Bambi

10.5.2019

I went to BevMo today for some Blue Curacao, rum and Grenadine for a Halloween grog I'm making m (add cranberry juice and ice for a fun, purple wingding).  

Out of my car and through the car park, I noticed a lurker in the corner of the lot.  

I went in, got my stuff (+ a bottle of Rose's Lime® for gimlets a la my hero, Raymond Chandler (his downfall)), and exiting and going again through lot, I saw the lurker in the corner stand and vector toward me.

Sure enough, I got to my car and he said, "hey brother, can you help me?"

I said I don't keep any cash on me anymore.

He asked if I had any food.  No, only Rose's Lime® and some other shit.  Then I remembered ... jerky.

I said, "Waitaminute!

I do have jerky," and dug into the space between the frame of the car and the driver's seat and pulled out a stick of jerky.  I held it out to him.

"It's venison jerky."

"What's that."

"Deer.  uh, Bambi."

"Whoa.  Never had Bambi.  Well deer anyway, ya know?  hah," he said.

"Well, enjoy," I said, but he was already gone.

Tonight - **Due to an obscure TNSC by-law regarding a 5th Thursday in October falling on Halloween, this week's meeting has been cancelled.  Also, have you ever tried drinking at a bar dressed as The Mummy?  It just doesn't work.  Be safe out there, and see you next week! 


bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!

Inevitability (REDUX)

10.4.2019  (fist posted this week 2000)

I got an email from some telemarketing executive or some kinda crap like that and she made me an offer I couldn't refuse. She said that her company would pay for a big event (read: free booze) once a month for a year if I would include in these TNSC emails a fair amount of advertising. Being familiar with "big events" I wanted to know some details. You know: How long is the booze free, is top-shelf liquor included (some list members enjoy Bombay Sapphire and such), which venues were available, what about snacks, etc. I've been to so-called open bars where the free booze came in plastic bottles or was limited to Zima or some crap like Sierra Nevada and I won't sit still for that. She answered these Q's pretty satisfactorily: Open bar from 6p to midnight, top shelf booze, venues anywhere in the city, and as far as snacks, she would send over that nice tamale lady. Bein' that I like them tamales, that was good enough for me. So yeah, I sold out the list. But you have to know, I did it for you. All of you. Every last lovely one of you. Listen, you may be peeved now, but when Sue Erokan is enjoying a FREE Maker's Manhattan or Amy Shuba is sipping a NO CHARGE Herradurra Margarita or Metsker DOESN'T PAY for his fill of frosty Beck's, this Founding Member thinks they'll forget about the annoying banner ads. Oh yeah, that telemark-whatsit lady needs all your home addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, birthdates, and other such demographic info. Jot it down on a 3x5 card and bring it to the meeting tonight.

Here:  Eagle's Drift In (South of Market) [oops, that was 2000]

Actually, here:  Zeitgeist (South of Market) **CASH ONLY**

Ya. How 'bout that? We're stayin' South of Market because it's raining and there's parking around the Drift In Zeitgeist. It was supposed to be Founder's Day and we were going to go to Orbit but Founding Member Alan Chimenti had a date with Jon Bon Jovi hisownself down in LA and had to cancel. Guess where we're goin' next week if AC can keep his paws off Jovi? Here's the news: David is new to the list. Hi David. Don't remember if I needed to add anyone else. Oh yeah, Clova is new. Allison new address. At least one person ain't getting the email anymore.

TONIGHT'S CONTEST: Staring contest.

TONIGHT'S DRAMATIC REENACTMENT: The final performance of the Sex Pistols. Hot on the heels of a secert UK tour (They were banned all across the country), the Pistols played eight shows here in the U.S., the last being in SF at a joint called the Winterland. Animosity, disappointment and frustrations came to a head that night in January 1978. At the end of the show, Johnny Rotten said, "Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?" a now infamous remark which sparked his departure from the band the next day. Players tonight: Belinda plays Rotten; Kevin plays Sid Vicious; Dee plays guitarist Steve Jones; Paul Cook, the drummer, is portrayed by Robin; and Malcolm McLaren, the band's producer, is played by Sue. 

TONIGHT'S SINGLED-OUT LIST MEMBER: Coach Bjeldanes. She is so sick and yet she has vowed to go out and drink a lot of whiskey tonight. What a trooper!

Lost and found notice: FOUND! One rollerskate key. Says "Chicago" on it. This wrench is used to adjust the truck locknut and also has a flat screwdriver end to adjust some kingpins. Found it by the "Shadow" pinball table at last week's meeting venue.

What the heck are ya doin' tonight? Why goin' t'the Thursday Night Social Club meeting, that's what! Yes ma'am and sir, throw yer best ma'ams and sirs into that SF city cab and git over to the bar. I'll see you there! bye-ee!



bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!

Shakeytown!!

10.3.2019

That's what the Chief Robot's dad used to call San Francisco, and for the longest time the closest he'd make it to our fair city was a Baccarat table somewhere in Lake Tahoe.

