Mark and I woke up early Tuesday morning (after Mark went to sleep at 4:30!) and headed to Arizona for a Dodgers Spring Training game against the Cubs. Unfortunately, we lost. But, we had a great time checking out the beautiful new digs in Glendale. This is the first year that the Dodgers are training in AZ. They had previously held camp in Vero Beach, Florida. Many die-hard fans were upset by the move as it meant a shift in tradition, but it's nice for us fans who can't get away for longer than a couple of days at a time to check out a game. Mark and I looked at this two-day trip as the first of many, hopefully we'll be able to make it once a year.
After the game, we went to our hotel which was not too far away at all. After checking in and greenifying ourselves for the festivities, we walked to the Westgate City Center for a night of good 'ole Irish fun!
First, we hit the quad area in the middle of all of the shops, bars, and restaurants where they were giving away free green beer and listened to some live music. Next, we were off to a place called Bar Louie for dinner and another round of beer and music. We then went to a place called Hell's Half Acre where we had more beer (shocker!) and a more live music (the band at this place was great - they played some really great covers and kicked up the energy level of the night). We were astonished when we got our bill at this place, 3 Guiness and 3 Killians for $15! In fact, the entire evening was extremely affordable for the two of us, considering one drink in L.A. runs between $10-$15 at many places. After the band finished up, we were off to a dueling piano bar called The Shout House but not before Mark snapped a couple of pictures of me on the strippers pole that beckoned to me the entire time we were at the bar - classy, I know, but these people will never see me again anyway!
The Shout House was really fun, as dueling piano bars always are and then it was back to Bar Louie for one last drink and a little more grub. Finally, we walked back to our hotel and hit the hay.
The next day, we woke up slowly, enjoyed our free hotel breakfast and then, hangover free (thank goodness!), drove from our hotel to ASU to check out how much campus has changed. It was crazy to drive past the places where I lived and worked more than 7 years ago (it's CRAZY how long I've been in L.A.!). It felt like just yesterday until we'd turn a corner to see an enormous new building. The street where the pizza guy would deliver is no longer in front of my apartment! In its place is a cable car/electric train track. Craziness. We also went by my dad's old house, which I almost passed on the street and checked out how much the surrounding area had developed. There was still a fair amount of desert when they left AZ but it is now all built up and seriously almost unrecognizable.
In all, we had a fantastic time. The weather was beautiful and we drove all the way back home with the top down on Mark's car - enjoying the desert, the sunset, and the stars. On the drive home, we talked about how our next St. Patty's Day may very well be much, much different and how our life is going to change in the next year or two. As much fun as we had, we are both so super excited for the adventures that are ahead for us on this crazy road called life.
The Shout House was really fun, as dueling piano bars always are and then it was back to Bar Louie for one last drink and a little more grub. Finally, we walked back to our hotel and hit the hay.
The next day, we woke up slowly, enjoyed our free hotel breakfast and then, hangover free (thank goodness!), drove from our hotel to ASU to check out how much campus has changed. It was crazy to drive past the places where I lived and worked more than 7 years ago (it's CRAZY how long I've been in L.A.!). It felt like just yesterday until we'd turn a corner to see an enormous new building. The street where the pizza guy would deliver is no longer in front of my apartment! In its place is a cable car/electric train track. Craziness. We also went by my dad's old house, which I almost passed on the street and checked out how much the surrounding area had developed. There was still a fair amount of desert when they left AZ but it is now all built up and seriously almost unrecognizable.
In all, we had a fantastic time. The weather was beautiful and we drove all the way back home with the top down on Mark's car - enjoying the desert, the sunset, and the stars. On the drive home, we talked about how our next St. Patty's Day may very well be much, much different and how our life is going to change in the next year or two. As much fun as we had, we are both so super excited for the adventures that are ahead for us on this crazy road called life.
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