A journalist went viral on Thursday documenting his 15-hour stay at a Waffle House, a commitment served to him after coming in last place in his fantasy football league.
The challenge set before Lee Sanderlin, a reporter for Mississippi’s Clarion-Ledger, was one that compelled him to spend up to 24 hours in the Waffle House, but for every waffle he ate, an hour was shaved off his time. His initial tweet, the first in a thread, has been retweeted over 27,000 times and has garnered more than 108,000 likes.
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“I got some books, some magazines and some podcasts. And two waffles to start,” Sanderlin said on Twitter at 4:08 p.m., marking the beginning of his food journey.
“Four waffles down,” he said in a later tweet. “Been here for 1.5 hours, so that means I have 18.5 to go. I am already in immense discomfort. Please, somebody, launch me into the sun.”
“Two children, can’t be older than 6, are up at the touch tunes,” he tweeted minutes later. “Absolutely jazzed to hear whatever bangers they picked out as soon as Enter Sandman finishes.”
I am coming to you live from a Brandon, Mississippi Waffle House. I, a total loser, came in last place in my fantasy football league. As punishment, I spend 24 hours in a Waffle House. Every waffle I eat shaves an hour off the clock. It’s 4:07 Central. pic.twitter.com/oRugzU7rQT
— Lee Sanderlin (@LeeOSanderlin) June 17, 2021
“AND IT’S EYE OF THE TIGER HELL YEAH LETS GET ANOTHER WAFFLE,” Sanderlin said.
Two hours later, Sanderlin was just beginning his sixth waffle.
“Waffle number 6 and I’m eagerly staring into the abyss, hoping for it all to end,” he said.
“SIX HOURS DOWN: I am still on waffle 6,” he posted at 10:06 p.m. “I think a trip to the parking lot for a little puke and rally is in order.”
At 1:48 a.m., things were looking grim.
“We’ve entered peak boredom hours,” he said. “All the staff went out for their smoke breaks. This Waffle House doesn’t feel like a waffle home with no one here.”
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By 2:25 a.m., Sanderlin had eaten his seventh waffle, and at 6:09 a.m., the reporter rallied, consuming two more waffles, allowing him to leave the 24-hour breakfast establishment at 7 a.m.
“The sun is rising, it’s a new day and I’m never eating waffles again,” he wrote, concluding the challenge. “That’s 9 waffles and 15 hours in this restaurant. S/o to the staff for letting me hang out on a slow night (I tipped them well don’t worry). This was horrible and I recommend no one ever do this.”
Waffle House also issued a comment on the challenge, tweeting from its main account: “Sounds like someone WON his fantasy football league, not lost.”
Sounds like someone WON his fantasy football league, not lost…
— Waffle House (@WaffleHouse) June 18, 2021
