Monday, October 2, 2006

RECOVERY DAY....

Monday is always recovery day for me after a long weekend. Between working the door, managing my capable staff or working a long double shift on Sundays, Mondays are considered, in effect, my Saturdays. I usually find myself sleeping in a bit and then running around, trying to catch up on errands so that I can free up my nights for some "Swanfather Time". This weekend is no exception. While it wasn't the busiest of weekends, it presented its share of strange sightings and weird folks. For instance:

*There was the after effects of an "80's" party that spilled into the bar on Saturday night. I had been sleeping until I was suddenly awakened by loud shouts of laughter. I immediately went to my window to see what was going on (I've been doing a lot of that lately). I look down onto the sidewalk and noticed a group of patrons wearing what had to be the most-ridiculous looking outfits from the "80's" I've ever seen since ... well, the 80's. I thought I was in the middle of a bad dream.

*After work on Friday, I decided to walk to my local bank to make a deposit (figured I'd do it then, that way there would be one less thing to do on Saturday). On my way back, as I was walking past one of the local bodegas, I came upon a guy I had problems with in the past.

About a year or so ago, this "guy" used to frequent our bar on Dollar Draft night and would become a drunken nuisance to everyone. He worked in the neighborhood so we'd cut him a little slack and simply warn him a few times to relax; His behavior got worse and worse until we finally had to ban him from the bar. Of course, he didn't take it well and began to threaten both my door staff and myself and it got to the point where the police had to be called. He eventually got fired from his job for his behavior and has sort of had it out for me ever since. Every once in awhile he'll show up at the bar and try to come in, but he'd get escorted out and he would make a scene for a bit but eventually go away.

So as I was walking by the bodega, this "guy" was drunk as usual and harassing a young lady who was trying to walk out of the store. As she was lighting a cigarette, he knocked it out of her hand. Basically being a real jerk. As she walked out, he looked up and saw me. He immediately began to make comments about me being an a**hole and thinking I was better than him and stuff like that. Not feeling like dealing with him, I simply ignored him, which pissed him off even more. He had a plastic bag with a full 40oz beer bottle in it and he was swinging it toward me in a threatening manner. I gave him "the look" and told him he need to chill out. He began to flip out talking about how he was going to get his gun and shoot up the store, myself and everyone in the neighborhood. It was kinda unsettling. I made my purchase and got the hell out of there, simply because in his drunken state, I didn't want to take any chances.

As I walked away, I felt my arms getting chills. It was a sobering reminder not to take anything for granted. In the gritty streets of NYC, fate can take a strange turn at anytime so you always have to be aware of what's going on and to not let your guard down. Because once you do, that's when fate will snap back on you and you'll never know what the results will be. (turns out the same guy came into the bar the next day causing trouble, but was kicked out).

*There were the two lovely girls who happened to come in for the football games on Sunday and somehow found themselves getting caught up in the wagering hi-jinx of the Jets/Colts game. Of course, AFRIKA BAMBATTA was leading the charge, stirring up the pot as usual. I think they had a good time though because by the time they left, they promised to come back again. More Sunday Brew Crew converts? Hmmmmm....

Speaking of Sunday Brew Crew, the lads were their usual vocal selves again, led by AFRIKA BAMBATTA, followed by T-BILL, SILENT BOB, BONEY, MR. CHIPS, STIFFLER, just to name a few. They were joined later on by AMERICAN PSYCHO and BABY GIRL. The typical antics of the day were in place, with a few great games to boot. The neighborhood had a leisurely feel to it as many people were away for the weekend for Yom Kippur observation. That feeling carried over to the bar, although we were pretty busy nevertheless.

One humorous moment came when someone (okay, it was me) tried to play matchmaker and hook up BONEY with the infamous MADAME X. She strolled in about 6pm and sat down for a "beer on special". After giving her a Sam Adams Ocktoberfest, she began her ritual of laughing and twitching to herself, much to the chagrin of the rest of the crew. I immediately introduced her to BONEY and tried to make Mr. BONE-THUG as interesting as possible for her; however, she ended up turning him down, saying she wasn't interested in a "one-night stand", preferring a "relationship" instead. Wow, that's deep, even for her. Now, if I am Mr. BONE-THUG, I couldn't bear the thought of being shot down by MADAME X, of all people. What's up with that?

Overall, while the weekend wasn't the most exciting, it was still, THE WEEKEND, and that's always a good thing. Back to the old grind.

DOLLAR DRAFT MADNESS continues tonight, with $1.00 Bud/Bud Light/Coors Light mugs, ALL NIGHT LONG, with PHILADELPHIA VS GREEN BAY as the Monday Night Game of the Week.


NUFF SAID