Thank You!!

I would like to personally thank all the regulars that came to visit me today at the "Tavern". It was nice to see you all again!! (I almost felt like a traitor for going back but thanks to some it feels okay. Also, I really needed the money and I needed to work. I was going a little nuts looking for employment elsewhere, nobody likes change. I hate it.)



FYI: I will be working Wednesday, Thursday and Friday days from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (If I can, I will also do Mondays and Tuesdays if necessary in the near future, I'll talk it over with the "Mr. E", [the owner]. If it is okay with him I will let you all know) It would be nice to see more of you soon.



It feels weird but good to be at "home". The owner is really a nice guy and very personable. There will be no hard looks or nasty remarks from him. It's not his style. Plus, he's trying which is different from what we're used to. As overwhelming as it must be to make thing work (AC, etc.) in a place where things just didn't, I have faith that we will all be more comfortable soon.



Rumors of proper attire have been dispelled. Wear whatever you want (just be wearing clothes)!



I now realize that my anger and abandonment issues were misplaced. In the days following the sale of the tavern and the sneaky way the former owner's acted (not telling anyone was the worst way to handle the situation, some notice would have been nice), I may have taken out my feelings on someone who didn't deserve it (the new owner). For that, I must apologize. I acted immaturely and said some things I shouldn't have. I feel like an idiot for saying/writing some of those things, but other things I'm kind of glad I said. Certain people needed to know how their behavior can effect other people's lives and livelihood. I guess that only time can be the teacher. Learning good character is harder for some than others. Okay, no more on that subject.



Again, thank you to everyone that came in and to those who will come back in the future. It can only become a better place to be. We've already seen how it wasn't.



RRRRRRRR

Crack KILLS!

Well its spring…and lust lights up in the eyes of every teenager on the face of the planet as it does in older hornier persons in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and some even older. So, if you don’t have a steady sex partner of the sex opposite your own, you either need to go through a slow selection process to find one or put yourself at risk for a lot of bad things for your body.

For those of you who have a partner who is the sex opposite your own but practice high risk sexual behavior (sex with multiple partners, unprotected vaginal sex, unprotected anal sex or non-sterile oral sex, etc.) or you have a same sex partner, you put yourself at real risk. It’s the same risk that I.V. drug users put themselves in as well as recreational drug users. The word from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is that these behaviors cause or can lead to HIV/AIDS, which is a pandemic (world wide contagious disease).

I know as we get older we are more willing to act on certain sexual behaviors that satiate a variety of sexual appetites that fall into various categories called ‘fetishes’. Whatever your fetish, freaky fun or other fuck festivity you need to exercise caution in the form of protection. That can take the form of vaccines for a number of blood diseases or the purchase of prophylactics.

Here’s some info from “Wikipedia”: “Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Previous names for the virus include human T-lymphotropic virus-III (HTLV-III), lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV).[1][2]
Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth. Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world.
HIV infection in humans is now pandemic. As of January 2006, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized on December 1, 1981, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in recorded history. It is estimated that about 0.6% of the world's population is infected with HIV.[3][update needed] In 2005 alone, AIDS claimed an estimated 2.4–3.3 million lives, of which more than 570,000 were children.”



Use of cocaine cooked up in “rock” form is also dangerous to your health. From Wikipedia: “When large amounts of dopamine are released by crack consumption, it becomes easier for the brain to generate motivation for other activities. The activity also releases a large amount of adrenaline into the body, which tends to increase heart rate and blood pressure, leading to long-term cardiovascular problems.

It is suggested by research that smoking crack or freebase cocaine has additional health issues beyond other methods of taking cocaine. Many of these issues relate specifically to the release of methylecgonidine, and the specific effect of methylecgonidine on the heart,[1] lungs,[2] and liver.

[3]”

As noted previously, virtually any substance may have been added in order to expand the volume of a batch. Occasionally, highly toxic substances are used, with an indefinite range of corresponding short- and long-term health risks.”

So, no matter how you choose to do it, taking it in the ass, pushing it up someones ass, or smoking it until your ass is ready to take on anything….crack kills. It doesn’t matter if its ass crack or rock cocaine, your health is at risk. This is the only life you got and God did not create you with replacement parts. No matter how much fun your having with another person that fun could be grief if you don’t take some simple steps.

If you really have a ‘partner’ then you should have no problem with full disclosure of both a blood test and an HIV Test. Yeah, it’s a lot to fear if you’ve been giving it up or getting all you can for the last year or so. Not knowing is so much worse, would you play Russian Roulette with 4 or 5 bullets? (I wouldn’t play Russian Roulette at all) Being sexually active and not getting yourself tested is just as crazy.

If you love your partner (or if its just lust) get checked. If your in a long term relationship or you just have an occasional fuck buddy, get checked. Remember, Crack Kills.

