Gilbert-Jones Farm, Wabash, Indiana

After a wonderful weekend in Chicago with Ben, AJ and I took the Metra out to North Aurora to Aunt Jenny's house. From here we were picked up by Papa J and driven to the Gilbert-Jones farm in Wabash, Indiana.

We spent five relaxing days on the farm. Well, the first couple days we had to clean up a bit. But after everything was fixed up, it was really nice. AJ spent some time practicing her wedding speech while I walked down the creek with Papa J and Meg. I got a great opportunity to live off the land and wrestle bears. AJ was even challenged to a duel in Bocce Ball.




AJ and I then headed off on Saturday morning for our second weekend in the Windy City.

Cardinals at Cubs, Wrigley Field

Chicago! We made it out to the midwest in miraculous fashion. Thunderstorms were keeping flights from leaving New York and from landing in Chicago, but we managed to be the last plane out and the first on the ground at Midway.

After our arrival, we jumped on the L and rode to Ben's apartment. Once there, we were whisked away again to the Second City stage to have "The Absolute Best Friggin Time of Our Lives."

The following day, after a delicious breakfast at Ann Sather, we walked around Millenium Park and saw "The Bean." BL remarked, "Wow, now I know what everyone loves about this thing. I love it more than Ann Sather cinnamon rolls."

Sunday was the day of the big game. The Cardinals had been in town all weekend and beaten by the Cubs on both Friday and Saturday. Cubbies fans were psyched for a sweep. After a quick tour of Wrigleyville's pre-game scene, we went into the stadium.

The game was exciting enough, even though it wasn't our Rays out on the field. Pujols homered for the Cards to tie the score in the sixth. Unfortunately, BL and I missed it as we were down in the bowels of the stadium looking for a vendor that sold brats and veggie burgers.


Even though the game stayed tied until the 11th, the Cubs couldn't pull out a "W" for the sweep. Luckily, we had a great weekend in Chicago anyway. Ben even agreed to host us again the following weekend...

Rays at Orioles, Camden Yards

After a delicious meal including a variety of fish at the Rusty Scupper, we wandered through the Inner Harbor on our way to Camden Yards. We even stopped at Vacarros for some Italian cookies to take to the game. Once we were inside beautiful Camden Yards, AJ said, "this is the best stadium in sports," to which I agreed. Unfortunately, it began to rain and the staff put the tarp on the field.

The rain delay lasted only 20 minutes though. The game was kicked off by the national anthem on trumpet played by Chick-fil-a's CFO.


The Rays got off to a good start thanks to an RBI double by Matt Joyce that sparked a seven-run second inning. Wade Davis lasted eight innings, holding the O's to just one run.

Then, in the middle of the ninth, AJ got a call from Papa J letting us know we were on TV for a few seconds holding our sign, "The Rays Shine With Sun Sports." The sign was held remarkably high for all to see.

As seen on TV

It is official. BL is now a Rays fan. Next stop: Wrigley Field (no Rays until Toronto though).

Rays at Red Sox, Fenway

School’s out for summer. I woke up the morning of June 29 feeling light as air and anxious to get to Boston. Our tickets were booked on the Bolt Bus departing from the Tick Tock diner. (I am loving the alliteration.)

The ride was pretty smooth. I was reading Salinger. Then we pulled over for our 10-minute leg stretch at Roy Rogers, somewhere in Connecticut. The bus was leaking oil. The driver was of questionable mental state. We waited for a new bus to pick us up.

The Bolt Bus breakdown

The Rays started the two-game stint with Boston that night. They lost. Boston kept second place behind the Yankees and the Rays kept up what June had looked like so far: slumpy.

Mike, Luca, and Nina: Our gracious hosts and unfortunate Red Sox fans

The following night, our seats in Fenway were pretty great. I had heard there isn’t a bad seat in that stadium. I had heard that it is always packed. I can’t really say what’s true or what isn’t after one night, except that the Rays pulled it out behind Garza, winning 9-4. They closed out June with a win, to set up July and get out of their rut. They broke Boston’s seven-game winning streak.


We sat in right field and could see all the catches made in the warning track. The eighth inning was explosive. That was foreshadowing. The Rays would sweep the Red Sox the following week in the Trop to take back second place.

Rays at Yankees, Yankee Stadium

Fast forward a month and a half, without overlooking the fact that the Rays had the best record and led not only the American League East, but also all of baseball. During which time, we trekked out to Yankee stadium and watched them win 10-6 behind the rookie Wade Davis.


The biggest moments: just as we walked in and up to the railing that overlooks the diamond from the upper level, Jason Bartlett hit a homer off A.J. Burnett on one of the first pitches of the game. The roadtrip plans were sealed as B.L. agreed to join me this summer (even though he doesn’t really like baseball, and if he did, his team would be the Baltimore Orioles.)

Mets at Rays, Tropicana Field

The season looked great from where I was sitting in April. The last spring training game at the Trop, a Rays win 4-2 behind Matt Garza. The news comes out the following day: the Rays have the best record in spring training. Just like they had done in 2008, when they won the ACLS and appeared in the World Series, each for the first time in team history.


Parents enjoy the Rays' win
Raymond, mascot of unknown species, visits the crowd

The Brief Wonderous Recap of a Rays Fan

As introduction to this newly-minted blog, which will have a richer life once we set out on the road, I would like to recap. In the spirit of nostalgia, which comes from a Greek word that means pain, I am tempted to write more of my own history as a Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays fan. I’ll spare you, because I am not sure if this blog is ethnography, journal, or travelogue. I am pretty sure it’s not a baseball blog.