Since my last post while eating macaroni and cheese at MacDinton's (could you tell I was really hungover?), I've had a blast. Thanks to KH for paying for the mac and cheese, and thanks to AH for buying the $10 water (just kidding). Once I became human again after a walk to Starbucks (been drinking a short toffee nut mocha almost daily since 2004), I joined the rest of the bar instead of sitting in a corner. By the way, whatever local told me Starbucks was "just at the corner of the intersection down the street" was wrong. The closest Starbucks to the AO Tampa bar is past the light, and you should drive there (not walk) when it's drizzling. These are just things to know next time.
I hung out with people from DC, Albuquerque, and Detroit. A Dallas guy was also sitting at the table. It's funny how he knows I am from Houston, but doesn't say hi (while sitting across from him). When "God Bless the USA" was playing Thursday night, I gave a loud cheer when Fera sang "from Texas." Apparently some people looked at me funny, and I overheard him say, "She's from Houston." The club hatred between Houston and Dallas apparently doesn't stop at country events. When I went to Dallas for the USWNT game in February, someone from the Dallas chapter went to ALL the booths surrounding ours (the only Houston group) to invite them to the bar. As a result, I never consider AO Dallas true AO members because they can't put aside their club differences and extend hospitality to all chapters. In contrast, this same Dallas guy hung out with us during the Gold Cup semifinal in Houston last year, so it isn't like our chapter treated Dallas differently when they visited. [In fact, he actually gave one of our members a really nice hat.] To quote a national AO board member while in Kansas City, "Houston and Dallas are two chapters I will never get involved with" when it comes to relationships, and he's right to say that.
After the second half of the Russia-Czech Republic game (UEFA Euro Cup Qualifier), we decided to make a move towards the tailgate. The Phoenix guys, who were staying at the same hotel, needed a ride, and KH needed to pick up her cooler. I should state for the record that the Phoenix guys are really great. They travel so much for the US games that the first time they went to their own AO chapter's bar was when we had a friendly in Phoenix in January. One of them works for US Airways, so he and a companion always get to fly for free as long as they're on standby (JEALOUS!!!). Another "works from home" so traveling and working is a suitable situation (JEALOUS!!!). Just to give you more of an idea of how much they travel, when they stayed with us in LA last year, they left the hotel around 5AM to catch a flight to Belgium (JEALOUS!!!).
We made a stop at a liquor store called Total Wine & More because I don't drink beer, and I remember the Jacksonville locals suggesting it as a great place (FL chain). They were right. It reminded me of Spec's (TX chain), and it suited our needs perfectly - Southern Comfort, large selection of beer definitely cheaper than a gas station, and ice. Since we were giving the Phoenix guys a ride, they paid for everything. It is so refreshing to be with gentlemen and guys who don't totally mooch off of you. It also good having three backseat drivers help you navigate around the stadium and ruin The Fray's "How to Save a Life" for you as you're driving. Ok, but really, the Phoenix guys are great navigators from traveling so much, and they really are helpful when I couldn't remember how to get around to find the correct parking lot (they paid for parking too).
We made it to the tailgate, and it was pretty soggy. The parking lot is actually grass (not concrete), which made for some wet times. AO was selling rain ponchos. We actually didn't have much time to drink, since we arrived around 5PM, and we started packing up around 6PM. I had an extra ticket, which I managed to sell to ReasonableDoubt on behalf of a friend via twitter (gotta love the power of social media). [It's also funny how we ended up next to each other in the stadium section.] I'm also glad I got to see TK after meeting her in Nashville last year. After we went inside, the game was delayed due to lightning. I happened to run into PH, and it was great seeing him again since he last came to Houston (initially met in Cancun during Atlante trip several years ago).
Someone who was constantly refreshing twitter finally saw the announcement that we could go out into the stadium, as security had made us stand inside under the roof for protection. The game itself was of course a blast since we won 3-1, but I can say that at 2-1, it was a nerve-racking situation. After all, we were playing Antigua (so should be able to beat), and we had been standing in the downpour for goodness knows how long. But looking at the scoreboard, all you can think is, "Come on USA. I've spent money to travel here, and I'm drenched. I need another goal!" Thankfully we scored an insurance goal, and it made me feel better about traveling. I realize this is selfish, but when you spend a lot of money on flights, hotels, rental cars/ground transportation, and meals, you really want the US to win.
Afterwards, the post-game tailgate lasted quite a while because traffic was so bad. One of our national board members (who will remain anonymous for now) took all but his boxer briefs off (remember, everyone was pretty soaked) and then went to a strip club. I should note this is not surprising, since this guy used to live in Houston (so I know him), and well, it's just him. I also met a couple of guys from Baltimore (who the Phoenix guys knew) who were really nice. One of them enters boot camp for the Marines a week after 9/11/12, so we were trying to convince him to make it to Columbus for one last trip. Once we decided to leave, we crammed 6 people (3 Phoenix, 2 Baltimore, and myself, the driver) into the Nissan Altima and drove the Baltimore guys to their hotel down the street.
From there, it was makan time (Bahasa Malaysia for meal). We stopped at a McDonald's near the hotel. It's not our preference, but that was the only thing we knew of open late at night. It seems Tampa downtown doesn't have very many late-night eating places. The Phoenix guys paid for my quarter pounder extra value meal since I was driving. In fact, one of the guys in the backseat double-checked that the guy in the front seat paid for my meal. "You took care of hers too, right?" This was very nice of them.
