30 Ballparks, 61 days, 1 dream

GAME 18: STL @ WSN

2009-01-28T15:59:00.000-08:00

Date: Thursday, 6/5/08
Time: 7:10PM (ET)

Time of Game: 3:08.

Attendance: 32,357.

Weather: 77° F, Wind 10mph out to Leftfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.

Winner: WSN, 10-9
Current Home team win record: 15-3
Distance traveled: 6088.81

Another day, another awesome game. God I love baseball. The Nationals came out, bats aflame, and came to a quick 7-0 lead after the first 3 innings. The Nat's starter Redding came out with good stuff, shutting out the Cardinals until Troy Glaus hits a 2-out home run in the 4th going on to spur a 3 run, 2-out rally in the inning. The Nationals continue to string together hits and answer in the bottom of the 4th making the score 8-4 after the fourth. At this point my friends are very impressed, most of them have never seen a Nationals win in this stadium, and the crowd actually seems to be getting into the action. But Washington couldn't have expected The Cardinals to just roll over and die. With a 3 run homer from Worrell (after a Pujols strikeout, ironically) in the 6th then 2 more runs in the 9th, the Cardinals had tied it up, sending the the game into extra innings. But the Nationals' faithful had seen this before, in the first game of the season, March 30, 2008, the first ever game in Nationals Stadium, Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk off home run to beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2, most definitely a shot never to be forgotten by a Nationals fan. In the top of the 10th, the Cardinals seemed to add insult to injury by getting the go-ahead run in with a 2-out home run for a 1-run 10th. The Nationals stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 10th this time in the shadow of Zimmerman, Elijah Dukes knocking out a 2 run home run to win the game. Magical.

Nationals Stadium is the home of the infamous President's race, featuring George, Abe, Thomas, and poor Teddy. Yes, Teddy Roosevelt is the butt of a cruel, cruel joke during every home game. The tradition of stretches back to the inception of the Nationals the moment they moved from Montreal. Even back in the dismal RFK stadium, the presidents would take their trot around the field in a race to the finish, just one thing, Teddy has NEVER won, not even once. During this game, Teddy took off, shooting ahead of the others, only to be tackled and maimed before he could make it to the finish line. Click on the picture to see it, he's laying on the ground as Abraham Lincoln takes the gold.

Why can't Teddy win!? So asks the creators of the Let Teddy Win blog why must Teddy always find some way to lose? Its awesome to see fans create new traditions for a new team. The Nationals are still struggling to find their following in Washington, DC, but these kind of traditions are a good start. SO LET TEDDY WIN!

I left Long Island City early trying to beat the traffic out of NYC. Having vowed that the wheels of my car would never again touch Manhattan Island, I disobeyed my well-meaning GPS system and snuck out of Queens, hugged the Brooklyn coastline and escaped through Staten Island onto the New Jersey Turnpike, to drive its entire length through the great state of New Jersey for the third and final time as I left New York for my final destination in the North East: Washington, DC.

I was back in the DC area for the 2nd time this trip, the first one being the Baltimore game. This time I picked up my first driving-mate of the trip, Sameer Islam. Sameer had a couple of weeks before he started his Internal Medicine Residency and, being an avid sports fan himself, graciously decided to accompany me as I ventured into the American South and said goodbye to all the familiar faces in the East. Needless to say, he drove the first leg on our way out of DC. I had forgotten what it was like to be a passenger.

I picked up Sameer from a bus stop in Bethesda, we dropped our stuff of at my uncle's house in Tenleytown and rushed to meet up my friends at Capitol South. Dan Perlman and his sister, the former in town to see the latter, and Joe Anzalone all met me at the station before walking towards the stadium.

To look back and actually think that Joe Anzalone and I were enemies at one time just makes me chuckle. I remember days during my first year where he and I most definitely did not get along, especially those awkward times that young people face, pushed into the communal ship of dorm life, and having to strut and establish an identity from whence there was none. We have the silliest relationships those first moments, days, months: trying on hats, some that fit better than others, sometimes we muscle through the crowd to get to the one we think we need, only to find that we've trampled on someone to get there. Its how we deal with those moments that define us. In fact I remember the day that Joe pulled me aside and offered me to use his razor, such an awkward gesture to make up for months of a standoffish strutting and posturing from both sides, but that stupid little gesture turned out to bring out the mature in both of us, leading to a mutual respect and friendship. Now he's turned into someone that embodies the type of mature responsibility that I've always admired. I really appreciate that he made it to this game.

Ruici Tio, Ruth, and Josh all made it to the game. These guys are always the people who go, drop everything, and try it out. They were always fun, always doing something, always moving during college, and I was just happy to ride the coattails of their adventurous spirit and happen to find some of the parts of Chicago I treasure and remember most fondly. Tak was my roommate during my 2nd year of college, and even though he was a 4th year, he really took the time to get to know me and my other fellow housemates. In 2 quarters he made relationships that will last him a lifetime, and I think that speaks more to a man's character than just about anything.

I didn't get to see Nathalie Boittin or Rebecca Louie, and completely forgot to mention the trip to my friend Omid (for which I feel terrible). Major regrets, but it happens, hopefully I catch Becca when she's out in the bay area. Its time to go to the dirty dirty now, and thank god Sameer's with me. Sameer, I couldn't have done it without you.

GAME 17: TOR @ NYY

2009-01-27T16:56:00.000-08:00

Date: Wednesday, 6/4/08
Time: 7:05PM (ET)

Time of Game: 2:46.

Attendance: 51,151.

Weather: 70° F, Wind 6mph out to Leftfield, Overcast, Rain.

Winner: NYY, 5-1
Current Home team win record: 14-3
Distance traveled: 5860.91

MASTERFUL, just masterful. Not just Mussina's masterful 5 inning shut out, not just Sumeet's masterful ticket contacts, not just the awesome ticket that commemorates "the last season" in Yankee's stadium, its all of it put together somehow, into one magical experience.

Even though I missed Halliday's 2 run/6 hit performance the day before, I was glad that I was able to catch Mike Mussina's performance this evening. He pitched 6 innings of solid baseball, allowing only one earned run, and only because he tired out and delivered his one walk of the game to Alexis Rios before Scott Rolen doubled him in. Six strike outs, 1 earned run, and one walk, and the set up and close were both flawless. It was a good day to be in Yankees Stadium, one of the few bright spots in their pitching line up anyway. The Jays just could not stop the Yankees' 2-out magic, 4 of their 5 runs coming on 2-out plays. Toronto went on to have a dismal week, losing the series to the Yanks and then another to Baltimore. We exited the stadium basking in the glow of a Yankee's win and whistling to the tune of "New York, New York" sung by Frank Sinatra, traditionally played over the PA when the Yankees win.

As much as we're all compelled to hate the Yankees, their fans and their stadium are certainly something special. Now, let me be clear, when I say that their fan's are "special" I mean the ones that go to the games, the ones in the Bronx, the ones that actually wear their heart on their sleeves and plan to ride the trainwreck that this team is going to become for the next couple of years under the management of Joe Girardi. They're knowledgeable and for any baseball team there's really not a better place to call home. Every inch of that stadium is historic and every seat is great. You can't hope to move the soul of that stadium, you'll only be starting over with the new one.

New York has been awesome every time I've had the pleasure of visiting during this trip. First of all there's Sumeet and DJ, both of which have been the most incredible hosts. What can I say about them to convey everything I feel when I see them? Well, they're the familiar street signs and billboards that you see when you come back home from a foreign place. They're the playground you used to frequent, the street where your friend ran into a mailbox when running to catch the football. They make your blood pressure drop and a smile crack across your lips without even knowing why, and immediately give you hell about your haircut, the stupid shirt you're wearing or why the blog is not up to date. Time stopped and started over again, and we didn't miss anything. They were there for a brief 6 months, and I was lucky enough to time my trip appropriately. You two definitely made some of the trickiest parts of this trip possible.

