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I watched a brief summary of the primary election results when I got back from The Front Page last night. The place is getting as comfortable as an old shoe, like the battered deck shoes that I wear now that came fromDad. The leather is now molded to my feet, and socks or no socks, caress my arches and coddle my toes. I gave all my fancy shoes to the Good Will. Life is grand.<\/p>\n
Jon-Without and K2 were at the bar when I strolled in. The election news was flickering on one of the flat-screens suspended over the bar, but that wasn\u2019t the topic of conversation. \u201cDid you hear they are shutting down the Metro tomorrow?\u201d asked K2, taking a pull on the dark liquid in the pint glass in front of him.<\/p>\n
Jon-without adjusted his bow tie. \u201cThat is going to screw me up big time tomorrow. I have to be downtown for a demonstration. I can\u2019t get out of it. What am I supposed to do? Take a bus?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeems a shame that no one knew that all systems get old and need regular maintenance,\u201d I said. \u201cWhat a surprise.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jon-without said something about government always knowing best, but I didn\u2019t catch it, since Laura the bartender was bending over to get something in that remarkably short red kilt she wears to improve her tips.<\/p>\n
K2 frowned. \u201cI have a brutal commute. This is going to be a hardship. It is almost two blocks from my apartment to the building here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly having a favorite bar in the same building in which you work is a positive commitment to a sustainable lifestyle,\u201d I said. Shea the bartender slid a diet tonic and vodka with a slice of lime in front of me and I couldn\u2019t help but smile. \u201cI am taking this as a sign that it is getting on time to get out of Arlington before more infrastructure collapses.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you think it is really maintenance?\u201d asked Jon-without, furrowing his brow. \u201cOr could the Homeland Security Bubbas have got wind of some kind of terror plot like Madrid?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNah, nothing like that. I bet it is just the realization that the infrastructure is rickety and someone is going to get hurt unless they do something drastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn\u2019t they do this on the weekend? Why do they have to screw up the working week?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho says we really work here. I bet it is the Cherry Blossom Festival,\u201d said K2. \u201cAnd St. Patrick\u2019s Day on Thursday. So a Wednesday surprise has the least impact. It will just be a snow day without the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am staying away from all large pubic gatherings,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd that includes public transit. But thanks for the reminder about St. Paddy\u2019s Day. I don\u2019t drive on the days when the amateurs are on the roads.\u201d
\nI took a refreshing sip of my drink through the two little plastic straws I use to keep track of where I am in the evening. \u201cAny thoughts on what is happening with the primaries?\u201d<\/p>\n
K2 looked pensive. \u201cIs there any doubt?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have no doubts? What do you think is going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
He put down his Guinness. \u201cI think the coast is going to get a little clearer about who we are going to vote against. That\u2019s what I think.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waggled my finger at Shea, after counting the number of straws on the napkin in front of me. \u201cGuinness,\u201d I said. \u201cIt\u2019s good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like I said, I looked at the flat-screen television when I got home after debating whether to actually turn it on. I stirred the cabbage that was slow cooking in corned beef juices on the stove. In the end, I could not help myself, and got the remote control and turned on the 62-inch monster.<\/p>\n
It blinked to life, and I looked at what had happened. \u201cDamn,\u201d I thought. \u201cK2 was right!\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"031615-2\"](\"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/031615-2.jpg\")
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Copyright 2016 Vic Socotra
\nwww.vicsocotra.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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