Eclecticism

It’s been that kind of time since my last post. A wild variety of activities undertaken. I made the mistake of deciding to start packing my suitcase for Panama and was sucked into the vortex that is my Favorite Panamanian. She takes luggage prep as an almost holy undertaking. I thought I’d set iron clad terms that I would get one suitcase out of the six we are taking. My agreement was worth the paper it was printed on. I left a pile of my stuff next to my alleged suitcase. Two days later I found she had shrink wrapped everything and “re-distributed” it across all of the suitcases in order to fit all of her stuff as well. I’m not angry because I knew it was bound to happen and at least everything I wanted to take is packed (I think). I should probably check under the bed.

Wife and I at the BrickBox

I was also reminded of a forgotten promise I’d made weeks ago to assist her with the preparation of empanadas. The kids love them and over the years of our marriage I’ve been drawn into that process as well. Sensing a theme here, aren’t we. She does all the hard work preparing the stuffing while I’m charged with the final sealing of the edges. Life can get so busy that times like this, when we both are working on the same task, where we can joke and converse, becomes not only fun, but important.

Empanada Prep

We had a Friday night date in downtown Worcester. The main theater in Worcester is the Hanover, but I learned that they have a smaller, cozy theater around the corner called the BrickBox theater. The method of my education was, once again, my Favorite Panamanian (yet another theme emerges). She glommed onto an internet ad for something called “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold”. Falling victim to one of her harangues (when she really wants something), I bought tickets during a moment of weakness. While I love going to live theater, this didn’t seem like my kind of event. However, my wife was psyched. I was a little concerned this comedy might be a little touchy for my very catholic wife.

Worcester Common Friday Night

I shouldn’t have been. The persistent Friday rain stopped long enough for us to walk across the Worcester Common, beautifully lit for Christmas, to the theater. The BrickBox was cool; very small but well set up with three small bleachers of chairs arrayed around the open stage. There was a Christmas chorus singing as the pregame show. That included one of the funniest versions of the 12 Days of Christmas I’ve ever heard. The song featured what happened to all the various gifts after Christmas. Most of the birds ended up in the cook pot while everything else met similar, sometimes bloody, fates. The show itself had a very funny lead actress portraying a nun-educator.

Pre-Game Chorus

Nun with Audience Member

My Favorite Panamanian did not stop laughing for the entire time we were seated. That made the night worthwhile. I think you had to experience Catholic Schools (which I certainly did not) to understand a lot of the subtle jokes. The show was respectful to church which made all the difference for the wife, who thought the whole thing was hilarious. The second half was particularly painful as various audience members were brought on stage by the nun to be dressed up as a living nativity scene. I worked really hard at shrinking into my seat to avoid detection. A very fun night hanging with that lady I’m married to.

The Nativity Scene

She must have been in a good mood from Friday night because she agreed to accompany me Saturday on an unscheduled trip north to Keene. This didn’t qualify as a thunder run because no bars were involved. I was on a mission to rectify my faux pas from the last thunder run when the three new copies of the house keys disappeared. Keene Friend hadn’t been able to find where I dropped them, so that was the only excuse I needed to head north. We went out to eat lunch, secured a new set of keys, and then paid a visit to the housebound Cantankerous Friend to deliver some needed supplies. He can’t drive with his new knee yet, but continues to impress with his post-surgery mobility.

Mercy Mission to Cantankerous Friend

My wife then, finally, made a mistake. She dropped Keene Friend and I off at his house so we could watch football while she went shopping. She conveniently forgot that Keene Friend, being a fabulous host, sported a full refrigerator of beer. While his house lacked the atmosphere and scenery of the Lab ‘n Lager, his chairs are so much more comfortable. This meant we could doze off for the boring parts of the game (something I’m sure the Lab would frown upon). My Favorite Panamanian was a little miffed to find out she would be driving home instead of me when she eventually rejoined us for pizza. I didn’t tease her (too much) about paying the price for extended shopping time. My wife found another large suitcase and as my mother was fond of saying, it was “such a bargain”.

