Sunday, August 31, 2008
Groggy Blog US Open Adventure
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Murphy VA men depart for warmer & sunnier climate…San Diego-bound on the big bird! A stop in the DFW AP enabled the first of many good meals (Chili’s) with a cerveza, a good chat with our Mexican waiter and a ‘gaseous aftermath’ for the rest of the day.
Arrival on the ‘left coast’ in all its glory a couple hours later – good memories of our 5 years living in California. Auto rental chick took too bloody long but in the end, she gave us a great deal (even better for E & Mikey since D paid!)….and gave us ‘Nancy’ Never Lost…who by unanimous vote was granted our US Open Trip MVP!
A short trip to our Town & Country hotel, which is a ‘4’ on a scale of 1-10 but acceptable since we spent minimal time sleeping! Within minutes of checking in, we’re outta there on the train and headed downtown to Petco Park to see the Padres & the Dodgers battle it out.
First things first, a meal at the Hard Rock outside the stadium and a Fat Tire – which we decide is almost as good as the wait staff….
As we attempt to buy $100 tickets from scalpers for $10, dear old Dad agitates one enough that he walks away disgusted……must be a New Yorker! We finally pay 10 bucks for tix and sit in six different areas of the park! Wonderful time in the stadium moving from seat to seat, meeting people, eating peanuts, drinking beer and oh yeah, the game was good too! In the latter part of the game, it’s actually chilly so we roam around until we meet The Smartest Female Sports Person ever! She knows bloody everything about every sport….amazing!
After the game (E: Who won?), back on the train to our ‘pad’ where we hold the first Olympic event of mattress throwing, won handily by Master Eric. In retaliation for settling for my silver medal, I launch a sneaker in the general direction of Eric….who proceeds to run in the same direction….and E’s nose intercepts my sneaker…..& gets blood on it! Oh yeah, it’s a gusher but he only whines for 45 minutes J ! It’s probably a good thing that Eric moved out of the Master’s room and bunked with his bro’ for most of the trip, since he does not know how to respect his elders and allow them to ‘win the gold’!
All in all, our first day was a great start to our US Open experience!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Rise & shine and off we go to the practice round of the US Open. Weather’s perfect, E&D spend a few hours mingling with the pro golfers on a fabulous Torrey Pines golf course. Mikey arrives @ noon and we immediately travel to Carlton Oaks GC from the AP. The three Murphy men slay the course solo for the first six holes and then return to #1 to be joined by Tom Mullin….and then proceed to play the entire 18 holes – golf should only be 9 holes to begin with, says Fr. Murphy, and we play bloody 24 that day…..and not very well, at that!
‘Nancy’ leads us to D’s pick for dinner, Alfonso’s in LaJolla where Dad gets rowdy with Mario, who’s a jerk! Mike justly chastises Father Murphy for being too demanding…..and we proceed to eat some Mexican chow. Back to our modest hostel where E moves out to bunk with his bro’ for the next several eves. Chalk up a great first day together for all the Murphy men!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Early and I mean early wake up and arrival at Lot P for our volunteer shuttle to Torrey Pines where we enjoy a few hours of the first day of the US Open. We all work the middle shift (11:45 am-4:45 pm) in the satellite Merchandise Pavilion, where we all bitch and moan about having to stand the entire time! One of the organizers in charge proceeds to call D ‘the old guy’ and assigns D to the ‘cushy’ post of manning the fitting rooms…..aargh….he calls D ‘the old guy’ each of the succeeding days and deeply endears himself to ‘the old guy’ who still thinks he’s 25! Needless to say, D uses his CEO skills to lead the fitting rooms….while E tends to merchandise inventory replacement & Mike entertains the volunteer staff members…..It’s E’s turn to select a dinner venue, so we do Thai since this is the closest restaurant to Lot P and we are exhausted. D drinks a beer in record time while E takes ‘heat from home’ and returns 3 inches shorter than when he started the call!