We went back to the hotel, one of the Phoenix guys helped bring stuff to my room, and KH was there. I should note at halftime I left the Detroit/DC group to stand with Phoenix. I am a bit of a wanderer when it comes to games. I like moving, not standing still. KH had put her phone in my bag during the game, so after the game, she had went to MacDinton's with DC, and the DC people dropped her off at the hotel. It should be noted AH from Detroit lost her wallet, so she was busy filing a police report (her husband, RH was with her) and went home (stayed with family) straight after the game. So, if anyone knows or hears of a found wallet (thinks it fell out of her purse in the parking lot), please comment.
The Phoenix crew was concerned KH and I were separated (I guess since we arrived together), but I told them she was fine. I was right. When she got to the hotel, she used her tablet to tweet, and all was well. She wasn't really that concerned either; we've traveled enough together to know each other well enough. Like she said, "It isn't like you left me alone. I was with people we both knew." In fact, after unloading at the hotel, we decided to go out to MacDinton's last night/this morning. It's so odd though how MacDinton's is a soccer pub by day and a hipster club at night. Although we met some AO Tampa people, we only stayed for about an hour and found a local late night pizza place (glad we found a McDonald's alternative right before leaving).
Today, in contrast to yesterday and reminiscent of MLS Cup 2011 in LA, it was a gorgeous day in Tampa. It was sunny and cool - not a cloud in the sky. Oh well. Somehow the rental car's rate was free. All we paid were the surcharges, taxes, and gas (signed up for pre-fueling, since only $3.26/gallon). I am not complaining, but it's just odd how I only paid half price for the rental when comparing receipts pre and post rental.
The flight itself was uneventful. I will say flying nowadays is extremely comfortable. I had brought a CLIF bar, chips, & a pub snack mix with me (thank you $1 snack bags at Kroger). While eating and drinking a beverage, I splurged the $6 to watch the first half of the Holland-Denmark game on Direct TV. It was worth it. I have to admit I do somewhat root for Holland during a neutral game (as in, not playing the US) because my family is from there. I can see what RH means now after watching a few UEFA Euro games, how the style and level of playing is really great. Some of the footwork is beautiful, almost like a dance.
So, that was my Tampa trip. The next USMNT home game won't be for a long time - Columbus in October. It is so odd to say goodbye to people that I won't see again for four months, but that's just the way it is. Thank goodness I follow Houston Dynamo too!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Tampa USMNT Trip 6/7/12
So far, Tampa has been a blast. My journey began yesterday with an unusually high amount of traffic on the road on the way to the airport, to the point where someone on the shuttle made a comment. Airport security was also extremely busy so that the United Premiere Access section was just as busy and crowded as non-elites. Perhaps this is due to the summer holiday and fact that flights tend to be cheaper on Thursdays.
The flight itself was a bit turbulent as we approached Tampa. I was unable to fully nap, thanks to the 7-month-old in front of me. Babies are cute until they can be heard, whether whimpering or playing with an empty snack bag. I noted the parents bought 2 snack boxes for $16, which I find extravagant.
The Hertz rental car center at the Tampa airport is atypical of other Hertz counters. There is no marquee board listing your spot, and instead of the key being in the ignition, you have to collect the key from a kiosk. Later we found no one checks your car or contract upon exiting, which is strange. I also now know a Nissan Altima is in the same car class as a Toyota Corolla.
We arrived at the hotel with no problems. American Outlaws did a good job with picking the hotel, bar, stadium, and airport all being witin a 10-minute drive.
After checking in, we went to the bar. Detroit, Phoenix, and others I've met on previous trips were there. On the third try, I finally found a bartender I liked and had 2 long island iced teas. RH bought a round of white gummy shots (delicious - contains Bacardi strawberry). I bought another round of shots, drank BH's shot, and another random shot BH had on his table. Thankfully one of the Phoenix guys, who needed a lift anyway, drove us back to the hotel.
I did not sleep well last night, but oh well. I'm watching the Euro 2012 game between Poland and Greece at MacDinton's. I like this AO bar because it's homey and has delicious macaroni and cheese, perfect after a night of shenanigans. On to the tailgate and game!
The flight itself was a bit turbulent as we approached Tampa. I was unable to fully nap, thanks to the 7-month-old in front of me. Babies are cute until they can be heard, whether whimpering or playing with an empty snack bag. I noted the parents bought 2 snack boxes for $16, which I find extravagant.
The Hertz rental car center at the Tampa airport is atypical of other Hertz counters. There is no marquee board listing your spot, and instead of the key being in the ignition, you have to collect the key from a kiosk. Later we found no one checks your car or contract upon exiting, which is strange. I also now know a Nissan Altima is in the same car class as a Toyota Corolla.
We arrived at the hotel with no problems. American Outlaws did a good job with picking the hotel, bar, stadium, and airport all being witin a 10-minute drive.
After checking in, we went to the bar. Detroit, Phoenix, and others I've met on previous trips were there. On the third try, I finally found a bartender I liked and had 2 long island iced teas. RH bought a round of white gummy shots (delicious - contains Bacardi strawberry). I bought another round of shots, drank BH's shot, and another random shot BH had on his table. Thankfully one of the Phoenix guys, who needed a lift anyway, drove us back to the hotel.
I did not sleep well last night, but oh well. I'm watching the Euro 2012 game between Poland and Greece at MacDinton's. I like this AO bar because it's homey and has delicious macaroni and cheese, perfect after a night of shenanigans. On to the tailgate and game!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Tampa Here I Come!
I'm ready for Tampa! I've packed:
clothes
amenities (toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)
slippers so I can be comfy in the hotel
extra pair of Adidas flip flops (quick-dry, fit foam is AMAZING)
snacks
proof of car insurance
Park 'N Fly membership card so I can get 1 day free parking
money and ID
game tickets (very important!)
laundry bag
rain poncho, since it's supposed to rain =(
bathing suit in case there's an indoor hotel pool
two chargers & an awesome extra battery (came w/a case that functions as a stand!)
