Exciting Plans

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: The endless opportunities

“We should have some fun this Saturday!”

“Why specifically this Saturday? Win a big pot and have some money to burn?”

“If that's the case, let's have you treat us all to an expensive steak house.”

“Maybe I'm just tired of sitting in front of my computer and want to get out and have fun?”

“You? No way.”

“That'd be like Billy saying, 'No thanks, I'm full'.”

“That reminds me, I have a sandwich in the fridge to eat.” Billy pulls out a foot long sized package wrapped in Deli paper from the fridge.

“Nice Billy! We could drink at Catalina's.”

“We always do that.”

“Movie?”

“We always do that too.”

“Isn't it possible we always do these things because they're fun?”

“Can't we try something different once in a while?”

“Like..?”

“I don't know...I talked to Sue yesterday, she's moving to Fair Lawn, NJ in September and would love some help packing up her stuff.”

“Fat chance!”

“Doesn't she have a new husband to help with that? I distinctly remember a wedding to some guy a couple of weeks ago. And weren't there big burly brothers?”

“I'm surprised you 'distinctly' remember anything from that night. I wasn't sure they were going to be able to afford to move out after they got your bar tab.”

That's my secret weapon. Remembering!”

“Frank, you haven't fully remembered a night of drinking in years.”

“Oh come on! I'm not that bad! What about that night two weeks ago when we went to the bar after Dark Knight? I remember all of that!”

“That's because we mostly sat in silence watching the baseball games. Not much to remember.”

“Fine then. Next time I'll just forget whose turn it is to pay.”

“So business as usual?”

“As long as you don't whip out four aces and exclaim 'I win! You pay!' we'll be alright.”

“And no more calling me fish..man, that doesn't make any sense!”

“How did this conversation go from thinking of a plan for Saturday to making fun of me?”

“I'm good with anything. As long as it's not sipping wine coolers and playing Go Fish.”

“I'm with the no 'Go Fish' rule.”

“I suppose we'll just end up drinking, regardless. We could watch the Olympics and drink to that..”

“One drink every time someone says 'Michael Phelps'.”

“Or not..we'd be drunk pretty fast at that rate.”

“Guess we'll come up with something last minute...as always.”

“We could go to the Ren Faire..”

“Yeah! Except I think Tab's busy this Saturday afternoon. Another time.”

“Olympics and drinking...we lead such exciting lives.”

Oh Where, Oh Where Has Our Little Ann Gone?

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Oh Where, Oh Where Has Our Little Ann Gone?

“So has anyone seen Ann lately? I feel like I haven't seen her in a week.”

“I was just thinking the same thing, we haven't even gotten one of her notes.”

“I'm pretty sure I've at least heard her come in at night, sometimes really late. I haven't talked to her or seen her either though.”

“The same, should we mount a search?”

“I don't think I've seen her either, and I usually keep drastically different hours than you guys.”

“Have we checked the library? She could be buried under a pile of Harry Potter books.”

“No way. The other librarians would have saved her by now. Or at least called us to invite us to the funeral.”

“I'd have to get my suit dry cleaned if there was a funeral.”

“I don't think you need it, but shouldn't your suit be clean already?”

“It's a wrinkled mess in the corner of my closet. I haven't worn it in ages.”

“You only have one?”

“I probably have another one or two back at my parent's place. I don't use them though, so I didn't bring them when I moved.”

“I can't remember the last time I've seen you in anything fancier than what you wear to work.”

“I hate getting dressed up anyway. I'm almost dreading my sister's wedding for just that reason.”

“Your sister's getting married? When? Why didn't you tell us?”

“It didn't come up. August I think. It's going to be hot, which makes me dread the tux even more.”

“Well congratulate her for me.”

“Back to Ann, It's unlike her to run off for this long without telling anyone. I wonder what her deal is. I hope it's nothing bad.”

“We're sitting in the living room talking about her, but is anyone sure she's not just in her room asleep right now?”

“Dibs!” Scott jumps up and opens Ann's room and runs in.

“Nope, she's not in here. Her laptop is not here either, but her bed is made.” Scott says, returning to the living room.

“What does her bed being made have to do with anything?”

“Well if it's not made, maybe she didn't sleep in it last night.”

“Or she made it when she got up...”

“Why would she do that?”

“I'm sure she's fine, probably just busy. Maybe she has been sparked by inspiration and is off in some coffee house writing.”

“When was the last time you were at work Scott?”

“Monday night. Ann wasn't there though.”

“Maybe she's marooned on a weird island with polar bears.”

“Our lives are not an episode of Lost!”

“Then where is she?”

“Have we tried calling her cell phone?”

“No. That would be practical. How are we practical? I gamble for a living remember?”

“Her cell phone died. She dropped it in pancake syrup last week. She told me she was going to get it replaced, but when I called it last night it was off.”

“Oooo! What phone is she going to get? Why didn't she tell me? I can help her pick one out. Is she going to get a Razr? The new iPhone is coming out soon, maybe she should get that.”

“I don't know. It's a phone. It rings, people answer it. What else do you need?”

