Redeployment Angst

I am safely back in the warm (almost too warm) confines of the Man Cave with the attendant sore muscles from another morning burrowing into my back hill for the future patio (significant progress there for just one day). I was worried about the balky knee but the power of Advil still compels it into behaving, even for the uphill lugging of all those buckets of dirt. I’ve started extending the retaining wall into the hill and have reached the point where it starts curving towards the fireplace, hence the sore muscles.

Departure Dinner

Day 14 

Our last night in New Jersey was a lot of fun. We picked up the FBR from day camp and, almost as if planned (which I wouldn’t put past her), the ice crem truck pulled into the parking lot as we walked to the car. There ensued a race against time for the FBR to finish off her soft serve ice cream cone before the blistering heat rendered it into soup. Once she had eaten all the sprinkles I was summoned to assist. As I’ve said before, I cannot deny her anything. We returned home for yet another viewing of Lightyear while we waited for my daughter to finish work upstairs.

Race to Finish Ice Cream in the Heat with Abuela

Schooling Granddad in Cards

Watching the Golf Behind our Table

Even More Ice Cream!

We all, including Wingmom, piled into the car for dinner out at the FBR’s favorite Maplewood restaurant. My daughter likes it because there is seating outside and usually a number of other families the FBR ends up scurrying around the area with. The FBR took it upon herself to brief me on what was expected and just how the process worked at this restaurant. She was very specific and used small words to insure I understood. She pulled a card game out of her bag of tricks and soon was trouncing me in a game as I struggled to understand the rules. She assured me I would eventually figure it out. The food was good but the company was great. Despite the heat we were very comfortable under the tent with a golf course directly behind us. In telling evidence that she had a very busy day at camp, the FBR ate all of her meal without question despite the earlier foray with the ice cream cone. She followed up dinner with a dessert of, you guessed it, more ice cream. At least I know she comes by this ice cream loving trait honestly. She has certainly inherited the love of ice cream from a certain grandfather.

Last Walk to Day Camp

Saying Goodbye to the FBR

I made one last walk to day camp drop off on Friday morning with the FBR, my daughter, and their neighbor’s twins. Talking with fellow six-year-olds immediately trumps any uncool conversations with grandfather. I still relished the time watching this sprite prepare for her adventures of the day. We also had to didge while trying to assassinate any Asian Lantern Flies we came upon. There were a lot and the little buggers can seriously jump.

Meanwhile in New Hampshire

BRS and BR3 are Gearing up For 2 Weeks at the Beach

BR3 is Ready!

Beating the Heat with Popsicles

My Favorite Panamanian and I hit the road after breakfast, trying to shoot the gap between morning rush hour and the inevitable crush of a summer Friday afternoon on the roads. We made great time even though Connecticut made its usual effort to snag us up a couple times. We made a quick trip to the Depot to acquire bricks for the aforementioned retaining wall. The Red Sox greeted us home last night with possibly the worst game of their long history, giving up 28 runs! It wasn’t bad enough I was bereft of the company of my daughter and the FBR and they went and did that to me. Spirits will rebound this evening with a dash to Rhode Island to hang with Great Aunt and the incredible Soxfather family

Three more movies have fallen in my A-Z effort, Above the Law (didn’t make the cut based on sheer pomposity), Absolute Power (keeper, crackling good murder mystery with great acting), and The Abyss (keeper, reminder of what a great filmmaker Cameron is).

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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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during 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); 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; 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

Jersey Advil Discovery

Our New Jersey sojourn continued with another day of enjoying the FBR hijinks as she negotiates her summer camp and getting grandparents to do basically whatever she wants. That’s our job, of course, which she is old enough to realize and fully exploit. As I’ve said before, grandparenting, best job ever invented. However it hasn’t been all fun and games for the FBR; well, it has been for me. Her abuela, however, has taken it upon herself to school the FBR on room cleaning (both my son and daughter will report they remember this from their own indoctrination). When we arrived, the FBR’s room looked like a small nuclear device had recently detonated. This did not sit well with her very fastidious abuela.

The Morning Hojaldra Experience

The very coolest thing is that the FBR fully embraced the idea although some of that enthusiasm may have been generated with the promise of payment. The FBR came charging downstairs from the room cleaning efforts to demonstrate to her mother that she had learned how to expertly fold t-shirts, using a book. My Favorite Panamanian has been trying to teach me this for the forty years of our marriage and the FBR got it on her first try. It is so fulfilling to see the FBR finally establishing a close bond with her abuela after I got a free pass to her heart since birth.

