Drinking

Yesterday, Labmate Jake, with nothing but grading to do for the rest of the day, decides to have an afternoon beer at his desk. Soon after, three beers have been consumed and the severity of his red pen has become decidedly more docile. This will come into play later in the evening.

Our dear friend in another lab has completed his post-doc position and will be returning to his home in Europe on Thursday. In his honor, our lab as well as Prof. Heller (our fearless adviser) go out for a few beers after work at the University Inn Pub. Several snippets:

Krista: (pulls out pouch of tobacco and rolling papers, begins to roll a cigarette)
Prof. Heller: Wow, I haven't seen anyone roll their own cigarettes since I lived with my parents.
Derrik: Your father rolled his own, did he?
Prof. Heller: No, my mother was a truck driver in the army. She could roll 'em with one hand while the other was still on the wheel.
(Slight pause as the group forms their own mental pictures of Heller's mother in a truck rolling a cigarette one-handed, meanwhile Heller finishes half his beer in one pull.)

later on...

Jake: (finishes beer, sets empty glass on table)
Prof. Heller: Looks like you're empty (grabs pitcher, begins to pour Jake another beer)
Jake: (a little slurred) Oh, that's OK, I've probably had enough.
Prof. Heller: What? (continues to pour beer)
Jake: Um, maybe just half.
Prof. Heller: Nonsense (finishes pouring Jake's beer)
Jake: Hmmm (picks up beer, almost misses his mouth with it.)
Prof. Heller: (signals to waitress, holds up empty pitcher) Miss, we seem to've gone dry, could we get another?