FM transmitter in case rental car doesn't have auxiliary port
Since this is a quick trip, I've decided to travel light with just a backpack (pictured at left, bought from Adidas Outlet in Kansas City) and tote bag (pictured at right, bought from Adidas Outlet in Allen, TX). The backpack has a water bottle pocket, a place to put your cell phone in the front of the backpack strap, and a microfiber compartment for electronic devices. The tote bag has more room than what appearances may seem and is of manageable size. I am always on the lookout for travel gear!
For those who don't know me, I love Adidas! I love how the clothes are durable, comfortable, and breathable (love the quick-drying Climalite material), can easily coordinate, and roll into a ball for easy packing. Tampa here I come!
clothes
amenities (toothpaste, toothbrush, etc)
slippers so I can be comfy in the hotel
extra pair of Adidas flip flops (quick-dry, fit foam is AMAZING)
snacks
proof of car insurance
Park 'N Fly membership card so I can get 1 day free parking
money and ID
game tickets (very important!)
laundry bag
rain poncho, since it's supposed to rain =(
bathing suit in case there's an indoor hotel pool
two chargers & an awesome extra battery (came w/a case that functions as a stand!)
FM transmitter in case rental car doesn't have auxiliary port
Since this is a quick trip, I've decided to travel light with just a backpack (pictured at left, bought from Adidas Outlet in Kansas City) and tote bag (pictured at right, bought from Adidas Outlet in Allen, TX). The backpack has a water bottle pocket, a place to put your cell phone in the front of the backpack strap, and a microfiber compartment for electronic devices. The tote bag has more room than what appearances may seem and is of manageable size. I am always on the lookout for travel gear!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Jacksonville May 27-28, 2012
After going to bed at 4AM, we understandably awoke around noon with the exception of MS, who can't go back to sleep once awakened by an internal clock at 7AM (sucks to be him). At the recommendation of a Texian Army member who used to live in the area, we headed to Singleton's Seafood Shack for lunch. From there, we went to the Mayport ferry, but it was closed due to impending weather.
After lunch, we decided to go back to Jacksonville Beach, where we were the last two nights. I was craving ice cream. "That is such an Erin Dallas thing to say - wanting ice cream after this huge dish!" exclaimed CS. I replied, "Yes, mint chocolate chip please," and he grinned, "That sounds amazing." So, we went to Rita's Italian Ices, which was okay. [See links for reviews.]
The weather was starting to turn, becoming windier, so we sought refuge at a club called The Beach, since Fionn MacCool's across the street is closed on Sundays. After I sat at a table awaiting a waitress for 20 minutes and CS & MF stood at the bar waiting for a bartender for 20 minutes, we gave up. The place only had one table of four people, and the bar was only 1/3 full of people sitting down with no one dancing to an inexperienced DJ (too many abrupt transitions). We left despite the manager's pleas.
We then walked to Lynch's Irish Pub and had some drinks. There were Scottish people there, and the guys in our group felt the need to bond and console them. I should note this was a running trend, especially with JM, who wanted to talk to every Scot after the game. MF was on the hunt for a frozen margarita (not available at Lynch's); after talking with a gal at the bar, we headed to Mango's.
When you think of a bar named Mango's, you probably imagine tiki furniture, beach decor, and lots of drinks with umbrellas. We walked in, and there were lots of bikers, basic bar stools, and no decor. Needless to say, although the waitress greeted us IMMEDIATELY upon walking in, they didn't have a frozen drink machine. We were very sad after experiencing such poor service at our previous two bars.
We then walked to the Da Big Kahuna next door and struck gold. Not only did they have frozen drinks, but long island iced teas (my signature drink) were also available. However, after walking around, MF and I asked the bartender what "the big clam shell is," and she explained that it's full of jungle juice, the same price as a fish bowl, but has more liquid. We decided to try it.
Jungle juice is heaven. I also think you will feel the affects of the alcohol more if you eat the fruit. During our first clam shell, we asked the price, and it is only $25. I can't explain how cheap this is for the amount of drink/fruit you get considering a 60oz mojito during happy hour at the Cavalier Hotel in Miami's South Beach is $40. We decided to ride out the beginnings of tropical storm Beryl with two jungle juices.
At one point, I decided I wanted to go out to the beach, and MF came along. It wasn't really raining too hard, so we darted across the parking lot, climbed some stairs, and dipped our feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The water was cold, unlike the previous day. As we left, a gust of wind arrived, and the sand coming off of the beach seriously felt like pins and needles. But, I only live once, and I can say I've been in the ocean during a tropical storm.
After Da Big Kahuna, we decided to call it a night, but first stopped at Pizza Hut. JM was worried about missing the Oklahoma City NBA game, so MF took him to the hotel while we waited for the pizza (and then came back to pick us up). It's a good thing we made a stop for food, even though we weren't really too hungry.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we took advantage of the breakfast nook area, using the paper plates, utensils, cups, and napkins. We left the light off because the hallway light outside the area provided enough light. The manager came over and said, "You guys can turn on the light!" After we told her we liked the ambience, she said, "You need a candle!" She was very nice. During our soiree, the power went out, and tropical storm Beryl started to take effect.
Despite being about 15ft from the hotel's front desk, shenanigans ensued. CS decided to somehow tie a napkin to the back of his shirt. MF and CS wheeled each other around on the luggage carts. At one point, a guest who waiting for a flashlight (handed out by the hotel staff at the front desk) asked, "Sir, do you know you have a napkin on your back?" CS replied, "Why yes, it's a cape!" and ran quickly in circles to demonstrate. The guest replied, "It would work better with towels," and CS admitted he had yet to go upstairs to the hotel room. Of everything that happened that night, that was the best incidence.
