I found out, too late, that my Irish counterpart Dave McGirr, probably the only living man on the planet who can outdrink me is leaving us for awhile.

I found out this morning.

Imagine my trepidation, knowing that I would now be Newsvine's only world-class lush! My shoulders are broad, but can they withstand the weight of countless late-night incoherent posts? Could I babysit inebriated, incapacitated Viners as they sought human contact to ease and offset the not-so-quiet desperation of overdosing influx of information intonated with alcoholic imbibing? I didn't know.

Lone alkee angst aside, I still had to work...sorta (I'm my own boss) and took off down the road to sow the seeds of alternative capitalism throughout the San Bernardino Mountains.

I got about 3 miles out of town when I realized that, in my haste and shock, I had left most of my sales material at home. I flipped a U-ee and sped back through town (my town is maybe 50 yards long). I suddenly heard a loud, incessant, almost urgent honking. It was my old friend Joe.. who I hadn't seen in months (at this point, my whole freakin' social life is my band and its gigs...believe me: "Dude..(hic)..you rock!" does not satisfy your urge for social stimulation) trying desperately to get my attention. Turns out he had another person in the truck who I hadn't seen in even longer.

Well, I was on the horns of a dilemma.. drive back to my house, pick up my stuff and continue to contribute to society.. or drink with my old friends who I might not see for another few months?

At that moment, a car passed me with one of those inexplicable Jesusfish emblems and the duty "What Would Jesus Do?" bumper sticker.

Well, I don't have a clue what Jesus would do in my case! I do have a pretty good idea what the Messiah of Mezcal, the Prophet of Port, the Violated Vizier of Vodka would do...

I asked myself, "What would Dave do?"

and I did it.

So here I am. Very obviously, my business can wait until Monday. I'll lift a glass to Dave!

Who's with me?