Dogs to Diva: A Day in St. Paul

The timing worked out perfectly for a Christmas work party at the ballpark and a celebration of my wife's January birthday on a summer day in June in Minnesota's capital city.

I enjoyed watching the dogs as much as the baseball during a St. Paul Saints game at CHS Field on Sunday. It was our company Christmas party, though I'm not sure if it was for last year or in advance for this year. Dog Day at the ballpark brought together hundreds of canines, not one of which made it to the field. Most had their noses snug to the ground looking for scraps of ballpark food.

The level of baseball in the American Association is good. The Saints are off to a great start. There was a fabulous diving catch by the opposing center fielder that led to a double play. The announcers and between-innings antics add to the fun atmosphere.

I don't know if Bette Midler has an "in" with Mother Nature, but it started to rain and sent the game into a delay exactly when my wife and I needed to leave for the concert across downtown at Xcel Energy Center.

My wife is a big Midler fan and I purchased tickets for her as a birthday gift. I like all types of music and was looking forward to the show. Midler was fantastic. At 69 years old, her voice is still strong and her wit is sharp. She played off her age for several lines of comedy and delivered some great jokes in a bawdy style not safe for posting.

I don't know all her songs, but enjoyed her delivery on all of them. She did not disappoint us casual fans either, as she performed all her mega-hits before the night was over. "The Rose" prompted many to light up their cell phones and sway to the music. I was frankly surprised that so many people of this age group felt the desire to do so. She closed with my favorites, "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," as the encores.