Valentine’s Day Contest from Captain’s Choice!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Offering up one bottle of the finest bay rum aftershave available!



http://i.imgur.com/GO7mRl.jpg



Who can enter: Anybody who resides in the USA or Canada. So if you are a member new to B&B or an old timer here give it a shot. I’d especially like all fellow Vendors, any Moderators or Stewards to feel at liberty to join in - this is for everyone!

How to enter: In keeping with the theme of Valentine’s Day and your significant other you can either:

1. Tell of a time when you really surprised that S.O. in your life.

2. Tell of a time that your S.O. surprised YOU!

Winner will be picked randomly and selected on February 4 to guarantee delivery by Valentine’s Day. USA and Canada only due to shipping regulations.

http://www.captainschoicestore.com/ (http://www.captainschoicestore.com/)

[tnt5588]

First off, thanks for the great contest!

So first a little background. One of my passions for as long as I can remember has been space. I read all the books on space in my elementary school's library. That passion has continued and I went to college to pursue a career in the space industry. Along with school, I really enjoy reading books about space(astronaut's bios, histories, etc). Well my girlfriend and I had known each other for five or so years before we started dating, so she knows this about me.

Our first Valentine's Day together I got her a little heart necklace from Tiffany's (which by the way guys, that little blue box goes a long way). Well, then it was my turn and I opened up the frame below.

She had mailed the top left picture to Gene Kranz and asked him for an autograph. Well he signed that one "To Trace, Aim High", and then included the Foundations of Mission Control signed "To Trace, Gig em Aggies!". Well, I was absolutely floored. Wherever I live, I make sure to hang it in a place that I can look at it, and I do, just about everyday. She is an amazing woman and I am so lucky to have her in my life.

[razorrookie]

I'll keep it short and sweet but basically I was at school and in the midst of a long distance relationship with me being broke and stressed on time and her being in pretty much the same boat. Most times our visits were based upon when we could get really cheap flights (thank god I was in the same city as a major, major air-hub) or when one of us could spare the time for a 8 hour greyhound ride. Anyway, it was a bad time for both of us to make a trip so we decided to spend Valentine's day apart and just do a NetMeeting/Cellphone call since I wasn't on board with Skype yet. So my buddy calls me from across campus to see if I wanted to go work out, I'm hesitant but he's persistent and we go play basketball and work out for a few hours, we grab a bite in the dinning hall and he decides he needs my help with some homework or some such. By this time I'm getting grumpy because I just want to get back to the room so I can call SWMBO before I end up getting myself in trouble for missing our appointed time.

So, long story short, I head back across campus and she's waiting for me in the dorm's lobby. She had arranged for my friend to distract me and get me out of the building while she came into town and was unavailable. We had a great weekend. After 8 years, our wedding is coming up this Memorial Day weekend. And she's recently got into using my DE... All in all, a real keeper.

Anyway, nice contest, I'm a true Bay Rum fanatic so I'd love to try this one out, lord knows if she'd be interested though, I kinda burned myself when I let her try my Clubman Bay Rum....

[bamabubba]

Great contest...makes me think.

I guess one of the best surprises from me to my wife was back before our first child was born. She'd been talking about wanting a set of nice pearls since the ones she had, her first husband had given her and were a little smaller than she liked and pink...which was fine with some things. Well, I'd been looking and she wanted some chinese. I left to get supper and came home and we ate. Little did she know that I'd made another stop. When she was finished eating, I told her I had a special dessert, and produced the box with the pearls. She was beside herself :) Oh, and that was actually Valentine's hehe.

As for her surprising me, I guess one of my best surprises was not long after we married. I had been travelling with work for almost 2 weeks. I was having to fly into Birmingham instead of Huntsville, so my Sister-in-law was supposed to pick me up, as she lives nearby. I got off the plane (pre-911) and instead of my wife's sister, my wife was standing at the end of the jetway to meet me. GREAT surprise!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chadtheguru]

Great contest! Thanks for the chance. :thumbup:

After 6 years of trying, after going through the baby-doctor routine and a miscarriage, and after many prayers and tears, my wife is finally expecting! She gave me the news two days ago. She brought me the test and it was definitely positive! Of course, now we have about a dozen or so positive sticks. Please pray for my wife and family!

