A challenging hike today but I’ll write about that tomorrow. The big news around here is that under the recently implemented modified quarantine standard things are beginning to open up, including–wait for it– some bars!

Obviously, this is big news for a guy like me. Although honestly, I’ve come to understand that a place like “Gomans” fulfills my needs just fine. In the past, it was always just a nice restaurant I’d visit a couple of times a month. Now I enjoy a seat on the back patio with a cold beer and sweet views of the bay. That’s been enough to get me by.

Yesterday I got a message from the manager of the Outback bar (the Speakeasy as I used to refer to it) that they are officially (legally) open for business again. That’s great to hear. Did I visit there last night? Nope, I went back to “Goman’s”. Partly out of loyalty for taking care of me when no one else would. And in part because the manager who wants me back is the same guy who kicked me out without just cause. You didn’t want my business when you claimed to be closed, you won’t get it now that you are wide open.

Today I’ve learned that Hot Zone has also opened again. It is or was a girly bar. I plan to drop by for a quick beer tonight to check it out and say hello to the owner. I’m hoping that my other old haunts and hangouts will soon be following suit–Cheap Charlies for the views and Alley Cats for the darts. After the hike today we popped into The Pub, which is more of a restaurant than a bar, notwithstanding the name. It’s open again under its food license but we were served beer–in plastic cups. Hey, the Philly Cheese Steak was good and the beverage was cold. What else matters?

Anyway, it is good to feel like at least some aspects of my life are getting back to normal.

I’ll leave you with a little taste of political humor: