Out and About: Bits and Pieces

In the past couple weeks, Illinois State baseball has returned from its Florida trip, only to leave again for exotic locations like Terre Haute, Ind., and another visit to Nashville, Tenn. The Redbirds are 0-6 inside Nashville city limits this season, so needless to say, I'm not looking for another return trip in 2010 - at least to play competitive sports. Here are a few bits and pieces from my latest travel experiences...hope you enjoy.

March 11, 2010 - Jacksonville, Fla.
It'd be safe to eat at McDonald's for every meal while traveling, but that would also be pretty stinkin' boring. Toshi, the baseball athletic trainer and my travel buddy, is usually a pretty good sport about trying new places...despite their sometimes sketchy exterior. We would've never had Brunies in Clarksville, Tenn., had we been afraid. Unfortunately, the Pagoda Chinese restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., was not a diamond in the rough.






March 26, 2010 - Terre Haute, Ind.
No offense Terre Haute, but I think this picture pretty much sums it up. Due to predicted rain on Sunday, our series with Indiana State was scrunched into two days...meaning an extra day of meal money. After a big win to open the series on Friday night, Toshi and I celebrated with a feast at Texas Roadhouse (safe choice, yes and maybe a little boring...but its Terre Haute). The dude in the first picture was waiting for a table.






April 1, 2010 - Mt. Vernon, Ill.
It was my pleasure to introduce Toshi to his first cherry limeade from Sonic on our trip to Nashville. The cherry limeade has long been a favorite of Brooksie, my wife. We often re-route our travel plans to include trips to Sonic and aren't ashamed to say we've driven all the way to Peoria for a Sonic feast on a whim. This is student assistant coach Mike Stalowy, a Sonic veteran, enjoying his experience.






April 2, 2010 - Brentwood, Tenn.
Another thing I love about canvasing the country in a cramped bus (angry face), is running into old friends (smiley face). I got to have lunch with Jerome and his lady friend Lindsey during our most recent baseball trip to Nashville. I first met Jerome when he was covering K-State tennis for the Manhattan Mercury and I was the team's media contact. I'll never forget Jerome constantly mispronouncing K-State tennis coach Steve Bietau's last name (bee-tah, but bee-ay-too, to Jerome). JB is one of my favorite guys and we had a great experience at a place called the Puffy Muffin in Brentwood. We got this giant piece of Boston cream pie for free, a throwback to our days in Manhattan eating at Grizzlies.