BR3 in Baking Attire

BRS Always Ready to Help

Dynamic Duo in Action

Wit the Head Chef

While all this was going on, some very important, no, I’ll go further and say holy work was going in New Jersey and the seacoast of New Hampshire. Both my son and daughter were engaged in the divine endeavor of baking Christmas cookies. They were both assisted by my granddaughters so I’m sure the cookie count took a hit. I’m so pleased both of their families are following this tradition of Christmas cookies. My mom used to make each of the cookies prepped. I can still remember the smell of the house when that was going on. It smelled like, well, Christmas. While my wife created Spritz cookies earlier this week, my son prepped peanut butter blossoms and sugar cookies, while my daughter also created the blossoms as well as her signature chocolate cookies. Their new cats, Walnut and Pistachio’s first experience with this effort. Walnut was confused enough to “buzz the tower” during chocolate kiss unwrapping while Pistachio seized control of a fallen apron. Of course, this has done nothing but get me more excited for the upcoming holiday when all these worthies (and their cookies) will be in house.

FBR with her Friend Helping my Daughter
Walnut on Watch

Pistachio and the Stolen Apron

Walnut Buzzing the Tower

Successful Mission

Six movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: Van Wilder – impossibly young Deadpool that hasn’t aged well but still funny; Varsity Blues – solid Texas high school football flick with dynamic cast and then there’s the teacher dance; V for Vendetta – interesting to watch this nowadays with comments on fascism; Venom – love the interplay between Hardy and Hardy as both Eddie and Venom; Venom Let There be Carnage -  Woody is a great villain and Michelle Williams dominates as well; Venom the Last Dance – great farewell to Venom.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Early Christmas Gift and Annual Post

I post the words below each year around this time for self-stated reasons. Before that, I (in accordance with guidance from Great Aunt) have to reveal an early Christmas present I received today, although not exactly what I was hoping for. Yesterday I had my semi-annual dermatology appointment where my very comely dermatologist runs her hands all over my body attempting to locate my persistent skin cancers. I was on a roll, with nearly two years of no biopsies. If I was biopsy-free this time, the visits would be reduced to annual instead of every six months. We got through the front inspection (which includes the always problematic face) and I was getting excited, until she checked out a spot that had been itching on my back which my Favorite Panamanian made me promise to tell her about. Yep. The spot had her reaching for her biopsy knife and I was back to six months again. However. Today I received a present even greater when the biopsy came back as positive for cancer but also that she had scooped enough that the margins were clear. That means she got it all with the biopsy! That means no Mohs surgery, a definite win.

The Favorite Panamanian was up late last night on a holy mission. She was making Christmas cookies. Although unneeded at this point, since my Christmas spirit is already percolating at near holiday level already, this was a welcome reminder. I was also reminded of my own mother since my wife was making spritz cookies and having the same harsh conversation with the cookie press that I remember my mother having. I think this is as close to swearing as my wife ever gets. We also made one last attempt to have the garage door banner up. She sewed Velcro strips to the banner and it’s working so far. We’ll get another acid test tomorrow with high winds (again!!) and rain forecast. Again, you can’t knock me down, we’re coming up on my absolute favorite time of year and the Christmas tree is nearly fully stocked. Here are the words I post annually.

The Tree is Full

I hope as you are reading this, you have a special group of family and friends to gather at holiday time approaching how special mine is. If so, you can’t help but have a merry Christmas. Please also remember those in uniform serving in far off lands preserving our freedom. I was unbelievably lucky to only miss three Christmases at home during my 27 years of service but each hurt. Honor those who keep us safe. For those looking for holiday spirit, do what I just did, a google search for Christmas flash mobs, so many, so cool, and they all touched my heart. I provide my favorite as well as a cherished Christmas song by my favorite Irish singer and a military poem.

I am an unabashed and unrepentant lover of Christmas time, in all of its glorious corniness.  I love Christmas carols, Christmas parties, but most of all Christmas Day. I can remember Christmas as far back as the age of 3.  I still remember one special year in my early teens when I was overcome with Christmas spirit, feeling so good about the season and just general happiness that I wondered at myself. This feeling lasted until well after Christmas and no, to all you cynics out there, the feelings were not chemically assisted.  Every year since then has been an attempt to recapture that feeling. Most years I get it in bits and pieces, mostly associated with time I spend with my family and friends.
My wife and “kids” smile behind me, good naturedly, because they know how important Christmas is to me. I know there are those raging elements or hipsters out there that bemoan what modern Christmas has evolved to. Some say it’s overly commercialized or others not properly religious. It seems there are always those elements in society – “Grinchs” for lack of a better term. People so unhappy with their own lives that they target times or traditions that bring happiness to others for scorn. I could not care less about these self-important gas bags.  There is nothing in life more enjoyable than being around people you love and actually taking some time out of the all too busy lives we lead to simply be together. So, to all of you out there that bad mouth Christmas – get a life; the rest of us already have one and we’re going to have the merriest Christmas of all in spite of you or more correctly in homage to the love we are blessed with.  Merry Christmas!