"Shakeytown" for sure.  30 years ago today a pretty significant earthquake devastated the Bay Area.  I remember it well as I was 6 months into my first staff job, and our building (Folger Building at 101 Howard Street - built I 1903 - "if it withstood one shaker, it should withstand another") had the facade come away from the building, and we had to close operations and figure our next move.  I figured I'd be out looking for work.  Luckily, I was kept on during the nearly year long transition to a new location, and thankfully stayed employed there for an additional 12 years - years during which the Thursday Night Social Club formed at that very same company.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake (translatio : "Brown Knoll"), join us for shaken cocktails at:

Latin American Club         (** CASH ONLY**)

Those of us who were here back then can trade stories.  Those who weren't can listen, and learn - and buy us cocktails for surviving the ordeal.  :)


bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!

28 1/2

10.2.2019  (first posted this week 2002)


Make due with what you have.
You have a destinati n.

Tonight - Hi Dive

That's right!  A TNSC traditio !!  That can only mean it's Fleet Week here in the city.  Come on down and see Sea Men (and Women) all over the Embarcadero - not to mention your tax dollars at work. Check out the view of the Blackhawk!!


bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!

For Neal Barrett, Jr. (REDUX)

10.1.2017  (first posted this week 2000)

I was askin' Founding Member Mr. Alan Chimenti if he thought that the "cops and donuts" joke was so old it was actually over. He figures no. That sucker will be funny for many, many years to come. "Probably as long as the gum in your gumball machine is gonna last, mebbe longer," he says. I didn't exactly get his point: "Whaddya mean? You mean nobody's gonna eat all that gum, or you think that if no one eats it, it'll still be somewhat edible for a long, long time?" He mumbled something I didn't catch. "Huh?" I said, "What's that?" He mumbles something else. I'd about had it. "Don't go mumbling about the gum, A.C., I ain't gonna stand for you mumbling about the gum." He then tries to change the subject on me. "I bet your brother's glad all that gum's not in yer apartment anymore." I don't know about that. "I don't know nothin' about that, dude." I said, "Now what was it you were mumbling about a minute ago? And don't go and change the subject again. I won't sit still for that." He says, "I was wonderin' kinda out loud, you know, about how much dough you're pullin' in with that coin-op gumball machine." This surprised me. "Huh? How much money? What the heck ya mean?" "You had that sign on it a week ago, 'Quarters Only,' and that crappy drawing of a quarter. A quarter for one tiny gumball? You must be making bank." I didn't like the way this was heading. "I didn't even put that sign on it. I didn't draw that crude quarter. I would think I could draw a quarter better than that. What's more, what's more is that most of the money in that dang thing is mine. I have a mess of change right here that people can help themselves to." I pointed out the stack of change. "I just want to get rid of the frikkin' gum before it gets too stale." "Huh," he says, unimpressed. "No 'huh' about it, A.C., that's the truth there." "Okay then, if that's the way it is," he says. "Truth, man, I'm tellin' ya." I said. Then I told him that he had to wait for his email, just like everyone else, to learn the destination for tonight's meeting.

Tonight - Doc's Clock  (CASH ONLY)

Yeah, we went there a few months back, but the place is cool, the juke rocks (TWO Jesus Lizard CD's) and some very cool things happened that night. And they have Miller High Life.

Anyone new to the list? Oh yeah, there's Lisa Whall and Kelly Dragoo. Welcome. Tara coughs up an alternate email address. The "No-one-gets-booted-off-the-list" policy is still in effect.

Tonight's Contest: Pinball tournament. Quarterfinals. See John Metsker for odds if yer wagering.

Tonight's Dramatic Reenactment: The day of the highest recorded temperature in King Salmon, Alaska in July. On July 15, 1975, the town of King Salmon, Alaska enjoyed an 86 degree day. The town's denizens responded by wearing t-shirts and shorts, barbecuing and picnicking in the town's park. No one complained about the summer-like temperatures. Nobody pined for the snow and fog and wind and rain to return. These were smart customers! Playing the smart customers: Bobo plays the Mayor of King Salmon; Amy Shuba plays summer; Rob Williams plays the thermometer that displayed 86 degrees; I play a 22 1/2" red Weber kettle grill; Heavy plays a frisbee; Mary Haring plays corn-on-the-cob; Jerry Castro and Jim Rose play drinking beer and staying out late; a bunch of list members who never come to the meetings play snow and fog and wind and rain, which were not there and NOT missed!

Tonight's Singled-Out List Member: Jeremy Johnson. My brother gets singled-out because it's his last TNSC meeting. He's high-tailing it outta town. Come and say "bye-ee."

The little bugs and assorted bacteria have built up a pretty solid resistance to the hand sanitizing gel we've been using. But ... Uriah and I have figured out that if you augment the stuff with gasoline and linseed oil all you gotta do is ignite it and them buggies are fried crispy. Resist that!

Get yer butts to the airborne pachyderm and help drink the beer. We get free popcorn if we finish the Miller. Bring yer friends, dang it. See you there.


bye-ee!
whrr ... clik!