I had free tickets for a Phillys game today...a nice 1pm game. The day starts off rainy, but we check the radar, and it looks like it will clear up by then. So we pack a bag o stuff and head off to PA. Now, it's a one hour drive from here to there,..so I leave two hours early,..just to be sure that even with traffic, I'm there on time.

I have two things to say about Philadelphia...Number One - They have the worst marked roads of any city in the world. You think there might be a sign that says "Bridge - This way" or "Stadium - This way" Naw..that would be too easy. Heck, you can see the bridge, right,..just head towards it. Oh..well no, you were supposed to exit back there. Just turn here,..it might lead you back there, or, it might take you on a road that has no exits until you're in the middle of the city. Hey, it's pot luck, anything goes for the Phillites..! Ok..95 is this way..stay right,..stay left..stay right NO left HERE, oh..you missed it. Don't worry, next exit - 10 miles.

Number Two - They have the worst traffic management of any city in the world. We get to the stadium at 12:26...and proceed to sit in a traffic jam for the parking lot until 1:00. I saw police officers. I saw lots of them. They saw us too. They saw us sit still. They sat still too. Lots of them. Sitting..there..watching..us..sit there.

The sky cleared, the sun came out, we baked in the grandstand but were happy there wasn't any rain. We were able to sneak from the upper decks down to some great seats behind third base. My nose burned red. The Phillys feel behind early in the game, and rallied in the 9th..but still feel two runs short of a win. The game concluded. We sat, figured we'd wait awhile,..let the traffic going out get out, then leave at our leisure. It worked. We left at our leisure. (After looking for the car for ten extra minutes) (It moved itself while we were inside, you know how that is). I turn down the road and head for the highway.

I look at my watch..it's 4:55. 4:55 - and we are about to venture out onto the highway..along with 1 million working Phillites. We hit traffic at the first light, then the second, then the third, then the fourth, then the fifth, then the sixth. It's 5:15. We finally get over the Ben Franklin bridge at 5:35. Then we hit the traffic in Camden, then in Cherry Hill, then in Marlton...it's 6:20. Finally, we're up to 55, cruising towards home..so let's throw in a truck ahead of me, going 45...on a single lane highway,..with no passing zone..ever. I mentioned to the Lord that if he ever wanted to really put me in hell, this was what he should have in mind.

The words "This is a freakin' Nightmare" passed my lips a total of fifty times today, I'm sure. We arrived home at 7:20. My head is pounding, revenge for the hours of torment I put it through. My husband greets me "Did you have a good time"? The kids shout YES! "Good" he says..."Cause I got some more free tickets...for next week!" Eh..but this time it's a night game...7pm..how bad could it be, right?

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), June 29, 2000

Answers

Hi kritter, sorry to hear about your 'interesting' day. Sheesh! I wanted to let you know that the Michaels' family took a ride to the state aquarium (in Camden) - right by the Ben Franklin bridge. We tossed around the idea of driving across the river to Philly but by the time we finished 'doing' the aquarium and getting a bite to eat it was time to start heading back. Besides, it was really busy by the waterfront due to all of the 'Tall Ships'. If you go back that way and things get too crazy, consider staying on our side on the river and going to the aquarium instead! They are also handing out free tickets for a 'revisit' in the fall/winter since they are doing some major renovations now :)

-- (thesonofdust@yahoo.com), June 30, 2000.

I did see a massive battleship of some kind along the water front, but I didn't see the big ships. The battleship was cool though..I would definately like to go back and check it out. I think they give tours, but I can't remember exactly what I heard..been searching for some kind of web site on it.

The last time I was in Philly was to see Les Mis, and we went on a Saturday. It was easy in and easy out, and I had a great time. (Didn't even get lost!) I just know now not to get stuck in that city on a weekday around 5pm..that's all.

Are you in NJ? Where abouts?

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), June 30, 2000.

I'm in the Northwest part of New Jersey - lakes and woods and mountains, though what we call a 'mountain' really is just an overgrown hill compared to the Rockies or even Shenandoah!

This time of year we go down the shore a lot. All of us like the beach, and I always enjoy fishing for striped bass and fluke. Last week I saw a 5 or 6 foot sandbar shark feeding not far off the beach (no swimmers or surfers were in the water at the time thank God!), also saw a pod of bottlenose dolphin, and a couple flocks of pelicans too. The water is really clean, almost green in the sunlight. Maybe you and I have seen each other at the beach and never even knew it! Anyway, the email is real if you ever want to say hello.

-- Rob Michaels (thesonofdust@yahoo.com), June 30, 2000.

(((Kritter)))

What a day!

You coulda reactivated the rant thread with this one!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), July 01, 2000.

We're refinancing....does that pay the rant thread?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), July 01, 2000.