Post dinner, the young M boys decide to invent another new Olympic event and proceed to see who can throw the most water bottles in the hotel parking lot….before we collapse into exhausted bliss in our rooms.
Friday the 13th of June, 2008
Up and at ‘em real early this day since we have the early shift in our assigned jobs at the Merchandise Pavilion arriving @ 7:15 am! Mike enjoys a nice stint reviewing ‘muscle photos’ @ the Polo section while E & D toil their butts off!
That afternoon, Murphy men meet Casey at a great course, Arrowhead; enjoy a gorgeous day and for some of us, a lot of strokes! Casey makes it even more special by traveling to see us despite the recent passing of his grandfather. E & Casey shoot 88, 90 while M&D win the most strokes contest! In the meantime and speaking of golf, Tiger shoots five straight 3s on the back nine and is absolutely unconscious!
Mike picks Italian & our MVP ‘Nancy’ leads us to ‘Tulio Tratorria’ in Encinitas where we have a fabulous meal and great service. We did pass on a previous selection Nancy had suggested, Giovanni’s, since we were not in the mood to taste, ‘el perro’, aka dog tacos!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Once again, up early so we can get good position for one of the most exciting sporting events ever! We decide to sit on our arse at the par 3 third hole & marveled watching the pros hit onto a postage-size green….fabulous stuff!
Again work the mid-shift with D handling fitting, E cashiering and M continuing to entertain the staff! In the meantime, Tiger continues to play extraordinary golf with two eagles; a chip-in birdie and 30 on the back nine of one of the toughest courses in the world…….we witness his eagle on the par 5 13th….triple fist pump and caddie going nuts! Dad & ‘Nancy’ pick Del Mar for seafood and we fall in love at/with Sbicca…..great environment, Fat Tire and a look-alike waitress….along with great food. We pull an old favorite, credit card roulette and for a change, E does not lose as Mike is our more than gracious host!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
This is a VERY special Father’s Day for D……’the old guy’ has not spent this much time with his two sons since they were children – we must do this again fellows….thanks!
Lots going on early….check out of Mike’s room; work the early shift; organize Mike’s taxi for later; E moves back in to the scene of the 1st night’s festivities and oh by the way, a great US Open has everyone stoked….seems like the whole world is watching!
D works the Merchandise Pavilion as the exit door security Gestapo (a refreshing change from the fitting room crap!); E for some reason is holding up a placard which nobody understands why???; and oh yeah, Mike is hanging out by the Polo stuff…
After our bloody last day of work (YEAH!), we grab a beer and dog and hang out on the 13th fairway….take a nap….have another beer – pretty good stuff….and, oh yeah, the pro golfers are all playing right there in front of us!.....and Tiger ties Rocco with another unbelievable putt on #18 – we’re going to a Playoff on Monday!
Mike is off for his trip home on a ‘red eye’; E&D finally run into the law of probability and select a cool dinner venue but the chef has obviously ‘left the building’! For a change, E’s the one who is fed up vs. the usually tempestuous D!
Monday, June 16, 2008
E&D follow an evening of ‘snoring extravaganza’ with a late wake up….7 am! In the meantime, M is just arriving from his ‘red eye’ flight. D&E just chill, watch ESPN highlights of the US Open and the beginning of the playoff round. Rocco’s down by 3 so we head to ‘In n Out’ for a burger…..forgot how good they are! In the meantime, Rocco ties Tiger….unbelievable! We finish watching the Sudden Death Playoff in the airport and along with the rest of the world, watch Tiger win – no surprise, huh?!
Other Highlights of our Adventure:
Mike chips in from 50+ yards out
A couple jerks hit into us on the course, so they receive a special salutation from ‘the old guy’
E manages free merchandise from the vendors
Mickelson disappoints again including a quadruple bogey on the 13th
We see ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi 3 times and become friends….
