Mik’s Food Scrapbook: Coors Field

Mik decided to go with something different this time and skipped the hot dogs all together at Coors Field. Instead he just tried the sliders and fries. He really enjoyed the mini burgers and finished them up pretty quickly. He then only ate about half the fries. He liked the fries, but by the time he got to them he was full from the sliders. I could not even tempt him to try a bite of my butter tornado pretzel, although he really was not missing much since again it was a pretzel that needed salt, but at least the dough was very gourmet.

Day 24: Disney Christmas Carol Train Tour and Hanging Out in Denver

Back on Memorial Day we tried to see the Disney Christmas Carol Train Tour in Los Angeles, but we did not have the time to wait four hours to see it because we had the Angels game that night. Friday, June 12, 2009 was its first day of its weekend stop at Union Station in Denver, Colorado. Even though the Rockies game was a night game we decided to head into Denver early to for sure see the train this time and then just hang out until it was time to go to the game.

We got to Denver’s Union Station around 8:30am and had to wait for it to open at 9am, but once it opened we pretty much went right on the train. I had to wait for Dad and Mik to go around to a ramp up to the platform and then we were slowed down again waiting for his turn to be brought up on the hand-cranked lift. The ramp thing was kind of annoying because they would not let me go with them and then when I got up to the platform no one could tell me where to stand and wait for Mik and Dad to come up.

The Christmas Carol Train Tour starts by boarding the train and walking through some train cars with exhibits about the making of Disney’s animated 3D movie Christmas Carol that is coming out in November 2009. The exhibits also included some of Chares Dicken’s original manuscripts, etc. on loan from the Charles Dicken’s Museum in London, which I have actually been to. Anyways the exhibits were pretty cool. Some of the stuff is things you often see as bonus features on DVD releases, such as concept art and video clips of the actors talking about the making of the movie, but it was a much cooler atmosphere to see these things.

For one, the Concept Art was shown on screens in photo frames and the scenes slowly changed. Secondly, there was actual models on display, such as the maquettes and models for several of the characters and Big Ben. Lastly there was a display of actual volume space the actors act in to create the 3D animation very realistically.

After going through the train there is a blow up theater building that shows a preview of the Christmas Carol movie. The preview is in 3D just like the movie is going to be available in. The preview included the scene of Scrooge at his office and the ghost of Jacob Marley visiting Scrooge. The 3D is pretty amazing and while the story has been done in movie format many times, this does seem like a very worthwhile remake due to making it 3D.

The train tour was very worth going to. It might have been worth 4 hours in L.A. if we had had the time, but I am glad we were able to do it Denver. It was certainly worth it when we did not have to wait at all.

After the train tour we went to a nearby coffee shop and Mik watched shows on my computer while Dad and I just hung out. We then went to an afternoon movie at a nearby theater after finally convincing Mik that it was better than sitting at the coffee shop any longer. We went and saw Disney’s Up in 3D. It was not that great, but the 3D was interesting and it was way better than sitting around at the coffee shop waiting for it to be game time. Also, we ended up finding the Hard Rock and I got a pin for my Hard Rock Café collection. I know if I had planned I could have gotten a lot of them on the trip, but I did not budget for them and it is kind of more fun when we just happen upon them instead of trying to fit them in.

Game 12: Seattle Mariners 4 @ Colorado Rockies 6

We got to the ballpark not long before the gates opened two hours before the game. More on what we did this morning later. Right before they were to open the gates for the game it started to rain and they let us in and corralled us in the stairwell/elevator area before taking our tickets. We then were let up into the park, but they really only open the bleacher section 2 hours before the game for batting practice, which there was none of since it was pouring by this time. We just waited a half hour for the main concourse to open and go to the Team Shop before going to our seats.

By the time we got to our seats the rain had stopped and the sun came out again. There were a few sprinkles during the game, but mostly pretty good. As soon as we got back to the car, though, it started raining steadily again. Good thing it did not go to the bottom of the 9th or we would have been walking back to the car in the rain or waiting it out with Mik probably yelling at the stadium. Both ends of the game came close to a rain delay, but we got lucky and totally avoided that at least for one more game.

The game was pretty exciting with the Mariners taking an early lead and then the Rockies slowly battling back to go ahead and end up winning. It was also nice to see the Rockies starting pitcher go all nine innings. The past three games of our trip we have seen the Rockies win and the Rockies themselves are on a really hot streak now having 9 wins in a row. Mik kind of wanted them to lose since their hot streak has put them ahead of the Dbacks, but as far as the trip goes he is always happier for the game to end faster and hence the Rockies winning without needing a bottom of the 9th was just as good. I was kind of rooting for the Rockies just because I do not really care about the Mariners and the Rockies were the home team this time. Of course, I liked them beating the Cardinals and Brewers, too, since those teams are in the Cubs division.

