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It's Christmas at Fenway for everyone. But me. Again.

3 years running, I've failed to secure tickets to any game. Each December I warm the old computer up and set out to the Red Sox website for a chance to purchase tickets or Sox Pax for the next season's games. And each year the only landscape for me to take in is the countdown timer to the next refresh. 30... 29... 28... I wait. 27... 26... 25... Why can't I get through, why? 24... 23... 22... it's getting closer. Do I have time for the loo? 21... 20... 19... I just want some tickets, since my son has never been. 18... 17... 16.... This is just sickening. 15...14... 13... Better than half way now. I hope it doesn't refresh again. 12... 11... 10... My AMEX is ready for spending. 9... 8... 7... My pupils widen and my skin tensens. 6... 5... 4... I can feel an itch in my right index (aka clicking) finger. 3... 2... 1... THIS IS IT!

But no. Like has happened so many times over so many hours before, it refreshes. I don't actually believe at this point that the Red Sox are actually selling tickets. I think they have a crazed .NET programmer wanting to show the world how good he is at writing countdown timer code. OK jackass. You're good. So are the 40,000 other .NET programmers that ever cracked a Programming for Dummies book. Hello world? I know in a few weeks these tickets will show up on EBay at 3 times their already inflated price. Goody. After paying $40 for parking, $20 in gas and tolls, $50 in beer and food, I get to pay $300 for 3 "slightly obstructed" seats in the flight path of Logan. All in all a great first ball game experience for a 3 year old.

I do hope that someday John Henry and company will find a way for a family to easily enjoy an afternoon at Fenway. I suppose for the same cost I could see what it'd be like watching the Blue Jays, eh?

Sincerely,
Matt Deres
14 December 2008