Trip to PPL Park for Houston Dynamo

Since last month, I had planned to go to Philly this weekend because of work. I had purposely scheduled a site visit tomorrow to coincide with the Dynamo vs Philly game. Last Monday, while I was on vacation for the USA vs Mexico game, work decided that I could not go to Philly after all (due to complicated logistical reasons). I found out when I returned to work on Thursday, two days prior to departure.

I was faced with a predicament. What do I do? I had made plans to share a hotel room with Wilson, so I didn't want to bail, but the hotel was cheap. I could afford to eat the cost, but most of all, I REALLY wanted to go to PPL park. I had never been, and who knows if next year the game will jive with my schedule. For all I know, the one away Philly game will be on a weeknight next year, knowing my luck.

So, I started researching. Remember, it's Thursday, two days before departure, and flights aren't cheap. I had enough miles to get to Philly (12,500 on United, connected in Atlanta, and flew US airways for the second leg). Thankfully, unlike US airways, United does allow you to book one way flights. I didn't have enough miles on Delta for a round trip, which costs 40,000 miles (that's a lot!). Frontier Airlines has a CHEAP flight on Mondays, one way from Philly to Houston, for $60, but I can't afford to miss more work.

The return on Sunday was tricky. I started researching one-way flights, and it was EXPENSIVE. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, United, and Delta were offering flights for about $500. One way. I looked at Kayak, and the cheapest was US airways, about $350. I still wasn't willing to pay that much for a one way flight. I looked at Priceline, but that site always worries me because I'm uncomfortable with giving my information, e.g. TSA known number, before knowing what I am booking. I've been severely burned by Hotwire in the past.

So, I sat and thought. I only needed another 4000 miles to make it home. Surprisingly, there was a direct United flight from Philly to Houston for only 12,500 miles, which is a steal. I bought 4000 miles (cost $150) and booked the round trip. Overall this means, if you consider the aggregate, I paid $150 for a round trip flight to/from Philly two days prior to departure. Not bad!

I landed in Philly yesterday around 5PM and made it to the hotel thanks to the free shuttle. We stayed at a Four Points by Sheraton near the airport. If you've ever been to Philly, you really don't want to stay further south of the airport because you'll end up in a questionable area of town. The airport is the safest and closest area you can stay near PPL park. I decided to use the cash + points option instead of a completely free night because I'm trying to reach SPG platinum status (cash+points stays count towards elite qualification), so I paid $35 for a night. Not bad! As I've written before, Four Points by Sheraton hotels are probably on the bottom rung of SPG hotels, but it was only one night, so the hotel was fine.

We went to a Philly cheesesteak place called Tony Luke's. It was okay. I prefer the Steak and Hoagie Factory in the Somerton area of Philly (northeast portion of the city). I really prefer a toasted baguette and grilled onions in my cheesesteak.

We then went to the game, which was good. We were the only two noticeable orange blobs in the section, which was an approved standing section. At one point a lady asked us to sit down, but we explained the people in front of us were also standing. She and her husband left. Another couple behind us admitted that we had every right to stand but didn't want to become involved in the argument. Apparently there have been altercations in the corner section over standing versus no standing.

Philly fans were interesting. They really don't like their coach, so they booed him during the starting line up announcement. They yell things like "Your team sucks" only when mistakes are made. If you score a goal, they suddenly yell and tell you to sit down. So, it seems they only dislike you when something does not happen in their favor. However, the couple behind us was really nice, and the family in front of us was also really nice. The father of the family thought it was impressive we came just for the game. A couple of fans, as we were leaving, also thought the same.

It's interesting because this was one of the few times we were actually surrounded by Philly fans in a designated away supporters section. While I understand we didn't bring the numbers, I am surprised at the lack of security. If there had been a fight, it would've been every man for himself. We waited until the stadium cleared before leaving for safety reasons. The fans were ANGRY at the referees (disallowed goal), and even though we had nothing to do with it, that anger can sometimes be directed towards the opposition. Nevertheless, we won, and that's what matters.

After the game, we went to Tir Na Nog (same name as the bar in Baltimore's Inner Harbor), chosen because it was downtown and on the official MLS pubs list. We thought we'd be able to watch some of the other MLS games. Instead, some kind of old geezer Irish club was gathering, and bagpipes were a part of the entertainment. We had a couple of drinks and called it a night - nothing wild - but definitely needed to have some post-game celebration drinks.

The plan this morning was to wake up early and head to Reading Terminal Market for breakfast, but that didn't happen. Since we'd gone to bed around 2AM, we slept in. I took a cab to the airport ($10) because I was impatient. I waited for the hotel shuttle (which also served a Sheraton and aloft, two other SPG hotels in the same complex) for about ten minutes. Oh well. It's not like I spend a lot of money anymore.

The entire Houston Dynamo team was on my flight. Coach Dom sat in first class, Ching sat in front of me, and countless others smiled/nodded towards me. I kept saying, "Good game" to them. Brad's reaction was classic as I got out of my seat for the middle person. "Why hello!!! You're all over the place, huh???" he exclaimed. He remembered me from the return flight to Houston from the USMNT match against Mexico. How funny!

So, that was my quick overnight trip. The alternative of staying home would've been boring, so I am glad I went. The trip was worth it especially since bringing home three points is so crucial at this time in the season. I'll write again at the end of this month after my trip to the revs' stadium!

USA vs Mexico

This month is crazily busy with away soccer games. I know the US game yesterday is considered a "home" game, but it's hard for me to fathom because unlike club games, I still have to travel for country games. It's probably why more people don't travel to these events, but nonetheless, the city was packed the entire time while I was in Columbus.

I originally booked a room block at the Holiday Inn downtown for $109/night (add $10 for parking). As a suggestion, if you have at least two sets of people who want to book rooms, I suggest looking into room blocks. The rate should be so that you shouldn't be obligated to fill the block at 100% and $0 deposit. Some room blocks will require you fill at least 40% or some other figure; be sure to ask. You'll usually have to sign some sort of contract (stating guests are responsible for hotel damages, etc), and this will also stipulate when the deadline is for people to reserve rooms. To give you an idea of how much the discount was, the room rate a month ago, according to someone who researched, was over $200/night.

I ended up moving to the Hilton Garden Inn at the airport because it was $50/night when using cash and points. I've stayed at this hotel for work before, and in general, I like Hilton Garden Inns. As a diamond member, there's a free cook-to-order breakfast (french toast, corned beef hash, etc), adjustable firmness dials for your bed, and a fridge/microwave in ALL rooms. They typically have bath and body works for shampoo/conditioner (can't go wrong there!), and the staff is always nice.

