One more for the road

Tomorrow I'll be leaving my oasis in the desert to head home to, what I'm hearing is, snowy Colorado. Just when the local Phoenix radio stations are forecasting the first 90 degree temps of the year. Oh well... Last year we had 90's and 100's during Spring Training but as I've mentioned in recent blogs this year's Spring has been a little cool down here in the desert Southwest.

This morning I was up before the crack of dawn in order to, well, film the crack of dawn. Dawn and dusk are known as the golden hours for photographers and the desert offers its own perspective on that. When I'm freezing back home wondering what happened to Spring (it is almost April after all), the desert at dawn and dusk is what I'll most cherish from this trip. For those still enjoying the winter wonders of late March here's a quick glimpse of what you've been missing...

Closing day Spring Training 2018

They say it ain’t over until... well, you know.  I don’t know about that, but yesterday was a wrap for Arizona Spring Training at Surprise Stadium. They packed a lot into one game as it saw the Kansas City Royals taking on, and ultimately losing to, the Chicago Cubs whose fans, as I’ve mentioned before, tend to pack the stadium. They didn’t disappoint yesterday as the announced attendance topped 11,000 which fills every seat in the stadium and the lawn seats as well. I suspect a lot of fans elected not to actually sit in the overcrowded grass areas so it was really standing room only for this one.

It was also the annual Thank You lunch that the Stadium puts on for the Sundancers volunteers, or as they are referred to in the stadium - the yellow shirts. If you attend a game at Surprise you won’t be able to miss them. From parking attendants to ticketing, to monitoring the stands and hosting the 50/50 Raffle this volunteer group helps raise funds for needy causes and has awarded more than one million dollars in scholarships to area youth in recent years. If I lived in the area this is an organization I’d join in a heartbeat. They definitely add a special character to the atmosphere at Surprise Stadium and a nicer and more helpful bunch of folks you could not meet.

One of the worst kept secrets is that a lot of Spring Training merchandise is deeply discounted the last day as the vendor would rather move it than pack it and save it for next year. Thus the Pro Shop was full with fans for most of the game and by the end was looking pretty darn empty. I’ll be helping close down things over the next couple of days before making my way back north to Denver. It feels like it was just yesterday I was departing home in a snowstorm and from what I’m hearing weatherwise I may be returning the same way.

If you’ve been reading some of these blogs thanks for tagging along for Spring Training 2018 Arizona style. Hopefully we can take it all in again in 2019!

A march of a different kind

Yesterday saw High School students from around the country and around the globe march in protest of gun violence. Regardless of where you stand on this issue I think everyone might concede how sad it is that High Schoolers actually have to take to the streets of America because they no longer feel safe in school. My wife graduated from Columbine several years prior to the shootings there and I can remember marching with several thousand others afterwards in honor of the victims. Back then we were naive enough to think ‘never again’ yet school shootings have reached a crescendo where they happen on almost a monthly basis. I applaud the High Schoolers for actively trying to change things for the better but fear that the lesson they may learn is that politics - scratch that - politicians -really do follow the money and that the powers that be in this country are willing, as is apparent through their actions, or more precisely, inactions, to bear the sacrifice of dead young people on the altar of gun rights.

Another type of walk was occurring yesterday at the same time the High Schoolers were taking their literal and figurative steps towards positive change. This one involved young people as well but was in a far happier vein. Surprise Stadium brought in hundreds of Little Leaguers to be recognized before the assembled baseball faithful in celebration of these kids simple love of the game they play. From kids as young as 5 and 6 years old on up they marched in, eyes gawking at the crowded stadium. One can only imagine what a thrill it had to be for the kids as they took in their surroundings. For most it was their one chance to be on a Major League field actually dressed to play ball. It was especially cool when some of the Major Leaguers  came out of the dugouts to spontaneouly high five the kids. Too soon they will grow up and follow in the footsteps of their High School brethren as they move on from innocent pursuit of games to  the necessities of a world where people will try to kill them as they simply sit in a classroom.

May they enjoy their innocence for as long as they can.

For the love of the game...

Yesterday the LA Dodgers took on, and seriously trounced, the KC Royals at Surprise Stadium while more than 9,000 fans took on what seemed like the first really hot day of the season. I’ve mentioned before how nice I think Surprise Stadium is and am hard pressed to imagine working Spring Training at any other Arizona Ball Park. I’ve tried to share the sights and sounds through this blog but of course nothing compares to actually being there so if you ever have the chance to take in a game in Surprise I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity.

