snobby

Every once in awhile I learn something new about myself. Something that's always been there, but has been overlooked or hidden. Tonight I discovered that I'm a snob. Not a regular, full time snob, but a more specific snob. I'm a Royals snob.

I thought it would be a great idea for Adam and I to go to a Royals game tonight. The kids are in Maryville, it's Buck Night ($1 peanuts, soda, and hot dogs), and since it's Friday it's also fireworks night. We've been to about 5 games this season and everyone of them has been enjoyable... not so much the case tonight.

When I was a kid Dad would take us to a few Royals games a year. He usually got tickets from work so year after year we would sit in the same seats. Twelve rows behind 3rd base. The seats were amazing; especially when there was a fight or the 3rd base player started yelling at the feisty crowd.

Being a kid I was always a little bummed that we didn't get to ride the giant escalator up to the top level. Why wouldn't my dad gets seats up there so we could ride on that cool stairway??? Once I got older I realized that the high seats were the "bad" seats. I figured there were only 5 reasons you would sit up there:
1. You had free tickets.
2. You had a bunch of kids.
3. You were in college.
4. You were part of the Boys or Girls Club of America on a field trip.
5. I forget number five.

I had lived my whole life without going "up there." Not that I tried to avoid it, it just worked out that way.

Tonight we went to the game without tickets and found that it was mostly sold out. Adam asked me where I wanted to sit and in my easy-going spirit I said "wherever." Needless to say I finally got to ride "the stairway." I was a little excited at first; new experience and all. But then we got to our section and started our hike. Our seats were five rows from the top. I turned around and about fell over from my dizziness. Was Adam kidding me? You can barely see the players. Who in their right mind would sit up here? Adam read my face like a book. I instantly got the "What?" question. As if he didn't know. I sat down and tried to hide my utter disgust, but it was too hard. My "snob" was out and there was nothing I could do about it.

I asked Adam what team we were because I couldn't tell the uniform colors from this height, they looked the same. I asked if he had a jacket because the mountain breeze was too chilly. I told him how nice it was that we wouldn't have to look up to see the fireworks. I also told him how nice it was that we could watch the game AND look at all the birds flying around, kind of like watching ESPN and the Animal Channel at the same time. It wasn't long till I realized we were also watching COPS. The lady sitting in front of me was frightening. I couldn't get a good read on her. I think it was her hairdo that confused me - business in front party in back. Her "party" was hanging on my legs when I brought up my COPS comment. I thought it was a fitting observation. Adam and I argued a bit as he really wanted to go home rather than put up with my attitude. I refused.

The night got worse before it got better. I was so excited about Buck night, I was planning to fill up on hot dogs and peanuts. Sadly, in our mountain seats, neither one of us wanted to go get any food. The walk back up the steps was a real bitch. So, we waited for the hot dog guy, ...girl, we don't really know what she/he was. Four times the hot dog "person" came up our row. The first three times she/he ran out of dogs and had to go back. Finally, 4 innings in, we got our hot dogs. Unfortunately there was no soda guy/girl. We sat through 7 inning never drinking anything. Writing this makes me realize that we're both stupid-stubborn. We broke down in the 8th inning and went to get drinks - 4 sodas and a beer. They were all gone 10 minutes later.

We left after we watched a little bit more of the game from some "closer" (still on the top level) seats.

No fireworks tonight. The moment had passed.

I learned a lot tonight. I AM a Royals snob. Now that Adam and I both know that, we'll be better prepared next time. Maybe picking a movie over the Animal Channel/COPS combo.

To be fair, this is really my dad's fault, right?:)