Where to begin,
       Where to begin, indeed...

 What a huge Weekend that Dawn and I have had.  Some parts are funny, some crazy.  Other parts are full of sleep deprivation and others and completely unbelievable.  Definately it was full of God's blessings.
     It started with a crazy rumour that Chelsea had an open practice on the friday before the big game against Seattle.  We weren't sure if we could believe it or not until the sounders website posted it on thursday.  Now everything was a rush.  Do we go?  Do we take our four children?  Can we afford to stay overnight?  Can we afford to drive back and forth across the border?  Can we afford NOT to go?  Every second we debated it got closer and closer till we would miss out altogether.  We threw out a sheep's wool and it was decided.  We're going.  The panic didn't stop there.      
     Friday morning came and I still haven't found someone to cover my shift at work.  Time is ticking.  We've paid for the hotel so were going no matter what, but if we didn't make it to the practice it would be a waste of going early.  And to top it off not only did we need to make it on time for the practice but we found out that they would be giving out free swag for the first 500 people.  How early do you need to be for that?  Driving down we made awesome time thanks in large part to our Nexus pass at the border and Dawn's big foot  (By this i mean her speeding, not her show size because really her feet are perfectly proportionate to her tall height).  However just outside Seattle the gridlock made us sweat. For all we know people could have been camped out for days, having heard all the advertising that we were not privy to.  I think God's first blessing was that we made it time for the practice and the free commemorative scarfs, but we didn't have to wait that long.  We were even in the shade!
     Had I known on Friday what it would be like on Sat I maybe would have enjoyed the open air more.  The freedom to move around, or the subtle conversations happening around me.  I would have enjoyed the comraderie and the opportunity to relax more.  The two days were such a huge contrast.  Friday was all about Chelsea and people there to see them and cheer them on.  Sat was loud to the point of a hurricane bent on wiping out Chelsea.  The big Band lead the assault like a comander going into war.  They marched down the city center calling all who would come to arms, and they came.  Weilding their green uniforms they came in force so that by the time they got to the stadium you couldn't move an inch.  People pushing to see the FA cup, lineups at the food fair, crowds in there seats.  Fireworks and the oppressive cheering continued the whole game.  Now i would have been fine with it had it been for my team but it wasn't.  Dawn and I's solo cheers in a crowd of 67,000 people were enough to signal a lynching.  Sure there was Chelsea fans out there but not Today, not while their home team needed them.  Looking back it was awesome to be a part of because I have never been to a soccer game so full of energy and hatred toward the opposing team.  I guess Canadians don't get that excited about anything.  I would say it was the POT that mellows us out, but I don't do drugs.  The best part of the game was seeing the only two goals scored on the net right in front of us.  Awesome (high pitched voice)
     Back on friday when things were different, more calm and serene.  Dawn and I had great time.  Even without the endless free food and free JONES soda that we had on Sat.  The players were close to us and played an energetic practice.  Better than the Canucks because both teams don't were numbers but soccer doesn't have helmets or glass to get in the way of watching your heroe's.  
      Here's were it gets good...
 They shoved us out as soon as the practice was done even though the odd player was coming over to sign stuff.  Petr Cech my son's favorite only did one corner.  Kalou skipped our section going past us for some reason.  A couple others came and went choosing to do only a couple of "true fans."  Just before we left Drogba comes over and starts way and the far end but we soon realize he's coming our way at lighting speed.  We rush to get our pens back out and fight off the people trying to squeeze us out.  We did get his autograph but the pen he used was dying a little so it's not great qaulity.  Trying not to be disappointed we gave up yelling for our favorites and allowed them to usher us out.  We walked along the almost empty walkway planning our night before the big game in the morning.  We were drawn around back as the band "Chicago" was playing next door and we thought it might be worth a glimpse of the bus as it left.  

     We were wrong...
 We were so wrong.  We found the bus alright but all the players as well. Terry, Lampard, Petr Cech, Malouda, Obi, including Dawn's favorite Ballack.  They were all awesome stopping even though they were tired and wanted to just go home and shower.  We even got Petr Cech to sign a card for Ryley.  It was pretty cool for him to do that for us.  It's still so surreal and i get goose bumps even thinking about it now.  I don't know how we ever fell asleep that night knowing we would be going back to see them the next day.  I still can't believe that we were such geeks about meeting them.  I didn't take enough pictures, dawn and I were not together in the pictures even though another guy, Rod, was standing there.  We didn't ask enough questions, or tell them we were from canada, or that we even have four children.  I wish someone would tell Chelsea to read this blog so that they know we are sorry for being geeks.  And if they did read it this is what we wished we had said:

Dawn to Ballack " No body gives you enough credit for always being in the right place at the right time" 
or " I'm really a Germany National Team Fan,  that's why I don't have a real Chelsea jersey" and "I hate Fabregas" 

 Jai to Ballack "Look I'm wearing a German National jersey, This silly free scarf is in the way"
 Jai to JT "I really admire you not jumping from team to team, you are not just out for the money, oh hi Anelka"
 
Dawn to Drogba and Ballack "Are you going to have more children? we have four and it gets easier don't worry"
 
 Jai to Drogba or Obi Mikel "Are you excited about world Cup 2010? I'll be cheering for you guys again and will be wearing my Go Ghana shirt"

 I Didn't even ask the caoches for tips on moving up as a coach or if the have books i should read or if they had any job openings in there youth sqaud?  

     Most of all we didn't feel like we thanked them all enough.  One of the coaches even gave us commemorative pins of Chelsea's american tour.  Great guys great hearts and we thank them for taking the time to sign some geeky peoples shirt and pose for goofy photos.
                And it didn't hurt to have them kick Seattle's butt's too.