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maniacmarshallAlmost done, so I can report on Gencon next. I expect that report to be a lot shorter. We'll just have to see...
I've decided NOT to cut this part, because the subject of it deserves to be read by everyone.
The night was not without sadness, however. You see, when I was in College, I used to go to 50+ games a year. I went to every game that didn’t interfere with work or a test. Hell, if there was a long enough rain delay during a game that took place while I was at work, I'd drive over to catch the last few innings. During that time, I got to know a lot of the other regulars in the left field bleachers. We all used to sit together in the corner of the bleachers near the bullpen. If any of you reading this are Cardinal fans, and ever used to hear Mike Shannon say "The 375 gang is here in force again tonight." That was us he was talking about.
Back then, bleachers didn't go on sale till 2 hours before the game every day, so somone, often me, had to go get in line early in the day to get our tickets. Nothing like getting out of class, going down to the stadium, and laying in line for 3 hours or so, though the beer made it a little more tolerable ;) (In St. Louis, it is not, or at least, was not at that time, against the law to drink open package liquor right out on the street, so I usually borught a cold 12 pack and some ice to share with my line buddies)
THE hardest thing about moving away from St. Louis and starting a "real job" in 1991 was that I had to leave my beloved baseball team, and my brothers and sisters in "The Pit" behind. (We called ourselves the pit because we sat in the hottest place in the entire park. Not only did the sun shine on us about as long as anywhere else in the park, but the exhaust from the Stadium Club's AC blew right down on us X_X)
Over the years, I've kinda lost touch with most of those people. Many of them still go to games and sit together just like in the old days, but, I've moved so many times and changed phone numbers so many times, I'd really just kinda lost touch with everyone. (Remember, 1991 was before the internet or cell phones were big, so we didn’t have a big email list then) Oh, sure, when I WAS able to make a game a couple times a year, I'd go hang out with them before or after a game, but, it wasn't like it used to be, and, honestly, it's my fault more than anything else for allowing myself to lose touch.
One of the Beer vendors, Russ, has been selling beer in the left field bleachers for like 30 years, so before I was even able to go to games. Every time I do get to go, he's the only one I buy beer off of, and, unlike the others, we HAVE kind of kept up with each other. For a while, we'd even go the annual Alton vs. East St. Louis football game (the poor guy used to teach school at east side for a day job…)
So before the game, I flag Russ down and have him set me up with a Bud Light, and while he's pouring it for me he hits me with: "You heard that Quinton died about a month ago right?"
I just couldn’t believe it. I made him repeat it, because I didn't want to believe it. Quinton Washington, the self proclaimed, but undeniable King of the Left Field Bleachers was gone.
"Yeah, he was here at the game one night, then didn't show up for the day game the next day. He had a seizure and died in the middle of the night." Russ informed me.
I wasn't as good of friends with Quinton as I was with some of the others, like Russ, Ted, Linda, "Crazy" Dave, and "Stat Man" Jeff, but it still hit me like a ton of bricks. You always think that people like that are going to be there forever, you know, and then, when they aren't, it leaves a big hole in your life. Not as big a hole as when a parent, sibling, or child passes away, but still, a hole, because when you get to know people as well as I knew the people in the pit, it's as close to losing a family member as it gets when one of them passes on.
It makes me sad that I couldn't go to the funeral, or, at least send flowers, because I didn't know he had died.
I guess it's yet another lesson to live life to the fullest, and never take things for granted. I wanted to go down and see the guys after the game, but everyone was feeling really crappy, especially Rachel, and I thought we'd best just go get back in the Air Conditioning.
You can bet though, that the next time I get a chance to go to a game, I WILL be getting cell phone numbers and emails from everyone. Life's just too damn short and unpredictable to do otherwise.
I'm also going to try to make sure that I don't let myself lose touch with my new friends that I'm meeting now that I'm hitting the convention circut again (It's all Rachel's fault for moving in with me and giving me somone to go to con's with again). As I get older, I discover more and more that it's friends and relationships that really mean the most in life, at least to me.
The next day, we considered going to the Arch, but, with everyone drained from the weekend, we decided to just go home, and hit the Arch another time.
It was a strange, fun at times, sad at times, and almost surreal at time two weeks. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed typing it up.
Next up: GenCon
OK, so Sunday finally rolls around. Originally I was going to play a game of Civilization at 10am. A friend of mine had it when we were in high school and was great fun. However, when 10 o'clock rolls around, all I want to do is die. I don't seem to be able to will myself to do that, however, so instead, I just sleep. Since the autopsy doesn't take place, there are 3 things I HAVE to do later, though, so I drag myself out of bed, put on my Sylvester McCoy costume and head out.
1pm brings us Get Your Scarf, and Grab Your Hat - Classic Doctor Who. I do remember we had a great, lively discussion of the old show, but I can't say as I remember and of the specifics. Most of what I remember about this panel is what happened right after it. I had a great time talking to Cindy Appel, one of the panelists, and a great romance writer as well, both before and after it. If you like romance, either traditional or non traditional, I suggest giving her a try.
Cindy is also a CIA member, and just a really interesting person. She has loved my Davison costume in the past, and always has to touch the Celery to see if its still real J I get a real kick out of it every time she does it for some reason.
This is the first time she has seen my Mc Coy costume, however, since it is the first time I have worn it. I will be the first to admit that, at this time, it's not very good yet. It's not terrible, but neither is it great. The thing that got everyone's attention with it, however, was the "bandana" on the hat, which I showed everyone, was actually a Cardinal tie! I think even Rob Levy got a little kick out of that. It happened accidentally, as the bandana I bought got left at home, but now, the Cardinal tie has become sort of a signature touch for the costume, and one that I am unlikely to change for any amount of realism. It's kind of my signature, like the real celery for Davison. (The joke there being, of course, that the "real celery" was fake! Nevertheless, so many people just freak over the real celery that I just can't imagine ever changing it now!)
After enjoying the company of my fellow CIAers for a few minutes, I hurried off to hear the Blake's Seven audio, which started at 2pm. I missed the first few minutes, but that was ok, because I had heard them the previous day. The sound system and the room were much better this time, and wow, I LOVED the audio. I haven't managed to buy it yet, but I will grab one off Mike's Comics as soon as I get moved.
Finally, it was off to the CIA meeting at 3pm. We had a blast, and got several new members as well. The absolute highlight of the thing, was a joke that started somehow about doing a Doctor Who skit, and we ended up with the idea of Doctor Whoosier. For about half an hour, it was a non stop, falling off the chair experience as we came up with idea after idea for this. I believe I came up with the Sonic Fishing Rod, and had the idea for the Tardis to be disguised as a Pickup. That idea got trumped by Levy's idea that it should be a double wide on cinder blocks! OMG was this a riot!
Cindy supposedly took notes and was supposed to write either a story or a play about this, so I don't want to give too much away in case she does. I'll have to ask her what is going on with this idea at the next meeting. Anyway, that was it for Archon other than Closing Ceremonies, which are usually fun, but, feeling like I did, sleep sounded like even more fun.
Originally we were going to go back to the fun park that night, but, by now, everyone was sick, and all we wanted to do was sleep.
Monday morning, we were supposed to go to the Arch, but again, everyone felt like hell. I got the hotel to let us stay over another day, and we just slept instead. That night, everyone was feeling just barely well enough, so I took everyone to see the Cardinal/Padre game, for which I had already purchased tickets.
Poor Rachel should probably have stayed home, as she was miserable most of the night, and was barely able to make it from the parking garage. I'm sure the 95+ degree heat didn't help any either. OTOH, if she HAD stayed home, she wouldn't be able to tell me she WASN'T cursed loudly and repeatedly.
I know this sounds impossible, but over the last 5 years, she has been to about 20 regular season games, both with and without me, in 7 different ballparks, rooting for 4 different teams, and the team she was rooting for in those games lost every single one. That’s right, EVERY SINGLE ONE. I don't know what the odds of a 20 game losing streak are, but they have to be staggeringly high against, like, in the millions or trillions to one.
Previously this year, she had seen the Cardinals lose to the Cubs in St. Louis, the Braves lose to the Cubs at Wrigley, the Royals lose to the Orioles in KC, and the White Sox lose a doubleheader to the Twins at U.S. Cellular in historically bad fashion. I think she also saw the Braves lose to someone in Atlanta early in the season, but I won't swear to it.
She DID see the Cardinals win twice in the post season last year, but, she also saw both their home playoff losses too. I told her those really didn’t count, though, because the baseball gods had just intervened in her bad luck in those games, because some greater power wanted the Cardinals to win the series.
Anyhow, on this night, her bad luck ran out, and ran out in spectacular fashion. The Cardinals had ten straight hits, tying a major league record, en route to a 10 run inning in the fifth. Oddly enough, IF the Cardinals do make the post season, this game might be the one you point to and say it turned their season around.
