Day 3: Shea Stadium?

Welcome to New York City! What a hell hole!

We pulled into Shea Stadium parking around 3:30, once again, expecting to have stuff to do around the park, like at the friendly confines. No no! Not a thing to do anywhere near, which lead us to finding some water at a gas station and a parking pylon to sit on until the gates open at 5:05.

That is, until we found out that the gates didn't open until 6pm that night. What happened to being able to see batting practice? The ushers roll up the doors at Shea at 6p and we get inline, which actually moved fairly quickly. My bag checked fine (I'm not really sure what they are looking for when they poke around your bag?) and we headed up to the gate. The clerk scans my ticket, and a giant red STOP appears on his scanner.

Usher: "Lets see what we got here, boys"
Andy, to self: "Fuck. I got scammed on craigslist."
Usher: "Hmmm."
Andy, to self: "Damnit."
Usher: "Looks like you have tickets to tomorrow nights game."
Andy, to usher: "Hmm?"
Usher: "Yep. July 9th."
Andy, to general public: "Umm. We're supposed to be in Yankee stadium"

That's right. We were at Shea, in Flushing, at 6p and we needed to be in the Bronx. Holy crap!

We ran to my car, switched our tickets, grabbed the yankees tickets and dashed towards the subway. The 7 to grand central and the 4 to the Bronx.

7:07. We're dashing off the subway to get to the game by opening pitch. Sadly, we end up missing the first half inning while trying to run COMPLETELY around the stadium to our section, which, was an awful awful place to sit.

Andy Pettite and the Yankees ended up winning 5-0 against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

I understand that 9/11 was an American tragedy and that we need to remember those who died and those who have given their lives for our country. However, the one thing that gets on my nerves at ANY ball game is the singing of God Bless America in the 7th inning. Well, two things get on my nerves. God Bless America and... the WAVE. Holy hell, I hate the wave. Neither of these things happened at Fenway, and both happened in the Bronx. IN ADDITION to those two things, people started leaving in the bottom of the 7th inning! Seriously, NYC, you've been a disappointment.

NYC? Change my mind today, I dare you. Shea tonight, still very excited to see the Mets take on the Giants in what's known as one of the worst parks in the MLB.


Benson sings to NYC from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.


Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Yankee Stadium from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.

Videos: The Drive

At my buddy, Josh Clark's, house in Brooklyn, NYC. First time we've had some fairly quick, reliable WI-FI, so I thought I'd upload the photos and videos from our last three days. These are videos Benson shot during our drive to Boston on Sunday.


Do you know who the first person to drive 16 hours was? from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.



Aborigine people from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.



The First Pilgrim from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.



The Blarney Stone from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.

Day 2: Fenway Park

Boston is simply amazing.

After leaving Finagle-a-bagel downtown, we took a walk over to Boston Harbor to recreate a picture Benson took during his winter tour of the city. Benson's phone had stopped working, so we headed to the Apple Store to talk to the Genius Bar, who ended up giving Benson a brand new iPhone. (No, not the 3g.)

From the apple store, we walked to Fenway Park. I really expected a party outside Fenway HOURS before the game, but at 4pm, not much was going on, so we headed to Fresh City, a local watering hole and natural eatery which had free WiFi. Chilled there for a bit, until 5, when we could get into Fenway to catch the Twins batting practice.

FENWAY WAS AMAZINGGGG! Best stadium I have been to hands down. And the fans were great! We talked to a few fellas around us who were excited to hear about our trip, talk about Johnny Damon being hurt, share stories about the city. Fenway fans are true baseball fans! Such a good time. We sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", "Sweet Caroline", and "I Love that Dirty Water" - which means, yes, the bosox won!

Dice-K pitched a hell of a shutout through 7 innings. We even got to see Papelbon come on and close her down! Let me tell you, when the Dropkick Murphy's come on, Fenway is a madhouse! It was such a good time to be in Fenway with true Boston fans. I've been dreaming of this day for YEARS.

Anyway, here's some videos of FENWAY. I'll upload more when I get back to Warsaw - I want to get as many stadiums online as possible. Here's the two best (check back next week for "Sweet Caroline"!)

