Sunday, January 30, 2011

I'll take a nametag and a bar of soap

In a feeble attempt to expand my social horizons, I've taken to frequenting a restaurant/bar that's just down the road from my condo. I describe it as a 'feeble' attempt because I stop at this place probably two or three times a month. So I'm not exactly a 'regular,' but I've managed to get to know some employees and a few actual regulars.
Part of my expanded social horizon also includes volunteer work. One of the charities I support is run by people in Atlanta, so if they need something done locally, I'm one of the people they call.
Not long ago, I had a brilliant idea to ask my 'hang out' if they would offer specialty drinks to benefit the Atlanta-based charity. They were 'happy to help,' according to the bar manager.
Yay!!
The drink recipes had already been created by the charity, so I organized the necessary signage for the bar and prepared to talk up the new creations among my new fellow regulars.
Fast forward to last night, my first opportunity to actually try the new creations and work on my sales techniques with a Saturday night crowd.
Selling drinks, not me, mind you.
I sat at the crowded bar and ordered the tequila-based creation. I took a sip. Hmmn....it's not as sweet as I thought it might be (with juices and agave nectar in it). I think I like it and I would expect men would like it because it's not a 'girly' drink.
In the middle of my internal diagnosis of the cocktail, the man sitting directly on my right suddenly spun around and extended his hand.
"I didn't realize who I was sitting next to?! Ms. Sawyer?"
Confused, I shook my head.
"Diane Sawyer?"
Okay, the ABC News corespondent is an attractive woman, but she's 20 years older than me!!!
In order to keep myself from saying something unnecessarily rude to this guy, I just shook my head again and turn to the guy sitting on my left. He had just taken the seat and seemed to be alone.
And then I found out why.
A wall of funky, sweaty b.o. hit me as I turned toward him. There certainly wasn't enough tequila in my new cocktail to offset this assault.
I lifted my drink and my coat and retreated to the other corner of the bar.
So, how was your Saturday night?