He's 67. Retired teacher. Looks like an old Irish Clint Black. Spent his early years as a lumberjack.

Anyway, he was visiting last night and brought six bottles of wine out of his Mercedes SUV, brought them in the house and said "You want these? They're left over from a (Catholic) church function and Denise (his wife) doesn't like them. Plus I can't drink anymore."

Well, yeah, I think I have a use for them, I said.

This morning before he drove back downstate he slipped me $200 and said to treat Lisa (my wife, his daughter) to a nice birthday dinner on Tuesday.

So now I've got plenty to drink and money for my wife's birthday.

Kids are at their grandmother's. Looks like I'll be trashed before the 150th episode of Charmed comes on next hour.

Take her to Denny's, blow the money on cd's.

I'll let her buy all the Super Birds she wants. My treat. And if she wants a Philly Melt after, why I'm good for it.