The Griswold anniversary dinner

I promised you the anniversary story so here it is...

We both had to work the day of our anniversary with it falling on a Friday and all, but The Captain managed to leave the restaurant early (gasp) and made it home about an hour before I did. When I got home from work there were a dozen roses on the dining room table waiting for me. They were beautiful!  We had the perfect night planned, reservations at this new french bistro in downtown St. Pete and then tickets to the local theater to see a play. (back-story: I love the theater! It was/is very much a part of my life. So this was a special evening for me)  
 
Keep in mind dinner reservations are at 6:30 and the play starts at 8:00. 

The Captain is notoriously a half hour or more late for everything. I mean everything. I have to tell him to be somewhere a half hour early just so he shows up on time.

6:15 - Leave the house and drive to the restaurant. The Captain decides at the last minute he wants to take my car. He never wants to drive my car. ever. I say "okay but I am going to need to get gas on the way home tonight, I am just under a quarter tank". He replies "okay that's not a problem". little did he know.

6:30 - The gentlemen that he is, he drops me off on time mind you, at the front door of the restaurant while he can park the car. Now, it's First Friday in St.Pete, that means there will be no free parking on the street, I inform him of this.   


Me: "we should just use the complimentary valet since we won't find a parking space".  
Him: "I don't have any cash to tip the valet guy" 
Me: "So, don't tip one time it's not going to kill you, it's complimentary"

My argument did not work. Now would be a good time to tell you that I did not bring my cell phone with me since we would be together all night.

6:32 - I give the hostess are name and she tells me that I can wait at the bar while the other half of my party arrives. I kindly inform her that no I will go ahead and sit since he is just parking the car.



6:40 -  Still no Captain. WTF? How long does it take to park a dang car? I think people are beginning to think I got stood up. Great, the hostess just gave me the stink eye. Maybe I should order something.


6:50 - Still no Captain. F*ck it, I order a glass of wine. Now it is starting to rain outside, I hope he knows I have an umbrella in the car. Remember, I don't have my cell phone with me. I kindly ask the hostess if I can use their phone apparently my husband has been abducted by aliens. 


Me: "Are you alright? What happened to you?"
Him: "I can't find a parking place that isn't metered and I have no change"
Me: "Just come back and do valet, you have been gone 20 minutes"
Him: "I found a spot and walking there now, I am 2 blocks away. Great, the meter maid just wrote you a parking ticket"
Me: *crickets* 


I hung up on him and went back to the table. He wouldn't do valet cause he didn't want to be the guy who doesn't tip but can get his wife a $25 parking ticket. 


To be continued. . .