Florida and Spring Training

Luke and I were given the opportunity to join his parents in Florida  for 4 days to see opening day for the
St. Louis Cardinal's spring training league.  We were super thrilled.  So we packed our bags and boarded a plane for sunny Florida.  Now, for those of you who know me, I don't do well on planes.  I think of them as flying torture chambers.  I'm a bit of a control freak (I'm working on it) and would like to think if my life were in danger I could do something about it.  On a plane, you relinquish that.  If that sucker is going down, you can't do squat.  Even if you could fly a plane they aren't letting you in that cockpit and you can't take parachutes as a carry-on so, just sit back and say your good-byes.  Anyway that part doesn't tend to bother me as much as my body's total aversion to flying.  As soon as that plane leaves the runway it feels like my insides start spinning.  And I know what you're thinking: Dramamine.  Yep.  I take it.  And I wear the Sea-Band pressure bracelets and take ginger root supplements and chew ginger gum.  Doesn't always work.  On the flight down I used all the sick bags in my row, but I made it.  We stayed in the Sheraton PGA Resort in Port St. Lucie.  It was so beautiful.

(photo credit)

(photo credit) 

Who doesn't love a ginormous chess game?

 I think the pool was my favorite spot.  We had it all to ourselves 2 nights and floating on your back in the pool or sitting in the hot tub and looking up at the moon and stars was pure bliss.  On our first full day (Saturday) we were ready to take in all the area had to offer.  We took a tour of the Port St. Lucie River Estuary on a pontoon boat with a very opinionated guide.  We saw a few manatees (couldn't get a good picture though) lots of birds and lots of beauty. Much to my dismay, we didn't have any luck seeing dolphins. 

Jellyfish in Port St. Lucie River Estuary

Pretty boat being restored

A bit inhuman

Sure were a lot of naked men though (I kid)

 After the estuary tour began tour we began our 3 day goal of gorging ourselves with as much seafood as possible.  Let me tell you, we were successful.  We started at Conchy Joe's.  Had to take a picture of their sign, too good to pass up.  So just to give you an idea of the amount of seafood I took in over 72 hours here is a list:

• Alligator
• Conch
• Calamari 
• Mussels
• Salmon
• Alaskan Crab 
• Stone Crab
• Shrimp
• Mahi-Mahi
• Pompano
• Grouper 
• Cobia 

It was amazing.  I live for seafood.  At every meal we all ordered different entrees and then swapped bites.  I think that's how every meal should go when you are with a group.  So many flavors to enjoy!

Hot dogs on the water.  No need to leave the boat!

Exploring Jensen Beach

On day 2 (Sunday) we woke to overcast skies and high winds which then turned into a drop in temperature (upper 60's, oh my!) and sudden down pours.  We had been scheduled go on an air boat through the swamp but due to high winds the captain had to cancel.  Total bummer.  Can you believe we didn't see a single alligator on this trip? But we did eat some so that sorta counts, right? We ended up heading to Jupiter instead to scope out Cardinals Spring training and to tour the town. 

Juptier Lighthouse

75 y/o  Banyan tree outside of  Jupiter Lighthouse.

Holliday and Berkman at practice

After taking in what Jupiter had to offer we drove to Vero Beach to have dinner at Ocean Grill.  It was the best meal of the trip.  I learned I have a love for beet salad with ginger soy salad dressing.  Who knew?  The only bad thing about this part of Florida is you have to drive for what seems like forever to visit different places of interest.  We were beat after dinner so called it an early night and headed back to the hotel.

Logo on Cardinal's Clubhouse

Day 3 was reserved for the St. Louis Cardinals.  We loaded up and headed to Jupiter again to see the Cards take on the Marlins in the Spring Training Grapefruit League Opening.  We arrived a couple hours early so we had plenty of time to walk the grounds and gawk at all the baseball awesomeness.  Let me say this:  If you are truly a baseball fan you need to get yourself to your teams Spring training at least once in your life. It's a totally different side of the MLB.  Everyone (including players) is more laid back and accessible.  The stadiums are smaller and easier to enjoy the game in. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

 When we were able to go inside the stadium to find our seats for the game we were pleasantly surprised.  We were seated in row 3 but there was no row 1 so we were one row back from the field just to the right of home plate.  The Card's dugout was to our right and the on deck circle was right in front of us.  Luke was on such a high it was hard to get his attention.  This was baseball heaven!

Roger Dean Stadium home of Card's Spring Training

View from our seats

So a little back story here.  Luke has been a Mark McGwire fan since Big Mac became a Card in 1997.  When we started dating Luke's entire room was plastered with McGwire posters, pictures and other memorabilia.  McGwire was his idol all through highschool. Since 1997 he has been trying to get McGwire's autograph.  His mom told me about the hours he and his brothers spent around Busch Stadium before and after games waiting for a chance to see McGwire. We learned from the staff at the Cardinal's Spring Training clubhouse that McGwire is kind of reclusive.  He doesn't like attention and rarely gives out autographs. Okay, now that you are caught up back to Spring Training. 

So we are sitting in our seats watching the pregame ceremonies unfold on the field.  Suddenly, Luke is quiet and trained on the dugout.  Mark McGwire was standing on the end closest to us.  I tell Luke to go ask him for his autograph.  He replies with "I'm a guy.  He'll just ignore me or turn me down.  You do it."  Okay.  Here is my chance to get my husband his idol's autograph.  There are major "wife of the year" points on the line here.  So, I get a baseball and Sharpie from Luke (he had bought an entire bucket of balls from Walmart the day before) and head over to the dugout.  Immediately McGwire looks up at me, then back over to the field.  " Mr. McGwire?"  He looks back up at me.  "Could I please get your autograph?"  I hold out the ball and sharpie.  He replies with an uneasy "Sure" nods his head and motions with his hand to throw him the ball.  So, I toss the baseball then the Sharpie down to him.  It then quickly hits me that he will soon be throwing them back to me.  Awe, crap.  I'm at risk of dropping both and looking like a fool in front of Mark McGwire and all the fans that I'm sure are watching this interaction.  FOCUS!  He quickly finishes signing then tosses back the ball.  I catch it!  Yaay!  Then the Sharpie.  Woohoo!  I am totally looking coordinated in front of a baseball great and a crowd. Ball and Sharpie secured, I shout "Thank you so much!  You just made my husband's life!"  This gets a smile, laugh and a wave.  I headed back to my seat victorious.  Luke later paid me back a bit by getting me Mike Matheny's autograph.  Matheny is one of my favorite Cardinals players of all time.  I was so happy when they announced him as the next manager. 

Luke with his McGwire autographed ball

Matt Holliday

Carlos Beltran

The Brysons enjoying the game

The Cardinals ended up losing the game by one run but nothing could pull us down from our baseball high.  I am so ready to see what the Cardinals do this season!  12 in 12! 

Mike Matheny

Nerdy staged photo

And we thought gas was high in STL...

After the Cards game we were totally drained so we grabbed a bite to eat and headed back to our hotel.  The next day we were up early to head to the airport for our flight back to St. Louis.  The only remarkable thing about that day was that I DID NOT throw up on the flight home.  VICTORY!  We had an amazing whirlwind weekend in Florida.  I am so thankful to my in-laws for inviting us along.  It's so nice to get away if only for a few days.  I look forward to another trip to Florida and maybe making it back to Spring Training sometime in my life. 

Sunset over the water

A big THANK YOU to my parents for watching our dogs so we could take this trip!  They LOVE the farm.  

Oscar when we got home.  Tuckered out from the farm.