Sioux Falls, SD and Omaha, NE – Day 3 – Random Acts of Kindness Fulfilled

Random Act Number One:  I kindly left Sioux Falls, SD.  It is a quaint town but I was unable to see a minor league ballgame there because it conflicted with the second Twins/Mariners game, so it became a stopover between Minneapolis and Omaha.  I did stop at the Sioux Falls Falls, which is a small waterfall in the city right downtown.  It is nice and quaint, much like the town.  I found the people in this city to be very reserved.  While they were polite and quick to smile, there was a reserved quietness about them that was reflected in the city, the architecture, the slow moving traffic.

Random Act Number Two:  There was one yoga studio.  I was planning on taking a bikram class at 9:30 in the morning but my sore back and shoulder made me think otherwise.  I decided to shut down the upper half of my body until that heals.  In exchange, I performed a random act of kindness to myself and got a one hour deep tissue massage.  As I sit and write this, my entire upper body aches from either the massage or the shoulder, back, neck pain – I can’t tell which!

Random Act Number Three:  I set the cruise control to exactly 5 miles per hour over the speed limit all the way from South Dakota to Omaha, NE.  In the process two more states I have never been to were knocked off the list; Iowa and Nebraska.

Random Act Number Four:  Upon arriving at the baseball game in Omaha, my ticket was at will call from the 3^rd baseman of the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) via the police officer that pulled me over in Minnesota.  The player’s name is Anthony Seratelli.  The people that worked at the stadium said he is a super nice guy.  The seat was right behind home plate and I thanked him for the ticket while he was standing in the on deck circle in the 9^th inning.  The O-Royals took a beating 7-1.  He told me that the team hadn’t been playing very well of late.  The minor league experience is quite different than that of a major league game, especially in Omaha.  Fun fact:  The Omaha team does not play in the same stadium as the college world series.  That stadium is downtown.  The Omaha AAA team stadium is out in a cornfield.  Literally.  It is very nice.  Today was the first of their dog days of summer and there were a ton of dogs at the park.  They have a kids’ area that wraps the entire outfield with small amusement park rides and other kids’ activities.  The most expensive ticket at the stadium is $16.50.  I had a delicious piece of pizza for $4.  Part of the left field and the entire right field seating area is grass.  Families were out there with their dogs and blankets enjoying the beautiful day.  In between every half inning they had fan events on the field, such as balloon races, costume races, etc.  It was a fabulous and super fun atmosphere.  Unfortunately the game was not that memorable, other than the fact that the top 3 hitters on the Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals) killed the Storm Chasers on their own.  Two of them looked major league ready against one of the Royals better pitching prospects Chris Dwyer.  There were no home runs, and I think that is because the park looks huge.  I will have to check out the stats on it some other time.

Random Act Number Five:  Going to bed.  On to Kansas City to see the big club tomorrow, against the Twins no less.