Last night was fun.
Feb. 7th, 2004 09:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lsdiamondWell, DUH, you went out with VJ, of course it was fun. :P
Many of you will be glad to know that the square dancing thing didn't work out, after all.
VJ was running behind, so we didn't get out until 7:45, instead of 6:30. No biggie. :) She looked so cute tonight, with a blue velveteen turtleneck kind of thing, and sexy, wavy, hippie-dread hair, which I subsequently learned was a wig. She chopped her hair a la Susan Powter (not quite that short, but you get the idea), and "broke her mother's heart." Like Edith's hair is *so* much longer than VJ's is now. LOL!
She had to get gasoline, then we stopped for gum and she wanted some Dove chocolate, since she figures she won't get anything for Valentine's Day. Poor dear. (Not that I will, either, mind you.)
We drove out to the dance hall, but it was dead. No lights, no cars, no sign of life. (I almost said no sign of intelligent life, but that would have been a slam on us for going out there in the first place. :P) It was nearing 8:45 by now.
Naturally we talked this whole time - how's life, etc. Brian wants out of Tishomingo, yet he brought her the keys to a different house *in* Tish. Go figure. I told her things were mostly going pretty well right now. She did mention that, when something you've waited on a long time is finally on the horizon, it gets harder to wait on it. I'd noticed that trend lately, and affirmed it.
"...So what do you want to do instead?" We never have a plan B, so we always end up having an adventure. We circled around, came back through Madill, and opted to go to Kingston. If we couldn't find anything to do there, there would be Durant, and if we got really desperate, Sherman, although it was already getting late to be going all the way to Texas.
She's always wanted to check out Carlotta's Cantina. It's supposed to be a nice restaurant with one of the biggest dance floors in the area. We stopped for directions, only to find out that it probably won't open until the end of April, because they close down for the winter months. Maybe if it does reopen in time, we can hit it one night.
"The Lodge!", she exclaimed, while remembering an old flame she's reminded of every time she goes there. He was the love of her life in seventh grade, and they went out a couple of times as they got older, but nothing ever really came of it. One night (I guess they were in high school or college by now), he came to her on the stairs at the Lodge, and confessed his love. She was convinced he was drunk, so she paid it no heed. When she saw him again six years later, he asked, "Do you ever think about what I said that night on the stairs?"
"You remember what you said that night? I thought you were drunk."
"I hadn't had a single drink. I meant every word."
"Oh..."
She laughs about it now, but ouch... You miss 100% of the chances you never take.
Anyway, the Lodge was dead as well. The bar was completely dark. There was one room with a pool table, but we decided to keep looking for the time being - she really wanted to dance. Yeesh, on a Friday night, you'd think there would have been something to do, even in a hick town. We wandered around inside the Lodge for a few minutes. There're a lot of historical documents on display, and the architecture is really pretty. VJ said the Kingston Alumni has a public dance there every spring, and it's standing-room only. I think it happens at the end of May, though, so I'll probably miss it.
We pondered whether Art's would still be open this late, but decided it must have been closing around 9:30 the last time we went. That had actually been her first thought when we found out the dance hall was closed - I told her, "First thought, correct thought," and we decided that we'll just go there first next time we go out, period, the end. :P
Running out of ideas, we opted for debauchery. She's been threatening to take me to a casino ever since we met, so we went to the new one between Kingston and Durant. We each spent $5 on penny and nickel slots, which was amusing. We both had some small wins, but did wind up spending the whole $5 by the end of it. I was ahead by about 2 cents once. LOL! I guess we stayed about half an hour or so. It was actually rather depressing, despite the pretty lights and sounds. So many people gambling on hope.
Shelly was there, so we chatted a minute. She's loving school. VJ informed her that we were in the process of further corrupting me.
About 10:15, VJ decided she needed chicken, largely because there's a KFC built onto the casino/gas station/smoke shop. We were amused by each other's reactions to having gambled. Now, she's done it before on several occasions, and admitted to having the fleeting thought about taking her change from dinner and playing some more. I felt absolutely no need or desire to go back. It's fun for a little while, and I can see how the lights and sounds could mesmerize people...but not for *hours*. I guess my attention span is just too short for...ooh, look! Shiny things!
