I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday because of a commitment to double Happy Hours – twice the fun. Yes, I did some serious “Day Drinking”. See Post #964. I scheduled both a “Leadership Luncheon” and an “After Work” rendezvous, with only enough time in between to run home and let the dogs out. I still do have some working friends that can’t have a breakfast beer, so in order to accommodate both my fellow retirees and former co-workers, two meet-ups were strategically arranged.  An early Cubs game at Buffalo Wild Wings started my busy day and a late dinner at WildFin with my working wife was the finishing touch.  The additional Coors Light drafts at the Home Field filled in the fleeting hours of a Friday. 

This morning started with the Dick Inukai Foundation 5k run that my wife’s company supports. Dogs were not allowed, so our schnauzers were visibly disappointed as we headed out the door without them. Tonight is the Train and Goo Goo Dolls concert at the Sunlight Amphitheater  just across the I-5 bridge in Washington state. It’s all part of another busy weekend that my wife planned to keep her occupied during these precious few days off work. She likes to keep moving, while I prefer a more sedate activity like sitting on a bar stool. I certainly couldn’t handle “Day Drinking” as a routine, but once a week is an acceptable practice. Yesterday, was an exception that led to an early bed time. Two beers say “cheers”…Three too many for me…Four makes me snore….Five never drive…..Six makes me sick. Regardless, even one leads to frequent visits to the urinal for a guy my age.

I’m more of a martini guy – eXtra dirty, eXtra dry, eXtra olives (XXX rated). Beers go right through me, but I have a lot of beer-guzzling friends that want me to join them. One even makes his own, so on occasion I try to adapt to the much less expensive alternative than preferred Tito’s Vodka. Coors Light is my with-the-guys-go-to that can be quite refreshing, although it’s like drinking glorified water. I try to rotate in a Diet Coke or two to offset some of the drowsiness that I experience from drinking hops. Beer also tends to put-on the weight, which somehow seems impossible after all those trips to the men’s room. 

Not all of my meetings involve martinis or beers. In fact, I’ve missed the last couple of baseball breakfasts, including this morning’s because of the fundraiser. I sent some money to pay for items that others have found to match my interests. Yesterday, I received a few of these personal treasures in the process of “Day Drinking.” These included a couple of signed photos from former White Sox pitcher Gerry Staley, who grew up around this area; some matchbook covers from first baseman Ted Kluszewski’s Cincinnati steakhouse called Jack & Klu’s; and a bar glass with the Sox logo. There also was a 1963 White Sox Year Book, the final year of Sherm Lollar’s playing career, and an Orestes (Minnie) Minoso baseball card printed in Spanish. These came from garage sales and swap meets that my fellow collectors discovered, ever on the outlook for items that I might want. It’s very thoughtful of them and well worth a few beers or a slab of bacon for their efforts.