Thanks again, Captain. You have an awesome product.

[hsamuels]

Nice contest!

I just dropped my wife off at the airport this morning. When she comes back, a new car will be waiting for her!

[Latherdude]

She told me she was pregnant in a text message, and then said "JK, LOL"

[valleyrider]

Gave her a Tiffany & Co necklace just because which she loved and never expected and she gave me a new hunting vest and a case of shells the day before season opened which I wasnt expecting. I would have loved to see the face of the workers at the store as a tiny ballerina walks in and buys a case of shotgun shells, they may have been surprised as I was when I got them.

[elderberry99]

My very first Valentine's Day with my wife I made her a nice candle llt dinner. She was working days and I was at home, so I had the time to go all out for her. It was a simple spaghetti dinner with my home made sauce, italian herb bread, wine and salad. Along side of her plate I had set a long stem rose. This rose was not a real one, but one made out of silk. One that could not dry up and wilt or die. It would stay in this state forever!
When my wife had come home for the evening, she noticed the table set and candles lit, She sat at the table and noticed the rose. She made no mention of the fact that it was not a real rose. We had our dinner and wine and she was holding the rose in her hand and looked up at me. She would not ask. I finally came over to her chair and kneeled down next to her and took her hand that was holding this silk rose and said, "I am sure you are wondering why there is a single, silk rose in your hand instead of a real one". She graciously looked, but still would not ask. I continued to tell her "This rose represents my undying love I have for you". She squeezed my hand still holding the silk rose and began to shed tears of happiness, and said she would never let that rose loose.
To this day on Valentine's Day I give my wife one silk rose to represent my undying love for her. She has a vase filled with these silk roses from each year we have been together now.

[Tiki_Shaver]

We don't travel very much but I had to plan a trip for my wife's x0th birthday (age withheld to protect my behind). The trip was not a surprise but what I did for the flight back was. We were returning home on her actual birthday and to keep the trip reasonable we were flying standard seating. While waiting at the gate for our departure my wife and her sister went to freshen up. I heard the gate attendant announce that there were a couple of business class seats available for upgrade at a reasonable price. You see where this is going, don't you. Well a little twist, I approached the attendant and asked if he would be willing to comp my wife an upgrade as it was her birthday. He hesitated, checked her birth information and told me maybe but we should board last and he would let me know. Now to keep the surprise I told my wife that I was in no rush to board and asked if she would mind being last. She agreed. While in line to board the gate attendant signaled me to give him her ticket which I did. My wife was confused by the delay so I told her there was a problem with her carry on bag and that it needed to be checked. Well in the end she was happily surprised by the upgrade and had a relaxing flight home.

[turtle]

2. Tell of a time that your S.O. surprised YOU!

Well back in my drinking days....... I had all of the bar folk trained to respond when SWMBO called to say "Let me look..... No he is not here and his car is gone from the lot so he must be on his way home"... Then tell me to get out of dodge.

One time when she called they told her BUT they forgot to tell me.... Needless to say, in she walks..... and.....

Oh you don't want one of these kind of stories? Well can I be in anyway? :w00t:

[tchudson]

A year after my wife and I started dating, on the anniversary of our first date, we were driving over to spend the weekend in Atlanta - or so she thought. We were actually going to Atlanta to catch a flight to Boston to spend the weekend at a B&B (bed and breakfast - nothing to do with badgers and blades) in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We had a wonderful weekend at the B&B, a cat in the room, hot cider on the stove, unbelievable cranberry muffins at breakfast, hikes on the Appalachian Trail, and excellent meals at local restaurants.

[CyberJCM]

Awesome Scott! I'd love a chance please!