Six movies fell in the A-Z watch, five keepers: Vampires – John Carpenter’s opus with James Woods in serious psycho mode; The Vampire Lovers – when Hammer films decided to get a little frisky in the early 70s, dumb but lovable; Van Helsing – that gal again, Beckinsale, with Jackman tearing up monsters as an ode to the classics; Vanilla Sky – I think I finally understand this but Cruise is so unlikable as the hero that I’ll never watch again, eject; Vanishing Point – classic film that I’ll always love, a 1971 farewell to the 60’s, keep hoping Kowalski will make it past the bulldozers this time; Vantage Point – interesting action flick told from various perspectives.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Thunder Finale

Since my Favorite Panamanian was decisively engaged with her friends for the entire weekend, I glommed on to the opportunity to head north for what will constitute my final thunder run of 2025. She was out with the Neighborhood Mafioso and other elements of the Panamanian Mafia on Friday night while the Maine Musquetera arrived Saturday for some dedicated shopping time. Obviously, I was not in high demand, and I think my wife was all too happy to see me ushering myself out of the way. I was also on a mission of mercy (my story and I’m sticking to it).

Keene Friend and I Surrounding Cantankerous

The Mafia Out on Friday Night

The Cantankerous Friend had knee replacement surgery earlier in the week and was convalescing at home. My Favorite Panamanian made a spaghetti dinner for him and I was charged with delivering it to the patient. See. Mercy all over this drive north. Keene Friend, as he is prone to do, rose to the occasion to serve as the host for my overnight stay. The Cantankerous One shocked us both with a surprising amount of mobility when we arrived. It had only been three days since his surgery, but he was up and ambling about his home. He showed us the impressive surgery scar but said there was very little pain so far. He’s a biking fanatic so I know he’s jonesing to get going on his rehab. Since I have been threatened with the possibility of eventually needing a knee replacement myself, it was reassuring to see the technology has improved to the point it is now an outpatient procedure. It was also good to see him in such excellent shape and spirits. He really appreciated the Panamanian spaghetti as well.

In Front of my Grandparent's House

I had to get copies of keys to the new front door for the house sitters. Keene still has actual hardware stores where they make the copies for you instead of forcing you to try and do it yourself (looking steadily at you Home Depot). The hardware store we stopped at is right next to my father’s family ancestral home. It’s the home he grew up in. I have so many great memories of that house although it’s in sad shape compared to those halcyon days of the 1960s. It used to have a wraparound front porch and was painted green and yellow. I had Keene Friend take a picture of me in front of the house which I sent to the remaining cousins from that time. We all share those memories of what a special place it was, especially when Gramma made a pot of her special spice cakes.  

At the Lab with Kindergarten Friend

Then. Somehow. We ended up at the Lab ‘n Lager (these things tend to happen). I mean, a guy’s gotta eat. We set up shop at what has become our “usual” table as downtown Keene’s Main Street foot traffic passed by. We were joined in short order by the former CRC. He had just pulled into his driveway when he received my text and dutifully turned around and made his way to the Lab. We made our usual, well lubricated call to the PCR who was under supervision of his long-suffering wife. It was hard to hear with the Lab’s vocal clientele in the background but good to hear their voices. The former CRC had to depart before I could take the usual picture, but he was replaced almost immediately by the Kindergarten Friend who had been grandson babysitting while the female contingent shopped (been there, done that). It was a very fun afternoon spent with my oldest friends. This will be the last time in 2025 when it’ll be “just the guys” but it’s times like this that will make me more than ready to come back from Panama (once the snow melts).

Pangea (Before Continents Separated) Map
With Modern Countries Positioned - Interesting

Reconnecting with my hometown friends was one of my stated goals when I convinced my Favorite Panamanian to return to New England after retiring from the military. Even I, with my inflated hopes, could not have envisioned how much fun this turned out to be. There’s a special bond between true friends which has a medicinal effect on your soul. I’m glad to see both of my kids have indulged in the same practice. It was a lot harder for them, as Army brats, but they both have special friends they’ve stayed in contact with. Since I was in no shape to drive home, I spent the night at Keene Friend’s where we almost watched the Heisman Ceremony. I woke up in time to hear the end of the acceptance speech.

