GONE

it's annoying to me when people come into my office with 10 minutes left for the work day _demanding_ stuff. and since I sit on my IT pedestal, controlling access and rights it's up to me to "help me help you". so yeah, when you ask me to work on a website that runs primarily from java dont think I'll smile all easy. especially when it takes 10 minutes to load certain applets.

but you know what, i'll do it. i'll smile and make it fun, even if i hate last minute annoyances.

...and yeah, i'll still smile when another co-worker comes into my office asking me to restore a file that they deleted. sure, no problems, i'll do it. a 3rd person comes into my office asking for help, I cant say no - go away - I have plans. nope, cant do it!

I have a problem saying no. maybe it's not a problem. nah. not a problem.

I enjoy helping others, even if what I do for you/them makes me late. All I ask is a "thanks" in return for my time.

So needless to say I was eagerly anticipating a pint. 10 minutes late though....

problems. nah - Neeko's not even @ the pub yet.

"stafari"

I could hear my name bouncing off the glass... "what's up brah?" "this is Jen, this is Kevin, this is Madeline." proper 'ello's and handshakes.

Happy Hour!

So we had a crew..not what I expected. All good though. Kevin I knew from Neeko's bachelor party. Jen and Madeline were new faces to me; co-workers of Neek and Kev.

...off we go.

I give the man controlling the taps a look keen to cop, "got the seasonal stuff, right?" 4 pints please.

"werent you hear last Friday? you were with a cute asian girl. damn bro, I cant remember your...what's your name again?"

my name is jon. what's your name?

"Ken"

so his name is Ken. I'll remember for the next time I occupy a stool at his establishment! Cheers.

Ken and I grew up in the same town, graduated a few years apart, never really knew each other - saw each other around - never spoke.

But anyways...

Happy hour. I miss it (at times). I miss being in a pub with my fellow co-workers (or business associates) dressed in work garb. I miss the banter about work; why people hate it, love it, what happened during the day, what your boss wants...all that shit. Happy hour, to me, was a great release for the stresses of a work day. A time I could bond with my co-workers and not feel obligated to follow the strict rules of omerta at my company.

...and we know what happens at happy hours. people get drunk. quickly.

Our conversations ranged from our companies (respectively) to the current IT situation in Pgh to the upcoming hockey and football seasons. Good chats...

Jen rode the "down" part with banter about her recent breakup with her ex, death of a friend and her problems with company dress code. Nick and I easily filled the good guy roles and offered our best advice - putting Jen's wandering thoughts to ease - it's good to help. She smiled; "another whiskey sour please!"

...back and forth, back and forth, chain smoking _my_ cigarettes. 5 pints later the conversation drifted towards music. some how, phish became the only band we could talk about. obsessed mid and late 20's phishheads sharing fond experiences on the traveling circus and the countless braincells we've lost.

The show we talked about most (besides our first phish shows), the only show the 3 of us attended (neither of us knew Jen), was the 2000 Pgh show.

mmmm, phish banter - I'll save that for another post....

At some point during the phish banter Jen left; leaving Neek and I to carry on like overworked and underpaid hooligans. Come to think, we were rather tame - just being friends, drunk and catching up on time.

Our chatty stories got deeper and personal; focusing on our relationships (and that "f" word she was afraid of...), what's good, what's bad - the whole relationship lot. damn. Time for a slightly drunk phone call (which I knew would go directly to voicemail - no rings - just her sweet voice followed by a beep)...sigh.

Neek's wife called, telling him to be home for the season premier of Lost.

Funny how life changes - give it time, right? At least that's Neeko's thoughts; "Once you're married it changes man." Those nights he'd come to old house to jam were fleeting... I miss them. Neek on the guitar, me on the syth's, drum machine and decks. Seems like years ago. Now Neeko's married; house and husband duties to tend to...

crazy. funny how life changes as time moves about. crazy to think that could one day be me; rushing home to sit on the couch with wifey to watch the tele.

...and the tele.

Now, I dont make an evening of watching TV - not unless there's quality programs on the tube, which is Sunday. The new season of Family Guy's hilarious! I cant wait for the Stewie DVD, next week I think... soo sick. But yeah, I dont go home to watch the tube - normally. However, last night, I'm off balance and the tele seemed like a good way to level myself! Plus I needed to get my shit together and check a few log files on the linux server AND ensure the data I restored wasnt corrupt. And I'm drunk...

I needed an evening like last night. I needed the humor, the fresh faces, the alcohol, the conversations - everything - Mind focused, balanced fucked up...

1 more day of this slightly long and lonely work week.

It's "thirsty thursday" but I'm not thirsty. No... not after last night. No bubbles going down to my tummy. No. Thanks to Neeko I have 1 nuglet of w.widow at my house waiting for me. I have to clean the house first, 3 floors with a slight collection of dust. le sigh. i know my hard work will pay off in many ways, other than having a clean house!

peace.