A Day at the Park and How to Preserve its Rewards

David R.

July 11, 2010 - 8:40 PM

Working from eight to five (a standard work day) seems like a long and relatively unfavorable day, but it looks like a walk in the park after working 12 straight hours. This morning I had the early shift so I arrived at Coors Field at 7:30 in the morning. The early man is on "breakfast duty" meaning, as the name implies, that he is required to cook breakfast for the players who want it. Usually the last game of every series is a day game, starting at around 1:05, so when the players get to the field it is still morning, and most of them haven't eaten yet. Cooking breakfast for three hours straight can be kind of tiring, but making breakfast for a major league baseball player is a good way to get tipped. When the game was over and the San Diego Padres were on their way home it was already 5 p.m. After all of our usual post-game work it was 7:30 and I limped to my car, beaten (figuratively) and exhausted.

While working the game I saw yet another example of the unpredictable Colorado weather. A day that started out as a barn-burner was nothing but clouds and rain by the sixth inning. The clouds that put an end to the sunshine put an end to the Rockies' chance for victory as a ninth inning home run sealed the deal for the Padres, who remain atop their throne as leaders of the National League West. If the Rockies would have been able to win today, not only would they have swept the series but they would have shared the division lead. There is much baseball left to be played, but fans can't help but be frustrated by the fact that the division leader is a team that has shocked everyone by its current position.

Nevertheless, I was able to leave work today with a few hundred dollars more than I had when I arrived. This is a always a pleasant surprise because one of my goals for the summer is to make enough money (having enough seems to be impossible) to get myself through the school year. As is the case for many college students, my money tree isn't producing the way it used to, as money seems to flow out at much faster rate than it flows in.

While being rather broke is never enjoyable, it has taught me a life lesson that I can apply for as long as I live. Having a limited supply of "dough" has forced me to buy only the things that I need, and to be very economical with my choices (aka, not buying a $9 meal when I can get one for $5). Doing so has allowed me to save more money and having this mindset in the future will me allow to do just the same. For example, not buying one of those really cool i phones gave me more money to spend on school supplies for the year. Applying this simple philosophy is a must during the college years, and those who do will find that at the end of the day they will probably have more money (than they otherwise would have ) to be spent on more important things, like that minor investment known as college.