It’s like waking up from a bad dream. I never thought I would see this day. Bart Peterson. GONE.

Awesome.

I don’t know anything about the new guy except that there is no way he could be worse than Bart.

Went to Men’s group tonight for the first time in ages. See the pics. Note that they are no where near the caliber of Josh’s, but they are just good enough for people like Timbo Baggins and Joeliver to get a taste of home.

Men’s group is awesome. We come together, drink some beers, give thanksgivings/prayer requests, study the bible and writings of the church fathers, and then hang out afterwards. It’s a good healthy (in a mental and spiritual sense) way to just hang out with the guys.

During our discussions, we sampled a beer that looked like a grape soda (the can), which was brewed at the “Melanie Brewery”. Which was funny because John Rentch’s wife’s name is Melanie, and her maiden name is Brewer. We only had one can of it, and I didn’t taste it. But they tell me it “tasted like your keys smell”.

After group, some of the guys played reau cham beau (spelling?), which is paper rock scissors, with a penalty phase. You can see the penalty in the pictures. It involves two fingers to the arm…

Not being one to cause myself undue pain, unless it is that of an overly full belly, I went with Josh Coolman and Luke Beechum to Macnivans(?) on Mass. Ave.

Josh didn’t eat anything, and so I can only guess that he drove us because “friends don’t let friends drink and drive”. Although the two of us had only had two beers in two hours, it was probably better that we didn’t drive. Better safe than sorry, and even a little alcohol can make heavy city driving tricky. Thanks Josh, that was very nice of you.

Josh and Luke used to be “Authority Figures” to me. They have both been my counselor at summer camps gone by, and I always got the impression they were very close friends. They obviously know each-other well. It was somewhat interesting to observe them.

We sat at a table meant for two, and I took a seat at the long edge of it, almost as if I were a film camera capturing a transpiring movie scene. Josh sitting quietly, and relaxed with a slight smile on his face, while Luke somewhat energetically looked around, talking and laughing in his normal Luke way.

When we got to the table, I noted the ash tray sitting right side up. Josh fairly quickly remedied this, quietly placing it up-side-down. “Please don’t smoke” he seemed to be saying, silently.

Luke sitting down, looking around for the waiter, taking in his surroundings with quick energetic glances, upon spying the ash try, up-ended it, as if to say “don’t mind if I do”. However, as his hands reached for his pure tobacco, Native American grown, charcoal filter cigarettes that he kept handy for special occasions only, the waiter arrived.

3 waters, 2 orders of Scotch eggs and a visibly disappointed waiter later, Luke hopped up for a visit to the Lew.

Josh, spying the righted ash tray, silently, and without much ado, picked it up, and placed it up-side-down on the banister behind him. Game. Set. Match.

I must say I was slightly disappointed. I had been somewhat looking forward to a peach flavored clove cigarette (I only smoke about 3/4 a pack a year, and only on special occasions). However, since Josh was our driver, and since he was so politely clever, I was more than happy to refrain.

The Scotch eggs, which I had for what I thought was the first time ever (however, apparently my Dad had made them once before when I was younger), were greasy and good. In case you don’t know, Scotch eggs are hard-boiled eggs, wrapped in bacon/sausage, breaded, and deep fried. You dip them in spicy mayo with bacon bits in it. Excellent.

After waiting a seemingly long time for our check to come, Luke ordered, and took back for the rest of the guys, another helping of the eggs, which I hear they devoured in no time at all (upon arriving back at group, I left immediately to get my wife, as it was getting late).

It was Matt Trent’s last night at men’s group for the forseeable future, which is sad. But I guess it worked out well because Brian and I both showed up. I think that’s the first Men’s Group we have both showed up to at the same time, and it was his 4th group in a row.

The only problem with Men’s Group is that it happens on Friday night, and that normally keeps me from going. Since Julie and I go to my parents on Saturday night, Friday night is usually our “date night”. However, now and then she will go hang out with “the girls”, and I’ll go to men’s group. I really can’t think of another night that would work better however. Maybe Tuesday. But since a lot of the guys stay pretty late, I don’t really think that would work either…