Jimbo

Per usual, I always leave off one thing. Always was curious about the often talked about surrounding neighborhood. Had to see for myself. Not Hampton Avenue bad, but not quite 'Stallis, either. Scottsdale was the initial location I inquired about hotels. Talk about sticker shock. Thought about driving the surface streets, but I thought 30 miles of it would be too much. Also noticed the lack of cupholders first thing. Would have been nice not to worry about spilling my drink under my seat, but not a big deal.

Just returned after traveling around AZ and seeing two games. My trip report, feel free to mark for future reference: Phoenix traffic is crazy. Closer to Chicago style vs Milwaukee style. I wasn't aware the PHO metro area is 2.5-3.0x the population of MKE. We stayed in Chandler, the hotel prices weren't too insane. The surface roads there were six-lane boulevards, freshly paved and no pot holes. Easy to get around. Plan to arrive at Am Fam Fields 90 minutes prior to first pitch. Approach from 51st Ave. If you arrive any later, save yourself some grief and just park in the neighborhood immediately to the east. You are not allowed to enter the lot from 53rd Ave. They practiced until 11:45 prior to 1:05 home games. Didn't see any big leaguers, but it was fun to listen to the banter between the instructor and players. Bunting practice was the most entertaining, followed by the AAA rotation taking batting practice. The odd sections are on the first-base side. Sections 101-104 get most of the shade. The concession stands are staffed by Grand Canyon University students. Making small talk with a fan and he mentioned GCU has a hotel and restaurant run by Hospitality majors. Rooms about $100 a night. Talking with a cousin at the game who lives in Sun City and she mentioned Peoria is a safe area to get a room. Of course, I find this out after the fact. Didn't get a chance to visit any of the eating places mentioned upthread. Sedona is nice to see, but too much like the Dells. A pain to get around. If you go to Grand Canyon National Park, reserve a room at the Yavapai Lodge. That way you can just park your car and not leave campus. There is a dining hall across the road. Everything is within walking distance or a shuttle bus. A solid five hour drive from the Grand Canyon to Chandler. On edit: it's Ave, not St. Roads west of downtown are Avenues, east are Streets.

2000 WIAA state championship game. Racine Case player makes a steal and goes up court and the Bay View coach steps in to knock the ball away. Bench Technical.

Sunday afternoon I leave for my first visit to Arizona. Will be attending the games in Maryvale Thursday and Friday.

Went to sporting event today and had pre-arranged and prepaid to have my name listed on the JumboTron with the other birthday celebrants, like they do every game. Been looking forward to this since the schedule came out in October. Second period comes and goes and no birthday board.

I remember he made a sliding catch in RF in Wrigley for the final out over the Cubs.

I don't recall any bars around the stadium. After the game, everyone just heads to the train station. For lunch spots, we just picked some sidewalk cafe. They are numerous, so no need to pick one out in advance. When you get hungry, just find the one on the nearest corner and grab a quick bite. The Washington Monument is closed for repairs. The National Mall is maybe two miles from Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol.

Ya I don't know why anyone would wear them anywhere other than the beach or pool. Other than that I just find it inappropriate. I agree to all of this. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. Also, they were thongs when I was a kid. You can add locker room along with beach/pool.

I had forgotten about that. Thanks for sharing. 1984 was an awfully forgettable season.

Wisconsin Public Radio had an interesting interview with a Marketing professor Tuesday morning regarding the naming rights. https://www.wpr.org/why-companies-shell-out-big-bucks-naming-rights

So the question begging to be asked: if Maryvale is a place to be avoided, where does one stay? Surprise? Glendale? Goodyear?

Meteorologists on television who say weather warning until 12:00 pm or 12:00 am. There is no 12:00 pm, only 12 noon or 12 midnight.

Outside of the Badgers, high school is the only level of basketball I enjoy watching. And if I want to take in a track meet, that's the way to go. Plus, the two years I was in rural Wisconsin, high school sports was the only show in town.

I still haven't bought in to all this therapy animals at school/at work/in planes/etc, yet. However, I must state college (midterms, papers, projects more so than finals) was way more stressful than what I have experienced in my career.

Penny Marshall (Milwaukee's LaVerne DiFazio) died Monday.

That's because we're talking about...Milwaukee.

Apparently, said dude was pretty infamous, but I sure didn't remember him from 1980. I visited the site in 2000 and he is remembered. Dude's name is easy to remember: Harry Truman.

He had one, maybe two of those in the state championship game. Much to the chagrin to the Stevens Point fans. Didn't appreciate at the time the quickness he possessed.

I remember that episode and learned that was to be a spin off...just yesterday. MeTV aired "Brady Christmas" on Sunday and while browsing Brady Brunch on Wikipedia learned of that tidbit.

Yeah, I saw a link to an article on my Linked In feed. It seems the only people capable of this are the ones in the Silicon Valley field. I'm an engineer, DINKs, live frugally and maybe I can retire at 62.

Yes, I've read this in the paper as well in the last year. Yes, income inequality is increasing as the manufacturing base has been disappearing. But one thing among the crowd who speak out to this is that they don't address the fact that white-collars are now marrying other white-collars, concentrating the wealth. Decades ago a doctor would be willing to marry Suzy Homemaker. Not so anymore.

He was a key reserve on my Rotisserie team back in 1993.

If I could pull it off, work full time until 62. Work half time (20/wk or 25 wk/yr) from 62 until 70 either through contract work or permanent part-time work. Doubt it will happen, so sometime between 62 and 65.

Arbitrators tend to look at old school stats and not money ball metrics. This wouldn't work in the Brewers' favor.

Baseball in October means playoffs. Catching a cold in the fall means watching Brewer playoffs while fighting off a cold. Possibly my first cold during any season. Ugh.