As The Swing Bridge Turns

As many of you may know of the constant drama at Topsail... Kipper summed it up best last night with-

"A stiff dick has no conscience."

That music...

Last night I was sitting at the bar with Kip (this is how all of this starts out), and some tourists came in and put money in the jukebox. Well, this isn't your classic jukebox, it is an internet download based jukebox. It was still on the volume from the night before, extremely loud. Nathan2 immediately grabbed the remote to turn it down, because Kip hates it being too loud.
"I just don't understand why they want it so loud that you can't talk!"
"Kids these days can't hear anyway because of those stupid things they always wear in their ears."
"Back in my day, I loved music, I still love music. I love all kinds of music. But this boom, boom, yelling shit... Who can listen to that? (He was referring to Dream On by Aerosmith)"
So, a few more "loud" songs came on and he asked for it to be turned down a bit more because of the "Boom, boom, yelling shit."
Then the next song that came on, was a country song that I am fairly certain came out in the 1950's if not 1960's. Next thing I know, Kip is over there singing at the top of his lungs.

So really, it is like this-
If Kip likes the music, it can be loud. If he doesn't like it, it shouldn't be on at all.

A sad Kip story (Charlie and Rose)

The last time I saw Kip's wife, Miss Annette was January 19th at our birthday party.

Charlie and Rose were playing. (They're Kip's favorite band).

Well, Miss Annette was the bell of the ball. She looked wonderful, and not like someone who had such a short time left to live (that knew it).

The other night, as usual, I was sitting with Kip at the bar. My Dad was sitting on the other side of him. He started his story-

"Charlie called me last night. Rose isn't doing very well. You know she was diagnosed with breast cancer? She had a double mastectomy and is eat up with it. Our birthday was the last time she played."

Then his eyes welled up with tears (I pretended not to see it, but I couldn't help it). Then my eyes welled up with tears. Then Dad's eyes welled up with tears. So, I'm sitting at the bar bawling. With the realization that Miss Annette's farewell party was apparently Rose's too. That, and my Grandmother Rosie died of breast cancer.

So, we all just sat there and cried. It was good. We needed it.

Say a prayer for Rose. She is a beautiful woman, with a beautiful voice. Say a prayer for Charlie and Kip too. They're lucky to have each other as friends.

So I was sitting beside Kip at the bar the other night, and we were discussing drinking and driving. *disclaimer* It is VERY bad, but most the people at Topsail do it at one time or another.

I asked Kip "Kip, have you ever gotten a ticket?" "Just one. I was at a bar up in Surf City, and they were doing that stupid 'click it or ticket' thing. I was going around the block to a different bar, and had forgotten to put on my seatbelt. They gave me a citation." "Kip, how have you never gotten in trouble for drinking and driving? How long were you police chief?" "I was police chief for six years. Then I was mayor for twelve."

And... There boys and girls, is how not to get a ticket. Hold public office for eighteen years, and no one will bat an eye at you.