Alysa Bainbridge Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Alysa Bainbridge is passionate about empowering people with mental illness, a Phillies fan, and the current Miss Berks County. I was so glad that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Alysa Bainbridge visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Berks County title?

I went out to dinner with my family, my teen’s family, and my directors - and in true Alysa fashion, I ordered a big pasta dish at 10 PM! There was a lot for us to celebrate. My teen and I had been sister queens the year before and it was so special to be together again! I also held the teen title in the Miss Berks County Organization my first year in Outstanding Teen and was so happy to be back home as “their girl” again.

 

Due to the state of the world at the moment, you also still hold the Miss Philadelphia title. How do you plan to juggle both titles?

It’s been sort of a whirlwind, but I feel so blessed to represent

both of my homes at the same time! Berks County is my hometown and Philly has been my college home for the last four years, and both communities have a piece of my heart. Juggling both hasn’t been too hard so far, since I haven’t had many appearances during pandemic. The hardest part has been coming up with different content for two social media pages! When I get back to doing appearances (hopefully soon!), I plan to do appearances for both titles and continue to partner with organizations in both regions. 

 

What did you learn about yourself at the Miss Berks County competition that will help you when you compete again for Miss Pennsylvania?

Photo by
Eire Ann Photography

At Miss Berks County, I won the overall talent award. This was a surprise to me because I haven’t danced competitively like I did in high school for years. Talent is the area of competition I would say I get most nervous for, and I actually picked apart my performance quite a bit that night! I learned that I am capable of more than I think and not to be so hard on myself. I’m going to take this attitude with me into all areas of competition at Miss Pennsylvania. 

 

How did you select your “More Than Bipolar” social impact initiative?

I grew up with two siblings who struggled with bipolar disorder

and other mental illnesses. I saw the toll stigma took on them and on the rest of my family, and it broke my heart that outsiders saw my siblings only for the symptoms of their mental illness. I decided I wanted to start a specific campaign that not only raised awareness and started a conversation about mental health, but that empowered individuals living with mental illness and celebrated the wonderful things that make them so much more than a diagnosis. 

The namesake of my platform is based on my siblings’ struggles, but the idea is that any mental illness can be added to the end: #MoreThanAddiction, #MoreThanDepression, etc. 

 

As a talented dancer, what is your favorite part about performing your talent on stage?

I love sharing my heart onstage and the feeling I get when I’m performing. My current talent routine is especially meaningful to me. I do a lyrical dance in honor of my brother, Tyler, who we lost to an opioid overdose in 2018. The message of my song, “Somebody’s Someone”, is the very message of my platform. It’s  specifically about having a brother who struggles with substance use disorder. The message is that, regardless of that circumstance, he and anyone struggling will always matter to someone and should keep fighting. Having another chance to share the message of my social impact and getting to have this moment with my brother onstage is the most special part about my talent. 

 

If you could be a Disney Character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would want to be any Disney princess, but if I had to choose

Photo by
Matt Boyd Photography

one, it’s Cinderella! She has always been my favorite princess. Who wouldn’t want to be a princess and wear a ballgown every day?

When I was little, my dream was to be a Princess at Disney World, but I soon realized I would never be tall enough to meet the height requirement! Instead, I get to live out that dream a little once a year as The Little Mermaid during Princesses and Pirates Night at the Reading Fightin’ Phils!

 

What is your personal fitness routine?

I love doing barre! It’s the perfect workout routine for a dancer. I try to take an online barre class at least 2-3 times a week. Of course, I also stretch every day and practice my talent routine to keep up my technique and stamina. 

 

If you had an extra ticket to a Philadelphia Phillies game, who would you take with you? Why?

I would take my dad! He has been a lifelong baseball player, coach, and fan, and he taught me everything I know about the sport. Hopefully the Phillies wouldn’t be playing the Cincinnati Reds (his favorite team) that day, though, or I might have to pretend I don’t know him!

 

Is there a feature or activity at Citizens Bank Park that you’d especially like to experience?

I want to dance on top of the dugout with the Phillie Phanatic! 

