My Morning

This might be a little sketchy since I’m better at remembering things when I write them down just after they happen. A few hours have gone by – hopefully I don’t miss much.

Might be a long one…have a seat and a Bud. (I realize I’m competing with what will be “Tru and Brenda’s Excellent Adventure” later on – I’m okay with that!)

I was awakened by a pounding on my door at around ten past four this morning. My first reaction? “WHAT?????” And then I remembered that I had asked for a ‘wake up call’ of sorts and that was it.

I slowly got myself ready and ten minutes early the cab shows up. (Considering I was anxious that the cab would be late, early wasn’t so bad.) After a trip to the ATM, “Joe” the cabdriver flew me to Fenway. We were there in less than 20 minutes. I swear I thought he was going to drive right off the side of the bridge, but I made it to “Game On!” in one piece. Only to find five people waiting in front of me for the door to open.

I texted Kelly that there was a line and she responded that she’d see me around 5:30am – when the doors open. I found it interesting that the people in front of me were, at least, a few years older than I and the people behind me (four or five college ‘sophomores’ who were pissed that the Cask wouldn’t let them in because they were all under 21) were so much younger than I. We’re all standing in front of “Game On!” in the dark so, of course, the reporters flock to us. Thankfully, the folks surrounding me were much more colorful than I, so no one asked me for an interview. I’m shy. I’d rather not be on the news, thanks. ~My favorite line from one of the college girls to a reporter: “The Red Sox are going to be number one!!! And the Yankees are going to be number [long pause] THE LAST!” Yeah, thanks for skipping class for this.

While waiting for the doors to open, many of the waitstaff pass by us to get inside. One man in front of me tries to joke with each person going in, “Rise and Shine!”, “We’ll all be here bright and early tomorrow too!”, but the staff is having none of it. I made mental notes to try and avoid the stations of all the folks we saw walk inside.

Just after 5:30am, the doors open and we all fall in. By now there is quite a line of people behind me and I’m wondering where to go. After texting Kelly to get her preference, I choose the last booth in the back, upstairs on the left. Except I tell Kelly I’m on the right (hey, it was early!)…luckily, she figures it out and about five minutes after I sit down, she joins me.

It’s ON, baby!

We decide not to order food just yet and stick to getting some caffeine in us. (A decision we will come to regret much later.)

The place fills up rather quickly and I notice many people standing. It looks like game day at Fenway on any given afternoon.

Kelly is facing four big screens and I have a multitude of televisions to choose from on my side as well. Except, none of the tvs have NESN on (most had on ESPN) and the televisions I was facing all had on what appeared to be Mass…in Spanish.

As they start trying to pick up the signal for NESN, I ask our waitress if my televisions are going to be put on NESN as well, much to Kelly’s chagrin methinks! Kelly is immeasurably more patient than I. (They were. Every television in the place – at least upstairs – was on NESN. We didn’t experience the issues many had today. Thank God. I’m pretty sure I would have killed someone if we ended up NOT being able to see the game.) So we’re settled in with coffee and tea and Don and Jerry on the television. Sure it was still dark out, but who cares? We’ve watched games in the dark before, right?

I’ll speed the narrative up for you all. 🙂 We were interviewed a few times by print media (“Are you getting nervous” one reporter asked us. Seriously. Second inning I think and he wanted to know if we were nervous. I think he was disappointed when the two of us laughed at his question and told him “no”). We decided to order breakfast and better than 90 minutes later received it (only when I got snarky with one of the managers – I swear I’m not that bad to go out with. Usually I’m quiet and reserved. Just don’t annoy me when I’ve been up since 4am).

To keep us happy, Game On! passed out baseball caps (I must have 5 “Game On” caps floating around now) and Red Sox schedules. (If I bring mine to Kings I get my bowling shoes for free!) By the ninth inning, I knew it was time. The rally cap went on – and Brandon Moss lead us to victory…well, a tie anyway. 🙂 Kyle was spared from waking up tomorrow (well, today for him!) to heaps of abuse from the Boston media (hopefully) and the Sox had another life.

May I just add that for all of you who want to give Kyle shit, consider Mr. Papelbon’s performance today and take a big sip of STFU. Thanks.

Admirably, Game On! didn’t serve alcohol until the game ended (at least, again, not upstairs). Made for a pleasant morning all around. Aside from having to wait a couple of hours for our food, we had a good time there. So good a time that we’re going back on Wednesday morning!

I know this post is lacking oomph. So am I. 😉 I needs me some sleep – which I anticipate not getting because soon I’ll get my second wind and be up AGAIN until just past midnight!

As I type this, Tru has already begun emailing me photos from the day…but I don’t have anything to put together, and I REALLY need to get some sleep. So you probably won’t get another installment of Tru’s travels until some time tomorrow.

I watched REAL baseball at 6am today (basically) at Fenway Park. Pretty cool way to start the day.

(Some photos of the day, taken by me, except for the actual picture of me at Game On! which was taken by Mike Adaskaveg of the Boston Herald – I’m in red and I have no idea what I’m gaping at!)