My first drink purchase, as always, was a Ninkasi Total Domination IPA.
[If you haven't tried this delectable brew, well I am very disappointed, and I suggest - no, command - that you rush out and purchase yourself a pint of this sinfully delicious beverage post-haste.
Also on the menu for the week:
Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout (now infused with vanilla bean)
Southern Oregon Brewing Co. Porter (My new personal favorite - if you could bottle happiness, it would taste like this.)
Caldera Stone Rock Porter (I know, a little overboard on the Porters...)
Okay, enough shameless brewery plugs, I have a different blog for that though it is having maintenance issues at the moment... On with the tale!]
Upon arrival I encountered RJ, an old friend and erstwhile billiards competitor, who promptly challenged me to a game. It was at this point that I discovered I was in what we billiard buffs refer to as "The Zone". Every shot hit home with barely any effort at all, my usually scathing tongue delivered psyche-outs and taunts with ease, and my opponent fell within minutes. Upon his defeat, he good naturedly offered to buy me a refill for my rapidly depleting beverage. Draining the last sip, I meandered over to the bar at his side, sitting down to order a new favorite, The Caldera Stone Rock Porter.
At around this time, RJ and I acquired a new 'best friend'. I'm not sure if you've ever been treated to an episode of Popeye, but if you have I'm sure you are familiar with Popeye's arch nemesis: Bluto.
In case you somehow forgot this enigmatic villain, I will provide you with a visual refresher course:
Now, our new best friend bore such a striking resemblance to my cartoon hero's tormentor that for a moment I felt as though I had been transported into a 1960's cartoon scene. What would Olive Oyl do? I wondered, as Bluto placed a 100lb arm across my shoulders after a drunken assertion that I was 'thepreetistgurlinthewhooooleworld!' After more drunken gibberish on his part, and a few attempts at crude sign language, I managed to discern that Bluto was trying to engage me in a game of pool.Carefully weighing my options, I decided to start a friendly wager with my new friend. Now, you may be thinking that it's vaguely immoral to place bets with someone who can barely understand the concept of a pause between words, let alone aim a cue at a series of balls and hope for victory...
And you may be correct.
However, I never claimed to be one of the good guys, and so I made the wager: Loser buys the winner's next drink. Fairly basic, right? Win one game, receive one beverage? That's what I thought too.
Well, after I defeated Bluto the first time [in a matter of minutes, I might add] I was ready to take my victory drink [another Caldera Porter] and be on my way. Fortunately, Bluto hadn't had enough. I proceeded to beat him another three times, earning myself another precious pint of Porter [allertation, what?] with each victory.
Accustomed as I am to earning my beverages in a much less traditional way [don't get any ideas, the occasional flirtatious remark is as low as I go] this night of actually employing a skill to earn my buzz was at best exhilarating, at worst a nice change.
Alas, time for a new adventure. Tonight on the agenda? Another round of billiards with my sister at the new 'metal' bar in town. Since a new bar in this town [especially so far removed from the tourist center] lasts approximately 3 months on its own before going bankrupt, I'd better take advantage of my chance.
'Till next time.
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