My story is when I surprised my then girlfriend. It was Valentines Day 2007. I took her down to San Diego and the Hotel Del Coronado for a nice date together and a beach picnic I'd packed. She had no idea it was coming when I pulled out a ring and proposed to her right there on the beach. She was speechless and started crying, and just grabbed me in a big hug. I gave her a second and asked, "Is that a yes?" and she shook her head and said yes! She loved the ring I'd picked too. A 3 stone wedding set that took me forever to pick out, but it was worth it. All the way home she was texting and sending pics to everyone. We capped the night off with a fancy dinner out.

We were married in November 2007 and so far so good! :wink2:

Good luck everyone!

[SlantMyFace]

I'm from Washington DC and for whatever reason I'd never been in New York City; I mean i'd driven through, but never stopped. So at the age of 26 my signficant other decided to surprise me the week of Valentines day and take me to New York City... How awesome! Well what she didn't know was I planned to propose to her on Valentines day. So I scrambled and made plans the day before we left.... We got there the night before and went to Time square and had a great time. The next morning (Valentines day) we decided to walk up 5th Avenue going from shop to shop, mostly just looking unless we really really liked something. The whole time i had to detur her from buying things and taking to long because of the plans i had... We went into FAO Shwartz because we have a 3 year old that love the "Tall City" aka New York City because of books we read him. So we're in the toy store and we're running late because I had to propose in Central Park no later than 11:30.... We leave FAO Shwartz at 11:20, walk across the street and go through the park... I found a spot, got down on one knee a proposed; of course she accepted. Then less than 5 minutes later, i had to break it to her that we had to catch a cab ASAP. We hoped in a cab and raced down to the docks where I had a helicopter tour of NYC planned. She was totally blown away by the whole thing because it began with her surprising me with a trip to New York City.

[RNMike]

My wife and I have been together for 5 years now, and we have a beautiful 3 year old son, so in September we finally decided to get married. Yeah, we're not much for tradition! Anyway, our day was perfect! We got married on a small beach in Maui with a few very close friends present. During the ceremony, Leah, my now wife, had our 3 year old son hand me a note that said, "Daddy, I'm going to be a big brother." She found out that morning that she was pregnant. Everyone at the wedding new but me. Surprised don't get much better. I couldn't have asked for a better day!

[RNMike]

OMG, That's awesome! I'm a huge space geek too! You're a lucky guy, hang on to that one... The girl too!

[Blade Boy]

Well I guess us loners are just S.O.L. on this one.:001_tongu

[chado006]

My wife had never been to a Broadway play and she loves Disney movies. So four years ago, for our anniversary, I bought tickets to the Little Mermaid preview in Denver but I didn't tell her about it. So I took her down for a little vacation and that day, after a nice dinner, we "just happened" to walk by the theater. I still haven't topped that one, especially in her eyes!
Thanks so much for the contest.

[Dusty1]

Thanks for the contest! I would love an oppertunity to win.

My lady and I have been together for 4 years now, both of us fully commited, but not married yet. Last year on valentines day I waited for her to come home and planned a scenario where my buddy called and pretended to urgently need a ride from the airport (about an hour from here). Said he called everyone but his car died. We went to pick him up, but to my lady's surprise, proceded to board a plane for the Bahamas. Her mom took care of everything at home, and we spent a week neither of us will ever forget, completely care-free!

[whavens]

I surprised my SWMBO with a matinee performance of "The Lion King", when we went into the theater the bright light streaming in from the glass fronted building didn't quite make the darkened theater any easier to see. As she was walking the second small flight of stairs she twisted her anke. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the emergency room of the local hospital. The theater provided tickets to a different performance and we finally did end up seeing the show, just two weeks later. She had no idea where we were originally going, and I had no idea where we would eventually end up. We have been together 5 years now and we both couldn't be happier.

[pezhore]

It was December, I had been hanging out with this girl I met in college for a few months - getting to know her, etc. I was about to fly home for Christmas and I swung by her house to say goodbye. We had an awkward kind of hug moment, then I left. I had driven to the end of the block when I realized I had made a horrible mistake, so I u-turned, drove back to her house, let myself in, and ran up the stairs to plant a big kiss on her lips. "Wow" was all she said. I left and flew home, my mind on her the entire way back to Missouri.

