All's Well That Ends Well

So as you know I went to the Red Sox last night and today (my hotdog theory has been proven wrong--which is almost good because I no longer have to spend $4.50 on something I really don't care for.  However, I will still buy the shirts).  It was my birthday present.  And after much to do, it ended up alright.  Let me explain...

I entered one of my parents in a lottery in February to get a chance to buy either Opening Day tickets or tickets from any (or two (they limit you)) Red Sox/Yankees games.  I (well, my mom or dad..I think my dad) didn't win the first round.  So they put our name in for a second chance to win a chance to buy the tickets.  Well, we won in the second round.  However, I had to be at school the day you could get the tickets (it was Friday, February 15).  I wasn't home to sit at the computer and wait for good seats to come along.  So i had my mom do it.  She called me up at school to ask me something about the tickets.  She eventually gave up.  My dad decided to give it a shot.  he came back with two loge box seats for two games (last night's and today's..or so we thought).  I got home from school and was WICKED excited!  I've always wanted to go to a Red Sox/Yankees game at Fenway (although I don't think I can allow myself to go back. I'm 0-3 with Yankee games, and 0-2 at home), and I was going to two.  So pretty much, it was the best birthday gift I could have.

Fast forward to July 23rd.

A few days before the games, I'm running around the house looking for the tickets.  I said we never got them, my mom doesn't remember, and my dad says we got them and that I took them.  I keep saying we didn't get them as I tear my room apart.  Needless to say, they were no where to be found.  I go online to the Red Sox ticket site to see what to do when it comes to lost tickets.  In order to replace them, you have to go to the Will-Call window the day of the game and present your receipt and ID.  So we plan to be there earlier enough to get my tickets.  Plus I like to be there as early as possible.

While driving down to Boston, I couldn't believe I was actually going to a Red Sox/Yankees game.  It felt too good to be true.  Well, it turns out it was..sort of.

We get to the ticket window and explain what happened.  So the girl was like, 'Okay, hold on.'  We waited for about 15 minutes, then the customer service guy in the booth comes on the microphone and says that we don't have the tickets.  Somewhere along the line, the information didn't match up (the name on the raffle card didn't match the billing or shipping), MLB sent us an email asking us to fix it (we never paid attention to it, apparently), and we received a credit.  I was devastated.  My mom felt terrible, and I didn't know how to react.  The guy also felt equally as bad.  He told us to go to a certain area that will remain unnamed for more than one reason, but he told us to go there because there's a good chance I'd be able to get one ticket.

As we were walking down Landsdowne Street, I thought I was going to faint.  My hearing became muffled and filed with static, and I felt light-headed, but I knew I couldn't faint there.  Luckily, I didn't faint at all.  When we arrived to the unnamed location, I no longer felt faint, but I did begin to cry.  Think about it: You drive to Boston, book a hotel, get to the field only to find out you have no tickets.  Oh yeah, and it's your birthday present.  How would you feel?  I didn't want to cry, I didn't think I would cry, but I did.  So we're at the spot, and maybe..twenty minutes later, I had a ticket that I bought for face value, and it was a better seat than the one I originally had.  How do you like that?  Josh Beckett pitched, and I had a blast.  Granted, we lost 1-0, just being there was amazing.  I still don't feel like I was there.  Even as I walked back to the Copley Plaza decked out in Red Sox garb, I couldn't believe I had just walked out of Fenway Park.

So the next day (today), I go down to the same place.  Only this time I get there at 12:30, three and a half hours before the game.  I stand out in the hot sun for almost three hours.  The girl ahead of me in line was looking for one ticket as well.  So that didn't make me feel very good about my chances.  She got her one seat.  It was standing-room-only, but it didn't matter--it's red Sox/Yankees!  In my head I was saying, "Dammit dammit dammit!  That should be MY ticket!"  So I continue to wait.  About half an hour after the girl in front of me got her ticket, I got mine.  And mine was a hell of a lot better than standing-room-only.  I had to pay more for it, but I paid face-value for it so I didn't care.  I was in Field Box 50, THREE ROWS FROM THE FIELD!!!!!  Field Box 50 is the first section behind home plate that isn't behind the net.  Needless to say, it was amazing.  Best seat I ever had.  I had an absolute blast.  Just being there was incredible (again).  And to think I almost didn't go down to try and get a ticket.

Even if the Red Sox lost, I had the best birthday presents ever.  It's still weird to think that I was there.  I don't know if I'll ever allow myself to go to another Red Sox/Yankees game, though.  My superstitions may get the better of me...

Who am I kidding?  I do believe in superstitions when it comes to baseball, but I think it's all null and void when it comes to Red Sox/Yankees games.  Anything, and I mean anything, can happen.

Happy (Almost) Birthday To Me

Tomorrow is my 18th birthday.  18!  I'm still trying to embrace it and realize that it is not as big of a number as I think it is.  So many things come with being 18--the most important one is being able to vote.  I promise I will vote.  I swear on Big Red that I will vote.  Another cool thing about being 18 is that I'll be able to enter radio contests!  I've always wanted to be able to enter radio contests.  I could have won so many free concert tickets.  I knew the answers more often than not, but I could never call in to win because I wasn't 18.  After tomorrow, that will change.

Unlike many 18-year-olds or soon-to-be 18-year-olds, I could care less about being able to drink in Canada.  That doesn't interest me: drive five hours to get drunk.  That's just silly.  On top of gas, you have to buy the alcohol, AND get a hotel room.  And the conversion rate is even.  Dollar for dollar.  Nope, sorry, you go and have fun, I'll stay home and play guitar.

Starting tomorrow I'll be able to have my own eBay account.  That's awesome.  I no longer have to use my mom's.  I'll be able to buy and sell as I please.  I actually have quite a few things I need to sell..And buy.

The only thing I'm not looking forward to about tomorrow is tomorrow.  That looks and sounds funny, doesn't it?  Well, see, for the past like..five years, I have had lame/uneventful/boring birthdays.  Last year I went to the movies with my parents, and backed into my friend's car (that put a damper on things).  Most of my friends have been gone for my birthday, and this year is no exception: Drew's in Canada, Alex is in Australia, and if they're not out of the country, then they're working.  It doesn't bother me at all this year, really.  Tomorrow might be the day I was born, but I care more about the next two days.  Instead of having tangible presents, I have something much better, and much more personal: Tickets to two Red Sox/Yankees games.  I can be in the worst mood ever, but when I think about those games I instantly become happy.  Very few things could be better than that.  Fun fact: The day of the infamous fight between A-Rod and Varitek was on my birthday, July 24th, 2004.  Thought I'd share that with you.  I think it's wicked cool.