My Hertz car rental was free, which was interesting. Typically, at minimum, even though I use points for my reservation, you still have to pay airport taxes, concession fees, and if you're in Salt Lake City, a facility fee. But apparently Columbus charges NOTHING when there is no base price ($X/day), and I am not complaining, at all. I ended up with a Volvo S60, which was a really smooth ride - probably my second favorite sedan behind the Buick Verano (that I've driven, so far). My flights were also free thanks to miles, although you still have to pay $2.50 each way due to taxes. Usually a direct flight from Houston to Columbus on United is over $1000, and I have yet to figure out why this is. Oh well.

My flight departed around 7AM on Monday morning, which is SUPER EARLY for me. I should note Chris (one of the four American Outlaws to attend all Gold Cup camp games) spent the weekend with me after arriving from Costa Rica (for the USA game) on Saturday, headed to the Dynamo home game against the NYRB on Sunday, and then rode to the airport with me to Columbus on Monday morning. The poor guy waited three hours at the airport because a shuttle service is ~$100 from my house. What a trooper!

I arrived around noon at the hotel with the intent to nap, but hunger and adrenaline kicked in. Megan was hungry too, so I picked her up at the Holiday Inn downtown. I also received a text from a favorite San Diego couple of mine, and I went to pick them up at the Holiday Inn near the stadium. Todd called it his personal yellow cab service. :-) The four of us went to lunch and joined some Denver people at Barley's Brewing Company. I ordered a blueberry lemonade, mashed potatoes, a scotch egg, macaroni and cheese, and a salad. I've noticed even when I'm on my personal dime now, I tend to order many things. It seems I like to try out different foods when at a new restaurant. The food coma hit, so then I went to the hotel to nap.

Fourth Street Bar (American Outlaws Columbus' bar) was utter madness. I arrived around 6PM or so, and it wasn't that busy. The party really took off around 9PM (probably after the pep rally), and it was insane. People were shoulder to shoulder and couldn't move; had this happened in Houston, the fire marshal would've shut us down. We luckily found a couple of open picnic tables and parked for the night. I had asked chapter leaders on their Facebook group to come say hi and posted where we were. I also tweeted from the official AO Houston account, just so that other members knew as well. Almost all of the tables usually inside the bar were removed, so seating options were scarce. I can't even begin to go through all the different chapters (San Diego, Phoenix, Portland, DC, Detroit, etc) that hung out with us, but it was a fun night. Like Denver, because it was so packed, I didn't drink much. I did notice the bar prices were more expensive than previously though. My Angry Orchard hard ciders (on tap) were $6 each; last year, my long islands were $4 each. I think I finally went to bed around 2AM on Tuesday.

Nine hours later, there was a meeting at Elevator Brewing Company for chapter leaders. We quickly reviewed upcoming plans for the group (don't worry - nothing MAJOR like getting free stuff for ALL members lol) and game day logistics. It was also really a time to mingle with once another. Many of us have communicated with each other through social media but hadn't met face to face. So, it was nice. The long island I had was delicious.

From there, I picked up tailgate supplies, and then it was time to tailgate. This is where things got kind of dicey because game day events were spread out. I could be wrong, but as far as I know, US soccer didn't want us tailgating on stadium property because they were charging $50 for their official tailgate. Again, this is pure rumor, so don't necessarily take what I say seriously. So, that's why American Outlaws had two events - one at Fourth Street Bar and one at a parking lot off of 17th street. Both places only had street parking (so limited). Fourth Street Bar (who didn't run the air conditioning Monday or Tuesday) was packed as usual. The 17th street parking lot wasn't any better because there was hardly any shade. I should note temperatures were in the 90s this week in Columbus. US soccer even issued a heat advisory for the game and allowed each person to bring either an empty water bottle or factory sealed water bottle into the game. 

We stayed at Fourth Street Bar for a little bit and then headed into the stadium. I didn't want to park near the mega tailgate (non American Outlaws event, but tailgate for all US supporters to join) because it was far away from the stadium. I picked a random spot so it would be easy to leave, we hung around a bit, and then we went to fan fest. There was so much open space for fan fest, but hardly anyone was there a couple of hours before the gates opened. The only good thing is that I snagged a pair of USA sunglasses (with the American flag printed on the lenses) from Marriott. I thought they were giving away free night stays, but alas, they were just giving away sunglasses. Since I'd left a pair at home, I gladly took them.

We proceeded to the north gates because our section was in the north bleachers (on the stage, underneath the canopy). We walked along the west side of the stadium, and then realized there was no entrance - the northwest entrances were blocked or for media only. We then walked around to the east side, and the same thing occurred. A security guy explained all north gates were closed (unlike Crew games), so there were only two gates open on the south side. Gate four, according to the security guy there, would open later than gate five, so we opted to wait outside gate five. People started lining up about an hour before gates opened. 

Per usual practice for Crew games, bags were throughly searched and wrist banded. Apparently there was a security thread, so everyone was also wanded. We grabbed scarves and ran towards the north end, only to find out that we had to wait again. ESPN mandated people could not go into the sections until 6:30PM, even though the gates had opened at 5:45PM. The poor Columbus Crew staff had no choice to hold us back. I tweeted that A) the Columbus Crew staff would be trampled like WalMart on a Black Friday B) With heightened security measures, it's ironic there's now about 1000 people held hostage underneath the stadium and C) There was a Mexican fan in the middle of the mob, which made for a dangerous situation. Eventually the Crew staff gave up and let us go as we kept inching further and further in. Some literally ducked down and protected their heads as the mad dash began to the sections, since they were general admission. I think next time someone needs to tell ESPN they're seriously putting people's lives at risk. 

I found an empty corner in the front row next to an AO Austin guy and his dad. Most of AO Houston moved to a center section of the bleachers in the third or fourth row, but I was content with the corner. Chris came over to ask me where my friends were, and I told him I'm here to watch the match. I prefer a vantage point where I can see and still have fun. Since it was hot, I really didn't feel like being crammed shoulder to shoulder, so the corner was perfect. A KC couple was behind me, and we made a pact to make the corner look more crowded than it was if someone wanted to suddenly push in. It worked. :-)

So began the 2-hour wait. It's amazing what you will do to ensure you have a good seat. After all, these tickets were about $65 including shipping, which is a lot of money. This might've been the most we've ever paid that I can remember. I will say US soccer did do a good job in selling primarily to US fans. There were hardly any Mexican fans. In the eighth minute, there was a group of four guys who had tickets in our section but stood in the walkway. They refused to move after being asked by security, since it was a fire hazard. I was waving a flag and accidentally hit one in the head with the pole. The guy complained to security, but the lady just shrugged, since they weren't supposed to be there in the first place. Eventually the police came to remove them.

