Weekend Win

*Not sure what happened - my post from yesterday and Monday didn't actually post. Here's Monday's little jewel.

Fun Sooner weekend!

I realized Friday that every trip out of town should begin with a golf tournament.  Because I'm neurotic, I can't go out of town without a clean house. My house is usually* (because periodically does count as usually, right?) picked up - as in I don't leave crap just laying around everywhere. Unless you count baskets of laundry as "crap". Then yeah, I leave crap laying around everywhere.

But there's a difference between picked up and clean. And I can't leave without it being clean. Thanks Mom, I totally blame you. Because if God forbid, something should happen to me the first thing everyone will ask is "Was her house clean?" And the thought that the answer might be no...It plagues me.

So Friday the hubby went off to play one of his annual golf tournaments and I cleaned the house. It was perfect. 

It also meant that I had to drive to Texas for the OU game. Because this:

Golf = beer

So we get to Texas, meet up with a friend, have a fantastic dinner at a stir-fry restaurant I've never tried before and spend the rest of the night talking. So it was about 11 when we finally checked in to our hotel. Actually, husband checked in and I went to go get ice cream. Because what do you do when you haven't had any regular exercise and you've gained 10 pounds - get ice cream! Seems reasonable to me.

As I'm navigating the annoying one-way streets and no u-turns on my quest for calories, husband calls and says "Good news. Our room has a whirlpool tub." And I'm like Awesome! because I never see the next part coming. And then he says "Bad news is that it's disgusting." That was an understatement. 

Disgusting? Disgusting doesn't even come close.

See that black stuff? That would be mold

As soon as I see it I go to the front desk. Because surely they're going to be reasonable and want to fix this, right? The very first thing he did, as soon as I explained the problem and showed him the pictures, was make a phone call and speak to someone in a language I don't know. Then he asked me to take a seat and wait. That should have been my first clue.

So after a bit and man and woman come in, and without an apology or even acknowledging the room was gross they begrudgingly offer another room - the only room they have left. Probably the only room left in Texas. And they're full of attitude, almost like they were put out that I had the audacity to ask for a clean tub.  And the thing was, I was nice. I really, really was because I'm not stupid...it's OU/Texas. I have no leverage. Do you know how hard it would be to find another room? We'd end up sleeping in the car.

And before the woman even took me to the other room I told them both, I don’t need another room – if someone could just come clean the tub. That got no response. Which shouldn’t have shocked me because obviously they weren't too fond of cleaning.  Room #2 had a strong odor of Pine Sol so I was hopeful but that tub wasn't clean either. Not as gross but not clean. And I guess they thought I was stupid because they didn't realize I would notice that the shower was wet – I’m pretty sure once they got the call they scrambled to throw some cleaner around before bringing me up. And since the room was smaller, had two double beds instead of a king, and was also dirty – I told her thanks but no thanks; we would keep the original room. 

Almost immediately after I got back there was a knock at the door. The man was standing there and he asked me if we were moving rooms. I said no, that room wasn’t clean either and we would just stay where we were. Then he says “I don’t need complaints tomorrow. I’ll refund your room and you can find somewhere else.” Now, I can’t be positive, but I’m fairly certain that was a thinly veiled threat to shut up. And I got that message loud and clear. Recognizing it was now midnight and the night before the game, I smiled as sweetly as I could and thanked him for all his assistance and told him we would like to stay. Again, not real fond of sleeping in cars.

The next morning it was off to the game! I cannot express to you what an awesome experience Red River is...walking through the fair in a sea of red (and occasionally ugly burnt orange) and there’s this energy and excitement. Everyone is pumped about the game. Everyone.  Then, the walk through the stadium. It’s incredible, masses of people yelling “Boomer!” and then “Sooner!” and every so often “Texas!” and then “Sucks!” And when you step out into the stadium, watch it fill up with red and orange. Even if you’re only a half-way fan, it’s hard not to get excited. Just an amazingly fun time.

The other two times we’ve gone we lost and a Red River loss is so much harder than any other game. Because really, it’s like a regular football game on steroids, everything is so much more extreme and intense. I will never forget the first time we went, walking out of the stadium and all these Texas fans were waiting outside our side of the stadium yelling really rude, insulting things as we walked by.  It was the ultimate walk of shame. 

This year there was very little smack talk after the game. I would like to say it was because we have a more dignified fan base but in reality I think it’s because no one really felt great about that win. Don’t get me wrong – I was ecstatic but can I gloat about it? No way. We didn’t play great. In fact, our offense looked horrible. If it weren’t for our defense and special teams we would have lost. And if you look at the stats – we should have. They had more 1^st downs, more passing yards, more rushing yards – over double what we had. They also had more penalties. Which was a huge contributor.  Not the only contributor, but it certainly helped.

But I’m not complaining – I will take the win!  But I was kinda hoping that when we won, because I was sure we were going to, that we would blow them away. Or have a game like TCU/Baylor. Now that was a game! But really, I’m just happy to have a win on the books.

Oh! And I saw Kenny Stills! I was going to get a picture with him but he had taken several already and he looked done.  I waited a few minutes then decided I didn’t want to be that person. I should have at least taken a picture of him, but I didn't think about it. But thought it was cool that he was there. And he's a lot tinier in person than I thought he was...I'm mean, he's not tiny but just not as big as I thought.

We went to eat at the Gas Monkey Bar & Grill afterwards because hubby and kids are huge fans of the show. It was really, really good. It may have been because I was starving – the only thing I had to eat was a stadium hotdog that cost more than my pulled-pork sandwich from the restaurant.  And they have fun drinks/beer that come in a souvenir cup, so that’s a bonus. We’ll definitely go back.

We got up the next morning to head home. Of course, what what trip to Texas would be complete without a stop at the Dairy Queen? Which, technically, they've come back to Oklahoma...but still, you gotta stop. 

Overall, it was a great weekend - got some friend time, had some good food and my Sooners won!

Our drinks came height proportioned...

Who said being short was bad?
How many people can fully stretch out on road trips?