(This is a follow up to the I hung out at Liz Brook's Apartment story)
So the trap was set on Tuesday and in typical Liz Brooks fashion, she didn't come home until the following Thursday after Thanksgiving. My big mistake was rushing to return her keys so quickly since she obviously didn't need them! I was sitting idle hiding in the bushes waiting for her return when I could have use that extra week's time to find that darn webcam of hers to set up a live broadcast of her reaction. It was an entertaining week of waiting for sure though. With each passing day, more and more people found out about the stunt. It seemed like everyone and their grandmothers knew her apartment got foiled, and yet, Liz stayed in Boston oblivious of the whole thing. Since no one knew exactly when she was coming back, everyone was poking her for answers themselves. To suppress any suspicion, I tried my best not to ask her when she was coming back myself and let the information flow to me instead. At first, I was told she was coming back Tuesday...then Wednesday...then Wednesday became a maybe until finally it was set to Thursday. We started joking that maybe she found out and is just messing with us because she knew everyone's waiting for her to come home. The peanut gallery suggested that I should make myself unavailable on Thursday so she can't find me. I need to stay offline and turn off my phone. That way when she can't find me online, she would call me, only to reach my voicemail. Then we'd have her reaction on record for all to hear. Unfortunately, usually when I'm offline for a whole day, I start getting concerned emails wondering if I'm alive because everyone knows my computer is always one even if I'm not around. Liz would definitely notice something fishy if she doesn't see me on her buddy list. She also knows I don't really answer my phone so she probably wouldn't call, but for the miniscule chance that she might leave a voicemail, I must make more sacrifices. I decided I'll put an away message up in case she's online in the morning to ward off any early suspicions. Then when she leaves for her train, I'll sign off so she can't find me when she finally sees her apartment. My away message that morning:
"Hi %n, you have reached the convenient away message of the person you are looking for. Unfortunately at %t, the person you are looking for is conveniently not here because person you are looking for is conveniently not available today, %d."
(%n inserts buddy name, %t inserts time, and %d inserts date)
Liz usually IMs me in the morning even when I'm not around, but I was disappointed she didn't that morning when I had my away message all set up. Around 3:00 pm, my inside source (her sister) notified me that she had left for the train and was on her way back to NYC, which was my cue. I signed off to make myself scarce then began the final hours of waiting. We estimated her time of arrival would be around 6:00-6:30 pm. To my surprise, I received an email at 5:15 pm from Liz:
subject: habitat
message: YOU R DEAD!
I couldn't stop laughing. Like the good friend that I am, I stayed offline for another 15 minutes or so to let her stew in her radiant new home decor by herself. Finally, I signed online.
me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *breathes* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Brooks: DEAD
Brooks: HAHAHHAH
Brooks: it is brilliant
Brooks: but you are DEAD
Brooks: who knew about this
Brooks: i have a few hours to get it apart
Brooks: but again
Brooks: nicely done job
Brooks: but the shower
Brooks: really
Brooks: did you HAVE to
Brooks: i mean
Brooks: i am dealing
Unfortunately, while telling my manager (Heidi) to do her civic duty to point and laugh, my IM crashed and along with it a good chunk of our initial conversation. Here are other highlights of our IM conversation that I managed to salvage:
Brooks: did i have that much tin foil?
me: i didn't use your tin foil
me: are you kidding?
me: no one should have that much tin foil lying around
me: i used your scissor though
Brooks: you are a nut
Brooks: I want the pictures
Brooks: i do love it
Brooks: but
Brooks: its hard to live in
Brooks: how long did this take you???
me: you should leave it
me: and deal with it
me: you don't need pictures. you can see my handiwork in person
Brooks: but i want to see what it looks like IN pictures
Brooks: come on
Brooks: dont i get that much
Brooks: and there is a story...
Brooks: hmmmm
Brooks: i want that too!
me: i'm updating the story
me: who told you, telemundo?
Brooks: not telling
Brooks: send me the pictures!!!!
Brooks: please!
