Saturday, December 13, 2008

Help me: Cure my addiction to baseball

Major League Baseball that is. I really don't want to hear about $20 million per year contracts with the economy in the state that it's in. I don't want to hear about franchises asking for public funds to help finish stadiums after dropping $243.5 million on two contracts. I don't even want to hear about my beloved Red Sox spending nearly $200 million to sign free agent Mark Texiera, since that's what it looks like it would take. I'm tired of it all.

But, you see, I've been a baseball fan my whole life, save for a season and a half after the 2001 Red Sox disgusted me to the point of near no return. I find myself checking the web sites ten times a day to see who signed or traded for who. I still check hotel rates and wonder why I even bother seeing as I'm in no mood to drop coin on hotels to see back to back games on two weekends in Baltimore. The Sox are coming to DC this coming June but I haven't even looked at when Nationals tickets go on sale. Yet I still check sites and follow the sport day to day, especially in the summer. Even though I'm tired of it.

I want you all to help me cure my addiction, because I am pretty much fed up with the whole baseball spectacle. I simply cannot stress over sporting events anymore, there are too many things that are too much more important than life. But I know come April, everytime I'm on line I'll check scores and mlb.com GameTracker. While I'll still wear the Sox cap I'm getting for Christmas, I want to stop following everything more than very casually. I've reached the point where it's more stressful and aggravating than it is fun.

What should I do to wean myself off baseball? I already have my running on Tuesday / Saturday and sometimes Thursday, spin classes on Monday and sometimes Thursday, not to mention my hiking forays. And I need to start studying for my MCSA and then CISSP after the new year. All of this takes time, but I'm looking for some honest suggestions on what other things I can add to my activity list. I'd love to hit all of these museums but they're not open during the day. Maybe I should go to Politics and Prose and other haunts. But I'm trying to wean myself off of politics too. When it gets too hot to do too much outside, I'd like to think I'd spend my weeknight time studying, but I need as many ideas as possible.

I'm tired of millionaire contracts when most of America is worried about where their next check is coming from. But old habits are hard to break. So, throw some ideas out for me. In other news, I haven't used the Expresso Bike in two weeks, I'll use it tomorrow morning at the gym. Then it's go pickup my fleece for The Celtic Soltice 5 mile race on Saturday, then Trader Joe's to pick up stuff for a holiday party. The key is to keep my weekends that busy in 2009.

2 comments:

Bill-DC said...

Naah, you can't give it up despite the outrageous $$$ being doled out. I get freebies to a few ball games at Nats Park and I'll keep you in mind. I'll go to my three or four MLB games a year. I love it too much

That said, I'm bringing Benjamin to see the Nationals...the Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge. It's a 30-35 minute drive, tix are cheap, it's kid friendly and if we want to leave early, we'll just hop in the car. Too many headaches (20-25 minute drive to Vienna Metro, 30 minute subway ride to Gallery Place to transfer to the Green line) to bring him at age three to Nats park. Minor leagues is the way to go.

If he develops an appreciation for the game as he gets older, then we'll go to MLB.

PS-No way the Nats get Tex.

maryjanejeff said...

Very much appreciated. I won't give it up entirely, just won't follow it day to day anymore. It'll take off a bit of stress. I think you're right about the Potomac thing for Benjamin. A lot easier on both of you.