So Much For The Free Fridge

 Ah, those tough days of Covid -- on a serious level, scared the hell out of me. D1 and Joey had Little Man in December of '19, and the Plague was upon us 3 months later. Would our grandson survive this scary virus? Would we get to hug him? Thankfully, it turned out the virus truly was "Boomer Remover," and we indeed only hugged through the patio glass for awhile. But I walked each day -- a lot! And I ate little. I dropped a good 50 lbs. Now that my health results are good despite my ample belly, I joke, darkly, that I need another world threatening pandemic to get me to lose weight.

Little Man clearly doesn't understand inheritance. He poked me several times during our stay, and asked "Grandpa Dev -- why do you have such a big belly?" I told him it was because I ate too much. "So your tummy hurts?" No, I explained, that is the result for young overeaters -- for old overeaters, you just get a big belly. He poked me again and we both laughed. We'll see if he thinks it's so funny when he's left out of the will...

On a silly, materialistic level, the Plague caused delays -- for us, it was getting the new absurdly expensive built in refrigerator. Our 7 year old one broke, and the estimation for a replacement was months and months -- so I bought a temporary one from Home Depot, for $2800, and it included install and removal of the old unit.

A series of ineptitude events followed -- like the crew showing up and saying in heavily accented English "Ay no -- to take built in -- we need BIG crew." We ended up hiring a crew from the kitchen company we used for the new appliances, and they put the new side by side into the kitchen -- it stayed for 3 months until the big unit (ha!) arrived.

Well, I was annoyed at Home Depot, and so called Amex to tell them I wanted a credit for the free install/removal. Instead, Amex must have told HD to give me a TOTAL credit, and HD was too busy to counter that -- so we got a FREE $2800 refrigerator, which was sent to the garage as our spare.

The damn thing lasted about 2 years and then I noticed the fridge part wasn't cooling -- so I called Glynn's Appliances. The tech "fixed" it by removing the barrier between the freezer and fridge, and it worked another several months. Now I noticed the fridge is again warm.

So today I went online and bought a simple, old school freezer above unit -- $600 including delivery and haul away. I actually prefer those -- more freezer space than the side by side for bags of ice for parties.

But the Fates of Refrigeration got me. Turn out there is no such thing as a free refrigerator (at least one that lasts).

As I spend today with zero plans except watching the Canes at Syracuse at 330, I realize how lucky I am to have as a problem a classic First World Problem. The new unit is due from Brands Mart on Friday. The simple ones tend to last longer -- we'll see.

On the subject of homeownership, yesterday I saw again why Pinecrest rocks. I awoke and turned on the faucet, and the pressure was low. I walked around the house to insure Wifey had turned off the outdoor spigots -- she left one running the other night. All were closed. I walked outside to the meter -- no water was running, so I knew it wasn't an issue unique to my house.

I tried to navigate Miami Dade Water and Sewer's web page, and then tried calling th emergency number -- it was Soviet in its efficiency -- I was repeatedly told too many people were trying to call for them to help.

I knew it wasn't a police matter, but still went on my Safer App and simply asked "Is anyone else in South Pinecrest having low water pressure issues?"

Maybe 3 minutes later, I got a call from "Pinecrest Police." The nice dispatcher told me she got my question, and indeed it was a system -wide problem -- and they were working on it. Turned out a main broke in West Kendall, which affected all of us. Within the hour, pressure was back to normal.

But I was impressed. Our mayor Joe lives in the 'hood -- I plan to tell him how Swiss-like our Village is. So despite broken free fridges, some First  World issues are positive...

Go Canes! Squeeze the Orangemen, or Orange, as I guess our politically correct world now gender neutrals their mascot...

The Only Two Possible US Presidents

 So yesterday, the first TDay hosted by D2 and Jonathan, was delightful, as expected. There were 25 of us, plus the 2 servers from Catering by Les -- and one of the servers was an old hand with us -- she did TDAy last year, at our house. She said she didn't mind coming a bit North.