RJ

Day Bartender Returns

After much consideration the new owner of

1762 Broadway Lounge announces

Robin

Former Day Bartender at the Corner Tavern now known as

1762 Broadway Lounge

has Returned!

Be there to greet her Starting Wednesday April 30th 1pm to 7pm

From Pitiful to Posh

Mz. Shirley has moved to ON THE ROCKS, located on Main Street in East Rockaway across from the Repair Shop. I got a call from Ruby on Tuesday (Ruby Tuesday?) who told me that Mz. Shirley has relocated and that her first day was Wednesday from 1PM to 7PM. So I called Candy and before I mentioned it to her she told me also. So I said to the Drill Instructor on my mantle, “I’m gonna check this out.” And I did. Baby, what a big surprise!

I stopped to get a burger and made my way with my lunch to ON THE ROCKS. Being East Rockaway I didn’t expect the place to be much, kind of the standard hardwood or linoleum floor with a stool or high chair to sit at the bar. What I walked into was a class lounge with stone floors, large picture windows, a fireplace with mantle, red pool table, and upholstered chairs, cocktail tables and nice long couches. This place was nice.

The bar itself is curvaceous, made of rocks covered with a nice translucent polyurethane cover giving a seaside kind of feeling. It was so nice to walk in and be greeted by Mz. Shirley’s smiling face, Norm was at the bar with Ruby and her friend Robbie. Then the place started to fill up with all the regulars from what was the Corner Tavern, all the refugees liked this place of exile. It really went over big with everybody. So you ask, like who? OK, I’ll name names.

Pimp showed up being his usually polite but annoying self (he was feeling no pain when he arrived, must have had some Kool-Aid elsewhere). Raul and Sunny showed up and got some tunes going, then Breezy strolled in. Breezy and Raul started a pool game when Ms. Lily showed up. I asked Ms. Lily about her new little one and she said the baby is fine but not so little anymore (the picts were adorable).

Then KaCee showed up, I smiled all over myself, wow it was good to see her. She let me know she changed jobs and is working for the Government now and that her girl is doing great. Hector and Elly showed up and they both were glowing. Midtown arrived and fit into the background like a shark to the Pacific Ocean, the suit and sophistication don’t go to waste in this place. I then saw Candy walk in and my heart went ‘boom’.

There were 5 or 6 others I never met before and everybody was yapping away catching up, feeling good for a great day and feeling great for Mz. Shirley. I had to cut out to shoot pool for the Corner Tavern for the last time. I, for sake of pride and my comrades with pool cue’s, will stand up for the Corner Tavern in competition even though the Corner turned us out. Mz. Shirley made us all welcome in a cooler, cleaner, easy lounge.

I shall return.

RJ

Conversations, Grouping & Regrouping

It was early afternoon when I heard from Ruby. She said that Bossman called to apologize to her, as she put it, Bossman said, “it wasn’t supposed to go down like this.” He meant for the new owner “Mr. E” to keep the bartenders that were there working. But a big busted 19 year old (young sweet creamin’ meat) will get a man to compromise a whole lot. To hear Ruby tell it, that’s why she got dumped.

But I wonder why the apology now. Ruby still is out of work and she wonders why, why she was dumped when she proved her worth as a bartender with a good work ethic and a decent following. If “Mr. E” is in his 30’s, he must have been quite industrious and a hard worker to put away the kind of “cash” it takes not only to purchase a bar but to renovate it. I can’t fault anybody for being industrious and all souls have their own motives for doing things.

I had also heard from Cary, he wants to get every refugee from the Corner Tavern and have a get together on a Wednesday Night down at Backstage, in Woodmere. Kareoke and a chance for all the gang to kind of let out the bad feelings go and find new places to have our beer and “get comfortable” in. Nice Idea. Tell me what you guys think. I was asked by Ruby if I have been to the Corner since it changed hands. I said no, and I don’t intend to go there.

Yaega Lee calls me. “Yes, I know Wednesday is the last time we shoot pool for the Corner Tavern, what else is on your mind Yaega..” I got a pause and then she said, “after we’re finished shooting at Whiskey Business I want us all to stop by and see Rhoda at the Corner.” I said, fine! “Is Quietman going to join us Yaega?” “I don’t know said Yaega”. I took that as a hell no.

We finished the season Wednesday Night at Whiskey Business and headed for the Corner Tavern. I met “Mr E” he is a young guy and I kind of spied the barren walls of what was once the place to hang for a few. The place was empty save Rhoda, stragglers were in and out but she was clearly uncomfortable inside the barren shack once called the Corner Tavern. “Mr. E” now calls it “1762 Broadway Lounge”. I sat with ERL, Yaega and Rhoda until some new faces popped in.

