The streak continues.
On Friday, we arrived in Chicago a bit late, checked into the hotel and made a mad dash to the Red Line for a ride out to Wrigley Field. Ironically enough, the Cubs were playing the Mets. I was rooting for the Cubs, natch. G had been really wanting to make it out to Wrigley – one of the original ball parks – for a long while. I’m not the hugest of baseball fans – I tend to get bored. Not to mention it was really really really hot and when I sat down, this was my view.
Ewwwww! DUDE! How was I going to eat my hot dog looking at that?!? (Sorry Bonne Marie! I had to do it!)
I tried to divert my attention elsewhere:
Old fashioned scoreboard.
The guys in there must have been HOT!
Seats on the top of buildings surrounding the field.
Who do you have to know to get one of those?
And then G said, “What do you think’s going to happen today?”
I’ve talked about it before, but it seems like we can’t go to a ball game without something extraordinary happening. It’s become kind of de rigueur for my attendance at a baseball game. Friday was no exception.
As I mentioned (along with countless meteorologists across this great land) it was FUCKING HOT! And humid. And as the game wore on it got darker and darker and darker. G said, “I’ve never seen a rain delay.” and it was like NIGHT at 3 PM. The first indication of rain was a huge group of people in red polo shirts who seemed to have come out of the ground around the Cubs dugout. “They’re the tarp guys,” G said. And then I felt the first few drops. It was a relief to be sure. A drop here. A drop there. Nothing big. The game played on. And then suddenly and without warning the people on the OTHER SIDE OF THE STADIUM at the third base foul line started to run as if their lives depended on it. Of course, they couldn’t really go anywhere and it was a matter of seconds before the SHEET of rain was upon us dry folk on the first base foul line.
Where’s your shirt now, bub?!
See the person in the clearish poncho next to me on my left? This was actually an older couple – the guy told me he was at the first night game at Wrigley – and while they were huddled under their poncho a mysterious hand came out from underneath and handed me an umbrella. Thank you kind souls! There was really no where to go – the lines to get out of the rain were at a standstill so we sat huddled under the umbrella and laughed. There may have been some kissing as well.
Like 3:15 in the afternoon. See how dark?
Right back atcha baby!
Eventually the poncho couple started to move toward the covered seats and I told G we had to go with them because I wanted to make sure they got their umbrella back. We followed them up and gave them the umbrella. The rest of the delay we stood sort of out of the rain. I talked to a woman who had lost her whole family somewhere. It was her birthday. We laughed.
It stopped, like all rains do.
First you put it on, then you take it off.
I was never so wet in my life. Seriously. My pants were STUCK to my legs. My feet. Oy. You don’t even want to know about my feet. But MAN did we have fun!!!
These guys seemed more annoyed than anything.
And the sun did eventually come out again.
Although I think it was hotter AFTER the rain than before. We left right after the seventh inning because we had to get back to the hotel. My pants were wet for days. Here’s a picture of what my feet looked like whe
n I finally took my shoes off – all pruny and gross.
The most amazing part of the afternoon was my felted bag. I had my booga bag with me – the one I carry everywhere – and it got pretty darn wet. ON THE OUTSIDE. The INSIDE stayed dryer than dry!!! I swear to you! When they say those felted bags are water proof – my god they ARE!!! Here’s a picture of my ticket and G’s ticket. My ticket was thrown willy nilly inside my bag. G’s ticket was in his pocket.
Dry one on the left, wet one on the right.
But you didn’t need me to tell you that, right?
Isn’t that CRAZY?! And it never really got wet on the outside either, although at one point at the height of the rain I was hiding it under my chair and the bottom was really wet – like I could wring some water out of it wet. Inside? DRY. I will never NOT carry a felted bag again!!!! AWESOME!
Just like the Cubs fans. I don’t think anyone left during the rain delay. That’s what I call dedication.
Sounds like you had an awesome time! That is a lot of rain.
What a great story! That wasn’t the game where the Mets hit two grand slams in one inning, was it? I have not yet been initiated into the Mysteries of Felting… now I will have to try.
What’s a little rain with all that fun! Have a good time and thanks for sharing!
Looks like a BLAST! Great pictures, too. Did you have peanuts and Cracker Jacks?
Sounds like fun. Too bad the rain didn’t drop the temp a bit but I know what you mean about it being hotter afterwards. It’s like a steam bath when that happens. Dale and I were at the beach on Sunday and suddenly there were dark clouds across the lake. In about 5 minutes it was pouring – for about 5 minutes – and then it stopped and the sun came out again. We stood under a pine tree and laughed (and maybe kissed a little) until it stopped raining. Good times all around, Cara.
