#41 Ferries and playing inappropriate card games with nuns

Have you ever taken a ferry just for the heck of it? Me neither...until today.

My friend Jenn was itching to go on a ferry ride, so Ellen, Ang, and I joined her on an escapade to Tampa on the high seas.

The high speed ferry goes between Tampa and St. Petersburg about four times on Sundays and the ride takes 50 minutes. Now, for those of you that are from out of town, it only takes me about 20 minutes to drive into the exact same place. So why the ferry?

Beause it is relaxing, exciting, and beatiful. And you bond with the people riding with you.

The weather was ice cold, at least by Florida standards, and we had on coats, mittens, hats, ready to brave the chill. Even though there was outdoor seating, we decided it was too cold, so we got a comfy table inside and settled in.

After a few minutes of gab, we decided to play Evil Apples, AKA the online version of Cards Against Humanity.

Of course, we were belly laughing while we were playing and occasionally had to look a term up on Urban Dictionary.

(I didn't know what Donkey Cheese was...Now I do. Unfortunately. I could have gone my whole life without knowing what it is. Ewwwwww, gross!)

We were cracking up, when suddenly we noticed that sitting across the isle from us, and definitely within close earshot, were a cluster of nuns. (I wonder if they know what Donkey Cheese is! I should have asked.).

Unfortunately, without thinking, I loudly read out loud one of the cards that was particularly nasty and graphic and involving the Catholic church. Halfway through I realized it wasn't for for the ears of the nun and I clamped my hand over my mouth. Whoops!!

Those familiar with CAH know that the cards are meant to shock and are wildly inappropriate- - but I doubt the nuns are aware of the game and might have been horrified at what they were hearing. Or maybe not. Perhaps evenings in the convent are spent roaring with laughter playing CAH with their priest buddies.

One nun was relaxing with her eyes closed throughout our game. I like to think she was playing Cards Against Humanity with us in her head.

Suddenly behind me, I heard someone say, "You photobombed us but your eyes are so beautiful". We turned around and there were two Gen Xers sitting at the table behind us, showing us a selfie they took with Jenn photobombing the background.

So we did what anyone would have done.

We asked them if they wanted to play Cards Against Humanity with us.

Their answer?

"Of course we do!!!!!!!"

So we had a grand time playing with Delaney and Alyx, who were plastered and on their way to watch the Bucs game.

We played the game and had a great time. Then Delaney started sharing wedding horror stories (she's a wedding planner), and the time she had to evict the mother of the bride from her own daughter's wedding.

We talked about two-stepping and salsa dance, instagram, and bad ass adventures.

Even when they low-key insulted us (Alyx: "Are you guys on Facebook?" Us: "Yeah!" Delaney: "Sorry guys. She's actually insulting you a little by asking that".), we all laughed until our sides hurt.

And they promised us they would show up at next week's 80's roller disco party. We'lll see if they keep their deal.

After we docked, Delaney and Alyx headed to the bar to pre-game some more, and the four of us took off to walk around Tampa.

We ended up in a super cute neighborhood that had serious New England Vibes -- including price tags. One of the "cute" houses on the street was on the market for 6 Million $$$.

The neighborhood was in preparation stages for next week's huge annual Tampa pirate festival called Gasparilla. We could even see some float decorations through the windows of a house.

After waking for miles, we found ourselves in Hyde Park, where we shopped, got some water, and interrogated the coffee shop barrista about his knuckle tattoos. Then we strolled back, grabbed some grouper reubens and sat by the water in the sunshine, which had finally come out.

And Ang said, "We powerwalked four miles to get some water and buy a candle".

Yup. True dat.

Except Ang forgot to add that she decided to "ride" the USF Bull sculpture. But she did. Here's proof:

Waiting to get back on the ferry home, we realized that the nuns were back with us!!!! But they did not sit close to us on the ride back home. I wonder why?

The ferry ride back was glorious with the sun shinning. I stood in the stern of the boat and watched the water for the ride back. It was cold, misty, and smelled like disel, but it was also beautiful and captivating.

Jenn was right...ferry rides are fun.