I left for home wondering if I should be naïve enough to give the benefit of the doubt to “Mr E” that is making the assumption that he is a young man who worked hard for his money. I mean to make a cash transaction of 10’s of thousands of dollars (liquor licenses cost a bit) rent, inventory, renovations, payroll and overhead, it adds up real quick. I know because I have acquaintances who own a restaurant and I helped with some confidential data bases for a security system.

Then I thought hard about my conversation with “Bear”. I told him about what happened and Yaega going to “Game On”. He brought me back to remembering when we were kids and what his Dad had told us one day when we were having a barbeque in his yard on Mansfield Place back in the late 70’s. His Dad was an Old School, Hard Bitten, No Nonsense, Throw Down, Beat Down, Ass Kicking Street Cop who “paid dues” and knew where all the “bodies were buried”.

When I told Bear about the Corner he stopped me and said, “Its just like the rest of the bullshit, how stupid can you be? Remember Dad said that Nassau County would be like Queens in 10 years, first the roads, then the schools, then the fuckin neighborhood. Old Timers who retired bought and owned those bars after WWII and the guys who bought them in the 70’s were also old guys in real estate or retired guys working a private business.” Bear hacked up a bad cough and continued.

Your going to tell me a 30 something year old kid, like a 40 something year old with no fucking visible means of income all the sudden has 50, 60, 70 large to throw into a corner fucking bar? RJ, how long you been a cop, you’ve been undercover, you’ve done investigations…” ‘LEAVE MY PAST OUT OF THIS BEAR’. “Listen, your not stupid as you look, its just like when the Jews left Southeast Queens and all the fucking dope dealers bought the bars to make their dirty money clean…that’s what the fuck is going on.”

“Bear, assumption is the mother of all fuck ups, and I’m not trying out to be a fucked up mother.” “RJ, if someone is pissing on you and you believe its raining, you need to be pissed on…if I were you I’d stay the fuck out of those places owned by those people. All of them lowlifes fit the profile…just like Dad said.” “Bear, you might be jumping to conclusions and profiling isn’t politically correct.”

“OH YEAH, WELL I’LL ASK THE QUESTIONS YOU GIVE THE FUCKING ANSWERS. OK!” ALRIGHT Bear, take it easy, go ahead. “Both the bar in Valley Stream and the other in Hewlett how fast did the sale go down, in a few weeks or a few days?” “Days, maybe hours Bear.” “Next, the owners are they retirees or young guys, our age or younger?” Younger Bear.
“Next, are they Black or White, or are they of spic decent” WHOA BEAR! “OK, HISPANIC”.

“I think Hispanic decent but I won’t guess.” “What the fuck happened to you RJ, where is the fucking cop in you?” “RETIRED!” I proclaimed. Bear continued, “OK, but I’ll tell you what’s going to happen, the neighborhood will find a way to fuck with the bar or the boys will sit for months even years making a case…nobody’s stupid RJ, your retired, you got that kind of scratch, but no one offered to sell the bar to you, why? Just like they didn’t want to sell a house to your father, your black and you’re a straight shooter – trash sells to trash for cold hard cash!”

(I had the phone on speaker and heard the distinct sound of a bolt going home on a rifle, then I heard the magazine as it clicked in place. I thought about the Obama comment about bitter blue collar white people holding on to guns and religion - I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY)

OK BEAR, I hear you. Bear ranted on, “Dad was right, he said when dope dealers own bars, they don’t give a fuck about the clientele, first thing you know faggots, dikes and whores of all sorts go crusin in the local watering hole and then the Mick’s and the Dago’s start getting that Nigro poon tang on the side, even worse, the spic’s they’re fuckin, here without any god damned papers, are expectin the bartender to understand them jabbering in Spanish….Dad was right, glad I’m here in the shadow of Old Smokey.”

(Note: Bear is my big brother from another mother and he worked for my Dad when my family owned and operated a moving company – much of his view of people came from working with people of all races, my Dad worked with and loved everybody – especially Bear.) “RJ, just watch where you hang out, sounds like the Corner, formerly Cheers, formerly the Beverly isn’t going to be a neighborhood bar anymore.”
Bear may be right. But I will give the benefit of the doubt to anyone, until they fuck up.

RJ

The Old Crew & Regulars Last Night

For the Good Times Bartenders, Regulars and the Old Crew…not to be forgotten.

I remember walking into the dive to shoot that night ERL was shooting before the game, warming up for Dublin Jim and the guys from Sonny O’s. I saw Ruby’s face, it was a look I’d seen on victims of violent crimes, a cross of anger, fear and dejection. Rhoda had taken over, and the night shift was on. The news of Bossman’s treachery to the patrons and the bartenders took off across the Five Towns like the coming of the plague.

Many of the old crew were already there, Biker Bob, Timmy, and Raul were at the big end of the bar. I sat down and checked in with Cho’ to see about his big newborn son who had a heart operation. Cho’ said the kid is doing just fine, good news I was glad to hear. I saw Mickey at the bar and he had a smile a mile wide, Dino had to be somewhere close. Sure enough he showed up while toting boxes full of Bossman’s stuff out of the basement of the Dive.