1pm brings us Get Your Scarf, and Grab Your Hat - Classic Doctor Who. I do remember we had a great, lively discussion of the old show, but I can't say as I remember and of the specifics. Most of what I remember about this panel is what happened right after it. I had a great time talking to Cindy Appel, one of the panelists, and a great romance writer as well, both before and after it. If you like romance, either traditional or non traditional, I suggest giving her a try.
Cindy is also a CIA member, and just a really interesting person. She has loved my Davison costume in the past, and always has to touch the Celery to see if its still real J I get a real kick out of it every time she does it for some reason.
This is the first time she has seen my Mc Coy costume, however, since it is the first time I have worn it. I will be the first to admit that, at this time, it's not very good yet. It's not terrible, but neither is it great. The thing that got everyone's attention with it, however, was the "bandana" on the hat, which I showed everyone, was actually a Cardinal tie! I think even Rob Levy got a little kick out of that. It happened accidentally, as the bandana I bought got left at home, but now, the Cardinal tie has become sort of a signature touch for the costume, and one that I am unlikely to change for any amount of realism. It's kind of my signature, like the real celery for Davison. (The joke there being, of course, that the "real celery" was fake! Nevertheless, so many people just freak over the real celery that I just can't imagine ever changing it now!)
After enjoying the company of my fellow CIAers for a few minutes, I hurried off to hear the Blake's Seven audio, which started at 2pm. I missed the first few minutes, but that was ok, because I had heard them the previous day. The sound system and the room were much better this time, and wow, I LOVED the audio. I haven't managed to buy it yet, but I will grab one off Mike's Comics as soon as I get moved.
Finally, it was off to the CIA meeting at 3pm. We had a blast, and got several new members as well. The absolute highlight of the thing, was a joke that started somehow about doing a Doctor Who skit, and we ended up with the idea of Doctor Whoosier. For about half an hour, it was a non stop, falling off the chair experience as we came up with idea after idea for this. I believe I came up with the Sonic Fishing Rod, and had the idea for the Tardis to be disguised as a Pickup. That idea got trumped by Levy's idea that it should be a double wide on cinder blocks! OMG was this a riot!
Cindy supposedly took notes and was supposed to write either a story or a play about this, so I don't want to give too much away in case she does. I'll have to ask her what is going on with this idea at the next meeting. Anyway, that was it for Archon other than Closing Ceremonies, which are usually fun, but, feeling like I did, sleep sounded like even more fun.
Originally we were going to go back to the fun park that night, but, by now, everyone was sick, and all we wanted to do was sleep.
Monday morning, we were supposed to go to the Arch, but again, everyone felt like hell. I got the hotel to let us stay over another day, and we just slept instead. That night, everyone was feeling just barely well enough, so I took everyone to see the Cardinal/Padre game, for which I had already purchased tickets.
Poor Rachel should probably have stayed home, as she was miserable most of the night, and was barely able to make it from the parking garage. I'm sure the 95+ degree heat didn't help any either. OTOH, if she HAD stayed home, she wouldn't be able to tell me she WASN'T cursed loudly and repeatedly.
I know this sounds impossible, but over the last 5 years, she has been to about 20 regular season games, both with and without me, in 7 different ballparks, rooting for 4 different teams, and the team she was rooting for in those games lost every single one. That’s right, EVERY SINGLE ONE. I don't know what the odds of a 20 game losing streak are, but they have to be staggeringly high against, like, in the millions or trillions to one.
Previously this year, she had seen the Cardinals lose to the Cubs in St. Louis, the Braves lose to the Cubs at Wrigley, the Royals lose to the Orioles in KC, and the White Sox lose a doubleheader to the Twins at U.S. Cellular in historically bad fashion. I think she also saw the Braves lose to someone in Atlanta early in the season, but I won't swear to it.
She DID see the Cardinals win twice in the post season last year, but, she also saw both their home playoff losses too. I told her those really didn’t count, though, because the baseball gods had just intervened in her bad luck in those games, because some greater power wanted the Cardinals to win the series.
Anyhow, on this night, her bad luck ran out, and ran out in spectacular fashion. The Cardinals had ten straight hits, tying a major league record, en route to a 10 run inning in the fifth. Oddly enough, IF the Cardinals do make the post season, this game might be the one you point to and say it turned their season around.
I've decided NOT to cut this part, because the subject of it deserves to be read by everyone.
