Yep...kinda tough getting a free computer over the last few days. So here's a summary of them...
DAY 5:
Of course Sam wanted to repeat the epic 2am shake run, but we decided to tour Lucas Oil Stadium instead, and I needed to get up by 10am (poor me!) to get in line for tickets. I did so...in the blazing heat, and picked up two for 1pm. Afterwards I jostled Sam out of bed, and we proceeded to grab some hot chow at where else, Steak and Shake. From there we milled around the Colts gift shop for about 1/2 hour, and then began the tour. This was a good idea from the start - we saw everything - from the visitors locker room, to a swank suite, to the press box. The only drawback was the heat...they don't air condition that humongous place when there is no event...and I don't blame 'em.
From there we hit the road for Cincinnati for a Reds game. We arrived at our nice downtown hotel, settled in, then hoofed the mile or so to the waterfront stadium...Great American Ballpark. This is nearby Paul Brown Stadium where the Bungles play...and in between them was the former home of both teams...Riverfront Stadium. We get there NICE and early and I decide to purchase the NICE tickets in the first level. Not sure why...but I thought since this was our only major league team.
Anyways we made our way to the outfield to try and catch some batting practice balls being launched by the New York Mets. We came close a few times but no dice. Then made our way to our seats for the game. We pretty much sat in the same seats the whole game...which works just fine for me. At first we were to be wedged in between big people...and with PLENTY of open seats around us...I made myself at home. The game was back and forth for a while, but the Mets pulled it off 8-6, and then we trekked back to our hotel.
At this time we were hungry, and walked around the downtown...nuthin'. So I decided to locate a Steak and Shake (what else?!), and then headed up the highway for a midnight snack. After getting back we laughed to Craig Ferguson, and prepped for another long and eventful day.
DAY 6:
Getting up this day was tricky...maybe it was the fact that it was a nice, quiet room on the 21st floor of this hotel (the top floor btw). Whatever the case, we did emerge and then headed BACK to the same Steak and Shake we visited only a few hours before. After fulling up on several patties of beef, we headed out to our next visit in Louisville. I had planned to meet up with another friend, Shaunna, who heads up Ohio River Greenways, and who offered to take us on a tour.
Getting to our hotel we proceeded to meet Shaunna on the Indiana side in Jeffersonville at their visitors center. After a short talk with a nice chap, Shauanna arrived and off we went on our grand tour. She took us along the entire planned stretch of the greenway, and of course I was like a pig in mud. The work they have accomplished has been incredible...but so does the work that lies ahead. She showed us several locations of where the trail is, and where it is planned to run. A big obstacle is in New Albany with an old flood wall that simply makes the trail route tight to say the least. Ending our tour we visited the east end with a stunning view of Louisville and a planned ramp to an abandoned RR bridge which will connect Jeffersonville to Louisville by bike and foot (and just MAYBE alleviate that horrible I-65 traffic!).
We left Shaunna since Sam wanted to get to the Louisville Bats stadium for more batting practice. Well we got there plenty early...and NO batting practice...ugh! We waited for Shaunna and her boyfriend Mark with his son Willie in the shade. They joined us by gametime and we enjoyed a great time together...even if the game stunk. The Bats lost 2-0...and it wasn't even that close. The stadium, Louisville Slugger Park is a really nice facility however, so at least we did get to enjoy nice surroundings...despite the weather AND the game.
Now let's introduce Mr. Serendipity into the mix. Sam, being Sam, started talking to a number of nice folks in for the National Young Democrats conference. He actually approached them, and when he returned to his seat, he had two business cards, and said they wanted him to join at the conference to meet the governor AND open the proceedings with the pledge of allegiance. Now I'm in a pickle since I wanted to do other things tomorrow...but Shaunna gave me this very guilty look so I just buried it. As we left I told Sam, gently, that we are just not dressed to meet the governor nor participate in this conference. He seemed to understand...and at least for the moment...that was that.
As we made our way home we decided to visit some sights in the Louisville area. The first stop was the University of Louisville where we saw their sports complexes. We tried to sneak a peek at where the Bats used to play at the State Fairgrounds, but no dice. We then made our way to Churchill Downs, which was nestled right there in a neighborhood. It was huge...and opulent. Someone is making money!
Another late night at the hotel...but this time not a great night of sleep...doesn't help that the a/c kept rattling!
DAY 7:
Here's to an amazing day...which started humbly enough at a Big Boy restaurant right across the street from our hotel. The food was actually very good...and I'm thinking that McDonald's stole the big boy burger for their big mac. Then again, I'm thinking too much.
Afterwards we proceeded downtown to first get a pennant from the Bats which I forgot the night before. Then we rode a few more blocks down Main St. to the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum. This is a great place to visit. Very reasonable price, and doesn't take a huge chunk out of your day. Of course you get to see how a bat is made...which is interesting - especially when you see these bats being custom made for major leaguers. They make special bats for those lucky enough to make the majors...all of us peons get what's left. Sam did some batting cages, and they even gave us a mini-bat for being on the tour. Before we left, we took a picture with a ginormous bat outside the factory building. This thing had to be at least 10 stories tall...makes a great landmark too.
As we left, Sam still wanted to visit those young Democrats, and I thought since the bat tour was short...why not. When we entered the hotel where the conference was at...we made our way upstairs to the meeting rooms...and almost immediately Sam is approached by Abigail, who nearly shrieked with excitement when she saw him. She was one of those folks that Sam met the night before, and was totally elated we could visit. She proceeded to have us meet several folks running the show, and then we toured the main presentation room where all the conference delegates would be sitting. I could see how much this impressed Sam...that these young leaders would take so well to him. Abigail and others did ask if we could stay around, but I knew we had to move on to Evansville tonight (now writing in present tense!). So we bid them adeiu, and off we went.
Here is where the moment of decision hit me...do I proceed to Evansville to see a game, where Sam would be on the air for half inning too...or meet the governor of Kentucky. Mind you, Sam did this last year in Evansville, so it's a bit old hat. After some time thinking, I thought the better of it to have him meet the guv. Sam was over-elated about the opportunity...and I felt great that I made the right choice. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
SO back to the conference site where Sam finds this great guy, Brandon, who begins to prep him on the Pledge of Allegiance and what he needs to do. We still had over two hours to kill before the Governor arrived, so we made our way back to the U of L campus and Churchill Downs now that we could see them in the daylight.
We arrived back about 6ish, and we were told the governor would be arriving in a half hour. About 45 minutes later, and after talking to several folks who were pumped to see Sam, Governor Beshaear arrived. He shook hands, and then spoke to Sam for a spell. He was very impressed to have a young lad like Sam there to support the Dems. We then followed him back to the holding room for more photos and chat. Next was Sam's big moment with the Pledge. After a great introduction from the president of the young dems, he went up on the stage, and aced it like a pro. We did stick around for speeches from the governor and others, then it was time to hit the road. Abigail gave Sam a big hug, and we shook many hands as we proceeded to leave. We then ran into a Wisconsin senator who also spoke, and took a pic with him as well. If you're scoring at home, that's TWO governors Sam has met on the trip...I don't think many lobbists have such success!
We made it into Evansville about 10ish, then proceeded to take a tour of the downtown. Sam loves Evansville, and loves the riverwalk...so we did it. This time we went way down to the water's edge...and chatted a bit. It was humid, but even worse, kiddos were down there playing their rap junk...complete with profanity. Lovely.
Back to the hotel...and ready for another interesting day ahead. Maybe we'll see the Illinois governor next?? ;)
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