My First Mariners Game: June 18, 2011

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Last Saturday, Cary and I drove from the beach at Ocean Shores to Seattle to attend a Mariner's game.  It was my first time ever being to a Major League Baseball game, and I was so excited.  The Mariners were playing the Philadelphia Phillies, another team that I enjoy watching on t.v.  Cary ordered tickets for us on the phone.  He asked for the best available seats, which ended up to be 30 rows up behind home plate, and cost $70.00 each plus tax.  We later picked them up at the Will Call booth.  Make sure that if you get your tickets this way to bring your ID and the credit card that you ordered the tickets with, or they won't give them to you.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Safeco Field is an amazing and beautiful stadium, and is fairly new.  Before it was finished in 1999, the Mariners played in the Kingdome.  Safeco Field has a retractable roof that slides off and on, depending upon the weather conditions.  You won't get stuck sitting in the rain at this ball field.  Here is more info on SAFECO FIELD.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This was our view.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

When we got there, the Phillies were at batting practice.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Sometimes, I just totally love my camera.  I used the Action Sports Shooting option most of the time during the game.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The first 10,000 people who got into the gate that night got a Felix Hernandez hat, just like the kind that he always wears.  Cary is showing us his.  I got one too.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The Moose, the Mariner's mascot, kept everybody entertained with his antics.  He is standing on the visitors dugout roof in this picture.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The Peanut Man was pretty entertaining himself.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Before the game started, the little girl and her mom were selected to play a Mariners Trivia game.  The answered all the questions correctly, and won.  The Moose cheered them along.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

The starting line-ups.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Mariner's pitcher, Felix Hernandez is awesome.  A young guy, he has always played for the Mariners.  He is currently one of the very best pitchers in baseball.  Seriously.  He has gotten himself quite a following, and is known as "The King".

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

This season, a new development has taken root for lovers of King Felix.  Fans wear their yellow T-shirts, crowns, wigs and whatever else, and sit in the same section to root for The King.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

They sit in Kings Court.  Last night (6/24), the court was expanded to two sections.  It has doubled in size over last week.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Felix pitches to Shane Victorino of the Phillies.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Raul Ibanez is next up-to-bat.  Raul played for the Mariners for years, and he misses Seattle and his friends, and we miss him.  He got a standing ovation the night before at his first up-to-bat, as the crowd let him know that he was still loved by Mariner fans.  It is funny, because I always thought that he was short, like Dustin Pedria of the Red Sox, but he isn't.  He is 6'2" and weighs 227 lbs.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Felix pitches to Raul.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Dustin Ackley was moved up from the minor leagues the night before.   During this game, at his fifth time ever at bat in a major league game, Dustin hit a home run.  And I have the pictures to prove it:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Of course, I took some pictures of Ichiro:

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Alas, the Phillies won.  The final score was 3-1.  Still, it was a great game, and it was magical to be there for the very first time.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

I took tons more photos, but these pretty much tell the story.  I enjoyed sitting next to a very nice couple from Chicago.  I would love to go to another Mariner's game at Safeco Field, but the whole thing was very expensive.  That one night almost cost more than the rest of our trip.  I want to go back and really explore Seattle someday.

 Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy ~ Kathy Matthews

Qwest Field, where the Seahawks play, now has an new name since last week, when I took this picture.  It is now called CenturyLink, and is located right next to Safeco Field.  

At Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy, if you miss a day, you miss a lot!  All material on this post is copyrighted and not for use without my permission ...Please click here to go to my home page and see what is happening in Mayberry today.
 

Reflecting back over the week ...

Man, what a busy week.  Okay, there is the obvious stuff ... coming home, posting all those trip photos, organizing a contest, catching up on laundry, getting the outside critters fed and watered, etc.  That stuff is to be expected, and was actually enjoyable.


But we had some very traumatic things happen too, like Cody dying.  It is so hard to see your child heartbroken.  The neighbor man who lived next door to us as I was growing up, my friend's father, died this week too.  Our long time family friend, Pauline, also passed away (she was in her late 90's, and she and her husband were best friends with my grandparents).  My step-mom's sister, Joanna, died too.  The baby deer who eats and drinks from our bird feeder showed up by herself, and I am wondering where her mom is.  Everytime I turn around, somebody is dying on me.  It sucks.