Ice Cream in the Village

The FBR was a little upset that the ice cream truck was not parked outside the pickup point for her day camp when I went to pick her up. I assured her that, as directed, I had showed up with cash. Undeterred, she pointed out that there was an ice cream shop in the village of Maplewood that would adequately address her ice cream requirements. As I told you, I cannot deny her anything and an after-dinner foray to the village was announced. The FBR flew through her dinner in a blitzkrieg type approach that differed immensely form her usual delaying tactics. It was a fun time sitting on a bench with my daughter, my Favorite Panamanian and the FBR eating ice cream while watching all the commuters returning from NYC at the nearby train station.

T-Shirt Folding

Finally, for all of you wondering where the hell the title of this post came from, it involves my education. I wrote yesterday about the wrenching my bad knee took due to my idiocy. It was pretty cranky all day but I resisted all efforts to take anything for it outside of some ice. My daughter finally grew impatient with my reluctance and insisted I take some Advil. I’d never taken Advil before, always considered myself either a Tylenol or Motrin aficionado for the various aches and pains senior citizenry brings. I am now a complete fan of Advil. The persistent pain faded into the background and I no longer looked like octogenarian moving around. Better living through chemistry!

This Morning's Camp Drop Off

One more movie have fallen in my A-Z effort, a keeper strictly for the realistic action which was as great as the acting was atrocious, Act of Valor.

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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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during 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); 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; 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

Jersey Landfall

You will ascertain from the accompanying photos that I am no longer breaking rocks in my back yard. My Favorite Panamanian and I wanted to get down to New Jersey to assist our daughter with the handful that is the FBR ever since Wingman headed out on tour over a month ago. We finally made it down yesterday after the usual cat herding process of getting my significant other into the car. Connecticut barely put up its usual fight and we arrived in time to pick up the FBR from her day camp. Realizing grandparents cannot deny her anything, our first stop was the nearby ice cream truck. It was totally called for considering the high 90s heat.

Executing my Important Job as a Landing Zone for the FBR

Upon arriving at home, we retreated inside to wait out the worst of the heat. This meant I was able to (forced) to watch the newest Disney zombie movie (it’s a musical if you can believe it). The FBR takes a very concerted effort to make sure I am fully up to date on her movie repertoire. We eventually made our way to the back yard where the FBR demonstrated some improved bat speed and power. Luckily the pitcher wasn’t struck by any of her laser beams. This, however, proved to be too hot an endeavor and we went back inside so she could open the customary presents we brought. She didn’t buy our story that we forgot.

Disney Movie Watch

Note to Self - Closing Eyes During Movie with FBR
Leads to Immediate Groin Strike

Baseball Practice

This One's Headed for the Wall

My Favorite Panamanian volunteered for the FBR bedtime process while I was scanning the different streaming services they have for the movies on my A-Z list (I might miss a couple during my stay or, egad, watch them out of sequence). The Favorite Panamanian faced a real challenge as yet another ice cream truck parked directly under the FBR’s window and blared its siren songs for a full twenty minutes while the FBR was supposed to be succumbing to sleep. I think that had something to do with the direction I received this morning from my granddaughter as we walked to camp to make sure I came with money to buy ice cream when I go to pick her up this afternoon. The walk to day camp also called for assisting with New Jersey’s invasive species eradication efforts. The spotted lanternfly (Chinese, of course) was everywhere and our mission was to stamp on every one we saw. Just doing our part, ma’am.

When the FBR Steals Your Phone for Selfies

Camp Drop Off This Morning

This visit is not without its inherent dangers however. As usual these dangers are wholly a result of my idiocy. After returning from day camp drop off, I availed myself of my daughter’s peloton bike for a workout. I have a little more length in the legs than my progeny so I moved the seat up. I did this too quickly though and didn’t truly lock it in. This meant that shortly after I started the workout the bike seat crashed down to its lowest point. This wouldn’t be anything but embarrassing except for my bad knee. With the feet locked into the pedals the bad knee was immediately bent at a more extreme angle than it was prepared to endure. My Favorite Panamanian came rushing in and had to help me extricate myself from the awkward position. A few deep breathes later I was able to strap back in and finish the workout but the knee is going to be barking at me for the rest of the day. I predict ice in its immediate future.

