Ocean!!!!

Unfortunately, we lost our last game of the UCF Tournament, even more unfortunately it was to michigan, ugh. But such is life. So we packed up at the hotel, and grabbed a quick lunch before heading to Clearwater. We had another blast from my undergrad past and stopped at Pita Pit, where my food decision making was again lauded. We still had some time to kill since we couldn't check into our houses until 430, so we debated on how to spend it............ ummm no we didn't, we scarfed down lunch so we'd have to time to go to Jeremiah's again. I had a strawberry lemon gelati this time, still think red raspberry was the best but still sooo tasty. So we said a tearful goodbye to Jeremiah and headed down I4 to Clearwater Beach. I was not prepared for the traffic, wow. Living in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road for the past almost year, outside of the exact opposite of a bustling metropolis has it perks, AKA no traffic. We FINALLY got over the damn Clearwater Beach Bridge, and made it to our condos, but I tell ya, driving a huge bus/van through busy people and car traffic is NOT what I call fun. However, we were rewarded. Our 3 condos are a 4 minute walk to the beach and this is the view from our rooftop patio (Be jealous Northerners). So we watched the sunset last night, and I watched the sunrise this morning. Pretty frickin cool for 2 reasons; A: Im usually already at work before and after both of those occurrences and B: Its 0 degrees at home, I dont even think the sun wants to watch itself rise and set in that. Then we had some pizza at the houses for dinner, and then the freshman all squealed and chitterchatted while watching the Oscars. That was my cue for bedtime.....

Today is our first day off, some of the girls are going to Harry Potter world ( no im not going) Busch Gardens, or around Clearwater/Tampa with thier parents. My plan is to hang out at the house, do some laundry, grade some finals and enjoy some sunshine and beach hopefully. Ive gotta keep working on this awesome farmer's watch tan I've got going.

I Heart Florida

So another day comes and goes, and I tell ya, Im lovin me some sunshine state. We lost both of our games yesterday, but hey the weather was to die for.......... Were playing better, its still only the 7th time weve played on a full field so were still working out some of the rust. But seriously, the weather is amazing. Warm and sunny during the day, with the most amazing summer breeze at night. After the games we drove down to Davenport (about 50min away) to have a BBQ at one of our players former summer coaches summer houses, say that 5 times fast. It was great, just hanging out, the smell of BBQ on a warm summer night breeze. All that was missing was the smell of sparklers and hose water and I wouldve been in my childhood summer. After the BBQ, I packed the toddlers back in my huge 12 passenger van and drove back to Orlando. I had been talking up this gelati business alllllll day, and Im pretty sure everyone thought I was crazy. It was late, they had had a long day and some of them asked if we could just go back to the hotel, ohhhhhh nooooo were going. We pull up into a strip mall full of bars, and nestled between a bunch of drunk college kids is Jeremiah's. I can only imagine what people think when they see a huge van pulling up, 10 girls piling out, and then seeing ME hop out of the drivers seat. Annnnyways,  I ordered a red raspberry gelati and let the girls taste it......... The looks on thier faces at first bite was classic. They then trampled over each other to order, a banana, a mango, and like 5 cookies and cream. My judgement on places to eat was deemed certifiable and they stated they will NEVER dispute me again. The convo over breakfast this morning was gelati, and were of course going to stop on our way out of Orlando. So Erin and Kyle, the UMaine Softball Team thanks you for sharing with us Jeremiah's light, our lives will never be the same. Its #3 on the list of most delicious things i have tasted.

Ohhhhh i forgot were here to play softball. Last game of the UCF tournament awaits, UMaine vs the evil skunkbears of that OTHER Michigan university. 11am, here we go!!!!

Jeremiah you magical frog........

Well our first day in Florida has come and gone and I would consider it a pretty decent day. Split the day with 1 win and 1 loss, 2nd game wasn't our best outing, but its still early in the season. Weather was GORGEOUS at between 75-80, partly sunny with a light breeze. I will 100% agree with Erin that this is in fact, where Ohio summer comes to spend winter.

The best part of today though was without a doubt the food. Jimmy Johns for lunch, which to many people wouldnt be a big deal, but since it comprised I would roughly estimate 30-40% of all meals I consumed while at MSU, was quite a delicious nostalgic trip back. This was then followed by a kick ass burrito from Chipotle shared with my favorite Floridians, Erin, Kyle and the dogs. After hanging out with the Myers' for a few hours, it was time to drop me back off at the hotel before I turned to a pumpkin, but not before a stop at Jeremiah's Ice. Now, i have heard Erin talk about how awesome this place is, im pretty sure she even devoted an entire blog to how awesome it was. Im not gonna lie, I was not convinced that some little hut with a frog on it was going to be as good as she claimed. So I tried a cherry gelati, and my life will never be the same. UN FRICKIN BELIEVEABLE!!!! So good in fact that i willingly (well with minimal fight) posed in front of the sign with her like cheesy tourists. So I will go on record, No Erin I did not believe you, and you were right. Anyone who is in the Orlando area MUST go to Jeremiah's Ice and get a gelati.

