iranians were concerned about the real advancement of Israeli diplomatic relations with Arab nations so they launched this operation to require the Israeli response. The real losers here will be, as always, the Palestinians, once again used as pawns.

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: Ghost Rider 2, not as good as first one but Cage with his face on fire, gotta have it; Ghost in the Shell, Scarlett as a manga warrior robot, what’s not to like; and GI Joe, The Rise of Cobra, much worse than I remembered, but action saves the day.

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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

2/3 of the Amigos

I believe my high school algebra is serving me correctly when I translate four out of a group of six equals 2/3s.  Confirming that is the case, I am most happy to report that we were fortunate enough to form up 2/3s of the most excellent group of “Seis Amigos”. My Favorite Panamanian and I, along with our upstairs condo neighbors, and a Panamanian couple who also inhabit our condo complex form this auspicious group. Our upstairs neighbors were traveling back to the USA from Europe and decided to stop off for a quick visit yesterday, therefore achieving the .66 quotient, which forms a quorum in some quarters. We all missed having the final two members of our group but they remain in Panama, something to hope for in the future. We’ll all be together again in 2024 for further adventures.

4 of the Six Reunited Last Night

Last Time We were All Together
I Think I was Wearing the Same Shirt

Our guests had spent the last few weeks visiting their daughter in Amman, Jordan and then traveling throughout the Middle East and Europe. I was getting tired just listening to all the places they visited: Petra in Jordan (including a sampling of camel milk!), Israel, Cyprus, Lebanon (!!!), Switzerland, and England. That’s a very ambitious itinerary and, as with most things, they were very self-deprecating about their adventures. I was interested in their Lebanese experience and they confirmed it was as broken a place as you’ve heard. So sad for the former Paris of the Middle East. They arrived at our home after taking nearly three hours to drive the forty miles from Logan. They had rented a car and chose not to get the very expensive toll road fee. That meant they had to use non-toll roads all the way to our house. I didn’t know it was possible to get anywhere from Logan without using a toll road. They accomplished it but t was not a fun experience.

As They Left This Morning

Their rental car odyssey was on top of nearly 24 hours traveling from London, through Newark, of all places. After Deckzilla drinks, we took them out to eat at Val’s, figuring, correctly, that they were starving for some truly American cuisine. They were very happy the menu didn’t include a single offering of falafel.  A test of true friendship is the ability to pick up the relationship after long separations with hardly a blip. I believe we more than passed that test as it was if we had left Las Lajas yesterday and were back out on the beach for a sunset. It made the anticipation for our return at the end of the year all the more valid. We had a lively breakfast this morning before they hit the road to Connecticut to link up with family and, yet another high school reunion.

Finished Another Puzzle While Watching Baseball Playoffs
All my old "Friends" From Hammer Horror Movies

Sure Sign Autumn Has Arrived in the House
C.C. Unlikely to Survive the ABFA's next Visit

Yep, Wife Has Transformed Front of House for Autumn

One movie fell in my A-Z watch, a keeper: Ghost Rider, didn’t realize it was a Marvel movie, Cage, being, well, Cage, awesome.  

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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

Bookstore Pillage, Movie and a Dinner

We received notice yesterday that our now 40-year-old daughter somehow survived her totally awesome birthday party hosted by her fellow Curbside Girls and a bevy of other friends. They returned to the Brooklyn haunts of their early twenties and then launched an invasion of Manhattan aboard a party bus. So, survival was not assured, hence the relief. She was still bubbling about the time spent with her friends when we talked. They know she’s a big reader (having bred true from a certain blog writer) and they had a big surprise in store for her in the middle of the ride. They pulled up to the Union Square Barnes and Noble and told her she had ten minutes to pick out as many books as she could physically carry at one time and that would be her present from them. Despite the four-floor climb to her target area, she gleefully over-achieved. That’s my girl! See pictures below chronicling the well played insanity.

Dinner Tonight

We were also achieving here back in the Commonwealth but on a decidedly less prestigious scale. Keene Friend drove down today to take us out to dinner. Being Tuesday, we decided he should come down earlier to so we could hit a movie. That was as much fun as we imagined, see review below. After the movie we invaded the nearby steak house and took absolutely no prisoners. The “Outlaw Ribeye” should be registered as a dangerous weapon. The dinner was filled with the usual banter and dry humor Keene Friend is renowned for. We coordinated a weekend rendezvous as we are both attending the wedding celebration of Keene Friend 2’s step-daughter. A very good day indeed, Tuesday, that is. Any time spent with one of my best friends, seeing a movie, and then devouring dead animal flesh, has to rate.