Two more movies have fallen in my A-Z effort, keepers and both probably in my top 100, About Time (if you haven’t seen it – you are so wrong) and The Accountant (great action with an autistic hero)

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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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during 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); 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; 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

Anticipatory Monday

I was back out on the hill both yesterday evening and this morning and learned what I knew was waiting for me. This is going to be tough. After I get by the six inches of topsoil, I have to use the pickaxe to delve into the clay which boasts the added benefits of embedded rocks throughout. As I said above, I knew this was coming and feel good that I’ve reach the back of the outlined future patio on the side that I started. I’ve filled up all the dirt shortages in my wife’s vast garden complex so all the dirt I remove from now on has to be carried up the hill for disposal. Weirdly, I’m kind of excited because even though this is as physically taxing as anything I’ve ever done, I’m enjoying seeing the progress.

Day 13

Day 14

Now, as to that title. We are in the anticipatory mode because we’re heading on a road trip tomorrow. My Favorite Panamanian and I are finally returning to New Jersey to hang out with my daughter, the FBR, and Wingmom for a couple days. We’ve been meaning to get down there for over a month but doctor’s appointments, social requirements, and a back yard project have interfered. We want to help our daughter who is in single mom status while Wingman is touring the country with his band’s reunion tour (see attached photo). The FBR is excited about our impending arrival and made a specific request that we bring her a toy as a present, not the usual clothes that my Favorite Panamanian binge buys. We were going to bring her a present anyways (she knows this) but she wanted to make sure we had some guidance on the subject.

Wingman in Denver Last Night

My daughter also sent his video which her phone created for her showing pictures of my Favorite Panamanian and I over the years. Brought a tear to the eye, I am blessed.

Two more movies have fallen in my A-Z effort, both keepers, 2012 (great disaster movie) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (classic Disney)

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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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during 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); 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; 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

Czech-ing In

My Favorite Panamanian and I went in a different direction yesterday with one of our Deckzilla get togethers. We kept it small which allowed for a more leisurely, less frenetic experience. We invited our Czech friends over for a traditional Panamanian dinner and they brought their daughter who has acquired the nom de guerre of my “Czech shadow”. She used to follow me around, probably out of morbid curiosity as to what idiotic thing I would do next. She’s a very lively character that reminds me a lot of the FBR. She made me promise to lead the blog with this picture of her last night.

My Czech Shadow

Very Fun Gathering

Actually, she was horrified that she had her eyes closed and tried to get me to delete it. This, of course, only energized my determination to lead with it today. This is a hard lesson Soxfather’s sister has learned on multiple occasions. My shadow even went so far as to take a page out of my Favorite Panamanian’s book of tactics by asking to see the phone so she could then delete it. Not happening. I may take bad pictures but I am perversely proud of them.

Wife Prepping Ropa Vieja

Favorite Panamanian and the Shadow

Table Dancing

It was a very fun evening spent with truly excellent people. They’re getting ready to fly back to the Czech Republic to visit family this week. It was fascinating to talk with them about their growing up behind the Iron Curtain. They also had elementary school drills on how to react to a nuclear bomb. Of course, in their case, it was the dastardly Americans dropping the nukes. We sadly agreed that was a simpler time than the active shooter drills schools must run today against a much more real threat.

The Gang

Dirt Baths

Wingman Effort

A huge flock of sparrows has confiscated my back yard. They’ve entered into unholy alliance with a bunch of chickadees to deny use of my bird feeder to anybody else. When they’re not mosh pitting the bird feeder, they’re taking dirt baths in my project site. Speaking of the project, no progress today (yet). My Favorite Panamanian objected to attending church with me soaked in sweat. I’ll be out there this evening once the shadows hit the hill. Speaking of mosh pits I gleaned this photo of Wingman from his current tour; looks like he’s making so kind of supreme keyboard effort. Finally, I received this series of photos on the great Broadway adventure yesterday of Great Aunt, Soxfather’s sister, and niece along with my daughter and the FBR. The FBR was still bubbling about it when we talked last night.

Daughter and FBR

FBR Wearing Lunch Next to Great Aunt

Two Great Ladies

Outside the Theater

FBR With the Rhode Island Contingent

FBR Always Finagles Great Aunt's iPhone Away from Her

Good Buddies

Three Great Ladies

In Their Seats

Mom Time

And with Great Aunt

Very Happy Young Lady at her First Ever Broadway Show

Two more movies have fallen in my A-Z effort, am losing the second one, just terrible, falling into the what was I thinking category, 1917 (definite keeper) and 10,000 B.C. (yechh).

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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; Curbside Girls – close friends of my daughter acquired during 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); 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; Pittsburgh College Roommate– high school friend, also a “Minor Celebrity” in Pittsburgh; 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