Grumble, Grumble, Blue Laws, Grumble

The Wife was up early this morning to beat the crowds at the grocery store. As she left, she asked if I had any requests. Not thinking, I asked for more beer since we’re low and we’ll be entertaining both tonight and tomorrow night. It being a Sunday before noon and this being Texas, of course, she was denied.

Blue Laws have been around for a long time in the US and Texas seems to have a particular fondness for them. Debunking the popular etymology, Wikipedia sez:

Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence to support the assertion that the blue laws were originally printed on blue paper. Rather, the word blue was commonly used in the 18th century as a disparaging reference to rigid moral codes and those who observed them (e.g., “bluenoses”). Another version is that the laws were first bound in books with blue covers.

It’s not like I’m not aware of them. I was born and raised in Texas. It’s just that you forget sometimes in the course of your normal activities that it’s Sunday and that it’s before noon. You’re out getting groceries and think, “I should get some beer.” You’re not going to drink it right then…maybe not even that day, but you can’t fucking buy it because of the stupid fucking law. There I said it.

Can we please get beyond this silliness? I can’t buy beer and I still don’t go to church. I don’t go to church because I don’t believe in God, not because I’m out getting loaded, although stuff like this makes me want to go out and get loaded. Damn.

You may now resume your holiday merriment, though not until after noon.