Penoptic

A few weeks ago, my friend's great-grandmother passed away. She lived with her, and with her grandmother (great grandma's daughter) and though it wasn't entirely surprising, it's still been a sensitive time for the family. As it is for any family that experiences a loss. My friend E has been doing a lot with her own life lately as well, trying to balance her pending move to California to be with her husband, who is stationed there, and managing to send all of her things from Texas to the beautiful Sunshine State. And her family seems to be taking her move, and the passing of the family matriarch, in stride. Of course, it helps that the city clean-up is this weekend, and they want to get all of the great-grandmother's things out of the house in hopes of selling. So E has inherited a nice little pile of things that formerly belonged to her great-grandmother. She told me, "So I have scarves, old books that I wanted, a purse she had when she was younger, et cetera....

It was one week ago today that I realized the extent of my stupidity. And let me tell you, it's staggering. The place: Slider's Bar & Grill, across the street from Camden Yards in Baltimore. The time: Middle of the last presidential debates, approx. 9:45 p.m., Oct. 15. The company: My good friend M and several of her law school friends. I worked very hard with people of various ages and political persuasions in order to come up with this election year's Drinking Game for the debates. The rules were as follows: Every time McCain touts to veterans or troops, you drink. Every time Obama says “When I am President,” you drink. Every time McCain refers to the Cold War, you drink. Every time Obama says “change,” you drink. Every time McCain sounds like a puppet of Bush (a la “We Both Reached For The Gun” from Chicago), you drink. Every time Obama says “tax cut(s),” you drink. Every time McCain says “maverick,” you drink. Every time Obama says “John is right” or concedes a poin...

Don't you just love how McCain never, ever actually answers a question during these debates?