Jonathan put me in charge of martinis, and I acquitted myself rather well, if I don't say so myself. It wasn't a heavy drinking crowd, and, to be an environmentalist, only drank the leftover vodka from the shaker, which resulted in the perfect buzz for me.

Joey and his parents repped the Colombia born guests -- Melanie and her Mom were the Mexican born, and Wifey and my consuegro David were the Sabras. David moved to Venezuela at age 4, and Wifey was brought to the good old US and A, as Borat calls us.

It was a terrific group, and it occurred to me -- only 2 of those in attendance could run for president: D1 and me! D2 and the other native born primos were all younger than 35! Of course, D1 and I would wish to be president as much as we'd wish for permanent sewage backups at our houses -- but still -- when you raise girls Miami, getting Latin in laws is a fine occupational hazard.

Had I stayed on LI, I'm guessing the families would be from Long Island or Westchester -- far less interesting and colorful to me. Jonathan's uncle Louie, for example, is an expert on the geopolitics of oil, and he taught me a LOT about the relationship between the Gulf Arab states, Venezuela, and why the US sort of stopped caring about the Marxist takeover of the previously richest nation in South America. As my consuegro David says -- it's not really even a country anymore.

Living in Miami, I always felt so garden variety -- grandson of Eastern European Ashkenazim -- parents born and raised in The Bronx, and followed the classic trajectory of doing better financially and moving to Queens, and, finally, Long Island. And then, following the cliche, retiring and moving to Delray Beach.

The family and guests last night all had more colorful origin stories -- the greatest of whom is the matriarch of Jonathan's family, Judy, who was hidden in a convent to survive WW II, and then spirited out of Europe to Caracas. Her tale, which she just wrote, truly ought to be a movie someday.

Like Wifey, my consuegro David is the child of Survivors, too. And Elana, Jonathan's aunt, has family who came from the same Romanian city as my paternal grandparents: Czernovitz. Elana happens to be a beauty, which tells me my late grandfather Simon must have REALLY thought it was a good idea to high tail it out of there to come to the US...Assuming the ladies all looked like Elana, anyway...

Wifey and I left around 8, and the "after party" continued another hour or so. Jonathan had Fania All Stars on the Sonos, and there was some dancing. Wifey, the most gringa woman in Miami, had ZERO idea who Willie Colon was. She didn't even know about Larry Harlow -- the Judio magnifico, or "Magnificent Jew," who was a major part of the salsa resurgence in 70s NYC and Miami. Wifey was "listening to Joni Mitchell" then.

This weekend, we're dog sitting for Lemon, D1's adorable but skittish Cavalier. D1 and her men are off for a night at Wolf Lodge in Naples, a sort of small Disney-type place -- just 1.5 drive across the Everglades.

Lemon has adopted well -- he may have even earned the right to nap with me, along with Bo, the aging, special needs Spaniel. For I ain't got no other plans today!

So, T Day 2024 is in the books. This week holds old man stuff for me -- annual visit to Dermatologist and Urologist -- to make sure nothing's growing that shouldn't be. Assuming that's the case -- it'll be truly cause for thanks!

Head Counselor Of Camp Wifey

 So we took Little Man home with us on Tuesday, and decided to call his stay Camp Wifey -- T Day Week Session. It's been wonderful.

We stopped at Anthony's Coal Fired, and he had some "pizza withOUT the sauce." Our server was a smart young fellow -- he made sure there was also nothing green on said pizza. Green when not expected, to a nearly 5 year old, can ruin a meal.

We headed home after that, and I supervised my first child shower and butt wipings in 3 decades. Somehow these tasks fell to me, though Wifey had said she would do them. And I realized something about us as grandparents.

Wifey has, by far, the MOST patience. She can read to and play with the boys for the longest. Unfortunately, she no longer has the energy or focus to do a lot of what they need -- and for some reason, despite my obesity and age, I still retain these. So both Wifey and I together are a GREAT grandparenting team -- though it's clear to us this parenting thing is truly a gig for the younger.

