Friday, August 17, 2007

Just an ordinary Thursday night...

... but sometimes the ordinary can be very, very satisfying.

This thought occurred to me as I was sipping wine and listening to a local duo sing "Into the Mystic". I was sitting next to the man I love. Our friend Boomer was tending bar. We talked to the owner for a few minutes; he is also friend of ours. We had full bellies after a good meal. I had the lobster ravioli. PDM had his old standby - fish and chips with beer. Laughing and talking easily, we were watching the Braves game on a big screen TV while listening to the live music. The place was full, but not crowded. The musicians, Mike and Barry, have a long-standing regular gig at this place on Thursdays. They play the kind of old rock and roll that is always welcome and never goes out of style, and enjoy an easy back and forth with the crowd during their performances. They're regular guys in jeans and tee shirts, just like most of the patrons. And as we listened to them play, that's when it hit me out of the blue: it doesn't get much better than this. Nothing fancy, just good.

At the end of the evening, something on the check made us smile. Boomer had been running our bar tab as "PDM+WIFY".

11 comments:

dr sardonicus said...

Where everybody knows your name...

Moondance, what a great album. I heard "Caravan" on the radio last week for what seemed like the first time in ages. I thought some about writing on Van Morrison last week, but decided to wait and make him part of the larger music-blogging project I have in mind.

Beth said...

Oh, I love that. So sweet, so nice. I love plain and simple. It's underrated.

LL said...

I wish you this...

That every Thursday for the rest of your days you will be as content as you were last night.

And maybe Friday through Wednesday's too... ;)

Dave said...

Try Fuzzy's on North Druid Hills between 85 and Buford for great, kinda Cajanish and typical bar food and, more importantly, great music that is mostly blues and varies into rock, jazz and country.

fermicat said...

dr s - I'll be looking forward to reading it, once you do.

beth - yes, sometimes simple is quite nice.

ll - aww, thanks.

dave - PDM and I went to Fuzzy's on our first date. I wonder if it has changed since Fuzzy died. How PDM and I got together as a couple is a story for another post. We've known each other for a very long time, although we've only been married a few years.

Dave said...

Acording to an unnamed source, Big R..., it isn't what it was, especially now that Joe Dale has passed on.

I haven't been there at night in awhile; but, the food at lunch is still good, the service is good, and beer is beer, especially at a reasonable price.

I miss Red Dog in the old days.

TheWriteGirl said...

Ah, Van Morrison. I also love Astral Weeks. Boy that takes me back.

What a perfect Thursday night. A perfect any night, for that matter. May they all be thus.

tiff said...

Everyone should have a place like this. there's no better feeling than being "out" and still at home. :>

Jeni said...

Boy, does that take me back years! Reminds me of the neighborhood bar/restaurant I used to haunt in the late 60's, early 70's that was, in many ways, a lot like Cheers, except there was no entertainment at this place other than the jukebox, tv and an occasional little scuffle between a couple of long-time patrons. Still, it was then a fun place that I enjoyed the camaraderie there between the regulars - kind of reminded me of my hometown in PA -where I've lived now for the past 35 years and where I have never felt in those 35 years since moving back, as comfortable as I did at the "Shady Oak Inn in District Heights, Maryland. Go figure!

fermicat said...

Hi Jeni, glad you liked this post. Thanks for sharing your memories of the pub you used to call home. A good bar is hard to find.

Kathleen said...

I wonder why I didn't comment the first time around. I know I read it.

I have to echo Beth on this one. Sounds so perfect. Who knew LL had a sentimental streak in him? ;-)