FULL STRENGTH

Thursday group meets Friday arrivals. The younger guys who couldn’t get a day off or older pals who couldn’t convince their wives they needed the extra Thursday night in Austin (or knew they didn’t have the juice). Eventually, you get everyone in the same room while shots are passed around and awkward handshakes exchanged where you dap guys up while introducing yourself at the exact same time they do leading to the inevitable “man, what’s red shirts name again?”

Whatever sub-par Friday afternoon programming ESPN has going provides background noise for couch beers and tostitos being inhaled at the kitchen island while people get to know each other. For the guys that have been out all day, whether you’re filled with tiki drinks or BBQ, you’re looking at an all-time couch nap and phone charge while you wait for the shower. 

Eventually the playlist on the JBL switches from Tyler Childers radio to 2014’s Best Tropical House and the energy returns. People log some patio or pool time while the best man whips up a few margs with a “proprietary recipe”. It’s just the 3-2-1 method with a splash of watermelon. Thanks, Travis. 

A fresh supply of performance enhancers has been brought in by the wild card high school buddy from New York and the non-single guy has gotten his daily 30 min FaceTime with his girlfriend out of the way. They’ve been dating for 3 years and saw each other this morning.

Although you’re completely out of hot water in the house, things are looking up. Win-win decision to make at this point.