Pizza, Mazes and Denny's

Our first adventure to a mid-singles activity. We have never gone so we don't know any of the people who go. We were late to Mary's Pizza Shack and weren't sure which group was them. With only two of us who have poor group social skills and are pathetic, we watched a group we thought was them. They already had a full table that could not be grown any more than it already was. We pathetically got our own table far away and shared a salad. Then we took off quick to wait at the corn maze instead of talking with the people. It was fun driving all around since Jullien kept changing his mind on where we were supposed to go. We ended up taking some back roads but it was an adventure.

At the corn maze we hung out watching other groups meeting and getting together. It was hard to tell if we missed our group or if we were ever going to see them again. We kept the faith, before entering the pizza place we had said a prayer to have the strength and spirit to actually be more then we really are. Well the group showed up and we followed quietly from the back. I don't think they knew we were part of the group and we never vollunteered the information. We went to the group line to collect the money and get our tickets. We saved $1 each for group rate.

Through the entrance, up over the first bridge, turn in our tickets and we're in. Well the large group broke off in to seperate smaller groups. We could have followed either of the groups, the first one to break off seemed to really know what they were doing. Although I got a good feeling with the group stopped and staring at the map. There were some guys there that had good spirits that felt right. Later Kirsten told me that she wanted to stay with that group because they seemed to be in charge. So we both had our reasons, never talked about it but were on the same wave length.

We followed this group and had quite a few little adventoures. (Later I learned the names of all the people in our group but for the sake of the story I'm going to use their names right now. We had no idea who was who while following them.)

Scott looked down to see a milky way wrapper, he used his flashlight and read "Not a winner" out loud. Too bad. Then the conversation turned to the movie "signs". Probably because we were in a corn maze. Well it was interesting to hear how many people thought the movie was scarry and thrilling and how many thought it was stupid. While we were talking Kirsten took the initiative to accomplish our first mission.

As interlopers and alians in a new uncharted land meeting strange unusual beings never before contacted. Kirsten turned to Bob and said, "You don't mind if we tag along in your group do you?" "Oh no, not at all." We made first contact. Our second mission was to separate so that we would mingle more with the group rather than clinging to each other in our sorry little group of two. We didn't accomplish this task right away. We were the last two in the back of the group, following along.

I was second to last, the main one following and Kirsten was following me. This turned out to be a bad idea. Anyone who knows me knows my sense of direction or lack there of. Even when following a group of people I still find ways to get lost. We could be all the way at the end of the maze with only a few turns to get out. If you put me in charge we would be in the maze another 5 or 6 hours and find ourselves back at the begining instead of making it to the end. Kirsten tapped me on the shoulder and asked if we were following the right group. "Of course we are." I said and kept walking. "I don't think this is our group." She said again a little louder. I looked closer and didn't see anyone familiar. "Oh no. We are lost or at least from the group we had been analizing and hoping to, at some point, join.

We turn to each other, should we just keep going or should we try to back track? Kirsten heads back and I follow. We get back on the main path and follow it to the right. There is a bridge, we walk up the stairs and there is our group. They are huddled together, going over the map, deciding which way they should go. Westen came up to us and we talked for a bit. We said we were just so glad to have found everyone. There was a couple who came up a little frustrated. "Where is the Starbucks? Some guy with a coffee passed us and said that there really was a Starbucks in this maze." I turned to them and said "This is Starbucks station, but that is just the name of the bridge." The lady was a little disapointed. They hung out for a bit calling out a girls name, trying to lead one of their party, probably their daughter, to the bridge.

We made a decision or at least the leaders of the group did and we headed off. Now we began accompishing mission number two. I was near the front and Kirsten was in the middle of the group. Sometimes we even made small conversation with others in our group. It was a fine time. There were quotes from movies like Laberenth, willow and zoolander. There were also bits of Monty Pithon and the Muppets. It was hillarious.

One of the other groups called Scott and asked if he'd like to race and see who could make it to the end the fastest. He declined. We really didn't know what we were doing and they did, it was good we didn't race. They got out quite a bit before we did. There was corn all over some of the paths. It was important to be careful, it would be so easy to slip and possibly twist an anckle or something. Some of the paths were not really paths, they had been created by numerous people walking by and thinking they were paths. To complicate things even more people would take the flags and move them around. It certainly made things interesting. We even saw someone walking around with one of the flags.

