My experience of the college World Series is one that I will never forget and will hopefully not be my last. When I got married I knew I married into a crazy baseball fan family. My husband and his dad of course being the worst.…Read More

My experience of the college World Series is one that I will never forget and will hopefully not be my last. When I got married I knew I married into a crazy baseball fan family. My husband and his dad of course being the worst. Well that was fine since I really did not hate the sport. I gladly became a baseball fan by marriage and have enjoyed the things I have learned over the past few years.

Since my husband was a little boy all he wanted to do was go to the College World Series in Omaha Nebraska. I am sure as a young kid that desire was to play in it, but as he got older it changed to going to watch the games. With that in mind, him and a friend decided to see if they could get tickets. Tickets are very hard to get and they usually see out with in 15 minutes of going on sale. They were lucky enough to score some tickets and decided to sell what they did not need and buy the tickets they needed from other people selling tickets. This went on for about a month and they finally ended up with tickets for both of them to the first 4 sessions.

Well I guess that was not enough. They wanted to come back, on our way back from a week in Minnesota to catch the first game of the championship series. So my husband got up early went to the Mall of America and purchased tickets for the three of us. Oh boy wasn’t I excited (sense the sarcasm) I could have cared less about going to the College World Series but I knew it meant a lot to my husband and it would be fine.

So it’s the Saturday of the big game. We arrive in Omaha pretty early that day and begin to check out T-shirt stands and buy our souvenirs. We all got shirts and a few hats and so gifts for other people. About an hour before the game started we checked out the ESPN Zone which is pretty close to the front gate, we walked around there for a little while and when the gates opened we headed in. Now being the not huge fan that I am I was not really routing for any team and really had no clue who was even playing (if I am being honest). So of course after being briefed and informed of all the useful info I needed for the game. I was able to choose a team to go for. I actually got excited for the game once I heard the story about the two teams playing. I know that sounds stupid and you are probably thinking I just jumped on the bandwagon, but you have to start some where to become a fan and I got pumped up when I thought about who I would really like to see win.

I mentioned in the overview briefly about the two teams. Oregon State and North Carolina were the two teams playing and neither had won a college world series before. Oregon was making only its second appearance ever in the schools history and that part of the country is not really know for baseball. When I watched a few of the first round games Oregon lost pretty bad to some top schools who have been contenders in the past of the championship. This left Oregon in a bind, having to come back and win almost every game and every match up to make the finals. North Carolina came in with a strong team and pretty much beat every one they played they did not loose a round. Matching these two teams against each other in the championship round.

Well it would be clear to any one who the winner would and should be but that was only the beginning. I choose to cheer for the underdog, and I liked the orange and black beaver thing better than that Carolina blue. So that was the team for me. This first game that we went to was an incredible game. Both teams played extraordinary and in the last inning Carolina took the lead and won the game. A little disappointing but nevertheless a great game. The next match up would put the pressure on Oregon State. Well that was no problem for them they took the game easily that time and then we were on to another game. By now I am on the edge of my seat and a fan for sure. Getting into the intense match up between two schools that are obviously great teams and both wanting to win more than anything.

In the end Oregon State went on to win their first College World Series Title a game I will never forget. The intensity and the pressure that was involved, the heart and hard work these boys must have had to endure paid off in a victory. So it seems my fan ship was not a total lose and I am so excited for next years College World Series. I think this is much more exciting than anything else I have ever experiences sports wise. I will never forget it and am glad my husband drug me to the game.

"Eight Teams, One Dream"
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Located on Dodge St about 7 miles outside downtown, Omaha Boys Town (now Boys and Girls Town) has been helping troubled children since it was founded by Father Flanagan in 1917. Tours are offered from the visitors center. Unfortunately we arrived too late for a…Read More

Located on Dodge St about 7 miles outside downtown, Omaha Boys Town (now Boys and Girls Town) has been helping troubled children since it was founded by Father Flanagan in 1917. Tours are offered from the visitors center.

