day 4: GAME DAY, baby!

the day ryan has been waiting for for 9 months. the reason we came to hawaii. vacation, sun, beaches, etc were all bonuses. this was the real deal (at least for him).

while he did a fantasy football draft, i picked up, what else but, food. i got breakfast from L&L and okasu from ebisu for our lunch at the game. while out and about the radio annouced that traffic was already bad, the roads having endured an accident every hour since 6:30 causing back logs from waikiki to the stadium. we left around 9:30am a full 3 and a half hours prior to kick off at 1. we only sat down in our seat about 10 minutes to 1pm.

******* (to skip the following rant and stay on a positive note, go to the next set of asterisks)

we have NEVER experienced such awful traffic control as the one surrounding aloha stadium. it took us relatively no time at all to get off at the proper exit, but then we sat for about an hour and a half while traveling the 2 miles from the exit to the stadium. then at the last stop light before the stadium you have the option to go left over the bridge to Ford Island, the overflow parking or to go right toward the stadium parking. you figure, we're nearly 3 hours early, we should be able to get parking at the stadium. so we roll the dice and go towards the stadium as directed by the traffic cops like everyone else. the lane going to ford island was deserted. instead, we make a big, phat circle and end up on the opposite side of the original stop light because the only spaces left are for those with passes. but do they tell you that? of course not. instead you sit for an hour to end up right where you started and feel sorry for all those who have just arrived and haven't been wisely directed and are about to commit the same mistake as you did an hour before. we drive over the bridge to ford island, then have to stand in line to get aboard school bus to be shuttled back to the stadium. by the time we boarded and were on our way, the line to board the bus had more than tripled. ridiculous.

then I started to freak because i realized that I failed to notice any signs about what was allowed into the stadium and what was not. i had already bought our lunches, packed out bags and was going to have an absolute fit if A) I had to throw out the food and/or B) had to ditch my whole backpack. of course, outside food was not allowed in. i'm glad that the security at aloha stadium isn't in charge of homeland security. i basically threw my box of tampons right on top and cruised right in...works everytime (sorry guys if that was TMI). whole experience between our hotel room and when we sat down just sucked. but then it was all good cause it was game day, baby!

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our seat were nosebleed but the best nosebleed you can get, first row of the top most deck. from the minute we sat down ryan's camera was clicking. in the 4 hours or so he took nearly 300 pictures. t-h-r-e-e h-u-n-d-r-e-d.









i'm no football buff so here's where the story gets weak. there was such high expectations for the number one ranked college football team that i assumed that they would just BLOW AWAY the warriors. where they clearly dominated, it wasn't until the third quarter when they really took the lead and put 28 more points on the board. SC's defense was could have been stronger against the spirited warriors who obviously had nothing to lose and everything to gain against SC. we sat in an USC section which was buzzing with pride and enthusium for their beloved team. the band was right below us and there it was prime for people watching. we saw plenty of eye candy, guys with grass skirts, all kinds of red and gold. secretly, i wanted UH to do ok and am glad that they at least put some points on the board.



on our way home we stopped off at Waiola Shave Ice on Kapahulu and had lilikoi and haupia with custard. yummmm....



then the partying began... we had a cocktail a hula grill while waiting for mia to call. we met ended up meeting her, stefan, kiana, kristy, micah and gang at da dawg house in the international market place. a total dive, they made us stand in line for 10 minutes before we just left. the bouncer was dick and all we wanted to do was drink. we went to the next closest bar which was bobbie g's and made camp. shots of crown later, mia, stefan, ryan and i ditched the rest of the group and walked to lulu's for more drinks before retiring to our hotel. i'll let the pictures speak for themselves. we had a raging good time.