Overall I think Columbus did a great job considering capo stands weren't allowed. The one thing that helped unify the sections was simple: a microphone and a speaker. I noticed some capos were active and some were not. According to someone who was in the south end, they couldn't hear what was going on in the north end. I really do think a sound system needs to be set up so that there is one speaker in front of every section. It doesn't have to be loud (because then the sound would be manufactured), but this way, the sections could be more cohesive.

Of course the atmosphere was electric after that first goal. I've always been a big believer that if you can score the first goal of the match, you can set the tone for the rest of the game. It was followed by a second, and the realization hit: we really could clinch a world cup spot. Sure, since February 2012 when we put down the deposit, we thought, "Oh yeah, the US will qualify," but it doesn't really sink in until you get closer to the date. And then you realize...all the games attended since last year (been to all domestic USMNT games except three friendlies) have been worth it. And I mean truly worth it. 

Post game we found a television in the stadium, sat on some crates like homeless people, and watched Honduras score their second goal. The US and Costa Rica (who tied their match) qualified for the world cup. As we were leaving, Papa John's was giving away their "old" pizza, meaning it had been cooked some time ago. We took the entire stash. There was a huge box, and I also carried about ten pizzas or so. We handed them out to US fans. I was starving (hadn't eaten since breakfast), so free pizza, even though lukewarm, was perfect.

I should note we had to drive to Kirsten's vehicle in the same parking lot in my car, so I drove with seven people in the car, including one in the trunk in the parking lot (with all the free pizzas). As we maneuvered through the lot, if people were in the way, we yelled, "Please move! We've got someone in the trunk!" People really did then move quickly. Maybe I should always yell that, and then I could move through the parking lot faster LOL.

I dropped a couple of Houston guys off at the Holiday Inn downtown and happened to run into Robert, my favorite AO Detroit guy. I then drove him to Tip Top, a bar within walking distance. I said hello to a couple of AO DC folks (Jim & Shelly). I was neither hungry nor thirsty so then I headed back to Fourth Street Bar. It wasn't as packed as Monday night, but it was still pretty busy. At about 11:30PM or so, the police shut down the back patio, so everyone had to either move inside or to the front patio, which means the bar became unbearably crowded. At that point, it was time to leave. I said my goodbyes to various people from multiple chapters. I found one of our Houston guys on the phone on the sidewalk. It turned out he was staying near the airport as well, so I took him to his hotel. By the time I finished packing, it was 3AM this morning. I had a hard time sleeping because the adrenaline was pumping.

This morning I woke up, had breakfast, chatted with the hotel front desk who asked about the match, chatted with the waitress who was rooting for Mexico (whose sister was at the game), and departed. I should note Columbus airport at this time neither has a United premier access lane nor TSA pre-check, so it took about 20 minutes to get through security. But, leaving my hotel (literally down the street from the airport) an hour before departure was plenty of time. Brad Davis of Houston Dynamo was on my flight as well.

So, in a nutshell, that was my USA vs Mexico experience. This was probably the most meaningful game I've attended because yesterday solidified our world cup berth. My next soccer-related trip is Saturday in Philly for Houston Dynamo. Have a good evening!

Houston Dynamo vs Chicago Fire

The soccer Gods have seemingly deemed I must go to Chicago multiple times this year. I was just there at the end of July, a little over a month ago (how time flies! seems so long ago), for the Gold Cup final. And yet, I found myself landing at O'Hare again on Saturday. By no means am I complaining, as Chicago's one of my favorite US cities for its vibe, shopping, and food. Besides, the alternative on Labor Day weekend would've been to stay at home - how boring is that?

I should note round trip flights between Houston and Chicago are typically cheap because both are United hub cities. I bought my plane ticket in April for less than $250 round trip. And yes, I paid for it myself without miles because at that price, your miles are best used on a more expensive trip (like Columbus). I also found a great deal using a combination of points plus cash at the Four Points by Sheraton for $75/night (pre-tax). Four Points hotels aren't the greatest on the planet. They're probably the lowest on the totem pole of the Starwood Preferred Guest program (Sheraton, Westin, etc), but they're decent and clean. We did get upgraded to a handicapped room (means that it's larger) with a sofa bed, so that's good. There's free wifi, bottled water, and typically a microwave and fridge (except the Seattle downtown location). They don't have free breakfast, which is why I don't rank them as high as some Hilton chain hotels, but their beds and pillows tend to be more comfortable. In any case, one cannot complain too much about a hotel that is literally one short block from Michigan Avenue and about midpoint between Magnificent Mile and Millennium Park.

Of all cities, Chicago's public transportation system is the best I've experienced. While I don't take public transportation most of the time, my motivation was the cost of overnight parking at the hotel at $50/night. While you may think this price is excessive for parking, it's standard in Chicago downtown area hotels. No matter what rank you are with whatever hotel program, NO hotel will waive the parking fee. Even overnight parking lots or garages in the downtown area are typically $40/night. A shuttle to/from the downtown area is around $30 one-way, and takes about an hour according to Go Airport Express' online booking system. The trains to/from O'Hare to my hotel cost $2.25 and only took 15 minutes extra, including walking time to the train station.

If you're going to visit Chicago, definitely familiarize yourself with their Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) maps. I'd highly advise downloading the PDF documents to your phone, especially the map with all the different L train lines. Sometimes you may be in a train car that doesn't have the full map (they'll always have the colored line's map), and you may need to connect to a different line. Sometimes you may be underground in the system and won't have good cell phone reception. So, it's best to have the map handy, so you can look whenever needed. To leave O'Hare (only airport I know of that has an actual train station in the airport), it costs $5 cash. To return to O'Hare, it costs anywhere from $2.25 to $2.50 (depending on if you need to transfer), so don't think it's $5 round trip. There's also a day pass available; I'm told it's $10 for 24 hours of use. This might be an option for those traveling as a couple, but for a single person, that's too much money to put on your CTA card (vended at O'Hare). No refunds are given, so it's best to load the card with exact amounts if at all possible. Once you're in the city and out of the airport, it's $2.25 for the first ride on the L train, $.25 to transfer, and free for a second transfer. This will make sense later as I discuss how to get to Toyota Park.

My hotel was closest to a red line station. I took the blue line out of O'Hare and transferred to the red line at the Washington station. The Washington stations are connected by a mall, which I found interesting. I had to pay $0.25 for a transfer fee, but I was on my merry way to the hotel, located next to Grand station on the red line. This means the hour ride cost $2.50 to ride all the way from the airport to downtown. In normal traffic, if you were to drive, it takes about 30 minutes to reach downtown from the airport. In rush hour traffic, the L train is just as fast, if not faster, compared to driving.