Seeing many Hokies and even more Cavs at Torrey Pines
Casey hits a couple monster drives with his Burner
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Murphy VA men depart for warmer & sunnier climate…San Diego-bound on the big bird! A stop in the DFW AP enabled the first of many good meals (Chili’s) with a cerveza, a good chat with our Mexican waiter and a ‘gaseous aftermath’ for the rest of the day.
Arrival on the ‘left coast’ in all its glory a couple hours later – good memories of our 5 years living in California. Auto rental chick took too bloody long but in the end, she gave us a great deal (even better for E & Mikey since D paid!)….and gave us ‘Nancy’ Never Lost…who by unanimous vote was granted our US Open Trip MVP!
A short trip to our Town & Country hotel, which is a ‘4’ on a scale of 1-10 but acceptable since we spent minimal time sleeping! Within minutes of checking in, we’re outta there on the train and headed downtown to Petco Park to see the Padres & the Dodgers battle it out.
First things first, a meal at the Hard Rock outside the stadium and a Fat Tire – which we decide is almost as good as the wait staff….
As we attempt to buy $100 tickets from scalpers for $10, dear old Dad agitates one enough that he walks away disgusted……must be a New Yorker! We finally pay 10 bucks for tix and sit in six different areas of the park! Wonderful time in the stadium moving from seat to seat, meeting people, eating peanuts, drinking beer and oh yeah, the game was good too! In the latter part of the game, it’s actually chilly so we roam around until we meet The Smartest Female Sports Person ever! She knows bloody everything about every sport….amazing!
After the game (E: Who won?), back on the train to our ‘pad’ where we hold the first Olympic event of mattress throwing, won handily by Master Eric. In retaliation for settling for my silver medal, I launch a sneaker in the general direction of Eric….who proceeds to run in the same direction….and E’s nose intercepts my sneaker…..& gets blood on it! Oh yeah, it’s a gusher but he only whines for 45 minutes J ! It’s probably a good thing that Eric moved out of the Master’s room and bunked with his bro’ for most of the trip, since he does not know how to respect his elders and allow them to ‘win the gold’!
All in all, our first day was a great start to our US Open experience!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Rise & shine and off we go to the practice round of the US Open. Weather’s perfect, E&D spend a few hours mingling with the pro golfers on a fabulous Torrey Pines golf course. Mikey arrives @ noon and we immediately travel to Carlton Oaks GC from the AP. The three Murphy men slay the course solo for the first six holes and then return to #1 to be joined by Tom Mullin….and then proceed to play the entire 18 holes – golf should only be 9 holes to begin with, says Fr. Murphy, and we play bloody 24 that day…..and not very well, at that!
‘Nancy’ leads us to D’s pick for dinner, Alfonso’s in LaJolla where Dad gets rowdy with Mario, who’s a jerk! Mike justly chastises Father Murphy for being too demanding…..and we proceed to eat some Mexican chow. Back to our modest hostel where E moves out to bunk with his bro’ for the next several eves. Chalk up a great first day together for all the Murphy men!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Early and I mean early wake up and arrival at Lot P for our volunteer shuttle to Torrey Pines where we enjoy a few hours of the first day of the US Open. We all work the middle shift (11:45 am-4:45 pm) in the satellite Merchandise Pavilion, where we all bitch and moan about having to stand the entire time! One of the organizers in charge proceeds to call D ‘the old guy’ and assigns D to the ‘cushy’ post of manning the fitting rooms…..aargh….he calls D ‘the old guy’ each of the succeeding days and deeply endears himself to ‘the old guy’ who still thinks he’s 25! Needless to say, D uses his CEO skills to lead the fitting rooms….while E tends to merchandise inventory replacement & Mike entertains the volunteer staff members…..It’s E’s turn to select a dinner venue, so we do Thai since this is the closest restaurant to Lot P and we are exhausted. D drinks a beer in record time while E takes ‘heat from home’ and returns 3 inches shorter than when he started the call!