“You're joking right? I use my phone for so much.”

“He doesn't even have a camera on his phone.”

“Seriously Billy? I don't think I can talk to you anymore.”

“Why don't we just leave a note for Ann to leave us a note telling us what she's been up to? We've heard her come in, I'm sure she'll let us know..in painstaking detail.”

“I guess that works. It sure beats staying all night watching Adult Swim and waiting for her to come home. I'll write the note though, you have crappy handwriting Billy.”

Nothing Loosens Lips Like Alcohol

Welcome to the 6^th floor.

Today's contributors are: Ann, Sara, Tabitha, Frank, Billy and Scott.

Subject: Nothing loosens the lips like alcohol

After the game Friday night me and Frank headed over to Union Square to meet the rest of the gang. As we get off the train I call them and it turns out they've also just arrived, so we all go to Max Brenner together. We're about to head in when we're stopped by someone calling most of our names. It's Amy and Sue, two girls who used to live on our floor before moving in with their respective boyfriends. Sue is actually getting married in a couple of months.

Sue: “Hey guys! It's funny running into you, especially today! Me and Amy just decided to meet up and go out and have some drinks tonight. You should come with us, it'll be just like old times!”

“I'm in, are you guys okay with skipping chocolate tonight?”

“It's a tough choice, but I guess I can skip chocolate for these two...as long as one of them buys me a chocolate Martini where ever we're going.”

Amy: “Certainly! I'll do it, Sue should be saving for her wedding!”

“Did you pick a date yet?”

Sue: “Not quite yet, we're decided between two dates in the spring of '08. So what are guys doing out besides getting chocolate?”

“We were grabbing dinner at the Corner Bistro, and we just met up with Sara and Frank returning from the game.”

Amy: “The Met game? How'd they do?”

“Mets won 3-2, Pettite thought Endy was bunting, instead he swung and hit a two run home run. One more win and Frank loses our bet.”

Amy: “Oooh, a bet. That sounds like fun. You guys going to any more of the games?”

“Nope, I'll have to wait until they come to Yankee Stadium to see them beat the Mets I guess.”

We arrived at the bar Amy and Sue were headed to, and found ourselves a semi-empty corner to hang out in. As is typical when we go out to bars, we ended up forming a circle so that we could all talk to each other.

Sue: “You guys look like you're already a little tipsy, a bit too many beers with dinner?”

“You know we can never pass up those McSorley's. It's just a shame that the real bar is always so jam packed.”

“We had a couple of beers ourself at Shea. It's such a rip off but I can't help myself.”

“Just trying to drown your sorrows huh Frank?”

“Absolutely.”

Sue: “So what's new with everyone? What have you guys been up to? Any dates recently?”

“I was on a date just last night actually. It was kind of a bore.”

“You never did mention how that went. I noticed you didn't come back with him and you certainly weren't home very late.”

“Well you know he was a guy from work. He really seemed to not want to talk about anything except work. We talked office politics, coding solutions...it was just like lunch in the cafeteria.”

“What a snooze.”

“Exactly, I didn't even have to make up an excuse to part ways after dinner, he wanted to go home because we had work the next morning.”

“As I recall, you're asleep early most nights too.”

“Yeah yeah, we don't all have the luxury of your schedule.”

Amy: “Still doing well with the Poker I take it?”

“It pays the bills, and it certainly beats rising with the sun and trudging off to work.”

Sue “I imagine it would. So Tabitha, you think you did well on your finals?”

“I think so yeah, I wish I didn't have to wait so long to find out my grades.”

“Tab, are you chewing on the appetizers menu?”

Tabitha pulls the wad of paper out of her mouth and opens it up. “Looks like it, you want more food?”

“I'm not into paper as a snack actually, I'll pass.”

Sue “So how about the rest of you? Anything to write home about?”

“I drove the M train this week!”

“Yes, that's all very exciting. You still travel a lot for work Amy?”

Amy: “Not quite as much, but still some. I have more seniority now that one of the older guys quit. Means I get to pick and choose more about which trips to take. Last week I was actually in Vegas; best trip for work ever.”

“I bet. You should have told me, I would've flown with you. I rarely pass up an excuse to go to Vegas, it's like my Mecca.”

“Yeah, he actually makes sure every time he plays poker on-line he faces towards Las Vegas.”

Amy: “Ha! Well maybe next time I go out there I'll give you a call. I assume you feel much the same about other gambling places? Atlantic City? Reno?”

“Yup, although AC is close enough that I really don't need an excuse to go there.”

We continued chatting and drinking and having a grand time late into the night, but none of us really remember much after that. Tabitha did develop a small cut on her lip, and Frank's arm felt sore the next day, and it certainly wasn't from cheering for the Yankees.

The Mets slaughtered the Yankees on Saturday, having starting pitcher Darrel Rasner leave with a broken finger in the first inning killed them. The Yankees managed to eke out the third game so Frank will not be my slave, but he does owe me a couple of drinks. I'm thinking of ordering every drink with top shelf liquor.