This collection of entries is from April 26, 2003.
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Back at TPFKAC™ for our first official night game with fireworks. The fireworks, instead of being assembled on the asphalt in the player's parking lot, are now on top of scaffolding, about 5 or 6 sections high. The fire marshall allowed them to do that so the Sox could keep the outfield seats open (they had to "evacuate" and close them for the fireworks over the last few years). The game is moving along OK. Jon Garland is actually pitching OK after quite a few horrible starts. Yesterday, a few guys got hit. In the bottom of the 5th, Ordonez gets hit in the back (after getting hit in the 9th last night) after hitting a home run in the 4th. (BTW, Frank Thomas homered before Maggs, and had a homer yesterday. go, Frank!) When the top of the 6th comes around, Garland hits Doug Mientkiewicz, and gets immediately ejected - without warning. Well, that sent coaches running out of the Sox dugout, followed by the rest of the players, which was followed by the Twins dugout, and before you know it, the bullpens empty... no fighting, just a lot of yelling and posturing... but Garland gets thrown out as well as center fielder Armando Rios as well as the Twins' reliever Latroy Hawkins. haven't seen that many players on the field since the Detroit debacle a few years ago. Anyway, Garland did well - struck-out 5 guys on 4 hits (OK, 2 were home runs), so he was performing well for a change. This meant that we had to get someone from the bullpen, even though no one was warming-up. They brought out Tom "Flash" Gordon. You know this is a problem when a security guy on the field lays his head back and rolls his eyes when they announce Gordon. Well, he came out and pitched 2 1/3 1-hit 3-strikeout innings. A very nice performance. Then the closer - Koch - comes in for the 9th and gives up a 2-out 2-run homer from pinch hitter Cuddyer. He may be good, but damn this guy is scary.
the fireworks, well they're not as good. You can tell they're further away, and it just feels "bare" without any fireworks inside the park. I don't know, I just don't like it. The new sound system is a plus, but it's just the same old fireworks all from one location that feels further away.
(Boxscore)
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On the way to the Sox game tonight, we stopped at the Des Plaines Oasis to grab something to drink for the ride. On the way out, an older gentleman approached me, and very tentatively, spoke "Excuse me, could you give me some directions?" He had white hair and a white goatee. I of course said yes, and asked "where to?". He again, tentatively said "Carol Stream."
He was heading east and Carol Stream was at least 20 miles west. I started, in general, telling him that he would have to get back on the tollway, but get off and get back on again to head west. He started fumbling with a shirt pocket, producing a few index cards, and continued searched for something to write with.
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Carol handed me a pen from the front seat and I handed it to him. He had a look about him of being a little rattled, and after telling him, in generalities, how he needed to get turned around, it was getting obvious that he need more detail than that. The feeling I got was that he didn't know the area that well. So, slowly, I gave him the directions to get back on the Northwest Tollway going west. Then we worked out the Carol Stream directions. When I mentioned he should get off on 53 South, he perked up. He knew 53. And then I had him get off at North Avenue and her perked up again. He seemed to know North Avenue just fine.
The two of us went through the directions again, and then he read them back to me. It sounded like he got it. He asked, more than once, how to get out of the Oasis parking lot.
Then, just on a lark, I asked "Where are you going?"
That's when he said it.
"I'm going home. Main and Geneva. I just got a little lost."
Oh, my God. My heart sunk. "A little lost." Oh Christ... is he OK? He's old enough that, heaven forbid, he could be starting to "lose it" and maybe not be able to find his way home.
I bid him Good Luck. He didn't know how to respond to that. He then looked like he was looking for where he parked.
He was parked right next to us. We waited in our car, drinking the water and soda we just bought, and watched him pull out and onto the tollway. Carol felt the need to write down his plate number and description of the car.
We left the oasis, and eventually pass the gentleman, in the right hand lane, heading toward the O'Hare exit, just like I told him.
God, I feel terrible and helpless. I hope to God he was able to make it home alright.
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