Taking In The Series

Park visited: Rosenblatt Stadium
City: Omaha, NE
Food of the day: Chicken Fajita Burrito @ Chipotle
iPhone song of the day: "Come Down To Me" by Saving Jane
Miles traveled: 15

We have a ridiculously early morning ahead of us, so this post is going to be short and sweet. Minus Kohrs, who was under the weather, the Road Trip crew paid another visit to Rosenblatt on Wednesday night and witnessed the No. 1 team in college baseball (Miami) have its season ended at the hands of the Stanford Cardinal.

We arrived in plenty of time to watch both squads take batting practice, and got insanely close to a few balls that found the bleachers. The park packed 22,000 more people inside tonight, bringing the total attendance thus far in the tournament to over 185,000. That's amazing.

Despite the fact that they boast so many first-round draft picks from the most recent Major League Baseball Draft, I was completely unimpressed with the Hurricanes. They had no emotion or focus during warm-ups. They were lethargic and nonchalant during the game. And when they finally decided to turn on the jets late in the contest, their time had already run out. Kudos to Stanford for taking advantage of such cockiness by Miami and for advancing as another underdog. As it progresses, the World Series is shaping up to be an interesting list of rare teams having success down the stretch.

On another note, my sunglasses broke today. If you have a suggestion on where or what kind I can get (relatively cheap for the time being) that might last a couple more months, I would welcome and appreciate the suggestions.

We are back at it first thing Thursday morning, picking up with Session #2 of the Omaha Slumpbuster Tournament. We're planning on taking yet another trip to Rosenblatt tomorrow night for the elimination game between North Carolina and LSU.

Thanks for reading and goodnight (or good morning/afternoon, depending on when you read this). Talk to you soon.

Until next time,
Minute Maid Strawberry Frozen Lemonade's #1 Fan

God Bless Baseball

Here's another multi-day recap....enjoy:

Monday
Park visited: Council Bluffs Recreation Complex
City: Council Bluffs, IA
Food of the day: Loaded Potato Bites @ Arby's
iPhone song of the day: "I'm Alright" by Terri Clark
Miles traveled: 20

Monday featured some ideal timing and good fortune for Matt and I. Due to the fact that our job responsibilities were not until the evening and the Nates were not getting back to Omaha until later in the afternoon, we were able to watch the historic U.S. Open playoff between Tiger "14 going on 19" Woods and Rocco Mediate in its entirety....and what an event it was.

Not to focus on golf too much, but Tiger is on a level that none have us have ever seen. He will without a doubt pass Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 career major tournament wins, and probably every other significant golf milestone that exists. It's so much fun watching history in front of our eyes, knowing that we will be able to give first-hand accounts of a person who is rewriting the books to our grandkids. On the flip side, it was a true pleasure to see someone like Mediate get a shot at the spotlight. The guy is as down to Earth as you can be in professional sports, and I am happy that he will finally get some strong recognition from the public.

Once we finally got our fill of golf and Nate Squared rolled back into town, we prepared to return to action. There was a little bit of a mix-up in terms of which park we were actually supposed to be at, but we finally righted our ship and made it to the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex. I don't think I've actually explained this very well, but this specific facility is actually located across the Iowa state line. So even though we're technically in Omaha for about two weeks, we are also working an Iowa park.

On this night, the Council Bluffs Park & Recreation was celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their park, as well as the opening ceremonies for Session #2 of the Omaha Slumpbuster Tournament. The evening was similar to the La Vista Complex from last week, with a bunch of different vendors and exhibits, including GameSports who had a couple of interactive video games set up on a pair of plasma TVs. There was also some live music on a pretty big stage, courtesy of "The Sound Effects." It was definitely nice having some background "noise" while we unloaded, etc. The kids and families were extremely lively, which made the night very enjoyable and go by quickly.

We stopped at a local gas station/truck stop that also housed an Arby's for some late night feasting. It was nice having all four of us back together, and what better way to reunite than over some roast beef sandwiches.


Tuesday
Park visited: Rosenblatt Stadium
City: Omaha, Nebraksa
Food of the day: Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade @ Rosenblatt
iPhone song of the day: "I Wanna Grow Old With You" by Westlife
Miles traveled: 15

Following a late night in Council Bluffs, Tuesday was an off day for the Road Trip, and we took advantage of the free time to catch up on our news, fantasy teams and video games (well, Kohrs did anyway). Heck, even Clink took the time to find out that Tim Russert had died....four days ago. The surprise in his voice when he read the headline reminded me of when Jim Carrey gets excited in "Dumb & Dumber" over the United States space race..."We landed on the MOON!!"