Saturday evening I met Scott and his friend from dinner at Gino's East. Scott is a Houston Dynamo fan (met at a Texian Army tailgate a couple of games ago) who is going to school in the midwest area. Of course I had to go for deep dish pizza at my favorite place! It was scrumptious, and surprisingly, there was no line. I guess the guys showed up at the right time! When we left, the line was wrapped around the building. No matter where you go in Chicago, a good deep dish pizza place typically is a 45 minute wait and another 45-60 minutes for the pizza to arrive. This is definitely not the kind of place you eat if in a hurry. The wait though, is worth it. 

After pizza, we walked to Navy Pier, since I hadn't been there in ages. The last time I was there sometime 2004-2006, I was in the Odyssey yacht with unlimited drinks and food (including filet mignon) for a meeting. It was definitely a fun night! This time though, we actually walked along the pier. Although this is a famous Chicago landmark, I am not sure what the fuss is all about. It's a carnival-like atmosphere with inflated food prices, loud music, and not much to do except walk around. People were sitting on the steps shoulder to shoulder when we started leaving around 9PM on Saturday, so I suppose they were awaiting fireworks.

The walk from Michigan Avenue to Navy Pier appears short because a sign on Michigan Avenue at Illinois Street that says, "Walk four blocks to Navy Pier." The sign doesn't tell you which direction to take, but you need to walk on Illinois Street away from Michigan Avenue. We walked a good 20 minutes or so before reaching Navy Pier and definitely went through more than four intersections. So, you've been warned.

From Navy Pier I took a cab back to the hotel. The walk would've probably taken 45 minutes or more to return to my hotel; the guys had parked near Millennium Park, and Google maps also estimated a 45-minute walk to give you an idea of distance. Paying a cab driver $8 (including tip) to reach the hotel was worth it. My roommate (an OLD Texian Army member nicknamed "Zero" who has moved to Iowa until November) said you could take the bus from our hotel to Navy Pier, but I didn't have anymore money on my CTA card. Oh well.

Yesterday on Sunday morning I woke up late, watched some EPL, and decided to eat a Chicago-style hot dog for brunch. Portillo's was only a few blocks away, so I headed there since a Texian Army member (from Michigan) recommended the place. I wasn't too impressed with the hot dog itself. I was hoping for more of a brat, given the region of the country; the hot dog was more like an Oscar Meyer hot dog (unlike what they advertise on their website), so I was disappointed. The fixings were good, the fries were pre-frozen, and the strawberry shake hit the spot.

From Portillo's, I walked to the Clark/Lake station, the closest orange line location. I suppose I could've taken a bus, but I needed to walk. Crossing the Chicago River is always a pretty sight. I should note the Clark/Lake station entrance is pretty tricky. There's a sign above some stairs saying the entrance is location off of La Salle street. The CTA signs at street level don't tell you how to enter the station. It turns out there's a HUGE entrance right outside one of the signs on Lake street, and this station seems to have all the different colored lines you need except red (of course the one line near my hotel!).

No matter how many times I've visited Chicago, I've always gotten a kick that you take the orange line to get to Toyota Park. You take the orange line until it ends at Midway. Once you exit the station, there will be several buses waiting with signs above the bus to let you know where the bus is going. You want to look for the "Toyota Park Express Bus" sign which is in small letters underneath the normal bus number. Do not let Google maps tell you otherwise, because this bus isn't in the Google maps system. In fact, Google maps will tell you to take a bus that drops you off so that you have to walk another 20 minutes to the stadium. The express bus runs every 20 minutes (according to the Chicago Fire website) starting 2 hours prior to kickoff (arrived shortly within this window and bus was waiting) and drops you off inside the parking lot of Toyota Park. This is considered a transfer, so I was deducted $0.25 (first transfer after getting off of the orange line), costing a total of $2.50. Not bad at all, considering the stadium's in Bridgeview, not Chicago.

The game itself was pretty uneventful, and it ended in a tie. There were probably about 15 of us there to support the Dynamo. About 5 of Bruin's high school classmates came to the game, but since they didn't wear orange, you couldn't tell who they were supporting. It was hot since the clouds didn't arrive until the 70th minute or so; it's a good thing I've started carrying Propel's water enhancer. I should also note the stadium doesn't have water fountains, so you really do pay $4/bottled water (caps taken off). Post game, Bruin, Moffat, and Driver came over to sign autographs. I always find it classy of a player to do so after a game. I know they're tired and hot, but people really do appreciate it, especially when you've traveled a distance to see the team (not to mention all the money that's spent).

After the game, I went back to the hotel to drop off my game gear and headed to Water Tower Place. I was shocked (along with others) to learn that even on Labor Day Weekend, the mall closed at 6PM, per their usual on Sundays. The poor security guard stood at the bottom of the escalator, constantly repeating himself. I wanted to visit the Adidas performance store, but I guess the money Gods were telling me to save money. Chicago is the only city I've visited that has two Adidas stores within walking distance of each other. The Adidas original store is four blocks from the performance store (yes, a true 4 blocks unlike Michigan Ave to Navy Pier). I haven't been to either on the last few trips and need to make it a point to go next time.

With Water Tower Place closed, I headed south on Michigan Avenue to Millennium Park. The annual Chicago Jazz Festival was going on, and best of all, it's a free event. It was PACKED. People had brought their tailgate chairs, picnic blankets, alcoholic beverages, and food. I managed to snag a sideline standing spot right before the penultimate group performed, a quartet. Their definition of jazz was interesting, adding a fusion of electronic sounds and rap. Nevertheless, I hadn't been to a jazz concert in forever. The last was probably around 2008 when Dave Brubeck (one of my favorite American composers) performed at Beth Yeshurun in Houston. If you ever want a fun night and have dressy clothes, go to a jazz club in Chicago. It is unlike any experience you will have. I've been to the Green Dolphin (around 2005-2007), now called The Dolphin, and the jazz band was amazing. Chicagoans don't really start partying until maybe 11PM-12AM, and they'll keep going until 4AM. I had an absolute blast. 

This morning I basically got up and went to the airport. I started on the red line at the Grand station and transferred to the blue line at the Jackson station. Because I didn't have to enter my CTA card again, it only cost $2.25 to go to the airport, instead of $2.50 like I was anticipating. When you look at the CTA map, the open bubbles between colored lines means you don't have to pay a transfer fee. If you have to walk between stations (like Washington when I was going to the hotel from the airport), then you have to pay a $.25 transfer fee. These are things to keep in mind when you go to Chicago. I now have $.25 left on my CTA card. The card doesn't expire until 01-Apr-2014, so hopefully I'll be back before then to use my twenty five cents.

So, that completes now my 4th regular season Dynamo game at Toyota Park. Chicago's an amazing city, and I will definitely keep my eye out for when we play them at home next year. Whenever the MLS schedule's released in January, I always look for Chicago! I'll write again in a couple of weeks, since USMNT vs Mexico is next!

