Gotta Love Beer

“After getting cortisone shot in my right elbow, I decided to treat myself to a beer...or two. Called a friend of mine and low and behold, he was already at the local bar. Met him there at approximately 3:45 PM.

Upon my arrival at the stool that I rent, I sat next to my friend. He had been there since 1230 PM. He treated me to my first two beers after inspecting my elbow. Must have felt sorry for me or something. While sitting there, watching music videos (it’s a video bar), he started to talk to me about his woes in life. I told him he needed a little “REI” in his life. He asked what that was and I told him I could not and would not try to explain...it was a visual experience he needed to have.

Emptying the last of the drops of Corona, we proceeded to my car which led us to the local REI.

As we entered the large doors, the smell of new gear hit me and I about fell over with love. He was in awe himself at the gear before him. I led him through the aisles ever so gently and he frothed at the mouth at the Mountain Hardware fleece. Stroking the navy blue fleece, he decided to try it on for size. While he went to try it on, I found him an ALP’s fleece that I thought would look sharp on him. After returning from the fitting room, ,he was in love! I showed him the ALP’s fleece and he added that to his now growing pile of clothing. I headed towards the Nalgene section to find squeeze tubes for my JIF and Smuckers Jam. He immediately took the package from my hands, and decided he would get those for me.

“Ah, ha“, I said to self. I led him ever so intently to the snow shoes and inquired about them to the salesman. My friend was intrigued at the interest I had in these contraptions, so he says to the salesman, “Give her what she wants...it’s her Chanukkah present.” I was surprised yet grateful.

After getting the Atlas Elektra 825’s, we headed towards the gloves. Again, he was in awe at the quality of the gloves and we both ended up with a pair of the REI Minimalist gloves.

While deciding whether or not to buy more, a salesman was talking to my friend about a membership. I was hoping he would decline and put the items on my membership. No such luck since the salesman was very good in his pitch. We decided to move on to the sales counter, and 389.00 later, we walked out to my car.

He was VERY excited about his MH fleece and I was excited about my Atlas snowshoes. So, we got in the car, acted like two little kids, and went straight back to the bar stools. He talked to everyone there about how REI was like the coolest place and I stuffed my lime in my Corona, sat back, googled at the Madonna Marathon that was playing on video and became very excited....I now had snowshoes and it was a grand thing.

Gotta love beer, but gotta love friends more.”

“No way, that must be a fairy tale.”

“Nope....no fairy tale...well, depends on what you mean by fairy...”

“Guess I gotta a gear fairy!”

“Fairy tale in the classic sense. Everybody lives happily ever after.”

“I wish I had cool friends like that”

“Fairy Modgother?
Mary Godfother?
Gary Modfother?

i'm confused, <VBG>”

“Tilt, after the beers, it all sounded like that! LMAO!”

“Before I came home I had gotten new shnowsoos!”

“Beer, its not just for breakfast anymore!”

“man i wish i there was an rei near me. i just have galyans, crappy yuppie rei-wannabe. with clip-on fans”

“I pass REI on my commute. It takes great resolve not to drop in just to see what is new. Now if they only served ....”

“Beer is a woman's beauty secret.”

“Awesome little story! Loved the emoticons too!

Remember though..."Alcohol is never the answer...unless the question is, 'What's for dinner?'."”

“It doesn't sound from your post that you drank any beer. All I saw was references to Corona.”

“Corona is considered BEER up here in these parts. I drink it, it tastes good, its 800 calories per "bottle" and I can afford to drink it.”

“Wolfeyes, my snowshoes came from the UPS man yesterday. Pray for snow and let's go play.

How long had your friend been sitting at that bar? He probably woke up this morning with a hangover and a visa bill in his hand. lol Really he sounds very sweet.




Is he single? :-)”

“I've never been in a REI before. I look at the catalog, but I only read it for the articles. OK, OK I look at the pictures.”

“LMAO@Wolfsisterhood!

