Thus we digress and would just relish in the opportunity to bring some big, fat, juicy, Saints lovin back into the stratosphere. And we’ll do that with the story of the night that the stars aligned and LOC met Drew Brees. Enjoy.
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| Our Story: The Quicker Picker-Upper |
THE NIGHT - Part One:
It’s not always easy to convince another to drop what they’re doing and hit the town with you. It’s even less easy if it’s a Sunday night. And it’s nearly impossible when the Saints lost in the playoffs and you drank yourself beyond coherence the day before.
But when a member of the LOC team is convinced that a fun night out is to be had… good things miracles can happen.
A snapshot of the LoveOurCity Text Message Mania (LOCTMM) that occurred:
LOC 1: “Casino?!?
“I know it’s a stretch…”
LOC 2: “Like to gamble or a bar? That’s kind of far… my friend is being tired and lame. I don’t
know what I’m going to do.”
LOC 1: “I don’t want to go either…but but K------ (birthday girl) just got sold on it.”
“Free drinks while you gamble!”
LOC 2: “I’m at the Balcony now for a couple drinks. Trying to decide.”
LOC 1: “Yeah, I was blacked out yesterday… Come!”
LOC 2: “Ugh. Parking sucks there and I don’t want to drink and drive but whatever. I’ll come.
I may just cab it home after.”
“Where y’all now?”
LOC 1: “Driving now.”
“Be there in two”
LOC 2: “Okay. I’m coming out.”
FYI: LOC 2 is not nearly as lame as he appears in this TM convo. But you’ll become fully aware of that as we proceed…
The night before THE NIGHT: Saints Playoff Game vs. 49ers
The night before, which started in the afternoon, took place at Tracey’s Bar on Magazine Street (aka our BFBF: Best Friend in Bar Form). The LOC team diligently filed into our BFBF and quickly created a booth filled with besties, bantering and bountiful Bloody Mary’s. Any good LOCer lives for the fact that Bloody Mary’s are an excellent way to start any day of football; and they’re the perfect way to start a Saints playoff game. Thus LOC was leading a day of drinking with their best lead-in drink, and the Saints were leading a game in the playoffs with their best lead-QB. There has been no better leader for day drinking or for the Saints since 1968. Bloody Mary’s and Drew Brees were a match made in heaven. Or so we thought…
The rest of the day was a bit of a blur due to Saints fumbles and Vernon Davis TDs not to mention the Bud Lights, Miller Lites and Parliament Lights. But no matter the number of additional lights and lites we had going around, the day turned out considerably dimmer than it began.
In the end, the Saints played a hell of a game (have you heard someone say that too?) but they just couldn’t pull off the win.
The heart of every New Orleanian was broken as we cheered one last time to the immaculate Drew Brees and the record breaking 2011 New Orleans Saints. Luckily for two LOC members, their hearts wouldn’t be broken for long.
THE NIGHT – Part Two
So as we left off before, after much convincing, LOC 2 was finally convinced that going out on this particular Sunday night was a swell way to ring in MLK day 2012. That and a couple “I have a dreamsicle” quotes, of course. Fast forward to nice group of birthday-celebrating friends rolling into Harrah’s casino circa 11pm. We watched adoringly as the “regulars” ahead of us were swiftly permitted to pass through the entrance… we watched much less adoringly for about twenty minutes after that as each of our IDs were highly scrutinized and investigated (girls who can wear their hair both straight and curly are obviously in a secret club trying to bring down the casino industry). LOC1 was a little extra anxiety ridden, as she worries that all casinos keep in close contact and know she has been kicked out of her neighborhood casino a time or two. Luckily her record was kept under wraps for yet another visit and all were permitted to enter.
Due to a lack of cash and the need to spend exorbitant amounts of it at a casino, we proceeded to the ATM and to withdraw crisp $100 bills. For LOC1 this was only the second time in her life that she had ever committed this sacrificial exercise but have we yet to mention that she had big plans for this night out?
So we were off to purchase drink #1, as we wanted quality refreshments, in a timely manner. One Jameson on the rocks and one Crown and Sprite later, we’re already down $16.
Rookie mistake.
Then we’re off to catch up with our friends at the penny slots and beckon a waitress for free beers. Two minutes later and we’re down $2 200 pennies in the middle of WaitressLessLand.
It’s alright, it’s alright, we’re not complaining. We’ll just go into the Poker Room, pretend like we’re waiting at the bar for a table to open up and score some free drinks.