We would constantly run into other groups. At one point this group of 4 guys ran up to us. We were all staring at our maps, talking and trying to decide where to go. One of the guys who ran up said "Which way to the exit?" Without even thinking Scott looked up and said "That way". Pointing in a direction. "Thanks" The guy said and then they all ran off in that direction. We all burst up laughing. We had no idea where we were, standing here staring at maps and these guys took us seriously. It was great.

We then ran into two people that were origionally from the main group that was at the begining. They ended up staying with us and their navigator teamed up with our navigators to help get us through this mess. At one point we were lost completely. We took random turns and kept staring at the map and none of the flags were correct. We had no navigational guides to follow and for a while the map was useless. A few people in the group started talking, "Who brought the bread and water, we might still be here come sunday morning." "Good thing we are with a group of priesthood holders."

We were completley lost as a group for a good 10 to 20 min. In one spot there was a torn up map on the ground. "This is the part where someone got a little frustrated." "Gave up on the map." That was also the turning point spot. We ran into that spot a few times and finally chose the only other direction left to us. A couple more turns and we found a flag marker that was correct.

And we're off, Scott taking the lead and Krisanna reading the map. With her abilities to follow the map and his sense of direction we found our way. The last 20 to 30min was just racing through to the end. There were patches we could hear laughter and smell the sweet smell or Marajuana wafting through the air. Then we make turns and it goes away but after rounding another corner we would find ourselves imersed in the aroma again. Then we were out. The sweet joy of freedom.

To better enjoy our sense of freedom we all decided to go to the ledgendary Denny's. Home of the late LDS hang outs and fun memories. Well we got to our car and asked Jullien if he would help us find Denny's. We ended up on the same back road we had been on earlier. I am so good at getting turned around, it's amazing and sometimes a little creepy how well Jullien knows me. We did arrive safely to Denny's and I was bursting. At Mary's Pizza Shack I had so much water and then went to the corn maze and walked around so much.

Well as soon as we got to Denny's I turned to Kirsten, "I need to use the restroom but if we decide we don't want to stay or that we weren't able to accomplish our mission of mingling we could leave at any time. The first thing that happened when we walked in the door was to meet Bob. He asked if Suzanne had been able to turn around. We mentioned that we didn't know anyone. "My name is Bob." He held out his hand, "nice to meet you." Then I ran to the ladies room.

It was easy to tell that many people from the corn maze stop by Denny's, at least at this time of night. There was straw, hay and bits of corn maze at the entrance and in the ladies room. Also I had to avoid a huge lugie that was also surrounded by a puddle of spittle. Extreamly gross and in a ladies room.

When I got back to the front the entire group was there and we were being seated. Too late to take off but just in time to continue with our mission. I ordered Nacho Fries because once I saw that, who could resist. But, wait a sec, hadn't I made a commitment with myself to avoid fast food for the month of October? Oh, thats right. No fast food. Ok, well there's ummm....soda. I don't like soda and after walking so much with only soup and sandwitch for dinner I was soooo hungry. Hamburger? Oh wait thats fast food as well. Nacho fries, no forget the fries. Ummm...ice cream? No, I don't like a lot of sugar desert stuff. Nacho fries, no forget the nacho. Ummm...Nacho's? Yea, we like nacho's and with fries too, that makes them even better. Nacho fries, how delicious. Tempting and delicious in all of it's meaty, cheesy goodness. All drizzled over freshly baked fries. Who could resist. [Hold on, I think I need to run over to Denny's real quick to grab another...no I have a new comitment no fast food from now to the end of November.] So I ended up buying them and they were as good as they promised to be and for Denny's that is surprising. Most of their food isn't my favorite but they are the only place open and their food isn't bad.

Suzanne bought a hot chocolate and when the waitress brought seconds she didn't want it so I got a free hot chocolate. Yum. Our new friends names are Alison, Paul, Krisanna, Virginia, Jarod, Westen, Susanne, Scott and Heidi. These friends are from Dixon, Davis, Oakland and us from Vallejo. They brought up an interesting topic about the McDonalds in Tailand and how to never go there thinking you are going to get something american. It is extremely spicy and not what we would consider normal.

All in all it was a very sucessful Saturday night. We accomplised our missions and made some great friends. I was so exhausted for Sunday. Wow....Sunday now that is another story all in itself.