Yep, I’m feeling better. Not better enough to stay out for a full evening at the bar, but good enough to be out until almost midnight. I’ll probably still be up until 4 or 5, but my lingering/soon-to-be-dead cold didn’t really like the smokey atmosphere of our friendly neighborhood Irish pub. So I’m home.
And totally coming at this entry from the wrong direction….
Thumper and his lovely wife are back in town for the holidays. Which means the usual gathering of all the old friends at the Half-Time Rec in St. Paul. It’s so much easier than trying to plan a party. Just tell everyone when you’re going to be there, then sit back and enjoy the Tim Malloys and drink some Guiness (or cider, if that’s your preference, which it is, thank you).
Thumper and his wife took me in years ago when I had no place else to live (except for the grandmother’s house, which was not the best option for a 23 year old, even if the rent was cheaper/nearly-free). We shared a house for over 2 years, and they’re the coolest people. Too bad they’re in exile– I mean, going to grad school in Buffalo, NY. Thumper is working towards his doctorate in archeology; great brain on that man.
Tiny was able to make it, as well. Sans wife and baby, of course. And the two Js (my ride, Thank you), A and S, C and M, and a few more I’m temporarily forgetting. They can yell at me later.
It was a fun night. A good warm-up for tomorrow’s New year’s party, which I won’t be able to ditch before midnight. We talked, we drank, we smoked, the band started playing, we yelled, we drank, we yelled, we smoke, we decided to head downstairs to play bocce ball where we could actually hear each other. It’s that kind of bar. Fairly small local pub, that nonetheless decided it needs a sound system loud enough for a bar at least twice it’s size. The perfect volume for listening to the band is usually found in the other room or in the basement.
Still, it’s a fun hang-out. I can always be sure that at least one of my friends will be there on a Tuesday night, if not many, many more. And tonight was so sweet, to see a bunch of distant friends again, chat about fencing (which I don’t do, but, after working with these people at the fencing booth for 10 years, is one of the things they are always guaranteed to talk about), the cats, the ferrets, working and not working, and general what-not.
Great to see you guys! Wish you could stay longer, wish you could visit more often, wish you could move back home….
Oh well, he’ll graduate in a few years….