I never did open that bottle of Boone's. I was going to, but then I took a nap...and I just woke up (it's currently 1:50 AM St. Louis time)...whoops!

Can someone tell me why these damn car-buying transactions take so damn long? I don't understand why buying a car still takes 2 hours after you've already agreed on a price. Is it the financing? Would it be as fast as checking out at the grocery store if the buyer just wrote a check?

There's also the various state registration issues.

I had no finanacing nor trade in. I wrote a check. But, there was hella paperwork especially for the dealer. Besides the govt stuff, they had to prepare the dealer options prices for extended warranty, pre-paid maintenance program, coatings, gps carjack service, and vin glass etching. I only took the coatings.

This transaction was about as simple as it can get and it still took an hour and three-quarters.

You took the coatings?

BWAHWHAHHAHAHA!

Sorry, that just came out.

Ha. That even made me laugh. But, you don't know my kids. A simple Scotch Guard spray wouldn't be nearly enough. And the cloth seats in these cars are sponges. Overpriced, but needed, and below the cost radar.

When we bought our venerable 1995 Ford Escort (just like sycamore's!!) Mrs. Dallas was 8 1/2 months pregnant and probably looked about 14 months along . . . the woman who was doing the paperwork seemed nervous that she'd have a baby delivered in her office if she didn't get us done quickly enough.

Unfortunately, Steve, Mónica went to the junkyard last month.

I am now the coolest guy to ever drive a family car.

Speaking of alcohol...I just returned from the grocery store a short time ago, where I picked up a 24-ounce can of Stag beer and another bottle of Boone's Blue Hawaiian.

I think I'm gonna like being back in St. Louis again...at least for a while.

What, were they out of the 40s?

40 dogs became illegal to sell in the City of St. Louis in the late 90s. A-B responded by making 32 oz. bottles.

The grocery store I went to doesn't carry 40s or 32s...they do have a small selection of individual 16-32-ounce cans, though. I haven't had Stag (which is a cheap local beer) in ages, so I bought a can.

Sometimes that reason doesn't have anything to do with proximity.

I only ever voluntarily drank Schmidt's once.

I don't think I've ever drank that, though I did drink a 40 of Piel's once.

They went to beer heaven before you got here - 1987.

The brewery was in Northern Liberties, I think.

Ah, yes! Bart Blatstein is redeveloping the brewery into some luxury apartment/condo setup, IIRC.