Postponed Trip

 So with Fred brewing, we decided maybe it best to put off the Full Squad trip. At best, it'd be nasty weather in Key Largo -- so why not?

I called and the friendly desk person said we were already in the cancellation period, so no changes without paying for 3 room nights. But wait, I said -- what about the coming storm? Nah -- their policy was you could reschedule for hurricane warnings and watches, but not mere tropical storms.

Really? I told her maybe extreme sports types wanted to go to a beach resort in a tropical storm, but not this sedentary guy and his family. She checked with the manager -- we're allowed to come the following week.

So I rescheduled the Friday Zoom, and have to order my meatloaf now. That's ok.

The Plague continues to be front page news -- tales that are all sounding the same -- vaxxed with breakthrough infections, who do well, and unvaxxed in the hospital or dying.

I haven't heard from my friend the unvaxxed cop in a few days. I'll check in on him later.

Instead of gearing up for a road trip -- another Thursday. Jonathan left for work -- D2 and Betsy will work in the library. Wifey is headed to see the grandson later. I'll keep busy managing investments and maybe doing a bit of phone legal work.

When my Dad was asked "What's new?," he'd often respond "Nothing -- the way I like it."

And so it is.

Continuing Covid Related Drama

 So Dr. Barry and I were talking about the Plague last week. Could he ever have predicted that our country's divided politics would devolve into a science versus medieval mindset and action among our citizens? No -- he could not have.

But it continues, this pandemic of the unvaccinated. The divide has cost me a friendship, with the arrogant idiot Rob, and it may cost me more. As to Rob, though, last night I got an email from a fellow long time friend of his, who moved to Virginia recently with her husband. She told me she had cut him off, too -- long ago realizing he was just a shallow, dumb, attention seeking fool, who truly cared for no one else. His conduct at the party just confirmed it. So maybe Rob would have had to have gone, irrespective.

And then there's Steve -- a Right leaning, not too bright fellow. He avoided the jab, though his job brings him into the public each day. Sure enough, he got Covid, and ended up passing it to his houseguest, another friend named John. He was calling to ask if any of my doctor friends prescribed the "quinine thing." No, they did not. And John told me his faith in Jesus would see him through. Oh boy.

Hopefully we're going to follow England's experience, where the Delta died down even faster than it surged. If that comes to pass, I may actually get to attend some beloved tailgate parties this Fall. If not -- it'll be TV again for my beloved Canes games.

We're supposed to take a Full Squad vacation Thursday -- down to Ocean Reef, in Key Largo. It's an exclusive private club, and they have a hotel there only open to guests of residents...plus. The plus is D1, who is adjunct staff there, and so got us in. We're set to head down, and my nephew of another mother Josh is coming to house and dog sit FOUR dogs.

But there's a wrinkle: storm brewing off in the Caribbean. It may become Tropical Storm Fred, and may head to the Keys. If Fred comes, we won't, obviously. We ought to find out tomorrow.

Talk of this of course brings back reminiscences of past Full Squad trips. We planned one the Fall before D2 and Jonathan were engaged -- a Fall trip up to the Hudson Valley.

D1 and Joey and Wifey and I flew up to LGA, rented a SUV, and fetched D2 and Jonathan in the West Village. Alas, the weekend weather was autumn in NY awful -- freezing rain. But the hotel was still a lovely place, Mohonk, and we ate and drank and played old fashioned games like air hockey in the rec room. And we DID get one hike in -- up to an observation tower on the hotel's gorgeous grounds -- before returning to the fireplace with muddy shoes.

This would be the first Full Squad Plus family vacation. The Plus is of course the gorgeous grandson. Hopefully it comes to pass.

In the meantime, we're keeping a lower profile. Wifey especially fears getting the dread virus -- her doc reminded her her stroke left her squarely in the high risk category. Ain't nobody got time for that!

But whatever the outcome -- the friend landscape has and will change. I guess it's inevitable when you try to practice intellectual diversity among your friends -- you eventually realize you need to drop the dunces.

An Impromptu Party

 So it was a quiet Thursday, though I did head to the office for a few hours. When I returned, D2 said her friend Tara was coming by, along with another friend, Carson, I hadn't met.

