Font ResizeBoy's night out and girl's night out, a study in contrasts.
I wandered down the bar to see if there was any busy work to do, passing the women.
"So then she came over, in that little print dress," said the redhead.
"The pink one?" said her brunette friend.
"The yellow one."
"The little ruffly one?"
"No, the other one. The one she got at Bloomingdale's."
As I made my way toward the men, I discovered the hand-washing sink was plugged up slightly. Relishing the idea of something to do, I reached under the bar to unplug it, leaning forward in the process. I labored on the sink for several minutes, the two men paying me no mind. Finally, one spoke.
"I saw Bob," said the one wearing a Giants hat with a well-bent visor.
"Uh huh," replied his friend.
"We went golfing at that place."
Silence as his friend continued to stare at the TV.
"Like two weeks ago or something."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"He was with what's-his-name."
"Yeah."
The sink let go of its clog and at almost the same time as the drink printer began to rattle. Washing my hands, I passed back by the women.
The brunette sat on the edge of her seat staring intently at the redhead's face.
"Then she said, 'I have to leave.' After all that,
The brunette's face registered shock. Shaking her head slowly, she appeared to be making a tsking sound.
"Are you going to call her back?"
"I am, but not at her home. I'm going to call her on her cell."
"Her work cell?"
"No, her private cell."
"She has a private cell?"
"She got it several weeks ago."
"Who does she use?"
"I think it's Cingular."
"Just like her work?"
About then a mixed-gender couple sat down just beyond the two men. I headed toward them, passing the two men on my way.
"We were at whatever that place is called, wherever it is," said the hatless friend.
"Uh-huh."
"Whenever it was," the hatless one continued.
"He had those clubs, a nine iron or whatever it was and those special balls, whatever they are called."
I approached the newly seated couple, noticing that he was wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. She also wore jeans and a T-shirt, but with matching earrings, necklace and watch. I noticed that her belt matched her shirt and her handbag. Slow nights tend to make one much more observant.
"I'll have a Miller Draft, he said while she studied the wine list.
As I set down her glass of sauvignon blanc, she took a sip and turned slowly toward him.
"We have to talk," she said looking intently at the side of his face as he looked up at the TV.
I looked down the bar at the two men and then at the two women.
Good luck with that was all I thought at the moment, but later realized:
- Men, when having a conversation with a woman, look her in the face and react to whatever she is saying; it will let her know that you are really listening.
- Women, when relaying a story to a man, use about half as much detail as you might otherwise be inclined to. Too much nonessential detail and he will soon be looking for the TV over your shoulder.
- Considering how differently men and women see the world, it is truly a miracle that they manage to get together at all.
RECIPE
Jeff's yin and yang cocktail1 1/2 ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 ounces half and half
1 half dark chocolate and half white chocolate straw (see note)
Pour chocolate liqueur in the bottom of a chilled cocktail glass. Slowly pour cream down the side of the glass so that it floats on top of the chocolate liqueur, creating a layered effect. Garnish with chocolate straw placing white chocolate portion in the bottom of the glass. A little yin in the yang, and a little yang in the yin. Mix the two at your own peril.
Note: Chocolate straws are available at many specialty food stores, but may be omitted altogether if cosmic harmony is not your goal.
Jeff Burkhart is an award-winning bartender at a Marin bar/restaurant and an author. His columns appear weekly in Here. Contact him at jeffb@thebarflyonline.com
