DBacks

After our excursion to the wild west at Rawhide we headed downtown to catch an Arizona Diamondbacks game at the impressive Chase Stadium. The stadium makes Tropicana Field, home of the Devil Rays, look like an archaic mess. Chase Stadium was very well designed with a retractable roof that opened the game to the dry, cool Arizona air. When things get too hot, they close it up and turn on the air conditioner.

I had always felt that St. Pete would be better served by buildling a similar stadium in place of the current Al Lang field, overlooking the bay. Close it during the summer heat, open it on cool nights.

We asked the ticket agent where to get the best seats and he picked some on the third level overlooking the field. They were great. You could see the entire game clearly and the tickets were only $15 each. Before heading to our seats, Gabe and I stood in the outfield during batting practice hoping to catch a homerun, but none came our way.

We made our way back to our seats when my cellphone rang. It was Gabe's little league coach. During this vacation, Gabe was missing a Mid-Season tournament. The coach called to say that the team had made it to the championship game and were hoping he would be back in time to help them pitch.

I told them, unfortunately, that we were not coming home until Monday. Gabe's team ended up losing 1-0 to East Lake in the Championship Game. I don't know the details, other than that our manager got kicked out of the game. Sounds interesting.

The Diamondback game was very exciting. The DBacks were playing the Colorado Rockies. The DBacks scored first, then the Rockies came back before the DBacks scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and won the game 5-4.

It was a great way to end the day. Arizona is now Gabe's (and DC's) favorite National League team.

Gabe and I watching batting practice from this vantage point.

The stadium rocks.

Dad and Gabe.

Mom and DC.

Final score... DBacks 5, Rockies 4

Near Death and Rawhide

Our trip to Arizona was originally meant to include a jaunt to Los Angeles, but that got scrapped. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing as, after the Canyon and Sedona, we were pretty tired of driving long distances. We spent Saturday morning heading to a place called Rawhide, which is a recreation of a Western town.

On the way there we almost got into a very serious accident. We were heading down the interstate and were starting down a one laned exit ramp when another car cut in front of us. At first, I noticed the car, but did not realize how slow they were going. Dea gasped and only then did I see that we were a second away from plowing into this car in front of us with 70 miles per hour impact.

I slammed on the brakes, the tires screeched and rubber smoked.

Funny what goes through your mind in a millisecond. I remember thinking, "Wow, we're going to really plow into this car!" and I could see the damage we were about to inflict. Dea said the thought that crossed her mind was "I should have gotten that rental car insurance." Funny, huh?

Anyway, as the tires screeched and smoked, the car in front of us moved to the right slightly and our car veered ever so slightly left toward the cement wall of the exit ramp. When the car stopped skidding we found ourselves with literally less than an inch on either side between the wall on the left and the opposing car on the right. The car in front of us continued down the road, apparently oblivious to the event and I sat, my heart racing and my legs feeling like rubber.

I continued down the road and the tires had a minor, rythmic thump in it from the flattened surface that was left in our skid marks on the ramp. When we got to the western town I got out of the car and confirmed my suspicion that, other than the burned rubber, the car was unscathed... nary a scratch. We all grabbed hands and thank God and our guardian angels for their divine protection.

With that we headed into the western town. It was a very cool place. We saw a quick draw show, had our picture taken in western gear and ate at an old fashioned saloon.

After the excitement from the drive to the town, the slowed pace of the western town made for a very relaxing morning.

The quiet western store.

Some scary cowpokes.

Gabe and DC take a ride.

Trick shooting behind him using a mirror.

Bang.

Dem der varmits are busted.

Gabe as a prospector.

Bang... again.

The Reception

The reception was held at a place called The Wright House, which has a large, elaborate courtyard that resembles an Italian courtyard. There were numerous levels, with tables spread about. We were greeted by four musicians playing classical music.

The reception was also the first time I had actually met Candyce in person. She seems to be such a loving and genuine person. Matt is a very lucky man. Both the families are very faithful and honest people. One could rarely see a better fit between man and wife as well as between in-laws.

Peter Smith gave a wonderful, heartfelt toast and we all enjoyed the celebration, food and family. Still suffering from east coast time, we were all pretty punchy and laughing quite a bit. By the end of the night, we were downright goofy.

We had a great time.

Greeted by music.

Sarah and Luke.

KT and Father Tim.

The happy couple.

The cake.

We're full of hot air.

The goof balls.

The Wedding

Matt and Candyce's wedding was held at St. Timothy's church, where the Lifeteen Mass originated. Behind the altar at this influential church is a large mural that represents the mass itself, where all of the Saints and Angels join us during the celebration of Jesus in the Eucharist. It was awe-inspiring artwork that really brought home what we take for granted every Sunday.

The ceremony itself was truly blessed. There were five priests in attendance (two for Candyce, two for Matt and the pastor of St. Timothy's)... I have never seen so many priests at a wedding before :) Emotions ran high during the wedding and we felt so honored to have been there. Matt Maher lead the touching music and the various other Lifeteen personalities, including Mark Hart who leads a teen bible study through Lifeteen called T3, was one of the readers as well.