Yes, DHutch! Pray fer some snow and less go! He was at the bar for a couple of hours prior to my getting there. He does stuff like this all the time, though, around Christmas/Hanukkah.”

“Wolfsister that's classic.

Agree with denizen though. Corona is good in the summer as a light beverage, but for a real beer I'll take a nutty, red or brown ale. Now a good stout..is more like a meal. mmmmmmm black and tan”

“"Nope....no fairy tale...well, depends on what you mean by fairy..."

lmao!!

So, wolfie, you got some snow shoes, eh? Did Kevin really pay for them? Darn it!! I should have come up for beers when you called. I could have walked away w/ new gear. Hindsight...”

“I concure on the Coronas. Please turn towards the north and behold the wonderful brews our northern neighbor has to offer.”

“Yes, Tara...had you come up there, he might have just added a little something to his growing pile! Yes, he paid for the snowshoes and was gonna get the MSR's!!! Told him hell no, the Atlas would be fine. I can't wait for snow now..well, with my new shoes and Ho-mobile, I am all set to go!!”

“Great story, WE! Did you guys go to the Troy store? The one down near birch/Sass is a little better.

So, when is this "gear fairy" coming out to play?”

“Atlas shoeshoes rule. The MSRs I have been around are noisy.”

“most folks start fairy tales with
"Once upon a time..."
In Alabama it's
"Y'all won't believe this #&%!$..."”

“wolfeyes, I am currently enjoying the beer you gave me today...

Thus far I have had the...
1. Moosehead
2.He'Brew the chosen brew
3. Big Hole Head strong pale ale
4.Local Color smooth talkin pilsner

VERY good choices!! Thanks so much”

“oops..I forgot you can't say #&%!$ in here....sorry!!!!”

“Hey, Birch!! Glad you are enjoying the REAL BEER...glad I didn't stick any Corona's in there! I am sitting in my new sled, with my snowshoes on, drinking a bottle of Zinfandel...sled holds bubble bath real good!!”

“Damn, I splashed some wine while getting out of it!”

“That is one shallow bubble bath..LOL!

Again thanks wolfeyes! I was gonna drink some plain ole mic light and this waaaayyy better. I am bummed cause my local stoe stopped carrying sam adams lite...BUMMER!”

“That creates quite the mental image Wolfeyes!”

“Planet Porter and Sundance Ale are squirreled (can I say that? Is that offensive to a squirrel?)away in my garage for the holiday weekend. I've also got a couple of Ebenezer Ales left, too.”

“The fridge is stocked in preparation for my parents and brother coming for Thanksgiving dinner.

For dad and I: Heineken, Amstel Light, and Bass Ale
For brother: Guiness
For mom: diet, caffiene-free soda of some sort

A beer-stocked fridge is really a wonderful sight!”

“Way to go Wolfeyes! Gotta love that new gear! Mmmmmm, yeah. I can get get into the feel of crisp, unworn fleece too. Cervecas or no, REI syndrome is indeed best cured by those willing to share their perceived wealth with those who can take best advantage of such delusions...

Get it while it's given! See ya next trip!”

“I wonder if I can still read it if I print it out in smaller font; laminate the card and put it in my wallet.

This could come in handy.”

“Could have used that last week....”

“maybe on a front and back?”

“That's a hoot and a half!”

“I like the action for someone serving you water, trying to sober you up.”

“Drinking beer & 100 proof shots right now.

Hummmmm Goood!


8)”

“I think I'll print it full size and ducttape it inside my jacket.”

“Tough day at work?”

“100 proof what?”

“No that is a normal drink for me.

Kentucky Bourbon.

8)”

“Bourbon? What?

The website that came from is unbelievably funny. You've gotta see the Beer Drinking Rules and the Official Guys Code of Conduct.

The Site”

“BTW CMB, that Balvenie is one fine scotch!”

“jeeeeeeeeeez...

I was checking out the glassware on that site, scrolled down to the bottom of the page and there were links to "God", "Alcoholics Anonymous" and "Suicide Hotline"

fun -- Fun -- FUN”