Kaori in the City 2 - New York Yankees

Finally!  I no longer feel like the last person in NYC to visit the new Yankee stadium.  We realized yesterday that the Yankees had 2 home games left before hitting the road.  If we didn't catch one of the two remaining home games they wouldn't be back in NY before Kaori returns to Japan.  So at 11 am, we jumped up to go see the Bronx Bombers beat up on the Texas Rangers.

We drove down to 138th street and then took the 4 train up to the stadium.  We had to get tickets off of a scalper so we ran around for 10 minutes trying to finagle the best deal possible since we were already 15 minutes late.  We managed to get a deal we were comfortable with and headed for  the stadium.

Coming off of the train, I was first greeted by the remaining rubble of the old stadium.  I couldn't really believe my eyes seeing it up close.  It gave me that eerie Ground Zero feeling.  I've been on the fence about whether destroying the old stadium was really justified or not.  Once I entered the new one though, I was too blinded by the "bling" to even care anymore.  There is so much history in the old Yankee stadium but the new one is sure to build it's own legacy.

The new stadium is REALLY nice.  The views are incredible, the food is a lot better and that giant screen is just awe inspiring.  Prices are still sky high, but there's nothing like taking in a baseball game with friends and family.  If you haven't been yet, I hope this blog post inspires you to do so in the very near future.

We sat up on the terrace level and although it was too cold up there for my tastes, I'm glad we did sit there.  The view up there is just amazing.  You really get the full gist of how grand this stadium is. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let Kaori sum the day and this post up:

Kaori in the City

My friend Kaori made the long journey from Japan to vacation in NY on the 14th.  For two weeks I intend to rip and run through the city with her.  I will document as much as is relevant here so be sure to come back regularly and look for KITC posts.

I first met Kaori 10 or 11 years ago.  She worked as a bar hop for my wife and me in Japan.  She was a "country bumpkin" by Japan's standards then.  We used to laugh at how innocent and naive she was at the time.  Now she's all grown up but still has a heart of gold.  She loves to laugh and joke and spending 5 minutes with her would light up your week.

Last night we hit 123 Burger.  After downing a few sliders and some fries, I introduced her to game of Beer Pong.  She took an L at my hands and then got put on her ass by some shots of "Panty Droppers" while waiting for her next turn.  My boy Riddle Fontaine and I defended our Beer Pong crown 4 times before calling it quits on the night. 

The Speed of Life

New York will kill you.  Literally and/or figuratively.

I spent about 8 years living overseas.  Japan to be specific.  That in and of itself is pretty mind altering but I went there as a "kid" and I developed into a man.   There are so many lessons and ideas that I learned in my time there as I sought to discover who I am.  Many trials and tribulations I endured that further shaped my approach to life and my character.  Rather than get into an autobiography, I'll focus on a key theme:

The Speed of Life

I learned to live life slowly in Japan.  The culture is much about steady pace and ceremony.  A nice slow bath beats a standing shower any day of the week.  Hot springs, making and drinking green tea, yakiniku, etc.  It's all about the experience.  Connecting with whatever thing it is you're doing.  Even in Tokyo where it's a notoriously busy and stressful work environment, there's always time to slow down.  Even the busiest of Tokyo business professionals slow it down after work with coworkers to have a drink (too much even) and chat.  Then it's back home for a soak, a home cooked meal and off to bed.

In stark contrast, big city living in the US is a sprint to one's grave.  Especially here in New York City.  Hustle and bustle, get up and go, every minute of every day or perish.  For many, it's just that excitement that is attractive about New York.  For me, it's become a headache and heartache.  I've come to the realization that New York is for the rich and/or the single.

Long story short, it's imperative that one take care of one's mental health in this city.   You can live your dreams here or be consumed and doomed by them.