Camelback Ranch and Golf on Wednesday

Cell phone pictures again.  

Well this was exciting.  Camelback Ranch houses the Dodgers and the White Sox.  We stayed on the Dodger side of the facility.  Dodger colors everywhere.  The Dodgers were practicing and we got some close up looks of the players.  

Well, Keri and I took a tour of the facility.  I was listening to the instructions of the tour guide but Keri wasn't.  She tried to get my attention.  Mom, Mom, Jackie, Jackie!  That's Othani!!!!  His body guard said not to take pictures but Keri did!  Here he is! 

I finally heard Keri and say Ohtani fade behind the wall. 

And of course Keri took a video of me ignoring her. I tried to post it but it didn't work.  I think it has something to do with the setting on the phone.  I should research it.  Next time!

                                                   Yamamoto!

Blake Snell

This was on one of the 4 practice fields.  They have 4 major league practice fields and 3 minor league practice fields.  The White Sox have 3 major league practice fields and 4 minor league practice fields. 

This little boy ask a minor league coach for his autograph.  So sweet. 

This is coach Shoemaker (12), a minor league coach. He has been in the organization since 1977. 

Each giant ball represents the MVP of the league!

We just missed an autograph here.  He is new to the Dodgers and I can't remember his name.  He signed a lot of balls.  We got there just a little too late. 

I don't really enjoy golf.  I really balked at this golfing thing but this was a very unique course.  I had so much fun.  I was totally wrong about the whole thing and I am glad I participated. 

The three grandkids kept talking about having a virgin Pina colada! Kristin decided to surprise them at dinner before our golf game.  

Here's the Pina Colada group!  They were very surprised.  

Here we go!

A little walk to the frozen yogurt shop for an after golf treat! 

It was a great day and a fun night with the family.  

On Our Way to Spring Training in Arizona

These are all cell phone pictures.  It is too complicated to try and merge the cell phone pictures and the camera pictures.  

I had always wanted to go to spring training for baseball.  I had forgotten about it because of the timing of spring training when I was teaching.  It just didn't work.  Then this happened.  I asked Keri for dates to come visit. She gave them to me and then mentioned they were going to look at a couple of colleges and then go to spring training.  I was invited to come along and I jumped on the invitation.  Bonus! Kristin, Layne and Lucy joined too! On Monday we headed to the Spokane Airport. Layne and Lucy are doing homework the airport. Good job girls.  

This is a picture Keri took.  

Tuesday night was a college softball night.  In-N-Out burger was our dinner menu.  I'm not really sure why IN-N-Out is so popular!  Not my thing but obviously I am a minority.  So serious!

Grand Canyon University had won 30 games, no losses.  We were excited to watch the ladies play softball. 

Here we go! 

I needed to get a picture with the antelope.  

I rushed up to him before all the little kids noticed him and got my picture.  

Kristin and Keri were sitting behind me.  Keri was sitting next to a little girl that looked about 7 or 8.  Her younger sister was also sitting with her.  A ball came our direction and it hit the younger sister and she started to cry.  Keri asked the lady next to her if she was the little girl's mom.  She wasn't.  Her parents were two rows behind and made no move to come to their daughter.  Her dad had a few words for Keri. Keri was looking for the ball to give to the little girl and she found it.  He shouted out, THAT'S HER BALL.  Keri had no intention of keeping a Grand Canyon softball.  Keri asked if the little girl wanted her parents and of course she did.  The parents never moved.  Her older sister stayed next to Keri and talked to her constantly throughout the whole game.  Keri was a picture of patience.  

We did watch GCU get their first loss!  Sad!
 

17th Anniversary Trip to Dodger Stadium! Game number one!

I was so anxious for this trip!  I could hardly stand it and here we are.  I have to say that we did have a lot of negative things happen.  The place we stayed was fine, this was our smoggy view. The host wasn't OK at all even though his reviews were great.  We were greeted with a drunk host and it got way worse from there. Fortunately were weren't there much.  No details to come.  I want to focus on the positive.

 We could see Dodger Stadium from our room.

 I don't miss this at all!

Or this! It is stressful trying to navigate and be in this traffic.  

 We came in on Wednesday PM.  Thursday morning we headed to the Santa Monica beach.

 I do miss this!

 We headed down the pier to see what we could find.  Lots of shops and restaurants!

 This really is the end of Route 66.

 I had to go get my feet in the Pacific Ocean.  We didn't bring our swimsuits.  What were we thinking?  We had them, they were back at our room.

 Such a flashback to my high school/college days.

 Fruit for sale.  It was great!

 There it is! The Pacific Ocean!

 Time to stick the feet in!

Mike wanted a pier burger so out of the water and time for lunch!  He heard they were good from Dallas.  So here we go!

 Here is our visitor!

 It was crowded so I found a table and Mike ordered.

 The burgers were good.  Mike thought they were great!

Leaving Santa Monica and there were some acrobats.  I wanted to take pictures.  They kept saying, "What time is it?" and "It's time to get started." They said that for about 10 minutes and we finally left for our first Dodger game. As we looked back they still hadn't started.  Maybe they were faking it.

 There it is!!!  There it is!!! We have arrived!

 All so familiar even though I haven't been here for 18 years!  Might have something to do with watching the Dodgers on an almost daily basis on TV.  I was so excited I was a bit teary eyed.

 This is my first in line picture.  We were there before they even let us in the parking lot.  My idea of course.

 I am so ready and so excited.

 Ahhhh!  Dodger Stadium in real life.  We had great seats.  As you can see not everyone has to be there 2 hours before the game.  The Dodgers did not take batting practice and after talking to some of the workers it is very, very difficult to get autographs.  We weren't able to get right down on the field level even 2 hours early.

 They taste different than regular hot dogs.  They really do!

 First Dodger dog in the books or almost eaten!

 Stretching time for the Dodgers!

 Justin Turner and some Mets guy.

 This might be the only picture I took of the Mets!  My focus was elsewhere.

 We sang the National Anthem!

 It's Time for Dodger Baseball!  I could hardly contain myself.  I was finally at a game in Dodger Stadium.  I took a lot of pictures of the team for me.  There are some homers that I tried to catch on camera.

 Chris Taylor

 Justin Turner

 Cody Bellinger

 Puig

 Ryu pitching!

 Bellinger played first base.

 Guitierrez at bat

 Chris Taylor gets on base.

 Swing and

 a home run!

 All the way around the bases.

 Bellinger hits a double and

 Hernandez hits

 a home run!  So fun to watch!

 A game of cat and mouse!  Will he run?

 Time for a conference with the pitcher.

 Joc Peterson is playing in the field now.

 Another conference but this time we get a new pitcher.

 Baez!

  Well, I am not sure if this is exhaustion or too many beers.  Mike thought it was beers.

  Joc comes up to bat and slammed it.

 Home run!

 Cory Seager!

 And now for the big gun!

 Best reliever in the major league.  He has not walked a batter yet.

 Kenley Jansen

We finished up the game and headed back to our room just a short distance away.  So fun to watch the Dodgers hit.  They are so strong and good.  Love the homers.  We have another game tomorrow on our anniversary!  Go Dodgers!