Now it is still raining as we are driving back to the KOA. Boy is it nice we have a kabin tonight, too. Hitting the road for Kansas City tomorrow. I am looking forward to Sunday and going to a game that the Rockies are not playing at. It is getting a little boring seeing them when they are not one of our favorite teams. Although, they do spring train at one of my favorite ballparks (Hi Corbett in Tucson)

Day 23: Living in Luxury

Okay, so this KOA has totally redeemed itself at least in customer service versus not the greatest tent accommodations and amenities. The staff her have been some of the friendliest throughout. Today it rained as I mentioned previously. Well, the tent area totally flooded to ankle depth and hence why we ended up with some water in the tent. The water was mostly gone by the time we got back and we just thought it was because we left the tent windows open. All the other tenters moved to cabins earlier this evening and I just assumed they did not want to deal with it, but it turns out some actually complained and even got refunds. As we were getting ready to bundle in for the night and tough it out and it was beginning to sprinkle one of the staff came over and gave us a key to one of the little kabins (its KOA, so everything that starts with a c starts with a k around here). We would have toughed it out and probably moved to the car if water began to get in the tent again, but we sure were not going to pass up a free upgrade.

The kabin is awesome. I love the little front porch swing. We even have electricity. There is a bunk bed and one double bed. I get to sleep on top, Dad is sleeping on the bottom and Mik gets the big bed since he is afraid of falling off and there really is not room for him to be on the floor like he prefers. Mik is happily watching and charging his iPod while sitting at the little built in desk. The WiFi actually works from in the comfort of the kabin. Oh, this is surely living in luxury or at least kamping without the motor home wise it is.

The tent is still up since it was already raining when we got upgraded, but we can get it down tomorrow morning before heading into Denver to try to see the Disney Carol Train Tour before the Rockies game. Then packing up before we leave for Kansas City will be way faster.

Day 23: Target, Tornadoes, and More in the Denver Area

Today started as quite a boring day, but it got more interesting. We got to the KOA near Denver around 5:30am this morning. We then set up the tent and Dad and Mik went to bed. I then tried to go to the laundry room and use the Internet. Well, it was not working with my USB thing since we are in the middle of nowhere and we later learned the WiFi at the campground was slow because of the thunderstorms last night, which by the way we did drive through some last night, too.

This whole KOA has been a big disappointment with the tent sites put in this little area and not clearly marked. Plus, this little area is right next to the I-70. Why cannot they at least have a row of motorhome spaces and then the tent area. Anyways, just a rather unimpressive campground for something that is supposed to be civilized. I have been disappointed in the last few for various things that I have come to expect if I am going to be paying for a civilized place. Not to mention one to the bigger reason we went with KOA all the way was for better accessibility and that has not been all that great either. I guess we were just spoiled with some of the best KOAs early in the trip. At least the Internet thing was fixed and they have an ice cream parlor here, which is very handy considering we are literally at least 15 miles from anything.

Around noon we headed to town. Yeah, we have mostly been staying outside of places, but I have never felt like we were actually going to town for supplies like this time. It started pouring on our way. We gassed up at a Safeway and then went to Target and it had let up a little. We get into Target and they are making everyone go to the middle and back of the store because of a tornado watch in the area. We ended up slowly browsing Target, but it was also a Super Target, so we accomplished our grocery shopping waiting for the warning to pass. Mik was annoyed at the delay mainly because the food counter at the front was closed and that was why he chose to go to Target to get a mouse for Mom's laptop that she gave us last weekend to borrow and now suddenly the mouse pad stopped working. Crazy kid that he is was disappointed that in the end the warning passed and he did not get anything at the food place and there was no tornado right there at Target.

From Target we went to Panera Bread for a late lunch. We have a bunch of gift cards for there and finally we found one sort of convenient to go to. We did not linger much like we had originally planned because when we had left the campground the WiFi seemed back up and it turns out it is not too bad.

Back at camp we had to empty the tent out because water got in, but it was not too bad. Mik then took a nap with his entirely dry pillow blanket while Dad sat by the pool while I went swimming for a little. The pool was heated and actually not that great. I do not like cold water, but this almost seemed like swimming in a spa. I know it was not that hot, but it kind of felt like it since it was only warm outside if you are in the sun. Still enjoyable, though, since it is the first time on the trip I have been able to find a campground pool empty when we had free time at the campground.

Now we are all in the rec room with computers. Dad is on Facebook as usual (I swear it seems that is all he ever does on the Internet and boy does he do it a lot!!!). Mik is catching up on watching some television shows online (again someone doing what they always do online). I guess I could say the same about me since I am blogging and that seems to be what I mostly do online, but I have also been getting in some online game playing since it is hard to play JamLegend when we are driving even when the signal is good.

Car Stickers Update: Field of Dreams

We finally have a non-MLB ballpark sticker on the car. We had been hoping to have a sticker on there by now from Disneyland or the National Park, but the Field of Dreams was the first place we found one to put on the back of the car. It is a blue bumper sticker style one with the words Field of Dreams Dyersville, Iowa.

Kj's Baseball Collection: Field of Dreams Signed by Owner

They had the Field of Dreams souvenir baseballs as is or for a few dollars more signed by Don Lansing, who owns the land the Field of Dreams movie set is located. I chose the slightly more expensive version because it is kind of cool that it is signed. It is an actual signature, too, and not those fake ones you get on the souvenir balls at many of the ballparks that have the year's roster supposedly signing it.