Thursday, May 2, 2024
527. Monday Morning Breakfast Roundup
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
482. Beware! J. Caesar and I. Da'Marche' - Accountants
Beware! It's that time of year again - dreaded income tax day is just a couple days away for small businesses, and Nic, the senior Manager of Loveless Motel has been directed by the tax accounting firm of Caesar and Da'Marche', Jule and Ignatz, (their best friends endearingly call them "Julia" and "Ida") to finalize and send forms to the IRS for the business's past year. March 15 in the private dining room at Birdwhistle's Tearoom is this year's luncheon to celebrate the work the three men have put into the job. More than anything, as in years past, attention will be paid to cocktails and food a good deal greater than money talk.
On a personal level, Ignatz is an accomplished accordionist. The two men met some years back at Ticklers, the piano bar at Loveless Motel, when Ignatz was substituting for Paul, the blind piano player. Jule, who loves opera, asked Ignatz if he knew the snappy male bonding tune, "Ah, Mes Amis" from The Daughter of the Regiment. That night, history was made in the bar, as Jule nearly pulled off the high C's required of the tune, drunk as he was, though Ignatz was asked never to come back, as the noise drove away half the clientele. But the two men hit it off as Jule was able to demonstrate his ability to play the skin flute, apparently hitting the correct notes, as they have been pulling it off ever since. They are shown here at their home in town, where they repeat the Donizetti performance annually for the locals, while warning them to stay off the lawn.
Monday, March 11, 2024
481. Ten Commandments Club Initiation - results are in
Birdwhistle Tearoom management has been informed that one of the waiters complained his tip had been stolen from a table that had not yet been bussed, by an unknown perpetrator who dined in the restaurant Saturday night. A typically busy night forced him to get to the table late, after after he had seen a large wad of cash being put on the tray after the bill had been paid, when while leaving, the table host thanked and congratulated him on his perfect presentation of a flaming baked Alaska. Several groups were seated in close proximity to the table. It might have been anyone from those surrounding tables, all seemingly animated and having a good time with little care about their surroundings except for the usual titter and din of evaluations of any one group of men by all the others, which is the necessary ritual assessment of potential tricks for the evening. All gay men have these discussions with their pals. "What about that one?" "Nice face, but did you see that horrible manicure when he lifted his glass? I bet his toenails are dirty", etc., etc. Then the snappy comeback: "It's not his toes I'll be be sucking."
This night, the assembled members of the Ten Commandments Club, dining together with their applicant, took note of the anguish of the waiter whose tip their tablemate had just nicked. One of their number suggested to the thief that he should approach the waiter, offer his condolences, and invite him back to their elegantly appointed rented clubhouse in Aluminum City. The plan all went pretty successfully. Members are all smooth talkers, appear above suspicion, and are all devastatingly good looking. Who in his right mind would say no to such an invitation? He's lucky this wasn't a 6th commandment night. And The Ten Commandments Club has its newest member, who, now richer by fifty dollars, stood in line to screw the waiter once again.
Sunday, February 25, 2024
466. Ride with Loveless - an excursion into town
Saturday, February 17, 2024
458. Nutbush Camp Ground Salad Days
At the request of the chef at Birdwhistle's Tearoom, off-duty Officer Dick and his stalwart buddy Officer Rod have headed over to the nearly ready for occupancy Nutbush Camp Ground on an herb gathering expedition. Chef "Biff" Wellington prides himself on using local ingredients to make tasty fare which Loveless Motel gourmands say has an inexplicably narcotic effect. Trained as a US Marine cook in combat zones necessitating quick preparation and rapid relocation, Biff has a pragmatic philosophy in cooking and in life. Asked recently about the secret to his delicious Oxtail Soup, Chef Biff leaned over the counter, and with a confidential wink said, "Look, between you and me, not much, man. I just use whatever's available. You haven't seen any oxen around here lately, have you? This week, the Oxtail Soup is groundhog. Next week? Who knows! Git 'er done! Ooha! Semper Fi!"