Bleacher creatures

I have been to both new stadiums this season, and I'm happy enough with both. After Old Timer day, I told my wife that this is it - no more baseball for the year. Unfortunately, I had told my son that I'd agree to go to the Red Sox game on August 9. Our cousins from the Upper West Side are Red Sox fans, and they asked if we could join them. Because of television, the game didn't start until 8, so I made arrangements to be off work the next day, figuring that I wouldn't be in bed until 2 AM.

We met the cousins at the main gate without a hitch. Since Wendee was wearing her full Red Sox regalia, she got a lot of attention but most of it was from other Bostonians. We warned them to expect a Yankees win. My son and I were at David Cone's perfect game 10 years ago, and we always wear the hats we wore to that game. During that time, we have only witnessed one Yankee loss. Would the hats work their magic one more time and bring on an improbable sweep of the Sox in the Bronx.

The game was a pitcher's duel for 6 innings. Then in the bottom of the 7th, A-Rod pasted one to the seats in front of us, and it was 1-0. We expressed ourselves but kept it dignified in respect for our cousins. Then in the top of the eighth, they hit a two run home run and it seemed like the end of the world. The 10% minority of Sox fans had their moment of ecstasy. Which lasted 5 minutes until the Yankees exploded in the bottom of the eighth. Two home runs followed by a base clearing double. I called my mother in Arizona who was watching the game, but I couldn't hear what I was saying, much less what she said back. The 9th saw Mo come in with a 3 run lead. He gave up a hit and a walk, so the game really went down to the last pitch. The walk to the subway station was verrrry long for our cousins. Some of the Bronx exuberance was a bit much, but Wendee admitted that if the tables were turned in Fenway, the fans would act even worse.

I found out that train service after midnight slows down considerably. If I had missed the 1:37, it would have been a 90 minute wait. I finally got so sleep at 3 AM after seeing the best baseball game in my life. The caps had worked their magic.

Didn't you see the sign?

I had to work on President's Day, so I did something that I can never do on a normal day when I catch the 7:32. I parked in the near parking lot by the Merrick Theater. Typically, I park in the long lot to the west known as Timbuktu. Or, if I'm catching the 7:43 Timbukfour. As is often the case, my wife picked me up that night so I left the car to be used another day. When I picked it up on Thursday, there was a ticket. I looked around - there is no sign mentioning a time limit. The next day I checked - it's on the sign as you drive into the lot. This is the kind of gotcha scenario that one expects from places run by Republicans, so I checked. Sure enough, the town of Hempstead is run by Republican Kate Murray. I'm sure they get a nice income giving 70 dollar tickets to people who didn't read the sign. We have a system of monorails to the airport to encourage people to take public transportation to JFK. No doubt Kate Murray has a limo to take her wherever she wants to go, so this might not occur to her.

Acting on the fly

Yesterday was one of those days I knew would be coming. The regular, methodical rhythm of my commuting days was disrupted. A serious snowfall had got me out of work on Monday, and I wasn't prepared for how bad things would be on Tuesday. When I got to the top of the platform there was a double helping of bad news: The train was running late and it was two cars short. As the Canadian air ripped into my bones, I heard somebody behind me mention that the train after the 7:32 started in Merrick, so everybody got seats. Sure enough, when the 7:32 came at nearly 8, it was packed, with people standing in the aisles. I waited for a few more minutes, and the "7:43" was, indeed, empty. It stopped at Freeport and Baldwin and then zoomed in to Penn. In the final tally, I was only 15 minutes late to work. Now I know that I have a viable alternative if I have problems catching the 7:32. I'm getting the hang of this.

Me and Sullie

Yesterday morning I looked on the news web site and found out that the flight crew from the flight 1549 Hudson River emergency landing was going to be at City Hall to get the keys to the city. I looked at the map and figured I could be there in 10 minutes. I was, but things looked awfully empty. It turns out that Sullie and Co. were getting their award indoors rather than the traditional ceremony at the steps. At least it gave me a chance to get to know the neighborhood. So far, I hadn't veered much off the path of the subway station to my office.

A one-week veteran

Things are now proceeding with metronome-like precision. I get to the platform in Merrick eight minutes early, and stand at the yellow line next to two regulars, waiting for car number 3. As we were getting off the platform at Penn and marching up the stairs two by two to get to the A train, I had a feeling of Deja Vu. It reminded me of the opening sequence in Fritz Lang's classic film Metropolis. My last remaining source of frustration is the Metrocard. I should be able to buy rides $20 at a time, but every machine I've tried gives me the option of a seven dollar ticket or a single ride. My supervisor says that such a thing cannot be, so we are going to go to the Franklin Street station at lunch time and we'll see for ourselves. Eventually, I will buy an 80 ticket with my March monthly pass.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrdTdp5UF-M&feature=related

The 7:32 from Merrick

I'd forgotten how different the LIRR is when you are on a commuter express. The regulars know to the inch where to stand on the platform to get the opening doors. Once inside, you have exactly one second to assess the seat situation and make your move. After that, it is a case of creating your cocoon of newspaper, Ipod and coffee, take up as little space as possible and ignore all of those other people dressed in black. Unlike weekend trains, you never hear the punching of tickets when the conductor goes by, since nearly everyone has a monthly pass. I leave mine showing and then forget it's there, usually not even noticing when I'm being checked. Merrick is the last stop of three, so the miles just melt away and 45 minutes later you are getting off. The true hardcore commuter will not even stand up until the train has made it to the station platform. Then it's the subway. I'm getting partial to the downtown A - even though it's more crowded, there are only 2 stops before Canal. The other subway has 8 stops. Then I get to my office on the 7th floor and look out the window to see the very tip of the Empire State Building if it's a clear day. Then I work, but that's a different blog.