Little Man is endless energy, on little sleep. We had him sleep with us, and it took him awhile to fall asleep, and was up talking a few hours later. Luckily, some IPad time, despite the experts' warning against screen time and sleep, lulled him back to sleep. Wifey was able to sleep through a lot of it.

Finally, at 545, the sleeping thing was over. Little Man and I headed over to House of Bagels. He asked if it was a store, or a real house MADE of bagels. These observations and questions are priceless. We got bagels and nova and cream cheese, and brought them home -- I made it the way he likes it -- lots of fruit on the side (clearly the influence of his dietitian Mom).

We got home, and there was a wagon ride all around the hood -- 1.6 miles. It was also a peacock hunt -- we heard the critters, but in contrast to normal -- saw zero. Wifey bought us tickets for the 130 showing of "Moana 2" at the Falls, which was a throwback for us -- a typical weekend with the Ds was a movie there followed by lunch at Johnny Rockets. Little Man lasted for about half the movie -- but kept asking questions loudly. We all realized it was better for him to watch at home -- truth is -- movie had some rather abstract themes about inter generational connections that I found hard to follow...

On the way home, we gave Little Man a choice: home or a stop at Greer Park, which has a great new tot lot. He said home, but in my inimitable way, asked him to just at least LOOK at the park, which he did, and changed his mind. What followed was a 2 hour highlight, in the golden light of the afternoon.

The park used to have a rocket ship slide, where we took the Ds, so the fact that we were in the same locale with our grandson was amazing to us. Little Man made friends with Dan, who asked me my name. When I told him, he had me meet HIS Dad, also a Dave, and a 4 year ago NYC private equity transplant. He didn't know there WAS a Greer after whom the park was named. Carpet bagger!

After the day, Little Man passed out relatively early, thankfully. The sleeping was better, but by 5 am, he was UP. Ippi had a tough night, apparently, and so I gave Little Man breakfast and put on his latest Disney cartoon, followed by a fish and turtle feeding. Our neighbor Mariela texted -- did Jaco want to play with her girl Amelie? He did indeed, and so we walked over, to be met by D1 who was in her old 'hood for some yoga. Mariela showed us her gorgeous home improvements, and the 5 year old Amelie and nearly 5 year old Little Man played, and then swam. They are both very smart and verbose, and listening to their banter was a delight.

At 1130 we left, and I gave Little Man his goodbye bath in our enormous, rarely used master tub. Wifey was to dress him -- she was nowhere to be found - so there was a naked Wifey hunt -- Little Man found her outside pulling weeds. She dressed our guy and is now getting ready -- the hope is to arrive early so we can set up the desserts we bought at Milam's Tuesday night -- and I may just make sure Jonathan's vodka is sufficiently cold.

TDay is my favorite holiday, by far -- all about great food and drink and being with those most near and dear . We asked Little Man what he was thankful for -- he said his toys, and his family. Anything else? "I'm thankful for G-d." So Joey's shabbos prayers and daily tefillin wrapping have an effect, and I couldn't be happier, even though I don't observe most of our religious laws.

I am MOST thankful to the Big Man his many blessings -- one of whom sits behind me on the couch as I type, waiting for his grandma so we can leave. Ah -- T Day...

The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year

 So as for us in this house, as the Catholic placques I've seen say, this week begins our family High Season. Today, Wifey and I are going to Miami Shores, for Wifey's pilates with D2 and her friends, and then we plan to fetch Little Man and take him home with us, for 2 nights.

D1 sent a VERY long list of suggested activities for the 48 hours or so we will have him. I kindly explained that is NOT how Wifey and I roll. We'll probably take him to a movie -- maybe to Pinecrest Gardens, and that'll probably be it. If he has excess energy, I will have him compete in a jumping jack contest, which he will win each time -- that should do the trick. 

We have a play date Thursday am with next door neighbor Amelie and her Mom -- Amelie just turned 5 and has her own playground on premises, making her, I guess, a VERY attractive young female for our Little Man. Early afternoon, we'll leave to re-home Little Man, so his parents can groom him for T Day.

