The 15th Floor Overlooking Fenway

There are some perks to working for the official hospital of the Boston Red Sox.

For instance, the World Series Trophies came and spent the day today. There were even photographers on hand and I got a free professional photo taken with the trophies. (To be delivered later.) Too bad I couldn't convince Ben to come with me.

I forgot to take a picture of the police man who was standing guard to make sure we didn't touch the trophies. We could look all we wanted, but no touching.

Anyone else tired of talking about baseball and ready for some actual baseball?

Maybe it was all the staring out the window while I was studying recently, but I'm itching for something to be going here:

That is something besides the construction that that has been going non-stop for the last 2 or 3 months. They are working at least 18 hrs a day seven days a week, and we haven't figured out if they are really out there 24/7. There are 800 new seats being added. (Watch the slide show in the link; it's pretty cool.)

The light brick structure was built and you can see the extension of the State Street Pavilion level.

Yesterday they brought back in this section of lights and welded them back in place.

See the guys up there?

In other news, Manny's going to the superbowl. Not sure why this is news worthy; maybe just because there are other people who feel the same way I do right now. And Tina Cervasio is leaving. I have to say I actually liked her, though I can't imagine the schedule they have to keep.

As I turn 30 this month, I can now turn to Manny Ramirez for inspiration. He's now a philosopher and does yoga. Seriously, read.

Courtesy the Boston Globe:

Here is what each Red Sox player will earn this for 2008 -- for playing baseball....not staying up all night saving lives.

Manny Ramirez -- $18,929,923
J.D. Drew -- 14,000,000
David Ortiz -- 13,000,000
Mike Lowell -- 12,500,000
Jason Varitek -- 10,442,031
dl-Josh Beckett -- 10,166,667
Julio Lugo -- 9,250,000
Daisuke Matsuzaka -- 8,333,333
dl-Curt Schilling -- 8,000,000
Coco Crisp -- 5,083,333
Tim Wakefield -- 4,000,000
Julian Tavarez -- 3,850,000
dl-Mike Timlin -- 3,000,000
Kevin Youkilis -- 3,000,000
Alex Cora -- 2,000,000
Hideki Okajima -- 1,275,000
Javier Lopez -- 840,000
Kyle Snyder -- 835,000
Sean Casey -- 800,000
Jonathan Papelbon -- 775,000
Dustin Pedroia -- 457,000
Kevin Cash -- 450,000
Jon Lester -- 421,500
Manny Delcarmen -- 421,000
Jacoby Ellsbury -- 406,000
Bryan Corey -- 405,000
David Aardsma -- 403,250
Clay Buchholz -- 396,000

Seems to me Varitek is relatively underpaid.

Dear Red Sox, Don, and Jerry,
I'm so sorry I have seen only single inning of baseball prior to this evening, but you'll understand that playing in Japan and California does not jive with my schedule. (I have a horrible job.) I've missed you terribly. I wish I could hug each of you. I'm so happy to have you back in my living room and can't wait to see you in person, hopefully soon.

I started wearing my Red Sox scrub cap again when the season started; I hope washing it wasn't bad luck.

Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder.

Love,
KER

P.S. We kind of need a new couch -- do you think we should get it from Jordan's? Are you going to sweep again this year?

P.P.S. Mike Timlin I hope your finger heals soon, and I wish we were still neighbors.

Wednesday we saw the Red Sox play The Angels. It ended a 6-game winning streak, but we still had a good time. Seeing Big Papi hit a two-run home run to tie the game is ALWAYS better in person. My favorite players (Mike Lowell & Jason Varitek) weren't playing so somehow there are lots of pictures of Manny & Ortiz.

Not a bad seat in the house.

Manny up to bat.

David Ortiz on first base.

A blurry Jon Lester.

A count down to Manny's 500th homerun.

The Dunkin' Dugout.

Big Papi on deck.

Manny on first.

The closest I've ever been the Wally. I guess I was so excited I couldn't hold the camera still.

Hmmmm....

Without too many details, I worked in a run yesterday while I call. (Yes, I promise someone was still caring for the patients.)

I'm actually a run or two behind for the month, so I need to remedy that this weekend.

I usually dislike when the Red Sox aren't on NESN because nobody is better than Don & Jerry. Watching a Red Sox-Yankees game on Fox feels like you're in New York watching a Yankees game rather than in Boston watching a Red Sox game, i.e. there's too much of a New York slant.

Nonetheless, there's no NESN in our gym, and the game on Fox meant I had serious entertainment.

The good run was a combination of:

• a good night's sleep
  
• a nap
  
• a week since I last run
  
• the Red Sox on Fox.
  

My drive to Connecticut may have been less than pleasant, but thanks to the rain and the fact that almost every other baseball game is delayed or postponed, ESPN has nothing to air except the NESN Red Sox feed. So despite visiting the only county in CT that does not get NESN, I am still watching Don & Jerry. Good times.

Though my goal was to get in at least one run during the week, it never happened.

I tried to make up for it today, but had dinner reservations, so couldn't run forever.

That made eating a big dinner all the better.

We tried The Chart House for the first time and had a fabulous dinner.

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