Monkey Monday Salutes Baseball

 

Fervent baseball fan, Pep, is ready for the World Series

The last time the Yankees won the the World Series was 2009, the year that Buttercupland began. There have been some lackluster years since then for Pep's and my favorite team. I had begun to believe that I might not get to see another World Series with my beloved Yankees again. But Pep and I never gave up hope and the Yankees will be playing the Dodgers again for the first time since 1981. 

Pep "meets" his baseball idol at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY

Pep wears number 42 in honor of his favorite player, Mariano Rivera. The number 42 has since been retired by all baseball teams, in tribute to the great Dodgers player, Jackie Robinson.  We were both fascinated by the baseball history we learned during our visit. 

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

I took this picture of Yankee Stadium during a visit in 2010. I've been to minor league games both for the Yankees and the Mets in the interim. I also enjoyed two spring training games while I was in Phoenix this spring. I didn't plan ahead and didn't think to buy a ticket for the Series while the playoffs were going on. I just checked for tickets a little while ago and they're sold out. I found tickets on a resale site and for $1,300+ I can attend the first night of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. It's tempting, but not tempting enough. There won't be any play-by-play commentary from Buttercupland, but I expect at least one more post about baseball. Is anyone else looking forward to the World Series?

It was definitely summer in New York today and I loved being out without a jacket. It's not going to happen very much longer, so I'm savoring these last warm days of the year. I attended my Zoom book club with my friends in Richmond -- what a great group -- and then worked on projects in my apartment. I did get out a couple of times to get in some walking and do a quick grocery stop. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a terrific Tuesday. 

What Will We Do Without Number 42?

I've written a number of posts about my love of baseball, most recently this post about Jackie Robinson, #42. Yesterday the last player still wearing the number 42 announced he would retire at the end of this season. It's Mariano Rivera who has been the reliever for the Yankees for almost twenty years and one of my -- and Pepe's -- favorite players. Number 42 was retired in 1997, except for those players who were actively playing. "Mo's" retirement permanently retires this great number.

Mariano Rivera is the player for the Yankees that pitches the last few innings, and has pitched extraordinarily. He has been a twelve time all-star, with outstanding pitching statistics. What's even more impressive, especially in this era where so many of our heroes are often day tainted with misconduct, there hasn't been a whiff of scandal. He's not in the gossip pages off the field. Though there were three different Yankee uniforms to pick from, when I chose a baseball uniform for Pepe there was was no choice but to dress Pepe in #42.

  Pepe soberly considers next season's chances for the Yankees. 

Homage to Mariano Rivera, #42

The weather was glorious in New York this weekend and I did a fair amount of running around. I was out and about so much yesterday that I missed Pink Saturday. I went to Bible Study in the afternoon and had a ticket in the evening for a concert. It was a big-band program of music by Julie Styne, and featured songs from "Funny Girl," "Gypsy" and "Bells are Ringing." The talent was terrific and the music, of course, was wonderful. With the cold weather we've had I haven't been doing that much in the evenings and it was a lot of fun to be out on a Saturday night.  

The week ahead looks full of work, work, work. But I've taken some pictures I hope to share and I'm snapping away for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. I've got a theme in mind and I've had a good time getting prepared for next month's blogging. Anyone else joining me?

Wishes for a sweet week!

There is no Joy in Mudville

Alas, I wish it was just a strike out. But it's far worse news for those of us who are Yankee fans and there are tears here today.

My post on a great visit to the New York City Ballet has been pre-empted by a news flash. Derek Jeter, captain of the Yankees and a favorite ball player in Buttercupland broke his ankle in the twelfth inning of last night's play-off game. Things don't get much sadder in baseball.  

Not Called on Account of Rain

What's a little rain -- or a lot of rain -- to an avid fan? I had my pink Yankees cap and my very thoughtful friend, Lynda, had a bright yellow poncho and we stayed for just about the entire game. I got to see a grand slam, which was a terrific thrill. I've been to other ball parks and I'd done a lot of work with traffic issues before this stadium opened, but this was my first time at this beautiful new stadium as a fan. Seats were comfortable (even in the less pricey section where we sat), food was yummy and there were more restrooms than I've ever seen before in a public facility. No lines, ladies!