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I would definitely love to see that!

As always, I want to thank Alysa for visiting with us, and for sending along the wonderful pictures to go with the interview.

As Alysa continues her time as Miss Berks County, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram account and her website. They're great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss Pennsylvania title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Alysa, and good luck!

2020 Topps Series Two blaster!

It's time to open another blaster! Well, actually, it's time to tell you about another blaster I already opened! This time we'll go with 2020 Topps Series 2. These packs are always fun because they offer a lot of variety. How'd I do? Let's see!

Here are the highlights...

Yup. That's the box.

And those are the Packs. Sort of a Mike Trout theme going on here.

Ouch. I didn't need to get that one.

Another now former Red Sox. At least he's still on the team on this card. But, it still hurts.

And here's a guy who is actually pictured as a Red Sox, and still actually plays for the team! I like the use of the horizontal layout for this card. It really helps grab the action.

And, that's it. Two former Sox, and one actual Red Sox. Nothing too spectacular, but always good to get Sox cards in a box. 

How did your box go?

2020 Stadium Club Blaster!

It's time to open another blaster! Well, actually, it's time to tell you about another blaster I already opened! This time we'll go with 2020 Topps Stadium Club. This is always a fun set to open with the incredible photography. How'd I do? Let's see!

Here are the highlights...

Highlights of an unopened box.

And the packs inside...including the Widevision boxtopper.

Which resulted in this card. So, if you haven't held this card in your hand, they're really long. Or...wide I suppose. Which could make for a fun concept when you consider the amazing pictures within the Stadium Club set. This picture...isn't one of those. This might be the most vertical picture to ever appear on a horizontal card. It's wasted on the widevision. These cards should be people diving or sliding. Not standing straight up and reaching for a ball over their heads. Unless you sell insurance, I guess.

One of those fun pictures I mentioned earlier.

I don't really understand the superimposed liberty bell. I mean, I get the Philadelphia reference. But, why did Topps feel it was necessary? Or, even a good idea?

Always nice to get a card with writing on it. Even if it's Fernandez.

And finishing things off with this bland card of Ichiro.

Did you notice what was missing from the highlights? Yup. Not a single Red Sox card came out of the packs. How is that even possible? It's certainly not good.

How'd you do in your box?

Madison Coryell Visits Section 36!

Photo By
Doug Hikawa Photography

Section 36 has another visitor! Madison Coryell is dancing her way to wellness, an Angels fan, and the current Miss Canyon Hills. I was so glad that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Madison Coryell visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss Canyon Hills crown? 

This was my 10th Miss America local competition I’ve competed for and finally won my first title. I cried, I screamed, I was speechless and so excited for the future this title could take me to. Most of the ladies I competed with went out to celebrate with pizza and cake. My favorite pizza has pineapple on it, sorry. The day after the competition, I celebrated by planning out what I wanted to accomplish as Miss Canyon Hills.

What has surprised you the most about your time as Miss Canyon Hills? 

The one thing that has shocked me the most about being Miss Canyon Hills is the unlimited about of support from the other title holders all across the country. This pandemic has really helped us connect with each other and be able to do amazing things together. 

What aspect of the upcoming Miss California competition are you most nervous about?

The interview portion of the competition has always been the part I’ve struggled the most with. You never know what the judges are going to ask you but through the many competitions I’ve participated in, I’ve learned that they just want to get to know the woman in front of them. I am nervous for this portion but I am so excited to share who I am with the panel.

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Dance: The Path to Wellness”?

I started dancing in middle school and didn’t realize how important dance would become in my life. As a sophomore in high school, I was in honors classes, had a picture perfect memory, and life was as good as it could be. Half way through the first semester I got a concussion which created a chemical imbalance in my brain. This imbalance left me battling chronic anxiety and depression. A chemically based mental illness is very difficult to overcome because there were no situational adjustments I could make to work toward recovery. At this time, I was dancing roughly 20 hours a week. I started struggling in school, failed 3 classes through the remainder of my high school career and sometimes lost hope. I went to therapy and didn’t have much luck in healing my mental illness. Psychiatry did help but the medication I took began to be too much. Dance was the one thing that pushed me to get my day started because it was my outlet. Dance ended up being my therapy. When I started college I decided I didn’t need to be on medication any longer. I’m now cured of my anxiety and depression and I owe so much of my recovery to dance. I do not know what would have happened if I didn’t have dance in my life when I was struggling with my mental health. I created Dance: The Path to Wellness to promote dance as a form of therapy. Therapy is not a one size fits all and therapy can be found in so many places, not just in an office.

