*WARNING: This is long, detailed, and full of rambling. I'm not going to
apologize, as this is my blog and I can post and type how I wish.. So I'm
just warning you :)*
different from a La Quinta game - the main difference was that the team we
were supporting didn't just actually score, but they won! That never
happened in high school :) Here's how my day went. Actually, a little background info. My Uncle David has been in town or the past few days, and he had some extra
tickets to the USC vs. Cal Berkley game, so he invited Selah, Jenna, Kenny,
and me. Now, Selah, Jenna, and I have spent too many hours to count at
football fields and sitting in stands.. But that was all high school and
that was all because we were in band - not because we are football
enthusiasts. Kenny, on the other hand, lives and breathes football - and not
just football, I must specify that it's the Broncos that he bleeds for. But,
we all decided to go! Huge bonus that the USC marching band is known for
being freaking amazing! Uncle David said the game was at 3:30, and that him
and his buddies always tailgate for a few hours ahead of time. So we decided
we'd leave Orange County around 12 to get there around 1. Last night around 9, Jenna texted and said that Uncle David told her the
game time got switched to 12:30, so we adjusted our times up by 3 hours. Back to today. I woke up at 6AM to the sound of two dogs - Bandit and Betti - whining and
barking (I'm housesitting in Rancho Santa Margarita right now) because they
are used to getting fed as soon as the sun comes out. So I ran downstairs,
put food in their bowls, took Bandit for a walk, then crawled back into bed
to try and sleep for another two hours. However, I am convinced that at one
time Bandit swallowed a squeaky toy, because he proceeded to squeak for the
two hours I was supposed to sleep. Around 7:45 I admitted defeat and started
getting ready. Out the door by 9. Then I got to drive two of my favorite roads in the entire world - Trabuco
Canyon and then Santiago Canyon. The drive would've been perfect (awesome on
a cold, misty morning).. Except for the three slow cars I was behind for the
entirety of the Santiago portion. It was awful. It was painful. I know I was
totally tailgating the one right in front of me. But I was frustrated that
they were ruining my beautiful morning! Finally got through the miserable portion of the ride (I know I'm being
dramatic, let me be for the time being, please (: ) Got to Selah's house, piled into her car, and then picked up Jenna at home..
And we were officially on our way! Introduced Selah to the beauty of the iPod Touch and all of the apps.. She
played games the entire way. Which then meant she killed my battery by the
time we got off the freeway. As for parking, all we knew was that we were supposed to park in the
structure on the corner of Figueroa and 37th. Of course, it seems like
there's ten corners to that intersection, so confusion was the first,
second, and third emotion. Then the emotion of realization - there were only
two structures there - so it was obviously one of those! Looked at the first
one, and all of the Enter spots were locked and gates shut - hmm, guess it's
not that one! So we went to the other one, and it had the same issue -
re-enter confusion emotion. Jenna then called Uncle David, who explained that that meant that the
structures were full (that makes complete sense.. I'm really not sure why
that didn't cross out minds.. Probably cuz of the building excitement over
the game to come...), so we needed to find a lot. We drove around and found
one right across from the Coliseum.. Only to see it was $40.. the structures
were only $25, so we knew that was obnoxious.. So we kept driving.. Around
the corner, around the block, over the river, and through the woods
later.... And Kenny pulls over into the PERFECT spot... About two miles from
the Coliseum, and in total and complete Ghettoville. The three white girls
in the car immediately protested and decided that $40 now sounded amazing!
We'll all pitch in $10, and we'll be good to go! So we drive back around,
and in the five minutes since we'd passes it the first time.. The price had
gone up $20.. Now Ghettoville was appealing. Kenny kept driving, headed for
GV, and after we drove under the freeway, we saw a sign that said "$25
PARKING!". Now THIS was perfect! Until we turned into the lot... We all
started laughing. Cuz it was so.. Well, Mexico. (See picture below. I'm not
exaggerating.) But, it was really close, and was cheaper than our ideal
spot.. So we took a chance, a leap of faith, a dash of salt over the
shoulder.. Turns out that it was $25 if you wanted a "Blocked" spot, and $35
if you want a "get out right away" spot.. Well, $35 is still less than we
were willing to spend at the $40 place.. So that's what we went with.
Now, all we have to do is find Uncle David! We walk towards to Coliseum, and Jenna says "We're supposed to meet him at
the Olympic torch". It was at this point that I looked up and saw where we
were. We were at the Los Angeles Coliseum. I had seen the Olympic logo
beneath the name a few minutes before, but hadn't thought anything of it.
But now, NOW it clicked. This is the Coliseum where the Olympics were held!
My mind was blown for a second. I don't know why it didn't click before.
Most people probably know that the LA (Olympic) Coliseum is USC's home
field.. But we're not a sport family.. I've never watched a USC game in my
life. And the only thing I know about USC is that those are not the three
letters to mention around Matthew :).. Hahah.. So.. Made our way up to the Torch, and all I could see was crimson and gold.
Everywhere. And I realized one thing - USC was never an option for me
because I don't look good in the school colors. Anyways, as we got closer to the Torch, I was distracted by two things that
were very unexpected. Two large, naked things. They have statutes of a naked
man and a naked woman. Lifesize. And that.. Sure, I can deal with. It's
artistic. But... They were headless... I don't get it.
Called Uncle David and told him we were standing by the naked people. While
waiting for him, the Cal marching band "marched" in (see video in previous
post). I put "marched" in quotes because.. Well.. Maybe I'm a marching snob,
but I have certain expectations. And I feel that when you're marching,
you're at attention. So you're not talking to people, you're not wiping
sweat off your face, you're not adjusting hat straps.. I was trained that if
a bee lands on your face, you ignore it. So I was disappointed to not see
that. Oh well. College bands walk to their own drum (no pun intended), and
my standards are DCI.. Oh well!
Met his friends, and headed into the Coliseum. Learned that the naked people
were "olympians". Why must they be naked and headless? I don't know. But..
That's what they are. Also learned that the game time never changed. It had
been at 12:30 the whole time, but because he's from Ohio, his phone didn't
adjust the time in his calendar to be California time. You didn't need to
know that, but oh well! Then, we headed inside for the game. This is a long blog. I'll continue more tomorrow.