Reading at the bar

We lost tonight, again, but it was probably our best game as a team. Our opponents came back in the last inning to beat us, but it's hard to be upset about a well-played game. And we had exactly ten people there - the perfect amount, because no one has to sit.

I'm trying to study myself as a slow-pitch softball player. I hit the ball hard most of the time, but don't get much distance on it. Today, I hit a line shot to left field with a little bit of distance, but the other three at-bats I just hit it hard at the thirdbasewoman, the pitcher, and the shortstop. I got on base each time except for the latter, and felt pretty good about my performance, but I can't seem to figure out how to use my upper body power and legs to drive the ball like, say, my friend Bill does. Tonight, Bill hit a homerun over the right fielder's head. That's another thing I really can't do - hit to right field.

After the game, we went to Kiss Cafe, but the turnout was piss poor, so we left early. Afterwards, I tried to convince Bill to join me at Thirsty Dog Pub, since I had to head back to that part of the city anyway to drop him off, and had my dog Holden with me. He refused, saying he was tired, but I had my taste buds fixated on the palm salad as soon as the image of the place came to mind, so I went anyway - just me and my dog. I called all the Federal Hill friends I could think of, but the friend supply there right now is exhausted because of summer vacations, so I just sat at the bar alone.

I was again reminded why the palm salad ("Hearts Afire") served at Thirsty Dog Pub is the single best dish served in the city of Baltimore. It's full of pieces of palm, fresh mozzarella cheese, black olives, field greens, and garnished with this incredible cheese breadsticks and a slightly sweet balsamic vinaigrette. Plus, it's just so damn cheap - the salad and two diet cokes was just $8.50 total. I honestly do not know how they make money on it because palm and mozzarella are expensive. I once tried to replicate the salad at home with store-bought ingredients and it was over $12 to make.

I just sat there at the bar, speaking with the built-like-a-palamino red-headed bartender. My small talk skills were not in full swing this evening, because I was tired, but it was still nice to chat. Eventually, a woman came in with a book. She and her dog were regulars, and it was interesting watching her. This is the second night in a row where I saw woman sitting alone at a bar, reading a novel. I wonder why people do this. I'm definitely impressed with it, but why not read at home? It's not like you're talking to anyone. I eventually decided that I approve of, and am even intrigued by, this behavior - reading is a solitary activity, but doing so in a bar probably makes it feel less so, and at least makes you feel like you're getting out and about. I eventually approached her and we talked a little bit about our dogs, but I was so exhausted that I needed to get home.

Today was nearly an entirely wasted day. I didn't run, I didn't work out, I didn't clean. I feel a little stupid about the random making out with the (british, married) girl last night at the bar, but luckily that news at the restaurant is being swept under the rug by the news that the Polish girl and the chef have been sleeping together for over a year. That news just broke yesterday. I don't feel so bad about making out with a co-worker in front of her now. I will be rather embarassed next time I go in there, though. British girl is not the type to be, and, besides, she has the excuse that she was drunk. I wasn't. I was just liking her tongue in my mouth. I'd never kissed someone with a tongue stud before. It's weird because I didn't think it was a big deal at the time or immediately after, but my co-workers who saw it all made a huge deal of it. As soon as I did it, it was so out of character that Zack declared that I was not driving home no matter what I said. He assumed that I was drunk, in other words, when actually I had been drinking diet coke. Just after, though, the Polish girl news broke and the timing couldn't be better.

Anyway, this day should end right now. I'm heading to bed.