Just returned from my long weekend in the Tempe area and one of the definite highlights was getting the opportunity to meet MDE and his lovely wife on Saturday night at the PSU/ASU game. Don't even ASK how he was able to track me down at the stadium with 3000 in attendance!

It is very funny, it feels like old friends meeting up when you get the chance to meet someone from this sight. It is like you've known each other for quite awhile. I think we certainly crammed in alot of conversation for the short while we were able to visit (MDE...hope your wife didn't mind all the baseball talk...altho I'm guessing she is probably used to that! )

Anyway....just another example of the great community and camraderie of the OH/KY/PA/WV forum! Here's to many more meetings amongst us! And thanks Mike to both you and your wife for taking the time out of your evening to track me down.

That is a nice story luvbb and it doesn't surprise me about MDE5 since he has shared some great stories and insights in this forum.

As I mentioned to you, I was in the area as well and came very close to extending my business trip to come to the game. I was wondering how I would find you in the crowd so now it will be interesting to hear what MDE5's strategy was.

That's a great story! And it's a great "segue" (pardon a little music jargon here) into our plans to connect in Columbus the weekend of May 19. I, for one, am REALLY looking forward to meeting up with my "internet friends."

LHPX2.....we got gabbing so much I missed one of my son's at bats....of course, it was an at-bat my son probably is glad I didn't see!

LOL....Kathy it was a pleasure meeting you also. It is rather funny though when you tell people your going to meet someone from the "INTERNET"...lol I have to say it definitely felt like meeting an old friend and you might have missed Joe's last at bat, but I didn't...let's just say he "aired it out!" Yes my wife is use to me and the baseball talk. Yet, she felt like she was apart of the conversations. I had told her all about Joe and everything we have discussed, plus since she is more involved with what is going on with Brian, she can relate more...hmm...sometimes though she just sits there and smiles...I wonder if she might be deaf?...hmmmm

Ok, so the wife (she has a name...ummm...hmmm...Mary, yeah thats it!) and I show up about the 3rd inning. ASU had just scored a bunch and I am thinking...hmm..."I hope this doesn't end early, before Joe gets in". As we sit and watch the game, I point out Joe as he keeps running from the dug out to the bull pen to warm up yet another pitcher. I'm thinking...hmm..time to make some changes, let the kids play. Plus I figure the "FAMILY" isn't going to cheer him going to the BP but will if he gets up to bat. Low and behold they pinch hit for the other catcher...but not with Joe! I am thinking...how cruel...ok not really, I'm thinking "that sucks", Then my mind goes back to my plan and I think it might not work after all. I know he will come in to catch anyway and just maybe the "FAMILY" will cheer. They did and I missed it because I was watching him catch...lol . Joe gets a chance to bat a few innings later. I am watching him and forget my plan to watch the crowd to see if I can find the "family" but Joe helps me out, he drills a shot past the 3rd baseman for a double and an RBI...I sit and smile because after he hits the shot, I know what is going to happen and I look at the stands and there is the "family".. ... So I do what any technologically challenged person does...I pull out my cell phone and call "MOM". I watch as she is searching for her ringing phone...and searching...and searching then...voice mail....since I can see her frantically searching still..I call back again, low and behold in that beach bag of a purse she finds the phone and I ask..."is that a good enough shot?"...she asks.."who is this??" wow what an impression I made!!...lol... I proceed to give her the... "to your left...more left...more left...no...other left"...lol...until she sees the glare from the lights shining off my head. It was a good thing I got a lot of sun that day or her section could have had permanent eye damage! . Kathy was out of her chair and heading our way...leaving her "family" wondering if she had lost her sense...going to meet some guy from the "INTERNET"...lol
Lots of conversation in a very short time. Next time we will have to plan better, but I didn't want to take you away from your family, I know how treasured those moments are. Mary and I appreciated the time Kathy took away from her family to come say hi. Some of the things we talked about, the coach must have heard us...from our whipsers of course...because low and behold, Joe started Sunday...at 1st base. As long as it is between the lines it is a good place to play!

For the rest of the people in this forum...if you ever make it way out my way...anyhere in the Phoenix area, be sure to let me know. I am always up for meeting wonderful people and this forum is full of them.

Wow - that is one great story! I could just picture the way it all unfolded. Thanks for sharing that.

So I guess we'll have to share cell phone numbers, huh?

Well...I had my daughter, my mom, my dad, my best friend and her daughter....sitting with me (I am sure my son had the largest cheering squad from our team). After the "where in the heck is my phone and fanatical search fiasco!" they all ask me "WHERE are you going?". I just told them "I'm going to meet a guy I know from the internet" . Just HAD to see my dad's reaction to THAT comment!

Actually...anyone who knows me also knows about the HSBB site because it comes up surprisingly often in conversation. I've already warned them all about our May 19th planned get-together.

And I must say...MDE was an attractive shade of red after spending the day at the Cubs game out in the sun then dropping by the ASU stadium. I thought all of you desert dwelling people knew how to use sunscreen!

