Baltimore Sox Game: So nice we did it twice!

After everything that went wrong on the first trip to Baltimore, I thought I would never convince my friends to go back with me. Even though the trip had a few issues here and there I actually had a blast. When I was uploading the pictures from the game I could laugh at all we went through.

So when my friend sent out an email saying we should go back and catch the game in September, I was all for it. I believe that right after that email within a week I had the purchased 4 tickets, booked a hotel, bought tour tickets and got us a rental car. We were ready for the Baltimore Do-Over.

This time around we knew what to expect. I got us a better hotel that didn't give my room to someone else and we took the subway early enough that we finally got to make our tour!! It was the best $9 bucks I ever spent. The tour was amazing!



Here is our tour guide giving us a history lesson on Camden Yards. He knew ALOT of fun information! I learned what Babe Ruth's Batting average was (342), where Babe Ruth lived and learned about baseball, and we learned some fun facts about what goes into a baseball game at Camden Yard.

Part of the tour was to walk down to the field. But we weren't allowed to step on the grass because it is a special blend of seeds and our shoes could contaminate it.



Making our way to the dugout! I can't believe how close we got to the field!

My friend and I sitting in the dugout! It was great to sit where the pros sit and it was super clean too. The bench was cushioned too! These guys have it all!

The view from the dugout. It reminded me of my softball playing days...

This is where important phone calls are made!

We then moved on to inside Camden Yard. I guess they keep a stats board of every game. I had the worst urge to just whip this clean.

We got to go where the newspaper/TV/Radio reporters go to see the game. The view they had was amazing.

While our tour guide was talking, I spotted Dustin Pedroia doing some batting practice. I love his socks!

Finally the game began! Here is us (minus 1) waiting for the game to start.

The Red Sox killed Baltimore. It was a great game!

An important lesson for you kids: Doing this at the game all through the game, plus eating a Camden Yard Hot Dog, plus having a big lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and being in the Summer heat.......

will result to this. I was so sick. I came back to the hotel and fell on the bed. I didn't even get undressed. My friends thought I was dead the next morning. But would I go again?? Absolutely! Baltimore is a great place to watch the Sox play!

Details

Camden Yards - I love dealing with them! They are so friendly!!

Where we stayed: Weston Hotel- Beautiful inside and they had a room for me when I arrived! I heard the bar and gym is nice, but I was too sick to enjoy it.

Rental car: Hetz- My car wasn't as big the first time and they gave me a car with Rhode Island plates...yuck... but they are great over there

What to do: Camden Yard ballpark tour- well worth it!!

Went to Baltimore to See the Sox play!

In February I thought it would be a great idea to go to Baltimore to see the Red Sox play against the Orioles. So I booked a hotel and bought 2 tickets. I was also able to score 2 more tickets from someone who canceled so I was able to bring 3 of my closest friends. This trip was going to be so much fun! Wrong! This trip is now known as:

The Epic Fail of Baltimore aka Waitsomemore

Why was this trip an Epic Fail? Let me list the reasons.

- The Sheraton overbooked the hotel and we had to stay at a "nicer" hotel

-The "nicer" hotel turned out to be a dump

-We missed our tour of Camden Yard because it took forever to check out of that hotel

- On the way back from our non existing tour we waited like 45 mins for the train in the hot sun in the middle of no where

But we didn't come to Baltimore to go sight seeing, we were in Baltimore to see the Red Sox play. The game was fantastic and Camden Yards is beautiful!

The view from our seats. Pretty darn good for just $35 buck seats!

I see why Baltimore is called "Boston of the South" I didn't see any Orioles fans in our section. Do you see any orange?

Except for this jerk sitting in front of us. He was so annoyed at us Red Sox fans. Yet...isn't that a Red Sox hat he is wearing?!

Their field was so nice! And it was so clean! Even the bathrooms where clean.

Despite the fact that Ortiz was supposedly using steroids back in 2004, us fans still shouted out his name. The couple beside me was shocked at how into the Sox we fans are. I also had to explain that we were NOT booing Youk.

The best part of Camden Yards was the hot dogs and the Margarita's! That's right, Margaritas passed out by a vendor! We had fun taking advantage of that!

The Sox win!! aww the sad wittle birdie is all gwouchy and sad

The Sox won, we were full of hot dogs, and the drinks were tasty! Baltimore wasn't such a fail after all! (BTW, I wanted a picture of me at our section....we were section 61)

Despite everything that happened with the hotel, on the way back home we all agreed that this was a great trip and that we should do it again! I guess it makes for a great story.

Details

Camden Yards-Orioles Stadium- I called them to get the tickets and everyone I talked to was super nice. Great customer service!

Rental Car: Hetz (Woburn MA)- Great customer service!

Where we stayed: The Sheraton Hotel BWI airport- I would not recommend this hotel because I booked the room in February and yet my room was not available when I got there

Favorite place to eat: Camden Yards- FANTASTIC hot dogs and I loved the vendor with the margaritas!

Got the worst Sunburn of my life.