Unfortunately we arrived too late for a tour but with a little luck and much persistence we were able to find Father Flanagan's grave and enter the Shrine. This is a beautiful campus and just driving through makes you appreciate the work and dedication that went into making it a reality. We need to thank Spencer Tracy for making Father Flanagan and Boys Town household words. The famous statue "He's not heavy, he's my Brother" is the first thing that greets you as you enter the campus and the last thing you see when you leave.

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Henry Doorly boasts many acres of penned wildlife. Some of my favorite were the giraffes, ostriches, elephants and rhinos. It's strange seeing these exotic animals in the heart of a large city like Omaha. The zoo itself is in a hilly area…Read More

Henry Doorly boasts many acres of penned wildlife. Some of my favorite were the giraffes, ostriches, elephants and rhinos. It's strange seeing these exotic animals in the heart of a large city like Omaha.

The zoo itself is in a hilly area and is nicely landscaped. The pens are fairly large, but I'm sure by no means as large an area as what the animals native habitats might have been.

The aviary is a large oval, netted enclosure where one is able to wander on paths and bridges. A wide variety of birds fly about freely within the area.

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When you pull onto the main road that goes to Rosenblatt Stadium you will see stand after stand after stand selling T-shirts. The strip of road that these stands are on is about a half mile long. They are all lined up one next…Read More

When you pull onto the main road that goes to Rosenblatt Stadium you will see stand after stand after stand selling T-shirts. The strip of road that these stands are on is about a half mile long. They are all lined up one next to the other with a few stores in between.

Most of the stands have the same shirts and the same prices. They sell shirts for each team in the tournament and as that team gets eliminated the shirts are reduced in price. They also sell several different styles of College World Series shirts. Many of the shirts are about $15-$20 depending on the shirt, team and where you get it from, and the sizes can vary from kids to adult, including women and infants. Infant sizes are more rare but you can find at least one shirt in infant sizes. If you get lucky or try you can negotiate and bargain with some of the sellers if you buy multiple shirts or something. A friend we were with got all his shirts for $10 because he bought 10 of them. I got 2 free drinks with one of my shirts and got the shirt for $5 less than another place (the shirt was for a team playing that day and in the playoffs, and it was the last one).

You will also see people selling and buying tickets to the games and trying to sell you other junk as well. You have to be aware of what is legit and what is not. Also along this road you can buy all sorts of baseball and CWS souvenirs. Everything, from bracelets, hats, socks, jerseys, bats, balls, programs, bags, etc. you name it they probably had it. You could also buy food and drinks while walking around trying to find the best deal on shirts. We picked up some ice cream (pink panthers) while walking because it was so hot and we needed to cool off. Close

Normally I find stuff like this kind a waste of time to write about, but there were some neat foods at the concession stands at the College World Series. The first thing that is well known up there and everyone must try at least once…Read More

Normally I find stuff like this kind a waste of time to write about, but there were some neat foods at the concession stands at the College World Series. The first thing that is well known up there and everyone must try at least once is the huge fries bucket. I kept being told it was so big and you can’t finish it on your own. Well I had to see this and check it out for myself. The bucket of fries is big. For $4.50 you get a huge (2 people split ours) boat of fries. Not just any fries though, these were thinly slices fried fries that were so good. They are a little greasy but well worth the fun of trying to eat them. They pile the fries up about 2 inches off the boat and they are all hanging off. I do not know how you can eat them without losing at least some. Even loosing some you still get plenty to fill you up.

The other treat I found that I think is worth writing about is fresh squeezed lemonade. Now I have never been to a baseball game and gotten fresh squeezed lemonade so I was excited. Not only was it great lemonade but part of the cost went to a fundraiser for some local charity. The glass was like $3.50 I think. I love fresh lemonade so this was a great treat for me.

