Yesterday’s adventure was going to the Met game; they played the Atlanta Braves. For once I didn’t leave late, I forwent my Donut Walk™ to make sure I got to Citi Field with time to spare. Even then I was not there as early as I would have liked, I figured I’d get my walking circumnavigating the stadium. That meant I missed the singing of the National Anthem; I like to be in my seat for that. I posted where I was sitting on Facebook and Instagram, but nobody came by to say hi and nobody near me posted their location.
It was a great game, but the big excitement is that I was the Designated Driver prize. Each game if you have a license and vow to not drink alcohol you get a free soda. I’ve been doing this since they instituted it in the 1980s. They made it easier this year by using an online form so I can fill it out before I get to the park and just show the confirmation email and get my coupon. They also award I prize to one lucky fan. The prize used to be a very nice warmup jacket. They don’t say what it is now. In the fourth inning they announced the winner and saw my name up on the Diamond Vision. I joked to Alan before it came up that I was going to win, then I did! To claim the prize, you have to go to the fan appreciation booth on the field level. We sit on the upper deck behind home plate. They don’t tell you where on field level it is, but I knew all the fan amenities are located in the plaza in left-center field, as far as you can get from our seat. I walked to left field and by chance caught an elevator, which saved some time. I went to the “Fan Fest” area figuring that’s where it would be, but I didn’t see it. I asked a Citi-Field employee where it was, and he told me it was behind home plate. That’s where I started. Alan said I should ask where it was at the start, but I smugly said that I know. I regretted that decision. I got behind the plate and found the information booth, which does not say “Fan appreciation” to ask where it was, and the woman there told me it was not at that info booth but the one in center field! What?! I told her I was there, and they told me to come here. She asked me what color shirt the guy was wearing but I had no idea. I like that she was clearly concerned that I was misinformed and planned on acting on it. I walked halfway around the stadium again and found the info booth which is well hidden behind the Shea Bridge. It’s in an enclosed area you can’t see from the plaza and there are no signs pointing to it. Even the people that work there don’t know where it is. As I approached I saw the woman in the office hand someone at the window a beautiful replica jersey. I got excited. If he got that, what would I get? I showed her my ID and my ticket, and she gave me my prize. It was a cooler bag and plastic sunglasses, the kind you buy in bulk to give away as party favors. The bag was nice but not that different than the one they gave everyone that got to Sunday’s game early. I expect a prize that is given to just one person to be significantly better than a giveaway given to everyone, especially as I had to miss part of the game to get it.
I checked my steps when I got back to my seat, and I had walked 4 miles. I got my walk in In the meantime Alan had changed seats to “much better” ones. Much better is in quotes as that’s in the eye of the beholder. I’ll show you the two views and you say which is better. Both are taken while seated. I’ll flip a coin to see which goes first.
As I’m sure you guessed Alan preferred the obstructed view seats. I don’t know if he’s aware of it, I suspect he is but doesn’t like to say so, but it’s not the view that he prefers but that there is nobody sitting in front or behind us. He chose his Knicks seats to be in the very back row so nobody would be behind them. It’s not right or wrong, it’s a preference and people like what they like. It’s good to remember that what you think is best is not necessarily the same as what others think is best.
As I said the game was great. The score was tied 1-1 when pinch-hitter Brandon Drury hit a homerun to put the Mets in front. Then in the bottom of the 9th Mets closer Edwin Diaz gave up a double and then a single to right. It looked like the run would surely score but Met rightfielder Michael Conforto charged the ball hard and make a perfect throw to the plate to nail the runner.
I should be able to get home from a game in an hour. There is a super-express 7 train waiting in the station that makes only three stops before mine, 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. That leg was great. The problem was that I then waited half an hour for the D train. It seems to always be delayed. I think I’ll have to start coming home on the 4 even though it’s a much longer walk from the station to home. I didn’t get home until midnight.
Now I better get to my laundry. Don’t forget to watch Gord’s Gold tonight on Folk Music Notebook at 9 PM Eastern Time. I was going to say it’s a good one, but they are all good ones.
Wise Madness 