I don't remember the exact time we decided to head to the room; it was probably around 12-1AM. The room was hot, but luckily we could open the large window (drizzling with little wind). I took a shower; thank goodness for the Tiny Flashlight + LED Android app. I remember the weather was quite muggy, but it's interesting how no one complained. Everyone found their sleeping areas in the dark quietly without a fuss. Within an hour, just as I was getting to sleep, the power came on. As MF had predicted earlier, every light in the room turned on, the group groaned, turned off the lights, and returned to sleep.
Around 8AM we all woke up and started preparing for departure. The group left impressively on time at 9AM, including packing the trunk and strapping the canopy to the roof of the SUV. Super Shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 9AM, but instead a taxi arrived around 9:15AM. My flight left on time; the airport was eerily empty, most likely because people must have panicked the previous day about tropical storm Beryl. My friends only took 12 hours to arrive to Houston, which was impressive.
So, that was pretty much my Jacksonville trip. On to Tampa!
After lunch, we decided to go back to Jacksonville Beach, where we were the last two nights. I was craving ice cream. "That is such an Erin Dallas thing to say - wanting ice cream after this huge dish!" exclaimed CS. I replied, "Yes, mint chocolate chip please," and he grinned, "That sounds amazing." So, we went to Rita's Italian Ices, which was okay. [See links for reviews.]
The weather was starting to turn, becoming windier, so we sought refuge at a club called The Beach, since Fionn MacCool's across the street is closed on Sundays. After I sat at a table awaiting a waitress for 20 minutes and CS & MF stood at the bar waiting for a bartender for 20 minutes, we gave up. The place only had one table of four people, and the bar was only 1/3 full of people sitting down with no one dancing to an inexperienced DJ (too many abrupt transitions). We left despite the manager's pleas.
We then walked to Lynch's Irish Pub and had some drinks. There were Scottish people there, and the guys in our group felt the need to bond and console them. I should note this was a running trend, especially with JM, who wanted to talk to every Scot after the game. MF was on the hunt for a frozen margarita (not available at Lynch's); after talking with a gal at the bar, we headed to Mango's.
When you think of a bar named Mango's, you probably imagine tiki furniture, beach decor, and lots of drinks with umbrellas. We walked in, and there were lots of bikers, basic bar stools, and no decor. Needless to say, although the waitress greeted us IMMEDIATELY upon walking in, they didn't have a frozen drink machine. We were very sad after experiencing such poor service at our previous two bars.
We then walked to the Da Big Kahuna next door and struck gold. Not only did they have frozen drinks, but long island iced teas (my signature drink) were also available. However, after walking around, MF and I asked the bartender what "the big clam shell is," and she explained that it's full of jungle juice, the same price as a fish bowl, but has more liquid. We decided to try it.
Jungle juice is heaven. I also think you will feel the affects of the alcohol more if you eat the fruit. During our first clam shell, we asked the price, and it is only $25. I can't explain how cheap this is for the amount of drink/fruit you get considering a 60oz mojito during happy hour at the Cavalier Hotel in Miami's South Beach is $40. We decided to ride out the beginnings of tropical storm Beryl with two jungle juices.
At one point, I decided I wanted to go out to the beach, and MF came along. It wasn't really raining too hard, so we darted across the parking lot, climbed some stairs, and dipped our feet into the Atlantic Ocean. The water was cold, unlike the previous day. As we left, a gust of wind arrived, and the sand coming off of the beach seriously felt like pins and needles. But, I only live once, and I can say I've been in the ocean during a tropical storm.
After Da Big Kahuna, we decided to call it a night, but first stopped at Pizza Hut. JM was worried about missing the Oklahoma City NBA game, so MF took him to the hotel while we waited for the pizza (and then came back to pick us up). It's a good thing we made a stop for food, even though we weren't really too hungry.
Upon arrival at the hotel, we took advantage of the breakfast nook area, using the paper plates, utensils, cups, and napkins. We left the light off because the hallway light outside the area provided enough light. The manager came over and said, "You guys can turn on the light!" After we told her we liked the ambience, she said, "You need a candle!" She was very nice. During our soiree, the power went out, and tropical storm Beryl started to take effect.
Despite being about 15ft from the hotel's front desk, shenanigans ensued. CS decided to somehow tie a napkin to the back of his shirt. MF and CS wheeled each other around on the luggage carts. At one point, a guest who waiting for a flashlight (handed out by the hotel staff at the front desk) asked, "Sir, do you know you have a napkin on your back?" CS replied, "Why yes, it's a cape!" and ran quickly in circles to demonstrate. The guest replied, "It would work better with towels," and CS admitted he had yet to go upstairs to the hotel room. Of everything that happened that night, that was the best incidence.
I don't remember the exact time we decided to head to the room; it was probably around 12-1AM. The room was hot, but luckily we could open the large window (drizzling with little wind). I took a shower; thank goodness for the Tiny Flashlight + LED Android app. I remember the weather was quite muggy, but it's interesting how no one complained. Everyone found their sleeping areas in the dark quietly without a fuss. Within an hour, just as I was getting to sleep, the power came on. As MF had predicted earlier, every light in the room turned on, the group groaned, turned off the lights, and returned to sleep.
Around 8AM we all woke up and started preparing for departure. The group left impressively on time at 9AM, including packing the trunk and strapping the canopy to the roof of the SUV. Super Shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 9AM, but instead a taxi arrived around 9:15AM. My flight left on time; the airport was eerily empty, most likely because people must have panicked the previous day about tropical storm Beryl. My friends only took 12 hours to arrive to Houston, which was impressive.
So, that was pretty much my Jacksonville trip. On to Tampa!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Jacksonville USMNT May 25-26, 2012
Memorial weekend was great because I spent it in Jacksonville. While my friends (from Texian Army & AO Houston) drove 15 hours to get there, I took the easy way out and departed on May 25th. From Houston, it's about a 2-2.5hr flight.