Then there's Jesson, a fellow aspiring physician, with whom I will never share a professional relationship. Since the first year of college, to the age of 26 our relationship has never, and hopefully will never mature. We're still interested in toilet humor and creeping out who ever's around, and the guy can practically finish my sentences. Even though he lives in NY, he's coming out to catch the last game of the trip on July 4 in LA.

GAME 16: TBR @ BOS

2009-01-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

Date: Tuesday, 6/3/08
Time: 7:05PM (ET)

Time of Game: 2:54.

Attendance: 37,823.

Weather: 83° F, Wind 16mph from Left to Right, Night, No Precipitation.

Winner: BOS, 7-2
Current Home team win record: 13-3
Distance traveled: 5645.18

I hate the Red Sox. No, I'm not bitter. Sure, they gave me another home team win. Sure, I have lots of friends in Boston. Sure, the folks at Fenway are AWESOME and allowed me to get a private tour of the stadium. Let me be clear: I hate the Red Sox.

Iwamura starts us off with an improbable home run (his 4th on the season) in the first at bat to start this rollercoaster of a game. The pitching was lights out with moments of mental mistakes which usually came in the form of home runs. In the bottom of the 2nd Mike Lowell hit a 2 run blast to bring home himself and Manny setting afire a volatile home crowd. A crowd subsequently silenced by the indomitable BJ Upton who doubled in the 4th and was brought home by Carlos Pena, tying the game once again for the Rays. The seesaw continued, the Sox scoring a go-ahead run in the bottom of the 4th, and then the rays taking the lead finally in the top of the 6th with Carlos Pena once again bringing in Upton with a 2 run homer to RF. The Sox finally ended the game in the bottom of the 6th scoring 4 runs off of the tired Rays starter, Matt Garza, before the Rays, feebly trying to make up for inaction, put Grant Balfour on the mound to finish the inning. The rest was an excercise in futility for the Rays, the Red Sox know how to close a game.

I want to preface with a little background on how I came to choose this game, what could have been the most momentous game of the season-to-date, yet instead turned out to be terrible in so many ways. In January I was sitting in my living room with a hot cup of coffee, from which fingers of spectral steam reached into the sky only long enough to intertwine and finally become one before disappearing too quickly into oblivion, and my laptop, from which emanated the soft clicks and clacks of absorbed diligence. Everything was slow, everything was paced, methodical, measured yet still meandering. Clearly I was working on the baseball trip schedule, and I had finally arrived at the North East. How would I navigate the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox? How would I skirt the shoals of hype and overbearing arrogance without throwing the whole trip into dire financial turmoil?

The answer shone in an improbably fortunate coincidence of my trip and what promised to be the least desired Red Sox ticket of them all, the Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox. I bought my tickets just a couple of days after the season started, and it being Fenway, all the tickets were already sold. I had to purchase my tickets from an unofficial ticket broker site where I payed $50, a steal compared to pretty much every other Red Sox game available.

Of course, at this point in the season the ticket turned out to be pretty hot. After leaving the game in Baltimore slightly disheartened by the Red Sox, I suddenly filled my heart with the hope of seeing possibly the greatest game of the whole trip. After the baltimore game (the game I saw) Manny was sitting at 498 home runs, the Red Sox were 1/2 of a game back behind the Rays, and the tension between the two teams was as palpable as the thick humid molasses of Boston air on a June night.

With a song in my heart I hopped the famous turnpike and headed straight for NYC. I had earned myself a couple of days of R & R before heading up to Boston, waiting for the Red Sox to finish up their series with the Orioles before coming back home for the ultimate showdown at Fenway to be king of the AL East. Perhaps I should say I wasn't headed to NYC as much as I was headed to Long Island City. I have come to enjoy that place so much, its got character, cheap bars, and more character, not to mention the findable free parking.

And finish the series they did, but not before deflating the promise and hope from that game. First, Manny hit 500 only 2 games after I left Baltimore. In the news story following the game Manny mentioned how "Especially every time you'd get out of the hotel, everybody would say, 'Hey, when are you going to hit it?'" You know, I wish I had seen Manny outside of his hotel, I'd have told him to COOL OUT, to wait and do it at the biggest game of the season, designated on my calendar as TBR @ BOS on 6/3/2008. Next, the Red Sox decided to lose the last game of the 4 game set to the Orioles leaving Tampa Bay 1.5 games up on the AL East, making the outcome of the game much less momentous. Now, Boston did not even have a chance to take number one. And lastly, Tampa Bay was coming off a series sweep against the White Sox, which just made the whole affair hurt that much more.

Boston is a place where everyone has friends who are young and in transition. I'm convinced that no one lives there, only stages themselves for a liftoff to a life in a much better city. My brother went to school there and I stayed in the geeked out wearhouse where he spent part of his college days. I saw my friend Mara in Boston. She's one of the funniest people I know, and I'd like to think that means a lot (I think we all do). We acted together in Mexico which, though it may never launch me into a carreer in comedy (I was terrible), it introduced me to some of the most creative and wonderful people in my life, eg Mara. She's planning to attend medical school soon, and I hope that she channels all of that creativity and heart into patient care and spreading perspective on the whole ordeal that is medical school to her peers.

On the way up to Boston, I stopped in NYC and picked up Amy Huynh. We've known each other since high school and an improbable friendship between a New Yorker and Lubbockite has persisted through droughts of active communication lasting up to 3 years and distances of 1000s of miles. Its a true friendship and I think we'll always be there to see eachother through the good and the bad. I'm so happy that she was able to be a part of my trip, it means so much to me because this trip is all about people like Amy, and how much I'm amazed to know them. She's planning on attending Harvard Business School soon, and is most definitely going to change the world.

Tessa Gordon has a smile that lights the darkest cave of weary dispair with the luminescence of the sun, always warm, hilarious and infectiously enthusiastic about everything. Strangely enough she had spent the last year in Boston getting her masters and feeling somewhat uninspired, probably for the first time in her life. She still found the time to meet me and warm my heart with that incredible smile. The problem with Boston is that no where can contain Tessa, and New York doesnt deserve her, she's so much bigger so much more than pretty much any place. Keep your head up Tessa and keep changing lives, you do mine, every time I see you, and I cant wait for the next one.

Engineering is a cute profession where the lack of pursuits intellectual is a prerequisite to success. There is no think, only do. My brother and his friend Gautam are amazing people, they do, do and do, and never look back. The wearhouse, Cruft Laboratories, they live in is proof positive of their restless attitude for progress. Boston was a great couple of days because of them, I had a comfortable place to lay my head, and a great laid back atmosphere to spread out and relax. I always feel at home when I go to visit.

GAME 15: BOS @ BAL

2008-06-24T02:43:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday, 5/30/08
Time: 7:05PM (ET)

Time of Game: 4:49.

Attendance: 46,199.

Weather: 83° F, Wind 10mph from Left to Right, Night, No Precipitation.

Winner: BOS, 5-2 (13th inning)
Current Home team win record: 12-3
Distance traveled: 5237.06

Comments: The freaking Red Sox do it again. I have yet to see them lose, and this one really seemed like it may have been the one. Manny gets on board due to an error in the 13th, and everything goes down hill from there. A whopping 10 strikeout performance by Josh Beckett, and the Boston relief was perfect as usual. Both teams went through 7 pitchers in this ballgame, well fought until the end by the O's. Manny sat at 499 HRs all night, but everytime he came up to bat the camera flashes from the stadium were beautiful. The Red Sox fans were obnoxious as usual.