After we returned from our Betsy walk, which included a romp with Jagger, Betsy's new best friend, Tara came over, and I poured her some white wine. The front door opened, and a statuesque beauty came in -- it was Carson, whose husband is a work colleague of Jonathan's. Wifey was outside.

I got to spend time with these three beautiful and accomplished women, a recruiter, a lawyer, and an exec with a furniture company. All were born and raised in the County of Dade, as the song goes, and talked about their different childhoods. D2 was public school educated, Tara Catholic school, and Carson secular private school.

Then D2 announced Jonathan and Andres would be coming over, too, along with their other colleague Mike. She ordered a boat load of sushi, and soon we were in the dining room eating and drinking happily -- it was a terrific get together.

Around 10, Wifey suggested we give the young-uns their own time, and we retired to the family room to watch some more episodes of Cocaine Cowboys: Willie and Sal, which we love. I went to sleep and the 2 young women left -- leaving D2 and the 3 men to talk life and high finance.

To keep the mood up, I got an email confirming I was Covid negative, and more importantly, so was our beautiful grandson -- despite the arrogance and stupidity of one of his classmate's parents.

In that regard, my second stupidest friend called me. The stupidest, Rob, is now an ex-friend. The second stupidest works with thousands of people daily, and is anti-vaxx. Sure enough, he caught Covid, and was hospitalized at Baptist. He checked himself out against medical advice when he freaked out seeing a roommate anti vaxxer on a ventilator. He's monitoring himself at home.

He admitted to me he was a dumb ass to not get the jab. I hope he recovers. If not, his long career with the County, and it's very generous pension, will just go to estranged family members -- for want of an easy vaccine.

So I find myself more and more angry at this class of dunces. Our lives could be returning to normal, instead of reverting to hiding. Selfish and stupid hurts us all.

Tonight I have my normal Zoom. Eric and Dana have a new bouncing grandson -- we'll get to see him on camera. Barry and Donna are flying to D.C. to see their oldest and his lady, so my cocktail Zoom won't have them -- but hopefully Kenny will share, virtually, some of the cool Maine air with us.

It's been, as expected, hot as hell here in this Miami August.

But that invention A/C sure is a good one, and last night it allowed us a delightful time with young, good looking, and accomplished professionals. I really enjoy hosting them -- our future.

Positive Negative Results And Anger Over The Selfish Dunces

 So I brought my 60 year old self to Sunniland Park for the Covid testing. My appointment was at 9, so per my usual protocol was there at 8:40. No sign of testing personel.

I asked a park employee where it would be, and he directed me to the south end of the park, which you have to access by leaving. I drove there, and found an old guy on a bench, luckily not eyeing little girls with bad intent, and a young fellow who looked like he worked there. He said in perfect Spicoli: "Nah, dude -- it's back on the other side." I laughed and said I was just told the opposite. "Well, I'm just a camp counselor for the Summer, Dude -- I don't really know."

The experience was turning out less Pinecrest and more, oh, Hialeah, which is an unfair comparison. Hialeah, though the butt of jokes, has some of the best municipal services around -- the old Cubans don't stand for incompetency.

Anyway, about 9:10 an SUV rolled up and a fellow was unloading supplies. There were 4 cars, and we were told to line up in what turned out to be the wrong direction, but eventually a competent nurse came over, had me fill out a form even though I had 3 prior tests with the same company, and then came with the swab. I asked for a rapid test and antibody test, too -- hey -- why not? The rapid test is a swab you put in each nostril yourself and rotate 7 times -- seemed to me a better way of getting a sample than the one deep thrust of the PCR. But what do I know?

I drove home, and my usual anxiety from waiting for results ramped up a bit. Wifey had screwed up the date of our cleaning lady, and she was there, with her friend and assistant, chattering away and, let's say, not alleviating my anxiety. I retired to a room above the garage and luckily "Blazing Saddles" was on. That always helps.

The rapid test results were due "in a few hours," and 5 had passed, so I emailed the company. "Check your spam -- we sent 2 hours ago." I did. They weren't there. I emailed again. Nothing. So it was now 4 pm and raining, and I drove back to the test site. The nurse remembered me, and had me ask another nurse with a lap top. "Good news," she said looking up: "Negative." Yay. Looks like the wedding wasn't a super spreader, for me, the officiant, at least.