One thing to note about flying out of IAH is that TSA policies vary from terminal to terminal. In terminal C, you need to have your boarding pass before you enter the scanning machine. In terminal B, which is where I was for Jacksonville departure, you only need to have your boarding pass before you enter the scanning machine IF it is in paper form. If you have a mobile version of your boarding pass, you don't have to show it to the TSA agents prior to entering the scanning machine. I find this oddly ironic.
It's funny how my friends left Houston around 10:30PM the night before, but arrived at the hotel about 10 minutes later than me. At the hotel, two of the four decided to sleep and not attend the public training (LAME!). I paid for a US Soccer membership so that we could have field access (will be useful for future games this year), and it was great. One of my friends, JM, was also able to get a couple of locals (Adam and Nikki) onto the field by showing his US Soccer membership card despite failure to pre-register (take note!). It turned out Adam and Nikki were AO members of the Jacksonville chapter, so we made instant friends.
We took many pictures with the players (Boca, Timmy, Dempsey, and Cameron being my favorites), and MF was able to get her jersey signed by Beckerman. At one point, Clint was training by himself, and I yelled, "Nacogdoches!" I'm not sure if he heard me, but during the autograph session he and MF compared Texas tattoos. He thinks his is better because he has Nacogdoches starred, but everyone knows that it's really NacaNoWhere.
From there, we went back to the hotel, picked up the sleepy lame ones (CS & MS), and headed to Fionn MacCool's for dinner, based on Adam's recommendation for food. His recommendation did NOT disappoint. The scotch egg and beer cheese soup in a bread bowl were both delicious and excellent in quality. The portion sizes were generous for the prices, and $3 pints of Yuengling satisfied the sleepy lame ones, since they weren't eating. Just FYI, Yuengling cannot be found in Houston (or Texas from what I've been told), so apparently it is a hot commodity.
From Fionn MacCool's, we walked to Lynch's Irish Pub a block away, home of the AO Jacksonville chapter. This was definitely a happening place, not just because of all the American Outlaws, but because it seems to be a local's favorite hangout (based on the line at the front door). I ran into the two Phoenix guys (hung out with them in Miami and Los Angeles last year) that always travel, which was good. AO Jacksonville seems to have unique chants, and we now have in our heads images of Oompa Loompas with the gold ticket forever associated with this chapter.
The next day (May 26th) after free breakfast at the hotel, we decided to hit Jacksonville Beach - same area where we were the previous night. The beach is non-alcoholic, but we still brought alcohol. As long as you quietly pour beer into a cup (get free cups from Whataburger), the cops won't disturb you. The beach was pretty packed, although not uncomfortably crowded. My friends had brought the canopy from Houston (strapped to the roof of the SUV). Apparently there had been a huge argument prior to driving as to how to secure the canopy, but one of the guys said, "Thanks for making us bring the canopy" because it was extremely hot. The sand was so hot it wasn't uncommon for small children to cry.
The waves were pretty rough. Unlike the beach in Surfside, TX, it was impossible to make it out to sea past the break where the waves started. Nevertheless, the water was clean and there was no seaweed being brought ashore, which was a nice change. CS and MS rented boogie boards ($15/hour), but MS had a hard time since he didn't know how to boogie board in the first place. Many of us returned sunburned, but it was worth it.
Around 1PM or so we headed back to the hotel to shower and change. I will say it is impressive when you can get five, sandy people to shower, change, and get ready for the game (tailgate supplies included) within an hour. We also had sandwich stuff from the store (luncheon meat, bread, and condiments), which was helpful throughout the whole trip. We also had a refrigerator, and that was a lifesaver (not all hotels provide fridges).
The tailgate was one of the best I've attended at the USMNT games mainly because the Jacksonville chapter had a HUGE grill. Typically at AO tailgates, we just order pizza, but this time were were grilled hamburgers and Ballpark hot dogs. [The hot dog brand makes a difference, so take note!] We met people from all over the nation - El Paso, Dallas (not a FC Dallas fan/supporter, whew!), Jacksonville, Phoenix, and goodness knows where else. People were cool, although when we initially entered the parking lot (grassy area), someone asked MS rudely, "Why are you wearing a kilt?" I should note MS, being of Scottish heritage, wore a kilt (nothing underneath!) with a US Soccer jersey.
The game itself was a blast, of course, since the USMNT won 5-1. Everbank Field is your typical stadium with no shade. There was a woman checking every ticket for our section. I will say security was quite lax. There were probably about four or so small smoke bombs lit. You can tell whoever was setting them was an amateur, sending up smoke within a couple of minutes of kickoff (no goal). The smoke bombs were so small though that they may not have made it on television. Nothing was done (that I know of) in terms of consequences, and we can still bring banners to this week's game.
After the game, we headed back to the tailgate area at Russ Doe's sandwich shop. The sandwich shop made quite a bit of money on parking, allowing us to park for $10 on their grass lot. We hung out with the Phoenix guys for so long that there were only four vehicles left (including each of ours). Someone needed a jump, but we didn't have jumper cables.
We were still wide awake, so we decided to have a pool party at the hotel (thanks hotel for having unlocked gate). CS, being a board of director, invited everyone in Texian Army via Facebook to join us (of course, some couldn't make it to Jacksonville on short notice). However, upon review at the hotel, there was no more beer. I found a 24-hour Walgreens within a 5-min drive who sold alcohol until 2AM. At 1:40AM, to quote CS, "I've never seen us so motivated to go somewhere; I like it." We managed to make it to Walgreens in time. There were at least three other people who also had the same idea at 2AM. We finally went to bed around 4AM, despite my suggestion that we should stay up another two hours to have breakfast.
