Now I’ve turned an Iowa destination into a verb, how do you like that?

Yesterday was absolutely wild. I visited two of the Quad Cities — the Iowa ones — and I think I saw more people in one afternoon than I’ve ever seen in my life.

The girl’s friend came by in the morning, as per usual, and the girl drove us out to Davenport, another city right on the Mississippi River, just north of Muscatine.

She kind of lost her cool trying to park near the water, because there were no parking spaces at all, and she went down rows that dead-ended, so she had to back out without running people over, and people were running all over.

Eventually she weaseled her little car into a tight spot, and we were able to get out and walk along the river. The Centennial Bridge was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

After the girl calmed down enough to drive again, we went to Twin Span Brewing in Bettendorf. I tried Lager Dam No. 14, which was refreshing and delicious.

We ate a giant pretzel that was absolutely amazing, like beyond beyond, and the Twin Span sauce that came with it was my favorite ever. I know the drive made the girl crazy, but I really hope to eat one of these pretzels again!

But all of this bridge and brewery stuff was just a preamble to the main event.

A Quad Cities River Bandits baseball game!

We waited in a long line to get into the stadium where the owner of the team was waiting to meet me! Here we are together. His name is Dave Heller and he was really cool.

The whole Modern Woodmen Park was really cool too. The first thing we did was find our seats, which were on the third base line.

I couldn’t believe the view — that amazing bridge was visible behind the ball diamond!

Then we went to buy a beer, and I was so excited that Big Grove Brewery sold beer at the park! I ordered my favorite Neighborhood beer again, of course!

You could see the neighboring amusement park rides from inside the stadium too, like the ferris wheel and carousel.

The girl wanted me to have the total baseball experience, so she paid $10 for popcorn served in a helmet. I thought that was so funny, eating out of a helmet! But the popcorn was really good.

Eventually the game started and we settled down to watch. I was excited when the River Bandits scored the first run, but somehow when I was distracted, the South Bend Cubs scored four runs! I didn’t even see it happen!

I was too busy posing in the bucket hat they gave each of as as the giveaway of the night, thanks to Hy-Vee.

I felt so cute! And it kept the sun out of my eyes after I took my sunglasses off.

After the 7th inning stretch where everyone stood up and stretched out, which we really needed to do because sitting in those bucket seats gets squirmy, the girl’s friend said we need to try this thing called Dippin’ Dots.

He came back with another helmet, this one much smaller than the popcorn one, and both the girl and I asked what this food was supposed to be. Is it ice cream? The girl asked. Her friend said it was, but it didn’t really seem like ice cream because it was little balls. Neither the girl nor I was really sure about it, but we ate it.

Then the girl’s friend washed out the helmet so I could wear it, which was so funny! The girl was like, is this really clean? Her friend made a grumpy face and rubbed it with his shirt and then she let me try it on. It goes with my special baseball shirt perfectly.

Just before the game ended we got up to look in the gift shop. When we came out, Rascal was there waiting for us!

It seemed like Rascal was in love with the girl, because he ignored me and immediately gave her a hug and a kiss! I asked her about their relationship, and the girl said they had met before when she ran a 5K at the ballpark a few years ago. She came in 2nd place and won a baseball bat.

I felt a little jealous for a minute, but then I remembered that I live with the girl and Rascal doesn’t.

Although this does raise questions about the girl’s life before me.