Take Me Back to Florida!

This time last year, I was preparing for the big move to Florida….and currently, I am stressing about job searching, studying for my Spanish final, and how I am going to handle 19 credit hours next semester.  However, I just found out I can graduate in June instead of August–that definetely brightened up this 13 degree weather day!

Speaking of weather, TAKE ME BACK TO FLORIDA!  Not only do I miss the amazing weather (ok, June, July and August was downright BRUTAL), but I miss the whole experience I had from January 2009-August 2009 while I was down there.  Anywhere from 70-100 hour work weeks (yes, 100 hours in a week.  I reached that feat twice last summer) that included dressing up as the mascot, supervising an all-night Boy Scout overnight in the outfield, and re-programming cash registers weren’t always a blast, but when I look back, I really did love it.  After so long, it’s almost like I got a euphoric high off working so much and not really knowing what I would be doing everyday.

It’s this experience I had that helped me figure out that I don’t want to do a normal 9-to-5 job after college.  My mom is a retired 7th grade English teacher, and she always says that teachers have the best schedules–you work the same hours your children are in school, you have the same breaks, and you have the summer off.  I 100% agree.  My mom was a GREAT teacher–however, I would not be.  When the day approaches that having a family presents itself, I’ll worry about how my job plays into that.  But now, with graduation 6 months away, I want nothing more than to move, hopefully start a promising job, and be on my own.

Yes, I said be on my own.  So many people say to “Stay in college as long as you can! The real world isn’t that great! Become a lifelong member of Kilroys!”

As cool as that sounds, I really DON’T want to stay in college for as long as I can.  I realize that the “real world” includes bills, being cut off from my parents (more or less…hoping for a little help from M & D to get me started….Hi guys!), and essentially being broke for a while (funny side note–we went to visit my sister in Nashville right after she graduated and to save money, she turned her heat down to 60 degrees…We were so cold that my dad threw some money on her bed just to get her to turn her heat up!).

Keeping the fore mentioned in mind, I know it’s not always going to be fun, I can’t buy all the things I want or used to buy (I will be switching to ALL generic brands at the grocery…luxury of a struggling college student: parents lovingly (or reluctantly) pay for my groceries!) and the work holiday parties will be mildly dull compared to the weekends out in Bloomington.

I would love to be Peter Pan and “never grow up,” but it’s approaching…quickly.

As Asher Roth shouts “I love College!!!!” in his ridiculously popular song (circa last year), I agree–I love college…but not enough to stay forever.

So in June, I will take my last victory lap around Kirkwood and Walnut (don’t worry, I’ll be back to visit) and switch out my “going out clothes” for work clothes.

So from now until then, check back about my job hunt, finishing up college, and other witty pieces of enlightenment.

Happy Holidays!

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Spring Training Update

 

Wow, I have been so busy lately!  Glad I finally have a chance to catch up.  We’re right in the middle of spring training, and although fun, I’m already a little exhausted.  A few highlights in the past couple weeks:

-The Netherlands and Puerto Rico played the Twins recently; fun to see WBC teams in Ft. Myers! 

-I literally “ran into” Pudge down in the tunnel–he walked into the office as I was walking out, thinking he was walking into the clubhouse.

– I met Tony Oliva (in the Twins Hall of Fame).

-George Toma (legendary artist of field prep) asked me when I was taking him to dinner (he favors Perkins while reading USA today); then proceeded to ask if he could come to my 22nd birthday party (this Saturday…we’re going to the beach!  What a lucky day to have off).  He had his 80th birthday on the 50 yard line at midnight after the conclusion of the Super Bowl this year …how do you top that?  He said he would get me a copy of his book too–what an interesting guy, can’t wait to read it.

-I met JOHNNY PESKY on St. Patty’s day @ City of Palms Park (where the Red Sox spring train) before the Red Sox/Twins game… I was told no more people could get pictures/talk to him because he had been out in the sun long enough already (he is in his mid-upper 80’s) but after quickly explaining my ties to him, I got to be the “absolute LAST person in line”….that is verbatim from a Boston usher who was not too pleased nor impressed that my Grandpa Platt knew him.  I explained to Mr. Pesky who I was and that my Grandpa coached him and he seemed a little foggy at first, but quickly repeated my Grandpa’s name and said he remembered those days.  

     I was so excited and nervous to meet him, but he is such a great man and the epitome of a an old-time baseball player.  A young boy was standing a little behind me and while Mr. Pesky was walking up the steps, he asked the boy to throw him the ball.  The boy threw the ball to the lengendary player and Mr. Pesky threw it back saying, ” Now you can tell all your friends the oldest guy in the ballpark caught your baseball.”  As he continued walking up the stairs, he was surrounded by a few ushers and loudly said, “Where the hell were you guys when I was a player?  I could have really used you then!”

        He also called me ‘good looking’ and ‘blondie’ in the whole two minutes I talked to him… the man still knows how to flatter a girl!

      I hope some of the baseball stars of today realize what a refreshing impact they can have on families and kids that come visit the ballpark–especially when the economy is the way it is and baseball is still an affordable form of entertainment–because Mr. Pesky certainly made the young boys day, and made me smile at the same time.  

    The weather has been great down here lately, and I’m excited to spend Saturday at the beach celebrating my birthday!  I looked at my calendar,  and I have exactly six weekends off between now and when I leave in August–I’ve got to start planning trips to Miami, Key West…. I’ll stop there, for all those who are still dealing with cool temperatures up North.

 

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