Two beers!

That’s one beer more than my usual alcohol capacity, a one beer wonder that I am. I’m well alcoholized at this point. What a perfect time to blog, although I could never compete with MacDaddy on the drunken rant writing department.

I just got home from a night out in LA with a bunch of friends, former HSXers–people I used to work with at the Hollywood Stock Exchange–plus a few others.

I worked the OakMonster magic and pulled together a small gathering at, now my new favorite pub, St. Nick’s on 3rd. And even managed to drag Brandon up there with me. Imagine that!

It wasn’t until this moment when I shot the breeze with my LA friends that I realized just how much I miss living in LA.

I miss calling up my friends to come out to a bar, and everyone could show up within 30 minutes, give or take time to park. Everyone lives within 5 miles radius.

Since I’ve moved to Long Beach, folks who live close enough to come running are mostly Brandon’s friends, some of whom have become mine as well. I feel a bit odd dragging them out to drink without having Brandon along.

I was telling Brandon that he missed out a lot of the fun back in the days at HSX because he didn’t go out drinking with us.

Then it hit me.

I may be close with my current coworkers, but I could never be as close to them as I am with HSXers.

Not until we get to the third hour of drinking.

From my observation, you don’t really get to know someone until you drink together for at least 3 hours. It’s when things start to get interesting.

Most people would’ve been a couple of drinks in. You lose your inhibitions almost completely. Your guards are down.

And then, the magic happens.

You can see eye to eye, soul to soul. Words fall easily out of your mouth, ideas out of your brain.

Suddenly we find ourselves discussing the meaning of life, the theory of love, measure of success, dark secrets, deep desires, hidden fantasies, religion, philosophy, movies with monkeys, movies without monkeys, the color of your underwear. Whatever that really matters, or doesn’t really matter but it feels important to discuss at the time.

It is in this third hour of drinking when you reveal yourself to your drinking buddies, and them to you. It is the time when friendship is forged, and trust is earned.

You have seen me at my most vulnerable, and I’ve seen you at yours. You know from this moment on, we will be the one holding each other’s hair when we puke. You know that if the girl’s bathroom is unavailable, your guy friends will check inside then guard the door of the boy’s bathroom for you. And you know you will always have a shoulder to carry you to a safe place and away from your car key.

You know from this moment on, you have bonded with your friends on a spiritual level. Something you can’t really do while sober.

HSXers. You are my third-hour soulmates. To that, I will drink another bottle of New Castle…

Just kidding. Just kidding. 2 are enough.

I’m going to bed.