Last Full Day In Boston

Hey.

SO, as the title suggests, it is indeed my last full day here. I honestly don't really know what to think about it. I'm excited to go home, but as the last 24 hours have gone by, I'm starting to realize that I'm going to miss it!

Yesterday was a pretty regular day. I finished up my packing, decided what I was going to take home, and what to leave. I didn't have much room in my suitcases coming out here to begin with, and with the purchases I made while here, it hasn't been easy packing it all up. Not to mention my sox uniform and jacket. It was pretty hot yesterday, around 90, so I didn't walk to too many places. I know its been 90 in Missouri since May!! Don't worry, I'm prepared to experience it again tomorrow. I went into work yesterday at 5. It was a nice night, and even better because It was supposed to rain. Buuut, it never did! During pregame my boss came up to me and said a few parting words which was nice to hear! He said he wanted me to come back for the playoffs and that he would LOVE to have me back next year! Thats good news right? As for right now, I couldn't give him an answer. I have no clue what my situation will be then, only time will tell :). During the game we always have visitors, mostly friends of the local guys that work with me. In the 6th inning I hear my name, and see people waving for me to come down to the end of the ally. There stood 3 faces that I didn't know!! Ahh, I was like "who are these people, I don't know them..." Come to find out it was a friend of my Aunt Liz's and her daughter and friend. They live in Massachusetts and came in for last nights game. I got a picture with them, chit chatted, and off they went. We did our usual post game duties, and then put the tarp on the field, just in case it rained. I don't think it did though.

This morning I woke up and walked to the Charles River, one of my favorite places here in Boston. Just sat, read my bible and thought about the summer as a whole. What I learned, how I grew up, and how I grew in my relationship with the Lord. I can say it was indeed a fun summer! One that I will never forget. I learned new things in my field, and gained a few references on my way. Got to work at "America's Most Beloved Ballpark" and prep the field for Major League Players. Worked in front of countless sold out crowds, wishing they were in my position, standing on the field at Fenway Park. Saw many firsts: Ben Affleck, Paul McCartney, Phish, Oakland A's, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays. All in all, great experience! I had fun this summer and am so grateful I got to live my dream just a little further. Who knows where the Lord will put me next, and the reasons for why he will put me there. I'm excited as ever to find out though.

While some of these won't make since to you readers (some may), they will make since to any Red Sox groundscrew member. I'm a huge fan of making lists of fun things that go on. Therefore here is a list of sayings, fun times, and inside jokes. Laugh it up Boston.

fist bumps, driscoll...edges, DRM, walking it out at game on, boodie dancing, Wes clean the track, stanchions, (insert name here) BAG OF TURFACE!!, cmon guys pull harder, shut up you...., the rich run, BK Lounge, smashing a burger/chicken sandwhich in 3 bites, pop tarts, huh?, dooooor!, get out the wayyyy, i'm all set, perrrrfect!, play ball! i just wanna play...., heres your lawn tip of the day, dermatologist, pebbles, 1,2,3,4 uno dos tres cuatro, butt smoker, pink, itchy sunburns, mice, the cask, BBG 2.50 burgers, why are we talking like thissss, we're right on the cusp, dip, cobbler flavored dip (no worries I never did it), DRM fist bumps, high fives from big papi in the runway, pulling a tarp over a flooded infied, good vibrations, schmee, subway cookies, home improvement, cash cab, trivial pursuit, heidi, tonights the night--we clean the track, dirty water, papps entrance, Wally, Gentleman.....couple things!, Jacoby Ellllllllsburrry, Grab a scrapper, see me after its folded, pauls pirañas, jesse you look like you just got hit by a train, uneven crew room, small lockers, cutting the grass...by hand, dead people on the field (their ashes), pirates, this is great, oki oki okijima, getting to the Yaz gate without your name being yelled, painting Fenway Green onto a pad, Yawkey Way, bluntman, Phil (File). --2 names given to me this summer. bluntman because they thought I was so quiet because I was high all the time, File--I have no idea why---it caught on more. Oh and Philly Mo Pena by Drew Rountree.

Hope you enjoyed the List and perhaps I'll explain later. Or maybe not. Thanks for reading all summer long. This may or may not be the last blog entry. Not too much to write about tomorrow, maybe about my last game. Ya I'll do that. So you have one more to look forward to!

See some of you, very very soon.

writing from the iMac i wrote on my first day I was here,

Phil