That was in 2004, and we've been married for over two years.

[MajorMoran]

I was shopping for an item on Travelsmith and when I went to check out there was a womans winter coat also on the list. I guessed she had been looking at it and mistakenly added it to the cart sometime earlier. So I included it on the order. When it came surprised and happy she was. She had been looking at it but decided not to spend the money. But here it was and everyone was glad.


This last holiday season she arranged for a weekend getaway at the hotel she had worked at. Best room in the hotel and a great change of pace from the normal routine.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Great entries guys - I’m just glad it is a random drawing. If I had to pick a winner... I don’t know what I would do.

Tomorrow morning is the drawing at 9:00 a.m. Central time. Come one, come all - last chance!

Somebody is going to have a four ounce bottle of Captain’s Choice bay rum aftershave on the way Monday morning. Who will it BE?

[Mendel]

My wife's b'day is the day before Christmas. Back in 2006, I took her to her favorite restaurant, then after dinner, I sang Nat King Cole's "Darling Je Vous aim beau coup" to her in front of everybody. I then surprised her with a wrapped Frommers guide to Paris and then gave her the itinerary to our surprise Paris trip. She loved it!

My wife knows I like the music of Garth Brooks. She surprised me with a Vegas trip to the Wynn for Garth's opening weekend. Garth was excellent!

[Kafn8ed]

Told wife I woud take her out for the day and have breakfast, lunch etc and then headed to a little restaurant in the hills that she likes for breakfast, but then turned down dirt road 3 miles short of the restaurant .....she was confused untill 3 miles later she saw a hot air balloon waiting to launch ....she wanted to stop and watch....She got her wish as I had already arranged for us to go for hot air trip ( 2+) hours.

[acutao]

She surprised me by taking me out to breakfast and off-handedly stating "It's been a few years now. Either you ask me to marry you, or I'm gone." I married her. Smart move on my part.

We were going to elope on 3/4/1 and I surprised her on 3/2/1 (blast-off!) by arranging to get the job done early. Now I never forget the anniversary date. :wink2:

[KiltedShaver]

I have to go with my Wife's surprise on me first: We were lying in bed one morning after waking up and she looks over at me and says "So, how do you feel about being a dad?" Nine months later our first baby boy was born!

My wife does a lot of the family's organizing and planning, so one weekend I planned a stay for our son, booked us a hotel, and all I told her was to not plan anything! I took care of dinner and the whole works. Needless to say, she was surprised indeed!

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Well Gentlemen the moment has arrived. The number drawn to win the four ounce bottle of Captain’s Choice bay rum aftershave IS....

http://i.imgur.com/M2bKql.jpg

Number Seven!

And that would be (drum roll please)

Valley Rider!! Congratulations!

PM me your address and it will be on its way Monday morning.

But I have more good news - there are three consolation prizes. Yes, it’s true. Three of you will each receive a free 1/4 ounce sample of Captain’s Choice as well. Two were drawn randomly and one I selected based on content (nope, not revealing) of story. Here they are:

Bammabuddy, Elderberry99, Acutao

To claim your free sample just PM me your mailing address and it will be on the way!

Thanks to all who entered, great stories all and be sure to spread the love on Valentine’s Day to your significant other.

[elderberry99]

Thank you very much for making me one of the chosen ones to receive your sample.
I anxiously await your gift, and thank you to everyone who participated and shared their moments with everyone on B&B.
Frank

[valleyrider]

Thank you the great pif, this is the first I one I have won! I can't wait to try out this bay rum as I hear many great things about it.

[elderberry99]

Congrats valleyrider.

[razorrookie]

Thanks for this and congrats to the lucky 4 (not 1) chaps that won.

[chado006]

Congrats to the winners and thanks for another great contest!

[dougr]

Even though I did not enter, the stories were fun to read and I enjoyed everyone of them.

[SlantMyFace]

Congrats winners! Thanks cptn!