There were some other things that happened that will not be discussed on here, but were/are worrisome, and take lots of prayer and energy to deal with.  It is so hard to watch those you love have difficulties.

My sweetie has a bad case of that flu/cold that is going around, and I feel so sorry for him.  I am trying my best to not succumb to that dang bug myself.  Right now, I am as faithful about taking my little pink antihistamine pills and Muconex tablets as others are about taking their birth control pills.

Lots of good things have happened too, though.  Tyler's team won again on Friday, and they are still undefeated for the season.  Grandboys Garrett, Cameron, Casey, Johnny, and Collin, are all playing football right now too.  The Oregon Ducks won a difficult game against Stanford.  Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners won the Cy Young pitching award.  The Yankees are going into the playoffs, which is never a surprise, but I don't really mind.  At least I know who the players are.  The Red Sox are not going, and that makes me sad.  They have been there every year since I have  watching baseball, which really isn't that long.  Regular season is over, and I will miss watching baseball on t.v., which I find to be very peaceful.

More good things: I have two new followers, my friend Shelly from Creswell, and Natasha at 5 Minutes Just for Me.  Natasha lives in Australia and has an awesome blog, so make sure you take a look!  

There are even more good things:  I have a wonderful husband, wonderful parents, wonderful kids and grand kids and a wonderful huge extended family.  My dogs are healthy and fine. I am blessed with so many great friends.  I am feeling happy and content right now, for these few moments.  Thank you, Lord, for your love and for your many blessings!


Every cloud has a silver lining, you guys.  Remember that!  Hey, look, here is proof:

Please click on these to enlarge for better viewing.

Mayberry has great clouds, but I am beginning to think that you can't beat Kansas clouds, no matter how hard you try.  I took these two while I was in Kansas.  Plus, if you look closely at the bottom one, you might see something looking right back at you (after you enlarge it).
 
I hope that you guys all have a wonderful week!


~ Kathy

P.S. -  Here is another really cool thing that has happened recently.  Our great-nephews, those competitive BMX racing boys, went to the state championships the weekend before last.  Their efforts resulted in them placing for their age groups for the whole state: 

Treavor came in 3rd (age 13)

Christian came in 7th (age 12)

 Jason came in 6th (age 9)

 Isaiah came in 7th (age 6)


When the boys are not busy racing, they try 
to keep their Mom and Dad out of jail:

What did you two do this time, Brian and Shelly?

You have great boys and we are so proud of them!

A Perfect Summer Day Off:

Yesterday was as close to a perfect day as one could ask for.  It was hot and sunny, I had no big plans, and I didn't have to go anywhere.  It was a day off.  A day where nothing was pressing, and I could choose to do with it as I pleased.


So, I did these things:  I made the Las Vegas blog post (which took a long time because I couldn't find the photos at first).  I planted four planters with wildflower seeds, I washed my car and I made a great tuna salad.  I chatted with friends on Facebook.  I chopped up and dehydrated strawberries, mushrooms, blueberries and celery.  I sat out in the hot sun, letting the lemon juice lighten my hair, and I began reading two books (I talk about one of them in the post below, and the other is an old favorite, Mauve Benchy's Copper Beech).  

I watched a good game of baseball that lasted 13 innings:  The Mariners and The Cubbies.  And my husband came home early from his day of putting out fires to join me.  The Mariners lost, but it was a fun game to watch.

I also started getting things ready to sew.  FINALLY!!!  The little things pictured above will be beanbags.  Easy and fun to make.  I sewed the buttons on them last night.  I am going to start with making toys, dolls and kids games.  Unless I change my mind and make some bags and baby blankets.  Or decide to make some  "corn bags" (hot and cold packs).   It doesn't matter to me, as long and I am actually sewing something.  I will go with the flow. 


Today I will enter the real world and stop by and help Cary with what he needs, but yesterday was like a day of rest ... kind of like a Sabbath day.  I am grateful that I had the chance to relax and only do the things that appealed to me.  Reading over this, it seems like I did get lot done, but it was done at a leisurely pace and was of free will.  If only all days could be like that!