His Mommy's birthday is tomorrow -- she turns 36. She had a party Saturday at an art gallery owned by a young man she used to babysit. I believe tonight she and some friends are going to see "Wicked" the movie -- D2 had been pulled into that, as well. And Thursday we'll sing happy birthday.

After TDay/D1's birthday, our season continues. First, Little Man turns 5 in mid December --- apparently a party at the Padel place awaits. Then comes December 25th, where the entire world puts up trees and lights, and gathers from far and near to celebrate the birth of a person in what is now known as Israel. I'm talking, of course, about WIFEY's birthday! We typically gather for lunch somewhere -- she'll pick the location this year.

After that comes NYE -- no plans yet, but something always pops up. Wifey and I were the long time hosts of blow out NYE parties, but the last one was around the turn of the century -- 1999-2000. For 2000-2001, we brought some family to the newly purchased Villa Wifey, where we opened some champagne before returning to the Kendall house for the final party.

My trainer Jonathan has invited us to an open house with his bandmates -- they're playing at a friend's 2 acre house in Palmetto Bay this NYE -- and Jonathan assures me Boomers connected to the band are welcome. Maybe we'll check that out.

A few days later, on January 3rd, is Wifey and my 38th !!! anniversary. Wow -- how the hell did THAT happen? Just earlier today a young woman was asking me how you stay married for so long -- especially these days. I thought about the simple answer: alcohol, but told her the truth: being willing to play the long game in life. When Wifey and I sailed over rough marital seas, as everyone does, whether they admit it or not, we always shared a vision: maybe we could get to the beautiful Bay of shared grandparenthood, and the enjoyment of our Ds as grown ups, with their wonderful partners. And alas, as this luckiest son of a bitch I know has found -- mostly that's been how it's worked out.

After January, comes the Day the Music Died, but also the Day D2 was born! We celebrate that, too, of course, though I'm guessing there won't be an art gallery involved.

So the heady days are upon our family, and I am most thankful, ahead of the national day of giving thanks. I am one grateful, rocking Daddy and Granddaddy in the USA.

A Young Person' Game

So Wifey and I just spent a lovely afternoon watching Baby Man -- D1 was off at a get together and left him with us. He's 2 years and 4 months, and a total delight. We fed him lunch, and he played, and then I took him on a wagon walk all through our 'hood -- the weather was perfect. We came across some peafowl -- and he counted to three. We found some small colorful lizards, and he repeated their names: "Agamas."

Wifey put on the Old School "Lady and the Tramp" and he watched parts of it -- while non stop playing with his dog Lemon, also left here, and Bo, the Special Needs Spaniel. Wifey started fading -- she was falling asleep on the couch, which she blamed more on lack of sleep than on the energy needed for the toddler.

We fed the fish and turtles, and then I offered a SECOND walk -- and as we headed back home, he was fading. I told him to lie down in the wagon -- he refused -- and we ran into D1 coming home. She changed him and they were off.

Indeed -- watching little one's is a young persons' game. I hope our friends who ARE destined to grandparenthood have it happen sooner than later -- I can imagine trying to run after little ones in my 70s -- probably won't be tenable.

Yesterday was the last Canes home game. Mirta arrived early, and we left for the stadium at 930. Mirta is far more tech savvy than I, and I reminded her to pull up the e ticket I had transferred to her. She said she had a photo of it. Oh no -- that doesn't work -- for obvious reasons (20 people claiming the same e ticket) you can only get scanned from the original transfer. I told Mirta to just put it into Apple Wallet. But she doesn't have an I phone, and apparently her phone updated a few days before. She spent the entire ride to the stadium trying to  find the working ticket. I told her not to stress -- we would tailgate, and if need be -- just leave and have lunch and watch the game on TV. Just as we arrived at the lot, she figured it out, and attended a great memorial tailgate thrown by Mike and Loni, in memory of Loni's Dad Don.