Brooks: i want to send them
me: haha, all your friends probably already seen them
Brooks: mb needs to see this
me: seems everyone else seemed to know
me: including the cop that inspected my bag
Brooks: i love that
Brooks: love it
Brooks: i love thats why you needed the headphones
Brooks: i knew something was wrong
Brooks: but
Brooks: but
Brooks: i didnt want to pry
Brooks: me being nice is a bad idea
Brooks: im afraid of dim sum
Brooks: and now you
me: i'm afraid of dim sum for you
Brooks: hehehehe
me: you're afraid of me?
me: i'm innocent!
Brooks: riiigghhhhttttt
me: i'll be chaperoned
me: you only have to worry about me when i'm out of sight
Brooks: apparently!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
me: don't sound surprised. you knew this
me: fyi, you should adjust the clock on your microwave. kthx
Brooks: my clocks are staying as IS!
Brooks: serves you right
me: i knew i was going in for round 2 for the long haul. had to be comfy for my long stay
me: bonding time with your toilet
Brooks: ew
me: oh yes. me and your bathroom are buddies
Brooks: i did clean it before you came
Brooks: shocking tho that may be
Brooks: you did the SOAP!
me: i can't believe i got sprayed
Brooks: i can
Brooks: KARMA
me: all part of the work hazard
Brooks: would u do it again?
me: i can't answer that
me: but i don't regret foiling your apt
me: if that's what you're asking
Brooks: u cant stay at anyones place
me: my regret is not being able to foil mr. hat
Brooks: how late were you up last night?
me: 4
Brooks: damn
me: i was online this morning
me: i had a funny away msg in case you IMed
Brooks: i did
Brooks: what did it say
Brooks: i didnt see it
me: and then once you went home, i made myself scarce
Brooks: HAHAHA
Brooks: you so did
Brooks: you weren't afaid i'd be mad!!!
me: they told me to stay offline so you'd be forced to call me
me: and then i'll let it go to voicemail
me: and we'd get your reaction
me: but you knew i don't use my phone
Brooks: i do indeed
me: so i didn't think that would really work
Brooks: so i emailed
Brooks: and
Brooks: i meant to write HAHAHHA
me: but i figured i should give it a try and hide
Brooks: in the subject
me: i liked the subject
Brooks: but the spell check
Brooks: fixed it!
Brooks: and made it BETTER
me: to habitat
me: HAHAHA
Brooks: HAHAHAHHA
Brooks: isnt that great
me: i'm going to shower. i'm freezing
me: my shower is functional and unwrapped
Brooks: k
Brooks: but come back
Brooks: i have more to say to you
Brooks: my CLOSEST friends
Brooks: said nada
Brooks: nor did my sister
me: they poked
me: most asked question was where were you and when are you coming home
Brooks: HAHAHA
Brooks: it was
Brooks: i think its even better that i was away for so long
me: and so, everyone was poking around for answers at the same time
Brooks: it made it even better
Brooks: and i am an idiot
Brooks: should have known
me: oh you so should have!
Brooks: i did think
Brooks: at one point
Brooks: i know shes going to nail me
Brooks: but i do know you
Brooks: and you would never ruin a thing
me: for this stay?
Brooks: so
Brooks: yes
me: HAHAHAHA
Brooks: so whatever it was
Brooks: i thought
Brooks: it will be funny
Brooks: then i thought
Brooks: shes not there long enough
Brooks: bzzzzzzzzzz
Brooks: nope
Brooks: how wrong i was
me: oops
Brooks: HAHAHAHAH
me: well i had to go back for my palan stuff
me: i could have just gone to the game and gone home
me: but that's a lot of stuff to be wandering in the city with
Brooks: how many trips did you make to duane reade?
me: one
Brooks: omg
Brooks: only ONE
Brooks: that feels shocking
me: did you like that i poked holes in the radiator?
Brooks: YES!
me: and the cable box and the router
Brooks: i saw that
me: i was afraid it would overheat and catch on fire
Brooks: it didn't
me: i know. i did spend a night there
me:
it's like how the russians used to make the engineers that build the bridge move their families under the bridge to assure it won't fall
me:
i spent a night there to make sure it wouldn't catch on fire
Brooks: this is the funniest thing that anyone has ever done
Brooks: to me
me: your friends know better than to spend 8 hrs foiling your living room?