Everybody got into a kind of ‘let the hair down’ mood and the place got loud and happy after Timmy and I conspired on a playlist. Music was playing when Dublin Jim showed up and razzed me about my brother not doing a job for him at Sonny O’s. I told him I would give the fat boy his share of hell. Dublin Jim heard the news about the corner and how it had been sold and got into a talk with Quite Man, co-owner about what happened.

Then it seemed all the regulars had come out of the woodwork.. Everybody showed up nearly at once. The Met Fan glided in with Hector and Elly right behind him. Not that ERL needed any more drama this night but Evie was in the place being herself. As I sat there attempting to finish my dinner, shrimp and Wonton soup (a few egg rolls too) I got a phone call. While I stood outside the door watching my seat Pimp strolled up and helped himself to one or two shrimp.

That pissed me off, but I was pretty full anyway. I gave away the rest and took in the conversations that flowed between sports, politics, women and Bossman’s apparent treachery. Bossman knew Shelly wanted to buy the place if he was going to sell it. He knew that every patron in the place was loyal to their bartenders, yet Bossman did the apparent cold and dirty deed. He and Quiet Man sold the bar without even a whisper to the bartenders or patrons.

These are tough times. America is sliding into a great depression and a job is as precious as life itself. “To do the dirt that was did was evil” said Timmy as he took another swallow from his ice cold beer. (The beer was cold indeed that night). Yaega Lee showed up and talked to Quiet Man about what was done while shooting pool. Rhoda and Yaega then somehow convinced Quiet Man (It could have been that dual embrace one from the front the other from the back) to give up a round of shots.

Yaega then got behind the bar with Rhoda’s blessing and started pouring shots while Rhoda kept up with the crowd. Quiet Man ordered the cheap tequila but Yaega poured ‘Patron’ anyway. Quiet Man was near helpless as the bartenders quietly ‘upgraded’ drinks, an owner might accuse them of giving away the bar, but that didn’t happen (It didn’t…you believe that, right.).

After the third round of shots Yaega Lee cried, I never saw her cry and I wanted to hold her but Dublin Jim beat me to it. Apparently they had a business meeting as he was wiping her tears. Dublin Jim was instrumental in Yaega’s announcement that would come later on that night. Yaega got hold of a camera and took several shots of the old crew. She wanted not to forget the last night in the ancient dive known also as ‘The Corner Tavern’.

As the Wednesday night pool game ended and the night wore on Yaega and Rhoda danced and had a ball with those of us who chose not to be wall flowers. Timmy definitely got his dance in with Yaega. Yaega became overwhelmed, and she broke into tears again holding on to Timmy. A couple of Firemen came in from a dress up occasion and had a few drinks with us before they hit the road. The danced to Johnny Cash and dug the ‘tough girl’ behind the bar. (Rhoda) They were really good guys who got things kind of fired up, pardon the pun.

After the Firemen left the crowd thinned out and Yaega and Rhoda were all that were left. As they walked out Yaega had her keys to the Corner in her hand. Yaega told Rhoda, “I want to do this.” She shut the door to the Corner Tavern and locked it for the last time. She sat in her car with a two hand death grip on the steering wheel sobbing for a few minuets after Rhoda took off. She took off into the pre-dawn darkness with a new job at Game On. As for the others, I cannot be certain. In these times who can be certain of anything.

RJ

Refugees from "The Corner"...Listen UP!

Carol Lee, legendary Sunday bartender for over 10 years at the now 'sold for cash' Corner Tavern is now at..........................

GAME ON

GAME ON is located at 317 Rockaway Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580
(516) 233-1627‎

Directions:

North, Straight up Rockaway Avenue . If Traveling West on Sunrise/POW-MIA Highway, turn left on Rockaway and park on Roosevelt Avenue.

So all you refugees from the 'Corner' who feel turned out by the sell out, go to GAME ON! I bet you won't feel turned out there. (It would be nice if we all paid Carol Lee a visit to cheer her up) If you can't be there this Sunday, Remember she works every Sunday at GAME ON.

BE THERE!

(See the Post below)

by ...you know.

DOUBLE BACKSTABBING ALERT!!!

Dear Loyal Friends,
 
You are not going to believe this one........
 
Shirley went to the bar today to speak to the owner about getting some work (swallowing her pride, of course, because we are all broke due to naivete).  The door was locked so she knocked on it and who do you think appeared?  It was the newbie, Jamie.  It turns out that she knew all along that the bar was being sold because her boyfriends' (?) (he's 36 and she's 19) friend bought it.  I'm so sorry and I feel terrible for bringing this two faced bitch into our territory.  But at least she's working, right?  Remember, it's all about Jamie.  She said so.
 