GAME 15 IS HALF WAY! This is a momentous game, and though it ended in a home team loss, I got to see my old friends Ruth and Josh, and had a little Five Guys along the way. Made things pretty special.

Camden, or Oriole Park at Camden Yards, has always been a favorite of mine. The red brick and the view out on the Baltimore skyline, make this park a classic. To add to that, they do not allow any vendors to peddle their food/drink in the seats so as not to cloud the experience with loud cat calls and distracting transactions requiring you to pass hot dogs down to the guy at the end of the row. It was an expensive premium game however, we just missed the $4 college night tickets, and even though we paid more than double for our seats we were forced to sit amongst the unruly college crowd.

Ruth was a roommate of mine in college, and is a friend for life. I've always admired her outlook on life, cheerful and enthusiastic. She's always up for baseball and we've spent some great moments together. I have to think that the reason she's so awesome is because as her family took their obligatory cross-country road trip did they listen to country music? Rock and roll? Folk music? NO! They listened to tapes upon tapes of recorded episodes of the hit public radio live broadcast show from the fictional Lake Woebegone. Thats right: "A Prairie Home Companion." Just awesome. She's now working in the field of environmental conservancy, and there's not a more capable, and charismatic person I'd like to have protecting our earth.

Josh is currently doing his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Maryland. The guy has always been brilliant and has a great sense of humor. We played Ultimate Frisbee together in the Chicago Summer League and lived in the same residential house. Josh has also always has that "up for anything," adventurous nature that makes him party to my ridiculous ideas from time to time and we've spent time together going to crazy parts of Chicago and checking out different scenes.

These two kids are making very different things out of their life's work yet fit together well. I hope DC treats them well and that they never lose their collective excitement and enthusiasm for all things crazy and creative.

But that youthful enthusiasm and collegiate intensity can sometimes bleed into stress and disappointment. I've found that work environments in academia are particularly susceptible to this phenomenon. A student comes in with a work ethic of getting things done by deadlines, but scientific/environmental work does not always show results in the exact time frame expected, and often tasks flow onto the to do list at a faster pace than they flow off, new things with more urgency then the projects running in the background.

This uphill trudge while the ground is slowly crumbling underneath is a quicksand, one that catches the student who dives headlong into his task and attacks it with expectations of destroying the task with brute force. Smart are those who meter themselves with some amount of routine and balance. One can never conquer this work in the same way we cram for exams and hammered through problem sets at 2 in the morning. No, work is never ending, and enjoyment should come from the very particulate actions that make up the whole of the product. Only when we integrate our work into our lives will we escape burnout.

The hills are never too far. If you feel the onset of craziness, head for them, then come back with resolve and balance.

GAME 14: LAD @ NYM

2008-06-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

Date: Thursday, 5/29/08
Time: 7:05PM (ET)

Time of Game: 3:04.

Attendance: 52,886.

Weather: 76° F, Wind 10mph out to Centerfield, Night, No Precipitation.
Winner: Mets, 8-4
Current Home team win record: 12-2
Distance traveled: 5044.67

Comments: Honestly, I missed 3-4 innings of this game just battling traffic. Manhattan sucks to drive on, and if your GPS ever diverts you through Manhattan to get to Long Island City/Queens, sell your GPS and/or throw it over a bridge. Jeff Kent and Blake DeWitt of the Dodgers tried to keep Joe Torre's new team in the game with two two-run homers, but it wasnt enough to stop the onslaught of the hitting Mets, who marked 13 hits and 8 runs with only 1 home run in the game. Joe Torre coming back to NY made it a packed house.

Tough to find the big sign on the ballpark for this one. We found it eventually, I love the pic with the field sign.

Shea Stadium has not been taken care of very well. The seats hardly even come down without stomping on them, the concrete is rough and the finish has been worn off. I think everyone, including me, will be happy when their new Citi Field opens next year, ready for history to overcome its walls and paint its insides with gooey sentimentality. Hopefully they take care of this stadium a little better. The fans were a bit rude, but they were into the game. They had a wave that went on for what seemed like 2-3 innings! It just kept going around and around the bowl that is Shea. All was exemplified by the french lady from whom I asked the order of the lineup. Surprisingly, she was able to tell me the lineup, following up with an enthusiastic, "GO METS!" Pretty funny coming through in a thick French accent.

A friend from high school, DJ, was able to make it out to the game with me. He is living in Long Island City with another friend from elementary school onwards, Sumeet. Together they both provided such a relaxing and accommodating atmosphere for me to rest and relax. I stop 3 times in New York, and its great to know that I have them to count on.

It seems like everyone I know is pursuing professional degrees at this point. What happened to people working right out of college?

More about NY when I come back for the Yankees game.

GAME 13: COL @ PHI

2008-06-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Date: Wednesday, 5/28/08

Time: 7:05PM ET
Time of Game: 2:48.

Attendance: 39,845.

Weather: 68° F, Wind 6mph in from Leftfield, Night, No Precipitation.
Winner: PHI, 6-1
Current home team win streak after this game: 11-2
Distance traveled: 4949.9 mi

Comments: The Phillies had an efficient game, getting six runs on six hits. Chase Utley, continuing the hot streak, and Jenkins blew a close 1-1 game open in the 5th with two home runs, earing 5 runs and ultimately a win for the 2nd place Philadelphia Phillies. Colorado's Reynolds faced a tough beginning, walking in a run in the first, but eventually settling in until a rocky fifth. Bad managing made it possible for Reynolds to give up a three run homer after walking the first two batters of the inning.

Another beautiful evening and another beautiful park. Citizen's Bank Park is a gorgeous and open, and the outfield wall is low with an unabated view of the skyline as it burns in an orange and red sunset. The liberty bell in right field rings after a home run, the Philly Phanatic boxes unsuspecting fans, and the fans are knowledgeable and rabid. Their team is going places this year, and people are showing up.

My childhood friend Arun drove me to the game and his wife, Sriranjani, was nice enough to attend with me. In fact, I stayed with Arun and his lovely wife in their downtown apartment, situated right in the heart of Philadelphia. Sri was great to go to the game with because she had played softball earlier in life, and understood the game pretty well. We bought $40 tickets behind home plate from scalpers for $20 bucks.

Scalpers are lost after the event actually begins. They make their living off of a fringe market, getting tickets from season ticket holders who cannot go to the game, and selling to the eager at market price. When the event begins the market value drops and now you have the upper hand. The guy approaches us with tickets in hand, and despite the "$40" printed on the ticket, I immediately blurt out, "$15." The scalper writhes in theatric disbelief, a fly stuck on the unjust flypaper of inevitability. He fights back with the pithy retort: "$35!" I confidently and flatly reject his plea with a very dry "$15." Then he starts to crumble, first "$30" then "$25" and eventually "$20" at which point I took him up on his offer. Lesson learned today: don't be afraid of scalpers, they're mostly harmless.

Sriranjani has the fire of an activist in her soul, and I dig it. I have often dabbled in the idea of activism. I find it refreshing and often feel the draw of it in my life. School works in some ways to diminish the raw power of activism. Too often, because of school, I write off injustice thinking that there must be some good reason in the world, that the problem is always driven by some very rational model. Academia works to promote reserved and detached thought, and its well and good, unless through detached thought we let injustice reign, waiting for things to correct themselves.

