Love that Dirty Water

There's just something about baseball and October that just feels right.  And when the teams involved are either the Yankees or the Sox (preferably the Yankees), that's just the icing on the cake.  I hadn't been to a game in Fenway since 2008, so I jumped at the chance to go to Game 1 of the World Series.  And let me tell you, I forgot just how electric that place can get.  It was loud.  It was crazy.  And it was amazing.

Look, I don't know how you feel about Boston fans, but they generally aren't my favorite people in the world.  They tend to be fairly aggressive, to love complaining about their teams (all of which have won championships recently), and to be a bit drunk during games.  But you know what, they sure know their baseball and they sure love their Sox.

From the opening ceremonies to the last pitch, the fans were into it.  The atmosphere really was exactly how a World Series game should feel.  One of the best parts?  Victorino's walk up son is "Dont Worry", which might be the best one I have ever heard.  Every time the song cut off, but the fans finished off the "Every little thing, is gonna be alright".  I mean hearing everyone in that stadium sing it together every time...it was just great. 

Nothing is better when the Sox are winning at home.  The fans are happy, which is key.  When the game goes bad, the fans turn ugly.  And you just might not have a good experience (beer being thrown on you is not fun, trust me).  But my experience on Wednesday?  A+!  

Wraparound Fun

I don't know about you, but yesterday might as well have been Christmas for how much fun I ended up having.  It was crazytown in the soccer universe, and thanks to ESPN Wraparound coverage, I was able to watch every single minute of it.

For those of you who didn't know, yesterday was the last day of group qualifying for the World Cup.  There are a few last playoffs that have to take place, but as of now, most of the field of 32 has been set.  And ESPN decided that it was going to cover all of those last games, by showing all the goals that were taking place and giving live look-ins to all the games that were going on.  IT WAS AMAZING! For someone who has ADD like me, it was the perfect afternoon.  Just when you were starting to get bored, BOOM, switch to a different game.  You know how you feel those first 48 hours of March Madness?  That's what yesterday was like to a soccer nut like me.

And the announcers did a great job explaining what games mattered and how connection between the different results.  I mean I consider myself a pretty informed fan, but I had no idea where everyone stacked up in their respective groups so it was really helpful to have it broken down for me. 

Great job ESPN!  I loved the whole afternoon event.  Now onto the next big stage for soccer...Brazil 2014 here we come!

Sunday Night Football

I don't know about you, but my weekends tend to be a bit crazy.  I'm so excited to have time to do what I want, with only limited interruptions for emails/work, that I find myself running from one activity to the next.  So by the time 6pm rolls around Sunday night, I'm exhausted.  All I want to do is throw in my pjs, order in and pass out early.  The last thing I want to do?  Have my NFL team in the Sunday Night Football game. 

I mean staying up to Midnight when I am going into the very beginning of my work week is hard enough.  But add some beers (for good luck, obvi) and the anxiousness that comes with your team playing, and you know you will be hyper after the game, delaying your bed time even more! 

So here I am on a Sunday night, and do you think I'm in my pj's?  Nope.  I'm in jeans and my lucky Redskins jersey about to strike out to make sure I get a seat at my favorite local Redskins bar, as no way am I standing up for this entire game...not after a weekend of a long run of 8 miles Saturday and two hours of soccer played today. 

The thing we do for our teams...o well.  Go Skins Go!

Fall Fun

When's the last time you skipped rocks?

It's October and you know what that means.  Winter is just around the corner.  So suddenly, there's an urgency to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather before it disappears.  And yesterday, thanks to Outdoor Connections, I spent the whole day outdoors exploring a part of New York I've never seen.

Now I don't know about you, but as the Cali girl that I am, I still find the changing of the colors of the leaves to be really cool.  So a four hour hike in the Hudson River Valley in the mountains where I can see the leaves up close and personal?  Right up my alley.  I hadn't gone hiking in soooo long!  So I had forgotten how much fun it is.  There's something about working up a good healthy sweat in a gorgeous environment that just makes me happy. 

After a morning spent hiking, it was time for apple picking.  Now I had no idea what to expect.  But I can tell you what I didn't expect.  I didn't expect the place to be jam packed.  And I didn't expect to have as much fun as I ended up having.  But there's something about wondering around the orchards, sipping apple cider, while picking a huge bag of apples that just brings out the kids in you and that is quintessentially fall. 

View from the top of the mountain at lunch

Then finally, after around 6 hours on your feet its time to relax with a glass of wine from the local vineyard.  Alcohol just tastes better after a day spent outside now doesn't it?

So hurry up and get out there! Before the weather no longer allows you to enjoy your local surroundings.

Apples for everyone!

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