#1223 tourist or traveler and Derek Jeter

I've got a two-part post tonight! First part:

I like this picture and I like the quote. I think it's pretty accurate. I do not understand people who tell me they went somewhere but don't know where they went. For example, one time I was having a pedicure prior to a trip. Of course I was talking to the girl about my trip and she said she had just come back from the Dominican Republic. She had gone there with her boyfriend and his family. I got all excited because I really like the DR, so I asked her what part of the island she had been to. She looked at me, kind of confused, and said she didn't know. What? She said they had been at a resort. I asked if she remember the name or the resort company. I even named a couple. Was it Iberostar? Gran Bahia Principe? Riu? She didn't know. I asked if she was on the Caribbean side of the island or the Atlantic side. All I got was a blank stare. I stopped talking after that.

I don't really know if I fully understand the second part of the quote, about travelers not knowing where they are going, but I rationalize it to fit us. When we start talking about going on vacation, we usually do not have a clear destination in mind. There are so many places we want to see that we typically have a list of places and a budget and we start narrowing down the options. I don't know if that's what Paul Theroux is talking about, but that's how I interpret it.

Tonight I did some pre-packing. I got out my clothes that I'm taking and made sure I had everything I wanted. Tomorrow my plan is to gather my toiletries like sunscreen and shampoo and stuff like that. I'm already starting to imagine the sweet tropical winds on my skin and how that first cold beer is going to taste when I've got my toes in the water, ass in the sand. (Zac Brown Band reference!)

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Second part of post:

Tonight was the Major League Baseball All-Star game. I watched the first inning, then the last few innings. I thought Idina Menzel killed it on the national anthem. She's so great.

Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees is retiring after this season. He started playing for the Yankees in 1995 and so was part of their World Series championships in the late 90s. He was my nemesis because he was a Yankee who beat all my favorite teams, including the Atlanta Braves. Now that he's retiring, though, I grudgingly give him respect. I like that he has always played for the same team and I like that he has always seemed respectful and dignified. You never read or heard anything bad about him and I like that, too.

I have never seen the Yankees play in person; I've never really wanted to until this season. I would like to see The Captain in person and pay my respects. I looked at the teams here in the west to see when the Yankees would be coming out this way, but there wasn't a time when I could get to Anaheim or Oakland.  I was kinda bummed about it. Let's be clear: I wouldn't cheer for the Yankees, but I would tip my cap to Jeter.

During the All-Star game, right before Jeter's first at-bat, this commercial/tribute was shown. I absolutely love it.

Thanks for all the memories, Derek Jeter.