the Jack incident...

"I strained my left forearm a few weeks ago while dead lifting. It's starting to finally feel better," repeatedly squeezing my left hand into a fist while standing in the deep end of the pool, "Sloppy form is what did it to me Big C."

"I'll have you know I too am recovering from an arm & shoulder injury village idiot," as he floats effortlessly around the pool, "Do you want to know how my injury was caused?"

"How Big C?"

"I carried too many bottles of liquor home from Albertson's."

He is a retired KC businessman/gambler who calls the sunny confines of LaSolana home. He's a great neighbor & much appreciated fan of the blog as well.

"It all started when I decided to walk over to Albertson's because my supply was running low. I figure I'd get a little exercise in as well," Albertson's is roughly a fifteen minute walk from the entrance of LaSolana, "As I'm standing in front of the display I notice a coupon. It was a buy one; get the next one half off. There's no passing up a deal like that." 

Here's where the story turns for Big C:

"There were still two more fifths & a coupon left. I grabbed them both. Now I have four bottles of Jack. Are you following what I'm saying?"

"I am. It sounds like you got a hell of deal on your favorite liquid. Have you drank it all yet?"

"No," he says with a laugh, "I just bought it yesterday. I did put a dent in one of the bottles though," continuing with, "I forgot how heavy four bottles of Jack Daniels can be. Good gracious, I had to stop a few times on the way home to catch my breath and rest. The pain is absolutely grueling today," rubbing his left shoulder in agony.

"Big C, I'm drawing a picture in my mind of you walking home with two full bottles of Jack strapped to each wrist; huffing & puffing all the way. It's not a pretty picture good buddy. At least you got some good exercise," looking at the bright side of his predicament, "Keep up the walking & before you know it you'll be carrying a couple of cases home without breaking a sweat."

"In my dreams village idiot. I'm a far cry from my prime," as he grimaces again while stretching his arm in front of him, "Call it Jack Daniel's arm; actually it's a combination of arm and shoulder hurting right now. Call it the Jack arm/shoulder syndrome; or something like that."

We chat a little more about the weather before he tells me.

"I competed against Bruce, excuse me, Kaitlin Jenner in the decathlon. He, excuse me again, she was a tremendous athlete," Big C is a Big 12 decathlete from the seventies. 

"What?"

"Yep, he came to the KU relays right before the Olympics. I mean she came to the KU relays."

"What was it like to watch him?"

"You mean her. It was a treat. She could run, jump, throw & hurdle like no one I had ever seen before. There were no weaknesses. Kaitlyn won the the event without even taking her sweat pants off."

We float around the pool for a couple minutes before I say:

"Big C, you sound like you were some kind of playboy back in the day. All I hear from you are wine, dine & uh, well, you know the last one. OG is how the youth refer to guys like you nowadays."

"OG," he replies, "What's that?"

"Original Gangsta," is my rapid response, "It's how the young refer to men of your stature."

"OG," he says with flair, "I like it."

"What was it like back in the seventies & eighties Big C. Were you one of those guys who hung out at Studio 54."

"I actually went there in the early eighties. I was working in New York for a brokerage & the nightlife," taking a moment to reflect, "It was sensational. Studio 54 had all the freaks."

"Did you ever see Cher there?"

"No," adding with a laugh, "I saw Stallone pass by with his entourage. That was cool," taking another moment to reflect, "It was a lot of fun village idiot. It's hard on your body. I'm too old for those kind of hi jinks nowadays. I'd be dead in five minutes if I tried it again."

He proceeds to share a lurid tale about the time he tried to drink all the Jack Daniels in Kansas City. 

"Put that in your blog & see what people think," adding, "It was crazy back then; I was smack dab in the middle of it."

I ask him if he is 'seeing it'. The reality show concept at LaSolana is what I'm referring to.

"The writing is definitely in line. You're bringing it. Keep up the good work on the blog & who knows," shrugging his shoulders, "Stranger things have happened."

Big C & a number of other people are complimentary of the blog at the present; I appreciate the kind words.