Opening Day

This past Monday, Ryan and I took off from work and went up to Chicago to the White Sox's opening day at U.S. Cellular. Being the second time I was going to a Sox game, I had my standards set pretty high. Last year, we went to a Sox-Cubs game and had a ball.
"How can this compare?" I wondered. "Last time was awesome!"

We drive to the stadium for the 3:00 game and get there about 1:00...along with every other White Sox fan on the planet. We pull off the interstate and are immediately stopped due to the massive overload of traffic. The stadium is situated so that traffic must circle the block to get to
"common folk" parking. Well, after an hour of trying to get down the first street to get to the parking lot (and a large diet coke later), the attendants throw out the sign that the lot is full and we have to go to the additional parking three blocks away.

"Are you serious?!" Ryan says to no one in particular. "Where are we supposed to go do you think?" he asks me.
"Uhhh. I don't know. You are asking the wrong girl. This is your area." I said, realizing that I really had to pee.
Another attendant brought out an arrow sign showing us to go away from the stadium and in the distance I can see two people wearing neon yellow jackets like the other attendants.
"Go there!" I said, as my left leg involuntarily started to jump up and down in an attempt to distract me from the pressure feeling in my bladder. "That must be where we are headed."

So we drive over and end up on the Illinois Institue of Technology's campus about four blocks away...with no other directions.
"What parking lot should we park in?" Ryan asks.
"Again...I don't know." I reply, pressure mounting.
Right then Ryan slams on the brakes and spies a parking space on the street. Let me rephrase that. A FREE parking space on the street.
"Oh my God. We have to get that space." he says.
He drives down the street a little ways to find a place to turn around, the whole time chanting for no one else to steal that spot. As luck would have it, no one did. We whip into the spot and Ryan gets out of the car in triumph, grinning from ear to ear with hands held high.
"Free parking honey! That saves us about $20!!!" he exclaims.

"Good job." I said spying the haven I've been waiting for, the student center...there's gotta be a bathroom in there! So I jog to the building with Ryan calling after me. I run in and start looking for the closest bathroom...ANY bathroom. Look out fellas, cuz if it is one for you, you are about to get a little unexpected company.

I find a women's restroom first (thank the Lord) and proceed with what I like to call "the never ending pee." I feel like it goes and goes and will never stop...but it does. I walk out feeling about ten pounds lighter and find Ryan walking out of the men's next door.
"Sorry. It was an emergency." I said. "Let's go!"

We get about a block away from the car and Ryan is still talking about the damned parking spot.

"You don't realize how lucky we are! A FREE spot! This is awesome!" he exclaims.
"Yeah." I say, not quite as impressed as he. "You have the tickets right?"
Ryan stops in mid stride and grabs my hand. He shuts his eyes and turns around to go back to the car.
I start laughing and thanking my lucky stars we didn't get all the way to the stadium before we realized it.

So, after we got the tickets and rechecked to make sure we had absolutely everything in the world we would possibly need at a baseball game, we began again to walk toward the stadium. We get there in record time and join the mass of people walking into the gate.

Last year, we sat up in the nosebleeds, but this year we had first level seats along the third baseline. We had a great view of the bullpen and the field. I could actually make out the players' faces! Plus, we got to roam free around the first level and wander out to the fan deck in the outfield. They have these really cool bronze statues of players that have retired numbers and so many people were hanging out and just enjoying the day! It was a celebration all over!
We sat in our seats after making pit stops for the essentials:
Hot dog with mustard for me? Check.
Italian sausage with onions and mustard for him? Check.
Two beers? Check.
Nachos with jalapenos? Check.

The game was great. I saw some more "firsts" for me! I saw my first major league grand slam that pulled the Sox up 7-3. Crede hit it right down the 3rd baseline so it went right by us! I saw my first 100mph pitcher! Bobby Jenks was put in for the Sox in the 8th inning. We watched him warm up in the bullpen and everyone in that corner was flipping out! Ryan started drooling a bit, I think. He has a little man crush on Jenks. (Don't tell him I told you that) When Jenks came out of the bullpen...it was as loud as an Auburn-Alabama football game!!!! It was awesome!!!

Something ironic? Ozzie Guillen was tossed...again. He's was pretty heated with the umpire. Both games I've been to he's been tossed! The ump was awful though. If you've seen SportsCenter you have probably heard him talking about the guy. It was funny. Everyone was chearing, "OZZIE! OZZIE! OZZIE!" It was like a rock concert. Again...awesome.

Afterwards, Ryan had to go to the old Comiskey park home plate marker that is in the now parking lot for the stadium. He stood there and looked at it. I could see it in his face...he really wanted to touch it with his hands.
"Go ahead babe...touch it!" I said. A lot of people were walking by and touching it.
He walks to it, hesitates, and then reaches down and touches it with his fingertips. It was quite a moment for him. So, me being the supportive and loving girlfriend...I start chuckling...then giggling...and then I snorted.
"Shut up." he said, cutting his eyes to me.
"Sorry." I said. "But that was really cute. I saw eight year old Ryan just then."

It was a fun day. :P