USMNT Gold Cup Final: Chicago

Last, but certainly not least, we headed to Chicago for the Gold Cup final. Because of a Dynamo home game Saturday night, I chose to fly early Sunday morning (David flew out Saturday). It was 12,500 miles (cheap!) for the 7AM flight on United's dreamliner. There was hardly anyone on flight! I was in an entire row of nine seats by myself. I will say the dreamliner's really nice. You get free movies/tv shows, the windows have dimmers for sunlight, and the overhead bins are REALLY spacious. The flight is also shorter on the dreamliner, probably about an hour compared to a regular plane.

Originally I had booked us at a Fairfield Inn and Suites a bit north of the river for a total of $180 for one night, but upon further research on Saturday morning, I found the Renaissance Blackstone hotel for a total of $150 (including taxes), which isn't bad for booking the previous day directly on the Marriott website! Not only is the Renaissance a nicer hotel (both are part of the Marriott chain-wanted to use some gift cards), but it's in a better location RIGHT off of Michigan Avenue RIGHT across from Grant Park. This put us closer to the game day bar and Soldier Field. The lobby was gorgeous, and the executive lounge had a hot breakfast (since I'm a gold member for Marriott). For the record, no one in Chicago refers to it as a Renaissance hotel; instead, people refer to it as the "Blackstone hotel." 

Chicago is probably the only city I'll use public transportation mainly because of familiarity. It has an excellent system. There is actually a train station inside the airport, which makes it convenient. Most of the downtown hotels (Renaissance Blackstone and Palmer House Hilton to name a couple) are within a ten minute walking distance of a train, so not bad at all. It costs $5 to go from the airport to downtown (one-way) and takes about an hour. From past experience, you can also use the train (orange line) to reach Toyota Park as well.

By the time I landed, took the train, and checked into the hotel (luckily there was a room available yesterday at 11AM), I arrived at the game day bar, Weather Mark Tavern, around 11:45AM. I'd last been to the bar in 2009 when there was a world cup qualifier against Honduras. It is a great meeting point because of proximity to Soldier Field.

The march to the stadium is one of the most epic marches I've participated in, although admittedly it's one of the few I've done recently. Typically I go in early to grab a good seat, but this time, I wanted to see what was in store for us. We marched towards the US Soccer House. Sunil Gulati spoke, and he's the reason why the march is the most epic. His speech was somewhat serious but very good. Apparently our chant of "You're not going to Brazil" offends other countries, and he said, "So you've now been told not to sing it" with a smile on his face. He also asked the Mexican federation if they've priced charters to New Zealand, which I thought was cute.

We then marched onto the stadium. It should be noted bass drums weren't allowed in, so there was only one small drum allowed. We couldn't bring in banners either, and rumor had it that this was a FIFA/CONCACAF mandate (not per stadium). Yet, in the corner, I saw Panamanian banners, one being as long as our AO national banner, so go figure. There is ALWAYS a double standard with FIFA/CONCACAF. 

The section was rocking, and AO Chicago did their very best without bass drums or capo stands. Things in the section were okay until (I learned later) some Panamanians wanted their assigned seats, which were in the middle of the front row of our section. So, just like Arlington, security went around spot-checking people's tickets. Some people got kicked out of their seats and had to move to their assigned seats. It was quite inconsistent as to who would have to move and who would not. It's a good thing David and I from the beginning had decided to stick with our assigned seats. It's very frustrating from a section standpoint to have so much inconsistency between stadiums. You often go into the section, not knowing if it's really general admission or assigned seating. Chapters and AO national can spread the word pre-game as much as possible, but the bottom line is that security is always a complete crap shoot during games, even mid-game.

Winning the trophy made this entire tournament all the sweeter. There's great satisfaction in knowing that you supported your team the ENTIRE way, without fail. Post-game we went to Gino's East, my favorite deep dish pizza place ever, hands down. I've been to Lou Malnati's, but the sauce isn't as good. I've been to Giordano's, but the crust reminds me of the Red Baron frozen deep dish pizza you buy in the grocery store. There were only praises for the food of our group of ten, so I must've picked a good spot. 

This morning David left for San Diego around 8:30AM; I had a few hours to kill before checking out and making my flight. I wanted to go to the skydeck of Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears tower), but it was an hour wait. Apparently you can buy tickets in advance, so I'll have to remember for next time. I walked from Grant Park down to Millennium Park. Michigan Avenue is great to walk and enough entertainment. Filming was ongoing at Millennium Park, and apparently I may have been watching a Shameless episode being recorded.

My flight departed around 3:30PM today on the dreamliner again. It cost 12,500 miles, and since I myself was out of the miles, my dad thankfully had enough for me to use. We have decided any miles he earns (since he has the United Mileage Plus credit card) will be applied towards domestic flights because it's worth more. An international flight costs around 130,000 miles (at least, to get to Singapore/Malaysia), and United is NOT good to fly internationally in the economy cabin. We prefer Singapore Airlines.

Looking back at these last few weeks, doing this entire Gold Cup camp (including the San Diego friendly) from start to finish has been amazing. There were only four of us American Outlaws who made EVERY game, and I'm certainly the only female to do it. I should also note David is the only one (of the four of us) who made every AO event, as I missed Portland's night before party. The other two guys (one's from Phoenix/NYC and the other's from Alaska/Brooklyn) typically would arrive on game day and leave right after the game or the next morning. Grant Wahl on Saturday night told David we should get some sort of reward, so if anyone ever wants to sponsor me or donate to my soccer travel fund, by all means, feel free.

I have learned it is possible to survive a 3+ weeks, 7-game trip with someone. As we were planning, this of course was a concern for both of us, understandably. Neither of us had been with a non-family member for so long on a daily basis. The only time we really disagreed on this trip was when he wouldn't carry me from the stadium to the tailgate after the game in Salt Lake City because I was tired. It's funny because we didn't even fight really. I asked and he said no. SIGH. :-P He even asked last night if there was anything we could fight about, but I told him that there was no point in starting a fight this late in the trip LOL. Without David's good nature and patience, this would not have been an enjoyable trip, and so for that, I thank him.

My next soccer-related trip isn't until Labor Day weekend (Dynamo in Chicago), so I won't be writing for a while!

USMNT Gold Cup Semi-Final: Arlington

Being a Houstonian, there isn't much to plan in terms of driving to Arlington, which is about 30 minutes west of Dallas. We left Sugar Land, TX (where I live, southwest of Houston) on game day around 9AM to avoid Houston traffic, made a pitstop at a gas station near the Cowboys stadium, and arrived around 1PM. We made good timing on the road, especially since the speed limit's now 75mph once you leave Huntsville (north of Houston) through Ennis (south of Dallas). I should note once you enter Ennis, you have to be very careful - it's a speed trap all the way to Dallas, so watch out!

