a happy surprise

These three glorious gifts were waiting for me when I returned from work
yesterday. Ginger and I are taking a package tour to Scottsdale next month
in the hopes of getting GOOD seats to three games. But I didn't expect the
goodies here too. Of course Ginger gets her own backpack, tee and hat
too and I hope to deliver them to her today.

saturday in Scottsdale

The lawn behind center field ~ jam-packed with people

later in the day, during the disappointing game

Dinner at Tommy V's Urban Kitchen last night

on the patio, of course.

I'm blogging here at the Phoenix Airport ~ how many people can say
that? Ready to go home. Ginger is already on her plane and I have
another 2 hours to stare at all these strange people. I'm always shocked
at how tiny toddlers have such intensely magnified boom box voices.

It was another glorious sunshiney day with a horrid baseball game,
but we actually got to see Dusty Baker who is now managing the
Cincinatti Reds. And our Spring Training stadium is absolutely
delightful and it was sold out. They have a mist system, which helps,
except a whole bunch of seats are out in the direct sun without any
shade whatsoever. Hot dogs and yes (!) garlic fries for lunch, but not
as good as the Jewel.

Excellent dinner which included much-needed green salads and
we were on the road this morning at 5am for rental car return and
tedious airport stuff. Great little vacation and we do recommend the
Scottsdale Comfort Suites about a block away from the Stadium and
an easy walk to Old Town too.

our friday in Arizona

Woman making a statement

Buster in Peoria ~ the Padres won, but
it's just Spring Training. Great seats in 4th row!

Lunch at the Salty ~ note spinach taco shell

Guacamole is made by hand, from scratch ~ the BEST!

Breakfast at the D&D ~ Ginger sees man wearing gun and we

do not confront him and we are missing the Bay Area.

Lovely soft sculpture outside a beige or grey building

Nice to see Dusty again, alas it was inside the Baseball Museum

SMOCA ~ Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Fabulous Kiki Smith photography exhibit

OK, I should reorganize this whole thing, but I don't have time and I
betcha a few photos need to be straightened, right? Anyway, it was
another full day and we walked a lot, ate a lot and did two museums:
Baseball and the SMOCA. Last night's game was fun, except for the
fact that we lost. Some nasty Padres fan was shushed by a Padres
player for saying mean things about the Giants players. It's all
wonderful small town kind of stuff with tons of kids because it is
spring break in some parts of America.

It's beautiful here, in a beige and desert sort of way, but I would be
forced to slit my wrists if I lived here. I actually heard a man say,
"I like Mitt Romney." Have you ever? Oh, and tons of people who
need to eat less and exercise more, if you get my drift.

It is hot ~ 90º today they say. And FINALLY our very own stadium
right down the block from our Comfort Suites ~ game is at 3pm.
Hoping for shade. Nice not to have to drive on 34 freeways to see
our boys in black and orange.

Dinner last night? Pink slime hot dog in Peoria. Praying for garlic
fries today, is that asking too much?

baseball and otherwise

First stop ~ Starbucks in Old Town, Scottsdale

This is the Texas Rangers' stadium in Surprise

Note big hair on this woman ~ we spent some time trying

to figure out if it was a wig or just teased beyond good sense

OK, busy day yesterday ~ lots of driving here in our Nissan. Scottsdale
is not exactly a sleepy little town, but the roads are great and so far
we haven't been lost once. The game last night was terrific and the
Giants won behind Matt Cain's fine pitching and some impressive
hitting. The "crack of the bat" is so loud and beautiful here in the
small stadium.

For dinner we enjoyed pink slimeburgers and fries and this morning
we were out early seeking fresh fruit on our walk. We will probably hit
a museum in a little while and then gear up for our drive to Peoria to
see the Giants and Padres.

It is hot here. I keep picturing all the perfect clothes I have at home
for this trip, but that's OK, I'll put it down in my notes for next year.

important press conference

Prepare for some incidents and adventures ~ Ginger and I are off to
Phoenix in about an hour. Over-packed and I've already had too much
coffee. First game is tonight with Texas, in their stadium, so I'm
wearing the 2010 World Series shirt in case they forgot that we won
that and we would like a repeat now in 2012.

beware, baseball post!

Finally, time for some real news. Yesterday Ginger and I went to
The Jewel to pick up our tickets for Spring Training in Arizona.
Man, how we have missed THE GAME. All of it ~ the trivia, the
noise, the silliness, the overpaid players and the orange and
black accessories worn by everyone worth their salt on those
deadly and delicious garlic fries.

We will see three games in three days and of course my MsBook will
travel with us. Leaving Thursday, March 29th. Scottsdale, Surprise
and Peoria ~ Arizona here we come. Too soon to pack?