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!
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