No Friday Night drinking thread tonight, my darlings.

[Aristus]

I’m the pick-up-and-drop-off guy for Mrs. Aristus for her annual knitting convention.

Got to stay sober.

Buzzed or sober, however, I love you all…

[Trueblue Texan]

1. Same here, just not much in the mood for drinking tonight...

So I’m sipping orange LaCroix in a champagne glass! Gotta make it feel like a Friday night!

[Aristus]

2. LaCroix is fantastic!

My favorite flavor is Tangerine.

[Trueblue Texan]

52. I think that's what I drink too...

It's either orange or tangerine. I especially like it mixed with cheap champagne and a half shot of amaretto. Very tasty. But I also love how refreshing it is all by itself.

[lordsummerisle]

3. Annual knitting convention?

Um, OK, never mind...

[Skittles]

9. you just KNOW they party their asses off

[MLAA]

12. What happens at the knitting convention stays at the knitting convention!

[Aristus]

14. Yeah, knitters are party people, let me tell you.

Mrs. Aristus dropped $300 yesterday on a hand-knit sundries bag. The craft is everything to them.

[True Dough]

20. But what have you received from this deal?

There must be a knitted something or other that landed in your lap as a gift. Hmm?

[soldierant]

26. If she knits the way I do,

he has probably lost count - not to mention run out of places to wear them.

'Scuse me - I must go finish a sweater.

[Aristus]

46. A few days to myself with the run of the house.

Watch whatever I want on TV, take myself out for lunch at my favorite spots. Nice way to spend a long weekend.

[cilla4progress]

4. What

a standup guy.

Luv ya, Aristus!

[Aristus]

15. Aw, shucks...

[Marthe48]

5. I had a shot of rum

while I started a batch of vanilla extract. Thought of you

Wise of you to abstain

[Aristus]

16. When I get back, I'm pouring a big glass of single malt.

[cilla4progress]

18. YASSSSSSS!

[Aristus]

47. Enjoying the last of my Laphroiag.

Picked up a bottle of Japanese Suntori whiskey today. Looking forward to trying it.

[cilla4progress]

55. Cool -

sophisticated tastes!

[Aristus]

56. The Japanese take everything to the next level.

Japan's Roku brand of gin comes in a beautiful carved glass bottle with lacy, leafy designs on the lower half. When the supermarket employee was getting it out of the locked liquor case for me, he remarked: 'That's a beautiful bottle!"

[grumpyduck]

27. Oh, yeah!!!!

[niyad]

6. And we love you back. Be safe and well.

[Aristus]

17. Will do.

[TexasTowelie]

7. May I still ask you a question?

Make that two.

Are those knitters as rowdy as the mad hatters?

I guess that I'll have to increase my consumption this evening to offset your abstinence.

[Aristus]

19. Well, I don't know what hijinks they get up to during the convention,

but Mrs. Aristus looks forward to it all year.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. I second what niyad said! We love, admire and respect you!

[highplainsdem]

11. Love you back, Aristus! For your amusement:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217658658


Oh, and a virtual toast:

[Aristus]

23. Thank you!

[calimary]

13. I didn't know there was a Friday Night drinking thread.

Does hot tea qualify?

[niyad]

21. Even the abstemious are welcome! And a little whiskey in the tea?

[calimary]

24. Make mine plain 'ol tea, please.

Not because I’m in AA or any recovery program (although I applaud those programs and have friends who’ve benefited from them). I take the cheap way out. I’ve just never liked the taste!

[niyad]

25. Well, pull up a chair and relax! What is your favourite tea?

[calimary]

29. Hmmmmm - the Captain Picard favorite: "tea. Earl Grey. Hot."

But really just about any of ‘em. Fruit teas, Chinese teas, black teas, decaf teas, exotic or Lipton, you name ‘em. With sweetener of some sort, preferably zero-cal.

[niyad]

31. Everything except the lipton's here. And the only time I sweeten my tea (my

coffee, on the other hand. . . .) is honey when I have a cough or scratchy throat.

[calimary]

33. That's where I get skanky.

I think I’ve probably used every artificial sweetener known to man. I still remember the large bottle of Sweeta on the dining room table when I was a little kid. And I always carry a few Splenda packets with me.

[niyad]

36. Highly allergic to artificial sweeteners.

[calimary]

42. Yeah, they might eventually do me in.

But then again, I’m getting older, 70 at the next birthday. I’ve had a great career, two great now-adult children, and an equally great marriage. If it all ended tomorrow, I’d die happy and grateful - and relieved that I’ll have left with a Democrat in the White House!