Upon arrival, we circled the Cowboys stadium for lot 11. We had trouble finding it because of course it wasn't near lots 12-14. We ended up going all the way around; we did notice a WalMart is RIGHT across the street from the stadium. So, take note if you ever need to go (although brace yourself for a busy store as the parking lot was packed!).

We had been previously told in emails, AO Dallas Facebook event, and AO national website that the lots opened at 1PM. We waited in line with some Mexican fans, even though we could spot the AO tailgate WAY across the parking lot. The security guy told us to wait in line with the Mexican fans, but I asked, "Are you sure? We need to be on the other side of the lot. Can't you tell we don't look like we belong here?" The guy smiled and shook his head. He gave me directions for how to enter the other side of the lot, so we left the Mexican fans and drove around again.

We waited in line, but by now it was 1:45PM. The same security guy came over to me and explained the lots may not open until 3PM. AO national had a small meeting with the security guys at the lot entrance. It turned out the lady who told everyone 1PM was fired, so they changed the time to 3PM (even though there were plenty of parking attendants available). The parking lot situation alone was a sign of things to come.

AO national told some of us to buy a parking pass quickly online, and they'd let us in earlier, so we did. It should be noted $30 was the advertised cash price, but in actuality, the stadium was charging $35 (another last minute change). With fees, the total online cost $37.50, which was more expensive than what the lot charged, but at least we were able to park an hour earlier. I was the last car they let in, so others had to wait until 3PM.

I forgot to bring a friend's ticket, so we made the hike to the stadium. The website stated will call was located at either entry A or F. Upon asking a security guy, he said, "No, it's located at entry D, and that's the only one that's open now." [It was 3:30PM. According to the website, will call opened at 3PM.] We followed his directions, found will call, and frankly, it was the only process that was easy and correct. All I had to give was my photo ID and order confirmation number; less than ten minutes later, I had a re-printed ticket in my hand. According to the will call girl, 76K seats and 8K standing-only tickets were sold.

We returned to the tailgate, which was in full swing. AO Dallas had brats, hamburgers, chips, etc. It was a true tailgate. It was hot on the asphalt, but we made the best of it. I have to admit I sought refuge in my car a few times and ran the air conditioning because it was about 92 degrees (cold front for Texas I guess LOL). During the tailgate, it was known that although we had been given approval to bring in one banner (not on a pole), we would not be able to hang it anywhere. Therefore, the decision was made not to bring in any banners. Later, I noticed Grant Wahl tweeted we were denied banner entry altogether, but I can only report what was known to us at the tailgate. There was so much internal miscommunication between stadium staff that we were receiving various reasons, but the bottom line was that we weren't going to bring in banners.

Because of the hot weather, we decided to head to the gates about 4PM. Although I had brought a bass drum, mallets, & drumming gloves, AO national suggested not bringing the drum. We had been given approval to bring the drum, but given the parking lot fiasco and stadium being picky about banners, we decided to forgo the drum because of the size. I should note I never heard a bass drum in the stadium, which leads me to believe no bass drums were allowed. It's a good thing I didn't bring it because walking back across the hot parking lot to bring the drum back to my car would've sucked.

Gate entry was also complicated. We headed to the closest gate, went through the strip search, and then were denied entry. Apparently you can only enter the gate on your ticket, so we left the line and headed to the correct date, underwent the strip search again, and finally entered. The air conditioning is the only thing good about the Cowboys stadium.

We found our seats, which were in a corner near a tunnel, and quickly discovered we were in a tiny section away from the main AO section (behind the endline), even though we used the code. Oh well, there were plenty of other games where we had been in the section. This time, it was a good thing. Between the Honduran female above spitting on the main AO section ("Swallow, don't spit!" chant was popular) and Mexican fans wanting their front row seats (which not only resulting in lots of booing but security checking people's tickets in the surrounding seats), the drama across from us was sometimes more entertaining than the game.

Since we were winning in stoppage time, I booked my return flight. I had booked my Houston to Chicago flight for Sunday morning (don't want to miss the Dynamo home game on Saturday) using 12,500 United miles, which wasn't bad, considering I booked on Monday. During stoppage time yesterday, I booked my return flight from Chicago to Houston on Monday afternoon for 12,500 miles thanks to using my Dad's airline miles (since I'm pretty much depleted at this point!). Not bad at all! And these flights are on the dreamliner, so wish me luck!

After the game, we left for Plano, TX (about 45 minutes north of Arlington), where my last college roommate lives. He recently got married, and he and his wife graciously agreed to give us some floor space for free. We brought an air mattress, so it was all good. I can't ever complain about a free house to stay. Today we left around 10AM or so and arrived at my house around 2PM, which was good timing.

I am glad the USA won, so we're off to Chicago. I agree with the sentiment that I hope the Cowboys stadium never gets another game. Even though it's supposedly a world-class stadium, we were not only treated better in Baltimore, but Baltimore understood soccer culture and were organized. In contrast, Dallas was not. I'd even advocate having a soccer game at FC Dallas's stadium next time over the Cowboys stadium. Ugh!

USMNT Gold Cup: Baltimore

From Hartford, CT, we headed to DC. For this part of the trip, we actually had a couple of days off, so we decided to take the time to go sightseeing. We stayed at the Doubletree hotel next to Dupont Circle for free thanks to using 80,000 Hilton points. My one criticism about this hotel is that the free continental breakfast ends so early - 9AM! We never made breakfast!

DC is a great place to vacation if you’re on a budget. While hotels tend to be expensive, there are a ton of free things to do. After visiting the outdoor memorials (World War II, Korean War, etc) on Wednesday, we visited at least 5-6 Smithsonian museums on Thursday. Make sure you wear comfortable walking shoes!

Getting from DC to Baltimore is a bit tricky. Per Google, if you take normal public transportation, it’s about 4 hours with at least 6 steps or transfers. I called the Baltimore hotel ahead of time, who suggested using the MARC (local commuter train), but according to the website, it would take about 2 hours with still at least 6 steps or transfers. 

Being unfamiliar with the public transportation system and also hauling luggage, we decided the easiest way to travel between the two cities would be to take a shuttle from the DC hotel to DCA, rent a car (ended up being less than $5 thanks to points), and then take a shuttle from BWI to the Baltimore hotel. The shuttles probably cost about $40 total for the two of us. 

