March 25, 2008 Baseball and sunshine
When it's January, 43 degrees, raining, and dark at 6:00 (am or pm), a Northwesterner's mind turns to Spring Training. Anyway, Bob's mind does. So one dreary winter day, Bob dripped in from his morning walk and announced, "We're going to Peoria this Spring"—and here we are. The drive from Las Vegas to Phoenix winds—very slowly—through Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Literally, the two-lane road stops and starts right next to sidewalks full of dam tourists, construction towers, and staggering scenery. Next scenic wonder is the Joshua Tree State Park—full of odd, thorny tree-like plants and the Saguaro cactus, the "Sentinel of the Desert".
Joshua tree (Photo compliments of Flikr)
Saguaro cactus
Lake Mead/Hoover Dam
There are no bad seats at Spring Training. The stadiums are smaller, the seats are close to the action (we saw Ichiro smile at third base), and the sun is very, very hot. All that Puget Sound moss and mold dries up, pale skin that has been under a rock for six months stands out like a ghost amongst the desert tans, and I secretly harbor good thoughts about Tacoma's cool, misty weather. We've been four times—one lovely night game, three 90 degree afternoon games, and one game yet to come. Tomorrow Ginny, Ron, Claire, and Stephanie (Claire's friend) will be here for few games, and Bob and I will be on the road to San Diego.
Joshua tree (Photo compliments of Flikr)
Saguaro cactus
Lake Mead/Hoover Dam
There are no bad seats at Spring Training. The stadiums are smaller, the seats are close to the action (we saw Ichiro smile at third base), and the sun is very, very hot. All that Puget Sound moss and mold dries up, pale skin that has been under a rock for six months stands out like a ghost amongst the desert tans, and I secretly harbor good thoughts about Tacoma's cool, misty weather. We've been four times—one lovely night game, three 90 degree afternoon games, and one game yet to come. Tomorrow Ginny, Ron, Claire, and Stephanie (Claire's friend) will be here for few games, and Bob and I will be on the road to San Diego.
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