When we go to a White Sox game, this is always my favorite part:
It's what I call Pre-Game Entertainment--but my family just views it as the grounds crew watering the field. Sigh.I love to watch the Sod Father watering the dirt, while his crew backs him up wholeheartedly, carrying the hose just so. I love how they never let the hose tangle or drag on the wet soil, screwing up the precision-raked infield. I love how they don't scream at each other "I need more hose!" or "It's caught on this rock!". And there's never the embarrassing "Turn ON the WATER!!"..... "WHAT?!"..... "TURN ON THE WATER!!". Sheesh.
I watch these guys, enviously, every single time we go to a game. And I wonder why my family can't support me like this when I water. I mean, these guys have it mastered--why can't my knuckleheads?? It can't be that hard, can it?
So, while my family is snarfing down hot dogs and cotton candy, I'm pointing out proper hose-carrying techniques and protocol for assisting the Sod Father. They all pretend that they are listening, but I know the aren't really. I'm just doomed to work with fools when it comes to the hose.
And the best part?
When the Sod Father is done watering, he just drops the hose and walks back to the exit. There is no fighting with the hose mobile or wrastlin' with the hose. Nope. That's what his assistants are for--they just put that hose away with no snarky faces or snide comments. Sigh.
I'm truly envious.
21 comments:
I like to watch the ground crew too. It's interesting to see a group work together to get such a big job done so quickly. I wouldn't say it's the highlight though! That's funny. Actually, I'm pretty good at hose wrestling although haven't done it in a long time since Gerard takes care of the yard.
Hmmm.... I think I would be with your family snarfing down the food... :)
xo Catherine
My yard says we have no Sod Father here, nor any crew wanting to help a Sod Father. My yard says hay from oppressive heat. To see green sod I have to go to a ball park and envy--the green not the water bill.
I have a team of one with the hose. Me. Yeah, you know...
Me and the hose have a hate hate relationship...I hate it and it definitely has it in for me!
Doesn't take a lot to amuse some people. Oh, wait. Sorry, you are serious, aren't you? ;)
At the local dirt track, they run a truck around the clay. On the back there are sprinkler heads that wet down the clay so that it has the right consistency. I used to go to a track where they put oil on the clay. Now that was fun to watch the cars go sideways around the corners.
WHAT a lush job. I agree. How much you think he makes a year? It's very enviable....
I hate hose wrestling. I usually drop mine in the driveway and bark at one of the kids to roll it up. And they always do! LOLOL I have got them trained goooood. ;) Then again, maybe they do it out of pity, after seeing how badly I mangle the thing onto the rack...
LOL!!!! I love the proper hose carrying technique LOL!!!!
OMG! Don't even get me started about my kids and the hose reel. They cannot reel up the hose for anything! And if you ask them to work together on it, forget about it. They fight constantly while trying to do it and eventually one of them stomps off. If I were capable of reeling the hose up myself I would, but I can't.
oh great, now I have hose team envy. I'll try suggesting this teamwork with the others but I don't feel positive about their enthusiasm.
It's good to be king. No matter what your kingdom may be.
ROFL, the sod father, that cracked me up. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who raised knuckleheads...lol
Karen--I actually like all that precision raking and smoothing of the field. It's just so calming to watch. Give me that and a cold beer and I'm chilling. Then the game can begin. :)
Catherine--Have I mentioned that I like to vacuum too, Catherine?
Jodi--With all the rain this year, I haven't had to water until the last month. Now I just dread it! You'd have to see the yard with all the plants to know why. Ugh. It's a major ordeal.
Sharky--I know. That's why I'm all about pointing out the TEAMwork. They just don't get it.
Melodie--Isn't it like wrestling a giant snake??! Ugh.
Vanilla--I AM serious. But I am also easily amused and a cheap date. I also like to vacuum.
Chuck--Oh, I would think that would be hilarious. I just heard of a demo derby where the cars had trailers on the back. I imagine that to be fun too.
Rebecca--I would LOVE to do that, although I imagine it is hard to keep that field looking pristine in all sorts of weather. I'm really envious of their water jack right in the middle of the field. There isn't a lot of hose wrangling there. Sigh.
Natalee--Look at the skill! Not one inch of that hose touches the ground!
Lola--Thank you, Lola. You totally get what I'm saying here. That is EXACTLY what is going on here whenever I suggest I get help watering. Ugh.
Highway--I think there has to be a salary involved to get anyone to willingly help with this one. Especially when the Sod Father just drops the hose and makes them put it away. THAT'S the job for me!
Pricilla--No kidding. I wanna be king! I wanna be king!
Ann--That's really what they call him--honest. It's even on the ads! I think what we are missing is the dedication and commitment from our assistants. I think a salary would ensure that they actually helped.
I know what I want to be when I grow up now!!
It's so cute that you notice and enjoy that little ritual!
Betty--Do you wanna be the Sod Father or his helper?? ;)
Violet--Well, there's really nothing else at that point to watch. I mean, the cute baseball players aren't out there yet....
Wow, talk about people in high places! I wonder if those assistants follow him into his everyday life. Like if when he's brushing his teeth #7 holds the brush while #6 puts on the paste just so and then there is a pass off; #5 knows just where to grasp the brush as #4 turns on the tap and....what a life:)
I don't know why, but I loved the idea of an annoyed guy turning back to the person behind him screaming, "I need more hose!"
Nancy--Hee! Hee! Wouldn't that be nice? I'd just settle for some help watering the damn plants.
CG--Oh, that would be MY family, CG. We can't do a thing without a LOT of discussion. I love that these guys just DO IT, without all that bickering. Sigh.
One other bonus about the Sod Father? He doesn't have tarp duty.
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