OMG, I could just feel the humidity looking at the pics of the rain! and then the heat!
When I lived in Chicago, I went to plenty of Cubs games and this NEVER happened! I had no idea you can swim with your Booga Bag! Gotta try it sometime.
Wow, I guess that might be what the meteorologist call “passing showers”, heh, well know passing “torrent”! Weather can be so dramatic! What an experience.
Awww, rain delayed baseball games! I miss them so. It looks like you had a great time. Thanks for the great pictures–it felt like I was there.
Yeah for the Booga Bag! Sorry it rained on you, but I’m glad you had fun anyway!! Hope the rest of your time in Chicago was fun too! You sure did pick the hottest weekend so far to visit. (Sorry I missed you!!)
Great seats! So what’s worse? Staring at that guy’s back or seeing the woman 2 seats away from you pick her feet/toe jam? UGH.. now that was really gross. I wanted to throw my nachos at her.
Cara, I am sitting here laughing out loud about your view. Sounds like a memorable weekend!
Dude, sweet event. Great pics.
Wow. Look at all that rain. Good to know about the felted bag.
You did such a great job telling that story and the pictures – wow! I didn’t know about the waterproof qualities of a felted bag. I’ll have to try that out.
Oh my, that looks like the MOST FUN DAY EVER! What a good time!
Let’s go Mets!
What fun! …better dry and beautiful, but fun just the same.
As for the felted bag… I guess that wool diaper covers work just as well. I was always a bit skeptical, but I guess I’d better start knitting!
I’ve always avoided felted bags–they’re just not my style at all. I might have to reconsider now…
You two know how to get through the worst of times. What a great day and your photos put us right there. That was some rain!
What a great day!
That sounds like FUN. And a great testament to your felted bag.
Um, is that Georgie? Can I kiss him? He’s really cute.
darling! still big game hunting here in Saugerties …. no luck today ….
I think you should have whipped out a sharpie and written JanuaryOne was here on that guy’s back and maybe even drawn that Kilroy guy.
Wow, that really is a lot of rain!! How amazing that your bag stayed dry!
What a day. The rain I could live with but that chubby hairy back? Eee gads cover it up already dude!!!
My fiance is having his bachelor party in the rooftop seats next week. They’re not too hard to get, but they’re about $150 a piece (which is probably why they’re not too hard to get…).
Your captions are priceless!
ugh. that hairy back is burned into my retinas.
Your post today is the pinnacle of blogdom. The photo of your feet was the icing. I swear, that’s the kind of night I have at the game too. Except I get the special needs guy talking to his special girlfriend directly behind me. It was a riot, I could hardly focus on the game. Love your blog!
I just have a question about your booga bag–when you made it did it come out smaller than expected? mine came out about 7×10 and i think it will only hold my wallet! Please let me know…thanks!
Great photos — it’s like we’re there with you through the whole thing. What especially caught my eye was the hairy-bare-backed guy’s date when she was completed encased in what appears to be a black plastic garbage bag. Oh well, at least she came prepared.
gotta love a ballgame! i saw the cards at busch a number of years ago. rain, like yours, off and on. the game took 9 HOURS. i got pruned and sunburned. they covered the field at least 3 times. one of those times, the tarp was so heavy from the previous rain that all the ball players were trying to help the tarp guys pull the tarp. it was a blast!!!
all i can say for the shirtless man, … maybe his shirt didn’t get wet? where ever it was?
The last time I was at Fenway (two summers ago), there was a long rain delay. But, even though my daughter ate just about everything in the park, we were treated to an awesome Sox-Yankee game.
Go Cubs!! (and Indians!!)… though both my teams are not making me happy this year…
I did. not. know. that. about felted bags. Wow.
That’s what I call a day of extremes – beautiful weather – then horrid weather – then beautiful again (completely weird) – but none of that is more extreme than your ##cough## view. Hooo Boy. Now that’s a doozy.
Oh man, that story was just fantastic. And they guy in front of you, I’m giggling again just thinking about it….
ROFLMAO
thanks for the great laugh. good job felted bag.. maybe we should make felted clothes next!
Wow…you are lucky! What a great view…ha ha! I can see how you could lose your appetite.
Dude, such is a day in the life of a Cubbie fan. You always find the joy and fun in the craziness of life; that’s why we love you. And who can complain when there’s kissing?
All that great stuff and all I can think is, Superdawg was just on Chef at Large!
Oh and now I really need to make myself a felted bag.
oh man! you had awesome seats. i’m sorry i didn’t get a chance to meet you. i’m glad you had tons of fun even though it was pouring out. sorry the weather sucked.