Post dinner, the young M boys decide to invent another new Olympic event and proceed to see who can throw the most water bottles in the hotel parking lot….before we collapse into exhausted bliss in our rooms.
Friday the 13th of June, 2008
Up and at ‘em real early this day since we have the early shift in our assigned jobs at the Merchandise Pavilion arriving @ 7:15 am! Mike enjoys a nice stint reviewing ‘muscle photos’ @ the Polo section while E & D toil their butts off!
That afternoon, Murphy men meet Casey at a great course, Arrowhead; enjoy a gorgeous day and for some of us, a lot of strokes! Casey makes it even more special by traveling to see us despite the recent passing of his grandfather. E & Casey shoot 88, 90 while M&D win the most strokes contest! In the meantime and speaking of golf, Tiger shoots five straight 3s on the back nine and is absolutely unconscious!
Mike picks Italian & our MVP ‘Nancy’ leads us to ‘Tulio Tratorria’ in Encinitas where we have a fabulous meal and great service. We did pass on a previous selection Nancy had suggested, Giovanni’s, since we were not in the mood to taste, ‘el perro’, aka dog tacos!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Once again, up early so we can get good position for one of the most exciting sporting events ever! We decide to sit on our arse at the par 3 third hole & marveled watching the pros hit onto a postage-size green….fabulous stuff!
Again work the mid-shift with D handling fitting, E cashiering and M continuing to entertain the staff! In the meantime, Tiger continues to play extraordinary golf with two eagles; a chip-in birdie and 30 on the back nine of one of the toughest courses in the world…….we witness his eagle on the par 5 13th….triple fist pump and caddie going nuts! Dad & ‘Nancy’ pick Del Mar for seafood and we fall in love at/with Sbicca…..great environment, Fat Tire and a look-alike waitress….along with great food. We pull an old favorite, credit card roulette and for a change, E does not lose as Mike is our more than gracious host!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
This is a VERY special Father’s Day for D……’the old guy’ has not spent this much time with his two sons since they were children – we must do this again fellows….thanks!
Lots going on early….check out of Mike’s room; work the early shift; organize Mike’s taxi for later; E moves back in to the scene of the 1st night’s festivities and oh by the way, a great US Open has everyone stoked….seems like the whole world is watching!
D works the Merchandise Pavilion as the exit door security Gestapo (a refreshing change from the fitting room crap!); E for some reason is holding up a placard which nobody understands why???; and oh yeah, Mike is hanging out by the Polo stuff…
After our bloody last day of work (YEAH!), we grab a beer and dog and hang out on the 13th fairway….take a nap….have another beer – pretty good stuff….and, oh yeah, the pro golfers are all playing right there in front of us!.....and Tiger ties Rocco with another unbelievable putt on #18 – we’re going to a Playoff on Monday!
Mike is off for his trip home on a ‘red eye’; E&D finally run into the law of probability and select a cool dinner venue but the chef has obviously ‘left the building’! For a change, E’s the one who is fed up vs. the usually tempestuous D!
Monday, June 16, 2008
E&D follow an evening of ‘snoring extravaganza’ with a late wake up….7 am! In the meantime, M is just arriving from his ‘red eye’ flight. D&E just chill, watch ESPN highlights of the US Open and the beginning of the playoff round. Rocco’s down by 3 so we head to ‘In n Out’ for a burger…..forgot how good they are! In the meantime, Rocco ties Tiger….unbelievable! We finish watching the Sudden Death Playoff in the airport and along with the rest of the world, watch Tiger win – no surprise, huh?!
Other Highlights of our Adventure:
Mike chips in from 50+ yards out
A couple jerks hit into us on the course, so they receive a special salutation from ‘the old guy’
E manages free merchandise from the vendors
Mickelson disappoints again including a quadruple bogey on the 13th
We see ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi 3 times and become friends….
Seeing many Hokies and even more Cavs at Torrey Pines
Casey hits a couple monster drives with his Burner
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