I’m back.
Well, hello again, all 4 of my followers. I hope you enjoy seeing me back here.
If there’s anything a journalism conference will get you fired up about, it’s social media. So, back to Tumblr I went.
I just crossed the Susquehanna River for the 4th time in about 8 days. I think that’s a little bit ridiculous. It’s been a crazy last couple weeks of the “New York” phase of my summer. And there has been very little New York in it. My parents were in town from last Friday to Tuesday, and that meant a couple of trips to Long Island and a kind of bizarre breaking up of my day. After a particularly exhausting and wonderful CASB Reunion at Mercat, followed by a couple random dive bars (and a typically Spanish late night), I was off to Philly and Baltimore for the travel portion of Ballpark Tour 2010.
5 men, one woman (me). 3 states. 4 ballparks. 5 games. Dbacks @ Mets Sunday, August 1st. Red Sox @ Yankees Friday, August 6th. Mets @ Phillies Sunday, August 8th. White Sox @ Orioles Monday, August 9th. Rockies @ Mets Tuesday, August 10th. A quick rundown of my impressions:
-Citi Field’s nice. So is the museum. It shares a birthday with me, so I particularly appreciate it. Having seen the Mets 3 times in a week, I also am getting fairly familiar with the team, which is a plus. Both times I was there we got really good seats because of my father’s connections, too, so I’m not complaining. Apparently we’re a tried and true Mets family.
-Yankee Stadium feels very new, but doesn’t feel like anything special. Being right on the B line, though, it’s ridiculously easy to get to from my current apartment. The Yankees are a talented team, yes. But I’ve spent years hating them for the sake of hating them. What can I say? I’m a true democrat: I like rooting for the underdog, not the sure thing. The spirit in the stadium is nice, because they have loyal fans, but I can’t say this is a place I want to keep coming back to.
-The Phillies are not a bad team, but their fans are definitely assholes. Their terrace seats are also far too narrow for even a normal-sized person like me, making for an uncomfortable experience. Top that off with an utter lack of elevator access, meaning excessive beer spillage, and what could have been a wonderful stadium experience was marred.
-Camden Yards is the Pac Bell of the Northeast. Really, it’s the other way around, since the Yards have been around since 1989, back when the Giants still played at Candlestick. Lovely brick facing, a nice alleyway for an entrance. Marking each homer in Right Field with a plaque is a nice touch. I met Boog Nelson at Boog’s BBQ. We also met a lovely beer saleswoman over by the Right Field gate, who told us that if we wanted anymore, we “knew where Momma’s at.” The wonderful stadium experience, however, is inhibited by a disheartening lack of fan support for the team. Emptiest stadium I’ve ever seen, and that for a team that, since the hiring of Buck Showalter, has been on a little hot streak. Baltimore, you should be ashamed.
Things with the family were, for the most part, all right. It was a fascinating experience seeing what I remember as my very young cousins, Ryan and Michael, now all growed up, as Tommy Pickles would say, at 17 and 10, respectively. I remember Michael being born, and I felt old. Seeing my brother (Matthew Lazarus, pictured, and turning 14 quite soon) was, as always, a delight. There were some Lazarus fights - how could there not be? - and I didn’t get to do much sightseeing at all because it wasn’t “on my Dad’s agenda.” Oh well, I know I need to make it back out to these cities next time I have the opportunity and explore unencumbered by familial obligations.
Wednesday and Thursday were harried days at OPERA NEWS, no longer an intern. I freelanced, and picked up the slack of a fairly empty office. It had been a little nuts work-wise ever since Derek (the other intern) had left, and then it got a bit worse when I was not only being both interns but also the Assistant Editor, who was on vacation. Ah well, the EIC was also supposed to be in town, but he ended up in the office, so at least I had some support.
Early Friday morning it was off to the Campus Progress Journalism Training Summit 2010 to represent Schmooze. BOLT Bus to D.C. was fine, if a difficult place to sleep, and it was a nice surprise to find my dear Northwestern roommate Nathalie on the same trip. I later discovered a kid who got kicked out of Choate back in the day was also an attendee at the conference. Small world. Got to spend two glorious nights with Bwit as well, which was adorable.
The Summit will get its own post on the plane on Tuesday. Too much to think about right now.
I’m on the BOLT Bus back from D.C. with a very long to-do list for Monday. Tuesday I’m off to the much-discussed Eurotrip - flying into London, spending a few hours, and making my way to Paris via train. Paris for 4 days, then a trip to Coruna via Barca - still figuring out if I want to dash out to the city for a Champaneria visit. Coruna for a week, including my Spanish sister’s wedding. Then back home to San Francisco for about a week, before road tripping like mad to Chicago. Orientation awaits!
I feel like the trip to Europe is going to really clear my head. I’ve been on the go and crazy for a while - and New York City doesn’t help. I’ve been a little emotionally muddled, and a little confused about where my life is going. If I can get everything done I need to do before I leave, and if I plan well for while I’m there, I think this could be a meditative, jubilant, refreshing experience. Of course, move in in Evanston will likely be hellish. But we’ll figure it out.
More tomorrow, if I eke out the time. These posts will be vastly more interesting once I’m across the Atlantic.
Sabrina
1 year ago • 1 note