Arun and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, and the stories and jokes we share are timeless. As of late however we've been unable to see each other, and have lost touch with eachother for a good amount of time. In the meanwhile, as I got to see at his wedding, he has created strong relationships with a number of interesting and intelligent friends, one of which is named Vijay. Not to say that he's any substitute, but I'm glad he carries the same ebullient nature that I seek to maintain. Arun is a fun and sociable person and he draws others of the same ilk to his fire. I think that this was one of the more important stops on the trip, planned especially to rekindle a connection with a valued friend.

On a more sober note, I have on and off been followed news of the Chinese earthquake that ravaged the Sichuan province back on May 12, 2008. The death toll is staggering and many are without homes or shelter of any kind. On may 25th, an aftershock crashed through Qingchuan County causing even more havoc. Now the Chinese government is refusing to give tents to those that were unregistered to live in that part of the country. Madness. The whole thing just makes me cringe. Rules are being used to substitute thought and rational human interests.

GAME 12: PIT @ CIN

2008-06-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Date: Tuesday, 5/27/08
Time: 7:10 PM (ET)
Time of Game: 3:30.

Attendance: 17,964.

Weather: 66° F, Wind 11mph from Left to Right, Overcast, No Precipitation.
Winner: CIN, 9-6
Current home team win streak after this game: 10-2
Distance traveled: 4382.24 mi

Comments: Ken Griffey Jr. stayed at a frustrating 598 HR, Snell pitched a great game for the Pirates but was pulled an inning too late, and both teams totaled for 26 hits in this drawn out hit-fest. It was a battle for the bottom of the NL Central, and was just as exciting as could be expected from two floundering teams, neither of which has much going for them. I went to the game with Leighton's friend from B-school, Brandon.

I want to take a moment to say how thankful I am to the Reds Organization for providing me a set of free tickets. Although the game was not the greatest, its clear that the storied history of the Reds and baseball makes this club appreciate tradition and excitement about the sport.

The Great American Ballpark experience, while tainted by a terrible game, had its highlights. The park has a great view of the Ohio river, and on a nice day it would be very pretty. Our seats were on the upper deck with a great view of the field, and the fans were great, though there were not many of them. I got a Skyline "Cincinnati Chili" dog with everything, chili, onions, and cheese. The Cincinnati chili is a little different, it's runnier and sweet with either chocolate or cinnamon thrown into the mix. Don't know if I am the biggest fan, but it really was not half bad.

I caught the new Indiana Jones movie while I waited for Brandon to get off work. There were parts of pure Spielberg-ian cinematic brilliance, and then parts of National-Treasure-esque buffoon-ery. The movie was way too riddle based. It was a collection of shots that fit the same model: Indiana Jones enters room with sidekick, Indiana Jones stares at wall/ceiling/floor for a good minute while "thinking music" plays in the background, Jones suddenly knows the answer, and they go to the next place.

This formula is, sadly, the predominant one in action/adventure films today. The original Indiana Jones films, however, moved the plot forward through their fighting scenes, and along the way, through a healthy mix of comic-relief, sheer luck, and knowledge of antiquity, Indy makes his way through scores of Nazi-era Germans and backstabbing friends/mercenaries and falls onto the prized artifact, inadvertently leading the bad guys there behind him. The new one has elements of the old model that I love so much, but at the same time relied too much on the new model and special effects.

Brandon works for GE in Cincinnati, apparently the city is home to many Fortune 500 companies. Our conversation makes me realize that everything's negotiable with our generation. None of us feel that we're tied down with the career path determined by our first job, or even our second. I think there's some kind of relationship between my fear of conviction and this general phenomenon, perhaps I'm not the only one whose afraid of losing the perceived dispassionateness of being detached from real belief/faith in an idea. But as I said before, I really think we're just immature for longer before we reach maturity nowadays. I think its because in general more people are staying in school longer, and we're not giving into our gut perceptions and feelings of the world. I think there's something to be said for loyalty, and besides, you can't live an interesting life with clean hands, free from the stink of any kind of real decision. I finally think I'm coming to terms with that.

GAME 11: CHC @ PIT

2008-06-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, 5/24/08
Time: 7:05 PM (ET)
Time of Game: 4:21.

Attendance: 29,929.

Weather: 66° F, Wind 10mph out to Rightfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: PIT, 5-4
Current home team win streak after this game: 9-2
Distance traveled: 4098.98 mi

Comments: The first ballgame that went into extra innings. Both teams fought this one out to the end, burning through pitchers and pinch hitting batters in crucial situations throughout the four-plus-hour contest. I'm glad I stayed through the end. It definitely made me feel like a purist, but honestly, if a game goes past the 17th or something, I do not think that I will be so accommodating. Hats off to Jason Bay for his incredible play in each of the three games that I've seen the Pirates play on this trip. He ended the game in the bottom of the 14th inning with a walk off double, and then proceeded to do it the next night as well. Aside from the game, one of the most memorable things about this one was how we sang "Take me out to the ballgame" a SECOND time during the 14th inning stretch. Hilarious!

A great thanks to Michelle from the Pirates organization for the tickets. It was such an astounding gift. The seats were incredible, the park was incredible, and the view and the game were both... well you get the point. Your contributions make this trip more bearable and unforgettable. Thanks so much for your support.

The one-hundred level seats are the way to watch a ballgame, and thanks to Michelle, I got to experience this park the right way. PNC is a great park, sitting right on the Allegheny River. And how apropos that it looks out on the Roberto Clemente Bridge and the gorgeous bright lights and buildings of downtown Pittsburgh. The park is small and intimate and every seat is a great one. At 38,127 seats the ballpark is the second smallest in the majors, second only to Fenway, you could tell immediately because 29,929 felt like the place was practically full. The seats are close to the action enough that everyone feels like they are part of the game.

All in all, PNC may live up to its moniker: "The best ballpark in America." There are many more ballparks to go, but this one has definitely made a strong showing in my book. The openness, the intimacy, and the great fan experience. On a good night like this one, what a beautiful place to watch a game.

Pittsburgh itself is a unique place. Two miles outside of the city, driving in from the north along I-279, I remember seeing nothing but huge hills, giants hulking over the road timidly winding between each so as not to wake them. Dense forest occluded any sight of suburban sprawl, creating an astounding surprise as I turned the corner and descended the last little bit into the river valley and into the magnificent sight of the Pittsburgh skyline, a breathtaking sight to be sure.

The city is situated in a river valley where three rivers come together: (1) the Ohio River, (2) the Allegheny River, (3) and the Monongahela River. The main downtown area sits between the Allegheny and the Monongahela Rivers, and beautiful bridges connect this middle "peninsula" with the "North Side" and "South Side" and buildings ride up the hills surrounding the entire area. I drove through mountains to leave downtown and travel to the south hills to stay with my Uncle's good friend Chandran.

Pittsburgh was one of the last placed I found a place to stay. My uncle, while on my way to Detroit, called for an update, and upon learning that I was making my way through the city, immediately implored me to stay with his friend. His wife was in India at the moment and I was happy to provide some company, and he was happy to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for me to recoup from my latest week of "get-up-and-go" traveling. The week was pretty ambitious:

20-May-08 Tuesday Chicago , IL CLE @ CWS 7:11pm

21-May-08 Wednesday Detroit , MI SEA @ DET 7:07pm

22-May-08 Thursday Toronto , ON LAA @ TOR 7:07pm

23-May-08 Friday Cleveland , OH TEX @ CLE 7:05pm

24-May-08 Saturday Pittsburgh , PA CHC @ PIT 7:05pm

I updated the blog, cooked for my host, and got to eat at the Original Hot Dog Shops Inc. store. The french fries at the "O," as its affectionately known, are ridiculous. The "small" french fries fill up a large take-out bag from McDonalds, providing extra meals of their delicious fresh cut fries.