Man Cave Movie Shelves - Complete

On Sunday I sought permission from the Commander in Chief to remain in Keene to watch the Pat’s game with Keene Friend. Since she was deeply engrossed in the shared shopping experience with the Maine Musquetera I received the necessary pass. While half the game was a delight to watch I still count it as a win, the less said about the second half, etc. etc. I got home to find a couple inches of snow had fallen and the ladies, in strict violation of the rules, had repeatedly driven over the snow in the driveway, creating an ice field. I was addressing this issue when I realized that, somewhere in my Saturday/Sunday travels I had lost the three keys I had made. If Keene Friend can’t find them, it looks like I’ll have to make another trip up there (just to see how the Cantankerous is recovering, don’tcha ya know).

What's Left

I have major news to report in the A-Z watch. I have completed the shelves in the office portion of the Man Cave where most of the movies reside. I am firmly into the V’s and have only the ones in the expansion shelves in the theater side of the Cave. This has been a three-year effort since 2022 to remove the movies that were taking up needed space but weren’t worthy of remaining. As you can see from the photo, the space has been achieved. I figure I’ll finish shortly after returning from Panama and my life will be my own again.

Five movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: Vacation (1983) – original is still funny, Beverley was a smoke show; European Vacation – the Griswolds in Europe, what could go wrong?, still funny; Vegas Vacation – Griswolds in Vegas, not funny anymore, Beverley, though; Vacation (2015) – Ed Helms picks up story as adult Rusty Griswold, recaptures some of goofy fun of original with hilarious cameos; Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets – huge Besson sci fi epic, lead actor was woefully miscast but the rest was a lot of fun.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

Loving Holiday Grind

Time seems to be in permanent overdrive this week with Christmas bearing down on us. As I’ve said before, time speeds up when you get older, but this is bordering on ridiculous. It could be the myriad tasks I have to accomplish in preparing for the holiday as well as our nearly immediate move south to the condo. I’m getting more and more ready for that move with the freezing temperatures and winds over the past week. I’ve been lulled into a false sense of security by the past few Decembers and have cold heartedly laughed at friends and family when polar vortexes fall on them while I’m cavorting on a tropical beach. I’ve officially received my comeuppance with this past week’s weather and have earned my polar vortex merit badge. I’m still going to laugh when I’m on the beach in January though. As Great Aunt is fond of saying, I am incorrigible.

Namesake Nephew's Daughter Putting the Skills 
Her Cousins Taught her to Work

This hasn’t stopped the Christmas prep although I’m on my own with the outside decorating as my Favorite Panamanian has decided her role in that effort will consist of offering me hot chocolate when I come in, teeth a chattering. She’s been pestering me (as only she can) for a couple weeks to hang the garage door covering nativity scene. I’ve tried explaining that it is too cold for the adhesive to bond but she (safely inside) assures me that it is time. She scoffed when I came in (ready for that hot chocolate) with the banner safely hung. I didn’t say anything about the next day’s weather forecast which called form high winds (revenge is best served cold – so we got that). The winds came in heavier than I imagined with 50MPH gusts all day long. Just after lunch, I looked out and the garage door was no longer covered and the banner was nowhere in sight. I found it in the neighbor’s yard twisted around a tree. I must be getting smarter because I refrained from saying a single “told you so”. (I never win the aftermath of that statement).

The Garage Banner During its Short Lived Residency

The biggest pre-deployment tasks have been accomplished with prescriptions extended/secured, van reserved for ride to the airport (at 3:15am!!!), condo cleaning arranged, obtaining a new primary care physician (because my wife didn’t think we were busy enough), cars inspected/serviced, and Christmas shopping just about finished. I really wish this wind would stop blowing though, we’re going on three days of constant and impressive gusts. I’ve decided I’ve earned a break, dispute my Favorite Panamanian’s opinion on the subject. She’s hosting the Maine Musquetera this weekend so I informed her I would take that opportunity to thunder run up to Keene and check out the Cantankerous Friend’s new knee. He had a knee replacement earlier this week and from reports he’s handling it like a champ. This will also give me the chance to hang out with Keene Friend. I’m fairly certain I’ll be in no shape to drive home Saturday night, so there’s that.