As a talented dancer, you’ve been able to dance in the Parades at Disney. What do you enjoy most about that experience?

The best part about performing in the parades at Disneyland

Photo By
Doug Hikawa Photography

would be the guests reactions. We have some guests that come to watch the parade almost daily and it’s so fun to see familiar faces. Of course I love my fellow cast members and dancing with them is always a joy but there is always that one child that makes eye contact a with you while your dancing and the look in their eyes is so inspiring. The hugs are also very heartwarming and something that I have missed significantly during this COVID-19 pandemic.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

I would love to be Aurora because she’s always been my favorite princess since I was little. The poise, the hair, and the beautiful story will always have my heart.

As an Angels fan, do you have a favorite Mike Trout memory?

My favorite Mike Trout memory would have to be the first game I attended in long time when I saw a bunch of people wearing these funky hats with fish on them. It just made me so happy because that’s just how talented of a player he is and I think these hats are such a fun way to show their admiration of him.

Is there a feature or activity at an Angels game that you’d especially like to experience?

I’d love to be able to sit behind home plate. There’s just something so special to be able to see up close the players passing through home and score a run! 

If you had an extra ticket to an Angels-Red Sox game, who would you bring with you? Why?

I would definitely bring my boyfriend because he’s grown up with the same love for the Angels that I had and it would be such a great time to experience together.

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That sounds like it would be a wonderful time!

As always, I want to thank Madison for visiting with us, and for sending along the wonderful pictures to go with the interview.

As Madison continues her time as Miss Canyon Hills, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram account. It’s a great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss California title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Madison, and good luck!

2020 Leaf Charlie Hustle

 I had no idea what this product was when I saw it on the Target shelves. But, it looked interesting so I thought I'd give it a try.

Here's the box. Pretty straight forward. A ten-card set, and an autograph. I didn't have a Pete Rose autograph, and figured I really should.

This is what came out of the box. No suspense. A plastic case holding 11 cards, and the autograph right there on the top.

Here are the ten cards in the set.  Not exactly inspiring. Clearly just something to make the autograph a meatier purchase. Slightly meatier.

Overall, this box cost me $30 and I overpaid. Looking online, the autographs go for about half that. But, I've spent $40 on a pair of blasters and gotten far less. So, I guess I can't be too upset.

But I wouldn't do it again.

1975 Topps Page by Page: Page 33 (289-297)

I'm sure that you all remember that I finally completed my 1975 Topps set. 

Now that it's done I thought it would be fun to look through the set and talk about it. Going page by page seemed like a good way to go about it. Hopefully you find it interesting to read what I have to say.

How about we continue with page 33?

Red Sox Cards on the Page:  0. After a great showing on the last page, the Sox are shutout again.

Cards that make the 1975 Topps set cool: Wow. I’m not sure. None of my usual categories are represented here. No young Hall of Famers. No managers as players. No team cards. I guess I’ll have to go with the three different cards showing off the powder blue uniforms.

My favorite card on the page: Again, nothing really to write home about. I guess I’ll go with Sudakis as the only semi-true action shot in the bunch. Although, even calling that one “action” is pushing it.

What would your answers to those last two categories be?

Taylor Yamane Visits Section 36!

Section 36 has another visitor! Taylor Yamane is passionate about STEAM, a talented singer, and the current Miss University Heights. I was so glad that she was willing to visit with us to discuss those topics, and a few more!

So, let's see what happens when Taylor Yamane visits Section 36!

How did you celebrate winning the Miss University Heights crown?