Daughter with the Gang Saturday Night

Set Loose in the Big Apple

With Two Other Original Curbsiders

Very Serious About Being 40

Returning to One of their Favorite Bars

Curbsiders Still Know how to Party

Daughter Loose in Barnes and Noble

Targets Acquired

No Problem Carrying All These

Happy Birthday Kiddo

The Creator is a very interesting sci fi epic film, despite the obvious Chinese influence. John David Washington once again proves that he’s that rare son of a renowned actor who can more than hold his own. He plays a disaffected former soldier called back into service to hunt down a doomsday weapon developed by the enemy. The enemy is AI which seems to be the latest cinematic trend towards not offending any one ethnic group. Superimposed on the plot is an unconventional love story as well as a true test of parenthood. While the movie takes a while to get to the point, the acting and special effects make the wait more than worth it. There is also a very funny moment involving an automatic language translator, highlighting a love of mother. A well done and thoroughly enjoyable sci fi flick.

As bad as the Red Sox season was, and it was, totally, the nation received a gut punch with the seemingly sudden death of legendary knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. He was a pillar of the Sox in the late 90s and a key member of two world champion teams. While it could be frustrating at times, with the knuckleball fickleness, he was also a consummate professional. Fans got to know him a lot better after his baseball career ended and he stuck around Boston to become a respected commentor on the Red Sox network, including some play-by-play work. He was justifiably lauded for his tireless work in the community, especially with young Jimmy Fund cancer patients. The death came as a shock as no one knew he was battling brain cancer himself. He will be missed as one of the classiest Red Sox players ever and just a great person.

Four movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: Ghostbusters, still one of best pictures ever; Ghostbusters 2, not as good but still a keeper, Ghostbusters Answer the Call, worth the watch for Kate McKinnon and Ghostbusters Afterlife, a return to the original plot line, so well done.

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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

McShawn Renovations

I just didn’t get enough driving in the rain on Friday so we were on the road again last night. This time, thankfully, the distance was much shorter and the rain nowhere near as pervasive. We drove down to Rhode Island for one of the trademark “McShawn’s Nights”. These are named after the bar we used to patronize for these get togethers of Soxfather’s inimitable family. There were too many memories for Great Aunt of Soxfather at the bar so they have moved to the homes of one of the participants. Last night we gathered at the house of Soxfather’s brother and sister-in-law.

Fun Times

We had the usual members and the laughter rose almost as soon as the group gathered. There was a big surprise in that the entire clan arrived within the thirty minutes of the scheduled start time. That is decidedly outside the norm where timeliness within the family is usually as absent as the use of turn signals in Rhode Island. I put forth the theory that Soxfather’s sister denigrates my photographic abilities because she knows how I will react and take even more pictures of her. This proposed concept was roundly dismissed by most present although I believe it might hold some merit. She refused any opportunity for me to take a photo last night but I think she was secretly enjoying it. It must be tough growing up knowing her younger brother was their mother’s favorite.

Captured in Photo, Great Aunt, and Soxfather's Sister

The Group

Ladies Migrated to Their End of Table

It was a great opportunity to reconnect with these special people and learn what everybody has been up to over the summer. We heard tales from the epic summer residency of one of Soxfather’s nephews in Saratoga, New York, where he became something of a local legend. Photos of grandchildren were examined and pronounced superior (the grandkids, not the photos). Soxfather was present in sprit and celebrated in all of our conversations. Way too much food was produced and sent down range, there will be extra laps required in the pool this week. In a major surprise the drive home involved no rain whatsoever. I didn’t miss it but it served as a fitting end for what turned out to be yet another special night spent with these all too special people.

Knocked Out Another Puzzle

Three movies fell in my A-Z watch, all keepers: Get Shorty, too funny send up of pretentious Hollywood; Get Smart, not a very good movie, but still love Agent 86; and Ghost, great movie, Demi with the most luminous eyes ever.

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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