We had such a wonderful time and, after the celebration, DC and Gabe were finally able to meet Matt M in person. We listen to his music everyday and they know most of his songs by heart. It was a big thrill to get to finally see him in person. He is truly a gift and a humble, warm gentleman.

After the wedding we hung around while the pictures were taken, joking and laughing with the family and then headed over to the reception...

The stunning, immense mural behind the altar.

We clean up real gooood.

Matt Maher leads the music during the wedding.

Matt and Candyce become one.

Gabe and DC get a picture taken
with Matt Maher, our favorite musician.

Matt's Bachelor Party

Matt asked me to join him at his bachelor party, for which I was honored. The plan was to go to this place called The Monastery, where we were to enjoy outdoor fun, such as volleyball, horse shoes, billiards, etc, but, as fate would have it, a cold front came through the desert and stuck us with an intense rain.

We huddled inside the small, smoke filled bar, which happened to be open mic night. So, Matt Maher, a roommate of Matt S., decided to celebrate the bachelor party by singing a few cover songs as well as a wonderful song he had written less that two days earlier.

In a previous post I had mentioned how much I had loved Matt Maher's music. It inspires me and lifts me up. I came across his music from my brother Charles. When I found out that Matt M and Matt S were roomies, I told Charles that I would pay Matt M. for his music if I ever got to see him in person. When I was introduced to him at the bachelor party, I pulled out the $50 I had specifically been saving for him and gladly handed it over, complimenting him on his wonderful musical gifts.

Despite everyone's exhaustion from the long day, we all had a wonderful time. Matt S has a great group of friends that were all impressive in their own ways. I was very happy to have been able to participate in the evening.

Hanging at the Smiths

We drove down from Sedona Thursday morning and went straight to the house the Smith family was renting. Staying at the house were Mary and Steve, Brian and KT and fam, Robbie and Kristi and fam, Peter, Paul, Andrew and Laura. Father Tim, from Atlanta, also came in for the wedding and was staying at the same Hampton Inn as us.

One of the greatest blessings we have is that our extended family loves being together. We spent all of Thursday morning over at the house, eating, laughing, joking, enjoying each others company. What a great trip this is turning out to be.

DC and Laura

Andrew and Paul on the couch, surfing the net.

Brian and Father Tim.

Dea and Kristi

Matt, DC and Dea.

Pete and Laura.

Stunning Views at Sedona

On our way from the Grand Canyon to Phoenix for Matt's wedding, before our vacation, our friend back in Florida, Cathy Ross, was pretty adamant that we stop and see Sedona. I was not too excited to add another stop on our already busy schedule, but since it is directly between the Canyon and Phoenix, we decided to stay overnight.

Being out west, yet still on east coast time, is a great benefit on vacation. We get up early, do our sight seeing and are usually on to our next destination by lunch. The same held true for today. We left the Canyon and hit Sedona around lunch time. Even though I could have slept a billion hours (suffering from a quite intense head cold), we all ate lunch and headed out to see the sights.

Sedona is one impressive city. The beauty of the landscape is quite unbelievable. It not only impresses you in beauty alone, but it also gives you a better appreciation of the size of the Grand Canyon.

Many thanks to Cathy for suggesting this place.

CLICK ON THE PICS FOR LARGER IMAGES.

Picturesque Sedona

More Pics of Sedona

Cathedral Rock

Chapel of the Cross

View from the Chapel of the Cross

The family at the top of Chapel of the Cross.

The view over Sedona from the
scenic overview near the airport.

Hanging out above Sedona.

The family and I watching the sunset atop
Sedona. It's the only time I've watched
a sunset where the setting sun wasn't the
focus, but instead the light against the rocks.

Grand Views at the Canyon

We arrived around 8 PM at the Grand Canyon Hotel and collapsed as it was 11 PM EST for us. The next day we went and took in the grandure of the Grand Canyon, took a hike, then headed for our stay in Sedona.

Back in Bedrock

Nineteen years ago my best friend Tim and I drove across the country, stopping at a campground called Bedrock City outside of the Grand Canyon.

As my family and I left the Canyon and headed south toward Sedona, we found Bedrock City still standing, better than ever. It brought back a flood of memories. I called Tim from our approximate camping spot 19 years older and said "you'll never guess where I'm standing."

He couldn't believe it.

After my round trip down memory lane, we hopped back into the car and headed toward Sedona, a destination strongly recommended by Cathy Ross, the music director of our Lifeteen Mass at home.

Calling Tim from the Bedrock City.

The proof is in the signage.

On the Drive to the Canyon

We landed successfully in Phoenix, hopped into our rental car and headed for the four hour drive to the Grand Canyon. We're all very tired, but we gained three hours of sunlight out here, so we feel pretty good.

At Atlanta Airport

We're sitting and waiting for our flight to Phoenix. Gabe was nervous on the flight to Atlanta, as it was his first time in a plane. But we made it safe and sound and are sitting patiently, eating Krystal burgers during our two hour layover...

On the flight to ATL.

Relaxing in Atlanta as we wait for our flight
to Phoenix.