My Fake Holiday

[earlgreytea68]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts celebrates Patriots Day. Which means I didn't have to work today. Now, there's a way in which this holiday is "fake," because of the rest of the country had to work. But it's actually a very nice holiday. It commemorates the anniversary of Paul Revere's midnight ride, which is a nice thing to remember, as it is, in a way, the beginning of everything (even if we seem to have ended up in a rather irritating place). They reenact the ride, and they fire shots on the town green in Lexington. The Red Sox play a special 11 a.m. baseball game, and, most importantly, the Boston Marathon is run. It is my understanding that this marathon is unique in the number of spectators it gets, and that's entirely because it's its own special holiday here in the city. Everyone takes the day off to line the route and cheer on the runners. It's actually quite lovely, and we had picture-perfect weather for it today: bright and sunny, in the 60s. 

I was particularly lucky this year, as I got to go to the marathon Monday Red Sox game on top of everything else. It was not as exciting as the games have been this weekend, but Buchholz pitched well, and it was never in doubt that I was going to hear "Dirty Water" at the end of it. 

 

Fenway Park. Top of the first. Gorgeous spring day. Really great seats.

Buchholz pitches. Note he was already in trouble (runner on third). He settled down. 



David bats.



Ellsbury steals second, unchallenged. 



Ah. A beautiful thing. 



Today I was thinking how sad I will be when they sell the naming rights to this field...



The helicoptor monitoring the Marathon progress is that speck in the sky on the upper left. 



I rather adore this picture. And I shall tell you why. That is David Ortiz, backtracking to second, about to run into Kevin Youkilis. But there were two outs! There was no reason for Ortiz to be holding up there! He should have been halfway home! Oh, sometimes these Boston Red Sox just make me laugh. 



Dustin and Youk, chatting during one of the MANY visits to the mound. 



Sage advice. 



The scoreboard. We ended up 8-3. 



Ah. Another beautiful thing. 



Yes. The one time working for a law firm meant something other than way too many hours of soul-crushing work. The luxury box. 



Really, this picture was for the trees. 



The view from my balcony. That's the marathon, on the other side of the street. 



Walking up Beacon.

Comments

[smandypants.livejournal.com]

Oh, the marathon was today! Looks like it was a gorgeous day for it. I haven't been in town for the marathon in years. I can't tell you how nice it is to look through these pictures... Just seeing Fenway, the Hancock, the Prudential, and the Citgo sign make me feel so much better after a crappy day.

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad that someone other than me found them to be useful! Yay!

[jlrpuck.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! for pictures! And I knew the marathon went by your place, but...well, I'd just not imagined that it was on the other side of the T. ;)

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

It is on the other side of the T. They close the whole street down, but they keep the runners on the proper side of the street. It's actually nice, because there's fewer people strewing rubbish all over the sidewalk in front of my building.

[bouncy-castle79.livejournal.com]

Chief amongst your insane list of Things to Do is to ascertain that we can get same-day tickets for *any* game the week before we go to Scotland! I can't let that spring training game be my only viewing of the Sox this year.

Also, I am intensely afraid of the Boston Marathon. *Lance Armstrong* said is was ridiculously hard. What chance do *I* have?!

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

Um, same-day tickets? I think that's you waiting in line, dear.

My cousin ran it and did just fine! Lance Armstrong is weak!

[chicklet73.livejournal.com]

Wow...that luxury box is...*makes impressed face*

Are they truly going to sell the naming rights to Fenway? I hate it when places do that. (half the damn time I don't know which facility is really hosting an event here in STL, they switch up names so much. Gah.)

Lovely photos, all!

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

You know, the luxury box was very nice, but I prefer bleacher seats, really. You're very disconnected from the game in the box.

And they have no plans to sell the naming rights. But I'm sure someday they will. ::sadface::

Glad you enjoyed the photos!

[chicklet73.livejournal.com]

You know, the luxury box was very nice, but I prefer bleacher seats, really. You're very disconnected from the game in the box.

Understandable. Watching from the box would be like watching the game on TV, in my house. Except it is nicer than my house.

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

I will admit it was nice to have the TV, because we could watch replays easily.