Lap and Trinita's Excellent Adventure!

WAHOO EVERYONE! GREETINGS FROM LAKELAND, FLORIDA!

Day 1
Lap arrived in one piece from Toledo. We drove to our hotel and got there okay but ran into a little weirdness with our room assignment!
Room 1: single big bed...uh, nope!
Room #2: THERE WAS A GUY IN THE ROOM ALREADY! EEEK!
Room #3: FINALLY! Two double beds..AND NO ONE ELSE IN THE ROOM!
Geez!
We went to sleep early!

stay tuned for Day 2!

Day 2: Game Day, Astros vs. Tigers 1:05 PM 3/12/08


here we are at Marchant Stadium!



here's Lap before the game!



Tigs warming up! (note Maggs!)

All right, ya got there safely and got to see a Tiger Bash! Nice pics gals!

You don't know how bad I feel not being there with you!

More Day 2!



sheff signed a few before the game!



Kenny gave a ball to a youngster before the game also--



read to roll!

here's justin for a quick signing!



maggs leaving!



more of the game...



maggs and miggy after a hard day's work!

We waited outside the gate the players usually drive in to for any possible autograph. Al Kaline drove out in a white Cadillac...he actually stopped and signed a few autographs. But most of the time, we were told, the players usually don't stop, and a few even went out a little used gate on the other side of the stadium. We saw Dontrelle leave in his black Bentley and Jordan Tata leave also. We saw Maggs from a great distance--he drove out the opposite side. There are many autograph hounds here...and the stadium was nearly completely full! Good game today, Tigs!

Nice thread! Keep the updates coming!

Great pics you guys!!

See ya tomorrow!!

A little preview of what Magglio and Miguel have in store for them today.

We are having a great time!

Trinita wrote:

A little preview of what Magglio and Miguel have in store for them today.

We are having a great time!

Spoiler:

Great signs! I can read them, too

I had to add this one to the collection. Miggy was motioning to US when I took this. Lap had just yelled out "Magglio es nuestro campeon"

Awesome thread guys! I'm glad to see you safe in Florida!
@lap: i really hope you could enjoy your flight!

laprimamirala wrote:

here's Lap before the game!

Lap, do you know Magglios hairdresser?? I see a strong resemblance!

Keep on posting these cool pictures! I would love to be there with you guys!

ha! no, just a really good hairstylist that can color and perm!

How was today's game?

We're stiill working on getting the pics ready to upload. Soon to come!

Sweet!

Can't wait! Just came home from some beers with my friends! Keep on posting!

Gee! That's great for you Catbox! But I barely understand English; let alone Spanish!


Translation Please

gs78 wrote:

Gee! That's great for you Catbox! But I barely understand English; let alone Spanish!


Translation Please

They say "Magglio is our champion" and "Welcome Miguel"

Wow you guys!!!! Those are some GREAT pictures!!!! Sheff and Justin look like they are only a couple feet away from you!!!! That is soooooo cool!!!!
Lap, I your shirt!!!!!!
I was also about what you were saying happened at your hotel. I'm sure it wasn't funny at the time, but you'll laugh about it later.
KEEP US POSTED!!!!

Thanks Catbox!

Today we were considerably more savvy. I decided to embrace my long-suppressed extroverted side and approach obvious spring training vetrans to get the scoop on how the whole experience works. It was surprisingly easy, all I had to do was compliment the nearest Tigers fan on his/her backpack/shirt/earrings/shoes etc. This has proven to be an ingenious plan.

For example, our usher for the past two days, Ken, is our new best friend. I hugged him sadly when I left today and promised to see him next year. I asked to see a notebook of pictures one family held and discovered some AMAZING shots of our boys taken throughout last year both on the field and out of uniform (yes I got their email so I could get some copies). I struck up a conversation with a lady from NY who vacations in St. Augustine, just south of me. Her husband is a lifelong Tigers fan despite growing up in Yankee Hell. He has survived that experience exceptionally well. When I heard a familiar accent coming from the woman to Lap's left, I asked from where she had come. It turns out she's a fellow Mississippian. She was very pleasant, but, unfortunately, she was a Braves fan (boo).

I could fill a book with stories like this.

But what you guys really want is a report of the game....

We were at the park before 10:00. The souveneir stand was open, so I purchase the foam tiger paws for my boys. We got in line by the first base gate (we were about six back in line. When the gate opened, we jockeyed for position behind the dugout for autographs. The field was empty except for some grounds crew dragging AWAY the batting cage. HUH??? We'd been told the boys would take BP about 11:00. We didn't see a player on the field for the next 45 minutes. Then we were asked to move to our seats by soem MLB officials (our friend Usher Ken didn't know what was going on), Usually the fans can stand there until 12:00. We still hadn't seen ONE player from either team except Carlos in the family area talking to some Latino Reporters.

Then we saw Miggy, then walking out of the clubhouse down the RF fence and behind it. Apparently they were warming up at another field

Finally the boys started trickling out. We held up our sign for Maggs and he smiled and waved. Miggy looked at his, but didn't crack a smile. We held them up many times during the pregame warmups and Maggs acknowleged us several times. Miggy must have been having a bad day even before he stepped to the plate. He was all grins the day before....

I'm sure you've read the boxscores. I won't bore you with the details of that. It was a beautiful day. A woman behind me asked jokingly if we'd come for the game or to stare at Magglio through the binoculars. Lap answered "yes" and I said "we can watch the game on tv, when else can I watch exactly what Magglio does in RF when he's not in the action (he spits sunflower seeds, watches airplanes, laughs with players on the other side of the fence, etc.)

We met some awesome fans. This made the experience unforgettable. Seeing Maggs' smile up close and directed at us was inexplicable.

Tomorrow in Kissimmee likely won't be as fun.

Ok, next some pics..................

oh, Trinita is writing this. Lap is sleeping.

Sorry guys. The pictures were as hard to get as the autographs today.

Who is the damn guy in the Sandberg Jersey? This is Florida, not Arizona! You Gotta go to Arizona if you want to see the Cubs



FYI Nice side boob of the lady behind him!

Lakeland Weather Forecast; Slight Chance of T storm Friday; High 78; Sunny on Saturday and Sunday; Highs around 80-82.

gs78 wrote:

Who is the damn guy in the Sandberg Jersey? This is Florida, not Arizona! You Gotta go to Arizona if you want to see the Cubs



FYI Nice side boob of the lady behind him!

:haha: :haha:

swiss_tiger wrote:

laprimamirala wrote:

here's Lap before the game!

Lap, do you know Magglios hairdresser?? I see a strong resemblance!

Keep on posting these cool pictures! I would love to be there with you guys!

Looking more like Mrs. Maggs everyday, lap!!

gs78 wrote:

Who is the damn guy in the Sandberg Jersey? This is Florida, not Arizona! You Gotta go to Arizona if you want to see the Cubs



FYI Nice side boob of the lady behind him!

So, Cubbie fans can't go to TIGERS games??