Ahh fine dining at the ol’ Belmont Inn. Nothing goes better with the nachos than the sweet waft of nicotine. Apparently, the Belmont doesn’t really have a special, though I distinctly remember asking server Rascal a few weeks back what her choice of food was and she said the California Burger. So that’s my choice, though I didn’t order it tonight. But I’ll give myself two points for being SO on top of it.

Two points would not have helped me tonight however, as we had a high-scoring match dominated by such Pub Quiz all-stars as Tx, Get Yer Ass to Mars and Encrusted Medallions of Beige Food. Well played by all, though it was Beige Food that took home the big money prize, for the second week in a row.

Pope-A-Palooza. Had to mention it. The question was, what youth-oriented event in Sydney did the Pope currently attend. The answer: World Youth Fair or something boring like that. Whatever team put Pope-a-Palooza had it right. I just imagined this sea of popes rockin’ out to Jane’s Addiction, doing Hail Marys to all the swearwords. I’m going to dream about that all night long… Oh yes, I’ll dream…

I had fun tonight. Everyone was so friendly and kind and quiet. Maybe I’m just getting too used to the 90-plus crowds, but I felt like I was in a library with ashtrays and Tricerahops on tap. Somebody throw a banana at me or something! No, don’t do that. It’s Fine Dining week. Throw some Kobe beef (bloody) and grilled Chinook salmon (not bloody). Surf ‘n’ Turf!

How about those salmon anyway? An unprecedented run of Sockeye swimmin’ on up our own Columbia River. It gives me hope that maybe the world isn’t as fucked as my booze-addled brain wants to believe. A good family friend told me recently that salmon are one of those species that represent the earth’s health, like when they go it means things are going downhill. Go salmon go!

Because they’re just so darn delicious.

JWS