[Aristus]

57. That's one of my deathbed wishes, too. Go out with a Democratic POTUS.

I'm only in my fifties, but every time there's a repuke in the White House, I say to myself: "I'd better damn-sure outlive this son of a bitch!"

[calimary]

58. Mainly, whenever the end comes,

I want to leave, knowing the country is in good hands. DEMOCRATIC hands.

[Aristus]

59. I think we're mostly in good hands with the new generation coming up.

Kids for whom LGBTQ people are not newcomers on the social landscape (or seeming newcomers, anyway), but a normal and accepted part of the community. Kids for whom people of color are not unwanted 'intruders', but best friends, trusted colleagues, and valued members of the community. Kids for whom technological progress and improvements in interpersonal communication are not scary things to push back against, but are woven into the fabric of their lives.

I think when the new generation reaches public office age, there will be more laws including and fewer laws excluding.

[Aristus]

22. It's been going on in the Lounge for years.

A small affair. Rarely more than ten or fifteen revelers. But more are always welcome.

[calimary]

30. Aha! Like I've always said about DU:

Learn something new every day!

[Aristus]

48. Will we be seeing you here more often from now on?

[calimary]

60. Oh yeah. Can't tear myself away.

It's a daily thing. I probably annoy more people per square inch than half the Republicans in Congress do!

[Aristus]

61. I can assure you, no one here will be annoyed.

I think the last time someone tried to start some shit in a drinking thread was a few years ago. Some long-gone troll tried to accuse me of calling myself a doctor (instead of a Physician Assistant, which I always specify if the subject comes up), and my beloved Loungers all came to my rescue, stating that I never, ever misrepresent myself.

We Loungers look out for each other...

[hay rick]

28. Also on the wagon tonight.

I'm taking antibiotics. This is day 2 of 10. When I woke up Monday morning, my right ankle was red and swollen. In typical pig-headed fashion, I did nothing except a little ice and elevation for a couple days, waiting for the swelling to go down. It didn't, so after persistent urging from Mrs. Rick- I went to Urgent Care. They gave me prescriptions for two antibiotics and shuttled me over to the Emergency Room for an ultrasound to test for and rule out a DVT. The ultrasound was ok. In retrospect I feel like I got away with a little irresponsible behavior. 77 and still trying to grow up.

To all those imbibing or not, Good Health! (raises glass of water)

[niyad]

32. Please take care of yourself.

[hay rick]

41. Ha! Joining Mrs. Rick on the side of responsible behavior. Thank you.

[Mme. Defarge]

34. A knitting convention I knew nothing about?!?

Désolée! 😢

[niyad]

35. A tragedy, indeed. I have been to several, even though I am not a great knitter.

My lips are sealed!!

[Mme. Defarge]

37. I finished my first Fair Isle last year -

a men’s long sleeve pullover. Beautiful on the outside, but I didn’t get the memo on tucking in threads as I switched colors, so the inside is a complete mess. Merde alors!

[niyad]

38. Oh dear. Scissors?

[Mme. Defarge]

40. Concerned the threads will pull out

if not tied off or woven in. Need to take it to a yarn shop for some advice. Hoping there’s a shortcut…

[Aristus]

44. Mrs. Aristus LOVES Fair Isle.

Can’t stop talking about it.

[Wolf Frankula]

39. Have a pint or two tomorrow with lunch

Barley Brown Breakfast Stout is a dessert in itself.

Wolf

[sprinkleeninow]

43. Lawn Guyland Iced Tea inna can. 😆

"Na Z'drovje!"
"Mens Sana In Corpore Sano!"
"Here's Mud In Yer Eye!" [Not exactly nice. 🤭]

[Aristus]

45. SKOAL!

[Mister Ed]

49. Pikop Andropov, the famous Russian chauffeur?

I'm impressed. Few indeed are worthy to follow in his footsteps. Or tire-tracks. Whatever.

[Aristus]

50. Ya nye govreet pa Russky. Govreet Inglisee?

Nim noga?

[sprinkleeninow]

51. ...

🤣

[redstatebluegirl]

53. We love you too Aristus!

[Aristus]

54. Aww...

[calimary]

62. Yep! Even us tea-totalers raise a glass (or cup) in salute!

[Aristus]

63. Hi!