The Chamber and the Jam Bander

I had heard that the chamber of commerce (of which I am a member of for another week or so, unless I renew), was having one of thier "business after hours" parties at Stonebridge, up the street.  The event was from 5-7, and I close the shop at 7, so I figured I would head over and see if I recognized any fellow chamber members that were lingering on, get a beer and some dinner.

Prelude:
Boat builder walked up to the store at 6:00.  I waved and he stopped in.  He could see that the store was "busy" (my beading club friends were in attendance).  He asked what I was doing for dinner?  I told him I was thinking about crashing a chamber of commerce party which ended at 7.  He said he'd stop by on his way out.  He showed up just before 7, and waited outside until my beading friends left :)  I asked him what his plans were, and he said he was going to Archie's for a salad...and that I could join him there after the chamber of commerce thing.  I didn't make a commitment though.

I headed over to Stonebridge, the event was finishing up, but the secretary/director of activities recognized me and said hi and we talked about membership dues.  The place was mobbed with lingering chamber members, in their suit jackets and and name tags.  I found the ONE seat at the bar.  I wasn't going to try to mingle as I didn't have a name tag (since I didn't register for the event).  Ordered my beer and salad with cranberries, apples, walnuts and chicken (YUM).  I ended up conversing breifly with one chamber business woman, and then it was the lonely young man next to me.

Poor guy was befuddled by the mob of business people.  So I informed him.  We talked in dribs abd drabs about my business.  Turns out he just moved here in October for a job, and was having a hard time starting anew, finding friends.  We both said that we missed the Daniel Street Tavern, for their fun bands (it closed this winter).  He said he was really into "jam bands".  And while he looked presentable, he talked like a stoner.  Or maybe it was his Michigan accent.  I didn't want to talk to him that much.  After I was finished with my beer and salad, getting ready to leave, we exchanged names.

Perhaps I should have gone to Archie's to find the boat builder, but I came home instead.  LAME.