Can I have a good time? Can I have fun?

I’ve abandoned you yet again. Many apologies…but get over it!!

Now, that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business.

Ah, Memorial Day Weekend. Cookouts, massive amounts of drinking, partying with friends…Wait, I’m a bartender. I don’t get to do these things anymore!! God, I miss college!! Seriously, long weekends for me mean long hours spent slaving away behind the bar. I’m not complaining because the money is generally good and I’m kind of over that whole going out thing now that I’m almost…gasp…30!! But there are times, like this weekend in particular, when it bothers me.

Here’s why: I’m getting ready for work on Sunday night (an extra shift given to me because of the Monday holiday) and…

…wait, what the frig? Did Beckett really just give up another homerun to Toronto??!! (Watching the Sox as I’m writing this so I’m a bit distracted). Long story short, our ace Josh Beckett (7-1) is on the mound, it’s the fifth inning, 6-2 Blue Jays. He’s given up four homers, two dingers to both Vernon Wells and Troy Glaus. Great, now he just hit someone. Bloody hell!! There…I’ve just changed the channel…

…back to the story. My room is in the back of the house and thus, so are all my neighbors porches. My windows were wide open and not even my I-Pod could mask the sounds of beer bottle clinking, grill sizzling, and laughing cookout goers I heard. All while I was getting ready to work…On a Sunday…When the next day was a holiday…Darn, it does sound like I’m complaining. Suddenly, I felt really sad. To use a phrase coined by my friend Johnny Ryan (and yes, that’s all we call him. Not Johnny, John, JR, or John-John. Johnny Ryan and only Johnny Ryan): “Can I have a good time? Can I have fun? Can I have a beer? Can I party?” I’ve adopted this as my bartender theme. He told me this was his response to a girl who told him while working behind the bar that he “looked like he was having fun.” I’m going to break it down for you right now: We only look like we’re having fun. We’d much rather be on the other side of the bar with you. Well, maybe not with you, but doing what you’re doing for sure!!

Not surprisingly, I arrived at work to find everyone else in about as good a mood as I was. So, Meri decided to take matters into her hands and invite us all over for a cookout the next day. Heck yeah!! That’s what I’m talking about. Forget the fact that going out Monday meant Tuesday was basically going to suck at work (the newspaper, that is) but who cares. Sure I haven’t been there since last Thursday. Sure I have no stories written and nothing edited. No worries. I’ve come to learn that panicking isn’t really worth it because my work always gets done. Honestly, I could have literally nothing in my arsenal and in just a few hours, my pages are full. I’m starting to think I’m a genius. (Well, I guess I should be having been at the newspaper for six years!!).

Fast forward to Monday. What a great party!! Danielle picked me up around 1:30ish and we headed over to Dot (short for Dorchester here) to Meri’s pad. What a great setup: Tent in the driveway, beautifully manicured backyard, keg, tons of food, great patio atmosphere. I couldn’t have asked for anything more…Accept, a five-gallon batch of vodka/lemonade. Danielle and I took care of that the minute we walked in the door. Here’s our recipe:
Six bottles of CountryTime Lemonade+Two cups of powdered CountryTime Lemonade+Three cups of water+20 sliced lemons+Two handles of vodka=Delicious!!

Food was excellent, thanks in most part to Meri’s mom, Sue. Potato salad was to die for!! Big ups to our grill man, Bob, one of our favorite regulars. Hand-packed burgers were a real treat (only a few of us got those and I made the cut. Who love you, Bob?).

Sing-a-longs with Brian (who was nice enough to bring his guitar on a rare night off. Can he have some fun?) and a raging round of FlipCups were also noteworthy. Can I have some fun? Yes, I can.

Gosh I’m long-winded tonight. Sorry, it’s been a while. Enjoy your week!!