My friends and I decided that since it was finally starting to feel like Summer in Massachusetts that we would hit the beach! We left early in the morning and found that Nahant beach was pretty empty and quite. I was all set to relax and enjoy this warm Summer day!

Those are my pale little feet. I didn't bother to put any sunblock on because it really wasn't that sunny. It was more windy then sunny. I only put alittle on my face. Besides I wanted alittle color from the sun.

Yes, life was grand. We left around 1pm (we spent 5 hours at the beach total) and I was doing good. I napped, I relaxed and I got to hang out with my friends.




Then it happen. I was in the car on the way home and I started to feel sick. Then my skin started to sting a bit. It wasn't until I got in the shower to wash the sand off me that my sunburn started to come out.

It was getting worse and worse. This was my leg about 3 hours after the beach. Due to the fact that I was wearing capri pants, I had a nice little farmers tan forming.

My arm was fried too. Again a nice farmers tan because I had my arms crossed over me. I need to learn how to rotate my body when I am in the sun.

The next morning I woke up and got out of bed. My legs felt like the skin was going to just tear apart. It was painful to walk, to sit and to lie down. I used up 2 bottles of Aloe just to get some kind of relief but nothing helped the sting. But I also wake up to this sight.

Saturday (three hours after the beach) ---------------------------- Sunday (1 full day after the beach)

Holy cankles Batman!!

Not only did it hurt from the burn but it felt like I was walking on water balloons. My shoes at work needed to be removed at any chance I could just to let them breath. I felt and looked like Miss Piggy. I weighted myself and found out I gained 5 lbs from those suckers. I never will complain about how fat my feet and ankles look again. You can see from the picture above that my shoulders and collarbone was pretty fried too.

I searched online for ways of getting relief. I tried taking baths with tea bags, rubbing my burns with lemon, and every burn relief cream I could find in Walgreen's. But the best treatment was taking a cool shower and then I would pour Vinegar over the burns. Then I would cake on Noxzema and sit on a tower on my couch. It helped so much but I smelled like a salad for a week.

Said Goodbye to a Music Legend

Michael Jackson

August 29 1958 - June 25 2009

Michael Jackson was truly a music icon for me growing up. I was born the year Thriller was released and remember watching his music videos growing up. I really want to remember Michael Jackson for being so talented. I hope that my kids one day will know him as being the King of Pop and not Wako Jacko. But Despite his crazy, sad and weird lifestyle he had a beautiful voice which provided us with fantastic songs that we all enjoy. Michael, thank you for incredible voice and all your dance moves that you left us.

I adopted a cat!

Looking around my apartment, all I could think was "This place sure is lonely." So I went on Petfinder.com just to "look". That's when I saw the most beautiful cat I have ever seen in my life.

He was a tabby cat with big green eyes. He was HUGE. I loved him instantly. I had to go down and see him in person. So that weekend I drove up to the New Hampshire Petsmart to see this cat. I knew that if he was there I was going to instantly put my name down for adoption. I even knew what I was going to name him. When I first saw him the name 'Troy' just came to me.

When I got to the pet store I saw they had several cats available for adoption. When I was waiting for someone to help me I went over to glass wall where all the cats were. I went up to where I saw two giant white paws sticking out of a box. I have never seen paws like that. They were massive and so furry. But as I was admiring that cat, the woman from the shelter asked if I needed anything. I asked to see the cat that I feel in love with online.

"I'm sorry he has been adopted already."

Not going to lie, I was heartbroken. I was going to just leave but then she asked if I was interested in any other cat. I thought about the large white paws and asked about that cat. I have never seen a cat like that and was curious.

"Oh, that is Topaz! She is a such a lovable cat! She is calm, sweet and loves to cuddle!"

I wasn't sold on the idea to adopt a girl cat since I grew up with all male animals. But then the woman told me that she was found alone on the streets during the Winter and was not eatting because she was afraid of the other cats. I went in to pet her and she was so unbelivably soft. I am afraid of cats bitting or straching me but she was very gentle and purred. Having felt abandomed by someone I loved and feeling afraid of my new life, I knew I wanted her. We needed to stick together in this crazy world.

So the papers where signed and I got to bring her home! I renamed her Aerith (air-ith). She soon came out of her shell to be one of the most loudest, sweetest, irritating, loving, hyper, and craziest cat I have ever met. But I love her and no matter how much she annoyes me, I wouldn't give her up!

Details

Petfinder.com: This is where I found her. There aretons and tons of animals there that need a good home

Petsmart: Where the shetler brought the cats for adoption and where I purchased all her toys/food/accessories

Kitty The Cat: Aeriths Blog

Said Goodbye to Gene

Gene

October 19, 1940 - May 27, 2009

I found out today that one of my co-workers passed away last night. He was 68 years old and battling leukemia. I guess the battle was just to much. We all knew he was very sick but we thought he was getting better.

So today has been a very quiet day for all of us. I knew him since I started working here at the bank (8 years ago) and can't imagine him not coming in anymore to visit us. He was such a nice guy.

May God bless his family for going through this rough time. Gene is no longer feeling any pain or suffering anymore. May they always have casual Fridays up in Heaven.