With 2 Years on the Table, I Arrive in Colorado

Yesterday, after finding out as many Met fans did that a 2-year offer to R.A. has been extended, my dad and I trekked through Missouri and Kansas on our way to Denver to settle him out here with my big sis and his grandkids for the winter. He has called it "The Great Western Trek." First, however, with the night getting late and the family in the Mile-High City a little sick and ready for bed, we crashed for the evening around 10 miles west of the Kansas/Colorado border in Burlington, CO.

I don't know why it takes a map to remind me that Colorado is not as west as I thought, but I'm trying to finally archive in my memory its just-left-of-the-Mid-West location.

I wasn't able to get many photos of Missouri since I was driving, though my dad was able to snap a photo of Wright City, MO, for me. We passed towns like Sweet Springs, Concordia and Bates City in Missouri, and Abilene, Wakeeney...and Manhattan...in Kansas. In the passenger's seat, I was able to get many photos of the state. It's devoid of color, but I find the landscape very interesting. Anyway, I'd like to share a bunch of them with you today. The night before, as I set my eyes on St. Louis for the very first time, I was so concerned with taking a photo for uploading that I failed to multi-task with my actual camera. I did a much better job of juggling both as I went across Kansas. We didn't have the time on this trip to dawdle that much, but I look forward to visiting this part of the country much more thoroughly in the future.

What does any of this have to do with the Mets?

Nothing, other than the fact I am wearing my Mets hat and I generally have the Mets on my mind.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Sunday, and that whatever football team you're rooting for wins (unless they're playing the Jets (oh, nice, we're 4-6 now. I could go on a Jets rant but I'll save that for another time)...or it's Dallas...or generally any other Eastern Division team, AFC or NFC.)

(I'll probably be in Denver by the time this post is up, as I am working on it while traveling through Broncos territory.)

While scanning the radio in these states, there were a serious amount of modern country stations, understandably. I was in a country mindset because of the surroundings, but I am not all that into the modern country sound. I'm reeaal into Outlaw Country (Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams, Jr. Merle Haggard, etc.) and Classic Country (Hank Williams, The Wilburn Brothers, Roy Acuff, etc.) It can be a polarizing genre of music, for sure, but now that I can post on my computer again, I only feel it fitting that I get back to embedding a song per post (relatively) and post some country I wish I heard while traveling through the landscape seen below. I mean, we have classic rock stations. Why not more classic country stations?

LET'S. GO. METS.

Kaufman Stadium

Kansas City

One of the coolest Silo's I've ever seen

A wind farm is a good use of the Kansas plains, and an absolute visual spectacle

Next Year's Steak

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Hearing 'bout the Fish as We Travel Through the Land

My dad and I finally hit the road to 'Bama and Denver yesterday. First, we had to come back into the city for a doctor's appointment of his, and from there we ventured down to Northern Virginia, to see my aunt and my uncle, who is recovering from a stroke. He is making great progress, but it is still hard to see him in that condition. The visit certainly got him excited, and his energy level was fantastic. We crashed there for a couple hours, then got up in the middle of the night and kept driving the long journey down to the South. We are passing through Tennessee now, and should arrive in Birmingham sometime in the afternoon.

Just in time for a nap, because my sleep schedule is really out of whack. (Didn't mean for that to rhyme, BUT I am a poet...and I do know it.)

Anyway, sometime last night, this is how I found out about the newest Marlin fiasco, via a few Ted's Quotes (he's regularly the one to break news to me, as he did when Reyes Grew Fins):

Ted: Yo, the Marlins.

Me: What

Ted: They just traded...everyone
Everyone but Stanton
To the Jays
Reyes, Johnson, burrhle, bonofacio, buck

Me: Holy. For what?

Ted: That's so crazy. I'd be super pissed if I was Reyes. And no free agent will ever sign there again
Yunnel Escobar and two big prospects

Me: I knew Reyes would get traded. Didn't think it would be so quick.

Ted: Now he's stuck in Toronto

Sam: Which might not be bad
Not weather wise, though

Ted: I mean your an FA you get to pick where you want to play / live and then they turn around and screw you and lock you down in Toronto for what 4 or 5 more years
What a total shit organization
Apparently mike Stanton is angry tweeting right now


Yeah, they really suck. As all that spending was occurring last offseason, we all knew it wouldn't work, but I don't think any of us could have predicted the fire sale would happen so quickly. I figured Reyes would be a Yankee in 2 or 3 years when Jeter moved to the outfield or something. Yeah, don't think that's gonna happen now.

And I'm kinda sad to have him gone out of the division. I had grown attached to his role as a divisional rival and villain, but that's something I'll get more into over at Rising Apple later.

Anyway, I've got to take over driving for a little. Looking forward to the Cy Young Award announcements later, regardless of who wins (though I do have a feeling R.A. will take it.) It will be nice to have the 2012 season that much more in the rearview mirror.

And one last note, though I do believe we should all have perspective and not complain about #FirstWorldProblems...

This Blogger App sucks.

But at least I ate this morning.

It still sucks, though.


LET'S. GO. METS.

(Random Road Trip Photo)

Hittin' the Road from Upstate as our "Team is Broke."

I'm sorry, but isn't this the same news we found out when the Wilpons found out that $700 million they thought they had they actually didn't? Why is this breaking news? Because the idea they can't get a deal done with their two most popular players (one who became one in 6 less years than the other) is hanging in the balance.

This "news" hits as I help ready my dad to transfer his life to Denver, where my sis lives. He has just been approved for disability retirement, and Veterans Disability Retirement. For at least till next summer, my dad will help out with his grandkids, enjoying life in a nice town they call the Mile High City as we pay him back for his service to us and his country. To get there, we opt to drive. First, we will take a journey down the east coast and in, to Alabaster, AL, to visit the youngest of the three sis's on my dad's side. She has a newborn boy, not mention two other nephews (yeah, yeah. I'm Uncle Sam.) FROM THERE, we will drive to Denver in either 24 hours, or 12 and 12. Will be quite the adventure.

Meanwhile, here at the upstate house, my Wifi is not working. I am typing this for the first time on my new iPhone, on the Blogger App. I'm pretty sure the Courier New Screenplay-type font I want is not being used. I'm pretty Effin' pissed off (this is what our Twitter brethren would call #FirstWorldProblems.)

Anyway, as I venture out into the Wild American Yonder (with working wifi) I have a screenplay to write, a couple screenplays to revise, and some Mets stuff to write about, including the 2nd part of my April Denver trip. It is only fitting that the 2nd chapter of the Mile High journey get posted as I hit the road for that Colorado town. (Because of my no wifi I cannot link Mile High Mr. Met Pt. 1 to you. If you have not read it, it can be found in the links to your right. If you have read it, read it again, please.)

I also implore help from you all. I mentioned this on Twitter some days ago, but I now mention it to the Met fans who read these posts. I would like to interview Met fans this offseason and into next year on their Fandom on camera. Every aspect of it. I appreciate those who retweeted this request (I know them as @Sharklady2, @petemc1969, and @jimbojoker38) and those who have already agreed to the request (like Greg Prince and all his NY Baseball Giant buddies.) Anyone who would like to help me explore the human sports psyche via your Met fandom, please contact me, and let your friends know as well. I will do my best to reach out to many of you, but please, reach out to me first.

That's it for tonight. Thanks for tunin' in. (Aw, man. I can't put the song I wanted to put in the post from the Pandora that is playing on my iPhone as I type this on my iPhone. #FirstWorldProblems suck.)

(If this IS the font I want, I apologize to the makers of this app. Otherwise, get to work.)

HAPPY VETERANS DAY.

LET'S. GO. METS.