Well, it’s ABOUT TIME, right? I’ve been back for a few days and have been so overwhelmed catching up with work that I haven’t even had time to THINK about a blog. Actually, I’ve thought about a blog, but only drive-by guilty feelings that keep me up at night. I missed you people more than I thought I would, so I will do my best to be a better blogger and prove my love.
It was a pretty long trip, although it flew by, so I’m going to take it slow.
Most of you are probably aware that I am a huge Chicago Cubs fan. If you don’t know this, you should come sit at Pinche Gringo’s bar with me some afternoon while I’m watching a game, so any doubt of this fact can be cleared up. I would venture to say that most of my old Chicago friends are NOT baseball or sports fans, with one notable exception: Adam.
Dear Adam bought 3 tickets to 2 games, the first two full days I was in town (August 30 and 31). These were seriously great seats, the first day along the 3rd baseline and the second day along the 1st baseline (where I could and did easily ogle Derrek Lee’s ass. Any closer and I could have groped it.). The first day, despite it being a great day for baseball, we couldn’t find a 3rd person for the extra ticket. Adam was so insulted by a 20 usd offer from a scalper for the 66 usd ticket, he simply used the ticket himself midway through the game for a smoke break. He is such a badass. Bad news: Cubs lost. They nearly ALWAYS lose when I attend a game, but coming off an 8 game winning streak, I thought I had a chance. No dice.
The next day, Adam’s girlfriend and love of my life, Martina, went to the game with us. Despite being a born-and-bred North Sider, she had NEVER gone to a Cubs game. She isn’t a baseball fan AT ALL, so it is testament to her abiding love for me that she went. Her initial reaction upon entering Wrigley was, “Wow, this is cool,” but then almost immediately afterward we noticed her yawning and checking her cuticles. When she disappeared around the 5th inning to use the bathroom, Adam and I were taking bets about whether or not she’d come back at all. She did. Bad news: Cubs lost. Adam asked me never to attend a game again, and to refrain from even WATCHING them on TV if I could manage it, at least until the end of this season.
Adam and Martina, and some dude on the left I don’t know walking into the pic
Martina and me
A brick in the walkway outside Wrigley’s main entrance: One of the sweetest, most loving gifts to a Cubs fan EVER (Martina is the SHIT, y’all).
I love practically every single thing about this game: The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the hilarious voices of the roving vendors, the players high-fiving each other, dirt flying up on a close play at the plate, the birds flying overhead and casting their shadows on the field, crunching peanut shells under my feet. When I was a kid I used to sleep with my baseball mitt (Confession: I still do this).
A lot of my time was spent trying to get photos of Derrek Lee’s butt. He has the Best Ass in Baseball, according to an exclusive poll of Expatriate American Female Cubs Fans in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Good old scoreboard. Adam and Martina got my name up on the marquee, but we all missed it. Can you even believe it?! If your name goes up on the scoreboard in Wrigley Field, but there’s no one around to see it, did it really happen?
A rarely-seen frontal view of my future husband
Adam is not amused
After the game, Martina and I headed to a nearby restaurant for a quick couple of drinks with some lovely ladies.
KT, a funny woman whose name I’ve ridiculously forgotten, and Martina. MIA: Chris K., who must have been in the bathroom, dang it!
Standing outside Gingerman Tavern, just down the street from Wrigley, I ran into my old friend Floyd, who I used to bartend with years ago at Wrigleyville Tap.
Heather and Floyd, sitting in a tree
Having worked along Clark Street for a number of years, you get accustomed to seeing all manners of behavior (and misbehavior) from drunken Cubs fans leaving Wrigley and trekking back to wherever it is their cars are parked. As we stood outside G-man chit-chatting, one poor man lost his lunch and because I am one classy broad, it just screamed photo-op to me.
I tried to face it to act like I was the one barfing it, but the smell was too wretched.
