Where is the Nearest Bar?

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bajenaghe naghi
by bajenaghe naghi
05-Nov-2009
 

The other day Eddie came to see me.  He is a local merchant who comes in every now and then for his chocolate fix and a cup of coffee.  We call him Eddie because as long as I remember he has been a fan of the old time actor, Eddie Constantine.

A couple of days ago, an AT&T rep goes to Eddie's store to try to sell him more of her company's services.  When he refused to sign up, she starts to cry right there in front him.  Eddie being a nice guy gets her a hot drink and some cookies and asks her what was going on with her that had caused her to cry.  She tells him that she had been in real estate sales until six month earlier and now she was working for AT&T.  Because of bad economy she could not sell real estate back then and now for the same reason she can not sell telecommunication services.  She was under tremendous pressure to sell and no one was buying.  She then asked Eddie where the nearest bar was and when he told her, she left Eddie walking in that direction.

Eddie also told me another similar story.   This time the stressed out person was a poll taker.  In general, storekeepers do not like poll takers to hang around their shops since they tend to distract potential customers from looking at their windows and also many people hurry to past them and miss the store altogether.  So Eddie went to this poll taker and asked her to move away from the front of his store and no sooner he had said this that she starts to cry like a baby.  Eddie being a nice guy had immediately given her a hot drink and some cookies.  She told him that she was under a lot of pressure to collect signatures and she too asks Eddie to show her the way to the nearest bar.

It is very scary and alarming to read that most people living in this country are only two or three monthly paychecks away from becoming homeless.  

It seems to me that we are all living to work and not working to live.  Even our children are under more and more pressure from their parents and teachers to produce As and Bs.  This has caused a lot of the kids to seek escape in alcohol and other drugs. The world has become one huge pressure cooker causing some of us who can stand the pressure to go on living but to have a warped lifestyle with nervous tendencies and those of us who can not, just to explode or get destroyed.

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more from bajenaghe naghi
 
bajenaghe naghi

Yolanda jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

you are right! all good things in life need some work and sacrifice. :-)


yolanda

......

by yolanda on

Hi Craig,

    Thank you for your post.......I just want to let you know that I do respect you. I used to work for a company with a navy guy colleague, he told me that alcohols are easily available in the military........I have to say that it is not a bad thing to be allergic to alcohols, so that person will never become an alcoholic, right?

thanks,

take care and peace out!


yolanda

.....

by yolanda on

Hi BN,

     Your unconventional recipe sounds funny 'cause if we don't implement it right we can catch another cold! :o)) On My Gosh!

thanks,

 

 


bajenaghe naghi

darius jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

I am so unhappy and sad to hear you have a bad cold. The secret to get better is to sweat it out. This works for me most of the time. mix one egg yolk with one spoonful of quality honey in glass. add very hot milk and stir. Then drink this with two asprins or tylenols and go to bed with extra blankets and sleep and make sure you sweat to the maximum. do not exit bed while you are sweating because you may catch another cold. you can do this before you go to bed for the night. you will wake up like a different man feeling strong and rejuvenated. I wish you well darius jan. 


Darius Kadivar

bajenaghe Jaan Gol Gofti

by Darius Kadivar on

On a different note Do You have a Recepie for  healing a Bad Cold ?

None of my Grandma Recipies seem to work !

Keep up with your Great insightful blogs.

Cheers my friend,

D


ex programmer craig

yolanda

by ex programmer craig on

I heard in the military, there are a lot of
free alcohols.

No, its not free! It's cheap on base, but can be very expensive when you're out in town! And being under the influence while on duty is a crime. And since people in the military are frequently "on duty" for days or weeks at a time, binge drinking is very common! I don't think its uncommon for military people to spend a whole weekend drunk, and then spend the whole week completely sober. Alcohol abuse is definately a problem in the US military, no doubt about it.

It is funny you used the word "allergic". It sounded
like some kind of medical condition, it cracked me up! :O)))

I'm serious! My ex really looked like she was having an allergic reaction! Thank God there weren't any Karaoke machines around!


yolanda

.............

by yolanda on

Hi! Dear BN,

 LOOL! You cracked me up big time!!! I recall you said you like to drink tea more...you were drinking Persian tea in your avatar, right? It does not look like a beer mug or goblet to me! Maybe in your case, it is not that bad....Persian tea and alcohol can neutralize each other.

Thanks for the laugh!

yolanda

    


bajenaghe naghi

Faramarz jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Great quotes from one of the great characters in the movies. Thank you. 


bajenaghe naghi

Yolanda jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Thank you. I am so glad that you don't drink. Because there will be more for me to drink ;-) But to be serious it may be healthier if you don't drink. Less work for your liver and you will probably live longer to do more over eating. A win win situation. :-)


Faramarz

Gone with the Wind

by Faramarz on

These are tough times in this country Bajenagh. Thanks for your posting. It reminded me of a passage from Gone with the Wind:

Scarlett O'Hara:

As God is my witness (khoda shahed e), as God is my witness (beh khoda ghasam) they're not going to lick me.


I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk.


If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness (khoda shahed e), I'll never be hungry again.


yolanda

.....

by yolanda on

Hi! Craig,

     I never care about drinking. I heard in the military, there are a lot of free alcohols. It is funny you used the word "allergic". It sounded like some kind of medical condition, it cracked me up! :O))) I think drinking is bad, it wastes your $$$, it can harden your liver, slow your brain activity, and make yourself very vulnerable...when you are drunk, people can take advantage of you, they can rob you, rape you....so drinking is bad! Drinking won't solve any problems in life and can make matter even worse sometimes...