During the afternoon, we drove around for an hour attempting to find two local Golden Corral restaurants. Upon arrival to both, however, we discovered that not only were they closed, but they were not even functional. Quite disappointing. We settled for a Valentino's (local pizza/pasta joint) buffet, and it was equally disappointing. Maybe we'll have better luck with lunch tomorrow.

Tonight, we caught the shuttle from our hotel to Rosenblatt Stadium to catch the Fresno State vs. North Carolina winner's bracket game. It was an exceptional game that the Bulldogs eventually won 5-3 (sorry Pat), and the atmosphere was spectacular. The announced attendance of over 23,000 made the experience extremely memorable, and I think we all look forward to the remainder of the tournament. I actually will be doing a "fan experience" piece on the College World Series for "Baseball Youth" magazine, so I won't say too much here and will be sure to share my article(s) with you once they are complete.

I suppose that's about all for now. We continue to have a good time meeting new people and adding more experiences not only to this trip, but to our life list as well. Thank you for taking the time to follow our progress....I hope you are enjoying the ride! Talk to you soon.

Until next time,
Chris

Father's Day On The Road

Park visited: Henry Doorly Omaha Zoo
City: Omaha, Nebraksa
Food of the day: Half Pound Fire Grill Burger @ Stokes Grill & Bar
iPhone song of the day: "My Best Friend" by Tim McGraw
Miles traveled: 20

There are certain days of the year that are tougher to be away from home than others, and today definitely falls into that category. Today the nation celebrated Father's Day, a chance for sons and daughters to pay tribute to the men who played such a significant role in their lives as a mentor, role model, wrestling partner and friend.

In actuality, I "blame" my Dad for me being on this trip. Since my conception, he has raised me as an avid sports fan....especially when it comes to the wonderful game of baseball. But that's not the only thing he's taught me during my 25-plus years. My Dad has set the ideal example for me on both a personal and professional level, always asking me for my best, not allowing me to make excuses or to form regrets and driving home the fact that first impressions are crucial, that articulating and speaking crisply and firmly is essential and that even though the initial pain might sting, you'll always get over a girl.

I honestly do consider myself to be the luckiest son in the world to have a father (and a mother) who is also my best friend. The laughs and memories that we've shared during our time together would undoubtedly equate to multiple lifetimes of a common father-son relationship. Because he supports me unconditionally, I know he'll be reading this at some point, so Dad....Happy Father's Day and thanks for everything. I love you.

As for the daily happenings in the world of the Road Trip, Sunday was an off day for us, which allowed me the opportunity to meet up with and spend the day with a friend with whom I have a very unique and special relationship with. Sara Bailey and I clicked as buddies during our time at Murray State, and I have always appreciated her loyalty as a friend and dedication to keeping in touch and her sincere concern for my well-being and success.

Since she lives in Lincoln, Nebraska (about an hour from Omaha), she made the drive down this morning so that we could visit and catch up. Luckily the expected storms in the area occurred and passed through in the morning, since our main plan included the Omaha Zoo. By the time we made our way down Highway 80 around noon, the weather was perfect and allowed us to follow through with our trip. The zoo is located directly across the street from Rosenblatt Stadium, so imagine the chaos on those side streets with thousands of people packing the streets for the World Series games, and hundreds of families lining up to enter the zoo on Father's Day.

We eventually made our way inside after getting an amazing parking spot, which I'm convinced we could have sold for about $50. Sara and I started off our visit by catching the IMAX film "Wild Ocean 3D" on the giant screen (not as big as the St. Louis IMAX, as Sara pointed out) inside a relatively empty theatre. The movie was actually very good, even though we had to wear these exaggeratedly oversized 3D glasses that made us look like the love children of Orville Redenbacher and that old dancing guy from the Six Flags commercials.

Following the flick, we began our trek around the giant zoo grounds, and proceeded to visit every exhibit and to see every animal possible during our near four and a half hour stay. Sara was not a big fans of the insects or the sharks, but did enjoy the penguins and the monkeys (see a video below of some of the monkeys in action). Some of the highlights included an elephant that had fallen asleep standing up while leaning against a huge row of wooden posts, me holding and feeding various birds on my fingers, a trip through the "Desert Dome," which is the large structure that is visible behind the right field wall of Rosenblatt during games on ESPN, Sara mistaking African Hunting Dogs for Hyenas and the lions.