I will resume this chronicle tomorrow. Good night.
One thing to note about flying out of IAH is that TSA policies vary from terminal to terminal. In terminal C, you need to have your boarding pass before you enter the scanning machine. In terminal B, which is where I was for Jacksonville departure, you only need to have your boarding pass before you enter the scanning machine IF it is in paper form. If you have a mobile version of your boarding pass, you don't have to show it to the TSA agents prior to entering the scanning machine. I find this oddly ironic.
It's funny how my friends left Houston around 10:30PM the night before, but arrived at the hotel about 10 minutes later than me. At the hotel, two of the four decided to sleep and not attend the public training (LAME!). I paid for a US Soccer membership so that we could have field access (will be useful for future games this year), and it was great. One of my friends, JM, was also able to get a couple of locals (Adam and Nikki) onto the field by showing his US Soccer membership card despite failure to pre-register (take note!). It turned out Adam and Nikki were AO members of the Jacksonville chapter, so we made instant friends.
We took many pictures with the players (Boca, Timmy, Dempsey, and Cameron being my favorites), and MF was able to get her jersey signed by Beckerman. At one point, Clint was training by himself, and I yelled, "Nacogdoches!" I'm not sure if he heard me, but during the autograph session he and MF compared Texas tattoos. He thinks his is better because he has Nacogdoches starred, but everyone knows that it's really NacaNoWhere.
From there, we went back to the hotel, picked up the sleepy lame ones (CS & MS), and headed to Fionn MacCool's for dinner, based on Adam's recommendation for food. His recommendation did NOT disappoint. The scotch egg and beer cheese soup in a bread bowl were both delicious and excellent in quality. The portion sizes were generous for the prices, and $3 pints of Yuengling satisfied the sleepy lame ones, since they weren't eating. Just FYI, Yuengling cannot be found in Houston (or Texas from what I've been told), so apparently it is a hot commodity.
From Fionn MacCool's, we walked to Lynch's Irish Pub a block away, home of the AO Jacksonville chapter. This was definitely a happening place, not just because of all the American Outlaws, but because it seems to be a local's favorite hangout (based on the line at the front door). I ran into the two Phoenix guys (hung out with them in Miami and Los Angeles last year) that always travel, which was good. AO Jacksonville seems to have unique chants, and we now have in our heads images of Oompa Loompas with the gold ticket forever associated with this chapter.
The next day (May 26th) after free breakfast at the hotel, we decided to hit Jacksonville Beach - same area where we were the previous night. The beach is non-alcoholic, but we still brought alcohol. As long as you quietly pour beer into a cup (get free cups from Whataburger), the cops won't disturb you. The beach was pretty packed, although not uncomfortably crowded. My friends had brought the canopy from Houston (strapped to the roof of the SUV). Apparently there had been a huge argument prior to driving as to how to secure the canopy, but one of the guys said, "Thanks for making us bring the canopy" because it was extremely hot. The sand was so hot it wasn't uncommon for small children to cry.
The waves were pretty rough. Unlike the beach in Surfside, TX, it was impossible to make it out to sea past the break where the waves started. Nevertheless, the water was clean and there was no seaweed being brought ashore, which was a nice change. CS and MS rented boogie boards ($15/hour), but MS had a hard time since he didn't know how to boogie board in the first place. Many of us returned sunburned, but it was worth it.
Around 1PM or so we headed back to the hotel to shower and change. I will say it is impressive when you can get five, sandy people to shower, change, and get ready for the game (tailgate supplies included) within an hour. We also had sandwich stuff from the store (luncheon meat, bread, and condiments), which was helpful throughout the whole trip. We also had a refrigerator, and that was a lifesaver (not all hotels provide fridges).
The tailgate was one of the best I've attended at the USMNT games mainly because the Jacksonville chapter had a HUGE grill. Typically at AO tailgates, we just order pizza, but this time were were grilled hamburgers and Ballpark hot dogs. [The hot dog brand makes a difference, so take note!] We met people from all over the nation - El Paso, Dallas (not a FC Dallas fan/supporter, whew!), Jacksonville, Phoenix, and goodness knows where else. People were cool, although when we initially entered the parking lot (grassy area), someone asked MS rudely, "Why are you wearing a kilt?" I should note MS, being of Scottish heritage, wore a kilt (nothing underneath!) with a US Soccer jersey.
The game itself was a blast, of course, since the USMNT won 5-1. Everbank Field is your typical stadium with no shade. There was a woman checking every ticket for our section. I will say security was quite lax. There were probably about four or so small smoke bombs lit. You can tell whoever was setting them was an amateur, sending up smoke within a couple of minutes of kickoff (no goal). The smoke bombs were so small though that they may not have made it on television. Nothing was done (that I know of) in terms of consequences, and we can still bring banners to this week's game.
After the game, we headed back to the tailgate area at Russ Doe's sandwich shop. The sandwich shop made quite a bit of money on parking, allowing us to park for $10 on their grass lot. We hung out with the Phoenix guys for so long that there were only four vehicles left (including each of ours). Someone needed a jump, but we didn't have jumper cables.
We were still wide awake, so we decided to have a pool party at the hotel (thanks hotel for having unlocked gate). CS, being a board of director, invited everyone in Texian Army via Facebook to join us (of course, some couldn't make it to Jacksonville on short notice). However, upon review at the hotel, there was no more beer. I found a 24-hour Walgreens within a 5-min drive who sold alcohol until 2AM. At 1:40AM, to quote CS, "I've never seen us so motivated to go somewhere; I like it." We managed to make it to Walgreens in time. There were at least three other people who also had the same idea at 2AM. We finally went to bed around 4AM, despite my suggestion that we should stay up another two hours to have breakfast.
