Last night (Wednesday) featured an event for MBAs who are part of the association. (Yes, there is an association!) The theme for the evening, which took place in the reception room of the Molson's Brewery on Notre-Dame Street was, instead of a wine and cheese, to be a beer and cheese tasting event.
Needless to say I had my doubts.
The first ensemble was Rickard's Red and Brie. The second was Cheddar and ... who the hell remembers. Yep, the beer was already kicking in by now. Anyways, by the time we got to the last combination, Black Label (hey Mabel!) and blue cheese, the relationship between the two was tenuous at best. As the chap seated across the table from me reach out to open the bottle of Black Label in a convenient* 1.18L screw-top bottle to pour me a glass, I had had enough.
Consequently, I gave in completely to the dark side and continued to toss back free glasses off beer with reckless abandon. By my count, I had 6 if not 7 beers there and was definitely having a good time. Heeding the call of some former classmates, I headed off to a restaurant named VIP in Chinatown. Between bites of General Tao, drinks of a Tsingtao and references to Saturday Night Live (you don't want that chicken, chicken-ah make-ah rousy house pet!), I continued to spout utter nonsense. Though I did manage to convince Devon of the necessity of taking the golden An to Stan in the tan van who will give it to Fran.
Supper over. Almost made it out of the restaurant in the free clear. However, in a flash back to what was arguably the oddest moment of the MBA, the Chinese waiter, seeing my credit card, commented that I must be Jewish, what with the word "man" appearing in my last name. But that's another story. :)
A few hugs and pecks on the cheek later, to my good friend** Banana among others, and I was on my way.
Long story short. Made it to Longueuil. Hauled out laptop. Listened to Stanton Warriors among other good things. (Yes, my new 80GB hard drive means I can carry another 2-3 weeks worth of music with me at all times. Just need to pirate it first, being that it is perfectly legal in Canada for the time being.) Made it onto the bus. Head bobbing back and forth in the darkness, the beer grinding away, visions of reindeer prancing left and right. Notice a Toyota car dealership float by on the left. Oh shit. Means I missed my stop by a good kilometer. Ugh. Trek home by foot along the side of the highway.
Take a right through unchasrted territory. Walking through older neighborhoods with lawns--a true luxury. Immediate thought is maybe I could crash out on someone's lawn for the night, using my computer bag as a pillow. Might catch hell from HCW™. have to keep on keepin' on if I know what is good for me.
Times are different now. If I was 18 again and this was Quebec City, I would have done it though. Heck, I did it before.
The first time, up there with my Pops scouting out apartments, began drinking schnapps by the poolside in the afternoon. Early evening, I headed off to the bar district (Grande Allée for les intimes). Hung out at the Bulldog Pub during beat the clock. Proceeded to get completely treed. Managed to make it to a park in front of the Brandy bar. Crashed out on lawn. Puked. Fell in and out of sleep. Passersby ask if OK. Mutter yes. Sleep some more. At some point, go to parking lot underneath big building. Sleep in car for rest of night. Leave parking lot before 8AM. Head back to hotel. Feels great to be 18.
2nd time involved passing out on lawn beside provincial legislature, hidden behind some shrubbery on the aforementioned Grande Allée (for les intimes). Feels great to be 18.
In the end made it home safely last night, stopping to not watch porn on the way to bed. Then got some rest so that I could be ready for Thursday. 'nuff said.
* * * * * *
* = You know convenient like in a Billy-Dee-Williams-Colt-45-Quart-A-Malt-Liquor-Bust-A-Cap-in-Yo-Ass-Bitch-my-man-ain't-your-baby's-daddy-Aaiiigghtt-kind-of-way.
** = Banana is good enough to not let me get away with saying things like "Alcohol is my friend!". Even though it is. Nice try kiddo. Hehe.