An All-American Week: Baseball and Cars!

Greetings again, avid reader!

HA HA -- that's a trick opening line because I'm not really addressing myself, but believe I might actually be that one reader! Eye-yah! Blow to pride! Blow to pride! Well, at least I find myself funny.

I'm starting to get out and about after work these days -- a good step in terms of tackling the city and measuring me not being so tired at the end of a day. Both good signs in general. This week, I went to a Mets game at Shea Stadium with co-workers Tuesday night and enjoyed the New York International Auto Show last night.

The New York Mets and other Shea Stadium adventures
The Mets were off to a historical 10-2 start this season -- posting the fastest 10 wins in the history of baseball. All good things must come to an end, however, and they got DRILLED by the Atlanta Braves the night we were there, 7-1. Not necessarily being either a Met or a Brave fan, I enjoyed my first game of the season in a stadium I'd never been to. My general observation: it's a whole different world! From the quick-to-boo fans to the "Yankees Suck" chants to the old school stadium, I'm still stunned from just how different the experience is.

Oddly, it was similar at the Yankees game (save the "Yankees Suck" cheers). The poor pitcher gave up 3 home runs, popped out to the catcher and just got WORKED. The Mets couldn't even put the guys picture up on the big screen without the crowd going bonkers. It's all in good fun, though.

And speaking of good fun, a Yankees fan would walk through the crowd with the wrong NY emblem and the chants would begin. The chants always led to that fan waving his hat with pride so that the rest of the crowd could see why the commotion and jump right in. No one got hurt; I was definitely expecting a melee.

Shea Stadium is O-L-D old. Not old, charming old. Old. Period. Want a hot dog? That'll be $4.75; condiments over there. oooh! Condiments! I love condiments! Sorry, Todd. Ketchup and mustard. For two more dollars, one could get the foot-long... and GET THIS! It comes with a packet of relish!! YES! But I had to ask, where are the Dippin' Dots? Microbrews? Garlic fries? Hamburgers, Fried Chicken, Sushi? They're in new stadiums, you wussy! And wussies everyone love this one -- no hot water in this stadium. You want to wash your hands? Do it in cold, just like the founding fathers, you little girl!

So, the photos are from where we sat -- both looking at home plate and the outfield/scoreboard (and coworker Seth, who popped into the shot -- DAMMIT!)

Car Show! Car Show! Car Show!
Yes, of course you're wondering what I'd be doing at a car show. Well, I would think the same thing if it wasn't New York City and if it's an ADVENTURE! I got invited to the Auto Show with some of the AARF posse: Jim, Mike and Craig. Not being a car person, it was a bit like wandering a sales lot, but oh so NOT. It's all the newest models from all of the major manufacturers.

They're showing off gadgets and body styles and colors and letting the audience vote for the color of their latest concept car. They're talking about self-parking features, and rims and torque and zero-to-60 and all things I really have no idea what they're talking about. But I do know this... I sat in the new Honda Fix. I went on the Jeep Adventure. I rode the newest line of BMW motorcycles.

We also got to check out the latest concept cars -- those that may or may not ever be produced. Here's what I was thinkging... I want that job!! To spend YEARS -- literally YEARS -- coming up with some crazy concept car that may never have add any value whatsoever to the planet or to the manufacturer except to provide conversation fodder at an international car show. Come on! What does that pay?!


I want to design the car with swivel seats or one where if you're tired of driving you can just rotate the steering wheel over to the person in the passenger seat. I could do that! I could also pick colors like Challenge Orange. I'm telling you, who gets to TOTALLY FAIL and get paid a lot of money? Besides Seattle weather forecast teams, I've yet to meet anyone who can be terrible at their professions, yet keep their jobs (Wait, that's a lie. We won't mention one E-to-the-W!). Yet, I have officially found another... and I am IN!