“One vodka redbull and… Oh, the redbull isn’t free? That’s ok, one vodka redbull and one glass of red wine.”
“Ok, that will be $13.”
“Oh. So NONE of it is free. Cool. Great.”
At least we’re starting to actually feel the alcohol because it’s starting to feel like we’re going to be royally flushed out of cash after about 2 more rounds.
So on to the main stage of the casino, surrounding the roulette and blackjack tables we finally find ourselves a bubbly waitress who is willing to get all seven of us a (free) beer. We tip her $5 for her services and begin to think that the night might be turning around.
AND
THEN
WE
SEE
HIM.
DREW BREES IS PLAYING BLACKJACK TEN FEET IN FRONT OF US.
Like what, what, what. What the heck. What, what. Why is he here? He looks so glorious. Why is he in front of me. What do I do? How do I get to him? How do I stage a proposal this quickly? I’m so excited. I’m so excited. I’m so scared. Ha. Jessie Spano. Ha. Wait, why am I thinking about Jesse Spano at a time like this? Babe. Hot mama. Drew Brees is a hot mama.
Back to reality.
LOC 1 and LOC2 promptly decide a plan needs to be made. Do we start the chant? Do we go ask for a picture? Do we use the Birthday girl as a ploy? As we sit and watch him play blackjack and unsuccessfully conceive an attack plan we notice Drew begin to walk away, accompanied by his body guard and two friends, heading straight for the back door of Harrahs. Instinctively LOC 1 begins to follow him.
LOC 2 “Where are you going? What are you going to do?”
LOC 1 “I don’t know! Just come on!”
LOC 1 “I don’t know! Just come on!”
LOC 2 “What, why, where, what? What are we going to do??!”
LOC 1 “Just come on!!!”
Thus, we’re trailing behind Drew as his whole group (along with every ounce of hope in our bodies) are about to leave us forever. But then wait. The group stops. Drew turns around. And they all start walking straight back toward us.
Drew Brees is about to enter our personal comfort zones.
Star struck LOC1 is beyond uncomfortable, to the point of squeamish.
LOC 2 acts quickly.
He asks, “Hey Drew, do you mind if we get a picture with you.”
(Lame, yes, but way better than LOC1’s overriding prudish unresponsiveness.)
Drew responds (YES. He spoke to us.) “Sorry guys, can’t take any pictures in the casino.” ……….And the group continues past us back into the main area of the casino.
.01 seconds later: pure, utter disappointment
.02 seconds later: LOC 2 instinctively starts in with the 2008 Superbowl chant.
LOC 2: ONE
LOC 1: TWO
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: FOR YOU
LOC 2: THREE
LOC 1: FOUR
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: SOME MORE
At this point Drew Brees looks back at us over his right shoulder; pure shock and amazement are clearly expressed across his entire face. He tries to keep composure and turns back around.
LOC 2: FIVE
LOC 1: SIX
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: FOR KICKS
LOC 2: SEVEN
LOC 1: EIGHT
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: IT’S GREAT
LOC 2: NINE
LOC 1: TEN
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: AGAIN
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: AGAIN
Drew looks back yet again. A smile overtakes his face like Superbowl 2008 just happened all over again. He lifts his throwing arm up in the air, he looks at The LOC Team straight in our eyes and he gives us a slow-motion, double fist pump as we complete the cheer.
LOC 2: WIN
LOC 1: AGAIN!!!!!
LOC 1 and LOC 2 look at each other like we had just conceived the holy child by our own hands. History was made. And we knew our lives would never be any better than they were at that moment.
Of course the rest of the night was spent in a variety of places, such as: heaven on Earth, in awe, cloud nine and, of course, on Bourbon Street. There were endless retellings of our story (many to friends, many to complete strangers) and we celebrated our blessed lives with superior cigars, two large New Orleans daiquiris with shooters, Red Snapper shots from Tropical Isle, Hurricanes, a REM performance at Cat’s Meow (in which LOC 2 was requested mid-song, on stage, to use his “outside voice”), and topped off with Miller Lites, cheeseburgers, French fries and foosball at Igor’s right around 4am.
We slept well that night, knowing that we had touched the heart of greatest NFL quarterback to ever grace this earth. And we’re pretty confident he slept well, knowing he had touched us back made our lives complete forevermore.
As we met up with friends at 2pm the next day to reminisce and tell our story, over Bloody Mary’s of course, the whole thing still didn’t seem real. And it probably never will.
“Laissez les bon temps rouler”
- Cool Breese LOCs
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