I've not been posting many stories, as I've been drinking a lot and it's so much more regular now that I can't keep up with all the goings on.
This is a good thing. :)
Most notable was last week's christening of Al's new drink shaker and beautiful long-stemmed martini glasses.
He was so excited!
The shaker is a polished metal one with three pieces: the base which contains the ice and liquid, a cap that is a strainer and fits over the top of the base - this tapers to a smaller radius - and an even smaller cap fits over the strainer part (this you remove when you pour).
Al is very excited as he clinkss some ice in the bottom of the shaker, pours the vodka, and measures in exacting amounts of cranberry, tripple sec and lime juice.
Mmmmm, tasty!
He begins shaking and the tell-tale condensation forms on the outside of the shaker. He points this out to me and we exchange smiles and giggles of anticipation.
Then the crowning moment: opening the shaker and pouring the drinks. I have sliced juicy limes and am ready to squeeze them as Al pours.
I'm holding the limes and waiting for him to twist of the cap. And waiting. And waiting.
The cap is not twisting. A strained expression comes over Al's face as he lets out a small grunt.
"Anything wrong?" I tease.
"No." He continues with the cap, actually shaking with the strain. A bead of sweat forms on his forehead.
He finally changes his grip on the shaker, but maintains a serious look of determination. He struggles with the cap, trying in turns to twist the smaller cap, then the larger cap, using a towel, then a rubber grippy thing, a knife.
The stubborn cap remains snuggly intact.
I'm laughing so hard I'm crying as he keeps on with the skaker. He is so serious! It's like some bizarre kinetic exercise in futility: man pitted against shaker, who will win?
I suggest banging it on the counter and make a grab for the obstinate shaker, but he quickly pulls it out of my reach, exclaiming, "No, dammit! It's new!"
He tries running the cap under hot water and then bangs it out of frustration on the counter top.
Still wouldn't come off.
I can't take it anymore and go into the other room to watch a video. He joins me a few minutes later, shaker in hand, still attempting to twist it off. He puts it between his sneakers and begins to use the knife again, trying prying it open.
I lose track of time and finally I hear a metalic 'clink' and an "ah-ha!" I look over and Al is proudly holding the offending cap in one hand and the evil shaker in the other. "Drink time!" he offers.
It's been like 15 minutes, the ice has all but melted, but determination and pride demanded we drink those fuckers, and drink them we did. They were horrible. :)
Then he decides to make some more and starts the measuring again. Aaaaarrrgg!
He pours everything in, replaces the cap defiantly and begins to shake. Again we see the condensation forming. I'm chuckling and he's telling me to shut up, cause it'll be different this time.
Yeah, this time he only struggled with the cap for, 10 minutes...
Bwaaahhhh!
-s