Wild Ride

As the seconds tick away for this year and decade, I wanted to take a look back.  While I spent most of this year wallowing in self-pity and heartache, I was wrong.  This year pushed me and tried to break me more times than I care to count.  I spent more time focused on all of the bad things that happened and not enough on the good things.  I experienced loss and heartbreak, but also immense happiness and pride.  I walked away from a job that was toxic and killing me; realizing that my happiness required a much larger salary.  I pushed myself harder than ever by signing up for six half marathons and setting new personal records with each race.

This decade has been the ultimate journey.  I started traveling the world watching baseball in 2011.  I saw beautiful stadiums, enjoyed baseball, experienced the world, and found myself.  When I started this wild ride back in July 2011, I never could have imagined where it would take me.  Baseball has taken me to Sydney, Tokyo, and Canada (twice).  If ten years ago, somebody had told me that I would be flying to Tokyo to watch baseball, I would have thought they were crazy.  Heck, I even did a half marathon in Pittsburgh because “I was already going to be there, so why not?”.

This new decade that is rapidly approaching, is going to be the best yet.  I am set to see the A’s play a game at every single Major League Baseball stadium.  Pinch me because it still doesn’t seem real.  Speaking of my beloved Oakland Athletics, I can’t wait to be there for the new stadium.  I feel it.  We are getting a new stadium this decade.

Thank you.  Thank you to everybody that reads my posts, sorry they have been so few and far between, thank you to my family that supports me and this wild ride, thank you to the amazing friends I have made these past ten years, you are all so very important to me, and thank you to baseball for always being there.  My wish for all of you as we enter this new decade is to soak it all in, step outside of your comfort zone, and live your life.

Life is a wild ride, so throw your hands up and enjoy.

Why not

Opening Series 2014

The day has finally arrived. Opening Series is tonight at the famous Sydney Cricket Grounds. The Los Angeles Dodgers will face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks as the two teams start the battle for NL West champions.

Last season, the DBacks saw the Dodgers come on strong and eventually claim the division in what is forever remembered as the pool incident. The DBacks made some roster changes, hoping to come back stronger in 2014 and to steal the division back from the reigning champs.

As we walk around Sydney, which is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful, there are signs everywhere for the upcoming games. The streets are filled with Dodger blue hats and Sedona red hats. It’s like being back in the states, but with better views. The fans from both teams are true amazing, and everybody is getting along. A group of us all were joking about the Giants. Three different fan bases, all hate the Giants. It was a funny moment.

For the time being, there is no rivalry, no hatred, no ‘my team is better’ comments. Everybody is at peace and enjoying the moment. I love baseball. No matter what happens tonight, who wins, who loses, tonight, history will be made. I still can’t believe I’m here and get to witness it first hand.

Sydney, Here We Come!

I am sitting on the plane with one of the worst cases of insomnia. I can always sleep on planes. Always. The flight from Oakland to LAX, I fell sleep as we started pushing back from the gate and woke up as we started making our descent. Yet, here I am on a 14+ hour flight and I get a couple hours here and there. I think part of it might be the screen in front of me which so many tv and movie options, and my ADD kicks in. 

My mom, who has slept almost the whole time, and I are on our way to Sydney for MLB’s first ever Opening Series in Australia. There was a rumor the A’s were going to open the 2013 season there, but that didn’t happen. When I heard my second favorite team was going to be going there, I jumped at the chance. I’ve always wanted to go to Sydney, so it only makes sense that I would take my baseball trip to the next level. 

We get to Sydney on their Thursday morning, so technically, I have no Wednesday. We have a busy schedule of sight seeing, the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, and the two games awaiting us. For those of you still state side, the games are both on Saturday. Gotta love that 18 hour time difference. I’m excited to see former A’s pitcher, Trevor Cahill, who is scheduled to start the game on Sunday. I can’t believe meaningful baseball games are just days away. I’d do a happy dance, but I’m on a plane. 

This trip is making me wish I had gone to Japan when the A’s had opened their seasons there in the past. Hopefully more teams start doing international opening series, but I would be so happy if the A’s opened in Sydney. Just putting that out there. 

Hope you all enjoy your Wednesday, and I’ll let you know what happens on Thursday.