SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Yesterday was a long day, but isn't that always the way it is on a travel day? I can't really complain, though, because even after a hectic morning and a drive to O'Hare, by 8 p.m. I was in Phoenix. By 9 p.m., I was having dinner again at the superb Deseo at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale.

It only took one whiff of that fragrant Arizona air -- it smells really different here -- for the travel stress to evaporate. Life is good.

This is my 12th annual Spring Training trip, and I must be more giddy than I thought I'd be, since my eyes popped open this morning at 7 a.m., after only six short hours of sleep. The two guys in the room next to mine, Bill and Jerry, have a 7:30 a.m. tee time at the Kierland course, while my temporary roommate, Paul, also woke up -- but only because he broke his ankle last week and is feeling achy. I can't think of a better place to convalesce.

I don't have a ton to report yet, since I've been in town for less than 12 hours, but I will take a second to rave about this excellent property. Our group spent two nights here last year, and the management graciously invited us back. The Westin Kierland is sprawling and majestic, but also unpretentious.

Same goes for Deseo, a nuevo Latino restaurant that I reviewed last spring for OnMilwaukee.com Travel Week. Read that review, if you're interested, as the food remains superb -- I expect last night's dinner to be the best I'll have in my five nights here. If I can expand on this year's meal a little, I should mention the service.

Our server was engaging, professional and attentive, knowledgeable about both the menu and the local scene. Anytime you can mix a conversation about crème brulee and Phoenix's disparity between classes and its ensuing social issues, well, you win major kudos in our group.

In terms of the food, I forced myself not to order what I had last year, a delicious Brazilian tenderloin, that Jerry instead opted for. Bill went with the pork, while Paul and I ordered one of the more unique dishes I've sampled: a bone-in, aged New York strip steak perched atop a rectangular block of Icelandic salt. The salt literally infused into the steak, and I also rubbed my grilled, white asparagus and mushrooms onto the salt lick before each bite. It was a cool presentation, though I'm feeling a little dehydrated right now (I blame that dry, desert air).

After dinner, we took a long drive to Phoenix to meet my friend, James, who lives in the area. This area is sprawling beyond belief. Four and eight lane roads about, and it seems like everywhere has a 45 mph speed limit. But finally, we got to Jimmy for a quick beer, then packed it in, sensing a busy Thursday ahead.

Today, the real fun starts. At 9:30 a.m., I'm taking a Segway tour of the property. I don't know what to expect, other than some hilarious photos. When Bill and Jerry wrap up their golfing, we'll drive to Maryvale, where the Brewers take on the Australian WBC in an exhibition game. Then, we check into our next hotel, the Xona resort. Finally, we're meeting up with our liaison from the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau for happy hour, around the time when the last member of our group, Oscar rolls into town.

I'll blog again tomorrow, if not sooner, hopefully with something a little more substantive. Until then, I'm going to find a hot tub and mentally prepare for my first Segway ride.

It's so nice to be back year, even if the trip is just starting. Those six hours of sleep seem like plenty right now. I'm too excited to stay in bed.