My game 3 experience

i'm new to AN but it has quickly become yet another of my habits (smoking, drinking, craigslist, etc).  what a great way to spend the workday.
i gotta say that going to game 3 last night ranks right up there as the best time spent pretty much ever.  sure i got caught in traffic from hell; sure the parking lot was full by the time i got there.  those are the only two tiny little drawbacks to the afternoon...and evening.

Parking....So i was late.  my fault.  had to stop by The Englander for a bloody mary.  necessary, my friends.

So they'd closed the north side lot by the time i was under the big 'ol iPod sign.  i figured i was totally screwed.  made the right and an immediate left and another quick right into a cull-de-sac.  there was a dude keeping folks from parking in his business but i pulled in anyway to turn around.  on the off chance that he'd go for it, i offered him $20 to let me park there.  he said no and that his people were at lunch, etc.  i said no problem man, i'm outta here.  so i get ready to go and he wistles at me. "dude, hold on a sec."  he told me to wait a moment while some of the traffic moved off.  he says park there by that truck so i did.  i offered him beer, cash, and smokes but he wouldn't any of it.  the mojo was working, folks.  big time.  when i finally went back to get my truck i slipped a 20 spot in the mail slot.  a 20 spot that, again, came my way out of nowhere.  happens all the time for some reason.  either good kharma or lots of irish blood.

meeting my companion...so i call up kathy who's been waiting patiently for my late ass on my in to the north side lot, giving away beers on the way.  hook up with her and we're like a coupla school girls jumping around and gossiping and just having a freakin' great time.  i had more beer than i could consume so i was handing out the extras when a bunch of scalpers swarmed me.  for each beer i made each one promise me they'd sell at least one ticket at face value.  i hope they kept their promises.
btw...i got the tickets when kathy posted them on our softball group website (alamedasoftball@yahoogroups.com...pick up.  everyone's invited, folks).  section 226, $40 face value.  my buddy bailed on me so i posted on the same site that i had an extra ticket.  kathy calls me up, same person who sold them to me in the first place, saying she could go.  i was feeling guilty that she wasn't gonna be able to go to the possible clincher but in the end...well in the end it all worked way the hell out.  what a great person kathy is.  so much fun to hang out with...and even a little bit scandalous.  anyway....
still haven't actually made it into the coliseum.  the C-141 fly-by was awesome.  totally freakin' awesome seeing something that big fly over your head like 300 feet above your head.  i was jumpin' around like an idiot and waving my hat and yelling my head off.  it was nice.  
so we're still not in cuz i got a coupla beers left so we're outside the gate gossipping and what-not.  mostly gossiping like schoolgirls.  i give my last beer away to a guy in a suit who's been waiting for his girlfriend for a coupla hours.  poor guy needed it.  needed it bad.

finding our seats...finally, we make our way into the coliseum and get to our seats.  fantastic fan feel, fantastic mojo going; the attitudes couldn't be better.  the place was electric; on fire.  the twins fan in our section was cool, too, and i let him know that there was no love lost.  he was a pretty cool cat.  'course we'd hardly sat down when Chaves bangs one out of the park.  DAMN what a way to get the game going.  DAMN it was good to see Chavvy to that.  he needed it and everyone in the coliseum needed it.  many hugs and high fives ensued.
besides kathy, i gotta give huge props to the guy to my left.  he put up with my obnoxiousness(sp?) like a champ.  i must've hugged him 20 times during the game.  i also gotta give props to section 226 for putting up with my shenanigans and just for being so into it all.  i remember turning around and screaming at the top of lungs, "What a great f'in day to be an A's fan!!!"  with much applause and yelling and noise making in response.  they were all so freakin' awesome.  each and every one.

hangin' out and gettin' beers...so i'm a smoker and a drinker so i spent much of the game, as usual, getting beers (and wine for kathy) and smoking.  man, i must've made like 50 new friends in the smoking section.  kathy 2, the t-shirt lady, i am so calling you to get that grateful dead, A's logo done (also my wallpaper on my work computer...cooolest pc wallpaper in berkeley, by the way...probably becoming a tatoo, too).  the guy with the camera...you're fuckin' crazy, man.  the guy who gave me the 20 spot for four smokes...i should've given you a whole pack, man, sorry.  your cash went to the place where i parked, though.  thanks.

SCUTARO...this guy bangs a double when i'm back at my seat.  this guy deserves team MVP.  he's amazing.  i love the A's and this guy represents all that is good about this team.  stand up guy that you'd be proud to have your kids hold up as a role model.  the whole damn team is like that.  it's a big reason why i love the A's and i don't even have kids.  it gave me chills when the whole of the coliseum is chanting MARCO....SCUTARO!!!  i was right there with them.

post game wrap....so kathy and i head back out the parking lot.  she was on time so she had a spot in the far north lot.  high fiving all the way out.  traffic was stupid so we just hung out for a coupla hours, taking in the scene, enjoying the view, making friends, being a part of something bigger than the two of us put together.  i was getting free beers for me and for folks stuck in the traffic. passengers, of course.  dude was throwing fly balls to his kids.  way cool.  i didn't get out of there until after dark...had to chat with the lady who came in from las vegas (she called me a half-assed fan cuz i only live 10 minutes away from the coliseum) and her new friend.  i think they were well on their way to hooking up, if you know what i mean.  the drive home was dicey but the truck was okay and the A's were on the way to the ALCS.  All was well and right in the world.

ALCS...so we're going head to head with the Tigers.  what a story that is.  a coupla underdogs going in.  as much as i can't stand him, kenny rogers was pretty cool in their win...pouring champagne on the cop?  you can't make that sort of thing up.  you cannot script that Tigers celebration.  good for them.  

too bad we're gonna beat the crap outta 'em.

peace folks.  much love, too,
the kid