{"id":6221,"date":"2013-09-27T14:35:55","date_gmt":"2013-09-27T14:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/?p=6221"},"modified":"2013-09-27T14:52:22","modified_gmt":"2013-09-27T14:52:22","slug":"end-of-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/end-of-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"End of Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"092713-1\"
\n(End of Summer, 2013, promo flyer for this evening’s festivities. Be there, or be square!)<\/p>\n

I was going to talk with you about what those whacky North Koreans are up to with their weapons of mass destruction this morning, but that is in the realm of speculative geo-politics. The whole Carrington Event thing is illustrative about the implications of what the Northerners are up to, and maybe the Iranians, too.<\/p>\n

It makes a lot of sense, for those mass destruction programs aimed at us on a shoe-string budget, but there are more important things on the agenda this fine Friday.<\/p>\n

No, I won\u2019t comment on the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, except to note that the UN bureaucrats have taken the input of the scientists and determined they are even more confident than ever before that their jobs are on the line, even if the models they base their belief system on were a little\u2026well, alarmist. They actually admit it, which is sort of refreshing.<\/p>\n

This is getting to be farcical, and I am betting the report- a contradiction- sinks like a stone once the media reports that \u201cthings are getting warmer, even if it is not the way we have been telling you, and We Still Need To Do Something Right Away.\u201d<\/p>\n

I promise I will get back to the subject of Electromagnetic Pulse, and the potential for real trouble, unlike the IPCC, but I really need to tell you something important.<\/p>\n

It had been a busy afternoon. A security investigator, a contractor, of course, had stopped by Big Pink to ask me some pointed questions about a former co-worker who had listed me as a reference on his clearance update. I knew him only professionally, though we did work fairly closely for a few years, but never hung out as buddies.<\/p>\n

I ask you, if someone provides you the list of people to talk to about your patriotism, alcohol and drug use, how many of those people are going to dime you out to some contractor who asks the usual questions, the same ones every time every five years?<\/p>\n

I was happy to help. After all, every five years I have to provide a list of reliable people, too. Anyway, I got through that with a smile and took a Red Top Cab out to Seven Corners to contribute a grand to the Koon\u2019s Ford enterprise and get the JG\u2019s car back. It ran just fine, and the quickest way home was to jump on I-66, rush hour be damned.<\/p>\n

That dumped me off near Willow, and what the hell. I may have to be cutting back to “sustainable\u201d levels of \u201crenewable\u201d cash expenditure, but think of the savings in taking a cab back, not to mention the electricity and fossil fuels required to power the big screen TV I would not watch, right?<\/p>\n

Anyway, I found a decent place to park and maneuvered the hulking Explorer to the curve with a certain panache. It felt good to be alive, and the end-of-day foot traffic on Fairfax Drive was moving with spirit and many smiles. Passing Uncle Julio\u2019s, the patio was full, and I saw Tracy O\u2019Grady and her husband Brian surveying the courtyard with concern.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Tracy!\u201d I said as I came abeam and stopped. \u201cLooking at the scene of tomorrow\u2019s End of Summer Party?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded gravely. \u201cI hope we don\u2019t bomb out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"092713-2\"
\n(Famed local Hillybilly band, Jumping Jupiter, doing it outside.)<\/p>\n

\u201cI am telling everyone I know that the whole courtyard will be filled with the aroma of fabulous food and plenty of bargains on beverages and live music by Jumpin\u2019 Jupiter, that fabulous hillbilly band. You are going to have the Grill King with Stachowski grilled brats and dogs, and the World Famous Willow Beef-on-Weck sandwiches.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"092713-3\"
\n(Last month\u2019s Beef On Weck with Barrister Jerry)<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope people come out for it,\u201d she said doubtfully.<\/p>\n

Brian gave a grin of encouragement. \u201cYou always feel this way the first time you do something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I am still nervous every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe anxiety is what puts you at the top of your game,\u201d I said with a wink. \u201cI told the homeless guy in front of the Seven Eleven on the way over. I will make it the topic of tomorrow\u2019s story, which goes to an exclusive audience of the most discerning readers, world wide. It is going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait until you see what has changed inside,\u201d she said, mysteriously, and I gave her a salute, and headed on toward the patio and the cool refreshing dimness of the bar.<\/p>\n

Old Jim was presiding at the apex of the Amen Corner. Jon-without was sitting next to him wearing a jacket and open-collar dress shirt. He looked crisp but casual, and I asked what the deal was.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince I got laid off by my old company and hired by Mitsubishi the same day, I have a few days of unemployment between gigs,\u201d he said, gesturing down. \u201cHence a less formal presence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am with you,\u201d I said, gesturing at my jeans. \u201cI envy you the opportunity to represent the Mitsubishi Heavy Bomber Works. I am sort of between paying performances at the moment. So what is up? Tracy said there was something new to be seen in here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim\u2019s formidable eyebrows went up. \u201cDon\u2019t you look around?\u201d<\/p>\n

I did a quick scan of the Amen Corner and there it was, big as life: a keg cooler with six taps, but no handles yet. \u201cHoly crap. Draft Beer at Willow? Do we have to bring our own handles?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be a real innovation, but duh. Tracy bought the unit from the Cowboy Bar over on Lee Highway- you know, the place next to the old Alpine restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy God, this changes everything,\u201d I said, dumbstruck. \u201cI may have to rethink the whole no-carbohydrate thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jasper slid a glass of Happy Hour White in front of me. \u201cOr maybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"092713-4\"<\/p>\n

Tex appeared to show off his new bar toy. \u201cI intend to have the very best hand-crafted brews on tap,\u201d He said. \u201cAn IPA, for sure, something seasonal, and then a dark and a couple other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow come you didn\u2019t always have draft beer?\u201d I asked. \u201cWhat was the name of this bar before it was Willow? They had draft beer, I remember. No one was ever here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAncient history,\u201d growled Jim. \u201cWillow opened and sold a thousand glasses of wine a week, and few suds. They had excess capacity and the beer went flat and there were fruit flies and crap. So Tracy yanked the taps and went with bottled beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a tremendous step,\u201d I said. \u201cIt makes the place complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tex positively beamed. \u201cJust wait until the End of Summer Party, Friday, 27 September in the courtyard next to Willow. It is going to be dynamite, six to nine pm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would not miss it for the world,\u201d I said. \u201cI will see you there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"092713-5\"
\n(End of Summer Shortcake at Willow.)<\/p>\n

Copyright 2013 Vic Socotra
\nwww.vicsocotra.com
\nTwitter: @jayare303<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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