planetdan

Wednesday, August 16, 2006 :::

Stranger in a Strange Land

T-Bone took me to a Twins game last night. I haven't been to a baseball game in at least 15 years, and I was embarrassingly unfamiliar with the customs and practices of such an event. For instance, some random clip of organ music would play without warning and the entire crowd of 30,000 would spontaneously clap in some predetermined pattern and then cheer as if it meant something. I couldn't keep up.

But we each had 72 ounces of beer and some salty peanuts.

I also kept hearing someone call my name, and I'd turn around to find nobody but gape-mouthed baseball fans. It took me a few times to realize it was just the Miller Lite guy, and he wasn't calling my last name, he was simply announcing that he had cold bottles of Miller to sell. At one point, while waiting for his payment, the Miller Lite man yelled "Anyone else want some Miller?" and I thought sheepishly, "Hell, yeah, who doesn't want a piece of Miller?" Sometimes it's fun being named after a beer. I can easily get clothing and kitchenware pre-emblazoned with my surname.

Miller Lite Guy:

I watched as the girl in the orange dreads and alternative threads ordered and devoured a huge Dome dog that must have had a three inch diameter. It reminded me of this.

And we won the game. Anyway, it wasn't nearly as boring as I was assuming it would be.

::: posted by dan at 12:03 PM :: [ link ] :: (10) comments

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10 previous comments:

i like the peanut picture. thats cute. You do have a great name ;)

By

the other sarah, at 2:21 PM

What's T-bone scowling 'bout?

By

Colleen, at 10:05 PM

Did you do the Wave? Do they still do that?

I can't imagine how distracting it would be to have someone constantly yelling one's name like that. My head whips around involuntarily even when there is no possible way that someone could be talking to this Christine.

By

Christine, at 6:33 AM

... kitchenware. you slay me.

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toddbee, at 7:30 AM

hehehe *knows all the predetermined clap patterns by heart* hehehe

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Red & Psycho, at 6:38 PM

here's another who hasn't been to a baseball game in years and years and who would be equally as unfamiliar with the customs... nice to know it's not near as boring as one would expect!

By

Connie, at 8:03 PM

Except for the beer and peanuts, that's what my husband (presbyterian) says about mass (catholic). He says we all know what we're doing, with the sitting, standing, group chants and such.

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toddbee, at 7:24 AM

As someone who also shares the same last name as you, I appreciate the sense that someone had just called you. I've lived in Mexico for extended periods of time, and often found that the best way to get folks there to understand how to spell my name was to explain "Como la cerveza." When I was there, I had a
Brit friend with the last name "Pound" who had long since given up on trying to get his last hame understood, and switched to "Libra." It worked like a charm!

By

Anonymous, at 4:39 PM

Well, we've officially given up on the Astros here in Houston. We're now Twins fans.

And I so want a piece of Miller. I can't believe that didn't get more comments.

By

the other sarah, at 9:45 PM

I'm sick of looking at your peanut, new post please!

By

Kristina, at 8:51 AM

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