Hope all is well, good friends. We're shipping out to NYC for the day - Mets tonight!


Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Fenway from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.



Manny Rameriez Game Winning Single from Andrew Clark on Vimeo.

2 brothers, 7 days, 7 stadiums, 1 love: Day 1

UPDATE: I had to hit the apple store up for a battery recharge for my phone and macbook. Here's the post that I wrote...3 hours ago.

Benson and I got into Boston around 10:30p last night, only to find ourselves calling hotels.com to get a bed for the night. We wound up at the Lord Wakefield, a rundown and rather drab establishment near 15 minutes north of Boston. I fell asleep writing a few good friends an email, only to wake up at 5a this morning ready to hit the bustle of downtown Boston. Benson, however, was enjoying the apparent comfort of his pillowtop. Close to 9a we headed out to begin our day.

Our drive here went about as well as a 16 hour drive could go. We left Leesburg, Indiana at 6a yesterday morning. It's hard to believe that it was only 29 hours ago. Our first stop for gas was just south of Cleveland. A few hours later we found ourselves discovering the rather plain town of Buffalo, New York, looking for The Anchor Bar and Grille - who claims to have the original buffalo wings. Benson and I ordered 20 mild wings, with 2 Dr. Pepper's and 1 Yuengling. The soda was shit, the wings mediocre and the beer delicious.

Tonight we will be watching Dice-K and the Boston Red Sox take on the Minnesota Twins at Fenway. This is the first of 7 games for our team of two, who will be touring New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, and Detroit. I have shared a map of our adventures, if you are interested.

Sadly, I will not be meeting my friend Gary in Detroit at the end of our trip. He is racing sailboats from Port Huron to Mackinac Island until the 15th of July.


Battery and wireless signal are dying quickly. More later.

UPDATE: We're headed to FENWAY at 5:05 for redsox batting practice!

3 Tickets Down

Well, I've purchased three tickets for my vacation in 3 weeks!  (For those that don't know, my trip with benson is actually happening!)

First Leg
July 7 - Fenway Park
July 8 - Yankee Stadium
July 9 - Shea Stadium
July 10 - Citizens Bank Park

Second Leg - OPTION A
July 11 - Nationals Park
July 12 - PNC Park
July 13 - Progressive Field

Second Leg - OPTION B
July 11 - PNC Park
July 12 - Progressive Field
July 13 - Comerica Park

Second Leg - OPTION C
July 11 - PNC Park
July 12 - PNC Park
July 13 - Progressive Field

7/7/8 - Boston Red Sox v. Minnesota Twins @ Fenway Park

7/8/8 - New York Yankees v. Tampa Bay Devil Rays @ Yankee Stadium

7/9/8 - New York Mets v. San Francisco Giants @ Shea Stadium

Deep iChat Talks with CD

Pretty good talks I had with my good friend Cameron who lives in India.  He's a pretty smart dude, asking me about life.  It's a little lengthy, but certainly worth reading... at least for me, it was.