One distinct advantage of working the games is that I have had the chance to see the stadium both when it’s full and when it’s empty and I’m torn between which I prefer. The crowds are exciting and the atmosphere electric with all the fans excited to see their favorite team yet there’s a serenity to the pre-game Ball Park that exudes a sense of peace and quiet anticipation of things to come. I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring Surprise Stadium in these quiet moments and have seen things that most likely get lost in the hustle and bustle of the crowds. If you do visit Surprise Stadium walk the concourse under the second story stands and take in the signs with varying quotes attesting to the things that make baseball one of America’s favorite pastimes. Whether it’s the crack of the ball or the sound of the umpire announcing “Steerike!”, the smell of hotdogs or the taste of an ice cold beer on a hot day, the players along the baselines in tune with thousands of their fans as they listen, and sometimes sing along, to the Star Spangled Banner, the collective gasp as a player is called safe or out, there’s a lot to be said for watching grown men swing bats at little white balls. Here’s a short snippet of some of those quotes. Some you may recognize, some you may not, but each resonates the spirit of the game. May that banner yet wave over Spring Training where all teams are equal and hope springs eternal.

The wind does blow in Arizona

The desert at night is usually a quiet place but occasionally that changes. Last night, after the Texas Rangers took on the Cincinnati Reds, I returned to a wee bit of a wind storm at the White Tank campground. I could swear even the giant Saguaro Cactus were swaying in the breeze and my poor camper seemed to want to tip over. We’ve all heard of ‘small dog alerts’ when the winds kick up but in the desert I’d guess it’s the ‘large coyote alert’ as I didn’t hear a single howl all night long. What I did hear was tent fabric flapping in the gusts. The White Tank mountains are to the west of the campground and the sound of the wind flying down from the ridges sounded like ocean surf. Of course, being in any tent in a windstorm, especially at night, sounds like a hurricane when you’re trying to get some shuteye but that’s the joy of camping. As Mr. Gump said “Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re going to get”. Camping certainly lives up to that and you have to be willing to enjoy the occasional rough night.

I’m usually up at the crack of dawn which in these parts is around 6:30, mainly in an effort to beat the line at the shower but with almost no sleep last night I slept in until the ungodly late hour of 8 o’clock. They say that when life gives you lemons you should make lemonade so in that spirit here’s a quick glance at the clouds as they whiz by my camper this morning...

Busy, busy, busy....

Who knew being retired could be so much work. The Spring Training season is winding down with only a week or so to go. We’ve had a couple of doubleheaders and more night games than last year. The Arizona weather that all the loyal fans have paid good money to experience has largely been absent. Not that it’s snowing here in the desert Southwest but temps have remained much cooler than normal according to the locals. Still 60 degree days and 50 degrees for the night games isn’t bad considering what the folks from the Midwest (and it’s largely a Midwest and Texas crowd we see here in Surprise) left behind at home but if one thing has been true it’s that the folks buying the merchandise for the Pro Shops should have bought more of its sweatshirts and long-sleeve shirts. Come the 5th inning at the night games and we see a steady line of shivering souls all sunburned from the Arizona sun coming in and looking for s9mething to keep them warm for the rest of the game.

The Chicago Cubs were in town for a game last week and their fans always seem to fill the stadium. Surprise Stadium has a capacity at just over 10,000 and the attendance for the Cubs game was 10,200. Here’s a quick peek at some of the fun...

My wife (AKA the love of my life, or as she says my FAR better half) was in town for her Spring break. She enjoyed her time hiking and biking

in the desert warmth (not yet desert HEAT) but alas I had the sad duty of shuttling her to the airport for her return flight to Denver yesterday morning. The Phoenix Airport has easy drop off and pickup of passengers but finding your way through Phoenix rush hour on I-10 is not quite the joy you might imagine. Still I was sorry to see her go but happy (sorry honey💑) it was her returning to 25 degrees (now that’s cold) and 5 inches of snow. She promises me that I’ll get a snowstorm or two, or three, upon my return to Denver in April and of course opening day for the Colorado Rockies is often snowed out so I have lots to look forward to. Speaking of which the Rockies made their second appearance this season at Surprise Stadium where they beat up on the Texas Rangers 5-0. Each season I see some familiar faces from my former work life and it was nice to see Paul , who I worked with, in town to catch a game or two. People always ask if I miss working and my only comment is that I miss the people for I was fortunate to work with a great group during most of my career.

Well, got to to get ready for tonight’s game at 6:05 and, sorry fans, you can’t buy MY sweatshirt no matter what you offer me. Oh, i guess i still have time for a quick bike ride. Busy, busy, busy...

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...

