Having just returned from my first trip to NOLA, or N’Orleans as they call it, I have a really funny story that I’d like to share. Now, for those who are hoping for something tawdry, well you’ll have to look elsewhere. I was a good boy. This story is however quite funny.
So, like all Microsoft conferences there are lots of after-hours receptions and ‘events’. These things usually involve an open bar and a barrage of Microsoft salesmen and partner salesman harassing you about buying/upgrading/implementing some new software. Well, after one beer my co-worker, Gavin, and I had decided we’d had enough and decided to make a quick, and unobserved exit. Once free from the clutches of the beast we set about trying to decide where in the big easy to go and grab a bite for dinner.
Rather than walk around town till something came to us we decided to stop in at a bar we were passing and have a beer or two while we pondered our options. Now this bar looked like something you’d see on Bourbon St, although it was nowhere near there. Typical French Quarter architecture with the large wrap around balcony on the second floor. Gavin decided it would be much cooler to be up on the balcony than on the street, so up we went. Upon reaching the top of the stairs we were confronted with balloons and a table that read ‘Friends of Joe Landry Election Committee’. Well, it seemed they were having some sort of private party upstairs, so I turned to leave. This is of course where the story gets good. Gavin marches up to the table and signs us in, gets us a couple of nametags and heads for the bar. ‘Wow’ I think, but decide to just roll with it and follow him to the bar. We grab a couple of beers and head out onto the balcony. After finishing the beers Gavin decided to head back in for something a little harder, and why not. It’s all on Joes dime! So we head to the bar again so he can get his double Patron on the rocks. As we turn to walk away from the bar we run into Mrs. Joe Landry. She turns and introduces herself to us and asks how we know her husband.
At this point my mind totally blanks out. I have no idea what to say. Gavin however spins a wonderful yarn about how our co-workers at the local branch (we actually do have a branch in New Orleans, so not really a lie) told us about how great Joe is and that we should go out and support him. Well, she is truley touched by this story, so after introducing us to her four grown daughters she decideds we MUST meet Joe. Now I am really starting to freak out. This has gone from bad to worse to OMG!!!!
We decide its better to follow and meet Joe than wait for him to come to us (or try to sneak out) so we set off after Mrs. Joe. Upon meeting Joe, we can tell he knows we are full of it but he seems to be rolling with it. We throw out the names of our local co-workers and play it up pretty good, but Joe’s BS detector seems to be working pretty good. So, Joe gets called away for a second and we blend in with a group heading out and make our break.
It was one of the craziest things I’ve ever done and was a lot of fun. It was definitely the highlight of the trip.
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