"You're all set."

Those are really the three best words a bartender could ever say to you. Unless it's a she and she's really hot. In which case the three best words would be: "Take me home."

But, in lieu of that, free drinks will always suffice.

I was at the Middle East tonight to see Buckcherry. It was a little disappointing. Their sound wasn't that great, and neither was their set list. Hell, they're probably still playing as I type. I left early because of the aforementioned sucky setlist, as well as a slight asthma flare-up (which I could have ignored had the set list been better.)

But the bartender tonight was one Pete Stone, who is an acquaintance of mine, and apparently one in the mood to give me free Bass ales. So, hooray!

Actually the only reason I really know him is because he was having sex with a friend of mine when she was between boyfriends. But far be it for me to turn down some free drinks because of that little bit of biblical immorality.

Of course, I never want to abuse that privilege. So I did split my beer buying between his bar and the other. Well, not entirely out of the selfless desire not to abuse an acquaitence's generosity, but also because the bartender at the other bar looked like Charlize Theron.

There are always reasons.