Back in Princeton, we went out for a drink with the Kramers and Suzanne made her version of zappikankis the next. and back on work, I had a meeting with Jimmy Sarakatsannis and Piotr Kaminski '95 from McKinsey on my first day back and breakfast with Dimitrios Serpanos *90

But all of this was just a prelude to a trip to Baltimore where we knew we had arrived when we hit Cal Ripken Way and so we parked the car and noticed this ugly green car behind us from which emerged Gregory and Connor and then Larry and so we made our way along the path past the Ravens helmeted garbage cans and then after Larry bought some water we saw these memories of Memorial stadium which was built before many wars but still has dirt from their grave yards. Up ahead we made our way under the gate and to the entrance so that we could go to the place where the garbage cans were official and Connor and Larry could marvel at what appeared to be two entrances to the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame and after my visit, I observed Ben and Gregory wondering where I had been.

Before studying our food options we we went to the kiddie area where there were bobbleheads that Connor posed with and a bouncing area after which Connor had to put his shoes on and a history of Orioles uniforms as the slide and climbing areas attracted Connor until he rode the swing. We signed Connor up for Home Run Derby as Gregory recorded the event and all watched the next participant and then it was air tee ball after which we made our way into the ballpark quite early so the seats were empty (but, of course, this was true for the game too.) and the scoreboard welcomed us and saluted Cal Ripken as did the press box. There were the usual pictures of the Dobkin trio at various ranges for what will be a massive collection one day

and the warning about proper behavior as Cal Ripken amused us and the Stadium clock impressed us (especially when we learned that H and E in THE SUN light up to signal hit or error). Larry posed with Ben as we honored those whose numbers had been retired which didn't seem to excite Connor or Gregory though it did convince me that I should see the history of the team's good years and then bring back some food as did Ben. Connor watched to see how Ben would bite into his hot dog (that being the traditional food). The players appeared the game started and so Larry got food which amused Connor as the food moved about and the grounds crew came out to do their thing even as the mascot came and posed with Connor even as first base was being put in place.

It being a hot day, it was challenging for this guy selling drinks who wondered if he should have stayed in college and then the Orioles took the field and the National anthems of Canada and the US were sung so that the umpires could appear. It didn't start well for the Orioles and so the manager came to the mound but in the transition another run scored and the game went on with an occasional person blocking my view but the batter hit and a helicopter flew overhead before the Orioles scored their first run (indeed only 1 person did anything particularly offensive and this was his first of 2 home runs) but this was not enough to save the starting pitcher who departed as the brain trust tried to figure out what to tell the reliever who they welcomed to the mound and though his warm up pitches looked good, he couldn't rescue the team. He could only bring out the mascot for the 7th inning stretch singing. By and by, the game went on the second Oriole home run (with no one on base) was hit and the game ended with the orioles 5 runs behind and the Jays celebrating.

After the game, we went to the hotel where they were staying and then drove on to the Brewer's Art for a unique dinner. After dinner, Connor and Gregory and Ben and Larry posed and we bade them farewell as they got into their green car and we drove back through Delaware on our way home.