GAME 10: TEX @ CLE

2008-06-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Date: Friday, 5/23/08
Time: 7:05 PM (ET)
Time of Game: 4:09.

Attendance: 39,947.

Weather: 59° F, Wind 6mph from Left to Right, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: TEX, 13-9
Home win record after this game: 8-2
Distance driven so far: 3966.29 mi

Comments: The Cleveland Indians had lost this one before they ever set foot on the field. Coming off a 7 game losing streak, and a sweep by the White Sox, the Indians' pitching, despite their adoring and raucous fans' pleas, could not stop the onslaught of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers scored 13 runs and only needed one home run to do it. They let my home win record slip to 8-2.

Progressive field is big and loud. While the stadium is visually pleasing, the fans really make the experience here. They are all attentive to the game and right down to the five year old who barely knows what is going on, they are jubilant in success, and crushed in failure, and no one got on my case for wearing a White Sox cap. In the bottom of the ninth, there was a ten-year-old kid in front of us asking the manager to pinch hit Lofton, mentioning knowingly: "He IS available, you know."

I went to the game with my friend Tony who will be starting his Emergency Medicine residency in Cleveland in a couple of weeks. The ER program he's attending covers the event medicine to some of the sports teams that play in this city, including the Indians, and the Browns. This makes me terribly jealous, but such a windfall of auspicious luck could not have happened to a better person. Tony and I know that living life is about working to allow yourself to do things that you want to do. Sure, on some level we have the privilege as medical students to be entering a field that is interesting to us. But work will never give us the peace of mind and contemplative environment to truly allow us to experience a sense of peace from expressing ourselves through action and thinking.

Giving ourselves time to truly know ourselves, thats what life really is about. Doing things that help us get closer to understanding ourselves through contemplative action are good for ourselves and usually are good for the world.

GAME 9: LAA @ TOR

2008-05-26T15:37:00.000-07:00

Date: Thursday, 5/22/08
Time: 7:07 PM (ET)
Time of Game: 2:37.

Attendance: 22,007.

Weather: 68° F, Wind 0mph, In Dome.
Winner: TOR, 4-3

Comments: As hot as the Angels have been, for A. J. Burnett and the Blue Jays to win this one MUST have had something to do with my luckiness. Inglett, a DH batting 9th in the lineup, Wilkerson, and Barajas quickly made this a 3-0 ballgame in favor of the Jays. But eventually Maicer Izturis, Sean Rodrigues, and Jeff Mathis tied the game up at 3-3 for the Angels. Lisle Overbay came through with a clutch HR to seal the lead in the bottom of the 6th, which the Jays were able to hold for the last 3 innings. Thank god Torii Hunter and Vlad Guererro were unable to do any real damage. I hate Torii Hunter, he is the anti-White Sox.

The Rodgers Centre is expensive and kind of depressing, much like the Metrodome in Minneapolis. This is the first place where I've seen a park charge $9.50 Canadian for a beer. The floor of the field is made of astroturf and there are hardly any fans that show up to the park. The food however looks pretty good, but my budget would not allow me to take part. I had to pay $20 for parking here, and afterwards I went and got my relatives some Pizza Pide, an awesome Turkish pizza place in Toronto.

My relatives, Tara and Vineet, and their children live in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto. The visit was very short but they were so kind in giving me a quick place to stay and some good home-cooked indian food. I felt very at home, and next time I hope to be able to spend a little more time.

I'm also changing the lens on the camera. I think i need something a little more wide angle, going back to the kit lens.

Toronto reminds me of chicago, with a little less traffic, a little less headache, and a bit more polite. Its a fun town as I remember it, and I need to go back and see what life is like there.

GAME 8: SEA @ DET

2008-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Date: Wednesday, 5/21/08
Time: 7:05 PM (ET)
Time of Game: 2:39.

Attendance: 36,495.

Weather: 62° F, Wind 17mph in from Leftfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: DET, 9-4

Comments: Detroit put this game away early, with a 7 run, 8 hit 3rd inning, that included a Marcus Thames Grand slam. Five straight hits followed by a grand slam. To be fair, the team has not really performed too well this season. They were picked to win the World Series by some, but have yet to really wake up and make a run at it. The teams in the AL Central are just beating up on themselves, an no one is really running away with the division currently.

I'm beginning to think that I am a good luck charm. My home team record so far on the trip is 7-1 after this game.

For all they say about Detroit, they surely do not mention Dr. George Barahal (picture: right). I parked my car downtown 15 minutes to first pitch. I literally ran to the box office, stopping for a moment to get a group of kids to take a picture with me and the ballpark, and had the amazing fortune of running into Dr. Barahal at the box office window. He was speaking to the box office attendant, and the conversation went something like this:

Dr. Barahal: So you can't resell these tickets?

Attendant: Sorry, but we can give them away and tell the recipient to buy you a hot dog!

Dr. Barahal: (shrugs) Well, ok. (starts walking down the street towards the gate)

Having paid $10 for my parking spot, I felt this my cue to jump in and say "I'll take one of those!" Dr. Barahal was walking towards the gate to enter the game, and I looked down and noticed these seats were no ordinary seats. This man had just given up two lower-deck, 100 level seats, just 13 rows behind the visitor dugout! I immediately caught up with him, thanked him, and told him about the trip. He smiled and said "I'm glad those tickets went to a real fan," then said he'd catch up with me later, and that he was going to go up to the stadium club as it was turning out to be a pretty cold evening. Still, he promised to be down at the seats later to join me.

Dr. Barahal turned out to be a 91-year-old psychologist and a season ticket holder with the Tigers for 50 years! Furthermore he had attended the 1934 world series where the Tigers took on the St. Louis Cardinals and lost the series 4-3. He bought me a beer and never allowed me to buy him anything back. Pretty soon it started to rain, and he retreated back to the stadium club never to return.

I want to thank Dr. Barahal for making that stadium a bright spot in my trip. Comerica Park is a great little intimate park. Every seat is a good one and the fans are true, though their energy has been sapped a bit by the sad start of a potentially great Tigers team this year. Even though I say its a "little" park, the field his huge. A ball that makes it to the center field wall in this park makes it a stand-up triple. And, of course, we can not get out of the shadow of the big auto makers in Detroit: General Motors has a huge fountain in the outfield, that the tigers turn on to celebrate home runs.

I did not get to see much of downtown Detroit. It was cold and rainy and all I could think of was running back to the car as quickly as possible. But, I did get to see the old tigers stadium, before they tore it down. Sadly, as you can see from the picture, it's been stripped of the lettering, and most of its old glory at that, but I'm glad I took the time to see it.

I stayed with my friend Jessica's Aunt Marilyn, a retiree and long time employee of GM. It was extremely sweet of her to house me with such short notice, and given that I'm driving a Honda. People in Detroit are proud of our nation's auto industry with good reason, this city was built on it, and people put pride in thier work here. Given the disastrous entry of foreign cars into the US markets in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, I'm lucky I didn't get my car keyed downtown, much less broken into.

I think it hits me more and more every day just how immature I am at the age of 26. I think maturity has a lot to do with having convictions, but the idea of "conviction" makes me wary. It frightens me that I may believe in something strong enough that I change the way I percieve the world to start fitting my beliefs. On the other hand, its tough to make strong relationships with people when you do not have a clear model of the world you're willing to stick to, and some perception of your place in it. Its tough to understand and relate to people that you can't pin down. And, it is tough to relate to, and trust others if you do not know your own place in the world.

