Saturday Slight

We saw a lot of purple while waiting for our plane at Sea-Tac yesterday.  University of Washington Husky Fans were headed to the big season opener in Boise vs the Broncos. 

I asked a few who would win the game.  They said the Huskies but with a little grin, acknowledging that it would be a tough game.

Well, it was, but I don't think a lot was lost with either team.  The Huskies did mount a strong comeback in the second half and almost tied.  The field goal attempt missed. 

It had to be bittersweet for Coach Chris Peterson who was coaching the Broncos two years ago, but his team's efforts in the second half had to be somewhat satisfying.  

Of course, with the Bronco fans in this family, we were happy about the Boise State win and happy that their former coach left Bronco Stadium last night without too much embarrassment.

We were happy campers coming back from Seattle yesterday, thanks to the Seahawks victory the night before.  

I must say, however, that the overall experience had more downs than ups.  Nothing wrong with the game.  It was great. Nothing wrong with all the extra glitz that makes those games a pure entertaining spectacle.  

That's where the good stuff ends.  

Let's talk about the flights.  I am still wondering why we could do a family trip to Dublin, Ireland, and back without a glitch when two of us with just carry-on bags going on a simple trip 50-minute to Seattle could endure a healthy dose of frustration, both coming and going.

We arrived at the airport Thursday in plenty of time, breezed through security and then had time to sit and wait.  Well, we sat and waited a whole lot longer than expected.

First, they announced the flight was a few minutes late.  Then, they told us we could board. We boarded and sat. Then, we waited. Then, they said they were checking out a safety issue and we would be underway soon.

Then, the captain took the mike and told us there was a "compliance issue" with the lighting in the back seats where we were sitting. We would have to de-plane. So we did. 

We sat inside for another half hour or 45 minutes.  Then, we were called back to the plane. This time it took off and carried us to Seattle, about two hours later than we had expected.  

So, we hurried to get our rental car. We picked out a Ford Focus, just like the Pope uses for his transportation. We went to our hotel and checked in. Then, we headed for the stadium.

We found a parking lot (well, let's say a dirt lot with a lot of wet potholes)  near the stadium for $30.  When we pulled in, they said it was $40.  Bill reminded them that the sign said $30.  They said there were communications problems with their staff---the price was $40.  

Then, the lot attendant directed Bill to where he was supposed to park the Ford Focus. He made Bill pull out of the spot three times and back in closer and closer to the car next to us.

My normally low key husband Bill was losing patience.  I told him to calm down.  Finally, he passed the parking test and we were allowed to head on our way. 

So, we walked to the stadium, with my stopping often to take pictures.  Then, we started the security gauntlet with the first announcement stating, "You can't take the fanny pack into the stadium."  

We were a long ways from our $40 tight parking spot at that time. 

"Well, what do I do?" I asked.  

They told me there were lockers for $20 a block or so back.  So, we walked to the locker area, paid the $20 and headed back to the stadium.  

We were frisked a couple of times and, by the time I made it into the stadium, I felt like the most extreme airport security I'd ever experienced was a piece of cake in comparison to this. 

We found our seats on the 25-yard line fairly close to the field.  Curt Hagan of Sandpoint bought those seats years ago.  He offered tickets for two at a Trout Unlimited Auction earlier this summer, and Bill bought. 

Yes, very nice seats and finally we could get our dinner, sit down and watch the action. First, Bill went to get his while I held down the fort.  

When he came back, he chuckled about being asked for ID when he bought his beer and telling them he'd be glad to show his Medicare card.  

Then, I went to get my dinner.  I ordered an $8 bratwurst, remembering with the delight those I'd had a Mariners games smothered with sauerkraut and topped of with a nice cold beer. 

Well, they handed me this skimpy little hotdog that got roughed up to LOOK like a bratwurst. It was in a skimpy, dry bun.  

Oh well, I thought, the beer will still taste good. 

Carrying my miniature bratwurst, I went to the beer booth.  

"Could I have your ID?" the clerk asked. 

"Are you kidding?" I asked, chuckling and taking off my hat to show my wrinkles and gray hair. 

"I can't sell you a beer without an ID," she said.  

Of course, she was kidding, trying to make an old lady feel good.  I even thought about playing the "Medicare card trick" that Bill had done moments before.

She continued to inisist that I needed an ID----NFL policy, she said. 

"But my wallet is in my fanny pack, and I paid $20 to put it in a security locker," I pleaded. 

No sympathy, just a repeat that it was policy.  

"Sorry," she said. 

Like a kid who's lost its mommy, I walked off through the mass of humanity with my miniature, fake bratwurst in hand and thought maybe I could talk some other clerk into letting me buy an uber expensive glass of beer. 

No dice.  At every booth, ID's were being pulled out and shown. 

Suddenly the fake mini bratwurst seemed like comfort food.  I gobbled it up in four bites or was it three?

Then, I thought maybe I'd better spend another wad and get a few bites of something else to eat.  So, I bought a pretzel for $5.  

It was a naked pretzel without any of that yucky cheese sauce or giant sea salt crystals, so I did not have to pay an arm and a leg--just $5.

Then, I bought some water, and THEN the lightbulb flashed off in my head:  BILL had ID; he could come back up, buy my beer, pull a fast one on the NFL who would NOT sell a 68-year-old wrinkle-faced grandmother of Border Collies a beer. 

This was definitely DEFLATED-gate at its best, as far as I was concerned.  I was totally DEFLATED until the lightbulb flashed the great idea of getting past the idiots who came up with such a policy. 

Long story short----Bill bought me a beer and even got a compliment from the couple below us who gave us a bang for our many bucks we never expected.  

After complimenting Bill, the PDA (that's public displays of affection and fondling and all that stuff) ALL through the game from a pair of 60-plus-ers was much more than we expected to see at an NFL game. 

As said before, the game was great.  We loved watching from start to finish, especially because the show directly below us made us keep our eyes fixed on the field. 

After the Seahawk victory, we retrieved my fanny pack, went to the hotel and zonked off to sleep within minutes. 

All was well yesterday morning as we breezed through security at Sea-Tac and didn't even have to take our shoes off.  We killed a little time and soon found out we were going to be killing a whole lot more time.

The plane would be late.  Yes, it ended up being more than an hour late.  What else is new on this comedy-of-errors overnighter to Seattle and back.

Well, what is new is that we stopped at DICKS---yes, 50 years delighting its generational and socio-economic diverse cult following----we stopped to get a quick lunch (Whammy all the way for me) before heading home. 

Bill did the ordering, and it seemed like it was taking a LONG time for him to bring my Whammy and his fish and chips to the car.  I was even wondering if something happened to him.  

Finally, he appeared in the parking lot.  When he arrived at the car, he noted one more "par for the course" had happened on this crazy trip.  

The staff had forgotten his order!

Oh well, we survived and generally kept a positive attitude----'cept for that DEFLATE-gate stuff in Seattle. 

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

As I write, Annie is probably ready to take off from Tokyo, as her storied trip (pictures from yesterday) to Japan comes to an end.  

I hope her flight takes off on time, and I'm betting anything they'll serve her a beer on board WITHOUT asking for an ID. 

Sometimes we just have scratch our heads and wonder. 

Happy Saturday. 

Annie sent me this photo a few minutes ago, reassuring me  that Japan does have Western-style commodes with all the extras.  Does that mean I have to go to Japan to check 'em out?  It may be a while before I get on a plane again, let alone go check out the toilets in Asia!