Strange Brew

It is difficult to get a man to understand something
when his salary depends upon his not understanding it
--Upton Sinclair

Please, do not destroy my mood.
Tonight, I even like you
--Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
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Ranger does not get the current economy, not even on the micro level.

He recently visited the Outer Banks Brewing Station, a microbrewrey in Kill Devil Hills, N.C., to imbibe at "America's first wind-powered brew pub" (www.obbrewing.com/), but was basically refused service as he was only there to drink the brewski. Specifically, he was "highly discouraged" from being seating by the hostess. This bud was not for you.

Some particulars are in order: It was 8:30, and the joint was 75% empty. It was not as though there would be a late night theatre crowd thronging the place between then and 11 p.m. Ranger was properly attired and clean, as was his companion (amongst clientele which could be best described as adhering to Beach-Zhlub etiquette.)

He was prepared to lay out a Jackson or so on he and his companion, but was informed by the attendant that he could not be seated due to his liquid only preference, and instead was directed toward the smoky, dark-assed bar portion of the restaurant, filled completely with men watching people running a piece of pigskin up and down a field. Ranger no longer frequents bars, nor does he voluntarily suck cigarette smoke into his lungs.

He repeated his seating preference, and was again, "highly discouraged." Why would any tourist area restaurant turn away business?

Ranger gets mean when bars turn him away, Ranger mean. Fortunately like gunfighter Mundy, I'm not like that anymore. Most of the time.