4thGenJim

We've waited all winter... for Naturals' Baseball! It's Malcom Culver , Sam , Davis , & Daniel Stumpf ! How awesome? A marching band takes the field for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals'  Opening Friday Night of 2015!    Who's happier with their new fortunes? Jorge Bonifacio has a ring from the Royals' ALCS win Sam has a $2 bill from the Tooth Fairy Terrance Gore is back! He got hit in the face with a pitch in Arizona. It happened on the same day we saw him during our Spring Break trip. He's 100% now, and wears a special batting helmet (and says AZ isn't his fave).  Before tonight's game, he signed  a 2014 Postseason baseball for DJ!   As Terrance was signing, I was taking photos, too. He finished, and moved-on to sign further down the row. We've got a cool baseball now, but the photos weren't the best. Still, it was a fun experience.   But then... He came...

Hoo-ah! MarPat camo batting helmet Super-creepy dog toy! It's always fun shopping with DJ!

A nice swath of yellow & white! The 'root beer' iris should be blooming next!

It happens. Fans are waiting in a designated area for autographs and a Major League player ignores them and just keeps walking.   There's nothing wrong with that.   But, the situation changes when a star player has a teammate announce, "Hoz won't be signing today,"  and casually walks with other players "shielding" him from 20 slightly bewildered fans (who are standing behind a tall fence).   That's what it's like to get Big Leagued.   The player is aware that fans are a big part of the Major League experience & Major League paychecks.   Fans buy tickets to games. Fans demand games on TV. Fans buy team & player merchandise.   But, the player can't possibly sign for each & every fan at every turn.   Some fan-friendly advice: Don't Big League your own Fans. You're a Major League Baseball player. We get it. You can gold-plate your SUV &...

Davis was a real trooper with all of the wardrobe changes  Some changes were needed (50 degrees in the shade with the remnants of a many-weeks-ago snowstorm) There may have been another round of snow on the way (we decided against putting snow chains on the rental car, despite Davis' request) 50 degrees felt warm with the intense sunlight (DJ was only slightly annoyed with all of the sunscreen applications) Davis was majorly annoyed with the Rule Breakers that walked up to the very edge of the canyon Davis discovered ravens (upper left) can be very mischievous critters One raven would try to distract a picnic-er, while another raven would sneak-in close for a crumb (or the whole). Davis had a surprised look when told our next vacay could be to the PB.   It was also in Arizona where Davis had his biggest laugh of the entire trip. An old van was traveling in front of us. It started slowing down -quickly. A...