Funniest/saddest story of the night: One of my regulars tells me about working in the woods with his dad and his uncle. He's about 9 years old, they've got a rack of Olympia. So the adults gave the kid a beer. "Phlooah! I told them I really didn't like it."

"Well, what kind of beer DO you like?" they asked him. Age 9!

He said he tried Pabst Blue Ribbon, and that's what he was drinking last night.

Met "Mark" -- a dealer in a casino, getting off work. We talked about what that world is like; I've never been to a casino in my life, don't really know the rules for play or the etiquette. He told me he has won $80,000 and lost $90,000 in his lifetime.

"Harley" was there tonight too -- a train fan. Talked trains, this and that.

Then we hustled downtown just in time for closing at 3rd & Bell. Talked to "D" about moving off the street. He seemed more animated than ever -- but then we were a little later than usual. In fact "J" the bartender said everyone was squirrelly last night so that's why she was closing up. Besides, they were all ready drunk so she wasn't going to be able to serve them any more. Also saw "R" -- a guy we used to help at Nightwatch in the mid 1990s -- he was a handful then, and someone told me he is still a handful. Medicating with alcohol for his mental problems, imho.
Rick