All in all, casinos are sad places. +Kyle and I still want to go to Vegas someday, but I don't forsee becoming Gamblor.
So now it was nearly 11:00. We decided to check out the new club in Kingston, Juggs. They ran an advert in the paper, and I mentioned that Wednesday was free pool night. Obviously this was not Friday, but we thought we'd see what their lineup was.
Wednesday: Free Pool
Thursday: Ladies Night
Friday: Just Party
Saturday: Karaoke
We decided to check it out and deem whether or not it would be worth coming back on a Wednesday or Saturday. It's actually not a terrible place, inside. For it's size, it looks like it could be pretty seedy, but it's clean inside (even the restrooms!), and the managers are really nice, and run a tight ship. There are pool tables, a small dance floor, a stage for a band and karaoke, and a section with tables and chairs. We sat down, and were subsequently carded. The lady returned our licenses backwards - VJ got mine and vice versa. I'm glad we caught it before, oh, say, the next time I need to show my license at the bank or something. :P
We sat for a short while, then decided to wait on a pool table. We both suck royally at it, so we knew it would be a good time. We asked the proprieter, a sixty-something looking woman, what proper pool ettiquette was. She said to put our quarters on the table, and when the game was finished, it would be our turn. Then the guys who were playing at the middle table left, so we waited until it looked like they weren't coming back, and she set up the table. They immediately came back with drinks, and asked if we minded playing doubles. VJ said, "as long as you don't mind the fact that we're terrible at pool, sure!", so doubles it was. She's played a lot more than I have, so she picked up on it much quicker. I think I pocketed one ball in the whole game. LOL! I spent the rest of the time figuring out how to hold the cue, how to gauge lining up the angles, and trying to figure out why I tend to hit to the right.
It should be noted that these guys were probably 35 and 40 (if not older), rather drunk, but not particularly sleazy. They asked what our situations were, and were more impressed by our honesty than trying to pick us up or anything, although the older one (Ricky) offered to buy us drinks, too. I didn't want anything, and VJ knows I can't drive a stick, so she had a soda.
It should also be noted that we overheard some of the hicks behind us muttering things like, "look at those two lesbians back there." LOL! We were tempted to play it up, but didn't, because we'd have probably been asked to leave.
After one game, Ricky asked VJ if she wanted to keep playing or go dance, so they went off. I checked on her a couple of times to make sure she was okay, and learned later she was doing the same for me. Brian's best friend is a cop in Kingston, so we weren't worried about having trouble, but we both prefer to err on the side of caution. I played what must have been the longest game of pool in history with the other dude (neither VJ nor I knows if he said Justin or Dustin), and won. I'm sure he let me win, because he was sobering up, but it was still fun. By the time there were only two balls left on the table, I was getting pretty comfortable with the cue and lining up shots. Not that I'm anywhere near being a champion, but it was fun, and that was the entire point.
It was about midnight now, so I went to see what VJ was up to one last time, and we danced together for a couple of songs. The jukebox had a good mix of classic rock, mostly southern like Tom Petty and Skynyrd, as well as the obligatory country. VJ is a great dancer. She moves so smoothly, and obviously has fun with it. I had fun, too.
Don't know if we'll be back to this place, but I told her I have to try karaoke before I move, and we *did* have a lot of fun with pool, so we'll see what happens.
About 12:30, we headed back. I called +Kyle to let him know how the evening went, and that we were en route from Kingston. He sounded tired, but not terribly put out with the hour this time. :)
When we got back to my house, we sat and talked for another 10-15 minutes or so. We're really going to miss each other when +Kyle and I move away, but VJ has a sense that we'll get to know each other even better after we're apart, and that maybe we'll even see each other again. Her friend Rachel, who she thought she'd never see again after they parted, ended up in Lawton, just a couple of hours away. VJ doesn't want to live in Oklahoma or even Texas for the rest of her life, and desires life near a real beach. Virginia has some very nice beaches, quoth she.
