Another holiday tradition is

loading up the family

and going to a sports event of some sort.

This past weekend's event: Texans vs. Rams [football]

The journey began on Sunday morning. I was riding in the back seat with my sis, and my parents were up front. The last time I was in the back seat of a car, I was nineteen and it was the ride of my boyfriend's life.

Pop Quiz: The Houston Texans play in which arena? The Astrodome [front right] or the Reliant Stadium [back left]?

If you answered The Astrodome, well, you're wrong. But we had such bad parking spots that we had to walk half a mile from the back of the Astrodome to the front of Reliant Stadium.

The joke of the day was made by my dad [You think I'm funny? I learned from the best.] When asked why he was wearing number 52's jersey, he replied, "It's not my fault they put the Wong name on the back."

My favorite part of the trip was waiting in line to get frisked. Twice.

What's a trip to a Texans game without the time-honored Mexican tradition of tailgating? The Mexican side of my family parties like it's 1999.* Hey, the "short" bus never looked so good.

Here's the view from the Party Bus. It's the Training Bubble where the Texans ... um, train. Reliant is to the right in the background.

Wait. What game are we at again? [Texans jersey on left. Astros jersey on right.]

As I settle into my seat, I realize I might not have the best view... Hey, buddy.. sit yer ass down! Don't make come over there!

Holy Texans pep band, Batman! Those guys have some nice brass! Beat it, baby, beat it harder!

I don't know what game these two thought they were watching, but neither the Stealers nor the Colts were playing that day.

We were leading the whole game. At the end of the third quarter we were up 24-3. With 45 seconds left in the game, the Rams tie us and take it into overtime. One touchdown and a legal formation later, we lose. Ah, well... what can you expect: that's why we're the Texans.