My Poor Man Cave

My Man Cave is in a complete shambles as the Amazon packages have built up. I started the wrapping last night which further devastated my sanctuary, and I still have a good half left to go. I love seeing the Christmas tree start to look the part with presents displayed underneath. I’ll write my usual Christmas is the best time of year post soon, but, despite all my bitching and moaning, I couldn’t be happier. I still have to complete the annual Christmas letter but that is a labor of love as I relive the remarkable year we’ve had.

The Tree is Starting to Get Stocked Though

Speaking of remarkable, the follow-on generations are doing their part. Wingman is back home from his latest reunion tour which meant the New Jersey Christmas tree is up. Despite fears of what that meant with two frisky kittens now in residence, both Walnut and Pistachio have yet to knock it over. The FBR completed her latest acting gig as part of the Annie cast. My daughter sent a couple videos which captured it and I couldn’t be prouder. I just might be a little biased but she was clearly the best on the stage (loved hearing her threaten someone with a knuckle sandwich). In Rhode Island Namesake Nephew’s daughter seems to have picked up the family trait of completely messing up video libraries. I’m suspicious because she recently spent time with both the FBR and BRS who were notorious for rearranging my Blu-ray library at her age. As I make my way through the A-Z watch I’m constantly finding movies out of order, usually only at the levels they could reach. I sense some coaching went down over their Thanksgiving meeting.

Annie Production FBR in Striped Shirt

She was So Good

Walnut Inspecting the Tree

Pistachio Liked the Bag the Tree Came in

Even with all this going on we managed to execute a full date night on Tuesday with a movie and dinner. We saw Fackham Hall which was hilarious, at least for me, my Favorite Panamanian is not a fan of that type humor but I imagined my son or Keene Friend seeing this with me and know we would have been howling. This movie is a curious blend of Airplane, Downton Abbey, and Monty Python. Say the title really fast and you’ll understand. Some serious actors are called upon to play the fool with digs aimed squarely at the English class system. Some of the funniest lines are issued in church where we’re reminded of the supreme importance of punctuation. It’s the kind of movie I’m going to see again and again for all the jokes I missed while laughing. The jokes and double entendres arrive at a breakneck pace and it’s just too funny. I loved it. The wife did enjoy the dinner though.

Eleven(!) movies fell in the A-Z watch, ten keepers: Underworld Awakening – continuing my ride with Becks in spandex, good action flick; Underworld Blood Lines – definitely jumped the shark with this final movie, still fun, but without edge; Unfaithful – from my being in love with Diane Lane phase (still in it), but such a dumb movie despite her evident charms, eject; Unforgiven – might be best Western ever made, Eastwood, Hackman and Freeman just chewing up the scenery; Universal Soldier – really loved this when it came out, hasn’t aged well but still a keeper; The Untouchables – interesting to see the young Costner in action and Sean Connery in his best role (outside of 007); Up – the best animated movie ever made, demise of Ellie still brings a tear to my eye and then there’s “Squirrel!” with Doug; Upgrade – really good sci fi yarn about dangers of AI; The Upside of Anger – one of my favorite movies of all time, Joan Allen towers and the interplay with her daughters and Costner are beautiful; U.S. Marshals – Tommy Lee reprising his Fugitive role chasing Snipes across the country with bad boy Downey; and The Usual Suspects – great crime story with the best twist ending this side of the Sixth Sense.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course

The Pipes, The Pipes

Since we’re rushing pell-mell towards Christmas and our almost immediate subsequent deployment to Panama, it’s been tough to find time to write. You are most welcome for the reprieve from my fractured prose. Vacation’s over though. My Favorite Panamanian has directed prep activities including taking lead in decorating the Christmas tree and other inside venues. I was sent outside for what was needed there. Note to self – damn cold out there, more than ready to head south (such a wimp now with tropicalized blood).

Wife Using Son for Warmth at Parade

A fabulous addition to our Christmas traditions was our weekend trip back to New Hampshire to see the Portsmouth Christmas parade with my son and his family. We went a long time ago, before granddaughters, and it has certainly grown in the interim. See comment above about cold weather. My Favorite Panamanian brought the mink coat out of storage because it is the only garment she feels is up to the challenge of keeping her warm in frigid conditions. In a welcome change from the ordinary, our drive up I-495 was blissfully easy, even that benighted section around Lawrence.

