May 16, 2008

Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Then Take Me Out to the Zoo!

Our mini-vacation to Milwaukee went surprisingly well. For a few days before we departed, I worried that anything and everything that could possibly go wrong, would. It didn’t and I’m eternally grateful to the forces that be for ensuring that Dawson and I had a great time in Beer Town.

We left our humble abode at 10 a.m. and made it to Milwaukee proper by 1:15, and I only made two pit stops. We veered off the beaten path at a cute little town called Lomira (where there were nearly 50 Vestas whirling in the vicinity), which is just south of Fond du Lac.

Then an hour later we stopped at a park in Wauwatosa so that I could stretch my legs and Dawson could burn off some pent up energy. Two and a half hours in a car could drive anyone crazy.

I expected horrendous traffic once I got near West Allis, but I realized it was a weekday, and the lunch hour rush was only beginning so we made it just in time. I’m positive traffic was worse downtown.

We finally went to our hotel in West Milwaukee, after 45 minutes of enjoying the beautiful day. We stayed at the Best Western Woods View, the same hotel we chose last year for our Mother’s Day getaway. I love it because the hotel is walking distance from Miller Park (and we had Brewers tickets for that night), and it’s only a 15-minute drive to the Milwaukee County Zoo.

After check-in we changed into our swimming gear and went downstairs to the pool. The Doodlebug only asked me 25 times if we could go swimming so to shut him up I agreed. We swam until I turned into a California Raisin, and then I had to drag Dawson back to the room so we could rinse off the chlorine and get ready for the game. I realized once we were back in the room that I didn’t bring the camera to the pool. No big deal. If you’ve seen one hotel pool picture, you’ve seen them all.

The Brewer game was to start at 7:05 p.m. and because we were going to walk to the stadium we left at 5:30. I figured Dawson’s little legs wouldn’t be able to walk very fast. I was right. He dawdled and whined that he couldn’t walk anymore so I carried him and my gigantic purse/camera bag the rest of the way. That in itself was a cardio workout.

We got inside the stadium and I decided we needed Brewers t-shirts. The one I owned was from high school and much too small, and I wanted to commemorate Dawson’s first Brewer game. The souvenir sales person convinced me to get Dawson a t-shirt with a player name on the back and she asked, “Which one do you want? Braun, Hardy or Fielder?”

I thought to myself, Where are the Yount and Molitor shirts?

It was at that moment that I realized the last Brewers game I had been to was in 1988 in old County Stadium (and before that I had only been to one other Brewers game, in 1985, when I was six years old). Vivid memories of Rollie Fingers and his handlebar mustache came flooding back, as well as the blind spots that made watching the game difficult because of the columns and support beams that were often in the way.

Had it really been 20 years since my last baseball game? I had to think hard about that. Then I remembered that after Dawson was born I sort of lost interest in baseball.

“I think we’ll take the J.J. Hardy shirt because his is the only name I recognize.” I said to the clerk.

She laughed and said, “First Brewers game?”

“It’s my son’s first Brewers game. My first visit to Miller Park. And to think I used to know the players by heart so many years ago. I know every Green Bay Packer, but sometime after giving birth I lost my baseball brain.” I chuckled.

“Now’s the time to get back into it.” she replied.

Fifty-seven dollars in souvenirs later, we found our seats, ordered two hot dogs, cotton candy, a super rope and a large soda, and watched the Brewers win 5-3 against the Dodgers.

Dawson was mesmerized by the lights, noise and Bernie Brewer, and he loved the Klements Races. He didn’t have one temper tantrum. I was truly in awe of how well behaved he was. Here are some of my favorite photos from the game:

Eating his first ballpark hot dog.

The Klements Races.

J.J. Hardy, short stop.

In his new t-shirt, watching a foul ball fly into the stands.

We stayed for all nine innings because my son was having such a great time. When the Brewers scored a run, the crowd went wild, fireworks went off and Bernie Brewer went down his slide. Dawson and I exchanged hi-fives, and I watched happily as my little buddy became a baseball fan. It was such a wonderful experience and I’m so happy that I could share it with him. (For those who are wondering, I won tickets to the game from a local radio station and Doug couldn’t get off work to go. Thus, Dawson and I had a “Mom & Son” date.)

The walk back to the hotel after the game was tough for the little guy, and once we got to our room, he fell asleep instantly.

The next day we slept until 9 a.m. (this is late for us), had the continental breakfast, and after checking out of the hotel, drove to the zoo. This time we tried to see all the things we didn’t see last year. Such as: