New York, New York

You knew we couldn't be kept away for long...so this morning began with a trip to New York City for the UT Tyler Softball team. Gino the bus driver (and amateur tour guide) brought us through the Lincoln Tunnel and into Manhattan about 10 a.m. and smartly went through the required attractions, including Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, Ground Zero, Rockefeller Plaza, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and others. Time only permitted a few stops, but even driving by most of these places was pretty exciting.

Note: What Gino lacked in tour guide skills, he more than made up for negotiating the NYC traffic - which is exactly how it appears on TV.

We headed back to Jersey for a late lunch, choosing the cuisine of one of the area's finest traditional American eateries. Then it was time to head to Montclair State for the first time where the team got in a quick workout at the school's football field.

Dinner will follow later on and it will be an early night as the Patriots get some much needed rest before going into full softball mode with an 8 a.m. Thursday practice at the softball stadium.

We'll have lots more as the week goes on, so check back often!

A final comment... Just as many people from New Jersey probably assume most Texans are cowboys because that's what they see in the movies, many of us were under the strong impression that everyone in New Jersey was in the mob (courtesy of the Sopranos). We have all been shocked and somewhat disappointed to find out this is not the case.