First Friday will be on July 3rd. In the past we have had a lot of excuses about Friday we get toghther.Well this Friday is a free day.Nobody should be working, there will be no traffic,most fireworks will not be until Saturday,unless you are going away for the weekend,there is no excuse not to show up at Cryans' on Friday. there are also no high school games. I hope to see as many people there as possible. Bernie

June's 1st Friday was a little different. There being only four of us, I found the other three at the bar, having blown off any pretense of nutrition (though we did snack on something later). We remained barbound til around nine, when Mr Karaoke showed up with his torture devices and we relocated to a table in the dining room. The waitress arrived with our drinks and said "Would you like anything else?" I couldn't resist the opening and said "How about that blonde at the bar?" The waitress glanced over, then blushed, saying "That's my MOM". Fortunately she knew I was just kidding, so recovery was quick.

After the gathering broke up I decided on further forays into N. Arlington and (what the hell, they're open til three) Clifton. Coming home from there I felt kinda tired so I avoided the highway and took the scenic route instead, down Broadway.

Stopped for murder burgers at the White Castle on the corner of Elwood Ave (named for one of the Blues Brothers, right?). Standing in line, I heard a voice "Off'sah Mahty, how y'all be's?" I turned to see Rudy, a street character from the bad old days down there. Seems he's come up in the world, judging by the two sweet young things he had on either arm. Keep in mind I had those big-time beer goggles. They can skew your focus just a tad as a few of us may recall from those fateful mornings after. Ah, the thrilling nights of yesteryear! Anyway Rudy now works for an "escort service" that provides exotic dancers and such. With a business card and a tricked-out company van, it's a step up, I suppose, from that freelance stuff he used to do on the corner.

We chatted awhile as I wolfed down 3 or 4 cheeseburgers. He slipped me his card as we said our goodbyes, and I climbed back in my truck and rode off into the sunrise.

My attendance has been poor. I think only three or times a year. Will try to get better. Maybe Tony can bring MRS. PARISI. That would improve turnout for sure. I guess many of our posters live out of state,as I have never seen them even once.

will be there in spirit... my truck gets 14mpg with a tailwind on a good day... 11 hr drive each way... everyone have a blast!!!

4th of july... remember as kids we'd all pile onto a porch or sit on the trunk of someone's curb parked car, sipping ice cold lemonade and watching the fireworks from school stadium???

Kids shooting off wireworks in the neighborhood for weeks before the 4th.
But I do miss the lightning bugs (fire flys). Where did they go.?

I also do not miss MISCHIEF NIGHT and egg throwing and soaping windows to "celebrate" halloween. I like the recent practice of decorating homes for halloween. Sometimes the "good old days" are not necessarily better in all things. But I miss wooden bats in little league and high school baseball.

Marty, I thought beer was good nutrition, well great post anyway. We few, we brave, we band of brothers, those of us that were at the last first friday anyway really got a laugh at that line about the waitress mother. It just shows you how old were getting when you would rather go after the mother than the waitress herself!

Tony, I'd have rather had the waitress, but the mother was a more realistic target.

Marty, what's really sad is that we were a lot older than the mother too.

Sorry Bernie, Mike and I won't be able to be there. Starting the holiday weekend early.
Hope to see you in August.

Have fun Donna & Mike :^)

Wow Bernie, you're a tough taskmaster, you should have been a nun!

Great job, Bernie. You did it again. Jeanne and I were too afriad not to come.

Well I was with you in spirit at the First Friday. Someday I will coordinate a visit home with a First Friday! But it's nice visiting with everyone on Bodholt's. Thanks again John.

I am hoping to get out of Director Cook's doghouse. Though my attendance last evening was just my first since March, it was my 14th overall. This should help me inch up in the standings a little.

First Friday is just around the corner. I think we all had a great time July 3rd. Next to John and Doris, you must have the best attendance.