Just one problem, the calendar. I had planned to miss two games, one on Mother's Day and this one. Kim is out of town, having a ball in Alaska, which leaves me with child care. I don't want to make it sound like a burden, but I could hardly ditch the Lucas and Jack (the boys) for eight hours to go to a game. Yes eight hours. It's a hundred miles in each direction, and the tailgating has become too good to miss. So it's a long day.
The solution - bring them along. I found tickets on stubhub, which only cost a couple of organs. But it was worth it to take the boys to their first match. Sounds altruistic that way, doesn't it? I wasn't just being selfish, I had talked up the Sounders all season so Lucas anyway was interested in going. I thought about trying Craig's List, but I'm dubious of that site. As I understand it you'd either have to drive somewhere to pick up the tickets or get arrested for solicitation. Or so I've read. So I overpaid at stubhub and just had to hope the tickets came on time. With the added FedEx charge, there should have been no worries.
I didn't have that guarantee with my other purchase for the the game, though. Wrestling masks. They've become a standard, so I had to include the kids. Yes, had to. I'm crazy that way. Prior to passing out Jack made me take mine off. Which did feel pretty good in the sunshine, but may have also put the whammy on the Sounders. Thank you, by the way, to everyone who has said that my not being there, or not wearing the mask, somehow influences the outcome. Makes me feel necessary. Also makes me feel that I'm with a bunch of nuts, so I must be in the right place.
Saturday I got up early to make some bacon. Two pounds worth. Didn't want to show up empty handed for the tailgate, plus it's one food the boys will consistently eat. We usually bake bacon, but I had a surprise this time. Spontaneous combustion. One three separate occasions I heard a "poof" from the oven then saw a (thankfully) brief flash. The bacon never did burn, but I half expected to find the house in ruins upon our return.
The boys and I headed in to the stadium early to collect our bobble heads and to stand in line for the kid activities. That consisted of a twenty minute wait to spin a wheel for a prize. Both walked away with a button. The grand prize was "Autograph Alley" which I assume means you get to have things signed after the game.
As for watching the game, I couldn't have prayed for better behavior. Everyone around us was very accepting of the kids, and even kept the language down. I wasn't going to say anything, I was just hopeful the cuss words they would learn on the day would be creative. But the Sounders put forth such a lackluster effort that the crowd was somewhat cowed. Jack even managed to sleep through about eighty minutes of the game, plus half-time. Thank God. I just had to hold the sleeping kid all day. By the way, my left arm is now a bit longer than my right. 
I don't know what I was thinking. But there was no way on earth I was going to be able to corral them both for the entire game. Realistically, I hoped to make it to half-time. Lucas, bless him, was as patient as he has EVER been. He had a couple oftussles with Rich and Dave, but they started it and deserved every kidney punch.
As for the game, Dwayne De Rosario is darned good. He's also a punk and needs a haircut. Perhaps that is why Houston traded him away. I was wondering what they got in return so I looked it up and it was surprisingly little. An allocation (whatever that means) and a rookie defender named Julius James. That man again, the same one Houston gave to DC for a third round draft pick and that Jon and I want to come to Seattle. I think Adrian Hanauer needs to make some phone calls and offer very little just to see how much in can get in return.
So you can't post comments...but you can publish...humm
ReplyDeleteKarl, I haven't had a problem with either - it was Jon. But he's incompetent.
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