Today marks the final regular season game at Yankee Stadium.  The Yankees odds of making the post-season are not good so this is probably the end of the line for the 85 year masterpiece.

I am grateful to Steve for moving the Everest Base Camp trip up a few days.  I am also grateful that we motored to Everest Base Camp and back.  I didn't want to have to choose between Everest and the Yankees.  I couldn't live with having to choose between two life changing experiences.  I don't need to deal with another closure issue. 

I'll try to see long time Bleacher Creature friends as this year's ticket plan has unfortunately taken me to the Left Field Bleachers and Tier.

It will be tough to say goodbye.  Memories of Reggie Jackson's three home runs against the Dodgers helped give me hope as a young impressionable seven year old.  The loss to the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series took much of that innocence away as an 11 year old.  The pain from the rest of the 1980s was only numbed by Donnie Baseball and following the Oneonta (A) Yankees.

There are too many memories from the last 12.5 years living in the world's greatest City to list.  There will be very few dry eyes starting from the final Roll Call to the last out.  Mine won't be one of them.

Posted by an emotional Tank in NY.

The US Federal Reserve bailed out insurer AIG a few days ago.  AIG happens to sponsor my favorite English Premier League Team, Manchester United.

Since the Federal Reserve injected $85 Billion to save AIG, an argument can be made that American citizens now indirectly sponsor Manchester United.  For instance, a CNN reporter walked around Manhattan asking people if Man U's jersey should have "Federal Reserve" instead of "AIG" on the front.  Granted, it's somewhat of a reach but there is a point.

Though I am part owner of Ebbsfleet United, I did not ever expect nor wish this kind of scenario to happen with AIG.  I do want everyone to root for Man U of their own free will, instead of as taxpayers against their will.

"May you live in interesting times" is a famous Chinese proverb.  Given the current turmoil in the markets, I can go for some boredom right now.

Posted by a concerned Tank in NY.

Two weeks together produced many laughs.  Many are inside jokes which will be explained when and if we add premium content to the website.  

Until then, enjoy these nuggets.


Gautam: "Turkish #@! toilets!"  (Gautam told many great Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa stories.  Awesome guy.)

Joel: "If you want to have boys, call 800.BOYJOEL."  Chinese translation also available.  ("Ni Hao, Joel San here...")

Linda: "EVO for the table."

Mychal: "I can't eat this.  I'm going to bed."

Remi: "No filter."

Richard: "That's a shame."

Rod: "Yes, Joel has Barry Manilow posters all throughout his office."  (Scary, eh?)

Steve: "Sherpa Getty (Girls)!"

The Tank: "Give me a F-I-G-J-A-M.  What's that spell?  FIGJAM!  Louder!  FIGJAM!"

Tom: "How can you say that Steve?"  (In response to Steve's political stances.)

Vassil: "No woman no crime."  All Bob Marley songs should be sung by Vassil in a Bulgarian accent.  Bob is somewhere smiling.

Posted by The Tank back home in the world's greatest city, NYC.

We met many great people in Nepal, especially Ngima, all the Pembas, and RT2.

We haven't reported yet on Ciaran and Sheena, two UK university students.  They met in Kathmandu a few weeks ago and decided to trek to Everest Base Camp.

We met them in Gorak Shep and assumed they were a couple.  Well, you know what assuming gets you.

Anyway, Steve started questioning them about the future of their relationship.  They replied that they didn't think there was one.  Team Figjam snapped into action and decided they should live together in Inverness.  Inverness is in between London where Ciaran studies and the Shetland Islands where Sheena studies.  Richard started to work on transportation arrangements.

Yes, Team Figjam is a group of hyper active A+++ personalities who don't take no for an answer.  Ciaran and Sheena were total strangers a few moments earlier but were like old friends by the end of the British Parliament style Question Time.

Sheena's parents have met Ciaran on Facebook.  But, Ciaran's parents have not met Sheena on Facebook because Sheena didn't ask.  "Whoa!" Team Figjam cried out.  Ciaran and Sheena were spared further interrogation as Joel's birthday cake arrived a few moments later. 