Loni called me to the car and gave me a hat with her Dad's number -- I wore it proudly, and some of the older guys in our section told me about early memories of the great player.

The Canes won in the second half, and we enjoyed catching up on the way home. 

And T Day week is here. We're planning to go to fetch Little Man Tuesday, and take him home with us for 2 days. D1 and Joey have that boy in non stop activities. I told her the pace would be different with us -- maybe we would do ONE thing, like the zoo, during our 48 hour stint. I expect it will be a fine time, and we'll bring him back to Miami Shores for the Big, Fat T Day party Thursday.

D1 turns 36 the day before, and we'll sing for her. The running joke is you DON'T want to be sung the Venezuelan Happy Birthday song -- it goes on for a solid 10 minutes. I think we'll stick to the tried and true gringo version..

Last night the temps dipped into the 50s -- I got some wood and was going to have my first firepit of the season, but I grew too tired. I think I may fire it up tonight, though the temps will be low 60s. I so enjoy sitting there, cup of herbal tea in hand, looking up at the evening trees, as Bruce sings, and giving thanks to the Big Man.

Tonight, the thanks will be about our grandsons, and the energy we still have to watch after them. Definitely a young persons' game.

Like A Breath Of...

 Finally -- some cool air has arrived! When we get lucky in Miami, the cool fronts start late October, but that's rare. In 2005, after Hurricane Wilma, we had one -- nights in the 60s and 50s. Wifey and the Ds decamped to Atlanta since the power would be out for awhile, and our across the street friends Susan and her kids left for Orlando. Pat and I stayed behind, and after dinner each night, we would sit outside, on his back patio or my front porch, sipping Middleton whiskey and feeling like cavemen. 

But again -- that's rare, and it took until the week before T Day this year for the temperature relief. As I type this, it's 53 degrees outside, and delightful. I'm thinking tonight might even call for my first fire pit of the year -- the last time our temperature had a 6 as its first number was last April...

So the news around here is all about T Day. D2 and Jonathan are hosting this year, and I can tell D2 is a bit on edge -- even though we're catering the affair for them. She still wants her house just so, and has been having Wifey bring over dessert trays, extra chairs, and things of that nature. I have zero doubt the 25 of us will have a banner day -- at one point it appeared it would be 40, but some of the siblings and their families begged off for other commitments.

Tomorrow is the final Canes home game, and I'm going with Mirta for the first time this year. It's a noon game -- my least favorite -- but we'll head up to tailgate to honor Loni's Dad Don, whose memorial and Mass were on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, D1 is hosting a get together for her birthday, which falls the day before T Day. She's brought in Pura Vida to family friend Andrew's Wynwood Art Gallery -- all women, including Wifey and her suegra Jacqui. She used to baby sit Andrew, and he earned himself a Master's from an Ivy League school, like his parents, and after a stint in NYC returned to his roots. His Mom. an exec with Art Basel, is the one who told me Miami has emerged as a Top 5 city for modern art in the US -- largely because of Basel.

I have little interest in Modern Art, but it's nice to know it's around -- in case I ever graduate from my sense of the visual, which is basically velvet with dogs sitting around playing poker...

So I'm off soon to my somewhat sadistic dental hygienist, a dentist from Guyana who now does the cleanings. I miss Lucy, who I had for years -- she retired. This woman chides me each time about not flossing, and has less than a gentle hand. I think today will be my final visit with her -- the practice, which is a bit strange, has hired an additional person -- I'll give her a try.

I say it's strange, because my long time dentist, Larry, retired but hasn't retired. He's in his 70s, and never there -- a younger Cuban guy is -- but when I ask, they say he still comes around. I guess he just can't bring himself to write the standard "Thanks for the memories" letter. He's a nice guy -- always said he and his wife and Wifey and I should get together -- they live in Pinecrest and have twins a few years older then D1, but it never came to pass.

