Day 2, 2013: Day 2 - Major League Trip

DATE:  Monday. September 2, 2013. Day 2
LOCATION: Majestic Hotel in Chicago.

I had a pretty good night of sleep considering it was the first time I had slept with my son in probably 40 - 45 years. (He is 52 now.)  John and Brad were still sleeping so I put on my walking clothes, did my doctor ordered physical therapy (for the bursitis in my right hip), did a few yoga stretches and took off for Wrigley Field. It was less than a mile and I easily found my way. I scouted out the Captain Morgan Bar and Grill located outside but connected to the left field corner of Wrigley. I checked out some of the bronze statues of former Cub greats. Believe it or not there really are some. The most famous of course is Ernie, (Let's play two), Banks. Some others were Billy (Sweet Swinging) Williams and Gabby Hartnet plus many others.

Heading back to the Majestic Hotel I got lost. I walked by a laundromat. I was grateful that there was a lady sitting outside waiting for her clothes to dry and talking on her cell phone. She looked at me and I told her I needed help, I'm lost. I told her I wanted to get back to the Majestic Hotel - but she didn't know where it was either. So she called the Majestic for me and told the guy on duty where we were. He gave her directions and away I went. But not before thanking her and wishing her a good day.

John and Brad were all showered and ready to go when I returned. I took a quick shower and we all had breakfast at the hotel - it was a full breakfast. At 10:15, the three of us walked up to Wrigley - we sat outside at the Captain Morgan Bar and Grill on Addison Street. Our server was a cute young gal named Amber - she  had a bubbly personality and had kind of a pudgy bottom. She said she wasn't going to spend the winter in Chicago - too cold - she was going to Houston, Texas to spend the winter with her boyfriend. We got 20 ounce Bud Light draws for $8.00 - not a bad price.
The game was at 1 PM - Cubs lost to the Marlins by a score of 4-3.

After the game we met one of Brad's former colleagues at the captain Morgan Bar. . His name is Jesse Rowell - his wife is Liz and their two kids are Nolan, age 5, and Eli, age 1. Eli kept us entertained by finding things to eat off the concrete. Liz and the kids had to leave so Jesse took us down the street to the famous Murphy's Bar which is located on Waveland and Sheffield and  right across the street from the famous Harry Caray statue. Murphy's is also right next to the rooftop seating we see on TV when watching the Cubs.

When I first met Jesse at Captain Morgan's he kind of disgustedly looked at the cap I was wearing. I was wearing my Orange Bowl cap from 2010 when we beat Georgia Tech. So why did he look rather disgusted - because he graduated from Georgia Tech and had watched the game. He did not have good memories of that game - he told me so.

For supper we went to a Mexican Restaurant. Our server was Javanna, an immigrant from Croatia. She spoke perfect English and had a great personality. She was an accomplished piano player and wanted to have a career in the music field.

We saw ten MLB stadiums and obviously Wrigley is the oldest and the least fan friendly. It was built around 1914 so that explains a lot. There was no Americans With Disabilities Act at that time. The concourses are narrow and hard to maneuver. Also the toilet situation is not the most accommodating compared to the other nine. They finally have made some improvements with potties on the upper deck. We used to have to walk down ramps to the first floor in order to take a pee (and nearly pee in your pants on the way.) That's why, when I used to go to Cub games 10-15 years ago, I would never drink a beer at Wrigley because I was afraid I wouldn't make it in time.