Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Florida VII: Dead Possums and Glitter. They Do Go Together.

Before I get into this particular tale of the weird, I would like to give a little explanation. When I divorced way back when, I was concerned about what lesson my kids would learn about life. I wanted them to know that you could actually live a relatively moral life in the 21st century. Consequently, I did not have overnight guests. I’m not saying I was perfect, but I did try.

We are going to stay in 2013 for now, but only for a little bit. New Year’s Eve, 2013, and I was doing what any other single American dude was doing. I was watching football. I’m not a big party guy, so I had no interest in going out. I was spending the evening by myself, since Kat, Bailey and I had tapered off a few months back, and my daughter was at her mother’s.

Around 12:30, my doorbell rang, accompanied by shouts of “Open Up!”, “Happy New Year!” and more banging. I got up pretty quickly to see who it was, although I knew already. Kat and Bailey were standing, sort of, in the door way, in little party dresses, heels, and glitter…so much glitter.

The girls walked briskly, I’m kidding, stumbled drunkenly into the house, with their lips pursed for kisses, searching for my face with no avail. I’ve spent plenty of time around people who drink a tad too much, so I was able to direct them to a seated position on the couch.

My first question, “How did you get here?

“We drove.”

Give me your keys.

“We don’t plan to leave.”

These two could barely stand, much less drive. I walked outside to see where they parked, and, sure enough, one tire was in the grass, and the back end was well into the street. There were cars lining the street, and they had missed them all. I have no idea how. I unlocked the car to move it into a better position. As I opened the door, the alcohol smell hit me in a wave. As alarmed as I was that they had driven in their condition, and made it in one piece, I was at least somewhat pleased it appeared they drank good bourbon.

I sat down without looking and a cloud of glitter burst forth with a magnificent ppffffttt. Great, now I had glitter all over me. I moved the car into position and got out. Walking to the door, I brushed millions and millions of glitter pieces from my shirt, shorts, face, arms, legs, butt, feet, hair…you get the picture. The trail from the car to the door would have done a unicorn proud.

Now, here’s where the fun really started. I walked into my house, and immediately noticed a bright blue dress on the living room floor…Bailey. Further in the house a greenish dress was on the floor…Kat. It was time to play, “Where Did They Go?” The retching sound coming from the guest bathroom was my first clue. Bailey was on her knees before the porcelain alter, offering sacrifices, and screaming to the heavens…in her underwear. I looked at her (with her rockin’ bod, see previous episode), and I was filled with compassion. I gently held her hair as she was sick, pulling it lovingly out of the way. Yeah, right. I shut the door and waited her out. I wasn’t going in there to join her in her ritual.

I went to find Kat, following the trail of glitter, naturally. I stepped into the guest room, AKA the Spider-Cave (I have Spider-Man sheets on the bed. Single guy). Kat was sprawled face down on top of the Spider-Man, her panties hanging from one foot where she failed to get them off completely. I should have taken a picture. She still claims she was fully dressed. I maneuvered her under the sheets, and she never made a peep, other than the snoring. Yes my dear, you snore. A lot. Loud.

I went into the kitchen and pulled out the sweeper to collect at least some of the glitter that was now decorating my house. As I walked the cleaner around the tile, Bailey came stumbling out of the bathroom, Listerine bottle in hand, still gargling. I turned her around and made her spit it in the sink, lest she swallow it and start the whole process all over again.

We walked, well, I walked and she did whatever it was she was doing into the guest room, so I could get her into bed. She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck, looking for a kiss. Well folks, I am a red blooded man, and a good looking blonde, with a rockin’ bod, in her underwear, wanted a kiss. What was I going to do? I sure as hell wasn’t going to kiss her. Have you lost your mind? She just threw up a gallon of…stuff. I kissed her cheek, and put her in bed. She didn’t protest too much, because she had hit the wall.

Because it’s me, it just couldn’t end there. Around 3:30 am, I felt my bed rock, and Kat slid up against me. She didn’t say anything, and I really didn’t feel like getting up to move her. So, I let her sleep. What’s the worst that could happen?

It turns out that the worst is pretty darn bad. I woke up with Kat’s arm draped across me, and she was breathing/snoring, with her mouth wide open. A few weeks ago I was privileged to be around a dead possum that was few days old, sitting in the July sun in south Mississippi. It smelled better.

The girls finally stirred around 1:00. They took their showers, and dressed in clothes they had brought in an overnight bag from the car. That was when I realized it was a plan. Not a well-executed plan, but a plan nonetheless.


