Root, root, root for the Red Sox

For most of my life, I have hated baseball. I have never understood why anyone would want to watch it on metal bleachers in the hot sun and REALLY never understood why people would watch it on tv (or, like my dad sometimes, listen to it on the radio). I realize it's a game of nuance, but I have just always felt it to be tedious and slow and extremely boring. Like, the only thing more boring than baseball is golf. I'm sorry if this offends any of you. 

And then...I went to a game at Fenway Park last summer. I loved it! Fenway is the cutest little ballpark that there every was. In fact, I'm pretty sure that my newly discovered appreciation for baseball is intrinsically tied to this particular ball field (so...I'm not willing to say that I'm a fan of BASEBALL, but I will say that I'm a Red Sox fan). I went for the first time last summer and had a great time. I still don't follow all of the details of the game, but I am very into hot dogs and ice cream and Cracker Jacks. And singing "Sweet Caroline" all together. It didn't hurt that the Red Sox won the World Series last year, either. Boston was sort of electric with Red Sox fever. In all honesty, though, Boston is always alive with Red Sox fever. New England LOVES their Red Sox (and, in case anyone was thinking to themselves that there are any other New England baseball teams, like the Yankees or the Mets, I need to inform you that New York is not considered part of New England, and don't insult true New Englanders by calling it such, thankyouverymuch). It was great fun to be playing in the World Series and even more exciting to win it here in Boston.

While Brad's parents were here a few weeks ago, we got a babysitter for Claire and headed off to a game (which we didn't win, but that's hardly the point, in my opinion). The Sox were playing the Toronto Jays, the weather was awesome, and the food was fantastic. A perfect Boston outing.

Waiting for the T...along with quite a few other fans.

Down near the bathrooms, there's a gallery of all of the Red Sox logos through the decades.

Family picture!

The gal singing with the microphone stand sang "O, Canada" and the girls' group sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

I got this shot of the New Balance, Dunkin Donuts, and Ford logos...it's so very New England. New Balance is headquartered in Boston, Dunkin Donuts is originally a New England chain, and Ford is as American as it gets. Very Boston-themed sponsors.

Big Papi warming up, with Pedroia at bat.

Big Papi is WELL-beloved around here.

The Pru, lit up with Red lights (for the Red Sox).

When the crowd was belting out "Sweet Caroline," the cameras panned to this little girl holding a sign that said, "I AM sweet Caroline!" The whole stadium laughed.

So, although I've loathed baseball for most of my life, I have to say that I love the Red Sox. Boston has rubbed off on me, and I can't help it. Root, root, root for the Red Sox, 'cause if they don't win it's a shame! (there's been a little bit of shame recently, unfortunately...)