A Snifter of Irony – #SoCS

My Corona found its lime.

From the entrance to Great River Park.

After a two days of clearing snow, this weekend snuck up on me. Oh well, I made it to the bar, and David and I are facing our nemesis as we try to deal with Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘key.’ Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If we were having a beer, you’d be enjoying a laugh at my situation.

“Hi Dan. Is that your car in the upper lot today?”

“Yeah, the hotel shuttle was blocking the lower lot again.”

“Your car looks pretty clean. Did you drive it through a car wash for this occasion?”

“No, they washed it at the dealership.”

“Why were you…uh oh.”

“Good afternoon gentlemen. Would you like to see our drink specials?”

“Thank you, no, Skippy. Dan and I would like our usual beverages.”

“OK, so that’s a Coors and some fancy Bourbon.”

“Corona, Brad, I would like a Corona.”

“Oh. I seem to remember serving you Coors.”

“You served me a Coors a few weeks ago, but I wanted a Corona then, just like I do now.”

“No problem. And what was that bourbon you drink? John something?”

“John Howell’s bourbon. It’s well known around here, as John Howell recommended it to the regular bartender.”

“But it’s really Willett Reserve, Brad. David just calls it John Howell’s.”

“Kinda like he calls me Skippy.”

“No, when I call Willett Reserve John Howell’s bourbon, there’s no disrespect intended.”

“But when you…I get it. No problem, I’ll be right back.”

“That was a little harsh, David.”

“Wait until he brings you a Coors.”

“Well, one thing’s for sure, you ain’t getting no cherries.”

“Caddyshack? Again?”

“I love that movie.”

“OK guys, your beer, your bourbon and I believe you also like a snifter of water on the side.”

“Seltzer, I like a snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice. And I think Dan is looking for his lime wedge.”

“Well, I got the important stuff.”

“Not as bad as I thought, but…Anyway Dan, why were you at the dealership?”

“There was a recall, but I also had them do the first scheduled service.”

“Whoa, whoa, your car already has a recall?”

“Yes.”

“Did the car need the service already?”

“The service is due at seventy-five hundred miles. I think that’s too long for an oil change.”

“How many miles did you have?”

“Five-thousand. But it’s actually better to change the oil at five-thousand than over seven-thousand.”

“Better for the dealer.”

“And the car. If the oil gets sludgy, it affects the oil pressure. The car’s computer uses oil pressure to determine the engine’s running parameters.”

“I’ll take your word for that. What was the recall all about?”

“The car’s computer needed an upgrade.”

“HA!”

“What’s so funny?”

“Here you are, recently retired after forty-plus years writing computer programs and messing around with technology and your new car needs a computer upgrade.”

“I guess that’s ironic.”

“I’d say hysterical, or perhaps appropriate payback, depending on where you sit.”

“Speaking of where we sit, where’s Brad?”

“Skippy!”

“I’m sorry, do you guys need another round already?”

“No, but we’d like the first round to be completed. You know, lime wedge, seltzer, ice…”

“Oh, I forgot.”

“He’s hopeless, Dan.”

“I think he’s pulling your chain, David.”

“You mean he’s doing this on purpose?”

“Do you think he could really be this bad?”

“Here you go. A wedge of lime for that Corona, a snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice.”

“Thanks Brad. Do you think you could cut this lime in half, there’s no way it’s going in the bottle.”

“I can get it in.”

“Geeze Louise, now I have lime juice in my bourbon and in my eye.”

“Sorry, but I got it in the bottle.”

“Thanks Brad.”

“No problem.”

“No problem? Just for the record, Skippy, I think lime juice in my eye IS a problem.”

“Have it your way. Let me know when you need another round.”

“You know, David, I think he meant to say, ‘have it your way, boomer’ .”

“Yeah, I got that. Speaking of boomer things, are those your keys?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Your new car has the Start Button?”

“Yes.”

“How do you like that?”

“I miss the key. I mean the button works fine, but I have to keep the fob in my pocket or I leave it in the car.”

“You probably still miss vent windows – I think that’s called the price of progress, Dan.”

“I do miss vent windows. And with the fob in my pocket, I keep bumping into things and ‘pressing’ the button that sounds the horn.”

“So now you’re that guy.”

“I am, David. I am that guy.”

“When you took your car to the dealer, did you have breakfast at Maddie’s?”

“I did.”

“Did you stop at Great River Park?”

“Of course.”

“Did you meet your old Dunkin Donut’s crew and walk for coffee?”

“In fact, I did.”

“Ready to go back to work?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but it was nice for a day.”

Some photos from that morning and the usual suspects.

Looking south along the CT River from Great River Park.

ne of my favorite buildings in Hartford.

Hartford from Great River Park. I would never have seen this, as it was much later than my old commuting time.

The sky looked like it was on fire as I approached Great River Park

As I was driving to the park, I had to stop. Skies like this have a way of losing their color quickly.

On my way along my old commute, but a bit later, so I got to see this pretty sky.

This is the third building like this in this little plaza. They have been building it for about a year now.

They had started this building (a fitness center) before I retires. I missed most of the cranes :(

They are building a new hotel next to my old office. I may need to visit again, once the cranes show up.

Sunrise over the highway.

Looking up from the parking lot of Great River Park

Great River Park is ready for winter. The dock has been pulled from the water but the sky is still beautiful.

The new person in my old office who has “kitchen duty” is trying the “Mom pen.” It won’t work.

Maddie is tired.

MiMi is in there somewhere.