I will resume this chronicle tomorrow. Good night.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Kansas City USMNT Flights
It's funny how ESP somewhat works. After a heavy discussion yesterday during Mexico/Brazil game about the FIFA and CONCACAF schedules, I decided this morning around 9AM CDT I'd go ahead and put a vacation request for Oct. 15-17, 2012.
Little did I know US Soccer would release the final US city this year for a world cup qualifier this afternoon - Kansas City.
Kudos to Kansas City. I like the Power and Light District, the BBQ is definitely better than North Carolina (gag), and let's face it - it's a soccer-dedicated stadium.
But, I have to admit, I am kind of getting tired of going there. Between the MLS Eastern Conference final last year and the Olympic qualifiers this year (when the USA failed to show up - let's not say more), I've now been to KC twice in the last year. October 2012 will be the third time in nearly a year I'll be there.
Nevertheless, I am looking to book a flight next week. My allowance is 1 trip booked per credit card statement. Is there something going on in KC (besides the USMNT game) that I should know about?
Little did I know US Soccer would release the final US city this year for a world cup qualifier this afternoon - Kansas City.
Kudos to Kansas City. I like the Power and Light District, the BBQ is definitely better than North Carolina (gag), and let's face it - it's a soccer-dedicated stadium.
But, I have to admit, I am kind of getting tired of going there. Between the MLS Eastern Conference final last year and the Olympic qualifiers this year (when the USA failed to show up - let's not say more), I've now been to KC twice in the last year. October 2012 will be the third time in nearly a year I'll be there.
Nevertheless, I am looking to book a flight next week. My allowance is 1 trip booked per credit card statement. Is there something going on in KC (besides the USMNT game) that I should know about?
- United: $867 nonstop <insert HUGE gasp>
- Southwest: $314.70, 1 stop each way
- American Airlines: $312.70, 1 stop each way
- Airtran: $321.70, 1 stop each way (5-6 hours)
- Delta (don't ever leave the airport): ~$900, 1 stop each way (uh, no)
- Frontier: nearly $400, actually operated by Republic Airlines (?!?!), 1 stop each way (~5 hours)
- Travelocity hotel/flight package: $584.30 through American Airlines (1 stop each way) with hotel near Power and Light District. Orbitz also has a comparable package.
- Air Canada does not conduct USA domestic flights.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Jacksonville USMNT Trip Logistics
Planning a trip is always fun and lately it's been somewhat of an addiction. Jacksonville was a unique situation in that I had 4 friends drive to FL from TX (15 hours to get there and 12 hours to come back), so I didn't need to rent a car. As the date approached, WorldMate (excellent app!) kept reminding me to rent a car, and I had to ignore the reminder after doing a double-check every time.
I had booked the trip in February, shortly after US Soccer made the announcement of the USA vs Scotland friendly on May 26, 2012. I have learned it's best to book as quickly as possible before airlines figure out there's a game scheduled and raise their prices. The cheapest option was a hotel and airfare package through United Vacations for about $600. While this may seem extravagant, the trip was booked during Memorial Weekend for three nights of hotel. Within two months of the date, airfare began to soar, costing as much as $450 alone without the hotel.
I should note that even though I had booked the trip in February, United does give a 100% refund if you cancel about a month in advance. After that, the percentage is prorated, e.g. 80% refund if canceling within 3 weeks of departure. Of course, if you wait until the week of departure, there is no refund.
I don't always do these kind of packages (because you do have to pay all of the money up front), but if I can afford it, I will do it. I have learned never sign up for a hotel/airfare/car rental package, as I always have cheaper options for a car rental (whether it be a coupon or free double upgrade). Car rental coupons can only be applied if you book directly with the company; you cannot apply car rental coupons when booking through a third party (in this case, United Vacations). Since I've made this mistake before, often the third party will allow you to cancel the car rental portion of the package with no penalty.
I did book ground transportation to/from the hotel and the airport. Typically when I need ground transportation, I book through Super Shuttle because they are the only company nationwide with whom I can book online. Although I support local businesses, many independently owned companies require you to complete a form with your flight information, and someone will call/email you later to confirm. I prefer instantaneous booking. [I suppose that's the American in me.]
We stayed at the Best Western Mayport Inn and Suites in Atlantic Beach, FL, about 40 minutes from the airport. The cost of Super Shuttle was $105 round trip. Although this seems like a lot, a one-way cab fare can be as much as $75 if you were to book directly with the cab company. For ground transportation, instead of a shuttle van, a taxi was sent. Super Shuttle will send a taxi if their vans are unable to make the trip, and will reimburse the taxi company the fare. I had to sign a voucher each time so that the cab driver could account for the fare.
The company who brought me back to the airport is Checker Cab. I thought it was neat I received a text message when the taxi was dispatched to the hotel. If you need to be picked up, you can fill out the form online or text the address and zip code to 904-222-8507. I've kept this number in my contacts in case I visit Jacksonville again.
In a nutshell, this was my experience when booking hotel, airfare, and ground transportation in Jacksonville. It may seem easy when I write the logistics in a nice little blog post, but this trip took weeks of research to plan. Nevertheless, the trip was worth it, and we had a blast!
I had booked the trip in February, shortly after US Soccer made the announcement of the USA vs Scotland friendly on May 26, 2012. I have learned it's best to book as quickly as possible before airlines figure out there's a game scheduled and raise their prices. The cheapest option was a hotel and airfare package through United Vacations for about $600. While this may seem extravagant, the trip was booked during Memorial Weekend for three nights of hotel. Within two months of the date, airfare began to soar, costing as much as $450 alone without the hotel.
I should note that even though I had booked the trip in February, United does give a 100% refund if you cancel about a month in advance. After that, the percentage is prorated, e.g. 80% refund if canceling within 3 weeks of departure. Of course, if you wait until the week of departure, there is no refund.