Being the mature woman that I am (lol), I had to call her (Jamie) and ask her how she could screw me over like that (For real, she knew about it and smiled in my face anyway).  She replied that she only knew a day before Shirley or I knew and that she was sorry about us losing our jobs.  I then spoke to the owner and he stated that they would be open at night and doing renovations during the day, he had his own people (including fat ass) and if they didn't work out he'd consider Shirl and I for employment.  I regretfully declined his generous offer (sarcasm) and informed him that keeping Jamie (I know, I know, the white trash is showing, I apologize to all of you) was not good business move. I also let him know that she was a horrible bartender, suffers from ADD and was hardly trainable due to her self-centered chatter, she alienated the regular customers and was just a complete snot to everyone and so were her anti-social "friends".  I also stated that Shirl and I had a loyal following and they probably wouldn't patronize his establishment as regulars (maybe I've overstepped my boundaries but you guys are like family to us. I hope to not look like an ass if you decide to drink there [yes, this is America and you have the right to drink anywhere] but I'm hoping you don't due to your own morals and values regarding your loyalties.  Face it, it won't be the same and if it will help we will buy some booze, meet somewhere and serve it you guys in gold chalices [lol]).  You can get a beer anywhere, it's the company that counts.
 
If the regulars don't patronize the establishment due to the back stabber, who will be on Thursday and Friday nights, maybe, eventually, we can get our home back.  After all, crappy as it was, there's no place like home  (Disclaimer:  I would never wish anything bad to happen to anyone, even a stranger, but if it shouldn't work out for them, well, you get the idea).
 
Anyway, as for the unforgiven and betrayed staff, minus the one big mouthed Benedict Arnold,  will be trying to acquire a new home for our people.  We would like to create our own tavern, jointly owned (with enthusiastic financing by a few loyal patrons of our former home) and managed fairly.  We are diligently looking for a property in the area, so if anyone has any ideas please contact me at Sodabopp@aol.com <mailto:Sodabopp@aol.com> .  If you would like to be involved in ownership we would be eternally grateful.  I know we could make it a successful endeavor for all involved. Just a place to come after work or whenever where you can wind down in a comfortable atmosphere after a long day at work.   Also, there would be no walking on eggshells or leaving when a boss came in.  Uncomfortable is not our favorite feeling and it's a proven fact that when Jack walked in the bar the air became full of tension.  He disliked a lot of people for reasons I can't understand and this continued even after it was explained to him that his customers were his livelihood.  I think there is a mental illness named after this trait I just don't care what it's called.  I try to stay away from bad karma like his, it's bad for your health.
 
On a personal note, the feeling of betrayal is overwhelming.  Shirley is a mess and I feel like dirt because I brought this person in (I had no idea, she comes off so innocently. Then again, she's only 19 years old although her ID says she's 23.  She'll learn, I'll see to it or better yet her maker will)   I'm so sorry but if it's the only thing I do with the rest of my life I will make sure that we can all hang out again, as the family I feel we've become.  Only then can I atone for the sin of "sleeping with the enemy" (No, not literally.  Stop imagining it, ewww [do I know you guys or what?]).
 
Feel free to e-mail me at the above link to talk, voice your opinion, offer advise and/or hopefully commit to our quest to acquire and operate a new place that we can call our own.  I hope to hear from you all but until then "Go with G-d", Semper Fidelis, later skaters or, in the words of a famous speaker or mumbler we all know and put up with, "Fuck em' all". 
 
We will miss every single one of you. That is, until we meet again. <With Much Love and Respect,
 
Robin &
 Shirley (she really doesn't know about this letter but is getting credit for creating it because she is truly a good friend to me and all of you plus she feels so betrayed she can't express it)
 
 
Jack said we could put his picture below: (Yes, that's a donkey or Jackass as he is primarily known as)
 
<

The Tavern is Closed

Hey misplaced drinkers,

Word is that the bar is closed. I don't have any information on how long it will remain as such.

Truthfully, who would expect the former Bossman, current scumbag, to have done this any other way. He had no respect for his bartenders, or for his patrons. Whoever opens the place back up will certainly be a more civil owner. And probably a helluva lot easier on the eyes. That Bossman was one ugly motherfucker.

My heart goes out to Shelley and all of the other bartenders who tried to make our stay at the Tavern pleasant, in spite of ownership operating against them at every turn. They had to compete with inadequate stock of beer, fucked up toilets, insufficient refrigeration, and, as I remember, sweltering working conditions for the bulk of last summer.

The former Bossman will probably be able to sit there and read this and laugh at all of them, and all of us, the patrons. But in his head and bitter black heart he knows just what a disgratziada he is. I doubt he has even one true friend.

I say good riddance to him. 1762 will be back, and probably infinitely better run and managed in his absence. I look forward to seeing your familiar faces when 1762 reopens.