After the two of us had successfully walked about five miles of steep upward hills and sweat ourselves into states of uncomfortableness, we decided that we had conquered the Omaha Zoo. Seriously though, this was one of the best I've ever been to. They feature every animal imaginable and every internal structure included layouts and artificial habitats that were very, very impressive.

Hungry and looking to cool off, we drove downtown to the Old Market area, a neat part of Omaha that has cobblestone roadways, shops and an array of interesting restaurants and cafes. We chose Stokes Grill & Bar and it really hit the spot. I don't know what it is about fountain cherry cokes, but I am sucker for them. After initially ordering a water, I saw a "Black Cherry Cola" drink listed, and I couldn't contain myself from getting one. I'm pretty sure it was on the kid's portion of the menu, but I don't care. I proceeded to down it in about four solid drinks and resisted from an ordering another one when our half surprised, half disgusted waitress returned to find that it was already gone.

Following a fulfilling meal and some good conversation, Sara brought me back to the hotel so that she could get back home. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit and was happy that my travels allowed me to be so close to a friend who is normally so far away! Tonight I watched Tiger do his thing at the U.S. Open (didn't I mention yesterday that he's pretty good?) and actually was able to access the Internet from my room for about two hours until the network decided to take long nap yet again. *Sigh*

Tomorrow the "Nate Squared" duo rejoins the team after their weekend excursion to Kentucky, and hopefully our plans will include watching the 18-hole playoff between Tiger and Rocco Mediate for the U.S. Open Championship. Until then, I am going to enjoy my last night of going solo in my own bed and look forward to reporting back to you again tomorrow.

Have a great Monday folks. And if you didn't do it today, please take a moment now to call your parents and thank them for everything they've done for you.

Holler if you hear me (that's for you Belmonte),
Christopher

Whirlwind Nebraska Tour

This entry comes to you live from the lobby of the Clarino (formerly Clarion) hotel in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite the fact that WiFi and Internet are supposed to be accessible from all rooms, I was told by the front desk earlier that my room was too far from the network. What? Too far away? Then either extend the radius of the wireless capability or close the rooms that are "too far." And either way, PLEASE don't advertise free WiFi in "every" room if that is indeed not really the case.

On top of that, the hotel pool is closed for the next two weeks. The TV set in the room continues to mysteriously shut off every 45 minutes or so. And I will apparently have to sit on a rock hard couch for the next 10 days if I want to update this blog. Ugh. Oh well....these are simply some of the bad beats that you run the risk of incurring during such a lengthy trip on the road.

These past few days have been absolutely crazy, so let's get you updated...

Thursday
Park visited: La Vista Sports Complex
City: Omaha, Nebraksa
Food of the day: Chicken Finger Basket @ Dairy Queen
iPhone song of the day: "Silver Thunderbird" by Jo Dee Messina
Miles traveled: 177

Thursday was arguably the longest day of the trip work-wise since we set forth on our journey in May. After packing up and saying adieu to the windy surroundings of Kansas City, the Road Trip set its sight on the Cornhusker State - Nebraska. With no time to spare, we drove straight to the La Vista Sports Complex for the opening ceremonies of the Omaha Slumpbuster Tournament.

It was quite obvious after being in town for just a brief time that Omaha loves it baseball, as we were definitely not alone at this particular facility. Other vendors from various baseball equipment and memorabilia companies were setting up shop, along with concession stands, Hawaiian Shaved Ice carts and professional picture booths where baseball cards, license plates and throw blankets were all being made on site.

The tournament itself drew roughly 90 teams, which in turn attracted the cameras of YSPN and other regional web sites and production trucks who were shooting all the action for steaming feeds, etc. It is very apparent that with the success of the NCAA College World Series in Omaha, that the surrounding cities and counties have worked hard to extend the baseball community, in essence developing the town into a true baseball mecca.

We worked the Slumpbuster at La Vista from about noon until 11 p.m. on Thursday night. During our long day, we literally handed out thousands of baseball cards and pieces of Airheads candy, and I probably assisted in the testing of Louisville Slugger's 2009 line of bats for easily 300 kids. Later in the evening, we met a lovely lady named Ellen who happened to be running the shaved ice stand. She was nice enough to share the leftovers of her product with us, and was so thrilled to hear about the trip we were in the middle of. During our discussion, I also learned that her son plays for the Columbus Crew soccer team in Ohio, and that their last name is "Junge." She couldn't believe that my last name was so close. It was a neat conversation to say the least, and it's obvious that there are many like Ellen in this city who have much pride for their town.

