Some Insights from a mini-Vacation

            This weekend, my wife and I took a night away from the kids.  It really felt like a mini-vacation.  For today’s blog, I want to share a few things (not necessarily spiritual) about our experience.

 

Getting away is good – It is funny how much one night away can do to relax parents.  I love my kids very much, and really enjoy being around them.  I also love my wife very much, and it is very nice to be around her without us needing to watch out for the kids.

 

Priceline rocks – We decided, on a whim, to see about getting a hotel for our night away.  So, the night before, we put in what we thought was a ridiculously low bid of $50  for a four star hotel.  Our bid was accepted, and so we were able to stay at a very nice hotel just a few blocks from Busch Stadium.  (Also note, nice hotels are good things.)

 

Ballgames – Sitting in the ballpark actually opens up lots of opportunities for conversation with your spouse.

 

Bratzels – At the ball park, I ate a bratzel.  Imagine a bratwurst wrapped up in a pretzel.  This is a good thing, though it does not lend itself to all the traditional bratwurst toppings.  So, all-in-all, I am glad I tried a bratzel, but I won’t have it next time.

 

Sluggies – If you decide to go to the ballpark on Sluggie night, get there early.  Fans were lined up for a long time in order to make sure that they got their little Cardinals blankies with sleeves.  Sluggies are spiffy, but if it is Sluggie night, get there early.

 

People’s language surprises me – In the ballpark as well as around the city, I found myself regularly surprised by the constant stream of profanity that flows so freely from the mouths of folks.  My time spent so often around Christians made this kind of language really stand out to me.  If you are given to the use of foul language, let me say to you that you sound very empty-headed to those who are not accustomed to hearing it.  And, Christians, if you do not notice the profanity of the world around you, why not?  Are you hearing foul language so much in your entertainment that it no longer gets your attention?

 

Guys on cell phones at the ballpark can be really annoying – The guy sitting immediately to my right at the game spent three full innings on the phone with a friend who was also in the park.  They were trying to see if they could see each other.  So, for a full third of the game, I heard this genius saying things like, “No, look at the tarp.  I’m in the second section back from the end of the tarp. . . You can’t see me?  Oh, did you see where that foul ball landed?  I’m one section over from that. . . OK, stand up.  No, I don’t’ see you.”  For the love of baseball and for fans everywhere, I want to say to anyone tempted to do this, “Watch the game!”

 

Storms – Our game was delayed at the middle of the sixth inning due to rain.  Before the stoppage, we experienced a lot of lightning with accompanying thunder.  Thunder sounds really fascinating when you are in a full stadium.  Lightning is a better light show than fireworks.  But it is creepy when you are in the park and you realize that you’ve been listening to the tornado sirens for the last five minutes.  Yep, we were in an open-air stadium with tornado warnings all around us.  Oh, and I have discovered that wearing  a poncho is better than fighting with an umbrella.

 

Chipotle is not as good as Qdoba – We went to a Chipotle for lunch.  I love big burritos.  Qdoba is simply better than Chipotle in every way.  Qdoba has better flavor and more options.  So, if you want a big burrito, look for the Q.

 

Linder Chocolate Truffles – We picked up a bag of these little treats at Target.  They are yummy.

 

            Well, there you have it.  I hope you now feel enlightened.