The Rotating Pooh Costume

ABFA Inspecting Sofa Cushion Castle

BRS and BR3 with Mrs. Claus

The granddaughters were in high form upon our arrival, just having returned from a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus with the attendant candy intake. They were switching off wearing a Winnie the Pooh costume all weekend, for unexplained reasons. The ABFA’s more than excellent parents were on hand to share the parade experience. Which it certainly was. My son led the convoy into Portsmouth where we parked in a residential area and walked a half mile to the parade route. Anyone who has spent time in Portsmouth knows how much fun it is to find parking in the center of town.

On the Parade Route

Good Crowd

Moon Rise

There was a steady stream of people making their way to the center, all with obvious Christmas spirit (yes, it is a thing). We set up under an arch on the street the parade would pass down. The BRS and BR3 wiggled to the front while I carved a hole in the ice for my wife to stand in. Once again, everyone seemed to be in a great mood as we waited for the parade. A huge moon was rising over the freshly lighted town Christmas tree up the road from us. It was truly kind of magical, but we all know I’m a sucker for Christmas. The ABFA’s dad and I along with my son had a great time watching the parade pass by from the rear of the crowd, mostly for the reactions of the granddaughters who gleaned a lot more candy from passing parade elements. A lot of the parade consisted of decorated jeeps with my son joking there is probably a shortage of available jeeps in New Hampshire based on what we saw.

Then Came the Bagpipers!

The ABFA was in her usual hero mode keeping on eye of the kids, insuring they stayed far enough back from the constant stream of jeeps. We also saw no less than five Miss New Hampshires. I asked my son about this and we concluded that the word “contestant” was probably in small print, invisible from our distance. The highlight for me, of course, was the police bagpipe band. They were great and were playing one of my favorite songs, The Minstrel Boy. I hasten to add, as I did in my Facebook post, that the true highlight was being there with the family, but that band was up there.

It was a great experience, and it was easy to get caught up in the spirit of the crowd. My wife survived her prolonged exposure to cold weather although she alleged it was a near thing. After the obligatory hojaldra breakfast on Sunday, the granddaughters and ABFA attended church with us. They were really well behaved until the ending announcement that donuts would not be served this week. That brought a couple granddaughter gasps. Both the ABFA and we bought donuts on the drive home. My Favorite Panamanian and I headed home after that since she declared we had a bunch of Christmas prep to accomplish. I didn’t realize that it meant about an hour’s worth of shopping before we left the tax free haven of New Hampshire.

Meanwhile Wingman is Dominating on his Latest
Reunion Tour, Now on the West Coast

Outside the House

Living Room

We finally finished off the inside decorating late last night. I say “we” with a serious qualification since my role was reserved to carrying bins up and down stairs. In my defense it was football Sunday which offered a great excuse since most of the afternoon had been spent shepherding her to shopping, a late lunch, and grocery shopping with her (always 2 to 3 times longer than when I’m alone). The results speak for themselves. The inside/outside door hanging for the front door is gorgeous. She created this herself with ribbons and assorted other craft supplies she found in our Christmas bins. She’s a true artist as I’ve learned to cringe whenever she floats through Pinterest as a new project is the likely result. I cringe because she always asks my opinion which I am wholly unable to provide since I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, I’m truly impressed with what she’s accomplished. You know the old saying, Opposites Attract.

Front Door Hanging

Inside Front Door

Deckzilla Door

Seven movies fell in the A-Z watch, all keepers: Uncharted – don’t know the game it was based on but two credible action stars doing their thing; Uncle Buck – Candy was a national treasure, so good in this John Hughes classic; Under Siege – best Seagal movie, know that’s not a high standard to meet, but best cake opening in cinema history; Under the Skin – fantastic and scary sci fi with Scarlett cutting a swath through the Scottish Highlands, fabulous cinematography; Underworld – you had me at vampires versus werewolves, but add Becks in spandex, Yikes!; Underworld Evolution – they’re still at it and Becks gets out of her spandex for a while and battles both sides of vamp/wolf war; Underworld Rise of the Lycans – no Becks nor spandex since it’s in the middle ages, Rhona Mitra does her chain mail proud though.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------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 her single days in Brooklyn; Czech Connection – Czech couple who’ve become good friends along with their daughter (the Czech Shadow); 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; Seis Amigos - two couples from our condo complex and my wife and I; Soxfather – my brother-in-law (whom I miss more than I can ever explain); Tia Loca – wife’s younger sister; Wingman – my son in law; Wingmom – Wingman’s mom, of course