Chicago: 2 for making me witness 2 Cubs losses
Heather: 2 for getting to hang out with some of my favorite people in the world
So far, it’s a tie. More to come, stay tuned.
I missed ur blogs,while u were away..as always,GREAT JOB!!…
By: ..Mimi.. on September 20, 2008
at 12:11 pm
Glad you’re back.
Love the picture of you and Floyd.
By: Elaina on September 20, 2008
at 12:58 pm
I missed you! I was obsessively checking your blog with some small hope that you would throw us a bone while you were gone…..but I am so glad you got a break! Love the photos and SO want to go with you next time:)
By: Sara on September 20, 2008
at 1:28 pm
Thank GOD you’re back. I am looking forward to hearing about your shenanagins in Chicagoland!
By: Joyce on September 20, 2008
at 3:34 pm
Wow Heather you grossed me out there but I’m still glad you’re back!
You probably don’t even know you won an award while you were gone! Check it out:
http://www.countdowntomexico.com/2008/08/30/its-the-first-latin-american-blogger-awards/
By: Nancy on September 20, 2008
at 4:08 pm
ick! I didn’t notice the hot dog pieces the first time I saw this. Another reason to never eat hot dogs ever again. I chicago dog without the dog STILL tastes like a chicago dog:)
Miss you gurl. You shoulda asked me for the cubs game. I woulda come
By: Amy on September 20, 2008
at 11:03 pm
So glad you are back!!! Missed ya hun!!!
Indeed- nice ass. That’s the bad part about soccer- they move too quick to really appreciate their behinds.
The vomit pic almost made ME want to puke- seriously, the one thing that really grosses me out is vomit. Which is weird coming from someone who is counting the hours until she is back in the pathology again to do autopsies.
HUGS!!
By: Joana on September 21, 2008
at 12:24 am
Hey girl! Welcome back.
I actually sat back and got conmfy when I saw that you had posted a new blog on my RSS feeder!!!
Can’t wait to hear the next part of Heather vs Chicago!
Fned.
By: Fned on September 21, 2008
at 2:58 am
Selfishly glad you are back! We have missed you something fierce! Every day B would ask me “When is Heather coming back?” or “Is Heather back yet?” He asked so much, I started to get a bit jealous! I will break the good news to him today!
By: islagringo on September 21, 2008
at 9:00 am
So glad that you had a great time on your vacation. It reminds me of the time my husband and I saw the Minnesota Twins play in Minneapolis. We were way up in the nosebleed seats, but still had a good time.
By: Darla on September 21, 2008
at 9:16 am
Yay! She’s back!
I’m sure you had a fab trip and can’t wait to hear the rest. You look absolutely fabulous and are glowing in the pics. Especially the one of your ass and the barf.
By: Elizabeth on September 21, 2008
at 11:49 am
yayyy – it’s about time you’re back
You’re looking amazing!
oh and ditto on the ass/barf
ughhhh my breakfast thanks you
By: Carole on September 22, 2008
at 7:38 am
OK…Where is the close up picture of your future husband’s nice behind!! I know you took one!!
Ditto on the glad you are back part.
By: Islaholic Trixie on September 22, 2008
at 10:04 am
Heather,
You know that you are the person I’m most excited to meet – but dear, I do beg to differ. The best ass in baseball is Jayson Werth’s. Hello – while you were crying over the Phil’s creamin the Cubbies – how could you not have noticed him! He’s a hubba hubba!
Actually, then you said the Lou is your future husband, I chuckled, cause I’ve been saying all year that I’m gonna marry Jayson. I just have to lose 20 years, 20 pounds and get rid of his wife! No prob, I’m in!
I’m sorry you didn’t get to see your Cubbies win, and I love your description of the game. That is how I feel. I love the smells and the feels of baseball. I am a huge Phils fan. Maybe my next trip to Playa I have to plan it for when the Phils and Cubs are playing so we can meet at PG’s to enjoy it together!
By: Bedeaway on September 23, 2008
at 6:16 pm