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Jul 14, 07:08 AM: Scrapbook – Spring 2002 (March)
The second article for the scrapbook is written by Karen Neal about her first date with her now husband Tim.
Oh What a Night, Karen’s first date with Tim
I don’t really get into the yucky love stuff, but the following is a true story. Forgive me if you get a toothache.
Tim and I were both working at Turner Broadcasting. He was the chef in the commissary downstairs and I was analyzing ratings upstairs. We’d spoken several times during the course of his first year there, but I was married. In 2000, I started the path to becoming unmarried. Getting back in the dating saddle again was very difficult, but part of my therapy. I LOVED my therapist!
Anyhooooooo, it was during my suddenly single life that I started flirting with Tim. At first, it was all very innocent, but at the end of 3 months I was giving him the full court press. To be honest, I couldn’t decide if I’d lost my touch or he was just gay. So finally a co-worker of Tim’s decides to give him the 411 by saying “Hey man, I think she digs you.” Did this spur Tim to action? Umm, no.
Moving along, I was seriously distressed at the notion that I had lost my touch (or, again I say, that Tim was gay), when a co-worker of mine insisted I just go downstairs and ask Tim out. So with my heart pounding, armpits pitting and mouth as dry as the Sahara, I walked up behind him late one afternoon. Unbeknownst to me, he was cleaning the frozen yogurt machine. Funny, I don’t even remember him being on a ladder. So with all the confidence of titmouse, I asked if he would do me a favor. Guys, take note! Once he said “yes”...he was committed. Try this on your next effort! But, I digress. Once he said “sure” to doing me a favor, I asked him to have dinner with me. Before either of us had the chance to blink, he blurted out “Yes, but not tonight.” Apparently, that “bro’s before ho’s” clause came into play. So he says he’ll call me that night. I ask if he wants my digits, but turns out Captain America already has them! So he calls me that night, and it’s a very awkward conversation. He repeats again that he has plans that night, but he’d like to take me out the next night. I give him my addy, and ask if he wants directions. He tells me not to worry that he will get directions from the Internet. In retrospect, this was a very, very bad idea.
Seems that Mapquest had little idea of where I lived, and I had even less. Based on the Mapquest directions, Tim ended up in the wrong area of Lawrenville. Since he didn’t have a cellphone (bizarre!), he stopped at a payphone and called me. I thought I knew where he was, but turns out I didn’t. So I told him the directions that I thought would lead him to my driveway, only to send him to the other side of town. blush Fortunately for me, he decided to call me a second time albeit very frustrated. I asked him where he was, and he told me he was at the McDonald’s near the DMV. I told him NOT to move, that I was coming to rescue him. Little did I know then that this would cut his ego to the quick. Sheesh! You guys are soooo sensitive. I arrive at said McDonald’s less than 10 minutes later, ask him to follow me back to my house then we can leave from there.
We’re extraordinarily late at this point, so, with my nails firmly attached to Tim’s dashboard, we hurl ourselves from Lawrenceville to Roswell at the speed of light only to arrive mere moments before the show at The Punchline begins. Unfortunately, we are literally the last two people to arrive and end up sitting at a bar table with our knees interlocking. Normally, this wouldn’t be funny, but my dress fit so well that I had no choice but to go commando. I don’t think I’ve ever sat THAT still for THAT long a period. I was afraid to breathe for fear that my dress would shift. Anyhooooo, the show was funny (we even ^5’ed when the comic called Britney Spears a ho) and Tim took me down the street for dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The only time he touched me the entire evening was at the restaurant when he placed his hand in the small of my back (no doubt appreciating the junk in my trunk!) as we walked through the crowded dining room. Dinner was lovely, we ordered the same meal (creepy!), and then he drove me home.
I invited him in for a while, but having home court advantage, I changed into a t-shirt and jeans (still commando!). Over the course of the next couple of hours, we talked about our childhoods and our families and how we’d come to this point in our lives. It was at this point that I started to feel like I’d known Tim my entire life. It was… surreal.
So it’s nearly 1 o’clock in the AM at this point, and Tim stands to leave. I’d firmly decided he wasn’t gay, but alas, that he also isn’t interested. So I walk him to the front door, and we’re making small talk, and we’re walking to the front door, and he turns to say goodnight… and then he tells me he really enjoyed our evening and suggests we could do it again. Now, given the lack of any intimate touch whatsoever, this surprises me. So, if you’ve seen the movie “Hitch”, you know what comes next…I lean just a SMIDGEON... and Tim… jumped on me like a geek on WoW after work! Women generally can tell a guy’s potential based on that first kiss. Fortunately for Captain America, I was willing to give him another chance. I mean, after all, it had been a while since he’d had any practice.
So back to the sofa we went! We spent the next couple of hours in a very innocent makeout session. He never touched anything but my face and back. I can honestly say that was the first time I’d ever seen stars…and ever had my lips go numb. We eventually settled into a snuggle on the sofa…and both promptly passed out. A couple of hours later, we awake to the sunlight streaming in the window. After a quick trip to brush our teeth, we decided that a trip to IHOP was in order. It was, without a doubt, the most romantic breakfast I’ve ever had. We sat together across from one another smiling like teenagers, munching our breakfast and reading the Sunday paper. We both just knew that everyone in the restaurant had pegged ours for the “morning after” breakfast, and laughed about how little they all knew. Tim drives us back to my house, and after musing about our 15 hour date, he left with a promise to see me at work on Monday.
