Virginia Beach 2010
Summer of 2010 I was heading to VA Beach (pronounced Vah Beach not V.A. Beach) for my good friend, Stephanie’s wedding. Steph was one of my favorite college buddies. We were so close we even hit up NYC on NYE. Well this particular weekend she was the blushing bride, and I couldn’t miss this wedding for anything. Sadly, I missed my own cousin’s wedding for this one. Although I love my cousin to death, I had a great weekend. My best friend, Ben lives in VA Beach, so he had no choice, but to hang out with me all weekend. The most beautiful girl I know, Celeste lives in VA Beach so she also had no choice, but to come hangout with me. The totally awesome, quirky Hilary just so happened to be stationed in the area and when she saw my Facebook post, she joined the party. Then there was Jasmine, one of mine and Steph’s friends who joined us for that legendary NYE night in NYC. We knew all of us gathered together (without LU’s rule over us) what going to be a night to remember. Then Celeste showed up with her roommate, Emily, who by the way is quite hilarious…and so the night began!
We all had drinks poolside with the bridal party. Then once it got too chilly out we all went to the indoor pool and had a blast playing Marco Polo and taking turns in the jacuzzi. After over staying our welcome, the security guard asked us to leave…repeatedly. So we continued the party in my room. Drinks, bed jumping, a few kisses between friends, you know, the usual. Well after a few hours of partying we decided it was time to venture across the 6 lane highway to Waffle House!!!
It’s now around 1a and we are the only customers in the joint. Every table was free yet the 6 of us NEEDED to be crammed together at one table…extra chairs and all. The staff looked at us like we were crazy…we were! The cook kept hitting on Jasmine and called her Barbados every time he passed. He was a pig man, like Biggie Smalls big with a dark chocolate color to him. The waiter kept hitting on Celeste and she wasn’t having it. He creepily kept leaning over her and getting way to close. We tried our best to ignore it until the guy tried it once more. Emily then made up “The Tree of Trust.” This consisted of us putting our menus over our heads to communicate secretly with each other…we were drunk so this was hilarious to us. Well after the guy hit on Celeste for the last time Emily and I “went into the tree” and hatched a plan…basically I was to go along with what she did.
A few minutes passed by and the waiter brought our food out. Celeste was the last to be served and of course it came with some sort of comment. By now 2 or 3 other tables have filled up and now is when Emily decided to take control. She pretends to get all huffy and puffy and shouts “Back off! This is my bitch!” and proceeded to stuff her hand down Celeste’s shirt and gave her chest a shake. The made Celeste’s face turn beat red!
The guy totally backed off, but Emily kept it coming shouting “my parents don’t mind.” Or “yeah, she’s just the way I like them.” Our table was dying, and so was a couple staff members, but as for the rest of the Waffle House…silence!
Emily continued this show for a few minutes and the laughter was just overwhelming from our table. I don’t think I ever laughed so hard in my life. Jasmine and I had to excuse ourselves to use the restroom. Still in our out-of-it state of mind, when we finished we went straight to the juke box. The music selection sucked. We played a couple Johnny Cash songs and Crazy by Patsy Cline. It all gets a little hazy from this point on, but the last thing I remember at the Waffle House was Hilary and I waltzing across the dining room while Crazy was playing.
We all made it back to the hotel and Celeste and Emily had to leave. The party quickly died and the four of us that were left, passed out. The next morning we woke up and Hilary had to go home. Ben, Jasmine, and I had a craving for something greasy and coffee…so we went back to Waffle House. As soon as we walked into the now crowded restaurant, we were recognized by the staff. A few hoots and hollers and greetings came our way. We cringed because the noise of it all was killing us. We laughed and took our sandwiches back to the hotel and laid by the pool till the wedding. We certainly know how to make an impression!
Nashville 2011
Halloween 2011 I, along with my family and dear friend, Anna was in Nashville for a convention. Well Halloween fell on our free day so we met up with our awesome friend, Jenda and her boyfriend Derek. We explored downtown for a few hours then decided to hit up a few bars and a hookah shop. We sang karaoke, danced around town, and laughed a lot. We had to cut the night short because Jenda had to be back on base and Derek had to make an appearance at a Halloween party.
So armed with a nice buzz, Anna and I had Jenda drop us off at our hotel. I had a couple beers I had snuck out with so Anna and I “chilled in the gazebo” till the drinks were finished and came up with a brilliant idea. We decided to walk down to the Waffle House at the corner.
After a whole 2 minutes of walking, we sat down in a booth and proceeded to order. Like every other place I go to, when I spot a juke box…I TAKE IT OVER!!! Steve style!!! The juke box took off with a Yankee twist, I knew at any moment our Yankee asses could have been shot, so I mixed in a few country songs in between some Gaga and Shakira. I don’t remember what we were talking about, I just remember we were laughing…maybe it was due to the crazy ass music I played in the South and midnight in a Waffle House, either way we were laughing hysterically and the waitress came to check on us. We immediately stopped laughing and put on our serious face, then asked her if she could take a pic of us. It’s one of my favorite pics of us.
After the laughter died down, we were served our food. For a minute I forgot that I requested the songs that were playing, until one particular song started playing. As soon as it began, Anna’s face dropped and she gave me a look that said “I cannot believe you requested this.” And I just began to laugh and laugh and laugh. Bette Midler’s “Wind Beneath My Wings” was playing and I was in tears.
SIDE NOTE: I thoroughly enjoy making people uncomfortable with my music selections. For example I play Liza Minellie’s “Cabaret” at a certain dive bar, “Single Ladies” at the hoity toity piano bar, Bad Romance at the country bar, and anything with a beat at a church function.
So back to my story, I was pissing myself laughing, because as my friends say “I pulled a Steve.” It was great I was really enjoying the other customers’ glares. Then out of nowhere, the busboy began to sing to the counter lady. Then they began dancing. The waiters and waitresses then joined in. My and Anna mouth slacked in disbelief! It was great!!! Midnight munchies and a show??? It was a pure, magnificent moment in our lives. After the “performance,” then entire place erupted in applause and I did a standing ovation, I again erupted into laughter.
After our music and food supply had ended, we paid the bill and headed back up the hill to the hotel. By hill, I mean Mount Everest! We didn’t realize how steep the hill was until we had to hike back up it. All I know is in that 2 minute walk my calf muscles we so much more defined. We finally got to the room, laughed a little more, then passed out!
If you haven’t caught on yet, I love laughter! It truly is the best medicine. Hence Sharing Laughs .com.
Have a great weekend. Happy St. Paddy’s Day!!! Remember to smile…it increases your face value!!!
