All Baseball, All The Time
Apr. 20th, 2009 02:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gonzaiFor one day, at least, it was all about the baseball. It wasn't opening day, but it was Day Two for Frederick and Bowie and the schedule and the weather made a 'do it yourself' doubleheader possible. So I took a bath in SPF 30 sunblock and headed to Frederick.
The stadium was completely renovated in the offseason. I am pleased to report the field is in much better condition, the restrooms are now fully automated and the water fountains work. (And they brought back my favorite Keys food, pulled pork BBQ.) Unfortunately I must also report that while the team installed handicapped seating in the box seats for the first time...there's still no way for the handicapped to get down there in the first place. Nice going guys. Also, the scoreboard hasn't worked in five years or so, so they dropped several hundred grand on a new one. You guessed it - that one doesn't work either!
I picked up autographs from all the guys I needed save two who are already injured, had pleasant chats with many of them, and then settled in for the game. Where I proceeded to roast. Official game time temp was 77, it felt like 97. I put on another layer of sunblock, but still felt myself burning. By the 5th inning I gave up and stood in the shade the rest of the game. I was hoping to watch the whole game, but the 8th inning was neverending and I had to split to get to Bowie on time.
Arrived in Bowie at 10 of 6, where it turns out the gates opened early. Hopefully that will continue all season, but I won't hold my breath. Visited all my ushers, and Henry put me in the box seats. He's writing again, and like me discovered NCIS in the offseason, so we had plenty to catch up on. Got most of my autographs again, except for one guy called up and one Jake Arrieta card the ink wouldn't stick to. Jake was very distressed by that, and I wasn't. A little alcohol, the ink comes off, I rub the card down again and we try again later. No biggie. Caught up with coach Moe Hill, who now has 9 beagles - and those are just the puppies. Remind me not to go to his house! He thinks I should bring Roxie to Bark in the Park in two weeks, he wants to meet her. Maybe he does, but I bet most of people in the park would rather not! I am bringing a winged beagle print for Moe to that game.
I think I'll also bring along the Terminator DVDs next time - I met Troy Patton for the first time and we would up talking for 3 innings. Originally about baseball, stadiums, etc but the conversation turned to Terminator. Troy loves sci-fi as it turns out, and is anxious to see the movie, but hasn't seen the TV show. I strongly recommended it to him and afterwards, it occurred to me I should loan him the discs. Should be a good 'riding the bus' show for the guys. Need to work on Troy though, he's never even heard of Doctor Who. Henry couldn't believe that either; between Henry and I, I think Troy will know more than he ever wanted to about Dr Who quite soon!
I left in the 8th again; this time, it was getting cold, plus I had to get up early. When I got home, I summoned up the nerve to look in the mirror, expecting to see a lobster. Nope. No burn at all. A very light tan and that's it. Escaped one disaster!
The stadium was completely renovated in the offseason. I am pleased to report the field is in much better condition, the restrooms are now fully automated and the water fountains work. (And they brought back my favorite Keys food, pulled pork BBQ.) Unfortunately I must also report that while the team installed handicapped seating in the box seats for the first time...there's still no way for the handicapped to get down there in the first place. Nice going guys. Also, the scoreboard hasn't worked in five years or so, so they dropped several hundred grand on a new one. You guessed it - that one doesn't work either!
I picked up autographs from all the guys I needed save two who are already injured, had pleasant chats with many of them, and then settled in for the game. Where I proceeded to roast. Official game time temp was 77, it felt like 97. I put on another layer of sunblock, but still felt myself burning. By the 5th inning I gave up and stood in the shade the rest of the game. I was hoping to watch the whole game, but the 8th inning was neverending and I had to split to get to Bowie on time.
Arrived in Bowie at 10 of 6, where it turns out the gates opened early. Hopefully that will continue all season, but I won't hold my breath. Visited all my ushers, and Henry put me in the box seats. He's writing again, and like me discovered NCIS in the offseason, so we had plenty to catch up on. Got most of my autographs again, except for one guy called up and one Jake Arrieta card the ink wouldn't stick to. Jake was very distressed by that, and I wasn't. A little alcohol, the ink comes off, I rub the card down again and we try again later. No biggie. Caught up with coach Moe Hill, who now has 9 beagles - and those are just the puppies. Remind me not to go to his house! He thinks I should bring Roxie to Bark in the Park in two weeks, he wants to meet her. Maybe he does, but I bet most of people in the park would rather not! I am bringing a winged beagle print for Moe to that game.
I think I'll also bring along the Terminator DVDs next time - I met Troy Patton for the first time and we would up talking for 3 innings. Originally about baseball, stadiums, etc but the conversation turned to Terminator. Troy loves sci-fi as it turns out, and is anxious to see the movie, but hasn't seen the TV show. I strongly recommended it to him and afterwards, it occurred to me I should loan him the discs. Should be a good 'riding the bus' show for the guys. Need to work on Troy though, he's never even heard of Doctor Who. Henry couldn't believe that either; between Henry and I, I think Troy will know more than he ever wanted to about Dr Who quite soon!
I left in the 8th again; this time, it was getting cold, plus I had to get up early. When I got home, I summoned up the nerve to look in the mirror, expecting to see a lobster. Nope. No burn at all. A very light tan and that's it. Escaped one disaster!