Thanks to Aunt Marilyn for making my stay in Detroit a pleasant, and restful one. And thanks to her dog whose name escapes me at the moment, for being a very sweet dog.

GAME 7: CLE @ CHW

2008-05-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

Date: Tuesday, 5/20/08
Time: 7:11 PM (CST)
Time of Game: 2:50.

Attendance: 27,533.

Weather: 62° F, Wind 10mph out to Centerfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: CHW, 4-1

Comments: The White Sox came into the game with a 5 game win streak to face the usually indomitable White Sox killer: the Cleveland ace, C. C. Sabathia. Yes, an unstoppable force against an immovable object, something has to give. The Sox showed their offensive power early in the game, with Carlos Quentin and Jim Thome taking the lead with solo home runs in the first and second innings. Contreras was brilliant and the Sox sealed another win to take the streak to 6.

My heart and soul are at US Cellular. Say what you will of its concrete exterior, the field is beautiful and the fans, though there may be less of them than at another north-side team that shall remain nameless, have heart. A smile creeps onto my face as I helplessly succumb to the warmth that comes with being in the stadium where you belong. The place has great food (the polish with grilled onions), a great atmosphere (complete with margarita-backpack-guy), and the greatest TV commentator duo (Hawk and DJ). I also love how when you watch a game at "The Cell" on TV, they can never edit out the Sox fans and the off color remarks they so caustically yell at the batters.

I love the White Sox, and I love US Cellular Field. Thanks to Ziggy for scoring those awesome seats on the 100 level. It really made the game special for me. Thanks to Stephanie for coming, I really wanted/needed to see you after such a long time. You're a brilliant person and I've always been in awe of you for knowing and being interested in so much. You've gone through a lot, and I haven't been able to be there with you through all of it, but I think of you often and hope the best for you.

GAME 6: PIT @ CHC

2008-05-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Date: Sunday, 5/18/08
Time: 1:20 PM (CST)
Time of Game: 2:42.

Attendance: 41,321.

Weather: 51° F, Wind 12mph in from Centerfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: CHC, 4-3

Comments: Marquis pitched a good game in this one, only allowing 2 earned runs in six innings of work. Dumatriat started for Pittsburgh started off the bottom of the 4th with a deadly walk to Fukudome, that eventually resulted in a run and an early exit for the Pirates starter. That sealed the loss for Pittsburgh despite some late inning heroics from LaRoche, bringing in Marquis' un-earned run. It wasn't enough and each teams' bullpen closed out the game without any surprises.

Before I go on, a big thanks to Pat Hughes, radio commentator for the Cubs, for calling me up before I started on the road. Things are going well Pat and I can not help but know that your blessings have something to do with it.

Look, I hate the Cubs as much as any other White Sox fan, the undue attention, the games where no one pays attention to the actual game, the fans where people may not even know a single player on the team, a sickening ability to bounce back after a terrible season performance. Yeah, it happens to the Red Sox and the Yankees too. But Wrigley Field is the perfect place to watch a game. Even though it was cold, the ivy in the outfield was green and the walls were low enough to allow the fans sitting in the risers set up on the neighboring apartment buildings a good view of the game. Wrigleyville is an awesome neighborhood, great bars and restaurants, and the whole aura is that of friendly sportsmanship. I had my White Sox cap on and no one even said a word, Brian, Elaine and Bob all joined in for the game.

Also, talk about a tough place to keep score, they still do not have a jumbotron! The whole stadium is stuck in the past, which makes it wonderful to see a game there. One of the oldest parks still around, Wrigley is and always will be a great place to catch a game.

I've already gone on and on about Chicago, so I won't this time.

Peoria Pigs, Chicago Picnics, and Naperville pampering

2008-05-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

Date: Thursday 5/15/08- Sunday 5/18/08

In Peoria, I met up with my good friend, Jason. Peoria's a lot like the Lubbock I remember, and Jason's a lot like the buddy I remember from college. He plays on a rugby team called the Peoria Pigs, a good group of guys who practice on Thursday nights before going out and hitting some beers and some karaoke, the REAL business of a rugby team.

Peoria is just about the size of Lubbock, plus Caterpillar, the huge manufacturer of construction equipment. It seems like most people who live there work for Caterpillar directly or do contract work for caterpillar. Its a cozy little town with a river running through it. Jason's got a pretty good thing going there, I hope it suits him going forward. It's always great to see him.

I made it into Chicago on Friday, 5/16/08. The weather was gorgeous and the city was just warming up for the weekend. My friends thanked me for bringing the good weather. That is actually how it has been until now. I have been rediculously lucky with weather. On Saturday I organized a picnic using only text messages from my cell phone and one email message. Surprisingly, everyone met up and everything went off without a hitch. We had the amazing chicken salad from Hyde Park Produce, and all kinds of other produce and meats. We sat around and played some Whoonu, laughing and catching up as the weather cooperated exactly until we all had to leave. Afterwards it got a little cold and we headed home, exhausted.

Hah, thanks to Elaine for her heartfelt email, I love this description especially: "I think my new view of you is like a modern day hippie - spreading peace and love and baseball whereever you go. :) " Peace, love, and baseball everyone, isn't that beautiful? I think I am a hippie at heart, I love to wander, and I like the outdoors. Can't MBA's be hippies too? It was great to see you Elaine, your laughter and smile are immense and wonderful, it was great to see you, thanks for making my time in Chicago memorable. Also thanks to Bob, Ziggy, Brian, Ben, Hanna, and Stephanie for coming out and spending some time with me, I'm glad we all got to see each other.

I got to hang out with my friend Rose at a monumental party that evening in Andersonville. The party started with everyone being passed out a random name card, I was "Holden Caufield" of Catcher in the Rye fame. At the beginning of the night no one really paid attention to the name cards, but by the end of the evening, we were all trying to act our parts, and having an awesome dance party at the same time. Later, I had a talk with Nancy Drew, and she said the name didn't fit my "joie de vivre" (her words, not mine) that Holden Caufield decidedly did not have. By the end of the night, I was a more-fitting "Killer." I'm really glad that I got a chance to hang out with Rose, she's been a great friend and an inspiration with all she's had to go through. Rose is always being strong for everyone, and Chicago can sometimes be a depressing place. Keep playing ultimate and squeezing life to the last drop!

After the Sunday game (PIT @ CHC) I went up to Naperville to spend some time with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Madavan. Aunt Ruth graciously paid for my first oil change and a fill up, and I spent a day catching up on my scorecards, and doing a little blogging. I am noticing a couple of things about this trip. First, the only real relaxation I get is when I am on the road or have a break day, otherwise I am running around making sure that I get places on time and take pictures. Second, I must learn how to sleep more! My eyes have been popping open every morning at 7am, its getting better, but I think I am still afraid of getting somewhere late, or missing a game. Lastly, I must remember to take pictures of everyone I stay with and put them on the blog. The only way I can finish this trip is with their help. The trip is more about them than it is about anything else. Sorry rose for forgetting to get a pic of us!

It's tough to leave the Midwest, its been so good to me, and Chicago is definitely like a second home to me. The midwest has such a comfortable humility about it. The people are nice, and most do not make grandiose claims that it's the be-all-end-all of the entire world. Thanks to all that have made it special to me again these past 2 weeks. Sadly, its time to move east.

GAME 5: PIT @ STL

2008-05-14T22:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Wednesday, 5/14/08

Time: 7:15 PM (CST)
Time of Game: 2:48.

Attendance: 38,720.
Weather: 66° F, Wind 6mph in from Leftfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.

