I don’t even know where to start with this one…how about stag night. With all of the boys in town I was anticipating this night all week. When would we have another chance to get Ratty, Drew, Toph and Bry all in one room, let alone play hockey together. Thursday night started at Drew’s with a brief wedding rehearsal. The plan was that we (everyone) would go for dinner at Pony Coral and then the women would go their way and vice versa. I left the rehearsal about 6pm to pick up Toph at the airport. His plane was a little late but his luggage made it which is usually not the case with Air Canada, so he tells me. We made good time to the restaurant and the girls were just about to leave. The plan was to leave the restaurant and make it to the rink for game of roller hockey before finishing up at the bar. Toph and I had to play catch up at the restaurant and after he finished picking all the crap off the sandwich he ordered we left and made way to the rink.(1) I can’t explain the way it felt to have all the boys together. There was a familiarity there together, playing hockey that night, that made me feel like we could do this any night of the week. Hockey was amazing.
After hockey we made a B-line for Scandals. Jess and I hopped in with Mike and showered at my place. Scandals is somewhat ironic considering that is where we all began the hunt for manhood and this is where the ceremonial last night of freedom was the beginning for Drew. We were rockstars that night. The place was booming. Chris Gould assured us that he was going to get us in the back and when we pulled up there was lineup around the corner. When Jess, Mike and I came into the lounge the guys had taken over the entire perimeter of the main bar and the shots were already lined up, I mouthed the words “uh, oh” and took a seat. Once inside the bar much of the same. It’s been awhile since we’ve been to Scandals and the crowd made us all feel really old. 18 year old girls everywhere, not good! Paul ‘Rockstar’ Ratte was going hard and taking me with him, Ponch ‘lady killer’ Boissoneault was breaking up every female, male conversation in room with “HEY LADIES, YOU COMING BACK TO THE PARTY”. Toph and I just looked around the bar dumbfounded. We all spent a million bucks and carried Drew out of the bar victorious. All I remember about the after party is a number of my closest friends passed out on the floor, Ponch making a few phone calls that started out with nothing more than “how much” and lotsa pizza. I walked home.(2)
Got a wake up call from Bry about about noon on friday to remind me that we were meeting at 1pm to pick up the tuxes. I begged him for 1:30pm but he insisted 1pm so I got out of bed, grabbed a slurpee on the way and made it just on time. Bry and the others got there about 1:30pm. There is just no justice. Drew was still hurting from the stag and lied down on the floor in the tux place. I think it sent a good message to all the high school guys coming in for fittings. After the fittings Drew took us out for lunch(3) and then Toph, Al, and I went and saw “Shaft”, oh we got Shafted all right! What a horrible movie. I felt so sorry for this 90 year old woman that was sitting there in the front row listening to all that profanity. She must’ve st’ve gone into the wrong movie or something. Friday night Vern and I helped Drew pick up the booze for the wedding and then went to the HATS as Ratty would say. We ate up and then I went home to relax. Vern and the boys hit Boogie Nights.
I have to admit I was pretty nervous on Drew’s big day (Saturday the 24th). Being the Mc and all but I felt pretty prepared. We (the groomsmen), Ponch, Bry, Toph, Ryan, and myself met Drew at Toph’s place to get the tuxs’ on. Drew rented a Miata for the festivities so Toph and I had to take er for a little test drive before the ceremony, We then went over to Drew’s for the wedding. It was a gorgeous day weather wise and the ceremony itself was short and sweet. The crowd was small and personable which I thought was great thing. We stayed after for pictures and a few Rolling Rocks and then made our way to the hall. I was pretty nervous and screwed up the head table introductions by leaving out the bride and groom but Amazing speeches by Bax and Gould then a touching “you guys are the best” from a bawling Nalini, that was really touching. It was a beautiful wedding and I want to thank Drew and Nalini for making me making me a part of everything. Look for more details soon, like the adventures of Toph ‘Jerry Lee Lewis’ in the events section as soon as I get my hands on the pics. You’l love the one’s the tophats!
(1) – I think this was the old Saints Roller Rink when it was at McPhillips and Jefferson. Gord, the owner let us play there and never really charged us any extra for all the broken lights!
(2) – I think it was Cyrs place and if I walked home I would have been living on Eugenie at the time!