I should note I get a $2 discount with Super Shuttle each way thanks to buying the entertainment book schools tend to sell annually. [I’m sure you can find a co-worker selling for his/her child! There are also hotel and car rental discounts too.] I also like Super Shuttle because you can book online, receive an email confirmation, and cancel up to four hours prior to pickup to get a refund (you’ll receive a cancellation email). I don’t have to really make conversation with the driver (since you input your airline information), and the shuttle tends to be half the cost of a taxi. It’s an option to keep in mind when traveling without a car.

The one-hour road trip from DC to Baltimore is probably one of the most congested trips I’ve ever taken. We left around 2PM on a Friday, and little did we know we wouldn’t go more than 45mph. It was such a shame, since Hertz gave me a mustang. I never got to really use the accelerator - what a waste! Oh well. 

We arrived at the Hilton Baltimore hotel ($65 plus Hilton points per night), which was nice. We had a 19^th story view of the clock tower, which was beautiful when lit at night. There’s a Hilton Honors executive lounge, and as a diamond member, I had access. Later during the trip, we met important CONCACAF Gold Cup staff (since our hotel was the headquarters), such as the match commissioner for the USA vs. El Salvador game. Hands down, the hotel had the BEST view I’ve ever had in a lounge. We could see right over Camden Yards (had a clear, unobstructed view of the bases) and subsequently, could see M&T Bank Stadium next door. 

Friday night after our short journey, we decided to take it easy. The lounge offered free appetizers (egg rolls and pot stickers) along with fruit, cheese, and veggie plates, so we just ate at the lounge. David was like a little kid in the candy store because of the view. 

Another great thing about the Hilton Baltimore was their concierge service via twitter. We wanted to see a movie, and the hotel directed us to a closer movie theater than the one I found via Google maps. I still marvel at the fact that companies are so responsive via twitter. Within five minutes, I had exact directions and had learned there’s a free bus (Charm Circulator) that goes around the city. The bus also happened to stop right in front, outside the hotel. Awesome!

We saw Despicable Me 2 in 3D, and it was a good movie. I like kids movies. It was a nice time, and sometimes you just need that break from the soccer world. We’d also been traveling together daily since July 4^th, so it was nice to do something quiet. 

The next day on Saturday, we roamed around Camden Yards, since Eutaw Street was open (street alongside the ballpark with bars/stores). David is also a baseball fan, so it was like having a tour guide when he was explaining the history of the ballpark. I am not a baseball fan (too slow-paced for me), but I can appreciate the sport’s contribution to American history.

Friends began to arrive Saturday early afternoon, so we met with our usual AO Detroit couple - Amy and Robert. We went to Tir Na Nog in Inner Harbor (thanks to using the free bus), which brings back memories for me. I was last in Baltimore about four years ago, had a great time at that bar then with co-workers, and I had a great time again with friends. 

Later Jim & Shelly from AO DC joined us, and it was like an old gang again. We’ve all met each other on these trips at some point. I think we figured out the Houston Gold Cup semi-final two years ago was the starting point for when I met everyone, although David and Robert had met back in circa 2007. We wandered around Inner Harbor, debated about whether some scrap metal was art, saw an Amish family in purple and black, and had a good time. We drank until it was time to freshen up for dinner. We also learned our hotel’s connected to the convention center, which is important to keep in mind if you’re walking when it’s so hot outside!

I decided to nap because at this point in the trip I developed a cold. I think my body wasn’t used to walking in 100+ degree heat in DC and then going into a museum where the temperature’s about 60 degrees. I wanted to save energy for game day. The rest of the gang went to a dinner organized by AO DC at an oyster bar.

I met the rest of the group at Slainte’s Irish Pub at the night before party (about $12-$13 via taxi). I wasn’t feeling the greatest, so I basically just ate and left. The crowd was your true AO party, which I was pleased to note. The highlight of the night was just as we were leaving. We couldn’t find the exit, so we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Out of nowhere, Grant Wahl grabs my arm and says, “Hey!!!! Aren’t you going to say hi?!?!?!” I was stunned. I guess I am no longer considered a stalker of his LOL!

Yesterday I slept in. I still wasn’t feeling the greatest, but I didn’t come all this way and make this trip just to stay in. We went to the firefighters union hall (after a friend confirmed it was indoors, not outdoors, thankfully!) when the party started and grabbed tables under an air conditioning vent. I have to admit I was primarily sober, but still had good conversation. 

Considering there’s hardly any parking at M&T bank stadium, it was a good idea we did not rent a car. Megan (AO Houston President) was in Frederick, MD, about an hour outside of Baltimore. She left her family around 11AM and finally showed up at the union hall about 1:40PM. We had seen the traffic build up from the hotel’s executive lounge window, but didn’t realize it had been that bad.

We went into the stadium when the gates opened because we wanted to claim our rightful seats in the front row right behind the goal. We also like to assist with section set-up. It’s a good thing David bought zip-ties because there were none. It was really hot at the beginning of the game. Thankfully the overcast clouds rolled in by halftime, and it rained a bit towards the end of the second half. A box of Ziplock bags has been a lifesaver on this trip, as Ziplock bags can be used as cheap, waterproof cell phone covers.

There were quite a number of drums for the section, which was good, although there was no one with a bass drum and proper bass drum mallets. So, the drums were somewhat muted. There were no capos, so we seemed to be caught in the middle of chants. The people on my right would start a chant, and the people on my left would start a completely different chant. Or, the entire section wouldn’t be together. We definitely needed more than just drums to lead the sections. It was a good turnout though. We won, and that’s all that mattered. 

After the game, we tried to leave as quickly as possible so David could book his flight (had booked everything up to the quarterfinals), but it was very difficult. Of ALL the club and country games I’ve attended, exiting M&T Bank Stadium was the worst. We were literally shoulder to shoulder, shuffling along, and trying to find an open gate. I felt like we were cattle being herded. We passed about five gates before finding an open gate; I don’t understand why almost all of the gates were closed. I told the police officers this was a fire hazard, and they didn’t seem too worried. Imagine USA, El Salvadorians, and Hondurans ALL rubbing shoulders with one another. It was NOT a good situation, and you could definitely tell the stadium’s not used to the soccer crowd. One punch thrown, a gun going off (what can I say, I’m from Texas, I think about this kind of stuff), or a smoke bomb being lit in the crowd, and we would not have survived leaving the stadium. And no, I am not over-dramatizing, as others also tweeted about the horrible situation. 

We made it to the hotel’s executive lounge, grabbed some crab dip and crackers, and booked David’s flight from BWI to Houston for $328 on US Airways (connect through Philly, one of their hubs). That’s not bad considering we booked within 24 hours of departure, and he was able to find a flight that arrived around the same time as me. He’ll hang out with me at my house, and we’ll drive to Arlington, TX on Wednesday (about 4-5 hours from where I live).

