My Luck

Last night, attempting to relax with a couple of beers and a few cigarettes quietly at my neighborhood bar, I became reacquainted with that phenomenon of people not being able to resist the temptation to talk to you when you obviously don't want to be bothered. For some reason, this phenomenon is extremely prevalent in guys who frankly just don't have a chance. Since my little escapade last night isn't much of a story, let's just say I was flirting with someone who had this beard.

O, Holy Night...

Over the course of the holidays, I do what many twenty-somethings tend to do, and that is meet up with old friends. Last night, I met up with such a friend. Somehow, after embarking on separate lives at distant colleges and then graduate schools, and finally cities on opposite coasts, we have managed to retain and even strengthen our teenage bond. We go back, way back, all the way to all-girls, Catholic high school. And, because her parents live amidst the rolling hills of a wealthy suburb of our midwestern hometown, our destination for merrymaking was an equally midwestern, so-called "dive bar." Nestled between two major freeways, in proximity to the biggest shopping mall in town and hundreds of beautiful suburban estates, this little spot has a unique and unusual charm. The true pathos of the human condition ekes forth from every cranny. For example, the same bartender has worked here since we have begun frequenting this place as of our 21st birthdays. That is 6 years, at least, of dedicated service to an establishment of many-a-solid Bud Light, fries, spicy ribs and cigarettes. (Please note that as of January 4, however, we will no longer be able to smoke at this historic venue.)

The Brownie with the Most Patches Wins

Libby and I made up this game where you get a special brownie patch for every bad thing you don't do, which you would normally have done before in the past, consistently and with pleasure. 

In this game you get good girl patches like the Brownie Scouts of America for building a fire, pitching a tent, and not going home with that townie who smells like pizza because you were too tired to drive home.  For that achievement you get the "Not Going Home With a Pizza Smelling Townie" patch.