Hope I get a chance to meet one of the "wonderful people" from the forum some day.

A Cubs fan? I KNEW I liked you, Mde!

Awesome story MDE - I knew that was going to be a good one. Beach bag of a purse??? LOL

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Beach bag of a purse???

HEY....I resemble that remark! At least "I" had something large enough to carry sunscreen in (AND...it was my new Vera Bradley bag...you ladies will appreciate THAT! )! The fact that I had a purse big enough to hold enough sunscreen to cover the 3,000 in attendance should be proof of my compassionate nature and shouldn't be ridiculed!

I should have provided some context for why I laugh so hard.

My wife is famous in our baseball circles for carrying 175 lb purses - on a light day. I am always asking her why she packs so much and the standard response - in case we need something. I say, how much is there to need at a baseball game??? Anyhoo, every once in a blue moon, we'll be at a game where somebody actually needs something like an electric can opener (j/k) and she feels justified in having lugged everything but the kitchen sink around for all those years.

quote:

Anyhoo, every once in a blue moon, we'll be at a game where somebody actually needs something like an electric can opener (j/k)

FYI....I DID find the blender came in handy while in the southwest to mix up a batch of Margaritas during the 7th inning stretch! Even had the industrial extension cord.

LMAO...lots happens around here when I guy finally goes and gets some sleep after working all night

Actually I was extremely red and ignored using the SPF1000 sun screen most midwesterners utilize while out here in our cloudless/rainless climate, for a few reasons:
1) Spent my Florida trip inside during the days sick and sleeping so I could make it to the night ball games, so I was in DIRE need of some coloring.
2) I have been working crazy shifts any where from 7 pm until 10 am or 1 am until 3 pm...and it is all inside work.
3) I knoew if I didn't color the head and took off my hat, all the folks from Penn State would think they were witnessing an eclipse...could you imagine all the calls home that would have been made?...the lines would have been jambed and then some poor emergency call wouldn't have been made because of all the line usuage...lol

lhpx2...yes a die hard cub fan and took in the game and sat (lol...laid...napped) on the grass. I was coming off working 129 hours in the nine days I was back from vacation. My poor wife was so confused to think I would lay back and close my eyes for 1/2 an inning during a live "CUB" game...asked if I needed to go to the Dr. or hospital. I said I will die before going into a HOSPITAL!!...I supervise construction in hospitals....lol

A visit like this...with luvbb...make sme miss the midwest more than I already do. Down to earth people, good values, friendly and genuine.
All I can say is...THANKS!

Beez, Fungo just pm'd me. He's hurt and he's watching the game with ME next time!

IB - I was actually waiting for him to catch that and give me a hard time! Oh well. And for what it's worth, if you DO get a chance to go to a game with him, don't count on actually watching too much of it. I don't think either of us ever stopped talking for too long. GREAT guy and a veritable font of knowledge.

Mde--

I guess if you have to be "transplanted" from Chicago and Wrigley Field, you're lucky enough to land in the place where the Cubs have spring training. I'm envious! We try to get up to Wrigley once a year, but I miss my growing up days when my friends and I would just jump on the "el" and chug down to the games on a moment's notice.

BTW, how's our friend Nick D'Ippolito (aka "Dip")doing at NKU? Have you had a chance to meet his dad Mike? We logged a lot of bleacher time together for 3 straight summers.

That is funny MDE! You're very resourceful!!!

Luvbb - A smart baseball mom always carries her sunscreen!

I was actually hoping to get to NKU play USI yesterday as I'm in Illinois and son's games were moved 'till today. However, just didn't work out.

lhpx2 - I'm with you! Can't wait for out gathering!!!!

lafmom...resourceful?..me??...maybe...hmm...actually with what I do for a living I am a problem solver and have to constantly look ahead and "anticpate"...hence the lack of hair on the mellon of mine because I appear to be thinking even when sleeping and I hear that that clogs the hair folicols...or maybe it is move >>

At one time I looked like >>> ...well...maybe only in my dreams...lol

NKU took 2 from USI and are now onlne at the top in the GLVC and made it back into the national rankings. Brian is playing more and more and is seeing the ball better and better...

lhpx2....lucky maybe...well..especially in the winter...but have had to work so much that that was the first spring training game we have seen in 3 years....well..actually we spent spring training watching Brian play JUCO ball so I guess that doesn't really count huh? Nothing like taking the EL to wrigley field...how close and personal you get with total strangers ...who are all Cubbie fans...
Yes, I did get to meet and talk briefly with Nick's dad in Tampa. What a nice gentleman....who like all of us lived and died with every swing....lol

quote:

FYI....I DID find the blender came in handy while in the southwest to mix up a batch of Margaritas during the 7th inning stretch! Even had the industrial extension cord.

YUK! Fill me in on your trip when you get a minute, luvbb...I'm heading out to Phoenix to visit my family next month---hope you left some of the sunshine out there, since it appears you brought it back to PA with you!! WOOOHOOO!!