EXCLUSIVE DEFINITION

It being the meeting of the pipe club today, I felt like I was being run ragged. They are nice fellows, but they all want to talk, and they all are desirous of the oddest things. And, being pipesmokers, they are neurotic. Less than a quorum showed up, and the president of the club was missing in traffic. There were no snacks or bottles of liquor. A grievous oversight. They are innocent lads, and do not know how to buy cold cuts and pâté. Or cheese.
It's so complicated. Fortunately I brought lunch (which I did NOT offer to share).
And I was high as a kite on cups of tea.

Plus, preemptively, a painkiller. I had set up the tables and felt my right leg starting to act up.

So tea, an alledgedly Italian sandwich, keffir, and what's left of my work stash of chocolate (soon to be refilled) which they do not know about. The crusty old fart who is turning eighty this year, and is absolutely convinced that there is a nano-chip in the vaccine, used to have a work stash also -- which they didn't know about either -- but he's given up on that.
His self-indulgences aren't what they used to be.

Chocolate, by the way, is cheaper by the two pound container.
But as I hinted, that's privy information.

In any case, they all had a fine time.

The usual rowdy crowd remained in the backroom all day and did not bother us. At the time when we were about ready to lock up I hollered in there that "gentlemen, Trump supporters, and libertarian scum" had to leave. There was only one gentleman in there, but all of them obediently departed. He's also the only one who has a wife. Which surprises me not.

The bus back to civilization was plowing through dense fog well before we got to the bridge. We were enveloped entirely in pale greys when we got to the city. There is currently not so much visibility outside. Buildings two blocks away fade into purple blue above street level.

It should be quite lovely early tomorrow morning when I go for a walk around the block and the first pipe of the day. The silver does not lift till well past eight or nine.



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