The Ultimate Backstab

I received the following email from Robin:

Dear valued customers, beloved patrons, it just doesn't feel right saying those things because I am not the owner of The Corner Tavern so I will just speak the truth from my soul.
 
Here's the deal.....Bossman, dickhead that he is and always will be, has sold the bar to G-d knows who without giving any notice to anyone.  Staff, customers, no one knew until the day before the takeover.  It truly saddens me that nobody got the chance to protest.  I know that a few of us would have begged, borrowed and stole to acquire this dump.  Even as a joint effort it would have been a success because we actually care about this place.  It could have become such a better place if only we were given the chance to acquire it.  Just as it was in the past, although it was called something else, it would have been more community oriented and a meeting place for events (like a starting place for holiday parades), sort of a VFW post with booze.  As a member of the staff, loyal but part time, I am so annoyed that even the day before the change of management I was not informed.  I even put the Bossman on the spot by going down to the basement to ask for a certain liquor and upon seeing him packing everything up down there and asking him outright, "Are you moving or something?", he smiled and said, "No, I am just getting rid of some stuff because of insurance reasons.  I should have done it when it was neat, but I didn't so I'm doing it all at once".  That's when I realized that it was all over for our Corner.  He didn't even tell the bar manager straight out but after she was tipped off by a close friend of hers, she put it together.  A woman with intuitive thoughts is a very smart woman.
 
Anyway, whatever happens to our home away from home, we (the bartenders),  would all like you to know that we tried really hard to make the bar a place people wanted to hang out in, a comfortable place where you all could be yourselves and relax and most of all we tried to make it a place that you could call your own.  Sorry about the end result but we had no control or knowledge of any sale or we would have acted and probably obtained the business due to the group effort of all of us, staff and patron alike, sort of like a military troupe, all for one and one for all.  It probably would have been really successful for all.
 
You are all wonderful people and great patrons.  Personally, I received nothing but respect from most of you and from some I received some life lessons given in horn dog speak (which I understand).  And for all of this, dirty and clean,  I would like to thank you for patronizing this establishment while I was on shift even though the owner was a shit.  We will try to inform you guys of all our whereabouts so that maybe you'll come see us elsewhere. 
 
Friday is probably my last day although if I can stay longer with the new management I will ($$).  Seriously, how many jobs can I lose in a 15 day period?  What a bitch life is, huh?  Everything falls apart at once, I am living proof of that.  My motto, "Trust No One".  It's becoming clear that I should live by my own motto.  Sad but true.
 
Anyway, I'll miss you guys and I'll miss that bar.  Life goes on.
 
Later guys,
 
Robin

Death Installments – Cigarettes & Your Rotting Body

Well I thought about posting another public service announcement after hearing my brother hack up half his lung. Apparently leaving a grieving wife and grown kids is something he’s not thinking about. He’s not thinking because copious amounts of alcohol have probably destroyed the brain cells that control ‘reason’. This public service post is about smoking.

In the United States today the Tobacco lobby has made sure that the Surgeon General’s Warning on a pack of cigarettes is so small it is nearly unreadable. “Though America started the trend of labelling cigarette packages with health warnings, today the country has one of the smallest, least prominent warnings placed on their packages.

Warnings are usually in small typeface placed along one of the sides of the cigarette packs with colors and fonts that closely resemble the rest of the package, so the warnings essentially are integrated and don't stand out with the rest of the cigarette package” (from: Dumas, Bethany K. “An Analysis of the Adequacy of Federally Mandated Cigarette Package Warnings.” Ch. 11 of Language in the Judicial Process, ed. J. N. Levi and A. G. Walker. NY: Plenum Press Corp., 1990, 309–352. Reprinted Tennessee Law
Review 59.2 (1992), 261–304.)

(The following is from Wikipedia)
In the United Kingdom cigarettes must be labeled with one or more of the following warnings: Smoking kills
Smoking seriously harms you and others around you
Additionally, one of the following additional warnings must be displayed, covering at least 40% of the surface of the pack:

Smokers die younger
Smoking clogs the arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes
Smoking causes fatal lung cancer
Smoking when pregnant harms your baby
Protect children: don't make them breathe your smoke
Your doctor or your pharmacist can help you stop smoking
Smoking is highly addictive, don't start
Stopping smoking reduces the risk of fatal heart and lung diseases
Smoking can cause a slow and painful death
Get help to stop smoking: telephone/postal address/internet address/consult your doctor/pharmacist
Smoking may reduce the blood flow and cause impotence
Smoking causes ageing of the skin
Smoking can damage the sperm and decreases fertility
Smoke contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.

"The first written warnings on packets in Britain appeared in 2003, and shocking warning pictures are set to appear on British packets in 2008 alongside the written messages, revealed Alan Johnson, Secretary of Health in August 2007." (From Wikipedia)

But if that isn’t enough to get you to put down a cigarette at least know what ‘second hand smoke’ will do to your friends, family, coworkers and aquaintances. The following is from “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 6 Major Conclusions of the Surgeon General Report.”

1. Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
Supporting Evidence
o Levels of a chemical called cotinine, a biomarker of secondhand smoke exposure, fell by 70 percent from 1988-91 to 2001-02. In national surveys, however, 43 percent of U.S. nonsmokers still have detectable levels of cotinine.
o Almost 60 percent of U.S. children aged 3-11 years—or almost 22 million children—are exposed to secondhand smoke.
o Approximately 30 percent of indoor workers in the United States are not covered by smoke-free workplace policies.
2. Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke.
Supporting Evidence
o Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic (cancer-causing), including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide.
o Secondhand smoke has been designated as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has concluded that secondhand smoke is an occupational carcinogen.
3. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
Supporting Evidence
o Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as smokers. Because their bodies are developing, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.
o Both babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant and babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are more likely to die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than babies who are not exposed to cigarette smoke.
o Babies whose mothers smoke while pregnant or who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth have weaker lungs than unexposed babies, which increases the risk for many health problems.
o Among infants and children, secondhand smoke cause bronchitis and pneumonia, and increases the risk of ear infections.
o Secondhand smoke exposure can cause children who already have asthma to experience more frequent and severe attacks.
4. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
Supporting Evidence
o Concentrations of many cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are higher in secondhand smoke than in the smoke inhaled by smokers.
o Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can have immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and interferes with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of a heart attack.
o Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 - 30 percent.
o Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 - 30 percent.
5. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Supporting Evidence
o Short exposures to secondhand smoke can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability, potentially increasing the risk of a heart attack.
o Secondhand smoke contains many chemicals that can quickly irritate and damage the lining of the airways. Even brief exposure can result in upper airway changes in healthy persons and can lead to more frequent and more asthma attacks in children who already have asthma.
6. Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.
Supporting Evidence
o Conventional air cleaning systems can remove large particles, but not the smaller particles or the gases found in secondhand smoke.
o Routine operation of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system can distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building.
o The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the preeminent U.S. body on ventilation issues, has concluded that ventilation technology cannot be relied on to control health risks from secondhand smoke exposure.

It’s bad enough your killing yourself when you smoke but worse when you kill someone else. Its even unthinkable if its someone you love. Manslaughter by chemical self indulgence. You assure the slow, insidious, internal torture of the human body of you the smoker and a ‘loved one’. As a life insurance policy and payments protect your family in the event of your death, a cigarette is payment for the diseases that will kill you and them.

Light up! Today you live….tomorrow we will grieve. A two pack a day habit at $5.00 a pack is $300.00 dollars every thirty days or $3,650.00 per year. A hefty death installment and Liggett & Myers, Phillip Morris, and R.J. Reynolds (their heirs and assigns) will make a profit off of your miserable existence.

The mortician will make money from you carelessly killing off friends and family every time you make a death installment, a pack of cigarettes. If you killed your family or friends outright you would go to jail for MURDER or MANSLAUGHTER. This way you can do it legally, while it is still legal.

RJ

Sunday Afternoon

It had been a while since I saw Yaega Lee, about three weeks. So I went to the dive to pay a visit and catch up on some time and see what’s going on. I got to the dive and ERL was shooting pool with Biker Bob. Yaega didn’t have that many customers at the time I walked in so we all bought rounds of drinks and shot pool. It was a fun Sunday Afternoon, music was 60’s, 70’s and oldies and everyone was in chill out mode.

I got to fill in Biker Bob on my trip to Tennessee and told him about Bear’s shoulder. Let him know that Bear and Star asked about him and I let him know I told Bear and Star he was doing O.K. ERL was alone, Evie was nowhere to be seen, ERL was as mellow as I have ever seen him. Cho’ came in and relaxed for a while, he is holding his head up real good despite knowing his newborn son will have heart surgery. I told him I would keep him in prayer, we all should.

The Met Fan strolled in and we had a long talk about College basketball while kicking back and doing a few shots. As the womens basketball game started, Rhoda and her man, Crusher came in and the shift change started. Everybody had fun, was having fun and really relaxing…I haven’t been in here when it was really fun in a while. But the night was just falling and others had yet to pass through the dive.

Yaega told me that some people in the dive are getting a little too touchy feely with the bartenders. I told her not to put up with the shit and if things got stupid to do something about it. I asked her if Blues Man knew about this and she shook her head negatively. I let her know she better tell him, before he finds out from someone else or on CNN. Yaega can take care of herself but a woman is a woman and inside the dive some guys just don’t know what the word ‘respect’ means.

Cary passed by, coming from one of his Sunday gigs, with his usual GQ look. He had a few and talked about Kareoke and his new gig at the Kennedy Airport Holiday Inn. He said things were looking good, he said he and Mallory were in the dive Saturday Night and he wanted to show her that some things have changed (they are considering another performance here in the future). Cary drank up and left for home.