I took a very long nap, and Tim drove home and watched TV for the rest of the day. When I awoke, I called two people…my mother and my best friend…and told them I was in trouble because I was going to fall in love with a guy so square he has edges. sigh And while I will be the first to admit that I’m not always right…we’ll be celebrating our 5th anniversary next month…and sometimes square can be VERY hot.
~Karen
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Jul 10, 08:08 AM: Scrapbook – Spring 1998
The articles for the Scrapbook Project are starting to come in. Judson wrote this first one and I also have one from Karen already. We don’t have pictures for this one yet, there are photos they just need to be located. This is pretty much how it will appear in the book. As always your feedback is very welcome.
Judson’s Return or Things to do in New Jersey when you’re Dead!
When we completed our manager training with Wyndham I was sent off to New Jersey (one state away from Garrett’s home state) and Garrett was sent to my hometown, Atlanta. I spent a year in NJ, but I can’t say I prospered. I liked the people and had great employees, but I wasn’t a good fit. Possibly because things back home were a little dramatic. During that year, my sister became pregnant with twins and my mother discovered she had breast cancer. I missed being there when the girls were born, but I did make it for Mom’s surgery. Not a good year to be away from home.
When NJ and I decided to part ways, I called Garrett to let him know I’d be headed back that way. It was decided that he would come up and help me move back and we’d have a little fun while he was here. Garrett took some time off (much more than planned) and flew to NJ.
Coincidentally I was “downsized” from my job at the 1848 House so I was able to take as much time as need to help Judson move. ~GWB
I picked him up at the airport and the move began! Truthfully, the Move happened at the very last minute! If I recall correctly, we drove from the airport into Manhattan. We toured around a bit and had a meal at a microbrewery (I think) on Time Square. I also went into one of the many electronic shops in the area and haggled over camera prices and finally purchased a Konica APS. These were new at the time and it was pre digital revolution. There are some photos from this trip, but I can’t seem to find them.
We wasted loads of time playing Quake and even made a day trip to Atlantic City. We got a package deal that got us on a bus with a bunch of Grannies and Grandpas and eventually took us to a casino in AC. We gambled for a few hours helped ourselves to a buffet and were herded back to central Jersey with the octogenarians. We finally decided to get busy and packed the boxes and moving truck just in time to leave for Atlanta. We had a marathon drive. Many of the details really are a blur; I do know that we stopped in Knoxville to stay the night with my brother. I remember this because I got the trailer carrying my car stuck on a curb at his apartment complex. The next day we made back to Atlanta. Though Wyndham and I had parted ways and I was jobless, I had a message from the Wyndham conference center waiting for me. I was hired back and continued on with Wyndham.
My year as a Yankee was a tough period in my life but it ended with a great adventure.
~Judson
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Tags: Atlantic City, moving, 1998
Jun 26, 05:13 AM: Scrapbook – Getting Started
OK time to get this show on the road! Her are the first set of assignments for our scrape book project. I’m going to give some of you subjects i want you to write about and a little direction. all you have to do is send me back an email. write what you are comfortable with. i may email you back with some additional questions. then I’ll lay out the page and insert pictures and send the layout back to you for your input. I’ll make any changes that need to be done and then boom! we will have an entry for the scrapbook.
- Judson – Write about moving here from New Jersey. include going to Atlantic city, why you were living in NJ, etc.
- Tim Neal – write about Molly, how did you get her etc. and any amusing stories you would like to tell.
- Karen Neal – how did you and Tim meet and tell you about your first date.
- Drew – write about team trivia, when did you meet Grif, how you got started, your first show, how long have you been doing it.
- Andy – How did you find your house, what made you decide to buy it, who has lived there with you, what are your plans for it.
I have other assignment for you guys and everyone else but this seams like a good starting point. again i want to encourage everyone to send me any story you think would be good or just feel like writing about. or just forward me stuff you have already written maybe in an email or on a blog.
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Jun 5, 06:09 AM: Scrapbook – Origin
Since I have lived in the Atlanta area for an even 10 years and I am getting closer everyday to fulfilling my goal of relocating north I have come up with an idea to create a book full of pictures and stories from the last 10 years. My first thought was to create a time capsule and bring everyone together to each place a memento in some kind of container and seal it up for like 20 or 30 years. While I was planning my time capsule party I had decided that I would document everything that went in it with pictures and the story behind the item then make copies for everyone. This lead to the idea that we could just all pull together and write a book about the last 10 years and pull all of our photos and snapshots.
I know this sounds like a lot of work but I’m going to make it as simple as possible for everyone. I’ll post updates on my website regularly so it will be easy for everyone to keep track of where we are at. I’m going to send out and introduction email just to give every one and overview. I’m going to ask people for specific assignment about story I defiantly want in the book. I will take submissions in any format you want to use. If you are more comfortable writing it by hand and mailing it to me I’ll be happy to scan it in and use it as is or retype it. Above and beyond stories I ask for you are welcome to submit anything you want and I’ll include it. There will be not restrictions, if you have a story that is outside the 10-year frame but think it’s relevant some how lets put it in. I would love to hear how everyone got to Atlanta or include some childhood story that explains why you did something recently. I’m also not worried about time. I don’t expect to slap this together in a couple of weeks, I’m hoping to work on it most of the summer, but if it take to Christmas that’s fine too. I just don’t want to spend years on it; it will not make a good memento if I’ve already been moved away for a decade.
Any feedback you can provide will be very welcome even if its just “cool idea”. And if you want to start sending me photos please do but try and include dates and captions.
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