Beer Night is Cool

Mike and I meet every Wednesday Night at the brewery for beer and conversation. Occassionally others will join us. We sit there for several hours, drinking Red, and wandering through the topics that seem agreeable. Overhead the three television sets show sports, such as baseball or hockey. Since we've been doing this for nearly two years, we've gotten to know the waitresses by name. Later, after the beer drinking is done, we'll head over to the coffeehouse next door and drink some coffee. And continue to talk of things seemingly important.

The tradition was started by Nick, who once did every Wednesday night for 52 weeks straight. And it was at one of Nick's larger gatherings that I first did Beer Night. He chose Wednesday because after 8:30, they serve beer for a buck. Generally Nick's groups were larger, with a minimum of four people around the table, often exceeding eight in number.

By accident one evening I was coming back from a late dinner with a friend from work when I ran into Mike. I used to work with Mike over at a company that made video games, back at the beginning of the 90's. I wasn't in the mood just to slum back to my boring apartment, so I joined him. I did, that evening, partake of beer. And I learned of the mysteries of Wednesday Beer Night. The middle of my week has not been the same since.

As it turned out, I knew another at the table when we sat down, that first evening. Emi, a girl I knew from my Saturday Morning teaching thing. When I knew her, she was a teenager. Now she was a young lady, fresh out of college. Actually, soon to go back - Med School, this time. Glutton for punishment.

There were others around the table, good for a bit of conversation. But that was a while back. And not since Nick stopped coming, has there really been a consistent crowd. One evening Nick arrived with a clutch of bunnies, and the ID Nazi wouldn't let them pass. This pissed Mr. Nick off big-time, and so he has sworn off the brewery for good.

And so, over the past year the core of the group has just been Mike and I. For quite a while Shaun joined us. Shaun was my right-hand man over at my previous job. Quite a programmer he turned out to be. Shortly after I left there, he jumped ship to the company's main competitor. But then late this year he did one interview too many at a place up in Seattle. Small software shop run by a guy named Bill. And so Shaun is gone.

Last week Sam the Music Man joined us for a beer. He had a new publicity CD he had put together from all the various video games and such that he's worked on. But he was a little down, because his chief source of income, from another place in town, has been cut off. And some of his new projects have yet to fall into place. I don't know that Sam will be a regular, in that he lives so far out of town.

On the waitress scene we have several young honeys, including Katie the Dog Girl. Once we noticed something on her upper leg. She was quite happy to show it to us - a Pit Bull tatoo. And soon we knew of her dog Olivia, and of her life in Boston. It turns out Katie also has a pierced tongue and a full back tatoo. Pretty girl, but just a little different.

Over at the coffee house we also know the girls. Nik and Liz are our favorites. Although we know them by name and like to chat with them, they must think us odd, because we act like we've just been drinking beer. And we have.

Nik has a two jobs and works all the time. And even when she isn't working, she's hanging around the coffeehouse. She claims she still going to school, but I have my doubts. In that crucial transition from student to working girl, but just can't seem to jump into a real career.

Liz is in a similar position. A few more courses and she's done. But what is next? A real beauty, she half considers going to New York and becoming a modern dancer. Broadway. Just a notion. All the boys swoon, and I suppose she'll finally take one of them up on an offer of marriage. There are so many admiring souls, though, that she may take her time.

A Decaf, please. Three sugar cubes. And Mike gets his Mocca Latte or so. Sometimes when the tab from the brewery is not even, one of us will pick up the other's coffee. And then we wander around looking for a place to sit. Get a good view of the babes behind the counter or the ones streaming in. Maybe out on the patio where it's cooler. It varies.

And finally, when the night starts to wane, and the chairs go up on the tables, it is time to leave. "Where did you park?" "Oh, down here." "Well, see you next time." "Yeah, or on the Net." The group, even if it's just us two, congregates with Email, and so we're never really leaving - just thinning out the conversation.