When Rhoda got behind the bar and night settled in Yaega and ERL hung out a little while as the regulars flowed in and out Chucky and his buddy came in as usual and had a few. We talked about both Kennedy’s and Dr King and where we were when they were assassinated. Chucky also commented on polygamy, but I’ll save that conversation for later. Everybody was getting nicely rowdy and the place had a good buzz. Then Pimp showed up.

Pimp, his daughter and her boyfriend rolled in for one or two. Pimp was performing his usual civic duty looking for nice American Men to hook up with women who’s immigration status is on the verge of question. He inquired if anyone is interested in a hot ‘triny girl’ who is looking for a man to make her a good American in every way possible. He had pictures. I told him I had my own problems. He left kind of quick, not many single men in dive that night.

We all got a little happier, music was jamming, the playlist was absolutely right. Doc showed up and things got even looser. The bartenders were being playful and full of fun, there might be some photos, those shown have been altered to disguise their appearance. (Like you can’t figure it out?) All in all it was a really nice Sunday Afternoon.

RJ

New Bartender

WOW! What manner of cut and run is this?

Due to an apparent lack of transparency by both the former ownership and the new, the former ad has been pulled.

NO ONE LIKES BEING USED...OR FEELING USED.

Dino's Birthday Party

“It's like candy…I can feel it when you walk…Even when you talk it takes over meYou're so dandy….I wanna know…..Can you feel it too just like I do” my blackberry played the Cameo tune loudly. It’s the ringtone I selected for Candy. I was amazed and surprised. I didn’t hear from her for over two weeks, I nearly dropped my blackberry hurrying to answer the call.

We quickly caught up with each other about family and then got to the subject of the evening. Candy said that tonight (Friday Night) was Dino’s Birthday and they were throwing a party for him at the ancient dive. I told her about my plans for the evening, I would be attending a wine tasting at a local liquor store by a gent who plans on selling high end wines.

Candy said she would be at the dive for a short time to say happy birthday and leave. I told her I would show up after the wine tasting.

I showed up and many of the regulars were there, Candy was right in front of me as I entered, Cho’, Evie, ERL, Gino’s brother Mikey, and even Breezy was there. The man in the suit at the front end of the bar ‘Midtown’ (always in a business suit) was quietly enjoying his drink as I sat down with Candy. I found both Ruby and Shelly behind the bar. A nice buffet was laid out and I went and wished Dino a happy birthday. He was already feeling no pain and on his way to being classically Dino before the night was through.

Every time I approached Candy to follow up on our conversation, someone would pop-up to intrude. So I dropped a $20 in the box and played tunes. I talked to Ruby who told me about Bossman removing the ‘Rainbow sign’ and informing S.D. of this event. I asked “S.D. came in the dive? When?” Ruby then said she e-mailed him about this event. Given S.D.’s unbridled love for the dive, I didn’t wonder why it did not make the blog.

Candy didn’t stay long, but I stayed to see if I could find out what has happened in the last three weeks, something was different about the dive. Shelly told me that she is having the picture in the St. Patricks Day ad blown up for display. I’m glad she liked it. During the evening Dino tried to shoot pool while Evie flashed her heaving bare tits at him. Shelly needed a distraction to get the cake out and sing happy birthday. Evie did indeed distract Dino.

During the evening a parade of regulars streamed in and out, I got to speak to BeyBey, Chucky, The Met Fan, Raul, and yes, the Pimp showed up and bought liquor for everyone. As the evening wore on Dino became his very animated, verbally boisterous other self. I tried to shoot a game of pool with him but he was preoccupied with Evie’s chest. Eventually ‘Dino’ got to the ‘fuck’em all stage so I found something else to do before I left. I met the new bartender who will be working Friday Nights.

Jaynee is a very pretty well built young blonde who has been working at the dive for about a week. Her friend, Raven (black hair) is also a real nice woman. I spent a little time showing Jaynee how to pour a black and tan and informed her how to do this with beers other than Harps or Bass Ale. I found a few friends that enjoyed the half Guiness-half Heinekens as well other half Guiness concoctions quite nicely.

As it got past 10:00 pm, the crowd changed. Now others I never seen before came in, the music changed, the mood changed. It got kind of cold in the dive, even though the doors were closed. To break the ice I introduced myself as I found my way out the door. I work hard not to be forward or even be construed as disrespectful, when I bid good night to some of the evening partygoers and we introduced ourselves some did not give their names and were condescending.
I said goodnight to Dino, and got the fuck out. The crowd at Bronkos was a whole lot friendlier as we all rocked out to the sounds of JEEBUS. No one turned there nose up at me either. Candy told me not to stay at the dive too long. I should have listened.

RJ