Brooks: HAHAHAHAHA
me: they ask why
me: and i ask why not
Brooks: i cant believe it!
Brooks: its so great
Brooks: i wish i could walk in again
me: I WISH YOUR NEIGHBORS WERE THERE WHEN YOU DID!
Brooks: the bathroom really shocked me
Brooks: HAHAHAHA
Brooks: they tried
Brooks: i was stealth
me: did they see it
Brooks: no
me: you can't be stealth, your door is the louded thing on earth
Brooks: hahahah
Brooks: i needed alone time
Brooks: alone time with tin foil
On a side note, this prank has gotten me banned from crashing over at some friend's places. They've left my mug shot with the doorman. Oops.
"you will NEVER be invited to sleep over my place, Crackhead. I'm so sorry." - kristen h.
"You are not allowed anywhere near my place now!!...it could end up cellophaned..." - jessica b.
"yeah you're not allowed at my place either" - heather r.
"And you can never stay at my place." - chip g.
"I will never leave my keys with you..." - nickie h.
"Add me to the list of those who will never allow you to spend the night!" - leslie a.
"you are never invited over here" - laura k
.
(It's only fair that Liz gets to read what everyone else's reaction is too)
"you are the craziest mofo i know!!! that is absolutely amazing! well done..." - michelle c.
"IS THIS WHAT HER HOUSE LOOKS LIKE NOW? THIS ISN'T TRICKERY, IS IT? photoshop? She hasn't seen this yet? OH MY GOD! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH" - kristen h.
"You rock...seriously...I cannot wait to hear when she gets back..." - jessica b.
"i saw your brilliant tin foil work. that was AMAZING. i love that you did the bathroom...it's insane. it's like an installation art. you should have an art exhibit opening at her house when shes not home for her friends." - heather r.
"got any tinfoil i can borrow? so let me get this straight....she was nice enough to let you stay there....and you tinfoiled her house?! LOL" - marissa f.
"hahaha omg that's hysterical. i hope the radiator isn't on. that won't start a fire will it? she should have known she had something coming" - heidi r.
"that's awesome! you should have installed a camera that is triggered when movement is sensed, like the ones they use for nature documentaries. that would have been a youtube hit!" - raul a.
"I see stardom and fame on that new imaginery show 'America's Best New Performance Artist'. You should send this to Reynolds Wrap. You could be hired as a Product Specialist-or not. good to see that college degree at work-lol" - jimmy m.
"you are one of a kind." - gabi r.
"Holy crap!! That was crazy!! When is liz gonna c it?! U need 2 record her response and I wish u could videotape her reaction!! U need spycam! When is she coming back? And nxt time, how u gonna top this one? and btw, i've been fwd your story onto others...i was so impressed that i had to share what you did!!" - crystal j.
"that was awesome. I am very impressed with your pranking skills. hats off to you." - chrissy g.
"good work jo. i was impressed, but of course not surprised. thanks for the laugh! :)" - tracy n.
"Jo.....There are no words...." - trish m.
"well done..." - stacy a.
"THAT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. HOLY SHIT!!!" - clarissa l.
"OMG I think that is your best one yet!!!!" - abby b.
"great story--great pictures--I now know where to find a tinfoiling leprechaun pirate to do my dirty work--" - debbie s.
"you are crazy!!! I will never leave my keys with you... hahahaha... I love the story and the pics though. It's awesome! I can not believe the cop believed you. That's the most outrageous thing I've ever heard." - nickie h.
"rofl. you did this? epic win. so funny. pics are awesome. this is like the best i've seen done. you need to be like recording that somehow when she walks in. the reaction will be priceless" - paul f.
"holy crap that is hilarious!!!!!!!! you are too much!!!" - lauren m.
"you are awesome! I forwarded this to some teammates" - chip g.
"OMG I LOVE IT!!!! THE BEST PRANK EVER:) ONLY YOU CRACKY ONLY YOU! AND OF COURSE AN EVIL TWIN WAS BEHIND IT TOO HA!" - sharon r.
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