Tales of a Librarian [part i]

We started drinking too early last Friday night, which was part of the problem, I later realized, though it was only one factor contributing to the prodigious pounding in my head the next day. The other culprit was the sugary drinks at the tiki bar with Kapp and Sparky.

"What's the biggest, fruitiest, girliest drink you have?" Sparky asked the waitress, Tanya, after we'd settled into a thatched roof booth at the sunny end of the patio.

In response, Tanya described a frou-frou beverage called a Blue Mama, which Sparky deemed perfect for his needs. Kapp chose something banana-y while I scanned the cocktail menu for the least sweet concoction, and settled for a Mojito.

The drinks arrived a few minutes later: Sparky's, tall and blue and topped with a pink umbrella; Kapp's tall and pink and topped with a blue umbrella. A Mojito is made with clear rum and lime juice, and is topped with a mint leaf.

We raised our three glasses and I offered the toast: "Cheers, girls."

I love hanging out in bars with the boys.

It was my first Mojito, and it was excellent. Both Kapp and Sparky explained to me that it was a Cuban drink that had been popular years ago and was now trendy again, the way Cosmopolitans had been during Sex And The City. I was amused to learn that Americans would adopt the drink of a country they purport to hate.

"Have you been to Cuba?" I asked Sparky.

"No. Have you?"

"Yes, but only once, about three years ago when I needed a veg-out vacation and didn't have much money."

"You've been to Cuba?" Kapp exclaimed.

"Sure. Everyone in Canada has. Well, everyone in the eastern parts of the country, that is. Kinda like how everyone here in California goes to Hawaii. But it's way cheaper. You can get a week all-inclusive for about $600. We can buy Cuban cigars, too, and no one throws us in jail. Speaking of which, have I mentioned HOW BADLY I WANT A CIGARETTE RIGHT NOW?"

"How's the quitting smoking going?" asked Sparky.

"Better than I expected, actually. Except for RIGHT NOW!" The patio at the tiki bar was smoke friendly. I fervently hoped that someone would light up in the booth next to ours, and that I'd be downwind.

The sun went down, a duo of guitarists started playing lethargic Hawaiian music, Sparky announced he was going home after the next round, and Kapp suggested we head back to Gordon Biersch and meet up with his librarian buddies.

So that's where we went drinking next.

To be continued in part ii.