I was grateful to get away from Steve's non-stop head shaving and Eva references.  BTW, she canceled dinner in June because of work (first time -- acceptable) and fever (second time -- more believable in February than on Father's Day).  The straw that broke the camel's back is the canceling of brunch about a month ago.  She said that she ran out of food but I could hear some guy laughing in the background.  It was probably her "romantic interest", AKA "West 21st Street Loser".  I might be an idiot but not stupid.  Eva is beautiful but she's not interested in me or at least can't make up her mind.  It's time for me to turn the page and look for someone else. 

Ciaran and Sheena, May your future be better than mine in the past year.  Team Figjam is looking forward to getting wedding invitations in the mail.  If Morrissey can't make it to sing "Irish Blood, English (Scottish) Heart", I will step in to be the Wedding Singer. 

Posted by The Tank in transit on his way home in Bangkok, Thailand.

Yes, it's true, The Tank had his head shaved yesterday in Kathmandu by a professional barber, NOT Steve.  I trust Steve with my life but NOT my hair.  I am a man of my word and promised everyone on the trip that I would get my head shaved as part of my "Extreme Makeover, Nepal Edition".   

More importantly, I am running to benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Fred's Team.  If you wish to sponsor me, please use the secure Fred's Team homepage. 

Homepage:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=userHome&user_id=35640&event_id=113

If you wish to sponsor me offline with a check, please use this donation form:

Donation Form:
https://fredsteam.mskcc.org/fundraising/Controller?action=donateForm&user_id=35640&event_id=113

which has a link to a PDF form.  Please fill in my name at the top -- many thanks in advance.

On my Fred's Team website, I have a picture of Aubrey Barr, now a 40 year old woman.  When she was a little girl, she was diagnosed with cancer and given little hope to live.  Now, she is the mother of two children and has finished 25+ marathons.  Besides my Mom, Aubrey is one of my heroines.   

You will also note a picture of Frosty the Snowman.  I included it because I dressed up as Frosty in December 2001 to cheer up my colleagues after the September 11, 2001, attacks.  My office was nine blocks south of the World Trade Center.  I was and am grateful to be alive to dress up as Frosty. 

I also used the Frosty photo as I am planning to run the North Pole Marathon in April 2009, God Willing and global climate change permitting.  (I am not a good swimmer if the ice melts.) 

The November 2, 2008, New York City and April 2009 North Pole Marathons are my two final marathons in my marathon career due to injuries. 

All donations are greatly appreciated.  No money goes to me.  All funds benefit children's cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.  Please check with your accountant to double-check tax deductibility (which it should be).  Thank you very much and see you at the finish line!

Posted by a grateful Tank in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Sept 16 - Breaking news just in from Group Leader Stephen. The Tank is now. . . BALD. He's a cue ball. Chrome dome. Daddy Warbucks. KOJAK BALD.

Now I suspect that they will say Stephen used his inherent barbering skills (this man did shave a checker board into my head once) to give the Tank his new look. But I suspect it just fell out naturally due to the stress of being on a mountain when the Yankees are facing imminent early season ending elimination for the fist time in 13 years. The Red Sox are now 0.002% behind the Rays and 9 games up on the Yanks. Added to that are the Mets going 5-5 for their last 10 and losing to the last place Nationals again in September when they needed to win. They now lead the Phillies by 0.5 games who have gone 7-3.

As I am in Chicago on business I may just have to pick up a Cubbies hat. If neither NY team is going all the way I'm going root for a team that deserves it.

Update by Steve from Kathmandu

First of all the Tank did not let me shave his head at altitude, fearing a checker board. Second of all, he looks like a badass now:

Sept 11 - The morning started with the sobering reminder of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones lost in September 11th.  May the memories be eternal, rest in peace.

We left our cold, but cozy home in Periche on route to Loboche.  Our heads were literally in the clouds.  We thankfully made good time to our lunch destination.  Along the way, we saw a 72 year young German trekker.  The Tank suggested a sing-a-long with Gautam because we had not yet mastered Gautam's German hiking song.  The trekker was from Erfurt Saxony, Germany.  Since he lived in East Germany during the Cold War, he was not allowed to travel until the Berlin Wall fell.  He has made the most of his freedom and this is the fourth time in Nepal.  His granddaughter was slightly embarrassed at his singing but Gautam and the German trekker raised everyone's spirits.

