Yup, tis my life.

You know, not to sound egotistical and conceited, but one could take a step back and look and my life and say it's pretty cool. Well, I've got news for you, it aint! I'll admit, however, that it does have its moments. Case in point...



Granted the expression on her face screams "get me away from this dude who tracked me down the hall to take a picture" I still had the gianormous pleasure of meeting Rachael Ray. I absolutely adore her. She has fueled my passion for cooking, among other things. There's just something about her that no matter how perky and annoying she might be, you're just drawn to her. I wanted to beg her for a job with her, even if it meant being one of those people that runs in during the break on 30 minute meals and does some of the cooking. (you know she totally does that) She fascinates me, and I hope someday I can get paid to cook, or go around the country and eat, or eat with celebs.

an aura of history permeates the air

It's not often that we get opportunites in life that provide us with feelings of utter joy and excitement. Don't get me wrong, your average day can bring joy and happiness, but there are few moments in life that elicit a unique response that cannot be gathered elsewhere.

I received an e-mail from a coworker earlier in the week. Someone needed to go to Yankee stadium and record one of the players for an upcoming radio commercial. That person was me. And the person I was to record was Mariano Rivera. As a longtime, non bandwagon, yankee fan, you can imagine the excitement I was feeling... the excitement of getting to meet one of the players face to face, and the excitement of getting to rub it into my yankee fan friends' faces. Yeah, I'm good like that.

So this friday, DAT machine in hand, I hopped on the D train and made my way into the Bronx. I walked out of the subway at 161st street, something familiar from the previous games I've attended, but today was different. Today I wouldnt be going to gate d with ticket in hand. Today I would be going around to the press gate, the entrance for players and men with cameras and special photo ID's. I arrived early, in a professional manner, but almost too early, so I checked out the team store. Shocked at the price inflation, I simply browsed while news of the pope's funeral echoed throughout. I admired the case of authentic signed game day merchandise and was in awe of the price tags that lay beside them. The time was approaching. I returned outside and made my way to the press gate. I walked inside to the lobby of the yankee offices, in the back of my mind thinking, "I wonder if this is where george costanza used to come in" I met up with the clients for the commercial. Soon, after the business BS that I was lucky enough to avoid, we made our way out to the field. This part was unknown to me. I thought we'd be in some room somewhere and he would walk in, do what he had to do in his thick spanish accent, and walk out. But as I was handed my field pass, my heart skipped a beat.

We walked into the empty stadium, empty except for the field staff preparing for the thousands of fans that were to arrive in just a few short hours. Then we walked down to the field. In order to test for good sound, I was told to hop down into the dugout. I tried to hold back the elation, but it was most likely uncovered by the enormous grim attempting to break through my professional demeanor. Yes, not only was I on the field, but also in dugout of the New York Yankees. Within minutes, Mariano emerged from the tunnel, in uniform for his photo shoot. We shook hands and got down to business.

It all moved so fast and was over within a matter of minutes. At the risk of being unprofessional, no picture was taken with him, no autograph was signed. Instead, I removed my camera from my jacket pocket and snapped a simple memory of an empty dugout. A dugout where legends have sat and made decisions that have altered the sports history books.



As it was over, I made my way back outside the stadium, and made my way back to the subway station, reveling in my experience. Did it just happen? I pulled out my camera just to make sure.

As I entered the station, I noticed caution tape surrounding the stairwell of the downtown D. Signal problems. Any other time would have been upsetting, but not today.

And that's my day at yankee stadium.