I did force them to assist in glitter removal, which continued for the next few days after they were long gone. Kat and I never dated again, although we remain friends. I was reminded of the fun in October of 2015, when I moved. I found glitter in the carpet under the couch. Still makes me smile.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Florida VI: The Saga Continues: Two's Company, Three's Even More Company

And we’re back. It’s been quite a few years since I last updated this ongoing tale of the bizarre and frankly, delightfully odd happenings. I have quite a bit to get to in the next several entries, and I am going to do my best to cover it all. I mean, you didn’t think it would stop, did you?

I am going to start with Miss Kat. We had a very nice, albeit extremely tiring first date back in 2010. Over the next 6 years we dated on and off, mostly on some years, and mostly off others. It’s not that we didn’t get along. We get along quite well. But there are a couple of areas that we clash, that are really things I won’t ignore.

Anyway, we are going to look at 2013 today. I get a call a few days before Valentine’s Day, and Kat informs me she wants to see Generic Romantic Comedy on Friday. My response, totally in character, is I’d rather see the new Die Hard. Terrible reviews, she says. It’s going to be bad, she says. It’s Die Hard, I say. Stuff will blow up, I say.

Needless to add, I prepared myself to watch the riveting Generic Romantic Comedy about two people who meet under the most adorable circumstances, while not liking each other the entire film until they realize they are in love after one or both of them dates another person. Cue the latest pop music song desperate to be a hit, annnnnddddd kiss. Credits. Dates dab the tears at the corners of their eyes. Half the women look at their dates thinking, Why can’t he be more romantic? I should have stayed with Last Dude. The other half look longingly at their dates thinking, He is so getting lucky tonight. Hmmmm. Maybe I should re-think this.

Anyhoo, Friday rolls around and I begin to steel myself for the mind numbing torture that this particular film has in store. (Full Disclosure: I do enjoy a romantic comedy or two, especially if certain actors or actresses are involved. NOT Katherine Heigl)

Around 9:30 am I get into a text conversation with Kat (text conversation may or may not be paraphrased, but it is in spirit pretty darn accurate, because…it’s just not the kind of thing you forget):

Change of plans. We’re seeing Die Hard.

My immediate response is…Woo Hoo…wait a minute: What happened?

(Don’t remember so he’ll be Jerky McDouche) broke up with Bailey last night.

He broke up on Valentine’s Day? Classy. Before or after dinner?

Never went out. He texted her while she was getting ready.

Ok. What did McDouche say in the text? (A text? I will strangle him. Then a friend of mine did the same thing)

He told her she just wasn’t his type. He wanted a younger, prettier girl with a “rockin bod”. (Full Disclosure: Bailey is a blonde about 5’5”. She is gorgeous and has an amazing “rockin bod”. Yes, Kat allows/directs me to say this. They are best friends) She’s coming out with us, and a romantic comedy is a bad idea.




That evening I picked up both ladies, with Kat flipping up the console in my truck to take the middle seat on the way to dinner. We talked a good bit about McDouche.

Where did you meet him again? (He asked knowing the answer)

At the club (Don’t remember which one)

You knew what he was when you met him. (She did. Called him a sleaze)

I thought he’d be different. He was so sweet in the beginning. (Women, stop doing this)

When did he stop being sweet? (He asked knowing the answer)

Right after I quit letting him sleep over every night. (Noooo…you stop his access to why he’s with you and he changes? Say it ain’t so.)

Well, let me say this. You met him in a club, and you’re surprised he acts like a guy from a club. My step-father and I have a saying for that. When you’re fishing in a catfish pond, don’t be surprised when you catch a catfish. (Yes, it’s brilliant)

Um (My lovely girlfriend interjects), we met in a club.

You are not helping. Did I look like a typical club guy?

Not at all. You were kind and polite. Plus, you were far older than the usual crowd (Ouch) That’s why I looked for you after we ran into each other.

Why can’t I find a guy like you? (Bailey said it, and I went uh-oh inside. This has potential to be a problem)



The conversation continued for a while and then we made our way to the movie. I like the seats at this theater because the arm rests go up, allowing your date to lean into you with your arm around her. I don’t like this theater because the arm rests on the seats go up allowing your date’s best friend to lean into you, and pull your arm around her.

Of course, initial awkwardness aside, I was sitting with two beautiful women. So, there’s that.

I drove them home, walked up the three freakin’ flights of stairs, and said goodnight to them. Kat gave me a kiss, and whispered in my ear a simple “Thank You”. Bailey leaned in a hugged me, perhaps a little longer than she should. She kissed my cheek and thanked me before she went into Kat’s apartment.

This is how I managed to fall into dating both Kat and Bailey at the same time. For the next several months, every time Kat and I went out, Bailey came with us. Yes, she was on the rebound. And yes, it had the potential to blow up in my face. The thing that kept it tamped down, other than my unwillingness, was the friendship between Kat and Bailey. Bailey wasn’t going to do anything to hurt her friend, so she only went as far as Kat allowed her to go, a line that Kat kept moving as time went on.