I don't always do these kind of packages (because you do have to pay all of the money up front), but if I can afford it, I will do it. I have learned never sign up for a hotel/airfare/car rental package, as I always have cheaper options for a car rental (whether it be a coupon or free double upgrade). Car rental coupons can only be applied if you book directly with the company; you cannot apply car rental coupons when booking through a third party (in this case, United Vacations). Since I've made this mistake before, often the third party will allow you to cancel the car rental portion of the package with no penalty.
I did book ground transportation to/from the hotel and the airport. Typically when I need ground transportation, I book through Super Shuttle because they are the only company nationwide with whom I can book online. Although I support local businesses, many independently owned companies require you to complete a form with your flight information, and someone will call/email you later to confirm. I prefer instantaneous booking. [I suppose that's the American in me.]
We stayed at the Best Western Mayport Inn and Suites in Atlantic Beach, FL, about 40 minutes from the airport. The cost of Super Shuttle was $105 round trip. Although this seems like a lot, a one-way cab fare can be as much as $75 if you were to book directly with the cab company. For ground transportation, instead of a shuttle van, a taxi was sent. Super Shuttle will send a taxi if their vans are unable to make the trip, and will reimburse the taxi company the fare. I had to sign a voucher each time so that the cab driver could account for the fare.
The company who brought me back to the airport is Checker Cab. I thought it was neat I received a text message when the taxi was dispatched to the hotel. If you need to be picked up, you can fill out the form online or text the address and zip code to 904-222-8507. I've kept this number in my contacts in case I visit Jacksonville again.
In a nutshell, this was my experience when booking hotel, airfare, and ground transportation in Jacksonville. It may seem easy when I write the logistics in a nice little blog post, but this trip took weeks of research to plan. Nevertheless, the trip was worth it, and we had a blast!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Intro
After much prodding by a friend, I've decided to start a blog about my soccer experiences. I live in Houston, TX, and I am a supporter of Houston Dynamo and USA. I've been a member of Texian Army since 2007 and a member of American Outlaws since 2009. Effective this year, I am also a member of the US Soccer Supporters Club.
To give you an idea of how much I travel for games, last year I attended 8 away Dynamo games and 4 US Men's National Team (USMNT) games. So far this year, I've traveled to Phoenix and Jacksonville for USMNT and Dallas for the my first US Women's National Team game. I also have trips scheduled for Tampa Bay and Columbus (USMNT). This year I will probably not travel for Dynamo as much mainly because the schedule contains many cities I've already visited, and the away schedule is not conducing for those who work full-time. I have yet to go to a Dynamo away game, but I do have a trip scheduled in Denver for the last game of the regular MLS season.
I also paid the deposit to American Outlaws for the first plane headed to the 2014 World Cup. The trip is going to be epic. We have filled three planes, but a waiting list has started for the fourth plane. For those who don't know, the total package (including the deposit) is about $5500. This may seem like a large sum of money, but you have two years to save. The package includes airfare from Houston to Brazil, transportation between cities, hotel for 13 days (breakfast included), and ground transportation between hotel/pre-game party/stadium. Given the size of the country, paying the $5500 is worth it so that you don't have to worry about the logistics of traveling. The San Diego AO chapter has already booked my house in anticipation of needing accommodations in Houston prior to departure.
In a nutshell, attending games is my first and foremost pastime. Between Dynamo and USA, there are as many as three games per week. For example, this past past week, the Dynamo had two games (San Antonio on Tuesday for US Open Cup and home game on Thursday against Valencia for Dynamo Charities Cup), and the USA played Brazil in a friendly on Wednesday. My parents keep track of both team's schedules, which gives them an indication as to my whereabouts on games nights. Given my involvement, recent graduation (Masters of Science in Health Sciences from George Washington University in Clinical Research Administration), and love for writing, it is fitting I start a blog (with mobile capabilities) devoted to this subject.
To give you an idea of how much I travel for games, last year I attended 8 away Dynamo games and 4 US Men's National Team (USMNT) games. So far this year, I've traveled to Phoenix and Jacksonville for USMNT and Dallas for the my first US Women's National Team game. I also have trips scheduled for Tampa Bay and Columbus (USMNT). This year I will probably not travel for Dynamo as much mainly because the schedule contains many cities I've already visited, and the away schedule is not conducing for those who work full-time. I have yet to go to a Dynamo away game, but I do have a trip scheduled in Denver for the last game of the regular MLS season.
I also paid the deposit to American Outlaws for the first plane headed to the 2014 World Cup. The trip is going to be epic. We have filled three planes, but a waiting list has started for the fourth plane. For those who don't know, the total package (including the deposit) is about $5500. This may seem like a large sum of money, but you have two years to save. The package includes airfare from Houston to Brazil, transportation between cities, hotel for 13 days (breakfast included), and ground transportation between hotel/pre-game party/stadium. Given the size of the country, paying the $5500 is worth it so that you don't have to worry about the logistics of traveling. The San Diego AO chapter has already booked my house in anticipation of needing accommodations in Houston prior to departure.
In a nutshell, attending games is my first and foremost pastime. Between Dynamo and USA, there are as many as three games per week. For example, this past past week, the Dynamo had two games (San Antonio on Tuesday for US Open Cup and home game on Thursday against Valencia for Dynamo Charities Cup), and the USA played Brazil in a friendly on Wednesday. My parents keep track of both team's schedules, which gives them an indication as to my whereabouts on games nights. Given my involvement, recent graduation (Masters of Science in Health Sciences from George Washington University in Clinical Research Administration), and love for writing, it is fitting I start a blog (with mobile capabilities) devoted to this subject.
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