I first celebrated by seeing some of my fellow sister titleholders after the competition! Some I have known for a few years and some I was meeting for the first time, and it was so great to feel so welcomed by them. After the competition my mom and I joined Bella (who was crowned Miss San Bernardino County in the same competition), Bella’s family, and my directors at Starbucks, and Bella and I ate desserts and drank coffee in our evening gowns, crowns, and sashes. It was so fun!!  

Is there a specific goal you’d like to accomplish during your time as Miss University Heights?

I just have a pretty broad goal of getting to share my social

impact initiative with as many young girls around California as possible! Even now while we can’t really meet in person, I have been sitting on virtual panels to talk to students around northern California, and I just can’t wait to get to meet with our youth in person again. Service is honestly my favorite part of being a titleholder, so I just want to go out and do as much as I can! 

What part of the upcoming Miss California competition are you most nervous about?

The Miss America competition has gone through big changes since the last time I was at Miss CA, so I’m a little nervous to do a new type of competition. BUT ultimately I am way more excited than nervous!! I just can’t wait to see all my sisters and have such a fun time on stage with them!

How did you select your social impact initiative, “Full STEAM Ahead”?

I selected my social impact initiative because I basically live out STEAM every day of my life. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, and my social impact initiative is all about advocating for women in STEAM and showing everyone that the arts are a vital part of STEAM and to the lives of people in general. I am currently studying mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University, but I am also a classically trained pianist and vocalist. I have felt first hand what it feels like to not be taken seriously and to feel inferior by being a women in this field, and I don’t want any other girl to feel that way. I also have seen in my education and in my jobs that creativity and the ability to problem solve and think out of the box are so important to being a successful engineer, and I get that through my artistic outlets. Everyone needs an artistic outlet, and I believe that now one should give them up even if their career choices do not involve them. My SII is so close to my heart, and I’m glad that Miss America gives me a platform to advocate for it. 

As a talented singer, what do you enjoy most about performing on stage?

I honestly love getting lost in the music on stage. Sometimes it feels like the whole world has faded away, and it’s just me creating my own personal sound. I love that feeling because it means that the audience is truly seeing me and my emotions through my singing.

If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose? Why?

Oh that is a great question, but I think I would have to pick Mulan. Mulan is by far my favorite Disney character! She just has so much confidence and toughness and is the most selfless person with more honor than any other Disney character. I would love to live in her shoes for a week because I strive for her tenacity and strength! 

You were able to sing the national anthem before the SCU baseball home opener. What was that experience like?

The experience was so awesome! The weather had been so

gloomy and rainy in Santa Clara, and then on opening day it was clear skies and so many students came out to support. They have so many fun opening day festivities and ceremonies, and I felt so honored that I was a part of those ceremonies. I felt so much community and just such a fun and competitive atmosphere that it would’ve been surreal just being there as a student! But being able to sing the anthem was an honor! 

Growing up, you were able to attend some Mariners games. What do you remember most about your trips to Safeco Field?

I think the most fun part is getting to enjoy the sport with my family! The atmosphere at professional sports games is unlike any other. People cheering, music playing, fireworks sometimes, and everyone just having the best time. But I have fun memories of eating so much food, especially the hotdogs at Safeco field, with my family. My family and I are big sports people, so getting to enjoy Mariners games with them is just the best thing ever.

If you had an extra ticket to a Mariners game, who would you bring with you? Why?

I would definitely bring my dad! My dad is the reason why I

love sports. I was a competitive hurdler and basketball player in high school, and he was the one who coached our t-ball and basketball teams when I was younger. He’s the reason for my really competitive edge, and I think he deserves that ticket more than anyone! 

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That’s so wonderful!

As always, I want to thank Taylor for visiting with us, and for sending along the wonderful pictures to go with the interview.

As Taylor continues her time as Miss University Heights, I encourage you to check out her official Instagram and Facebook accounts and website. They’re great ways to keep track of everything she has going on!

I also definitely want to wish her the best of luck whenever she competes for the Miss California title. It would be wonderful to have the first Section 36 visitor wear that crown!

Thanks again Taylor, and good luck!