After packing up and nearly 11 hours of being on our feet under the blazing sun, our night really began. Scott was flying into town that evening to assist in tournaments during the weekend, so we drove to the Omaha airport to pick him up. From there, we drove just over an hour to Lincoln, where Clink & Kohrs would be flying out of at 6:20 a.m. the next morning, so that they could attend the wedding of a close friend. By the time we reached our hotel in Lincoln, we didn't get to sleep until close to 2 a.m.

Friday
Park visited: Council Bluffs Recreation Complex
City: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Food of the day: Hot Dog from Council Bluffs Recreation Complex
iPhone song of the day: "Still Fighting It" by Ben Folds
Miles traveled: 90

After only about four and a half hours of quick sleep, Matt, Scott and I got up around 6:30 a.m. and drove back to Omaha to pick up some packages from our new hotel and headed straight for Council Bluffs, Iowa (located pretty close to the Nebraska state line) for the Road to Omaha Tournament at the Council Bluffs Recreation Complex. And just as La Vista had done, this place was equally decked out and ready for some awesome baseball action.

We couldn't get set up fast enough, as players and coaches were swarming to rent out the new bats, and the players' siblings, some of whom had already seen us at previous tournaments, were already abuzz about the booths they knew we were in the process of setting up.

Despite being two men down, the three of us were extremely efficient and had the tents up and running in no time. We were also joined by several Louisville Slugger representatives who set up their own booth next door. Their presence was helpful in assisting coaches and parents who had more specific and detailed questions pertaining to the bats, gloves and other gear we had laid out for display.

I got my first crack at driving the SUV/trailer combination (much to the delight of my always-concerned mother while any of her children are on the road when I told her later on) by driving to Wal-Mart to pick up some additional extension cords and drinks for our cooler. And of course my first route with 40 feet of vehicle included the narrowest lanes I've ever seen even for a normal car, as local construction was going on seemingly at every exit ramp and intersection. I eventually did find my way and made it back (myself and the Armada/trailer) all in one piece.

For lunch, I had the best little league concession stand hot dog that I have EVER consumed. They definitely do it right and I would recommend you going by there some time just to pick up a dog for lunch. Well done, Council Bluffs. The late afternoon was upsetting after I got the news from my Mom that Tim Russert had died. As a somewhat experienced and always aspiring journalist, I have always viewed Russert as a true mentor and role model. His wholesome demeanor and common "Joe" approach to the usual doubleheaded monster of politics and media was overwhelmingly refreshing during his days on NBC, and I can't imagine watching the next five months or so of election coverage without hearing his comforting voice or seeing his contagious grin as he discusses a topic he knew so well and loved so much. My condolences and prayers go out to his family, who MUST be devastated this Father's Day weekend.

We finally hit the proverbial wall late in the afternoon, and finally decided to call it a day around 6 p.m. or so. By the time we got back to the hotel, I think the combination of no sleep, crappy diet and consecutive hours in the sun decided to take their toll all at once, as I was overcome by what we like to refer to in my family as "don't feel good." I sent Matt and Scott off to dinner without me and immediately went into my Rem cycle as soon as my head hit all three pillows on the bed. It's amazing how much you take for granted having a bed all to yourself. Try sleeping next to someone else who isn't your spouse or significant other every night for a month, and you'll quickly know what I mean.

I woke up to Matt knocking/calling from the hallway, as his room key had malfunctioned. The guys were nice enough to bring me some food back from Charley's Restaurant, and the combination of it and the rest I had just taken advantage of helped me to feel MUCH better. But after eating and drinking some ice cold bathroom sink water (and one more botched attempt to access the Clarino Internet), I was right back to sleep ;)

Saturday
Park visited: Council Bluffs Recreation Complex/Rosenblatt Stadium
City: Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraksa
Food of the day: Sausage Pizza @ Valentino's
iPhone song of the day: "The Distance" by Evan & Jaron
Miles traveled: 25

After the most sleep I've gotten since we began this trip, I woke up refreshed and feeling good on Saturday morning. One of the things I've noticed since we've been gone is that with the weird schedule we keep, I can NEVER remember what day of the week it is....literally. And today certainly did not feel like a Saturday; in fact, I don't even know what it felt like. I really think they are all staring to just run together.