It's funny -- Wifey pointed out to me how many people say "We really should get together," but don't truly mean it. I have taken up the lesson -- with me, it's either "How about dinner, Saturday?" or I say nothing about plans. What are words for?

But for now, I plan on digging out my Canes hoodie from the back of my SUV -- I leave it there, with an auxiliary green sweater that invariably Wifey needs this time of year when she underestimates how cool it is when we go out at night.

And I savor that great inhalation of... freshness. The best time of the year in Miami is here.

Stupid Insurance

 So after 10 years with Frontline Insurance, they canceled me since my roof is over 20 years old. Of course, it's been over 20 years old for 7 years, but I guess that after collecting well over $100K in premiums from me, with zero claims, it was time to pull their chips off Dave's spot on the roulette table. Fine.

I called my agent Vilma, and told her just to get me a simple liability policy -- $300K. I have a huge umbrella policy, and just need the underlying policy to make it kosher. I explained to Vilma that house repair or replacement costs are huge, but I kind of know what they are -- worst case scenario, a fire comes or another Andrew -- we well the place for land value, which is already higher than we paid in 2000, and move on. What I CAN'T predict is a potentially catastrophic claim if someone trips while visiting. The unknown is what I need to insure against -- not the known.

Vilma said no -- there was a venerable company called Tower and they would give me a "fire policy" for about $5K -- might as well have THAT coverage for less than half of what I was paying Frontline. I agreed. Oh, Vilma said -- they require YOU to have an inspection and pay for it -- $175 from a local company Vilma uses. The inspector came, and was great, but said the roof was STILL a problem -- even though they were not going to insure it -- something about fire resistance after 20 years. I called my roofer, Andrew Palmer, and they gave me a report for free saying the roof had another 5 years of service -- that ought to pass muster.

Sure enough, Tower sent me a bill for $5800, and I was all set for the new insurance year, starting near Xmas. But then Tower called -- they wanted to send their own inspector, too -- it would take a few hours. A nice, not too bright young man came, and in fact he was here 2 full hours, "scanning" the house to show its size. I guess it made sense -- they need to know how much they'd have to pay if the place burned down or got hit by a falling meteor.

And then early this am, even though they had my money, came the email -- they were canceling my not yet in effect policy. Vilma read me the report -- my beloved house sounded like an Overtown crack den -- with leaks and bad roofing, and hot water heaters without emergency drains... even though one heater is in the garage, and the other on a marble floor which won't be damaged if it leaks.

Now I was annoyed. I had spent money AND hours for a waste of time. Vilma said she would now do as I originally asked -- get me a simple, liability policy for $300K coverage to protect against a claim that would cut into the Ds future inheritances. We'll see -- she has until December 24th.

So after annoyance, I turned to something to cheer my up -- MY form of Black Friday shopping. I NEVER shop on Black Friday, or really most any other day. I don't want stuff. I replace clothes when they tear -- sort of like a 10 year old shirt I almost wore to Fox's the other night before noticing a rip down the front.

But today is Give Miami Day! A bunch of non profits get together and try to raise funds -- I think it may be the biggest such event in the US, and it makes me proud. We've already given our substantial gifts -- FIU, Friendship Circle, UM, and Lotus House, but today is my version of retail therapy. I went on the site and donated to Paws4U Rescue -- Wifey's idea. She loves helping animals, particularly dogs. I gave some more to Lotus House, the leading shelter here for women and kids only.  Guys -- hell -- they can live ok under bridges -- it's camping out for them. But women and kids -- nah.

I dedicated the Lotus gift snarkily to Wifey - saying that but for the grace of the Big Woman (she prefers that reference to the Lord over Big Man) -- who knows where she would be living? The snark comes from the fact that she's agnostic and just kind of thinks she's lucky.

I have some more to Jackson Foundation, so I can have a rooting interest when Barry shares the tales of their administrative dysfunction.

So mission accomplished. No matter how annoyed the insurance industry made me -- I got to do my version of Black Friday -- and "bought"  all I wanted.

Now I just hope nothing untoward befalls Villa Wifey...