Spring has arrived!

Spring officially arrived in the city of Boston yesterday at approximately 2:05pm, when the gates to Fenway Park opened for the 2009 season! I scored a last minute ticket with some friends and arrived on Yawkey Way shortly before 1:00pm. Just over an hour later, I was through the turnstiles and into the depths of Fenway. It was Opening Day take 2; Monday was rained out. Tuesday, initially, didn't look promising either, it was raining off and on while we were waiting outside for the gates to open.

The Sox were doing some much heralded "recession sensitive" pricing; freezing ticket and concession prices, etc...one they're trying out for the first 2 months of the season; for the first hour the gates are open, nine concession items (aptly deemed "the starting nine") are half price. The "lineup" included Fenway Franks, pizza slices, pretzels, popcorn, cotton candy, fruit cups, veggie cups, 3 slider burgers, and Hoodsie ice cream cups. Naturally, beer wasn't on that list, and surprisingly, neither was soda. Anyways, $20 for 2 hot dogs, 2 beers and a pretzel (I know, holy carbs batman) was a Fenway bargain, and I was set for the rest of the day!

The usual hoopla seemed a little subdued this year (maybe because of the delay), but it was cool that they players came out from the Grandstand, and Ted Kennedy threw out the first pitch. Gabe Kapler got a great ovation when he was introduced, even if it was for Tampa. Mr. Heidi Klum was supposed to sing the National Anthem (read: Seal), but he couldn't make it Tuesday, so the Pops played instead. And of course, Johnny Pesky proclaimed the two words everyone had been waiting to hear since October - play ball!

The game got of to an awesome start, Pedroia hit a homerun on the 2nd pitch of his first ab of the season. It was awesome. The Sox scored 3 runs in the 3rd and Tek hit a solo homerun in the 6th, which was great for him, and the place went nuts. The sox won 5-3, Beckett was HOTT (my certified mush on him has returned) he struck out 10 in 7 innings including striking out the last batter he saw. Sick. Papelbon came in the nith for a 1-2-3 inning. It was super cold at the park, the weather said it was 47, but it felt a lot colder than that with the wind. I had on my underarmour, a t-shirt, sweatshirt, a hoodie and my northface fleece and was still cold. Whatever, it's April in Boston...

Also reason to celebrate yesterday, Next to Normal was released on itunes, and of course I downloaded it and have been listening to it ever since. The score keeps growing on me and getting better and better, I'm certain it will get a nomination for Best Musical, but winning is another story, Billy Elliot is a juggernaut.

I'll post pics from tomorrow soon, I need to find my cord to upload them to my computer...