Anyway, after inhaling a McDonald's Southern Style Chicken sandwich on the way back to the park, we arrived for our last day in Council Bluffs. As soon as we turned the corner, parked the trailer and began unloading, there were masses of children running to the spot we had been the previous day, already forming a line before the first table even hit the ground. They didn't seem to mind waiting, and by the time we actually WERE set up and open for "business," we had lines as long as they have been during our trip. We even recruited a couple of regulars to run our Airheads booth. Child labor at its finest.

Because of more heavy winds (I thought we had LEFT Kansas City) and a few moments that involved an unstable tent, we were forced to disassemble our village, much to the disappointment of our young customers. It's funny watching the persistence of kids even when we tell them we are closed and actually begin to put our equipment away. As I stood in the trailer to rearrange some of the boxes, I heard some children on the sidewalk attempting to spin one of the prize wheels that had already been taken apart....free candy, baseball cards and t-shirts make these young'ins crazy!

After our day in Council Bluffs, we made our way out to Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, the home of the NCAA College World Series to try and catch the Georgia-Florida State opening round game. The atmosphere was absolutely electric around the field, and there were many similarities between it and the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. The neighboring area is full of tents and makeshift bars, with games of beer pong taking place right on the sidewalk. The merchandise tents and booths were booming and people were in every direction. Unfortunately with our general admission tickets, we had no luck getting in tonight, but we have plenty of time to see a lot more of the remaining games.

After so many long days, we enjoyed a relaxing night in the hotel with good pizza, some Mountain Dew and some of the greatest PGA major championship putts I've ever seen from Tiger Woods. As Pat said so eloquently during our conversation earlier, "he is the greatest golfer we will ever see." It's fun being so young, yet competent enough to realize that we are witnessing history every time Tiger hits the links, and knowing that as time marches on, he will shatter every golfing record that exists. I'm not sure why people insist on rooting against him. He's not a bad guy. He has overcome a lot with hard work and strong values. And even though he does win almost every time he competes, he does so with such a touch of class and professionalism, that it doesn't become annoying like Duke, the Yankees or Kobayashi. Yes, even professional hot dog eating can cause a man to become arrogant. What a country.

Now, it's time for me to return to the room. I've received a lot of strange looks, the front desk worker continues to flash some creepy eyes at me, and an intoxicated LSU baseball fan just asked if he could come join me for some online poker. I think that's my cue to call it a night.

Before I go, I am curious about your opinion on a topic: instant replay in baseball. Yes or no? I know the stance of one ironing redhead in Palma, and I'm curious to hear what the rest of you think. Love ya, Mrs. Clark ;)

Thanks for reading everybody. Good night and good luck.

Until next time,
The guy in the lobby

K.C. Yuh

Park visited: Kaufmann Stadium
City: Kansas City, Missouri
Food of the day: $1 Hot Dog (from Buck Night) @ Kaufmann Stadium
iPhone song of the day: "I Still Believe In Love" by Blessid Union of Souls
Miles traveled: 42

I will listen to and agree with arguments all day long that designate the Cleveland Indians as THE hard luck team of Major League Baseball (besides the Chicago Cubs). But with first-hand observation tonight at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, I must say that I would take 100 Game 7 losses in the World Series before I would EVER consider being a full-time Royals fan. Oh. My. God.

The team is just awful. The atmosphere is worse. And even upon entering the ballpark, the contagious negative vibe just soaks into your skin. It's horrendous. I feel so bad for people who have to suffer through the "New. Blue. Tradition." Apparently, however, they offer "Buck Nights" pretty often, which allows fans to enjoy $1 hot dogs, peanuts and soft drinks....I have to imagine that is a huge draw for people looking for an excuse to come watch a team play who has a lion with a crown growing out of its head as its mascot.

Luckily we were able to take advantage of the cheap dogs Wednesday night (as well as the $7 tickets for college night) during our visit to the Big K. While I do talk poorly about the Royals, at the end of the day it is live baseball at the park, and there is really nothing better.

The Royals' game against the Rangers capped a pretty lazy day in Kansas City, where the most energy of the day was exerted by us driving to find a Chinese restaurant and Nate "Chocolate Thunder/Ft. Thomas Flyer" Kohrs buying us some toothpaste at Wal-Mart since he's been secretly using mine and Clink's since Orlando.

Tonight was our last night in Missouri. Tomorrow we make our way for Omaha, Nebraska, and eventually the NCAA College World Series! I hope you enjoyed tonight's entry, and I encourage you to stop by regularly to follow along with our journey. Thanks for reading and go Royals! (ugh).