I love you, Vera!
Many of you will be glad to know that the square dancing thing didn't work out, after all.
VJ was running behind, so we didn't get out until 7:45, instead of 6:30. No biggie. :) She looked so cute tonight, with a blue velveteen turtleneck kind of thing, and sexy, wavy, hippie-dread hair, which I subsequently learned was a wig. She chopped her hair a la Susan Powter (not quite that short, but you get the idea), and "broke her mother's heart." Like Edith's hair is *so* much longer than VJ's is now. LOL!
She had to get gasoline, then we stopped for gum and she wanted some Dove chocolate, since she figures she won't get anything for Valentine's Day. Poor dear. (Not that I will, either, mind you.)
We drove out to the dance hall, but it was dead. No lights, no cars, no sign of life. (I almost said no sign of intelligent life, but that would have been a slam on us for going out there in the first place. :P) It was nearing 8:45 by now.
Naturally we talked this whole time - how's life, etc. Brian wants out of Tishomingo, yet he brought her the keys to a different house *in* Tish. Go figure. I told her things were mostly going pretty well right now. She did mention that, when something you've waited on a long time is finally on the horizon, it gets harder to wait on it. I'd noticed that trend lately, and affirmed it.
"...So what do you want to do instead?" We never have a plan B, so we always end up having an adventure. We circled around, came back through Madill, and opted to go to Kingston. If we couldn't find anything to do there, there would be Durant, and if we got really desperate, Sherman, although it was already getting late to be going all the way to Texas.
She's always wanted to check out Carlotta's Cantina. It's supposed to be a nice restaurant with one of the biggest dance floors in the area. We stopped for directions, only to find out that it probably won't open until the end of April, because they close down for the winter months. Maybe if it does reopen in time, we can hit it one night.
"The Lodge!", she exclaimed, while remembering an old flame she's reminded of every time she goes there. He was the love of her life in seventh grade, and they went out a couple of times as they got older, but nothing ever really came of it. One night (I guess they were in high school or college by now), he came to her on the stairs at the Lodge, and confessed his love. She was convinced he was drunk, so she paid it no heed. When she saw him again six years later, he asked, "Do you ever think about what I said that night on the stairs?"
"You remember what you said that night? I thought you were drunk."
"I hadn't had a single drink. I meant every word."
"Oh..."
She laughs about it now, but ouch... You miss 100% of the chances you never take.
Anyway, the Lodge was dead as well. The bar was completely dark. There was one room with a pool table, but we decided to keep looking for the time being - she really wanted to dance. Yeesh, on a Friday night, you'd think there would have been something to do, even in a hick town. We wandered around inside the Lodge for a few minutes. There're a lot of historical documents on display, and the architecture is really pretty. VJ said the Kingston Alumni has a public dance there every spring, and it's standing-room only. I think it happens at the end of May, though, so I'll probably miss it.
We pondered whether Art's would still be open this late, but decided it must have been closing around 9:30 the last time we went. That had actually been her first thought when we found out the dance hall was closed - I told her, "First thought, correct thought," and we decided that we'll just go there first next time we go out, period, the end. :P
Running out of ideas, we opted for debauchery. She's been threatening to take me to a casino ever since we met, so we went to the new one between Kingston and Durant. We each spent $5 on penny and nickel slots, which was amusing. We both had some small wins, but did wind up spending the whole $5 by the end of it. I was ahead by about 2 cents once. LOL! I guess we stayed about half an hour or so. It was actually rather depressing, despite the pretty lights and sounds. So many people gambling on hope.
Shelly was there, so we chatted a minute. She's loving school. VJ informed her that we were in the process of further corrupting me.
About 10:15, VJ decided she needed chicken, largely because there's a KFC built onto the casino/gas station/smoke shop. We were amused by each other's reactions to having gambled. Now, she's done it before on several occasions, and admitted to having the fleeting thought about taking her change from dinner and playing some more. I felt absolutely no need or desire to go back. It's fun for a little while, and I can see how the lights and sounds could mesmerize people...but not for *hours*. I guess my attention span is just too short for...ooh, look! Shiny things!
