Tailgating in July!

I really need to write more often then I wouldn't have posts that turn into novels. Our 4th of July activites started out on the right foot. We headed up to the Cedar Rapids Kernals baseball park for the slow pitch flood relief softball game. It was a celebrity event, however I do not watch channel 2 or Fox news, so the "celebrities" were just people to me. We met with Laura and Joe and got some beers and ballpark goodies, but learned to find out that only 10% of the concessions were benefitting flood relief. There was a band called the "Large Midgets" who played a bunch of cover songs. Then it was time for the game, Josh was the umpire, but really it was all more for show, he just played the part, he even pretended to throw someone out, but he let them back into the game. I don't know where that is alllowed. The game ended in a tie, so that lead to a chicken dance off, which then also ended in a tie, everybody wins!

After the game we had made some plans, we were all going to meet up with our friends Jen and Chris. However they were at Kirkwood watching fireworks, and traffic was not so great. The traffic leaving the Kernels stadium was horrible, Laura and Joe were not moving so they decided they would be going home. We however were still on our way to meet our friends some where on the south side for some supper. They had not yet eaten.

We pulled into the Ruby Tuesday's parking lot, it was just after 10pm. We asked how leniant they were about their 11 pm closing, and at the time it seemed as if it would be ok. We ordered some beers and waited. Then the waiter came back and we put in our order as it was approaching 10:30. I just got the salad bar and Josh got a burger and the salad bar. Chris and Jen were still stuck in traffic. We then went to the salad bar, and Josh's burger comes out of nowhere. Then all the sudden I hear them taking up the tongs for the salad bar. I run over there and get another plate of green peppers, cucmbers, grapes and croutons, I am weird. Then the manager comes to our table, he is all in a apologetic mood. He says that he will take 10 bucks off our meal becuase they were taking the salad bar up to quick, he also says that if we need to anything to contact him and tells us his name. The waiter on the other hand was not having it, our friends were still stuck so we ordered their food. It came quickly, so we called them again to see where they were, still stuck. We told the grumpy waiter to box up the food. Finally it was just at 11 and Chris and Jen pulled in, the manager was no where to be found, and the grumpy waiter would not let them in the door. So we ate the last of our food, downed the last of our beer and grabbed the boxed supper. I had to ask for napkins and a to go cup of water. So we ran out of the restuarnt and proceeded to the next party.

Time to tailgate! We met Chris and Jen at the cars, where they were seated with beverages in hand. They come prepared. So we pulled out our chairs and decided this is where the party was at. We had more fun chatting and hanging out in the parking lot than we would have had in the restuarant. We were free to do what we wanted. The weather was great, almost too cold for the summer, definetly too cold for the 4th of July.

It is something to work on the 4th of July, but wouldn't you try to get out of working it you are going to have an attitude about it? For all our waiter knew we could have left $20 as a tip. However he chose to be all grumpy and still serve us. I guess we will never go there again. Another thing, there is never anywhere to eat in Cedar Rapids. We will go to baseball and hockey games during the week and the restuarants always close at 10 pm. Our schedules don't allow us to eat before the games and event food never qualifies as supper. I guess we were spolied by restuarants that stay open until midnight.

Oh well, hope you all had great holidays and are enjoying the 3 day weekend. One good thing about it all, we didn't come home to find the cops on our doorstep.