I'm counting the days until next week!

My wife reminds me that for the past 20 years now I have been making an annual trip to Florida for Spring Training.

I grew up rooting for the Pittsburgh PIrates, and despite 15-straight losing seasons by the Bucs, I still root for the Pirates.

So, next week, my wife, daughter and I will pack up and head south for a few days to soak in the sun and some baseball.

I'm lucky my 10-year old daughter loves baseball and my wife is willing to humor us by going along and acting like she loves baseball.

If you have never made this trip, let me tell you it is one of the most special things you can do, if you are a baseball fan.

In the morning you may go watch the Blue Jays work out. You grab lunch and then it's off to a Rays 1:05 game. Maybe there's a split-squad game that night between the Pirates and the Reds.

All of the teams train and play their exhibition games are just a few short miles from eachother.

So next week, we'll be talking to the players, looking for a few autographs, and juming out of our seats like the rest of the fans when the umps toss a ball into the stands.

It's like Disney World for dads! .

---