Shannon Spradley
From Solana Beach (Unemployed)
I’d have to say it was my surprise 30th birthday party. My friends threw me a surprise — it was actually in Orange County. It was a doble quinceañera theme: double 15. There were about 70 people that came. There was a DJ. It was a lot of fun. I had no idea. My friends and family planned it. My girlfriends told me it was just a night out with the girls. So we got dressed up — they told me I had to wear an outlandish dress. Then they blindfolded me and drove me around. They got on the freeway and they were, like, “Oh, I hope we can find parking.” They got me out of the car and they walked me up to my friend’s house. That’s where everybody was waiting. I was shocked!
Susie Wiese
From Solana Beach (Condo Manager)
It used to be the MCRD parties — the Halloween parties that they used to have years ago. I don’t know if they throw them anymore. But in the MCRD station they used to throw these big Halloween parties. It was, like, massive! There were multiple rooms and everything, and everyone would just wander from one party to another. One year I was Olive Oyl; one year I was a safari girl, and I had a monkey that talked. It had the eyes that glowed in the dark. It was one of those ones that you buy at the fair and you put the hand through and make it talk, and it had eyes that glowed in the dark. It looked really real. It was a lot of fun.
Shari Handy
From Solana Beach (Sales Rep)
You’re gonna think I’m horrible. My favorite party was one a friend invited me to. It was on a boat and a dock. There was food on the boat, and then inside the Bali Hai it was a mourning party for somebody who had passed away. But it turned into a big party, a big celebration of life. I swear I had so much fun! Free drinks, free food, it was at the Bali Hai, and you got to go on a boat! It was fun. The woman that passed away, they had a picture of her. It was kind of sad, but it wasn’t. That’s the kind of party I’m going to have. I don’t want people crying.
Winafred Neessen
From Cedar Falls, Iowa (Retired)
I think it was my granddaughter Sarah’s wedding. On the planet Earth, who could’ve dreamed of having such good-looking groomsmen? I danced with all of them, and I was going around kissing ’em on the cheek. One of them was a model from New York. That was at the rehearsal dinner. The next night, after the wedding, one of the groomsmen came up to me and said, “Are you kissing tonight?” And I said, “No. Tonight I’m dancing. And you’re the first one.” I had a great time. They said I was intoxicated, but if you’re intoxicated you don’t remember all this stuff. And I remember!
Zoe Schanuth
From Oceanside (Student)
I think it was my granddaughter Sarah’s wedding. On the planet Earth, who could’ve dreamed of having such good-looking groomsmen? I danced with all of them, and I was going around kissing ’em on the cheek. One of them was a model from New York. That was at the rehearsal dinner. The next night, after the wedding, one of the groomsmen came up to me and said, “Are you kissing tonight?” And I said, “No. Tonight I’m dancing. And you’re the first one.” I had a great time. They said I was intoxicated, but if you’re intoxicated you don’t remember all this stuff. And I remember!
Lanett Blaylock
From Spring Valley (Entrepreneur)
The 420 Cannabis Cup. That was the best party I’ve ever been to. It was just so interactive and just so much love going around. It was awesome in every aspect. I coordinated the event, so I made sure of it! There were bands…they were having raffles…they were doing the judging of the strains and all that. And then the Cannabis Cup was awarded.