And then we heard from D1 -- one of the grandson's "bunkmates" had tested positive. The little guy spiked a fever Monday, and sure enough, it was Covid. So the "bunk" closed 2 days early.

And here's the shocker: the kid's parents were unvaxxed. Selfish MFs. Surprise, surprise, surprise, as Gomer said. Like my ex friend Rob, their ignorant arrogance has now hurt others. May Karma run over their dogma.

So D1, Joey, and the little man have to go get tested today. They're more annoyed than concerned -- which seems to be the mood for all of us who are vaxxed.

I read an article about a burgeoning industry: fake vaccine cards. It's easy -- some cardboard, and a simple printer, and pieces of crap gain access to cruises and the like. Ah -- citizens.

Hopefully this surge backs off sooner than later. We all plan to lay a lot lower for the time being -- my anxiety walks have picked up again -- so far not the "manorexia," though I'd benefit from the weight loss again. We'll see.

But for now, at least, the Plague is at bay. But for the selfish dunces, we'd be past it.

Good Luck Week -- Waiting For My Fate

 My beloved, late Mom, Sunny, always said "Babies bring good luck!" Well, there are two new ones I know about.

My long time haircutter Dania missed my appointment, leaving me perilously close to Bob Dylan in the 70s status, but for a great reason: she flew to Texas for the birth of her first granddaughter. She sent a photo today, and like Dania, the girl has a traditional Cuban name: Parker Kate. Ha.  I guess we'll see fewer Ilianas, Bekyses, and Lourdeses going forward.

Closer to home, my man Eric and  woman Dana welcomed a bouncing baby boy to the tailgate crew this am. I'm thrilled for them. Alas, his bris, due to Covid surge, is immediate family only, but I'll be there in spirit. I know the late grandparents, Marvin, Norma, and Barbra will be smiling down -- especially Marvin. He adored his wildly accomplished son, and the thought of him holding a grandson -- well -- 

This am I had my Covid test scheduled, to hopefully rule out that I was infected during my friend's wedding. The location was to be a small Pinecrest park, on 104th Street, and early this am I got a text and email that it was moved to Sunniland Park -- I guess for more space due to increased testing demand.

My appointment was at 9, so of course I arrived there at 8:45, and the nice Haitian man in the golf cart was clueless about the location, but told me to go to the south entrance. I did. No one there but a guy napping in his car.

I drove back, and a bit after 9, an SUV drove up, and a guy got out -- yes -- it was here. Soon there were 10 cars pointed in opposite direction -- clearly more Hialeah organization than supposedly Pinecrest, but eventually an authoritarian type nurse came by and started directing traffic and patients.

I opted for all three tests: rapid, PCR (a bit more accurate) and antibody (to see if my Pfizer magic chemicals are still circulating). They pricked my finger, after I made the nurse laugh as I always do "Little prick, sir." "Hey -- who told you???" and swabbed my nose. For the rapid test, I had to swirl the swab myself -- 7 revolutions in each nostril. Who knew?

Supposably, as they say in Miami, I get the first results in a few hours, the the rest by tomorrow. Hopefully negative on the Covid, but if not? Hey -- just going to ride it out, and avoid folks for awhile. No big deal, though it might cost me attendance at the Key Largo staycation D1 planned. That's ok -- I'll hang home with the dogs, though nephew Josh is already booked for that gig.

In sad, follow up news, we learned our dear friend Elizabeth's cause of death: garden variety heart attack, secondary to clogged main vessels. Wow. She ate the most cleanly, and exercised like a fiend. As Eric always said, FH is key -- family history -- and she had a bad one -- both parents died of MIs.

Looking back, the nausea and feeling poorly she felt on her hike were the symptoms of the coming fatal event -- but she just chalked them up to being at altitude and a vigorous hike.

What a shame. We all miss her so -- gone too soon.

So today and tomorrow I'll play a lot of Tom Petty -- the waiting is the hardest part. Hopefully the news is good -- if not -- well -- just another tough hand in the poker game of life. Have to play your hand -- nothing more to do.

But nice to have new babies around.

The Chief of The Dunces

 So here we are, still dealing with the plague. Something that should have been just a terrible memory continues to infiltrate our lives -- because of a confederacy of dunces convinced the infectious is somehow the political.

