Day 19 – Welcome to Mannywood

Our day started in quite a traditional fashion but certainly didn’t finish that way. I woke up early, duded up in my brand new west coast business attire and headed off to a couple of business meetings. Time to bring some balance into my life and to get back to some sort of reality – every day can’t be Saturday can it Murph? Meanwhile, Debbi, Jerri and the kids headed off to Malibu and for fun in a park and some California rays.

Since the kids enjoyed Day 1 at the Pirates game – anyone remember that post? – we decided a trip to a Dodger game, with Brian, Jerri & Libby (world's best Woodland Hills hosts) at Chavez Ravine may be fun. To enhance our experience we decided to sit in Mannywood, a special section in left field close to famed outfielder Manny Ramirez. Doing so enhanced our chances for a BWG – that’s LA talk for a “brush with greatness” or celebrity sighting. Manny is eclectic and certainly unique and mothers can envy him for his laid back approach (you only live life once people!!) but likewise don’t want their daughters anywhere near him unless his billfold is falling out of his pocket.

They say when in Rome do as the Romans, so the kids got some dreadlocks, Manny dew rags and Mannywood shirts to get into the right frame of mind. We got our Dodger dogs and settled into our seats eight rows off the field but no where near the live game action. I couldn’t see squat and was dialing Dr.G to see if he could bump Mrs. Kingston so I could get laser surgery immediately upon return. The Dodgers put up a quick four spot in the first inning and Manny was playing up to the crowd and throwing balls into the stands every inning after warm ups. The crowd around us was sketchy and very LA like but being a Fordham grad I fit right in. Right in front of us was a LA movie dude and his family sporting multiple tats – an 09’ Spicoli version – who had a billfold that very few could match. Beer here, tequila there and the party began to flow.

Suddenly, in the 5th, a west coast Cmac type jumped out of the stands and ran up to Manny in admiration. He zigged while the cops zagged and made LA’s finest look like keystone cops chasing him all around. All of a sudden the rodeo broke out and he got horse collared and driven forcefully into the outfield turf. Well the Dodgers, who have been struggling of late, got some frustration out and scored 17 runs which they haven’t done since 1979. Soon tensions began to boil as Manny got plunked after hitting a home run the at bat before. Joe Torre pulled Manny and inserted Juan Pierre. Well Juan heard Debbi’s scream in the 8th inning warm up and threw a bullet right at her. Bacio’s softball team would have been proud and she stretched out her arms waiting for the ball to hit her phantom mitt. True to Bacio form, the ball skidded by as Spicoli’s squeeze, with a major headlamp on her finger, deflected the ball right behind us. Chico picked it up and we were out of luck. The girl’s hand was red and swelling so I suppose it was ok. We need Debbi to help with the driving as we will be on the road again soon logging some heavy mileage.

The fireworks were not over as the Dodger pitcher, up 17 to 4 with two outs in the 9th, threw at and hit the Brewers best player Prince Fielder. Once the game ended, we saw 10 cops leave their field patrol and rush towards the dugout leaving the LA gang bangers free to rumble. Apparently, Mr. Fielder had a fit and charged the Dodger’s dugout ready to even the score.

Oh yeah, it was a full moon. Like, no wonder…

Keep on keepin’ on,

Cdog