Taking a Leave of Absence.
Hello friends, I just wanted to take the time to let you know that I will be unable to blog productively for three weeks. Normally it takes me a good two hours to write a good one, and I’ll barely have time.
This leave of absence is not because I failed a drug test. I actually had my yearly physical this past week, and I am all healthy. No Performance Enhancing Drugs over here. Manny and A-Rod, on the other hand, were not as lucky.
The reason behind this leave of absence is due to a summer program that I have attended the past three years: The Great Books Summer Program. I will be out at Stanford University reading some of the greatest, most obscure literature that one can imagine. I have attended the program at both Stanford University and Amherst college, and it has been a significant part of my life ever since I attended. Even though it is only for a short time period, I consider the friends I have made there to be some of my best friends.
This program has always served as a huge inspiration for me. The people who work there are all genuinely kind human beings who tell me that if I’m going to dream at all, I need to dream big. My counselor last year, Kyle LeBell (who is going to Israel this summer to become a rabbi) told me that “I should get lost so I can find myself”.
When I’m out there in Stanford, it’s like I’m in my own little bubble– separated from the outside world for three, glorious weeks. I pretty much experience a catharsis that renders me overly skeptical and miserable upon my return. My home away from home:
I am actually separated from my baseball bubble whilst in this summer bubble. I do not have access to a computer for a good three hours to watch a baseball game. While my father is able to send me some updates, it still is not the same.
That means I won’t be seeing Jacoby’s out-of-this-world catches. No Pedroia scampering around the infield and hitting balls that are anywhere over the plate. No ‘Papi’ chants after he hits a home run. No Youuuuuuukilis/Drew back-to-back hits. No Jason Bay clutch, clutch, CLUTH hitting. No Jason Varitek wisdom. No double-taking at Mike Lowell’s plays at third base. I won’t be able to laugh/curse Nick Green at the same time for his base running skills, and I won’t be able to cringe when Julio Lugo gets a ground ball. I will probably miss Jed Lowrie’s return, as well as Jerry Remy’s. I will miss Eck’s language, and I will miss John Smoltz’s start. I need to stop this list.
I regret not being able to get up my Yankees vs Red Sox blog in time too. I’ll just give you some highlights.
I was able to go on a tour of Fenway Park thanks to some very kind people. I was on the field during batting practice, and I was ridiculously close to the Yankees as they started warming up.
Can you imagine the thoughts running through my mind as people like Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez were within arms reach? Jail time doesn’t look too good on a resume though.
I met a couple of reporters, I’m sure you know who they are. They were very kind.
I went back up to the Green Monster, the view was breathtaking, as usual (and by usual, I mean the second time)
I got a picture with the metaphorical Fisk pole, and a picture of the actual Fisk pole.
I was a kid in a candy store walking through the Red Sox Hall of Fame. I especially loved the ‘Greatest Moments’ section.
I also saw the view from right field, and the new section that was added (under the Cumberland Farms sign).
The game itself was glorious, but the weather wasn’t as cooperative. Luckily, a rain delay never ensued. I was soaked to the bone, and so was all my stuff, but you guys know me during rain delays.
I played with some of the modes on my camera, and I took some pretty cool pictures. The people behind me actually asked if I was a reporter. I told them I was up and coming.
Seeing a game live is always a treat for me, to say the least. What was even more of a treat was Big Papi’s home run! Manny Delcarmen didn’t help our cause too much, and I feared I would be seeing a loss. But the offense came through, and treated me to a win.
I wish you all a nice three and a half weeks, and you can keep up with me on Twitter. I figured out I can send texts, so I’ll let you all know what I’m doing.
The Future Blog of the Red Sox 
Elizabeth,
And what great highlights those were! That is some special tour you took! Good luck in Stanford!
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Elizabeth – have a wonderful time! We’ll keep the faith for you!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Great pictures Elizabeth!! Hope you have a great time out there!!
Emily
http://deconstructingthoughts.mlblogs.com/
The great books summer program sounds like so much fun. I wish they had something like that where I went to high school, I would’ve loved to participate. Have fun at Stanford!-Erinhttp://plunking-gomez.mlblogs.com
Wow, I hope you have a great time for the next few weeks!! That sounds pretty cool. We’ll miss you. Check out my blog’s birthday entry!!
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
Enjoy Stanford. My girlfriend is a research graduate in the developmental biology department there. Maybe you should sneak out to AT&T Park and catch a Giants game if you get the chance? You can easily take the Caltrain from Palo Alto right to the ballpark near the San Francisco 4th & King station. It’s always a wonderful place to watch a ballgame!
Twins Limey
Well, since I have no idea how to Twitter, or Tweet, or whatever the verb form is, I’ll have to wait for your next post to see what you’ve been doing. Hope you have a great time – sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you!
Sue
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts
have fun. great pics from the fenway trip
http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com
Cool! Have fun… wish I had an opportunity like that when I was your age. Still, I look forward to reading about it when you get back.
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
Congrats on #5! Hope the trip is going well!
Julia
http://werbiefitz.mlblogs.com/
Hey, Elizabeth …
Enjoy your trip !!! … It sounds like a great way to spend three weeks in the beginning of the summer !!! … I look forward to your next post when you return from your wonderful experience, like you said, in your above post, “reading some of the greatest, most obscure literature that one can imagine” !!! … That truly sounds “awesome” !!!
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Take care, Elizabeth; and, “Congratulations” on your #5 ranking on the June, 2009, Fans Mlblogs Leader’s List !!!
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Best Wishes …
— Jimmy 27NYY Curran, “BY&L”
— http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/
Have a great time and I look forward to you coming back and writing more!
John
Baseballs 4 MADD – MLBallhawk
http://ballhawk.mlblogs.com
Have fun at the book camp.
-Dillon
http://dillonm.mlblogs.com
Have fun at camp!! Love the pictures by the way, and when you come back to the baseball world, there will be a lot of reading to do then!! I am going to a game on Thursday, and I hope to have uploaded pictures onto my blog by the weekend, so maybe, you can see Jacoby’s amazing catches and Brad Penny heating up Fenway Park. And congratulations on your #5 spot in the June 2009 update. Keep blogging!!
-Holly
http://irishsoxkid19.mlblogs.com
The didn’t have the Monster seats when I went to Fenway as a kid. Very cool view! Hope that you are having a great summer, equally as great as your Red Sox so far.
http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/