Sol Searching Friday Random 10

A little background music while I try see sunspot 1057…

1. “The Girl in Byakkoya” – Susumu Hirasawa, Paprika Soundtrack
2. “Thirty Years” – U.K., U.K.
3. “Don’t Cross the River” – America, History: America’s Greatest Hits
4. “All I Need” – Level 41, Retroglide
5. “Pennants” – Steve Howe, The Steve Howe Album
6. “Dawning of the Day” – Starcastle, Fountains of Light
7. “Crime of Passion” – Rick Wakeman, Rick Wakeman’s Criminal Record
8. “Hot House Ball” – Bruce Hornsby, Hot House
9. “I’ve Been Searching” – Roger Eno/Kate St. John, The Familiar
10. “The Demon Power II” – Joe Hisaishi, Princess Mononoke soundtrack

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Ft. Myers, FL! Postscript

Now that we got back our camera from the rental car agency, I can wrap up our Ft. Myers’ vacation writeup with a few of the photos that arrived with the camera.  These were taken at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium:

^{a section of the walking trail boardwalk through the cypress forest}

^{cardinal wild pine bromiliad, an epiphyte (or “air plant”) growing on a tree}

Ft. Myers, FL! Part II – Twins 7, Cardinals 6

One of the reasons we chose Ft. Myers, FL for our vacation, besides the beaches and the warm weather, was of course it’s the Spring Training home of the Minnesota Twins. A quick look at the schedule and we HAD to see the March 9^th game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.

^{Hammond Stadium under overcast skies}

The weather was overcast but a warm 72°F — a perfect day, if the sprinkles hold off. We parked on Battey Blvd, and walking to Hammond Stadium we got plenty of remarks on our attire; Mo was wearing her Cards shirt, while I wore the Twins away gray pinstripe jersey. Our response was that we had a “mixed marriage.”

^{one of the first things we saw was at the batting cage on the neighboring field: from left, Tony O., Gardy, and Rod Carew with a bat in hand}

Hittin’ Some Phungo

Just completed a Phillies/Twins swap with Phungo. Phungo included a few nice vintage, and while there were some minor corner or crease issues, the cards will do a great job of holding down a spot until something better comes along someday.

^{clockwise, from top left:  1964 Topps #500 Camilo Pascual; 2005 Topps Pristine Personal Pieces Common #PPC_BR Brad Radke [270/425]; 2005 Topps Bazooka Gold #110 Joe Nathan; 2008 Upper Deck Spectrum Swatches #SS-MO Justin Morneau [14/15]}

Fort Myers, FL!

With some pending free flights with Southwest Airlines and an exasperation with our cold, cloudy weather, Mo & I put together a pre-anniversary vacation trip to Florida.  Since the Twins play their Spring Training games in Ft. Myers, it made for a nice destination for someone who hasn’t stepped outside of Orlando when in Florida.

Because our travel options were limited by the time we were able to nail down our reservations, we decide to fly in and out of Ft. Lauderdale, since we needed to rent a car anyway, and that would allowed us to travel Alligator Alley and to drop by a beach on the Atlantic side as well.

Monday, we made a nice leisurely drive in our Nissan Versa rental car from the Ft. Lauderdale airport to our hotel in Ft. Myers.  We saw glades that seemed to go on forever!  We made Hyatt Place Ft. Myers/at The Forum our “home” for the week.  Working off of a recommendation, we went to The Prawnbroker Restaurant for a delicious seafood supper.

Tuesday was game day.  (details here)  Following the game, we took off for Ft. Myers Beach to enjoy the vista at sunset.

you get an idea of the water temperature from the expression on Mo’s face

Lunch at BA Benny’s Baseball Card Buffett

While we were off to Ft. Myers, FL for Spring Training and the beach, a package arrived from the ever-patient Mike at BA Benny at BA Benny’s Baseball Card Buffett. We’d agreed to trade cards some time ago, but unlike Mike, I didn’t get my package to the PO before heading out to the airport. Sorry dude, the check package is in the mail now, though (no, really!).

Mike sent a slew of 1980s-mid 1990’s junk wax (sure, if you want to get rid of it, I’ll take it), but he hit several of my wantlists as well.  Here’s a sampling:

^{clockwise, from top left: 2006 Fleer Ultra #244 Retro Lucky 13 Joe Mauer; 2005 Topps Opening Day #114 Justin Morneau; 1997 Pacific #46 Chuck Knoblauch; 2004 Upper Deck Power Up #84 Johan Santana – this card is just plain wrong}

Okay, just what is the 1997 Pacific Knoblauch card? It looks like it’s from the Pacific Crown Collection, but the card number (46) matches Knoblauch’s Prism card number. In any case, the diamond section in the bottom with Chuck’s photo floating on a clear film insert is pretty unusual.

Sorry again that my Mets reciprocal package is behaving so much like a “player to be named later” — hope you enjoy the return goodies.

Soundtrack Friday Random 10

Time for some pre-Spring Training trip soundtrack music:

1. “Escaping Nomanisan” – Michael Giacchino, The Incredibles
2. “Suite from Forrest Gump” – Alan Silvestri, Forrest Gump Original Soundtrack
3. “Night Fight” – Tan Dun, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
4. “The Wooing of Catherine” – Patrick Doyle, Henry V
5. “Ending Titles” – Wendy Carlos, Tron Soundtrack
6. “Harappa” – E.S. Posthumus, Unearthed
7. “Take His Toes” – Stephen Rippy, Kevin McMullan, David Rippy, Age of Empires III Original Soundtrack
8. “Bishop’s Death” – Andrew Powell, Ladyhawke
9. “No Vacancy (Venture Bros Theme)” – JG Thirlwell, The Venture Bros: The Music of JG Thirlwell
10. “Paradise Lost” – Joe Hisaishi, Laputa: The Castle in the Sky

TGIF folks!

Liquid Twins Refreshments

Everyone loves incoming trade mail, and that’s especially true when it’s unsolicited.  Wickedliquids over at Trade Bait – The Great Chase! dropped me a line out of the blue asking for for my address, and next thing I know, a mailer is in hand.

^{clockwise, from top left: 2009 Upper Deck A Piece of History Red #55 Joe Mauer; 2010 Upper Deck #320 Scott Baker – always interesting seeing a pitcher swinging away; 2010 Upper Deck #295 J.J. Hardy; 2009 Upper Deck Starquest Blue Uncommon #SQ-476 Justin Morneau}

All of the cards were 2009/2010, and although there weren’t many (and several were dupes that I will find a new home for), four of them fit my wantlist, and I added their pictures above.  One was the first Twins J.J. Hardy card.

Now, everyone knows the evils of alcohol, but wickedliquids is a whole ‘nother thing.  Next time I’m by my local card shop, and he happens to have Topps Chicle on sale, I can return the favor.  Thanks again, WL.