Another Chimp Vid

On a Segway!

Two Scrimps

I was involved in a minor car accident 2 weeks ago. After some wrangling and paper shuffling, I finally took my car in to the body shop this past Monday for the repairs. The insurance company provided for a rental while my car was being worked on.

I received a phone call just after lunch yesterday informing me my car was ready to be picked up. But first, I had to take the rental back to the rental agency. The woman who checked me in at the rental agency was the same one who picked me up on Monday, so we had a history. It was a good history actually. She was very friendly and accommodating. She was professional too.

So, I signed all the papers and paid for the gas and taxes (my insurance company did not pay for that.) While we were in the office, she was very professional and engaging at the same time. When we got in the car to take me back to the body shop, she started hitting on me.

There is no question that was what she was doing. She immediately asked if I was married. Then she asked if I dated outside my race. (She is a fine black woman.) I had to inform her I don't even date within my race. We laughed and laughed. She told me about her being jilted at the alter. She got me to tell her about a rather regretful relationship in my past, as well. We bonded quite a bit. (She immediately pegged me as a non-commital type and told me that Oprah dedicated an entire show to people like me-never married males.)

We were in the car for less than six minutes and I learned a very personal saga from her life, she from mine and she practically asked me out.

All good things have to come to an end, and she let me out of the car at the body shop and we traded our plaintive goodbyes.

That was the highlight of my day (in addition to the arrival of the new sparkling blue recycle carts from the city.)

Today's found photo seems like it is from a NAMBLA brochure.

Bar Report

Some of the drinkers in our company scheduled a happy hour yesterday right after work. The organizer of the event consulted me on where it should be held. People in my office defer to me in such matters, so it was with some surprise that she ignored my suggestions and decided to hold the informal event at Sam's Boat.

I haven't been to Sam's boat in well over six years. The place has changed somewhat, but I still don't like it much. It has too much of an "ice house" feel to it. Plus, the drinks are way too expensive. I ordered a double Makers and it came in a small plastic cup and it appeared to be a single pour. Our waitress assured me otherwise.

The woman who organized the outing couldn't have been more apologetic. I wasn't alone with my discontent so after an hour and a half at Sam's Boat, we all headed north to The Hideout.




This was my first time to The Hideout (inside, anyway). Much better. Much, much better. Shannon B.'s review of the place on Yelp sums it up for me:

Dark room, cold AC, clean place. CHEAP, *strong* cocktails. Great bartender (Andrew) who makes my signature drink as soon as I sit down. Excellent movie selections being shown behind the bar (a la Casino El Camino). Great old school video game selection (Galaga, Golden Tee, Silver Strike, etc.). Eclectic jukebox. Big patio. Average pub grub menu; nothing special in the food, but it's nice to have the option to eat after you realize you are tanked by the powerful highballs you've been downing. Did I mention the strong drinks?

So there you have it. The only drawback is the location. It is pretty far North, but that does work in its benefit in keeping the college crowd to a minimum.

I have no data for today's found photo post. I like it though.

Pee Pants

This past weekend was outstanding! Somebody up there likes me. It was memorable in many ways. I attended a very, very fun party on Saturday in Tarrytown. The Texas-OU game was the basis for the get-together.

Our hosts had the grill fired up all day and an unlimited bar. Did I mention they had a pool? No? Well they did. It wasn't a big party (fewer than 20 guests), but it was a rollicking one. Of course the fact that UT beat OU in such a big, great game made it even better.

I arrived home from the party around 6:00-ish and decide to take Luke and Taz for a walk and go get some ice at a nearby convenience store. I don't go to Sun Liquor for ice as it is old and crushed. I like fresh, cubed ice that they sell at The Breadbasket.

Anyway, I have the leash on the two dogs and am walking out the back gate of the back yard when I see Troy (hobo neighbor) waving at me and yelling out for me to come over. I cross the street and catch him as he is zipping up his pants. He explained he had to pee outside since he has a lady friend over (my mind reels about that one.) He was 6 feet from the very busy street that bisects our houses. It was broad daylight and anyone could see what he was up to.

So, he want's me to help him fix his computer. He has such a short term memory. He still "owes" me two six packs and a gas cap (which he broke) for previous lawnmower usage.

I am going to help him because in some ways, it is the right thing to do, but I can't let him think he can take advantage of me. I am sure I will have further stories to relate regarding this latest interaction.

Today's old photo post has no date or locale, but it appears that the subjects were standing very near an outhouse when the photo was snapped.

Cloak and Dagger

I picked Uffe up at the Airport last night on his return from New York on a business trip. We decided prior to his arrival that we would go out for cocktails before I would deposit him at his front door.

I decided we would drink at The Cloak Room. (To learn more, click here and here.) Even though I have lived in Austin for over 27 years, I had only recently (2 years ago) been introduced to the place by Bill Curra.

His flight was early, but I was following the status on line and arrived in time (10:40 PM). I even had a tallboy waiting for him in the car. (Tallboy is a beer, by the way.)

The flight was pleasant enough, even though he sat next to an extremely obese (and cranky) 22 year old girl. I did not press for details.

The evening air was perfect so we travelled to The Cloak Room with the windows down. We found a parking spot right by the front door. The pungent aroma of the Laurel Oak trees that dot the Capitol grounds permeated the air. It was a fine night and we had some whiskey drinking to do.

The Cloak Room is a pretty small bar, but is is perfectly dark and you access it by descending an exterior flight of steps. It is dark, as I mentioned and I tripped on the step that leads into the establishment. I was hoping that would not cause me to be cut off before I had my first drink.

I have been lucky in that every time I have been to The Cloak Room, it has not been crowded. I have always been able to acquire a nice table and this time was no exception. Its funny, but I never think to go to this place unless I am bringing friends home from the airport or I am looking for a nice place to go after a hearty meal at Austin Land and Cattle. Those are the only occassions that bring me there.

I do believe that The Cloak Room is my favorite bar in the state of Texas.

Here's another scanned pic. All it says on the back is "Anderson High prom." No date is given. I wonder if kids today perform the broom limbo?