Cameron Deyhle: panda, what gives?
Andy Clark: life is frustrating.
Cameron Deyhle: why no
Andy Clark: oh, you know.
Cameron Deyhle: lame, i was looking for some details and sexy details are the best
Andy Clark: the last two weeks i've worked 195 hours.
Andy Clark: my brother hasn't wanted to talk to me.
Andy Clark: i haven't talked to a group of guys for a few months now.
Andy Clark: i work so much that i fall asleep driving home at night.
Andy Clark: i'm pretty good at drinking whisky.
Andy Clark: i have a golden elephant on my desk.
Andy Clark: i've got money in the bank, i think i might quit my jobs and head somewhere away from here. just leave my stuff and disappear.
Cameron Deyhle: sounds like you need a creative release
Cameron Deyhle: all work man
Andy Clark: my sister graduated high school and i missed it.
Cameron Deyhle: i saw that, she graduated
Andy Clark: cigars are unusually good lately.
Cameron Deyhle: dude, you are sounding like a combination of you and an old guy
Cameron Deyhle: work, cigars, wisky, missing your daughters dance recital
Andy Clark: sometimes i can feel the gears slipping up stairs. like, seriously. cant think straight.
Cameron Deyhle: ok, so to be honest, you see the symptoms of overworking. have you thought about a solution?
Cameron Deyhle: and a solution that isnt just a temporary fling with an addictive?
Andy Clark: 4 words. gotta get that money.
Cameron Deyhle: 3 words. no you dont
Cameron Deyhle: this isnt your new lil wayne jam
Cameron Deyhle: this is reality
Cameron Deyhle: everyone learns a lesson sometime in live. either at an early age or when they are nearing death. "I spent too much time chasing that money"
Andy Clark: i had sunday off. it was strange time for me.
Cameron Deyhle: why? strange
Andy Clark: felt real....unproductive.
Andy Clark: last i checked i gotta pay these bills.
Andy Clark: and i like to have a little style and a little flash.
Cameron Deyhle: yes, exactly, like i said, temporary
Andy Clark: so, i work hard until i get a day off. then i spend some cash and enjoy myself.
Cameron Deyhle: and be sure to take this as love
Cameron Deyhle: i dont like to hate on the andy
Andy Clark: im 22. single. right now all i've got is me.
Cameron Deyhle: temporary, right now
Andy Clark: i just dont know what else i'd do.
Cameron Deyhle: dude, the future you is going to hate the now you
Cameron Deyhle: you could spend more time asking youself important questions instead of avoiding the asking of them
Cameron Deyhle: or you can keep on the course that is working so well for you
Cameron Deyhle: the path that is going to lead to more of the same of the things that bother you
Andy Clark: mmph.
Cameron Deyhle: indeed
Andy Clark: i just dont know what i'd change. Andrew Clakr: i love my work as a bartender. it's enjoyable for me. i make good money and laugh and have a good time, most of the time.
Andy Clark: i HAVE to work as a programmer. otherwise it's useless for me to have that degree.
Cameron Deyhle: you dont have to do anything
Andy Clark: it's not smart for me to quit programming
Cameron Deyhle: noone is telling you to quit
Cameron Deyhle: well man, a happy content man doesnt bother to wonder about what needs changing
Cameron Deyhle: if you want the opinion from me. and that is me, the one who hasnt really seen you in years other than on this here box, you gotta decide what is going on in your life. specifically, why am i spending so much of my time and resourses on temporary? things that make me feel good for a month (phones), or a week (a hat or two), a day (sneakers) or 5 minutes (a cigar)
Cameron Deyhle: hey, and these things are great
Cameron Deyhle: but so was the stuff that was great before you upgraded to these new great things
Cameron Deyhle: and the things you upgrade to in another month will be great too
Cameron Deyhle: but it all is costing you money and that is why you are working soo many hours
Cameron Deyhle: and since you work so many hours, you feel like you have to reward yourself at the end of the hard week with a spending spree
Cameron Deyhle: and the cycle is completed at that point
Cameron Deyhle: the advertisements are not real. thats why we fall for them every time
Cameron Deyhle: and to prove my point, we surround ourselves with people who fall for the same traps as us to make ourselves think it is normal to live like this
Andy Clark: what you say sounds so smart
Cameron Deyhle: yes, cause its what you say from time to time. but then you get distracted and forget to think about it
Andy Clark: but....so different, sometimes, you know.
Cameron Deyhle: hey. like i said. you will learn it now or later, that is a guarantee
Cameron Deyhle: the hardest challange in life is to decide to really spend some time trying to figure out what is missing in your life?
Cameron Deyhle: why this madness of trying to fill ourselves up day to day with these temporary things?
Cameron Deyhle: they make us feel soo good... for a while
Cameron Deyhle: and you know im being serious with you because i didnt even quote anything from pop culture
Cameron Deyhle: and, andrew, i love you, you are my brother, my friend
Cameron Deyhle: there is no smile in your photo Cameron Deyhle and there is no smile on your heart
Andy Clark: mmph. hard ichat talks. we are good at those.

The Clocks of Hand Industries

Photos I took a while back of the numerous analog clocks around Hand Industries.