Until next time,
CMJ

Three And Out At Tiffany Hills

Park visited: Tiffany Hills Sports Complex
City: Kansas City, Missouri
Food of the day: Turkey Carver Sandwich @ Boston Market
iPhone song of the day: "All I Want" by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Miles traveled: 10

I can't really think of a better way to unwind after a long day than with a cool shower and a Route 44 cup full of Sonic ice.

Today began with some laundry at Dugan's Coin Laundromat, and since it was too short notice to fly my parents into Kansas City to do all of our laundry for us again, we had to be big boys and do it on our own. The process wasn't bad, but I never enjoy the folding portion....especially matching the socks. Oh well. It's done now.

We grabbed lunch at Boston Market in the afternoon (even though I thought they had closed all their stores), ran back to the hotel to get our game gear on and headed back to Tiffany Hills for some USSSA league play - our last night at the complex. The evening began as slow as we've experienced thus far on our trip, but business picked up steadily as the night went on.

After we got the trailer packed up, we took advantage of one of the empty fields with some batting practice and infield under the lights. Standing in the outfield grass, ripping grass out of the ground and throwing it in the air, smacking my glove and enjoying the solitude of the empty space with the K.C. wind breezing past my face really made me feel at ease tonight, and taking hacks at the plate under the lights made me wish even more that I could go back and replay my little league career all over again. I have a suspicion that no matter how old somebody gets, the youthful exuberance one feels when they step on a baseball diamond will occur forever.

Now I'm headed to bed and feeling good after C.C. Sabathia's complete game shutout tonight for the Indians....especially considering that he is on my fantasy team and that I'm playing Clink this week. I'm so easily amused.

Goodnight and thanks for reading,
Chris

Little League Tournaments Require Full Family Committment

Park visited: Tiffany Hills Sports Complex
City: Kansas City, Missouri
Food of the day: Chocolate Mousse Pothole @ Sheridan's
iPhone song of the day: "The Coast Is Clear" by Scotty Emerick
Miles traveled: 10

It was another early morning in Kansas City with a full slate of tournament semi-final and championship games scheduled at Tiffany Hills. Once again the wind was a ginormous factor and once again slowed down our set-up process. Luckily Frank hooked us up with some cement buckets, which prevented another tent casualty from occurring.

There are usually a couple of moments during the course of our site stops that stand out as memorable or thought provoking. Today I was particularly touched by a girl who came up to the booth with a black t-shirt and in glitter were the words "Baseball Player's Sister." And even though it was a simple few seconds that involved an article of clothing the young girl probably didn't even know she was wearing, I was reminded that a youth baseball player is not the only one who makes a commitment to the crazy schedule of traveling, competitive baseball - it requires an equal amount of dedication and effort from the parents, the grandparents and maybe most significantly, the siblings.

In reality, the (usually) younger brothers and sisters are thrust into this roller coaster of games, practices, traveling, camps and lessons. They are expected to go along for the ride and to be in attendance regardless of whether or not they really want to be there. And despite asking so much of those who are so young, the pride that kids have for their older brothers is incredible to watch on their faces....or on a t-shirt like the one I mentioned before or "Frankie's Little Sister and #1 Fan."

In conclusion, today's "moment," combined with this blog entry reminds me of how thankful I am for all the years that my two younger sisters were so supportive of me during my seemingly never ending years of crazy baseball functions, such as the aforementioned schedule and list of responsibilities that come with the decision to join the little league, an All-Star team or traveling squad. Lindsie and Lauren were always willing to go with the flow, never complained and were constantly proud of their big brother's accomplishments on the field. I am blessed that I had (and continue to have) sisters who are also my friends and who never resented me even if I might have been hogging the weekends on the baseball diamond. If you're reading....thanks girls ;)

Tonight we had dinner at Outback Steakhouse, went to Blockbuster to rent a movie (where Clink and I also played a couple rounds of Rock Band....that game is uh-DICTING!) and got a little dessert at Sheridan's Frozen Custard. As you read above, the Chocolate Mousse Pothole is my "Food of the Day," and I couldn't have a better one. This thing was delicious and I give it my full endorsement.

Tomorrow we have the day off, so we will more than likely get organized and maybe do some laundry before our trip continues on later this week. Have a wonderful start to your week and please feel free to pass on www.chrisjung.com to anyone you think might be interested. Thanks for reading!

Until next time,
Chris