Fried rice, fried noodles and fried lipitor were the cholesterol lunch menu features.  After lunch we hiked up yet another hill.  We stopped for a group photo.  Everyone was in the photo because of Linda's wise decision to purchase a guerrilla tri-pod with a camera timer.  We played frisbee with Linda's aerobie with the Sherpas, porters and Team Big Champ.  Lots of fun for the Tank who hadn't played frisbee in years.

After the frisbee we hiked to Loboche where the LA guys had already ordered dinner at another Teahouse to beat the rush on Loboche's food supply.

RT2 was not far behind and we presented a Team Big Champ t-shirt in the best traditions of British knighthood.  Linda played the Queen, presenting RT2 a Team Big Champ t-shirt while he was on one knee.

The Eagle Lodge was the Taj Mahal of TeaHouses.  The Tank's and Linda's desires for creatures comforts were satisfied.  Hot showers and electricity with solar power.  The dinner debate was when to shave the Tank's head as part of his extreme makeover Nepal edition as well as a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in NYC.  The Tank resisted because he trusts Steve with his life but not his hair.  Steve claims to have wild root beautician experience but the Tank wasn't buying it and would not risk at that altitude and using a non sanitary razor.

Wisely the Tank wanted RT2s professional medical opinion before consenting.  Especially in the event of bleeding at high altitude with the closest hospital hours away in Katmandu.  In the meantime, the Tank puts his faith in the certified hair professionals at his hotel in Katmandu.  Watch this space closely for more hiking and hair stories.

Written by The Tank in Gorakshep, Nepal.

Mt. Everest Report (Day 11): Gautam's Blog - Next Satellite Phone Installment

Sept 10 - Woke up to sunny morning with great views of the mountains.  After breakfast, we headed over to the Pengboche monetary but it was shut, blinds drawn, nobody home.  All that was missing was a "gone fishing" sign on the door.

Since the monks were away, we headed over to the boss' house.  Lama Geshi greeted us with a big smile and asked us to come in.  Il Lama is the head Buddhist religion authority for the region, and Lama Geshi is the head of the Mount Everest Region.  If we were expecting a solemn, stern religious figure, we were in for a surprise.  Lama Geshi is a joker of the highest order who loves to laugh and it is a rather infectious one.  We went into his living room where he said a prayer on our behalf and invited each one of us forward to:

a: lightly touch our forehead with his,
b: have a cream colored scarf placed upon our neck,
c: have an orange string tied around our neck.

He gave each of us a hug and also presented us with a card with our name and a blessing.  His living room is filled with pictures of trekkers and climbers who have come by to receive his blessings.  Sherpas refuse to summit Mount Everest without his blessings, and the Lama has walked to Mt Everest in his robes and slippers to provide such blessings.     

After his ceremony, we headed back to the teahouse where we found the little girl who lives there throwing the freshly cut grass around in the court yard.  Unbeknownst to her, a plane was helping in the hay making process for the coming winter.

We've encountered a lot of children on this trip and had a great time playing with them and engaging them in conversations.  The day before, we had a friendly soccer game with a couple of kids on our way out of Bazaar.  Michael Coman our 22 year old fellow trekker from Portland Oregon, has a lot of little toys with him that he hands out to kids in every village that we encounter them.  The pure joy that the kids exude has been a highlight of this trip.

Since we had about 90 minutes before lunch, I went and found a big rock next to a raging river and basked in the sunshine for a while.  I appreciated the alone time and was rejuvenated for the walk to Pheriche after lunch.

The walk to Pheriche was only 2 1/2 hours and not that physically demanding, although we did gain altitude ending up at 14,000 feet.  The hike out to Pengpoche quickly brought us to highlands with some bushes, heathers and a lack of trees.  We were literally walking through the clouds and it was considerably cooler than the rest of the trek.  We started seeing a lot of the local bovine, the yak (male) and the nak (female).  These animals have a thick coat of black/white fur and what's most amazing to watch is how they move their weight up steep inclines.

Pheriche is a small village with a new memorial devoted to those who have died climbing Mt Everest going back to 1923.
Not much else to do here.  But we spent September 10th here as well acclimatizing and getting used to the Turkish style toilets.

Posted by Gautam via Satellite phone