Phase Four : Baltimore (August 21)

We got in severely late after the Yankee game and we had to get up at a semi-decent hour to get to Baltimore. Not for the game, which was mid-afternoon, but to meet up with two different sets of local friends/family. It wasn't easy, but we made good time. Traffic was good on *our* side. When we got there we were to meet up with two of Mike's cousins and my pal Christina. I called X-tina a few times but when she finally called me back, she was still quite groggy from a late night of bartending. So she backed out, which was a bummer, but it was all good. We met up with Mike's couzins as planned at a cool little bar & grill right near Camden Yards. Had some grub, hung out and then went to some crazy packed sports bar for some more beer (but they had plenty of beer at the restaurant?). Anyway, Mike's fam was super cool, one cousin was female and rather attractive, and it was a pleasure to hang out with them. It was raining pretty hard off and on before the game and we wondered if it would even go on as scheduled. It tapered off right as gametime approached and it was good to go when we walked in. Still overcast, but it would brighten up substantially later on.

When I mentioned the traffic on our side of the highway, this is what was on the other side. Some massive parade of hundreds and hundreds of motorcycles. The picture was on the fly and not up to par, but it was crazy... we didn't see any cars for miles. Because the cops had stopped them down the road and blocked any vehicle that wasn't part of the moto parade. No idea what the hell it was for, though.

Even if the Orioles kinda suck, which they do, their ballpark is really neat. And it's got a cool name (and sign). I just love red brick, I guess. Reminds me of Purdue.

Sign, part two.

The rain showed up again briefly after we got to our seats, which were second level but still pretty good and under a semi-roof! The grounds crew pulled out the infield tarp.

Full-on tarp-ness.

I'm not sure what this dude was doing, but he was hammering something into the back of the pitcher's mound. The mound guy. Maybe it was something for the pitchers to kick their cleats on to get the mud off?

Here's the pitch! Blue Jays at bat.

More mascot hilarity. Dancing on dugouts, baby!

This game was probably the least interesting... neither of us really cared about either team, we weren't hungry, we were both pretty tired of traveling, and it was kinda crappy weather. I don't even remember who won the game. But - we took a walk around like at the other games and got some good views and cool pics, this time while the game was in session.

This one was somewhere in between the bluntness and awesomeness of Boston's sign and Philly's subtle, classy sign. Too shiny, though. And I didn't see any of these at Yankee Stadium - inconsiderate New York pricks.

Nice view of the entire building, whatever it used to be. The bleacher crowd was top notch, but there were plenty of empty seats elsewhere. Especially the third upper deck.

The bullpen, where you can spit on your favorite opposing team's relief pitchers!

Ah, the sun! There you are. Just in time for us to leave.

And we did leave, quick fast in a hurry. We were on the back wall of the outfield watching the last out so we could run out as soon as the game was over, around 7:30. We were supposed to be in Bryn Mawr at The Point (20 min west of Philly) by 10 pm for a concert by Stargazer Lily, my favorite local band whom I'd told Mike lots about and sent him CDs as well. He was pretty stoked to get to see the band and Susan, the lead singer I'd had a major crush on. We actually got there right after the doors were opening so we got great seats - stage right just off to the side, right in front of Susan. Two songs in, Mike leans over and says "damn, she's sexy as hell!!" I know! During the gig, some random girl sitting next to Mike kept asking him questions about himself, totally hitting on him. He got digits. Not really.

Great show, back home around midnight, just in time to get up around 6 am (ouch) to get Mike to the airport by 7 for his 8 am flight. That was rough. He made it in plenty of time and was off, and I went back home and back to sleep, and then got up later and went to a big Prince concert that night, and then went to work the next morning. It was rough. But wow, so worth it. What a damn good time. Thanks, Mike.