Winner: STL, 5-1

Comments: Wellemeyer pitched one great ball game, LaRussa sadly tainting a beautiful 1-hit performance by leaving him in one batter too long, leaving the pitcher with 2 hits and 1 earned run for the game. That would be the whole story for the aching pirates, if the Cards had not seen fit to add insult to injury with Ankiel's brilliant catch in center field, stealing away LaRoche's home run smash for the Pirates in the 2nd inning. First legitimate "web gem" of the trip, it was awesome. In other news, Pujols continues to get on base with scary frequency (.479).

A red brick masterpiece, Busch Stadium is a new classic. The new stadium offers a gorgeous view of downtown St. Louis, and the perfect weather gave this ballpark an unfair sway over my favors. My friend Spencer and I got $30 tickets for a paltry $10 from a friendly Mother who's son had extra tickets from involvement with a nearby "battle-of-the-bands." Thats the other thing, the minimum priced ticket is $30. OK, so they won the world series the first year this park was open, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT THE REST OF MY LIFE!? Seriously, thats a little rediculous. Everything is over-priced, this has to be the most expensive stadium I've seen.

The city is cheap yet still full of culture and opportunities. It has jobs and good university. It attracts young people, and it has some off-beat culture to it. In short it has all the ingredients to be way to expensive to enjoy living there, but it isn't. It's dirt cheap to live here! I met up my friend Matt and his girlfriend at their dirt cheap apartment, and we all went and had dirt cheap hot dogs, all of which were impressive mind you, all were worth MUCH more than the dirt we paid for them.

Matt, Spence and I are all grad students now, all wasting the best years of our lives being way too stressed out for it to be any good for any of us. At the same time none of us would be who we are without being in that situation: people who are just too damn nerdy for their own good. The real world shuns people like us. It makes us go to grad school to find acceptance through expertise, rather than charming personality.

Unlike us, "The Loop," the portion of St. Louis that boasts a hip, eclectic buzz, finds IT'S acceptance through charming personality alone. It has the St. Louis walk of fame showcasing such St. Louis luminaries as Nelly and Scott Joplin. Live there, chill there, and eat hot dogs there, its an awesome place to hang in "The Lou."

Lastly, bad news can be prepared for, and it can take us by surprise. Each time though, we can never truly deal with it without some amount of grief/trepidation/or feeling of hopelessness. I admire those who face challenges with optimism. I admire those that say "everything's going to be alright." They're all strong and those reactions are important. I just hope we all have enough strength sometimes to reach out to friends and make sure we acknowledge the uncertainty and ambiguousness of our emotions. Acknowledging that small bit of doubt or fear can really sometimes take the weight off of your shoulders. This is for you, you know who you are, my thoughts are with you as you go through this challenge.

GAME 4: DET @ KC

2008-05-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Tuesday, 5/13/08

Time: 7:05 PM (CST)
Time of Game: 2:38.

Attendance: 11,703.

Weather: 68° F, Wind 10mph from Left to Right, Cloudy, No Precipitation.
Winner: KC, 3-2

Comments: The Tigers and the royals put together probably the most exciting game of the trip so far. Robertson and Greinke both kept the game close and in the 8th inning Teahen (KC) grounds to the shortshop Renteria who flubs the play at 2nd, allowing the winning run to score. Royals closer Soria pitches the 9th and has a 1-2-3 inning, making an unbelievable play at first to save an E3 and secure the 1 run win.

Kaufmann Stadium is a gigantic crescent made out of concrete. The entire crescent faces a gorgeous, HD jumbotron. Very few people were there, and it was a gorgeous night, ~68 degrees and overcast. Even though its almost entirely made out of concrete, the stadium does not overshadow the game, its somewhat minimalist design allows the fan to forget the stadium and concentrate on the field.

Fountains are what makes any city great, right? Kansas City would like to think so. The place is teeming with them. Every block some city planner has expressed the sentiment that fountains make everyone and everything look prettier and happier. Well it's tough to overlook the 15 cop cars that were all blazing their sirens downtown, and despite the fountains, I definitely did not feel it the safest and happiest area of the city.

What makes Kansas City a better place are good ol' Texans like my elementary school chum Miranda. We haven't seen each other for something like 7 years, and still we got back into it like we had never left. People who have known each other for so long pull a comfortable warmth around each other, making words, gestures and communication so dependable. Probably because you understand what each other MEANS vs what each other SAYS. We caught up, made dinner, went to the game, and I got the grand tour of KC and its unique mix of fountains, police cars, and WW I monuments.

On my way out of the city I stopped at a BBQ place called Oklahoma Joe's. The moment you step inside the GAS STATION, you know this place is legit. The numerous awards, including "the best barbeque sauce in the world" trophy, with a BBQ sauce gravy boat sitting on top of a globe, help you understand the culinary brilliance. The first bite confirms all suspicions. It was a great send from the city known for its barbeque.

A much needed break

2008-05-12T20:41:00.000-07:00

Date: Monday, 5/12/08

I should have posted this one before the KC post, but that one was easier to write...

FIRST AWESOME WEATHER DAY OF TRIP! The sky is finally blue, and im driving all the way through to Iowa City under blue skies and 60 degree weather.

Moving from the city to the suburbs is, to me, a sign of maturity finally taking its part in our lives. I took the monday after game 3 for a little R & R. I stayed with my newly minted suburbanite friends Bob and Elaine, in Wheeling, IL. They found a gorgeous new townhome complete with garage, basement for gameroom, and multiple floors. All I can say is that it will probably be 10 years before I own one of those. Sigh, medschool and residency are a bitch.

The first of many good evenings to come found friends playing Whoonu and talking about mothers day. Elaine and Bob had hosted their families for the afternoon and Ben brunched with Joe's parents in Wisconsin, remembering to call his own in Chicago. My mother decided to call me, and before I had the chance to really say anything about mother's day, she called me out for forgetting mother's day. Typical.

Elaine, a new suburbanite, has yet to have the maturity of the suburbs affect her wonderful fun and ebullient spirit. I knew this would be the perfect time to make use of Sophia's frame. While the frame was a great idea from the start, the problem is that I do not have a friend to come with me to help hold the frame and take pictures with it. Luckily Elaine was into the frame idea. Hopefully more frame pictures will come when I get co-adventurers in June.

The get-up-and-go is a tiring proposition. It really hit me that this trip will not be ALL fun and games (all though it is wonderful) but like so many great things in life, its the sacrifice of a little short term comfort for a sense of immense satisfaction for something complete and good. The midwest has spoiled me, its too full of good people and flat driving and gorgeous green rolling hills, comfortable modesty. It really is a perfect way to start this trip, and I would suggest to any and all who choose to do it: start with the Midwest.

I got to go back to Iowa City a second time, Leighton hosting me AGAIN. Leighton is in the business of relationships, and he's good at it because he knows how to make them and keep them. Before I started on this trip, there were 7 cities where I had nowhere to stay, and now there are only 2, mainly because of Leighton. He's helped to keep me enthusiastic and make this trip as painless as possible.

Iowa? Well let me just leave it to the following timeless lines to describe Iowa:

John Kinsella: Is this heaven?
Ray Kinsella: It's Iowa.
John Kinsella: Iowa? I could have sworn this was heaven.
[John starts to walk away]
Ray Kinsella: Is there a heaven?
John Kinsella: Oh yeah. It's the place where dreams come true.
[Ray looks around, seeing his wife playing with their daughter on the porch]
Ray Kinsella: Maybe this is heaven.

Enough Said.

GAME 3: STL @ MIL

2008-05-11T22:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Sunday, 5/11/08

Time: 1:05PM (CST)
Time of Game: 2:49.

Attendance: 41,197.

Weather: 65° F, Wind 1mph , In Dome.
Winner: MIL, 5-3

Comments: My second chance to see the St. Louis Cardinals finds them just not getting it done. Pujols, not once, but TWICE gets caught trying to take a base that he should not have gone for, one of those times probably intentionally but who knows. And of all the talk about un-orthodox managing, this game had the pitchers batting 8th in the line-ups for BOTH teams. Good all around performance from the Brewers.

In other news, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my mother and all other mothers out there. We appreciate and love all of you with all that you put up with.

Two friends, Ben and Joe, were up in Milwaukee and joined me for the game.

Miller park is clearly new, it's big, has lots of metal and a retractable roof, and it's isolated from everything. It is beautiful inside, colorful and classic. And who can forget the world famous sausage race, now with five major contenders: (1) Polish, (2) Bratwurst, (3) Italian, (4) Hot Dog, and now (5) Chorizo. I was pulling for Bratwurst, Joe for the Polish, and Ben went for the long-shot Chorizo. The winning prize was $1000 bucks, and the Polish made Joe the big winner.

A poor steward of his winnings, Joe has only the Polish sausage doll (shown in the picture at the top) to show for his victory. He blew the rest that evening choosing to invest in: "good times and tattoos" instead of "financial markets." He is planning to open his own investing house soon. I, for one, will be a frequent customer. As will frame-o, the robot frame.

GAME 2: BOS @ MIN

2008-05-10T22:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, 5/10/08
Time: 6:05 PM (CT)

Time of Game: 3:04.

Attendance: 26,511.

Weather: 72° F, In Dome.

Winner: BOS, 5-2

Comments: Matsuzaka is a master. With 7 strikeouts and 2 earned runs (one of which he WALKED IN), he stymied the Twins long enough to let the powerful Boston lineup win the game with the long ball. Mike Lowell, Coco Crisp, Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie all hit home runs that game.

A special thank you to the Twins Organization for getting my name on the Jumbotron! It is a very kind gesture. Not many teams yet appreciate the trip I am taking, and your recognition makes it that much more exciting.

The Metrodome is huge and ugly, outdone in its largess and ugliness only by the terrible weather in Minneapolis itself. I drove straight through downtown on my way to meet my cousin, and I still do not know what it looks like. It was entirely shrouded in an angry white mist.

The Twins ALWAYS play exciting baseball, and have such a loyal fan base that it really does not matter where they play baseball. Thank god they are moving to a new stadium soon, it is good for the team, the city and the fans. This coming from a White Sox fan, you gotta respect the Twins.

It seems like I am just driving from rainstorm to rainstorm. Every morning I start in a sunny place, and I drive towards the clouds. I already know the Milwaukee game is going to be the same way.

My cousin Rahul and I took a slight detour to the Mall of America. Wow. That place is the symbol of everything that is, at the same time, terrible and wonderful about the United States. I'll just say that I do not think I'd actually ever go there to buy anything, it is just a bit too rediculous.

GAME 1: STL @ COL

2008-05-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Date: Thursday, 5/8/08
Time: 1:05PM (MT)

Time of Game: 2:51.

Attendance: 25,376.

Weather: 57° F, Wind 6mph out to Centerfield, Cloudy, No Precipitation.

Winner: COL, 9-3

Comments:
My first game! My friend Dan showed me the ropes on the scorecard. The game was a blow out and the Rockies pitcher, De la Rosa pitched an awesome game, striking out 5 and allowing only 2 earned runs.

Denver is truly a gem. A gorgeous city with great weather, and nestled in the foothills of the rockies. The view from the stadium was not as great as I expected it to be, but when the sun came out in the 5th inning, it was certainly a wonderful feeling.

The mountains have an immense and peaceful quality about them. And although they're mainly to the west, you can feel its closeness. I am really glad I took a day to hang out in Denver and watch the game. The next couple of days are going to be "get-up-and-go" leaving every morning for another destination. The weather was beautiful, and it was great to catch up with an old friend.

The Bhagavad Gita, Bob Dylan, and Baseball: The trip to Denver.

2008-05-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

Where do we start? Lubbock, TX? Or should we instead consider the temporal nature of this journey? Maybe the spiritual?

Perhaps the best way to start is to chronicle where we are at right now, that is, where we are starting from. To start, the Energy Information Association (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html) reports the average price of gas in the United States to be $3.613/gal as of 5/5/08, and most recent edition of the Economist finds China outraged at the World’s protests of its Olympics, housing prices continue to drop in the United States, a food shortage continues to drive food prices up in the world markets. Oil prices are still on the rise and Goldman Sachs predicted that prices break $200/barrel in the next two years. The Democratic primaries continue to trudge on, Clinton finally mentioning something to the effect of: Whatever happens, don’t vote for McCain.

The baseball standings are as follows: (from www.baseball-reference.com)
American League

East		W	L	GB
BOS	F.E.	22	14	---
TBR	F.E.	17	16	3.5
NYY	F.E.	17	18	4.5
TOR	F.E.	17	18	4.5
BAL	F.E.	16	18	5.0

Central		W	L	GB
MIN	F.E.	17	15	---
CLE	F.E.	16	17	1.5
CHW	F.E.	15	17	2.0
KCR	F.E.	15	18	2.5
DET	F.E.	15	20	3.5

West		W	L	GB
LAA	F.E.	22	14	---
OAK	F.E.	22	14	---
TEX	F.E.	15	20	6.5
SEA	F.E.	14	21	7.5

National League Click F.E. for Team's Franchise Encyclopedia.

Expanded Standings · Wild Card · Leaders · Batting · Pitching · Splits: Bat · Pitch

East		W	L	GB
FLA	F.E.	19	14	---
PHI	F.E.	20	15	---
ATL	F.E.	17	15	1.5
NYM	F.E.	17	15	1.5
WSN	F.E.	14	20	5.5

Central		W	L	GB
STL	F.E.	22	13	---
CHC	F.E.	19	15	2.5
HOU	F.E.	18	16	3.5
MIL	F.E.	16	17	5.0
PIT	F.E.	14	19	7.0
CIN	F.E.	14	21	8.0

West		W	L	GB
ARI	F.E.	22	12	---
LAD	F.E.	19	15	3.0
SFG	F.E.	14	20	8.0
COL	F.E.	13	21	9.0
SDP	F.E.	12	22	10.0

The powerful spiritual aspect of such a journey is often overlooked. As I frantically, and unsuccessfully, struggled to find people to ride along with me on my trip, I got an inspired phone call. My friend Leighton upon hearing my struggle reminded me to never discount the power of contemplative moments, of introspection and retrospection. And I’ve hung on this idea ever since. I’ve always been a sucker for the profound, but for some reason I had lost it in my rush to pull everything together in the trip. There’s nothing better to remind you than mountains, Bob Dylan, the Bhagavad Gita, and the wisdom of an old friend.

When I found Bob Dylan’s Raspy voice on the radio, his thin raspy voice filled with diction from the 50’s and 60’s hip-swing era, I was about an hour into the drive. He has a weekly radio show that he DJs for called the “Theme Time Radio Hour” and this week’s theme was dogs. Wonderfully put together, the show focused on music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. This I found the whole thing pretty surreal, here’s Bob Dylan, talking about dogs on the radio, playing songs from different eras of American music about dogs. All the music was so happy and carefree, whereas I associate his music normally as troubled with the politics and of the time.

The weather was cloudy and rainy for most of the trip. Clouds rolled low over mountain tops as I pulled into Colorado from the south and it was altogether a very contemplative journey, listening to the Bhagavad Gita, a treatise on action and inaction and duty, and winding through the foothills of the Rockies as I climbed up to the mile high city. This trip is definitely underway.