It was a great day for this Yankee fan! Wishing you great days in the week ahead.

It's Always Breakfast Time Somewhere...

...and two weeks ago it was breakfast time in the Bronx! I had a meeting with a community group at 9:00 am and found I was finished by 10:00. I was with a dear colleague and we treated ourselves to an early lunch, aka breakfast, my favorite meal.

 The look is very unassuming, but the food was great!

By the time we finished breakfast the fans were arriving for the Yankees day later that day. We were only three blocks from Yankee Stadium and the area had gone from a regular morning to baseball fans everywhere. 

I'm standing in front of the diner viewing Yankee Stadium 

I'm off a little later for a local adventure to visit a place in New York City I've never been before. You know there will be pictures. In the next week I'm going to share pictures of some fun times I've had this summer in the city..."Hot time, Summer in the City" is on the way. 

I want to thank everyone for the great thoughts about hearing aids. My bloggy friends come through every time. I appreciate your openness, thoughtful reflections and support. I can't feel alone when there are great friends all over the world. Take good care and have a wonderful Saturday!

Game Five

Not much blogging tonight or catching up on blogs I like to visit. Pepe Le Monkee aka Slugger and I will be glued to the television set watching game five of the World Series. Game four was amazing with runs in the last of the ninth inning. If the Yankees win tonight we've got a parade coming up. I've already reserved my spot in a friend's office overlooking the parade route. And now it's time to play ball!

Under the weather

Sorry to be absent, blog friends. Have photos to post from our adventure yesterday and blogs to read, not to mention laundry, grocery shopping and the opening of Michael's in Manhattan. But I felt awful and only revived a little late in the evening to catch the last two innings of the Yankees-Angels game, which definitely revived my spirits.

I've been so hoping for the Yankees this season -- well before opening day and now we have World Series play! Two great teams and it should be a great series, but you know who Buttercup is rooting for!

Hope to be back tomorrow feeling better and with autumn photos.

Wishes for a great autumn week!

It's Opening Day

This isn't quite Citi Field, where the Mets will play, but it seemed appropriate for the season and today is opening day for the Mets. The Yankees home opening day is Thursday and there's lots of baseball excitement in New York.

I am a Yankee fan and have been for a long time, but like the Mets, too. My office has had some involvement with the planning of both stadiums, so this is a most long awaited day.

Lots of luck to the Mets on their opener and lots of good wishes dear blog friends for a great week!

48 Days Until Opening Day

Here are the promised pictures of the new Yankee Stadium. Opening Day is now 48 days away! Tickets for the opener are mucho expensive, enough for practically a week in Europe, so I will make do with television, but it was really fun being up at the stadium and watching all the preparations for getting it ready to open. The picture on the right shows a camera being placed on the side of the stadium.

Today was a day that was a preview of spring -- much warmer than it's been and just a little rain. All we need are a few tulips and we're just about there.

49 Days until Opening Day -- Photos to Follow

In an effort to honor my responsibility to blogworld I decided I would carry my camera with me about my daily life. Today was the first day of this new practice. Part of the day was spent going to Yankee Stadium as part of a work assignment to look at the bus stops. I took lots of pictures. Some were for work and some were taken with my bloggy friends in mind. I took care of the work part and then proceeded to leave the camera in the office.

Since I have no pictures of today's activities I will share three facts. I work in a transportation agency and I am often looking at bus stops. I am a great baseball fan and my favorite team is the Yankees. Started following them in the fifth grade -- Mickey Mantle era -- and haven't stopped. I also like the Mets and am one of 804,000 people (no kidding!) that has entered a lottery to be able to buy tickets to the opening day game at the new stadium. It is officially called CitiField, but I will always call it Shea Stadium. My third fact is that if during my college years anyone had predicted I would be inspecting bus stops and getting paid for it, I would have laughed without stopping for days. And a bonus fact, I was a Religion major in college and loved studying religious history and ethics. It's been a long way from St. Anselm to bus stops.

Please share a fact with me! I am so happy when I have visitors here and want to get to know my bloggy friends.