We then decided to go for food, and we ran into our gang in the hotel lobby coincidentally. We decided to head to a bar next door to watch the second quarterfinal game. Honduras won, so we’ll be playing them in the semi-final. We had a good time, chanting and having good conversation. I was happy to note the bar wasn’t blasting loud music, which I can’t stand post-game. I don’t know if I’m getting old, but after the game, I just want a decent, quiet meal. 

Today, after leaving my house on July 4^th, I flew back home to Houston for free, thanks to miles. I am very grateful that I am able to do this gold cup tournament thanks to my job. I am a very fortunate lady. Off to Arlington!

USMNT Gold Cup: Hartford, CT

After my last post, I went to the night before party, which was great. Apparently I am popular with the Hartford chapter because of Twitter. A girl from NJ was there, and people kept thinking she was me! She said, "SO many people have come to me to ask if I'm from Houston!" I thought it was funny, especially since I never think of myself as someone that's popular.

The long islands from the first bartender at City Steam were delicious, the pizza hit the spot, and the chapter had a 50/50 raffle. Basically, 50% of the raffle money goes to the chapter, and the other 50% goes to the winner. Not a bad idea! I also met Grant Wahl again, and I met Ives (from Soccer by Ives) for the first time. I met people from Brooklyn, Central Jersey, and Cape Cod (MA).

I will say this chapter did quite well in terms of preparation. Anytime someone posted a question on their Facebook event or tweeted, they responded quickly and efficiently. Kudos to the guys there!

The next day, we slept in and even missed breakfast, oops! We stayed at a Homewood Suites again (just like Salt Lake City), so it was free breakfast, free wifi, and free dinner M-Th. We did have to pay a $16 parking fee/night, but the room was free thanks to using points. Our room had a kitchen, huge living room, and 1.5 bathrooms, which means we had two toilets, yay (the little things matter)!

We decided to do something free, nearby, and easy, so we went to the state capitol. We learned a lot about CT. I didn't know people like Katherine Hepburn came from CT. There is so much history in that state. The Hall of Flags contained flags dating back to the civil war, and it was amazing. I should note we rented a car so we could get around (don't think there's public transportation from the airport). It cost less than $11 for the trip thanks to car rental points.

Afterwards, we did some light grocery shopping. You cannot buy alcohol at WalMart - only a liquor store - so that's something to keep in mind for the future. It's interesting how different states have different laws. In contrast, Californian grocery stores sell hard liquor (along with beer and wine). In Denver, the alcohol percentage differs between a liquor store and grocery store, so it's best to buy from a liquor store. It's always a good idea to know before going to a new state/city, so make sure you ask!

From the liquor store, we headed to the tailgate and primarily hung out with a couple of guys from Brooklyn and a guy from Cape Cod (met in Seattle). It was a good time and a good turnout. The local NBC media interviewed me but primarily asked about the heat and whether or not it affected my decision to wear my scarf. I found this question strange considering I'm from Texas!

The game itself was crazy. We made it a general admission section, and aside from one family who didn't want to be there (was moved by AO national, not security, thank goodness), the atmosphere was electric. Full of drunkards and excited north easterners (who could blame them?!?!), the section was rocking! The capos of AO Hartford did a good job coordinating quickly, and they are certainly to be commended.

The lone drummer was a gal who's a New England Revolution supporter. I forgot her name already (drat!!! she's SOOOOO nice too!!!), but she is an awesome person. I met her when she and her husband came down to Houston for a regular MLS season game. They tailgated with us, and to this day, her husband raves about the local craft beer we serve (St. Arnold's) at the Texian Army tailgates. We had a good time back then, and we had a good time again last night. We looked at each other, did a  double take, and squealed like little school girls when we realized we knew each other. What are the chances that we would meet again and be RIGHT next to each other in a section, supporting the same team? It was a moment that is somewhat indescribable, and a great reason why following footy is classy.

Towards the end of the second half, some random guy (AO Hartford didn't claim him, so I don't think he's part of their chapter) came up to her and said, "You have zero rhythm." I can't even imagine what she was going through. We're hot, we're sweaty, we're dehydrated, we're surrounded by guys who seemingly are going to puke on you at any moment, she's doing a damn good job of drumming, and then this asshole says this. The main capo went after him to tell him off, but the damage was done. She didn't feel like dealing with more assholes, and so she handed me the drumsticks for the second half.

I have to admit I had a blast drumming, and I always do. I feel like I'm really contributing to the section when I do. Music was one of my undergraduate majors, so it's easy for me to adapt to crowds when they suddenly decide to sing another chant in the middle of doing another chant (happens frequently). I like the bass drum because all you have to do is keep time. That sounds like a no-brainer, but it's actually harder than it seems especially when you're in an outdoor setting. Sound travels at different wavelengths, reverberation occurs if you're near a canopy, etc. I think people think that all you have to do is beat the drum, but it really takes a lot of stamina and coordination. Also as a drummer, you kind of end up being a capo. When the main capo understandably becomes tired or runs out of ideas, it's the drummer's job to keep the section going.

Drummers WHO KNOW AO CHANTS (this is KEY!!!) are severely needed at the games. The AO chants are different than most club chants because they often change beats, meter signature, and tempo within the same chant. Frankly I can't stand drummers who drum the Latin beats for the USA games. Not only is it a cop-out in that there is unoriginality, but I am here for the USA, not a Latin country. I am also here for a country game, not club. I have drummed for Dynamo games, and I am very careful not to mix up the two.

My only regret is that for this trip, I should've brought my drumming gloves. I've now drummed 1.5 games so far of this tournament (including the related friendly). I honestly didn't expect to do any drumming, but I suppose it's fallen into my lap. I can't complain though because I enjoy it.

After the game, I checked on the revs girl (really bothers me I can't remember her name-Alice? Alison? Alyssa? ???). She seemed to be ok after taking a break the second half. "Tonight just wasn't the night I wanted to deal with that," and I totally understand as a female. I think Hartford for me was the first time for either club or country when I didn't have some guy (and yes, it is always a male) come up to me and say, "If you get tired, I'll take over," or "You're not doing a good job," or "You suck!" I felt so sorry for the revs girl because she brought the only drum, and to have some guy dis-respect that is quite unnecessary. Nevertheless by the end of the post-game tailgate she seemed fine, which I am glad.

This morning I left on a US airways flight to DC. A one-way ticket only cost $88, which is not bad at all! David took the Amtrak because he loves trains. It costs about the same amount, but the train left at 6:45AM, and my flight left at 11:55AM (no-brainer for me!). We arrived about the same time in DC, which I find funny. We walked around DC for about seven hours (Dupont Circle, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War and World War II memorials, White House, etc), so we're pooped. Have a great night!