Most folks who visit Arizona, and in particular the Phoenix area, probably don’t put much thought into the part of town they are in. Just as in the Denver area with its suburbs such as Littleton, Arvada, Lakewood, etc. Phoenix has Scottsdale, Goodyear, Surprise, and many more. When I first came down to work Spring Training last year I honestly had never heard of Surprise but it’s the kind of place that makes you understand why so many people are flocking to the desert Southwest to live. At first glance I was mistakenly under the impression that it was primarily a retirement community and in fact there are a lot of seniors who live here. But Surprise surprises with its vitality and diversity. This year I’ve noticed the number of kids and young families and the community seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Census data put the population of Surprise at 30,000 in 2000 but today it’s grown to more than 117,000. Locals tell me that new elementary and high schools are being built all the time. I know in Denver many municipalities are seeing their populations aging and new families can hardly afford to move into the area due to extravagant home prices. That problem doesn’t seem to have hit Surprise and home prices are probably half to two-thirds the Denver equivalent.

Surprise also seems to be very smart about investing in the community. The parks and libraries are outstanding, the roads and physical infrastructure appear relatively new and well-maintained, and the area is relatively free of trash and very clean. And, for whatever it means, I haven’t seen a single homeless person or panhandler anywhere though I’m sure if I went toward other parts of Phoenix they’d have the same problem Denver has.

So far the only downside I can see, and the locals confirm this, is that the summer heat can be brutal and outdoor activities are fairly limited from April/May through September. Of course that’s the trade off - we’re hearing about the horrible winter conditions in the Northeast while down here temps are pushing 80 degrees. I saw my first rattlesnake out sunning itself yesterday totally oblivious to me as I walked by so I guess if you don’t like such critters this may not be the best place for you. But heck, Colorado has rattlers too.

Anyway, if you do journey down this way you might want to take a close look at the Surprise area - if you do it might just live up to its name.

Snapshots...

Today’s spring training game featured the Texas Rangers hosting the San Francisco Giants. The Giants had a large following for a Monday game and it was close all the way but the Rangers ultimately prevailed 5 to 4. It’s fun when the Rangers win because they have one of the best victory songs (“...don’t mess with Texas...”). One of the advantages of working the games is you get to see the quiet before the game all the way through to the quiet after the game. I like watching the teams doing their warmup and batting practice before the gates open and then after the game seeing the grounds crew in action prepping the field for the next day's game. Tomorrow features our first night game with a 6:05 start and will see the Royals take on San Diego. The night games are a lot of fun down here as they probably are everywhere so I’m looking forward to the game.

It’s also nice to hear the National Anthem at the start of the game. I don’t know about you but the Anthem played at a baseball game seems somehow more meaningful than at a football or basketball game. At Surprise Stadium they highlight the local talent which is nice to see, and hear. Some of these folks have some real pipes. And so far, not a bended knee in sight. Anyway, here are some quick snapshots from today’s outing....

Home Away from Home

February in Arizona, at least according to the locals, turned out to be a little cooler than normal. I already knew that camping in the desert could be chilly as the very dry air rapidly gives up the daytime warmth once the sun goes down. At the White Tank Park campground I’ve been one of the very few tents or pop-up campers and I can attest it gets pretty darn cold in these parts at night.

Most mornings it’s been in the high 30’s and if the wind is blowing it’s tempting to stay snuggled up in the sleeping bag until the sun gets a chance to start warming things up. Still, most mornings I’m up by seven and off to grab a shower. If the campground here has any weakness it’s that there’s only one shower but fortunately most of the folks in the big RV’s seem content to use their own showers most of the time. And not to make it seem that I’m glamping  or anything but the shower actually has hot (v e r y hot) water so by the time I head back to make breakfast I’m nice and toasty and ready for the day.

With my wife still working we haven’t yet invested in an RV so I brought our little Sylvan GO camper which is a glorified pop-up tent that has room to carry everything I need.

The other night we had a full moon and since White Tank is on the west side of town overlooking the Phoenix area we were treated to a spectacular treat as the glowing orb slowly rose over the eastern horizon. There were lots of photographers on hand to capture the view of the desert cacti silhouetted against the moonrise.

I never get tired of looking at the cactus. Just like fingerprints and snowflakes no two cacti (cactuses?) seem to be the same. Silent sentinels of the desert, they are sturdy enough to deal with the chilly nights and then handle the scorching days of summer.

The cactus pictured here are Saguaro cactus and they are very patient. It can take 10 years for a baby Saguaro to reach 1 inch in height and will start flowering at the ripe old age of 70. By the time they reach 95-100 years they are finally ready to produce their first ‘arms’. Some Indian tribes consider the Saguaro not so much a plant but a different type of humanity. Generally they grow to about 40-45 feet tall by age 200 though some can reach 60 to 70 feet with the tallest ever recorded topping out at 78’. As I hike and bike around these quiet behemoths I’ve come to feel a deep sense of respect for the tenuousness, as well as the tenacity, of life in the desert. Perhaps the Saguaro have a lesson to share...