Dodger Spring Training, March '09

Here we are at the Dodgers' new Glendale AZ Spring Training facility, "Camelback Ranch". Last Spring was their last year at "Dodger Town", in Vero Beach, FL. The winter before that Gramma, Becca and I visited there. Good memories
We got to Camelback early--imagine that--before the gates opened. Gramma and Becca waited in the shade at a table where later the "comp" tickets were to be distributed to visiting baseball scouts, etc.
This grey haired guy is one of the actual baseball scouts we met at that table.  He was a scout for the Mets and showed off his World Series Ring.
Here are the Auswanderers seated in Section 114, top row (shade from the hot AZ sun, plus no steps to negotiate--good seats). Photo taken by the fan below after he had us take his picture.
Lots of baseball action in the two games we attended, including many of the new guys trying to make the season roster. We lost the first game by 2 runs but won the second one on an exciting walk off single with a close play at the plate. Go Blue!
This is a view of the boys in blue.  The cameramen are at the left end and the Bat Boy is on the steps at the right.  The Bat Boy had a big job and he was very serious about it.
Drum roll, please. I know you are all relieved that we finally signed Manny for another year. Here he is the morning the deal was finalized, among the first photos taken. He is on the office balcony which overlooks left field--well timed to wave to the Connellys. Exciting moment in our Spring Training Adventure

Super Little Pat

Auntie Pat is known as "Little Pat" to Becca, "Ami" to her grandchildren and during this trying episode in her life she called herself "the fastest moving invalid you ever saw". She got this new name because every time we turn around she is being moved to a new building.The night of her accident the ambulance took her to the nearby Foothill Presbyterian Hospital ER But her serious injuries required a different Protestant hospital. She was taken to the "Methodist Hospital" in Arcadia.Within Methodist she bounced between the ER, the ICU and VIP rooms. Every time we went to see her it seemed like she'd been moved. Then to a rehab place called Country Villa. Her room is actually behind the sign. After a quick return to Methodist ER and a regular room, she was moved here to their "Transitional facility"

Then she took another ambulance ride to El Monteto an Elderly Facility owned by a niece (of her 1st husband Ben) called St. Jude. So now she's in the hands of the Catholics and she feels very safe and well cared for. As you can see, she is up and getting around. Here she is with her Valentine's Day bear we got her.  She named it "Flappy Jacks" after our favorite restaurant. She is supposed to be there for two or three weeks. She can get mail (& photos) sent to St. Jude's Home for Elderly, 4944 Buffington Road, El Monte, CA 91732. When Kelly heard that Super Little Pat had moved again, she suggested that we should get her a cape with the initials S*L*P on it, in recognition of her super hero status as the fastest invalid.  Actually a cape is a great idea. It would be easier for her to put on than a robe.

With the Weather Whiners

As you know we are enduring what SoCal refers to as their "winter". (Salt Lake and New Hampshire, not to mention the Rigby folks would laugh).It doesn't take much rain for the freeway accidents to multiply and interviewed drivers are upset with the rain which makes it difficult to come out of their driveways at 80 mph. They are "Weather Whiners" and I feel at home. Actually I am at home. This is the climate in which I grew up from age 5 to 27.
The local channel Weather Reporters seem to have gone to the Elmer Gantry (Google if you don't know) School of television announcers. Our favorite is Dallas Raines, a big blond guy gesturing broadly before the green screen. He loudly prophesies the weather with the help of a magic device called "Live Megadoppler 7000 HD", which appears on the screen behind him. "Here is the Low in the gulf of Alaska, barreling towards the Southland bringing the Mother of all rainstorms. (Can we hear an Amen?!) It is bringing with it Very Cold temperatures--with highs in the 50ies and at night lows down into the 40s. (Alleluia!!)"

"Here is a shot outside Bigfoot of the Big Rain--pretty intense--yeah?

On the distant San Gabriel Mountains is the SoCal snow which effects only those who choose to drive up there. For the rest of us it is a pretty background.

Think Blue

The Winter of our Discontent draws to a close with the coming of Spring Training. Hooray. I know you all join me in concern that Manny Ramirez has not yet signed. But we are hopeful. Dodger Stadium is the place to refresh our game gear. So we took a little road trip to Chavez Ravine.


The immense parking lot not only has direction signs...


but they have given you, not the Yellow Brick Road, but a Dodger Blue Line to follow to the gift shop

From the top of the stadium parking lot, you have a good view of downtown LA

And here is the famous LA City Hall

From the pavilion outside of the Gift Shop, you have a great view of the ball field. As you know, Spring Training games won't be here, nor in "Dodger Town", in Vero Beach. For the first time they will play in Glendale, AZ in their new Camelback Ranch facility. We hope to take in a couple of games there

Becca will wear her new Russell Martin Jersey

And I will have to decide between my new Brooklyn Dodger hat and my new authentic Dodger cap. In the distance you can see our Summer motto: "Think Blue"

A Grand Slam

In baseball, as you know, a "Grand Slam" is a homerun, hit when the bases are loaded. It is a very big deal in baseball circles at every level. When I was in Little League, I hit two Grand Slams and I was written up in the Rialto Record, our local newspaper. But I digress. The Grand Slam in this blog is the name Denny's restaurant gives to a breakfast dish that they serve.

As part of Denny's Super Bowl ads, they invited America to Breakfast for a free Grand Slam. Maybe you heard about it?


We weren't the only ones in our area to hear about it, so there was a line out into the parking lot. You might be able to see Becca and me standing in line, as Mom was the photog. Someone behind us complained about the hot sun. Someone else said, "Think about the people standing in line around the country in the snow" Were any of them you?

Here is the picture of their Gland Slam in their full page ad in USA Today, my newspaper. Mom is concerned about the name. Why did they name it Grand Slam? Maybe it's because with eggs, pancakes, sausage and bacon it covers all the bases. Does anybody know? Incidentally, all eggs, unlike the picture, were scrambled, but we didn't complain

Becca and I are holding the menu showing the regular price of the slam--about $6. Below you can see Mom getting her $6 worth. Good fun!