My family and I took a risk Saturday night, although we're all fully vaxxed -- attended a wedding with 40 people. I'm getting my first Covid test tomorrow am since last December, and hoping it's negative. If not, I'm not scared my family or I will die, or even need the hospital, but may be in for a few days of unpleasantness. Hopefully the proteins on the report go the correct way.

But Covid has cost me a friendship -- probably one doomed to end anyway, on account of gross stupidity. I met Rob through Mike back in the 80s -- Rob's parents were close with Mike's parents. He was married to Becky, who he had met at their Christian Scientist college. Rob's Dad had a very successful insurance agency, and Rob took it over -- the classic nice, Republican country club gig of being born on third base and thinking you hit a triple.

Rob and  Becky had 2 boys, and we'd often socialize at birthday parties and most importantly, Canes games -- both here and on trips. We'd laugh -- a lot. Rob has an outsized funny personality.

Well -- Rob ended up sort of running the agency down a bit, but sold it, and began a series of mostly failed marketing businesses. He should have kept the agency. He divorced Becky, who moved to Texas, and the boys got older -- the oldest started and dropped out of college to become an artist. The younger went to Texas with Mom.

Rob's politics were wildly conservative, which I found amusing, but in the Trump years got stupider and stupider. Our FaceBook debates were funny -- my educated mostly Dem friends saying, essentially, "who IS this idiot guy?" and I'd explain he was misguided but well meaning. His friends, a seeming cast of Fox news fans, always ridiculed my posts, too, and I actually enjoyed the nice detours away from my usual band of correct thinking, educated people.

Before he left Miami, Rob had a delightful girlfriend, who worked for him at his agency. She was lovely and educated, with a young son. Their dynamic was out of "Modern Family," as the young man, Matteo, was VERY smart, like Manny on the show, and Rob was the affable older gringo while Monica, without the accent, was the smart one. They broke up, with Monica later telling us Rob was in fact one of the stupidest men she ever knew -- NEVER read a book -- just parroted back whatever Hannity type stuff was running that night on Fox. She moved to Colorado. He moved first to Atlanta, and then to Martin County, ostensibly to care for his aging mother, but quite possibly because he didn't have the money to live on his own.

Still -- we enjoyed each other's company -- met in Orlando when the Canes played the Gators -- I got him a ticket -- and we laughed together, a lot.

Then, in June, all of the invitees to Mike's boy Chris and Rachel's engagement party, got an email, asking those not vaxxed to get a Covid test, as this was the first large party any of us attended, and there would be elderly, immunocompromised, and just plain Covid anxious guests (like me) in attendance.

We arrived, and it was delightful. Like Gloria Estefan's song "Coming Our of the Dark" we were at a regular, large party, knowing we were all either vaxxed or Covid tested negative, and we drank, and hugged, and caught up.

Wifey and I spent a lot of time with Rob -- telling him about her stroke and its recovery, and looking forward to new Canes games adventures. Rob asked me to use my Cane Club to buy him tickets to Alabama v. Canes in Atlanta in September. Rob hugged Loni's elderly Mom, and was his charming, gracious self with all the guests.

Then came 3 days ago. He posted on FB that he was sick, and all of his symptoms were Covid-like. I said he'd be fine -- we normal vaxxed might have a few bad days, but that was it. He answered that he NEVER had a vaccine, and never would, as it was Big Pharma poisoning us for profit. And then he asked for prayer and luck as he was getting his FIRST EVER Covid test.

Now wait a minute. How was that possible. He must have had one back in June, to comply with the request of the party hosts, to render him safe for folks like Wifey and me to hang so closely with him. Nah -- he replied -- he never bothered, as he never really BELIEVED in Covid -- he just cavalierly came to the party.

I hit the roof. It was the most selfish, ignorant plus arrogant thing ever. I immediately told him it was the end of our friendship -- especially after he made a "hey -- if I killed your wife with the Kung Flu, I'd have done you a favor."

The moronic politics had crossed over into moronic action. And it's adios to Rob.

Mike's sister Jeannine sort of tried to defend him -- don't we GET vaxxed because we can't trust the morality of others? Of course -- but strangers are strangers. Once a friend or acquaintance violates that trust, like Michael in II -- he's dead to me.

