Then we were off to the Remote Sports Bar, site of a future meetup, fa sho. A clean, well-lit dive, all formica and TV screens and billiards and the greatest buncha characters this side of jonmc. Frankie the bartender, in particular, is the man, cheerfully offering up bottles of Bud and gravelly quips. I half-expected him to whip out his boot knife and show us all the survival tools secreted in the handle. We shook off our lowlife demeanors to shoot a few rounds of that most aristocratic of games, 8-ball billiards, eventually with a local fellow name of Patrick, who schooled jonmc and me in turn until his scratch on the 8-ball lofted jonmc to the winner's pedestal, to the huzzahs of nobody in particular.

Then it was off to Fatty's, where El Fatty cooks up Cuban cuisine and wicked mojitos in a most congenial atmosphere. Who can remember all we talked about? I do, however, recall jonmc holding forth eloquently on some subject or other: "Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit. Neither is poverty an obstacle, but a man may benefit his country whatever the obscurity of his condition. There is no exclusiveness in our public life, and in our private business we are not suspicious of one another, nor angry with our neighbor if he does what he likes; we do not put on sour looks at him which, though harmless, are not pleasant. While we are thus unconstrained in our private business, a spirit of reverence pervades our public acts; we are prevented from doing wrong by respect for the authorities and for the laws, having a particular regard to those which are ordained for the protection of the injured as well as those unwritten laws which bring upon the transgressor of them the reprobation of the general sentiment."

And pips is so utterly charming that I easily forget myself in their company, and feel like I'm out with family, all conspiring to make the evening as lovely and memorable as possible. Thanks, guys. What a great time.

Yes, the villagers eagerly await your return, wise traveler. Although we must warn visitors of the Ball-Eating Billiard Table, which neccessitaed a lot of arm-up-th-hole action and puerile humor, until Frankie stepped in with the keys and a 'what the fuck are you doing over there?'

He did think it was funny when I suggested we run a snake up through the hole like it was plumbing.

Y'know though, hangin' out in a street corner dive on a nice spring night, with sports on the TV, old riff-rock on the jukebox, your girl and your buddy with you, surround by half-bagged old galoots, sippin' beer and shootin' 8-ball, with the door open so you can hear the trains roar by, in a place that lets you smoke and feeds you Goldfish..nothing could be finer.

Except maybe a trip to Aroober.

JonMc deToqueville.

Sounds like one of those greatest of evenings. Had I been with you, I'd have enjoyed the hell out of it.

Actually, miko, at one point during the evening, as we were shooting pool (hugh in his 'Jack Daniels Field Tester t-shirt, me in my 'You Big Dummy,' Fred Sanford one) slugging beers, the bar filled with smoke, Jim (one of the barflys) put Cream's version of 'Born Under A Bad Sign,' on the juke. Nice touch to an urban tableaux, that.

(also, I'm hungover like a mother fucker. Thankfully, I have that quart of Watermelon malt liquor in the fridge. I'll need a few cans of Sparks Plus Alcholic Energy drink to cut the fog, when I get home).

I love you all.

I been down since I began to crawl.
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all.

Wino! You must, must join us, soon...

'Twas a great evening. The tulips were in their glory, and the mint crushed to perfection. And a gal could not ask for two more magnanimous gentlemen...

I may have even heard the mermaids singing. (Or was that Frankie?)