"Red"neck Date!

So I just got the pics from Hilary of our double date with Hilary and Tim last Friday night. The date ended up being guys' choice and I have to give Tim props for originality. He wanted to take us to the SHOOTING RANGE! Yeah, I know, Jeremy with a gun - I was scared too (J/K)!

So anyway, we headed over to Pflugerville to the first part of our "red"neck evening: at RED's Indoor Shooting Range. Did I mention I'd never held nor fired a real firearm? It was all a new experience for me - from the incredibly LOUD sound a fired gun makes in an indoor range to the real rednecks yuckin' it up behind Red's counter.

Tim and Jeremy did a great job showing Hilary and me how to safely load, handle and fire Tim's three different handguns. I tried all three: a 9mm, a 40 caliber and a 380. I first fired the 9mm. It took me a while to carefully go through all the steps in my head that the guys showed us: how to pick up the gun, how to correctly hold it, where to look when firing and how to position my body and arms for the kick from the actual gun discharging. I think the kick had me scared the most. From all the stories I heard in general about the "kick" in a gun, I guess I expected it to be a lot harder and more painful than it actually was. But it wasn't so bad, Thank Goodness!

I next tried the 40 caliber and even though it was a bigger firearm I liked shooting it better, because I felt like the weight gave me a better aim. I only took about 5 shots from the 380 though, and decided that little sucker had too much kick. My hands hurt after just the first shot.

So I guess my weapon of choice for the evening was the 40 caliber, but I don't think the shooting range will be my next hobby. I'm glad for the experience, but it was one of those moments for me when I realized how we take life so easily for granted. A gun is a powerful instrument that we see so much of in the movies and on TV that I'd lost that perspective of what it can do. Holding and firing one gave me a lot more respect for its capabilities.

Okay, I got a little deep there for what was supposed to be a funny blog of a redneck date. So after we "blew away" a wad of moola on range fees and ammo, and tossed around a few more one-liners with the "Red's"neck employees, we climbed back into our car and drove around looking for some dinner.

Now if you were looking to continue on the "red"neck theme where would you suggest for dinner? RED Robin, of course!!! We all four got cozy in a booth, gawked over a girl's wicked-outrageous eyeglasses a couples tables away (wish Hilary'd gotten a pic of those - they were indescribable!), and pounded down some dee-lish burgers and fries. Hilary also introduce Jer and me to Red Robin's Campfire Sauce. I highly recommend it - Utah fry sauce pales in comparison.

Overall, it was an original evening! But then again we don't get out much, so I guess the fact that we actually went out was original. I know - LAME! Enjoy the pics, though!