i have real bad writers block.... its extreme. and also im real bad at writing papers... but i had to write about a place for my composition class, and well for those of you who don't mind reading my paper let me know what you guys think, what i need to add or change... this only took me about 15 minutes to think up as opposed to hours and hours and thinking and writing about something else.



Leeana Johnson
Place
March 4, 2008
My home away from home
Let me tell you about a place I hold near and dear to my heart. It’s a place I like to call my second home, this place is Arrowhead Stadium. Arrowhead Stadium is the home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team. Arrowhead is one of the most cherished venues around the league. It is a place where thousands of die-hard fans gather every Sunday and celebrate the love of their team. I believe it is the best outdoor stadium to watch football, and we, as fans, take great pride in our beloved stadium. Whether it is the tailgating and fun before the game, or the game itself, I always leave the stadium anticipating the next Sunday for another home game.
Every Sunday morning is a game ritual for myself and my family. WE wake up extra early so we can prepare and make the long awaited trip to the Arrowhead Parking Lot. I, like many other fans, are already in line to join in on the pre-game festivities. Once we arrive to Lot-G, the anticipation builds up inside me and I cannot wait for the fun waiting to come. The aroma of burnt charcoal fills up my nose and the taste of smoked barbeque begins to water my mouth. I share a few brews with people I don’t even know, strangers but very friendly. The cars start to multiply and I can no longer see the empty parking lot. It is filled with campers, decorated cars with Chiefs flags and die-hard Chiefs fans roaming the lots. It is a never-ending party filled with people of all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. The bonfires light up and the music being played by bands fill up the lots. I can compare it to a Mardi-Gras party down in New Orleans, the scenery is amazing. This is what I wake up at 6 in the morning for and I haven’t even entered the Stadium.
One would think that after all that fun in the Parking Lot that the party is over, but really it has only begun. As I and hundreds of fans enter the stadium, my ears are greeted with the chant of the “Tomahawk Chop”, a chant that reverbs onto other fans as they all sing in unison. Finding my way to my seat, I run into a few drunken old men whose faces are painted red and are shirtless not minding the chilly weather. “Go Chiefs” I yell at them and they give me a appreciative salute back. Sitting in my seat, I begin to take in the surroundings. The storied ring of fame where many players are honored throughout the years which Derrick Thomas one of the names that stand out to me every time I enter the stadium. It is a beautiful day for some football to be played and for 80 thousand plus in attendance to watch. As the fans start filing in to find their designated seats, I can hear the rumbling in the stands and feel the excitement and buzz around stadium. As the Star Spangled Banner plays, everyone is standing with their right hand over their hearts and when the fans sing the words, “And the home of the…….CHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEFS!” goose bumps start to accumulate throughout my arms and then a U.S. stealth bomber flies over the stadium. The crowd roars and the game is about to begin. After all the player introductions and the fireworks light up the sky, my ears already ringing and the game is about to begin.
Leaving the stadium and the parking lots of Arrowhead is always a tough departure for me. Sundays are a ritual for not only myself but for a number people across the Kansas City Metropolitan area. I always leave the stadium wanting more and anticipating the next home game. I cannot chose wich part I like best about the Arrowhead experience, but I’m just glad that I’m able to say I’ve been there and that’s why I call it my home away from home.