    I hope eventually you will feel better...so sorry for what happened..sorry!  Thank you for your kind words, thank you! You really need to relax!

take care and best wishes!

yolanda


ex programmer craig

yolanda

by ex programmer craig on

Yep! My ex-wife is Chinese :)

Edit: Oh and I was replying to your comment about how you don't drink! I've never met a Chinese person who drinks heavily, or even moderately for that matter! So I was offering my speculation about why that might be...

Edit 2: No worries, I understood what you meant :)

No, I'm not really OK re: this website, but it doesn't really have anything to do with that thread with KS and the other guy.Thanks for your concern. Did I tell you that I think you're a nice person yet?


yolanda

....

by yolanda on

Hi Craig,

     I got confused on who wrote me the post...I am so sorry....I don't think my brain is really functioning right now......

     I hope you are feeling better.......I am still "reeling" from your debate with your "friend" the other day......I hope you are OK!

Sincerely,

yolanda


ex programmer craig

yolanda

by ex programmer craig on

Chinese people are allergic to alcohol! My (ex)wife had ONE wine cooler once while we were at a club and then got all flushed and asked me to dance. When I told her I thought we were too old to be dancing in that club (real reason is that Chinese people dance even worse than white people!) she kicked me right in the shin with her pointy-toe high heels shoes! I'm really glad I never saw her drinking anything except that one time!


yolanda

......

by yolanda on

Thank you , BN, for your blog. It is really thought-provoking! Your story is sad, but beautifully written...Wow! It shocks me that so many people like to drink, so when economy is really bad, the bar business must be booming!......I am under a lot of pressure, too, but I will never turn to alcohol 'cause I am a teetotaler! I don't drink at all, they can raise the drinking limit to 35 years old or lower it o 15 years old.....it will not affect me at all! ......... I do have the tendency of over-eating...well, Thanksgiving is coming, I am in a big trouble!

My motto:

Say "No" to: alcohols, drugs, smoking, cosmetic surgery...

Say "Yes" to: soft drinks, H2O, OJ, pomegranate juice, & Iranian.com


bajenaghe naghi

Azadeh jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Thank you for reading and your comments. The old saying goes something like this: If you are yound and are not a democrat, you have no heart and if you are older and are not a Republican, you have no brains.  I was a Republican in my younger days and for some strange reasons I am becoming a Democrat in my older days. May be I stop somewhere in the middle or may be I will be a democrat by day and a republican by night.  I know democrats tax you to death but I guess they also provide a larger social safety net. I am glad that you in Canada are not suffering in same way as many people are in this country.


Azadeh Azad

Dear BN

by Azadeh Azad on

Such a sad story! America seems to be "one huge pressure cooker " without a safety valve. Up here in Canada we are better off, although our social safety net is declining under the Tories! 

In general and for the majority of people, the Canadian social democratic capitalism seems to be better than the unbridled one in the US of A -- more civlised, less jungle-like.

Thanks for the good read.

Azadeh


bajenaghe naghi

Javad Yassari jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Thank you for reading and your lovely peom. I know Eddie will enjoy reading it too.  


Javad Yassari

Thank you

by Javad Yassari on

A good read as usual.  For your friend, Eddie:

هاتفی از گوشه میخانه دوش

گفت ببخشند گنه می بنوش

لطف الهی بکند کار خویش

مژده رحمت برساند سروش

این خرد خام به میخانه بر

تا می لعل آوردش خون به جوش

گر چه وصالش نه به کوشش دهند

هر قدر ای دل که توانی بکوش

لطف خدا بیشتر از جرم ماست

نکته سربسته چه دانی خموش

گوش من و حلقه گیسوی یار

روی من و خاک در می فروش

رندی حافظ نه گناهیست صعب

با کرم پادشه عیب پوش

داور دین شاه شجاع آن که کرد

روح قدس حلقه امرش به گوش

ای ملک العرش مرادش بده

و از خطر چشم بدش دار گوش


bajenaghe naghi

Ari jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Thanks for reading and your kind comments.


Ari Siletz

A story for our time and place

by Ari Siletz on

Told with humor, compassion and concern.

bajenaghe naghi

Ebi jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

Thanks a million my friend. 


bajenaghe naghi

Red Wine jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

thank you. as they say khoda az zabane shoma beshnaveh. As those who believe, God always opens a door, sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. :-)


ebi amirhosseini

Bajenaghe AZIZ !!!

by ebi amirhosseini on

Baazam Gol gofti aziz!.

Sepaas

Ebi aka Haaji


Red Wine

...

by Red Wine on

خدا آخر و عاقبت ما را به خیر گذراند که که همه محتاج لطف ایشانیم .

مطلب حضرت باجناق جان را خواندیم و امید واریم که همیشه چراغ حق بر شما روشن باشد.

پاینده باشید.

 


bajenaghe naghi

Shifteh jan

by bajenaghe naghi on

thank you. many people are suffering. It is a cold and cruel world out there and as you correctly say, only the fittest will survive.  I know of non profit organizations that used to help feed or provide beds for women with children or families in need are closing down due to lack of contributions. less and less safety nets for those who need them the most.


shifteh

Bajenagh agha

by shifteh on

Gol gofti! 

I need to find an Eddie and ask where the nearest bar is too:)

But, seriously, this is where we live and this is the name of the game, free market, competetion and survival of the fittest.  I know many people who have to take on the job of 3-4 people (the ones who have been let go) and they cant make a peep; it is casually expected from them.  They are worn out, stressed out, and pretty much depressed; but, they do not have a choice.  They dont want to be the next one with the pink slip.