All in all, casinos are sad places. +Kyle and I still want to go to Vegas someday, but I don't forsee becoming Gamblor.
So now it was nearly 11:00. We decided to check out the new club in Kingston, Juggs. They ran an advert in the paper, and I mentioned that Wednesday was free pool night. Obviously this was not Friday, but we thought we'd see what their lineup was.
Wednesday: Free Pool
Thursday: Ladies Night
Friday: Just Party
Saturday: Karaoke
We decided to check it out and deem whether or not it would be worth coming back on a Wednesday or Saturday. It's actually not a terrible place, inside. For it's size, it looks like it could be pretty seedy, but it's clean inside (even the restrooms!), and the managers are really nice, and run a tight ship. There are pool tables, a small dance floor, a stage for a band and karaoke, and a section with tables and chairs. We sat down, and were subsequently carded. The lady returned our licenses backwards - VJ got mine and vice versa. I'm glad we caught it before, oh, say, the next time I need to show my license at the bank or something. :P
We sat for a short while, then decided to wait on a pool table. We both suck royally at it, so we knew it would be a good time. We asked the proprieter, a sixty-something looking woman, what proper pool ettiquette was. She said to put our quarters on the table, and when the game was finished, it would be our turn. Then the guys who were playing at the middle table left, so we waited until it looked like they weren't coming back, and she set up the table. They immediately came back with drinks, and asked if we minded playing doubles. VJ said, "as long as you don't mind the fact that we're terrible at pool, sure!", so doubles it was. She's played a lot more than I have, so she picked up on it much quicker. I think I pocketed one ball in the whole game. LOL! I spent the rest of the time figuring out how to hold the cue, how to gauge lining up the angles, and trying to figure out why I tend to hit to the right.
It should be noted that these guys were probably 35 and 40 (if not older), rather drunk, but not particularly sleazy. They asked what our situations were, and were more impressed by our honesty than trying to pick us up or anything, although the older one (Ricky) offered to buy us drinks, too. I didn't want anything, and VJ knows I can't drive a stick, so she had a soda.
It should also be noted that we overheard some of the hicks behind us muttering things like, "look at those two lesbians back there." LOL! We were tempted to play it up, but didn't, because we'd have probably been asked to leave.
After one game, Ricky asked VJ if she wanted to keep playing or go dance, so they went off. I checked on her a couple of times to make sure she was okay, and learned later she was doing the same for me. Brian's best friend is a cop in Kingston, so we weren't worried about having trouble, but we both prefer to err on the side of caution. I played what must have been the longest game of pool in history with the other dude (neither VJ nor I knows if he said Justin or Dustin), and won. I'm sure he let me win, because he was sobering up, but it was still fun. By the time there were only two balls left on the table, I was getting pretty comfortable with the cue and lining up shots. Not that I'm anywhere near being a champion, but it was fun, and that was the entire point.
It was about midnight now, so I went to see what VJ was up to one last time, and we danced together for a couple of songs. The jukebox had a good mix of classic rock, mostly southern like Tom Petty and Skynyrd, as well as the obligatory country. VJ is a great dancer. She moves so smoothly, and obviously has fun with it. I had fun, too.
Don't know if we'll be back to this place, but I told her I have to try karaoke before I move, and we *did* have a lot of fun with pool, so we'll see what happens.
About 12:30, we headed back. I called +Kyle to let him know how the evening went, and that we were en route from Kingston. He sounded tired, but not terribly put out with the hour this time. :)
When we got back to my house, we sat and talked for another 10-15 minutes or so. We're really going to miss each other when +Kyle and I move away, but VJ has a sense that we'll get to know each other even better after we're apart, and that maybe we'll even see each other again. Her friend Rachel, who she thought she'd never see again after they parted, ended up in Lawton, just a couple of hours away. VJ doesn't want to live in Oklahoma or even Texas for the rest of her life, and desires life near a real beach. Virginia has some very nice beaches, quoth she.
I love you, Vera!
