That being said, we don't mind leaving her. Not anymore atleast. It used to be a gigantic deal to go somewhere for a weekend, or heaven forbid, FOUR STRAIGHT DAYS (like when we went to Tennessee for Erik and Janette's wedding), but now we're just all, "HEY!! You want us to come have adult time in a different state for 3 days?!? SURE!! Just let us find a place to board our kid!!"
We don't actually say that. We ask one of the Nanas and they're usually happy to oblige. And Jayna couldn't be happier to get away from us for more than just one night. I mean she wouldn't really need us at all if she were taller and could drive. True story right there, people.
So sometime in late February I got a text from my good friend Mark asking if we wanted to come to Louisville at the beginning of March and go to the Buffett concert with him and his lovely wife Charlotte. Charlotte and I are a lot alike...you know, drinking, cursing lunatics with loose morals (love you, Charlotte!). I love to hang out with the 2 of them and I was excited to get away from life for just one extra day. We decided that we'd go down there on Friday morning and come home Sunday.
It occurred to me about a week before we were scheduled to leave that we'd probably need something to do on Friday while Mark and Charlotte were being responsible adults and...um...working. I went to Louisville's tourist website and was reminded that a little piece of something I love was made there. LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BASEBALL BATS!!!!
Y'all, I was probably more excited about that part than I was anything else. So we got to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory early Friday morning. My agoraphobia got the best of me and I thought I was going to pass out for a minute, but I pulled myself together, sir, and pressed on. I LOVED it. I have pictures of some hilarious things...unfortunately, my photos aren't downloaded from my camera. BUT...I have iPhone pics. Probably more of those than camera pics.
Even if you don't LOVE baseball and only like it a little, I suggest you go on the tour of the factory. It is fascinating to watch the different methods of how baseball bats are made, how they're branded and how they're stained. It's really outstanding. We even got to watch some old guy who is part of the family Louisville Slugger is owned by hand lathe a bat. Simply fascinating. It's a true art form.
The Louisville Science Center has a travelling exhibit right now called GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked The World. So of course we had to go there. It was a so-so exhibit. I probably didn't enjoy it as much as Chris and/or Mark. They play the instrument, I don't. I did enjoy seeing all of the formations of a guitar from across the world and through time. We saw one guitar made out of an armadillo shell!!
Overall, the Science Center is a great place for kids who like to do hands on things. There is a ton of that sort of thing there. We tried to encapsulate ourselves in a giant bubble (FAIL). We made a piano play using pressure and hot air (SUCCESS...but I couldn't tell you how) and we built structures to see how sound they were under stresses such as shaking and quaking (FAIL).
We also did something extremely unexpected...we went, wait for it, SHOOTING. As in I shot a gun. TWO guns actually! It was more fun than I ever imagined it would be. I've always been terrified of guns. This took a little of the fear away and taught me that learning about any subject/activity/etc. can take the edge off of the fear. I still don't think I'll ever own a gun, but I'm a little more comfortable with gun safety and shooting them.
And, of course we went to the concert!! Jimmy was outstanding!! He sang so many older songs that it was like being at one of his concerts from when I was in my early 20's. We had lots of fun there and drank toooo much cheap expensive beer, ifyaknowwhatimean.
Overall, the trip was a huge success. We're busy people. So are Mark and Charlotte. And we always wish we could see them and hang out, but we rarely ever get to. This was a great getaway for just 3 days and we did so much catching up...and drinking. I even hugged a horse statue!! :)
I think most of all, it was just good to hang out with adults and do what we wanted when we wanted. We also got our doggie fix as Mark and Charlotte have 2 dogs, Eli and Austin. Eli is a tiny dog with a HUGE personality (and a complex) and Austin is a giant kid. :) Louisville is a surprisingly fun city too. There were many things to do that we didn't do. The streets are lined with art that is sometimes overwhelming, but still outstanding. There is a stretch of road that is closed off to traffic called Fourth Street Live. It is a street lined with bars and restaurants. Right up my alley!! We spent some time there on Friday and then were back again on Saturday for the Buffett pre-party. And if there was one thing that I'd forgotten it was BUFFETT FANS KNOW HOW TO PARTY. Even if you don't like Jimmy Buffett his concerts and pre-parties are always a good time.
And without further adieu, here is a photo collage. Y'all are sadly mistaken if you thought I was going to upload a million pictures singly. Not. Gonna. Happen. Although I really wish I had the one off of my actual camera of me pretending to bludgeon a wax figure of Derek Jeter with a Louisville Slugger. :)
It isn't until now that I've realized that I have a double in there. Oh well...I like my Red Sox enough to deal with that!!
Pictures in order like you're reading a book from top left:
The Red Sox Pennant at the Slugger Museum, the giant bat out front of the Slugger Museum, Mike Lowell's signature on the Slugger Wall of Fame, a piece of art on the streets of Louisville entitled "The Raft," me holding a bat that Big Papi actually used in a game, Eli taking a nap while halfway standing, me looking hott in my eyes and ears :), my favorite guitar of all time...The Air Guitar, me dancing with Austin, Chris playing the Capri Sun guitar, Paul McCartney's bass, Chris shooting a 22, the Wall of Fame including Babe Ruth's signature, Chris holding Big Papi's bat, Charlotte putting herself in a bubble, all of us in the prism mirror thingy at the Science Center, me 2.5 sheets to the wind hugging a horse statue, Mark playing the Capri Sun guitar, me shooting an assault rifle (JOKE: it's a 22...just with a scope, laser and light), the Red Sox pennant again.I can't wait to do it again, but my liver needs a rest for now. :)
Now head on over to Michelle's blog and read about her vacay!! If it isn't there yet, it will be soon!
No comments:
Post a Comment