Last night I spent roughly 3 hours collecting empty beer cups and soda bottles along the 1st base line at the Red Sox game.

As part of Fenway Park's Green Team, us few dozen Boston University Students went up and down the aisles in between innings to collect recyclables. The program is entirely staffed by volunteers who get a free t-shirt, a food voucher for a hot dog and soda, and entrance to Fenway Park in exchange for 7 innings worth of recyclable collecting.

Walking up and down the long aisles of Fenway Park is exhausting. So is having to tell 3 out of 4 people that no, ketchup covered hot dog wrappers are NOT recyclable. Apparently a good portion of Red Sox Nation has no idea how to recycle.

After 5 innings combing Sections 1-10 of recyclables, my room mate and I decided to head out. We were tired and had work to do. We left Fenway through Gate D which is out near center field. The gate empties onto Lansdowne Street where we cut below the Green Monster. Just as we got past the 3rd base foul line, I heard a -CRACK- and saw a baseball skidding across the street.

It probably took me all of 1 second to figure out that it was a ball from inside Fenway. I immediately sprinted after it and grabbed it before another man nearby could. I held it up and all I could think was, "OH MY GOD, I got a ball from Fenway Park!". I was freaking out. Nothing exciting ever happens to me at baseball games.

It wasn't until I got home that I figured out where it came from. It was a foul ball off of Toronto's R. Barajas. It would have been cooler if it were a Big Papi home run over the monster, but I'll take a foul ball onto Lansdowne Street any day.

Approximately 15 minutes after I got home, the game went into an hour rain delay before the game was called. The Blue Jays won 11-5. The Red Sox usually lose whenever I go to their games. But this time, I came away with a souvenir. 

 Currently listening to: Passion Pit

Memorial Day Weekend in Seattle is host to many summer-beginning festivals, the biggest being the Sasquatch Music Festival held at the Gorge Ampitheatre in Quincy, WA. Every year, it kicks off for Saturday, Sunday and Monday and plays host to some of the biggest names in music as well as providing a stomping grounds for smaller, up-and-coming bands. This year, headliners included Kings of Leon, Jane's Addiction and Ben Harper and the Relentless7.

While MUSIC is in the name of the game during the 3-day weekend, Sasquatch is also famous for the atmosphere as well as the gorgeous views. The Gorge is arguably the most beautiful concert venue in the United States.

This year was my first-ever experience at the Gorge and it was amazing. It truly is an amazing location for a concert. The views are beautiful, weather gorgeous (85 and sunny), and the music is eclectic and electric. While I did not attend all three days, I settled for the Saturday Line-up that included among many, M. Ward, Animal Collective, Devotchka, The Decemberists, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bon Iver and Kings of Leon. Of those bands I listen to Devotchka and The Decemberists fairly frequently and both of their sets were great in that outdoor setting, especially Devotchka's set whose unique sound seemed to suit the sunny afternoon and sweeping views perfectly.

While I enjoyed all of the main stage's shows, the real reason I came was for Kings of Leon whom I love, but mainly for Bon Iver who I've never seen live and have absolutely fallen in love with in the past year. Bon Iver went on around 9pm, just as the sun was setting, and Justin Vernon and his band's performance was breathtaking. It's hard to imagine how a live show would ever be able to capture the greatness of For Emma, Forever Ago but the set went above and beyond. Every song played was just as emotional as the album and the audience participation in The Wolves ("what might've been lost") suited the song perfectly.

After Bon Iver's performance I rushed - in the pitch black - back to the main stage for Kings of Leon and plopped down on the blanket on the hillside just as they came on stage. Kings of Leon were also amazing, and have now successfully placed themselves atop the list of the big names in rock. I read somewhere that they had argued that they were not a suitable headlining act, but they had everyone on their feet and completely rocked it. We didn't stay for the entire set because it was late (11pm) and still had a 2 hour drive back to Seattle to make (next year I'm definitely camping, it's the essential experience at the Gorge that I missed) and I had also seen Kings of Leon a few feeks ago so it wasn't a big deal to leave early.

All in all, if you're ever near Seattle during Memorial Day Weekend, Sasquatch is the place to be. That, in addition to the fact that the weather around here is finally getting nicer, and more of my friends from high school are home for the summer, summer has officially begun.

Courtney

Listening to now: Re: Stacks by Bon Iver

This is officially my first blog as part of The One Love community! I'm so excited to be a part of it! I figured I would take this opportunity to share a few things about me and how I got to be here.

First of all, I am a college student in the best college town out there, Boston, MA! I am a journalism major with a minor in visual arts and a concentration in religion. It's a random grouping of topics, but are all areas that I love: writing, art and religion. I've been meaning to start blogging as a way to get into the habit of writing (with an emphasis on writing well) on a regular basis in order to better prepare myself for my journalism major.

One of my good friends Jessica blogs on this site and I have spent a few nights meandering all of the pages in an attempt to procrastinate from actually doing any work. I figured if I was going to start blogging, what better thing to do than to blog for a charity. I love that this site is a blogging site for a better good, to support a wide range of charities. It makes me feel like my words and posts won't just go into the giant internet void, but will actually make a difference.

I chose to support the American Cancer Society. Just in the past year I've been confronted with two close family members who are battling cancer in their lives. First was my Aunt Stef who was diagnosed with breast cancer last June. Since then she has undergone numerous chemotherapy treatments and radiation as well as a lumpectomy in January. As of right now she is done with her radiation treatments which is great.

In addition to my Aunt Stef's battle with breast cancer, my Great Uncle Allan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this past summer. Unfortunately he lost his battle just this past sunday.

So I'm especially thankful for all those who visit and read my blog, as well as any of the blogs on this site because all of these causes are especially important and meaningful to me and many others.

Thanks for reading,

Court

P.S. I will also be ending every post with the song(s) I'm obsessed with at the moment.

Right Now: Silver Lining by Rilo Kiley and anything by Kings of Leon (I just went to their concert Sunday night and it was amazing)