Thursday, August 29

Seahawks vs. Raiders Preseason Game

Our friend Del decided he didn't want to go to preseason this year so he asked if we wanted to go.  Ben couldn't go due to work so I asked mom if she wanted to go to the preseason game against the Raiders.  She said that sounded good and she would take part of the day off since she also had Friday off as well.  I also found out that my friend Liz and Darren were also going to the same game.  Their friend gave them tickets.  I asked her at work one day if we wanted to carpool up to Seattle and she said she would have to think about it because she wasn't sure of her and Darren's schedule that day.  I said, alright and told her to let me know when she knew.

I talked to mom about it as well.  I told her I really didn't know when we were going to leave nor if we had time to dink around Seattle.  I also added that Liz and Darren might catch a ride up with us but I wasn't 100% sure at this point.  I also mentioned that we needed to bring some sort of rain gear because it was suppose to rain that night.  I packed up the rain ponchos in our clear stadium appropriate bag.  I put in for a half day off and all of Friday at work.  I figure we were going to be out pretty late and I had scheduled an appointment for that afternoon a few weeks ago.  So it all worked out.  I was going to have a 4.5 day weekend with Labor Day being on Monday.  I was super stoked!

Liz said she and Darren would ride up with us and I told her we could leave early afternoon and head up.  I noticed lately Liz had been acting weird.  She was not as open with me as she used to be.  I feared the future of our friendship but I pushed it aside for the time being.  I honestly didn't think she and Darren would go with us. That morning, I got all of my work done except for the phone calls.  I left at 11:30.  Everyone said have fun at the Seahawks game.  I told them I would and I would see them on Tuesday.  I headed home and called mom to tell her just to go home, eat lunch and meet me at my house by 1.  I texted Liz and Darren to find out when they were going to be here.  They said they were just leaving the house and had to get gas.  By my guess they would be here around 1:30ish.  Mom got here and hung out a bit.

Liz and Darren arrived and told me that they hadn't eaten yet and they wanted to go to Red Robin's before we drove up to Seattle.  I said sure, why not.  Mom and I already ate because we didn't know about this lunch plan.  Just as well because now we didn't have to spend money for two meals...but just dinner at the stadium.  Darren sat with me in the front while Liz and my mom sat in the back.  Darren was chatty the entire ride to Seattle.

We got to Seattle pretty quickly and I was amazed to find a spot off of Massachusetts and 8th Ave near the DSHS building.  We were lucky and didn't have to pay for parking!  I found a place to parallel park, hid my stuff I didn't want seen under the seats, grabbed our stuff and walked the few blocks to the Clink. 

It had started to rain lightly on our way to the stadium and I am so glad we brought the rain ponchos.  Liz and Darren not so prepared and they had tickets on the 100 level where there is no cover.  They were going to get soaked unless they purchased the $5 Seahawk ponchos from the team store.  We got to the field house, went through security and inside to figure out where we wanted to go first.  I saw the tattoos and wanted one so we stood in line for that.  We made small talk as we waited.  When it was our turn I got the logo made it green and blue and added glitter because I could.  I gave my artist a dollar just to be nice.  I'm sure they appreciated the tips.  I walked over to the Q13 booth to grab a new durable schedule sign.  I grabbed a few more to bring home and give to people.

Mom and I walked towards the AmFam booth and we lost Liz and Darren in the process.  


AmFam were always taking game time photos and sometimes autographs from former Seahawks.  Today's autograph was from former guard Edwin Bailey, who wore #65.  We walked up and had him sign my towel and we took a picture with him.  


We thanked him and we both decided it was time to head upstairs into the stadium.  I was actually getting somewhat hungry so I asked mom if she was hungry as well.  She said sure.  I got the tickets on my phone and the ticket ushers scanned them and away we went.  

We decided on Ivar's since we have this maybe once or twice a year.  We stood in line and ordered two fish and chips and a bunch of tartar.  I grabbed a drink and our food and we walked over to a free table, sat down and ate.  Liz texted me asking where we were at.  I told her at a table near the team store.  Her and Darren were watching the little cheerleaders, which were probably going to be the half time show.  They eventually found us and they had to buy a poncho.  Before they walked to their seats, I told them to meet us here after the game.  Mom and I started our hike to our seats.  We were on the 300 level in section 309.  We stopped by the Seahawk wings on the way to our seats.  Mom wanted a picture.




It rained most of the game but mom and I were covered so we didn't have to wear our ponchos in our seats and we didn't get soaked.  The one time I was glad we had 300 level seats.  We actually sat with some really cool people this time around.  I remember the last preseason game I went to with mom last year against the Colts and how terrible their fans were, especially that one guy who everyone wanted to punch in the face.

It was fun and educational going to a preseason game because we got to see the new draft picks, the players we signed during the off season and the overall chemistry of how the team is on and off the field.  I was excited to see our new WR DK Metcalf.  I believe he will do great things for us this season.

In the first quarter we scored first with a touchdown throw from Geno Smith to Terry Wright.  The throw was perfect and very pretty to watch from our seats.  The crowd went nuts!  Jason Myers made the extra point.  We took the lead 7-0 with 12 minutes let to go in the first quarter.  Our defense stepped up and we only allowed them a field goal during the rest of the quarter.  We led 7-3 going into the second.


The second quarter we scored another touchdown, this time Smith to Jacob Hollister, with eight minutes left to go in the half.  Myers made the extra point and we added to our lead 14-3.  The Raiders marched down the field just before time ran out but only managed another field goal.  We went into half time up 14-6.


As could be expected, the third quarter was extremely boring.  It was pretty much back and forth until three minutes left in the quarter.  The Raiders managed to get another field goal but we still had the lead 14-9.

We finished our drive from the previous quarter with a made field goal from Myers.  We extended our lead 17-9.  We didn't do anything with our last possession but when the Raiders got the ball of course we played very loose defense and they made a run with the last couple minutes of the game.  The scored with less than two minutes left to go making the score 17-15.  They will be going for the 2-point conversion to try and tie it.  They failed.  Our defense sacked the quarterback.  


We take our last preseason game from the Raiders 17-15 and finish 3-1 overall.



I texted Liz and told them to meet us down in the lower concourse by the football helmet wall...kinda where we were earlier.  Mom and I made our way down there.  I assumed they would beat us there since they didn't have far to walk.  Since she was easy to spot, with her colored hair, we noticed them right away.  We started the walk back to the Escape.  It had stopped raining during the game so the walk back wasn't soggy.  At least it wasn't cold.  We got back, Darren talked a bit while we listed to the post game show on the radio.  As we left the outskirts of Seattle just about everyone fell asleep so I was alone through most of the drive.  I continued listening to the radio.

We got home fairly quickly since I sped the entire way.  I got off at the College Street exit so we didn't have to drive down Reservation Road in the middle of the night.  We pulled into my driveway around midnight.  Liz and Darren thanked me for driving and I told Liz I would see her next week.  They drove home.

I imagined this going differently.  I was really excited to go to a game with my friend Liz but for some reason it was awkward the entire time especially when I asked if she wanted to take a group picture out near the field.  I asked twice and she seemed like she didn't want a picture so I let it go.  I found it odd but suspected something was going on because her behavior was a little off.  She just wasn't all that fun like she had been in the past.  I honestly was afraid to ask because I don't think she wanted to tell me.  I thought maybe I did something wrong.  I guess we will see what happens.

Next Adventure:  Family Hike to Coldwater Lake (Mt. St. Helens)

No comments: