Fenway Againway

How I spent my evening.

And the Sox won 8-4.


Good seats, huh?

Good Times

Had a blast last night with Mrs. Blogger. We had a nice lunch then got to Boston early enough to do some shopping (spent a fortune), pop in a few bars until we eventually ended up at the Cask 'N Flagon wherein we proceeded to drink quite a few beers (Mrs. B was a riot), laugh with some other patrons, learn she really wants another baby (wait! what?) before witnessing the Sox make a nice comeback and end up victorious on what ended as a rather chilly night!

Needless to say, I'm tired this morning but we had so much fun it's well worth it. Can't wait to get up there again.

Yay!

Me.

Here.

Tonight.

YES!!!

World Series

Yesterday, a Red Sox fan co-worker of mine and I were discussing tickets for the games. Apparently, some tickets for the World Series were being scalped as high as $7,200. I am a huge fan, but I would think that even if I had F-You money, I would never spend that much to see a ballgame that I could see on TV for free.

As the discussion progressed, I mentioned that I might spend as much as $300, though, if given the opportunity. Maybe it sounds crazy to some but to others its a pittance. Its certainly not a pittance to me, but its not a life-altering amount either and let's face it, World Series tickets are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Anyway, I got a phone call last night from my buddy Dave. He has tickets available to him for $200 each. Naturally, we're going!

I don't know where I'm sitting yet, but look for me on TV tonight. I'll be the guy wearing the Red Sox cap.

*****

Edited thirty minutes later: Its unclear to me what happened but apparently they sold the tickets out from under my buddy for $400 each. Bummer :(

"It's a Scene Man!"

So we both got out of work yesterday about 3pm or so, met at home and were on our way to Boston by 3:40. Made it by five. After a light dinner and a few drinks (Mrs. B had the cutest buzz going by then) we entered the park and found our seats. Within minutes the boys were taking the field. It was a nearly breezeless, 82 degree, crystal clear evening. Perfect!

As dusk fell, our boys could not hold their 2-0 lead.

We were even treated to a beautiful full moon (look top center, between the lights) about the time the Sox were trailing 8 to 2.

Alas, our heroes came up short and lost 8-4 although it didn't really dampen our mood. Especially since we weren't this guy!

Are those the worst seats ever? Too funny!

***********

In the middle of the eighth inning, Fenway does a totally fun thing. It may sound lame to fans of other teams or those who haven't attended a game there, but since Boston has done it for years years its become a corny tradition which I find it an absolute blast! So do 36,500 of my closest friends.

There's a certain amount of camaraderie among rabid fans together to watch their favorite teams play live. Its as if everyone around you is your buddy and its simply great. Throw in alcohol and the chance to Karaoke and you have one good time.

Anyway, the P.A. system plays Sweet Caroline from Neil Diamond. Again, if you've seen Fever Pitch perhaps you remember it, but you'd really have to be there to get the full thrill of it all. A few beers don't hurt either. I have no idea how that song came about to be a staple at Boston Red Sox games, but it did.

Here's sort of how it goes (don't lie, you all know the tune) --

Intro:

ba-da-daaaaaaa da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

ba-da-daaaaaaa da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

ba-da-daaaaaaa ba-da-daaaaaaa da daaaaaaaa

Where it began (bomp, bomp baummmmm)

I cant begin to knowin'

But then I know its growin stronnnnnnng

(bomp, bomp)

Was in the spring (bomp, bomp baummmmm)

And spring became the summer

Who'd have believed you'd come along

(crowd joining by this time enthusiastically)

Hands, touchin hands

Reachin out (crescendo now)

Touchin me

(really, really loud now)

Touchin youuuuuuu

(everyone singing top of lungs)

Sweet caroline (p.a. cuts out - crowd yells BA DA DAAAAAAA!!)

Good times never seemed so good (p.a. cuts out - crow yells SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!

I've been inclined (p.a. cuts out - crowd yells BA DA DAAAAAAA!!)

To believe they never would

It repeats for the next verse and God Dammit if it isn't an absolute blast!

Fenway or Bust

Fenway Park. Home to the Boston Red Sox. MY Boston Red Sox. Who are currently tearing up the league to the tune of the best record in baseball.

All good news.

However, the downside of having a favorite team in first place and competitive for so many consecutive years is that tickets become more and more scarce. In season's past, I've been able to get tickets to 5, 6, 7 games, no problem at all. Usually free or at face value. Now, though, they basically sell out the season before it even begins. Of course one factor is the park is the smallest in baseball, holding only about 36,100 rabid fans. When they sucked I could go up on the spur of the moment and buy some tickets. Now, I have to either plan months ahead, buy scalper tickets or rely on someone like a company vendor of ours to give me some.

Well I got some! Thanks to an insurance company we deal with.

We arranged overnight Little One care (no small feat) and tonight Mrs. Blogger and I are headed up to see our boys. We will be down the third base line in seats I've had and enjoyed before. Section 31, row 6. They're good seats, so if you have Sattelite and NESN look for us on some camera-panned foul ball. I'll be the one in the Red Sox cap. You can't miss me.

We plan to head up a bit early and have a couple drinks and maybe some dinner and enjoy the Fenway section of Boston. I simply love it up there and the weather looks to be perfect!

Perfect too, is that they've won 5 straight and we'll be cheering like hell for six

I've mentioned that Boston is about ninety minutes from my home despite the fact I live in Connecticut. That ninety minutes may as well be 900 miles, though, when is comes to accents. I've read that Connecticut and Ohio residents speak the closest to the Queen's English. Perhaps Bostonians are the furthest from it. If you've seen Fever Pitch or some skits that Jimmy Fallon has done on Saturday Night Live you've heard it. And he nails it.

So, in my best Boston accent, I'm going to "Drive up to Bahston. Pahk mah cah in a gahrahge. Shuffle into Fenway Pahk and enjoy a dahg and a beah while the Sowx kick some wicked ass".