This afternoon at 3:30, Mike King and I get to train the new Downtown security patrol personnel, who will be targeting panhandling, for an hour and a half. We have color handouts for them, including a condensed version of my panhandling gimmicks page and a color map showing the locations that attract the most panhandlers. We also have a handout for them called “Our Favorite Bums,” where we list our picks for the 10 biggest hustlers/scammers in the Downtown area, describing their modes of operation. We have color photos of 8 of them. Jumper Cable Guy, Sharp Dressed Bum, the parking lot scammers, the guy who stands outside Walgreens and makes lewd comments to women… we want to make sure the security patrol gets to know all these fine citizens of Downtown Memphis.
We’re also going to take a minute to describe one of the homeless guys who walks around down here but doesn’t bother anyone, and discuss how his mannerisms differ from those of the aggressive professional panhandlers. We want the security patrol to be able to recognize the harmless homeless and leave them alone.
Beer report: The Saucer managed to lose ALL THREE of my receipts for beers I consumed Tuesday night. Great job, guys! A couple of other UFO members told me their receipts hadn’t been scanned either, so I’m figuring maybe they’re a day behind on all of them. I’ll give them a day to catch up. But my patience with the Saucer is running REAL thin right now. It’s a good thing my BFF works there or otherwise I might be tempted to take away the Saucer’s status as my #1 bar.
I did talk to the mini-me who waited on me Tuesday, and she remembered the $11 Holy Grail Ale that I drank and paid for. She said she’d vouch for the purchase of those beers. If they’re not caught up tonight I’m going to go to management and complain. I had said I wasn’t going to do that, in order to get the true cost of a plate, but 1) this is ridiculous and 2) if too many beers get lost, it will endanger the date it looks like we’ve picked for my plate party and Rapscallion Party VII.
Previous total: $723.00
Beers 130, 131, and 132 by my count (and who the hell knows what the Saucer’s count is anymore):
Coors Light draft YUKKKKKKK $3.25
Asahi (at least it was better than Coors Light) $4.25
Hornsby’s Hard Cider (not a bad value at 6% ABV) $4.00
Tip: $11.50 x ~30% = $3.00
Total: $14.50
Grand total: $737.50
Back later today with info on a new festival coming to Downtown Memphis next month.