Azure Jane Lunatic (Azz) 🌺 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
azurelunatic) wrote2023-07-02 12:18 am
azurelunatic) wrote2023-07-02 12:18 am
Play Ball!
Belovedest's family (Pops, Mom, Eldest) have arrived! The grown-ups came around lunchtime. Eldest showed up just before ballpark time, bearing the tickets.
You see, there were about three years of pandemic shutdown, and now we've got still pandemic, but a lot of other things going on. Belovedest had said approximately, "Well, I'd love to take in a ball game, but as things are I don't think I'd be comfortable doing so except in a private box." And Eldest took that seriously, looked into things, and since it was a milestone birthday and a lot of birthday monies had not been spent... So there was a box. Not on the birthday day, but close enough. With 15 tickets left after the immediate family. (Housemates both had conflicting plans, as Steph is heading to California and Alex had the headache.) Belovedest invited people; between everything and the short notice, the ones who came were two work friends and their families. Coincidentally both of the ones who had hosted them during their breakup with The Evil Ex.
So it was time to leave to get there early. The previously convened family crew were playing a word game and didn't seem likely to stop any time soon. I cut in with a question: "How long do you think it'll take to load my rolly boi in the car?"
That broke up the gaming, in about the way I'd intended. We did the initial ticket and parking pass distribution, then circled back to pick up the clear plastic box of decorations and my phone, which I'd managed to leave on my desk.
("This is what I get for wearing the bra without pockets." "And why did you put on the bra without pockets?" "Looser and more comfortable." "That's fair.")
We dropped off a set of tickets and parking pass with one of Belovedest's favored co-workers who wouldn't get off work until about first pitch, then zipped off to the stadium. We were waved up to the VIP & ADA parking, which was pretty cool. Belovedest got my rolly boi out of the car, and we attempted to distribute the stuff to minimize the amount of things that would have to go through the magnetometers. Fortunately the security line was short at that point in time.
As we approached it, a good-humored guy in a security outfit approached us. "What are you trying to smuggle in in that box?"
The answer was "mostly birthday gear" and then I started naming the other items and the dude clearly had no time for that. We were allowed through.
The party was started by the time we arrived. They'd brought popcorn, and other dishes would be arriving shortly. Belovedest's mom and I set up the table topper I'd found at the dollar store, a You Just Leveled Up Congratulations game themed birthday item. Plus a mylar unicorn centerpiece balloon (to be blown up normally rather than with helium).
I'd already made and frosting-decorated the M&M chocolate chip cookie bar cake. It merely needed candles and SPRINKLES. So, two numeral candles went in. I checked with Belovedest. "Do the number candles count against the total, or not?" "How much do you want to concern the fire marshal?" "Yes." "Okay then!" Ten glitter candles went in, and the appropriate number of ombre pink candles. I sprinkled sprinkles (magenta, pink, gold luster) with a generous hand, then doubled it. I eventually put it up in a tall cupboard, because someone was very interested in it.
One set of our friends have a foster kid now, nearly 6. He's a dead ringer for a lot of the ADHD kids I have met over the years. High energy, very little attention span, and absolutely charming and great fun. Fortunately I had brought balloons, and between blowing them up, popping a few of them by accident and a few by not-accident, and playing with them, he did not fully notice me making the cake vanish for the time being. I'd tossed the balloons in the box on a whim, and that was one of the best ideas I'd had. It occupied a lot of hyperactive energy with games of balloon volleyball. Also balloon soccer, and balloon fencing.
The ball game started, loudly. There were outside seats, but inside was air conditioned and much less loud, with the loudspeaker content coming through a dedicated screen at a sensible volume.
There was a feast on hand! Hot dogs, hamburgers, Caesar salad, macaroni salad. The basic food with the box package was good enough, but then Eldest traded in the wine and beer allowance for more food and drink. This was also a fantastic idea. Soft pretzels and cheese, garlic fries, an enormous bunch of vegetables, and more soda.
Belovedest begged a pen off our main setup person/runner, and happily kept track of the score. I did get a little crocheting done, but there was a lot of Playing With Small Child to be done.
Later into the game, our person gave us a fifteen-minute warning that the hot food was going away. She started into an explanation, but of course as soon as she mentioned it, I understood: the hot food was about to hit the We're Not Going To Guarantee Food Safety After This Point place. I poked my head out and let our bleachers know that it was last call on the meats.
The mascot apparently comes through all the boxes for selfies and such. Loose balloons meant he joined in a game of balloon volleyball. I got a few good shots.
The 7th Inning Stretch would have been the best time to deploy the cake, but I wasn't on it fast enough. I eventually figured we'd better, and lit the candles. The Small Child was enthralled, and wanted to blow them out. No, Small Child. I took it out, and the wind helped Belovedest.
Our runner popped through after the cake was cut, and we offered her some. At the second offer, she conveyed that if we should happen to leave some behind, she'd be able to partake at that point. I stowed a couple slices in a high cupboard and let her know the next time she came through.
Despite playing Carrot Walrus, the small child did not want to eat his vegetables, and that became a Whole Thing. He eventually did get enough vegetable inside him that he was allowed to partake of cookie cake, but I did slip his mom a small container of the sprinkles, to be deployed at a future time of better opportunity, just in case he didn't.
The game ended at a reasonable time. We did take a while to get packed up, and consequently were some of the last out. J forgot her allergy-safe ketchup, so Pops rushed it out to her. Some relatives of the Small Child showed up, and he got some time with them too.
I talked with Belovedest on the way back, and thought about the amount we'd have to save up if we want to do this next year. It wasn't absolute hell on my body, even in the current woeful state. I could sit somewhere comfortable in the up-above, and between the closed box and the good breeze that was going, I'm pretty happy about air safety.
