The Misadventures of Hushai and Sile
Friends, it seems that this blog is suffering from severe disuse. Yeah, uh...sorry about that.
So, the Waco story...about a month ago now, I took a week's vacation from work; as it turned out, one of my friends from my World of Warcraft group was going to be in Dallas for a conference for his job. Therefore, I suggested it would be a fun little adventure to meet up and hang out for a couple hours while he was there. He agreed, and at about 3:30 on Monday afternoon, I left my house in Austin to head up to Dallas.
The first miniature adventure in all of this was finding a place to park. I ended up taking an extra 20 minute excursion around the hotel looking for a parking place before I finally found a paid lot near the hotel. Thankfully, I had cash on me (I usually don't!). I then called Rob and we met in the hotel lobby. After exchanging pleasantries, we went to the hotel bar, ordered food and drinks (I kept to one Sprite because I knew I was driving home), and sat around and talked. We had a fun conversation, mostly regarding fond memories of mostly online friends as well as general plans, and just plain breeze-shooting.
About 30-45 minutes into this, some of Rob's co-workers found him and flagged him down. He introduced me to them and the five of us sat around and talked for a few minutes. Observation: It is really hard to explain to people (that you met offline) that you met someone you're introducing to them online, and even harder to explain you met someone in an MMO. It just sounds weird. I think Rob and I attempted an explanation three or four times before finally throwing our hands up in surrender and saying, "We're friends". There's still a really severe aura of doubt that surrounds primarily online friendships, and it certainly shows itself in that particular situation, perhaps moreso than any other. That said, I met a severely large number (over half!) of my closer friends online. Sooner or later I'll figure out how to say, "I met so-and-so playing WoW" or "I met so and so on a discussion board" and not blush a little bit. Oh, Rob's friends also asked him if I was "a good opponent". I don't think we ever successfully explained that we weren't opponents, either.
After this, the group decided to take control of the bar's shuffleboard table. This was an amusing situation in of itself because none of us could completely remember the rules of shuffleboard. In fact, none of us really remembered the rules of shuffleboard at all, so the next 10 minutes were spent with everyone offering up fragments of the rules of shuffleboard, with varying degrees of accuracy, and attempting to piece it all together. We ended up with a rule set that was only a relatively slight deviation from the rules of shuffleboard in the actual world--which actually shocked both Rob and me when I looked up said rules a couple weeks later. We played five games, the first of which the bar's board ended prematurely due to the fact that we spent too much time putzing around attempting to recall and ascertain the rules. I sat out on a couple of rounds, as we had five people. I lost every game we played, although nearly won the final game with two impressive weight throws, which Rob was (unfortunately for me) able to counter very well to end the match 15-14. Well done! That was a good game.
At about 10:15, it was time for me to leave. I'd had two glasses of Sprite, and therefore had a mild need to use the restroom. I decided I'd just find the hotel's public bathroom on my way out; I attempted to ask two attendants as I was leaving where the bathrooms were, and both of them gave me stares indicating that I had just asked one of the most idiotic questions they'd ever received, and therefore must be branded with having the IQ of Paris Hilton. I left the hotel, deciding that I'd use the restroom when it was time to get gas.
About 150 miles south, I'm entering the grand city of Waco. I've never really liked Waco that much, having been there many times to see my now-ex-girlfriend, Kacy, and then my brother, Caleb. I have nothing against either of the two aforementioned people; it's just a ratty city overall. It's dirty and gross and not the safest place to live. Oh, and it has the worst intersection in Texas...this odd circle contraption that I don't think anyone is actually able to safely navigate.
Anyway, I stopped in Waco and got gas...then decided to go an exit south to use a McDonald's restroom. Note to those who travel: McDonald's restaurants usually have clean restrooms. I pulled into the McDonald's parking lot, and this scrawny man with a really stupid and really frightening grin on his face approaches my car. Before I can get out (thankfully!), he knocks on the window. I look over at him, clearly startled, and he knocks on it again. It's midnight at this point, and this guy is giving off a very seriously wrong aura. I don't want to find out what he wants; I pull backwards and drive out of the parking lot. As I'm pulling away, it gets more frightening--he screams at the top of his lungs. I went about 95 MPH getting out of Waco.
I went to the bathroom safely in my own house in Austin, over three hours after originally seeking one from the hotel attendant.
Posted by Luke at 6:58 a.m.
I wonder what Mr. Crazy wanted.
Posted by Nathan on 2007.06.14 at 12:52 p.m.
I don't want to find out. :)
Posted by Luke on 2007.06.15 at 8:40 a.m.
Just another trip to the Waco McDonald's...
Glad you made it out of there alive. =)
Posted by John R on 2007.06.17 at 3:15 a.m.
Wow, so I see the City of Waco caters to the insane homeless population too. Well, as long as we're not the only ones. I guess I should go buy some nut on the side of the road a bottle of whiskey and some cocaine now.
Oh, and I completely agree, Waco is to Texas as Louisiana is to the USA - the nasty plumber crack that no one likes but has to tolerate.
Posted by Chris on 2007.06.19 at 1:11 a.m.
I could have told you about the crazy homeless population in Waco...and no one who lives there likes the traffic circle, either...
But I still love the place. *shrug*
Posted by Manders on 2007.06.19 at 4:17 p.m.
Oh c'mon, Chris, Louisiana ain't so bad. I'd rather live there than Alabama or Mississippi!
I think the best things about Waco are the Dr Pepper and Texas Ranger museums, and Crickett's Drafthouse. But where's this traffic circle y'all are talking about? I've never encountered it.
And Luke, I just noticed—is this a bug, or a joke? "Page generated in -19951750.05 seconds."
Posted by Alan on 2007.06.23 at 11:55 a.m.
Post a Comment