Now between those two things I did not need anything else to eat. However, my son did have a hot dog and my husband had some nachos. Both were also delicious. The concession stands had many choices and different things at each one. Of course as always the prices are a little high but you will have not choice on food and drinks when you come to Rosenblatt Stadium since they do not allow any food or drinks what so ever in the stadium. There are huge trashcans at the front door for you to dump and throw away anything you might have, including water.
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Located at 701 N. 40th St., this is a landmark that is hard to miss, as the beautiful twin towers dominate the skyline as you drive out of Omaha on Dodge Street. The cathedral was built in the Spanish Renaissance style, which is much more common…Read More

Located at 701 N. 40th St., this is a landmark that is hard to miss, as the beautiful twin towers dominate the skyline

as you drive out of Omaha on Dodge Street. The cathedral was built in the Spanish Renaissance style, which is much more common in the southwestern United States and Mexico than in the Midwest.

Among the cathedral's outstanding features are the carara marble altar and beautiful carved pulpit of mahogany.

In the chapel there is a 16th-century stained glass window from Spain.

In 1901, plans began to construct a cathedral in Omaha. Prominent Omaha architect Thomas Rogers Kimball took on the task. Construction began in 1905 and continued through 1958. In 1916, enough had been completed to allow services to begin being performed.

St Cecelia's was added to the National Historic Register in 1979. Beyond just being a Catholic cathedral, they have become an active part in the community. Every year they host the Annual Flower Show and other community activities. Docents from the parish conduct guided tours for over 60,000 tourists a year.

If you are Catholic, this is a lovely place to go to Mass on Sunday, and they have a 5:30pm Mass. Even if you're not Catholic, it is architecturally exciting.

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The first hanger houses a number of the aircraft. There is a catwalk on the north side of the room that gives you an overall view of the room and allows you to get a closeup of the aircraft that are suspended from the…Read More

The first hanger houses a number of the aircraft. There is a catwalk on the north side of the room that gives you an overall view of the room and allows you to get a closeup of the aircraft that are suspended from the ceiling. Though this is an impressive sight, there's nothing like getting on the ground floor and walking among the planes. There is plenty of space between the planes, and because of the size of the area, it does not seem crowded with visitors even though many people might be there at one time. I guess enormous is the best word to describe this hanger.Close

The atrium of the museum is a magnificent structure. According to the literature available at the museum there are 525 glass panels. It really is awesome. And the display that it contains is awesome also. A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is suspended…Read More

The atrium of the museum is a magnificent structure. According to the literature available at the museum there are 525 glass panels. It really is awesome. And the display that it contains is awesome also. A Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is suspended in the center of the atrium. It can be viewed from a catwalk that runs around the atrium.

There is a lot of glass in the main section of the museum. Just off the atrium you can see a large conference room/theater.Close

When I first visited SAC museum, it was located in Bellevue, Nebraska, not too far distant from Offut Airforce Base. The planes were at that time displayed outside on a paved surface. Though it was fun to wander around and examine the planes,…Read More

When I first visited SAC museum, it was located in Bellevue, Nebraska, not too far distant from Offut Airforce Base. The planes were at that time displayed outside on a paved surface. Though it was fun to wander around and examine the planes, there seemed not to be much design in their arrangement. There was also one building with airforce related displays at that time.

On occasion, airshows were held at the museum during it's tenure in Bellevue. These usually drew large crowds.Close

Second to the Lied Jungle I enjoyed visiting Primate Valley. Henry Doorly has a wonderful outdoor sloping enclosure for their gorillas. There is also an indoor viewing area for the primates. Their orangutans were always indoors when I visited and I'm not…Read More

Second to the Lied Jungle I enjoyed visiting Primate Valley. Henry Doorly has a wonderful outdoor sloping enclosure for their gorillas. There is also an indoor viewing area for the primates.

Their orangutans were always indoors when I visited and I'm not sure if they have outside facilities for these beautiful creatures. As much as I admire Henry Doorly Zoo, there is more they could do for their orangutans.

The orangs were always more shy than the gorillas. I could stand for hours by the gorilla fence watching for the big silverback to run across the compound beating his chest. What a thrilling sight.

As Henry Doorly is always updaing and improving its exhibits, much of this may have changed since the last time I visited, which was in 1998.

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