You see, there were about three years of pandemic shutdown, and now we've got still pandemic, but a lot of other things going on. Belovedest had said approximately, "Well, I'd love to take in a ball game, but as things are I don't think I'd be comfortable doing so except in a private box." And Eldest took that seriously, looked into things, and since it was a milestone birthday and a lot of birthday monies had not been spent... So there was a box. Not on the birthday day, but close enough. With 15 tickets left after the immediate family. (Housemates both had conflicting plans, as Steph is heading to California and Alex had the headache.) Belovedest invited people; between everything and the short notice, the ones who came were two work friends and their families. Coincidentally both of the ones who had hosted them during their breakup with The Evil Ex.
So it was time to leave to get there early. The previously convened family crew were playing a word game and didn't seem likely to stop any time soon. I cut in with a question: "How long do you think it'll take to load my rolly boi in the car?"
That broke up the gaming, in about the way I'd intended. We did the initial ticket and parking pass distribution, then circled back to pick up the clear plastic box of decorations and my phone, which I'd managed to leave on my desk.
("This is what I get for wearing the bra without pockets." "And why did you put on the bra without pockets?" "Looser and more comfortable." "That's fair.")
We dropped off a set of tickets and parking pass with one of Belovedest's favored co-workers who wouldn't get off work until about first pitch, then zipped off to the stadium. We were waved up to the VIP & ADA parking, which was pretty cool. Belovedest got my rolly boi out of the car, and we attempted to distribute the stuff to minimize the amount of things that would have to go through the magnetometers. Fortunately the security line was short at that point in time.
As we approached it, a good-humored guy in a security outfit approached us. "What are you trying to smuggle in in that box?"
The answer was "mostly birthday gear" and then I started naming the other items and the dude clearly had no time for that. We were allowed through.
The party was started by the time we arrived. They'd brought popcorn, and other dishes would be arriving shortly. Belovedest's mom and I set up the table topper I'd found at the dollar store, a You Just Leveled Up Congratulations game themed birthday item. Plus a mylar unicorn centerpiece balloon (to be blown up normally rather than with helium).
I'd already made and frosting-decorated the M&M chocolate chip cookie bar cake. It merely needed candles and SPRINKLES. So, two numeral candles went in. I checked with Belovedest. "Do the number candles count against the total, or not?" "How much do you want to concern the fire marshal?" "Yes." "Okay then!" Ten glitter candles went in, and the appropriate number of ombre pink candles. I sprinkled sprinkles (magenta, pink, gold luster) with a generous hand, then doubled it. I eventually put it up in a tall cupboard, because someone was very interested in it.
One set of our friends have a foster kid now, nearly 6. He's a dead ringer for a lot of the ADHD kids I have met over the years. High energy, very little attention span, and absolutely charming and great fun. Fortunately I had brought balloons, and between blowing them up, popping a few of them by accident and a few by not-accident, and playing with them, he did not fully notice me making the cake vanish for the time being. I'd tossed the balloons in the box on a whim, and that was one of the best ideas I'd had. It occupied a lot of hyperactive energy with games of balloon volleyball. Also balloon soccer, and balloon fencing.
The ball game started, loudly. There were outside seats, but inside was air conditioned and much less loud, with the loudspeaker content coming through a dedicated screen at a sensible volume.
There was a feast on hand! Hot dogs, hamburgers, Caesar salad, macaroni salad. The basic food with the box package was good enough, but then Eldest traded in the wine and beer allowance for more food and drink. This was also a fantastic idea. Soft pretzels and cheese, garlic fries, an enormous bunch of vegetables, and more soda.
Belovedest begged a pen off our main setup person/runner, and happily kept track of the score. I did get a little crocheting done, but there was a lot of Playing With Small Child to be done.
Later into the game, our person gave us a fifteen-minute warning that the hot food was going away. She started into an explanation, but of course as soon as she mentioned it, I understood: the hot food was about to hit the We're Not Going To Guarantee Food Safety After This Point place. I poked my head out and let our bleachers know that it was last call on the meats.
The mascot apparently comes through all the boxes for selfies and such. Loose balloons meant he joined in a game of balloon volleyball. I got a few good shots.
The 7th Inning Stretch would have been the best time to deploy the cake, but I wasn't on it fast enough. I eventually figured we'd better, and lit the candles. The Small Child was enthralled, and wanted to blow them out. No, Small Child. I took it out, and the wind helped Belovedest.
Our runner popped through after the cake was cut, and we offered her some. At the second offer, she conveyed that if we should happen to leave some behind, she'd be able to partake at that point. I stowed a couple slices in a high cupboard and let her know the next time she came through.
Despite playing Carrot Walrus, the small child did not want to eat his vegetables, and that became a Whole Thing. He eventually did get enough vegetable inside him that he was allowed to partake of cookie cake, but I did slip his mom a small container of the sprinkles, to be deployed at a future time of better opportunity, just in case he didn't.
The game ended at a reasonable time. We did take a while to get packed up, and consequently were some of the last out. J forgot her allergy-safe ketchup, so Pops rushed it out to her. Some relatives of the Small Child showed up, and he got some time with them too.
I talked with Belovedest on the way back, and thought about the amount we'd have to save up if we want to do this next year. It wasn't absolute hell on my body, even in the current woeful state. I could sit somewhere comfortable in the up-above, and between the closed box and the good breeze that was going, I'm pretty happy about air safety.
no subject
Though, for me, going to a game is a lot about the sociological experiences of it all - and being in a box I'm not sure how much of them I'd get to witness. Still, totally worth considering.
no subject
We did wind up missing all of the experience in waiting in concession stand lines, and the experience of watching people parading past on errands various. The windows could be opened, and the door propped open, but we didn't do that.