People Watching

I was in a bar the other night and got to partake in two of my favorite past times. The first being cold beer and the second is people watching.

This particular bar I had never been in before. It is in a rural community and it was a slow night, but this bar had everybody. There was the preppy guy in khaki shorts, ankle socks and a backward hat. There was the guy that thought he was a pool player, right down to duct tape on his hand. I'm assuming the duct tape he thought would allow the cue to slide better, but I'm not sure. There was wanna be a farmer guy with long sleeve insulated shirt, t shirt over that, boots that hadn't seen mud and a John Deere trucker hat. There was even an appearance by Miss I Need attention. I'm sure you've seen her, about 22, jeans and tshirt complete with push up bra that was 2 sizes too small to really push them up and 6 inch hooker heels.

My favorite guy of the night though had to be "Tex". He came walking in like he owned the place. Was carrying his 2 piece pool cue (apparently couldn't afford the case to go with it). He walked in and put his quarters on the table before he even ordered a beer. He had the look down, boots, Wrangler jeans, black belt with the shiny adornments on it, button up long sleeve shirt, white cowboy hat and the fu man chu 'stache. I didn't look but it wouldn't surprise me to find a horse at the hitchin post outside. To the guys credit he seemed like a nice guy and he did play a decent game of pool, but he looked WAY out of place in rural Indiana.

This bar had it all. Even the guy sitting by himself at the end of the bar because he didn't want to go home to his wife. All in all it was a very enjoyable evening spent with good people and I can't wait to go back when the bar is busy.

"Bill" Moment

I had a uniquely "Bill" moment the other day. Me and a conductor were deadheading to Chicago. I was sitting in the back listening to my Ipod and not really paying much attention. I was catching bits and pieces of the conversation going on in front of the van. Apparently they were talking about the movie 2012. The gist of the conversation was that there was 3 couples left to repopulate the Earth. The driver was explaining how the gene pool would be pretty shallow for the first few generations. I chose this moment to inject my 2 cents. I said "Well it would be just like a trip to Tennessee then"

Then came the awkward silence. The driver then informs me "I'm from Tennessee and I've never seen anything like that." Fantastic, of all the states I could have picked to make that analogy, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama etc, I pick the one my driver happens to be from. Yea me.

So he gets a little defensive and explains how he doesn't know anyone that's married a cousin or anything and how they've passed a law against it. At that point I was thinking, ok point taken, but that's when things got strange.

Right after he explained how he didn't know anyone that married their cousin etc, he explained how he had a smoking hot cousin when he was younger that he tried to date. Apparently (at least according to him) their nearest relative was like 6 generations ago, but she did have the same last name. And it wasn't like Smith or anything, he didn't tell us what it was but said it wasn't very common. He said the only thing that kept them from dating was that she was actually looking forward to getting married someday so she could change her name, and if she was with him that wouldn't happen.

So in the process of trying to argue my point, he actually made it stronger. It was one of those surreal conversations that I find myself involved in from time to time and that I chuckle about when ever I think back on them.

Favorite time of year

Ahh yes, it is my favorite weekend of the year. Some of you may be thinking because of Easter but you would be wrong. It is opening weekend of the 162 game grind we like to call Major League Baseball season.

This is the time of year when all the off season moves, spring training workouts and everything else will pay off or fall flat. It's the magical time of year when even Cub fans think they have a chance. Last season is a distant memory and everyone is optimistic that their team will win it all come October (or November which is now the case)

So raise a glass to your favorite team while they still have yet to record their first loss, and still have their prisine record. Even the Nationals are undefeated as of right now, that in and of itself is something to celebrate. It's time to live and die by your team's agonizing defeats, triumphant wins and bone headed front office moves, and I for one can't wait until it gets started.