This is going to take a while. You may want to go and get some snacks...
Ah yes, what a weekend. Went to WPB for the first time since I moved. I've settled nicely into a (sometimes boring) routine here and it's hard to believe I've been here over 4 months already. Longest time I've spent out of Palm Beach County since 1985! Anyway, I went down there and stayed with my friend Chris who I haven't seen in years actually, due to a major misunderstanding and falling out during "the annie times" lol. So Saturday he and I met up with my sister for lunch and later decided to meet people out at various bars for drinking and other general BS-ing.
The 3rd place we ended up was Wet Willie's in Cityplace. A literally regular old hangout of mine where I am on a first name basis with all the bartenders lol. Who spots us the second we walk in? Annie of course. I had not mentioned to her I was going to be in town. She spots Chris and freaks out and jumps up to hug him. While hugging him, she looks over his shoulder and flips when she sees me standing behind him. She then proceeded to also happily greet my other 2 friends who were with us who she also hasn't seen in a long long time. As we're hanging out, I realize she is there with her current boyfriend. First off, this made me feel great. I am certainly no GQ model candidate, but this guy looked like he was 15. Made me feel even better when Annie told me how good I look and how she can tell I've been working out. I noticed a glare from boyfriend-guy (can't remember his name, so that's how he will be referred to) when she said that too HAHA. But I haven't mentioned the really funny part. I was talking to someone else when Chris overheard boyfriend-guy ask Annie who we were. She named everyone and named me last. His eyes got a bit bigger and he said "Rick.... Rick-Rick? As in THE Rick?" To which Annie replied "yeah." Chris said he then swallowed hard and left the table. Apparently he was rediculously intimidated by me being there. Guess Annie has really talked me up a lot haha. He was in the bathroom for about 10 minutes, during which time Austin went in there to see him just standing around... doing nothing. Must've really messed the kid up LOL. He comes back and while we're all talking, I keep noticing him looking at me from the corner of my eyes. Every time I look back his expression changes to a friendly greeting. I don't know what was going through his mind, but MAN was he uncomfortable.
I'm not sure why this made me feel so great, but man it did. It made me realize that Annie has really said a lot of good things about me for this guy to feel so threatened by my short-lived presence. He undoubtedly knows that I live 200 miles away. The intimidation was unmistakable. And great.
On to the next interesting encounter. The next place we go to, my friend introduces me to these 2 girls who happened to be dancing on the bar. One looks familiar. He mentions her name and she is giving me "that look" when she shakes my hand. As soon he says her name I realize why she looks familiar. She is the little sister of the drummer of my old band. She was 12 years old the last time I saw her. Which was only about 4 or 5 years ago. Yeah, I was uncomfortable at that point lol. After a few more disturbing glances from her, I let her know that I realized who she was by saying "you have a brother named Billy, and your last name is Easton right?" To which her eyes widened and she just put her finger to her lips and said "SSShhh." LOL. Boy that was weird.
Sunday we chilled by the pool, where I fell asleep and earned myself a terrific sunburn. Went out that night with more friends, one of which used to work at the club we went to, so none of us paid for drinks. Nothing like 7 Captain N Cokes and 2 shots for free (except of course a generous tip for said bartender). Good times.
Saw my Mom and Mark for lunch today. They're in town till Saturday and wanna meet up again Thursday. We have to meet for lunch as I'm working 9 evening shifts in a row (today was #2 lol). I'm going to the YMCA tomorrow before work as I've decided to take up Masters Swimming again. I really miss it and the great exercise that goes along with it. Should be good. This Moby-Dick post needs to end already. To bed...
The 3rd place we ended up was Wet Willie's in Cityplace. A literally regular old hangout of mine where I am on a first name basis with all the bartenders lol. Who spots us the second we walk in? Annie of course. I had not mentioned to her I was going to be in town. She spots Chris and freaks out and jumps up to hug him. While hugging him, she looks over his shoulder and flips when she sees me standing behind him. She then proceeded to also happily greet my other 2 friends who were with us who she also hasn't seen in a long long time. As we're hanging out, I realize she is there with her current boyfriend. First off, this made me feel great. I am certainly no GQ model candidate, but this guy looked like he was 15. Made me feel even better when Annie told me how good I look and how she can tell I've been working out. I noticed a glare from boyfriend-guy (can't remember his name, so that's how he will be referred to) when she said that too HAHA. But I haven't mentioned the really funny part. I was talking to someone else when Chris overheard boyfriend-guy ask Annie who we were. She named everyone and named me last. His eyes got a bit bigger and he said "Rick.... Rick-Rick? As in THE Rick?" To which Annie replied "yeah." Chris said he then swallowed hard and left the table. Apparently he was rediculously intimidated by me being there. Guess Annie has really talked me up a lot haha. He was in the bathroom for about 10 minutes, during which time Austin went in there to see him just standing around... doing nothing. Must've really messed the kid up LOL. He comes back and while we're all talking, I keep noticing him looking at me from the corner of my eyes. Every time I look back his expression changes to a friendly greeting. I don't know what was going through his mind, but MAN was he uncomfortable.
I'm not sure why this made me feel so great, but man it did. It made me realize that Annie has really said a lot of good things about me for this guy to feel so threatened by my short-lived presence. He undoubtedly knows that I live 200 miles away. The intimidation was unmistakable. And great.
On to the next interesting encounter. The next place we go to, my friend introduces me to these 2 girls who happened to be dancing on the bar. One looks familiar. He mentions her name and she is giving me "that look" when she shakes my hand. As soon he says her name I realize why she looks familiar. She is the little sister of the drummer of my old band. She was 12 years old the last time I saw her. Which was only about 4 or 5 years ago. Yeah, I was uncomfortable at that point lol. After a few more disturbing glances from her, I let her know that I realized who she was by saying "you have a brother named Billy, and your last name is Easton right?" To which her eyes widened and she just put her finger to her lips and said "SSShhh." LOL. Boy that was weird.
Sunday we chilled by the pool, where I fell asleep and earned myself a terrific sunburn. Went out that night with more friends, one of which used to work at the club we went to, so none of us paid for drinks. Nothing like 7 Captain N Cokes and 2 shots for free (except of course a generous tip for said bartender). Good times.
Saw my Mom and Mark for lunch today. They're in town till Saturday and wanna meet up again Thursday. We have to meet for lunch as I'm working 9 evening shifts in a row (today was #2 lol). I'm going to the YMCA tomorrow before work as I've decided to take up Masters Swimming again. I really miss it and the great exercise that goes along with it. Should be good. This Moby-Dick post needs to end already. To bed...