The night was not without sadness, however. You see, when I was in College, I used to go to 50+ games a year. I went to every game that didn’t interfere with work or a test. Hell, if there was a long enough rain delay during a game that took place while I was at work, I'd drive over to catch the last few innings. During that time, I got to know a lot of the other regulars in the left field bleachers. We all used to sit together in the corner of the bleachers near the bullpen. If any of you reading this are Cardinal fans, and ever used to hear Mike Shannon say "The 375 gang is here in force again tonight." That was us he was talking about.
Back then, bleachers didn't go on sale till 2 hours before the game every day, so somone, often me, had to go get in line early in the day to get our tickets. Nothing like getting out of class, going down to the stadium, and laying in line for 3 hours or so, though the beer made it a little more tolerable ;) (In St. Louis, it is not, or at least, was not at that time, against the law to drink open package liquor right out on the street, so I usually borught a cold 12 pack and some ice to share with my line buddies)
THE hardest thing about moving away from St. Louis and starting a "real job" in 1991 was that I had to leave my beloved baseball team, and my brothers and sisters in "The Pit" behind. (We called ourselves the pit because we sat in the hottest place in the entire park. Not only did the sun shine on us about as long as anywhere else in the park, but the exhaust from the Stadium Club's AC blew right down on us X_X)
Over the years, I've kinda lost touch with most of those people. Many of them still go to games and sit together just like in the old days, but, I've moved so many times and changed phone numbers so many times, I'd really just kinda lost touch with everyone. (Remember, 1991 was before the internet or cell phones were big, so we didn’t have a big email list then) Oh, sure, when I WAS able to make a game a couple times a year, I'd go hang out with them before or after a game, but, it wasn't like it used to be, and, honestly, it's my fault more than anything else for allowing myself to lose touch.
One of the Beer vendors, Russ, has been selling beer in the left field bleachers for like 30 years, so before I was even able to go to games. Every time I do get to go, he's the only one I buy beer off of, and, unlike the others, we HAVE kind of kept up with each other. For a while, we'd even go the annual Alton vs. East St. Louis football game (the poor guy used to teach school at east side for a day job…)
So before the game, I flag Russ down and have him set me up with a Bud Light, and while he's pouring it for me he hits me with: "You heard that Quinton died about a month ago right?"
I just couldn’t believe it. I made him repeat it, because I didn't want to believe it. Quinton Washington, the self proclaimed, but undeniable King of the Left Field Bleachers was gone.
"Yeah, he was here at the game one night, then didn't show up for the day game the next day. He had a seizure and died in the middle of the night." Russ informed me.
I wasn't as good of friends with Quinton as I was with some of the others, like Russ, Ted, Linda, "Crazy" Dave, and "Stat Man" Jeff, but it still hit me like a ton of bricks. You always think that people like that are going to be there forever, you know, and then, when they aren't, it leaves a big hole in your life. Not as big a hole as when a parent, sibling, or child passes away, but still, a hole, because when you get to know people as well as I knew the people in the pit, it's as close to losing a family member as it gets when one of them passes on.
It makes me sad that I couldn't go to the funeral, or, at least send flowers, because I didn't know he had died.
I guess it's yet another lesson to live life to the fullest, and never take things for granted. I wanted to go down and see the guys after the game, but everyone was feeling really crappy, especially Rachel, and I thought we'd best just go get back in the Air Conditioning.
You can bet though, that the next time I get a chance to go to a game, I WILL be getting cell phone numbers and emails from everyone. Life's just too damn short and unpredictable to do otherwise.
I'm also going to try to make sure that I don't let myself lose touch with my new friends that I'm meeting now that I'm hitting the convention circut again (It's all Rachel's fault for moving in with me and giving me somone to go to con's with again). As I get older, I discover more and more that it's friends and relationships that really mean the most in life, at least to me.
The next day, we considered going to the Arch, but, with everyone drained from the weekend, we decided to just go home, and hit the Arch another time.
It was a strange, fun at times, sad at times, and almost surreal at time two weeks. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I enjoyed typing it up.
Next up: GenCon
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Date: 2007-09-08 04:18 am (UTC)http://images.cosplay.com/showphoto.php?photo=1251581
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Date: 2007-09-08 05:26 am (UTC)Thanks so much *hugs*
I know I had my picture taken AT LEAST 100 times in that outfit(seriously) over the weekend, and I've seen myself several times already in some of our groups pictures, but that's probably the best one so far.
I wish I'd done something with my badge during the parade. I did for most of the pictures I got stopped for, but it never occurred to me to do that for the parade. I'm such a dork!