So hopefully things go well tomorrow. Regardless, I plan to rachet down normal activities for awhile. Mirta and I had plans tonight to celebrate my birthday late -- at Titanic. We agreed to put it off until this latest surge subsides.

If Rob and his fellow confederacy of dunces didn't mess this up, we'd be out of the dark already. 

So adios, Rob. Float on in your fog of idiocy. I was ok with that. I'm NOT okay with your fog of treachery. 

A Big Saturday

 So at 10 am, D2, Jonathan, and I met with Enrique, our fitness guru. We started seeing him again last weekend, and enjoy his true gift: making the misery of a serious workout seem not miserable. Of course, he was harder on the millennials than on me, but I came out sweating hard and a bit sore. Oh, that eating cheeseburgers made you healthy...

We fetched lunch on the way home, and were greeted by D1 and the beautiful boy. He toddled around the house, avoiding the charges of the enormous puppy, and it was just a delightful visit. He and D1 left, and soon after Jonathan did, too, to have some family time with his visiting siblings and adorable baby niece.

D2 said she needed to walk the huge puppy, and I tagged along, and no sooner were we on the street than we heard a voice from a car: "Hey -- it's me, Marie!" Our former neighbor and D2's friend was back from DC, and showing her girlfriend her old 'hood. We invited them to walk with us, and it was a delightful reunion -- followed by some rehydration in our house where Wifey got to say hello, too.

D2 and Marie talked about childhood times -- especially their silly fathers, Pat and me, and how when we drank together we somehow decided to sing the melancholy and long Eagles tune "Desperado."

Marie and her lady left, and we scrambled to get ready for the wedding. I literally struggled with the damned tux shirt studs -- what an absurdity. Buttons and zippers work perfectly fine -- why would any modern person decided the way to go was a contraption where you had to manipulate metal pieces through unforgiving buttonholes? After a full 20 minutes, I succeeded. I sad later I'd have preferred a tooth removal.

We got into the SUV and headed to D1's -- she was coming with us -- Joey would join later after the grandson was put to bed. Jonathan Ubered over from his parents' house -- his brother and sister in law were, by coincidence, staying in the Turnberry Hotel where the wedding was.

I was to officiate. Jonathan was to translate into Spanish, for a video to be sent to Patricia's family back in Peru. We fortified ourselves with a few drinks at the bar -- vodka for me, tequilla for Jonathan, and soon we were led into a beautiful private room at Bourbon Steak.

My man came in -- looking dapper as always. And then his bride joined us under the chuppah -- looking, truly, like a movie star. Paul beamed. He should. As we readied to begin, I heard Eric Clapton's lyrics from "Wonderful Tonight" playing in my head -- the one about how everyone stops to see the beautiful lady walking around with him...

The ceremony went well. Jonathan acquitted himself wonderfully -- United Nations quality translation. Paul broke the glass. The party was on.

We caught up with old friends and family, and ate delicious steaks. Dessert was a chocolate souffle. Wine flowed. Vodka, too, but when I realized Wifey had pounded 3 glasses of champagne, I cut myself off early so as to be able to drive home.

Jonathan's brother, sister in law, and two sisters were at the bar outside. Paul invited them to join us. My dear friend Norman's niece was outside with her sorority pledge class from UF -- a few years ahead of D1's. Stephanie and D1 chatted happily and quickly. My taciturn son in law Joey watched in amazement -- did someone actually talk faster than D1?

The wedding wound down. D1 and Joey and Wifey and I called for the cars -- D2 and Jonathan would Uber home -- they were enjoying a nice after party at the bar.

The wait for the car was long, which worked out well -- I got a call from D2 -- they were indeed tired, and would come home with us. Jonathan walked up to our car, and asked if we were the Uber. We were.

D2 and Wifey talked about who wore what. Jonathan and I sat in the front as I drove home, mostly just enjoying opening our awful tux shirts. I really, really, don't like wearing a tuxedo.

So my brother Paul begins a wonderful new stage of his life today. We were all privileged to be a part of the joy.

Hopefully the Delta variant leaves us all alone -- I plan to get a Covid test Wednesday, just to be safe. And life will go on.

It's great to have days like yesterday.