Off to day 2, games at 9am and 1pm, where noone better need anything because I will be busy dreaming of gelatis....................

Florida

Well we left zero degrees in Maine and arrived to a beautiful 75 degrees in Tampa. Very smooth travel day, saw the Geico guy and a Yankees world series ring on the plane, pretty cool. The girls stayed busy during our layover playing cards, surprisingly no fights, no blood, and no shrieking.


Now were grabbing breakfast in the hotel before we head off to today's games. Then if scheduling permits, hanging out w Erin!! Go Blackbears!

Weekend 1 in the books

Sorry for the delay, but the past few days have been a little busy. The girls picked up win #2 on Sunday, and then we headed back to really cold and really windy Maine. Picked up our 15 passenger van in Portland at 1130pm and made it back to campus around 2am. Took a 2 hour nap on the physician exam table (more comfortable than you'd think) and then up for 530 football conditioning. Amazingly our travel was smooth and uncomplicated, but I'm still waiting for the universe to have the last laugh, I'm sure at some point something crazy will happen.

So practice at 6am today, then pack for our big spring break trip. We leave at 7am tomorrow morning and wont be returning back to Maine until 4am Monday March 14th. But it should be a great trip, (hopefully) good weather, enjoy some time away from the frozen tundra and of course see my favorite Floridian, Erin. Florida here we come!

Day 2 is in the books and we made it out with our first win, a loss, and some pretty sunburned necks and a few mosquito bites. The win was great cause duh, it's a win, but also because a kid who spent not joking at least 2 hours a day 7 days a week from september to may with me (lucky girl) busting her ass rehabbing from knee and shoulder reconstructive surgeries, had her first hit as a collegiate athlete. A 3 run home run. It was amazing, but short lived. Another injury plagued kid who had just started to crack the starting line up injured her ankle. It's a pretty good sprain, hopefully the X-rays we get upon our return are negative, but she's out at least 2-3 weeks. That's how it goes though. Game 2 of the day was another loss to #16 in the country louisiana Lafayette but a much better showing than day 1.

And since the schedule around here is sleep, eat, softball, eat, repeat, we went to dinner. A little hole in the wall sports bar with some pretty good fried food, but I'm pretty sure that's the only way to fix food down here, as evidenced by a physicians office and fried food restaurant next to each other on every corner. Waiting for the check we sat around and laughed at all the crazy funny stuff that happened last year, which was pretty much everyday. And then to solidify me feeling like a mother of several overgrown toddlers, I stopped my minivan at TCBY to stop the crying about how they never get to eat ice cream.

Happy fed toddlers back at the hotel, handed out some more drugs, ice bags and then off to bed. Day 3 is sure to be a doozy, 10am game, 4 pm flight and estimated return to Maine at approximately 3 am just in time to start work at 5 am for football workouts. Off to the field, go blackbears!

Hallelujah, the sun!

Well the first 2 games were tough losses; the first we were run ruled by Lousiana-Lafayette 11-0 in 5 innings, and the second we lost 6-4 after taking a 4-3 lead into the 7th inning. Thankfully the only services I provided were some bitching high fives, some prewrap and my fruit ninja iPod touch game. This is what provided almost 2 hours of entertainment between our games. I of course got smoked, but tomorrow is another day.

Besides the losses on the field and in fruit ninja, the weather was beautiful, sunny and 75, reminder us mainers that there IS a sun, and how wonderful a sunburn feels in February. The people down here are also as friendly as advertised, and ought so chatty. I was stopped by at least 6 people just walking in to the field, asking how our trip was and if we were enjoying the weather. "no, this sunny and 75 is terrible. I prefer my skin to freeze off my body the minute I open the door". The game announcer was also quite entertaining, but also reminded us that the south is a different world. Between innings he made the following comments over the sound system; "funny they're called the blackbears, cause they're all white" and "I think I saw a Blackbear this morning, but it was just the black guy that lives across the street". Were for sure well below the mason Dixon line.

Well We have 2 more games today, so hopefully the outcome is a little better. Now time to finish my coffee and hand out some advil

Kickoff

So I've decided to join the world of blogging, and figured I would try to share and document what "traveling" is for me in my line of work. So I'm hoping to share what is one of the most chaotic, stressful but ultimately one of the most enjoyable parts of my job; Travelling around the country with a college softball team.
The 2011 softball season has officially begun. We left Maine in 2 groups at 4am and 645am yesterday, one group out of Portland and my group out of Bangor. Splitting into 2 groups was as most logical rational people would conclude, was due to an inability to find 22 seats on one flight. However we were informed by a man in the Bangor airport that this was actually in case we crashed, then at least some of the team could keep playing. ...... Annnnyways, after stops in Detroit and Memphis, we arrived safely and rather uneventfully here in Lafayette, LA. Picked up our rental cars, quick hotel check in, nice dinner and then back to the hotel to pass out. All in all probably the smoothest travel day I've ever had with this team, but Im sure the universe will make up for it somehow. Games today at 130 &630, go blackbears!