For those whom may have not known, I spent the majority of the summer (I guess the whole summer) in the greater city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In order to get my degree, I had to take a internship somewhere and decided to do it at the Cedar Rapids Gazette.
But that was not all I did while I was living in the Midwest. I could have came home within a month into summer but I thought since I was out there, I would make the most of it.
One of the first things I did was go boating on Corallville Lake. I guess since Iowa lacks in attractions, this is one of the things to do. And this was the first time, although my dad had a boat, I drove a boat. After that day, one of my dreams is to buy a boat, but only take it to the lake because I get the the worst case os sea sickness.
The next eventful thing I did was go to the championship series of the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska between UCLA and Mississippi State. I have to say, the atmosphere in Omaha that day was unreal. I've never seen a baseball stadium so full. People not only sitting down with no leg room, but people also standing around the premises of the outfield seats, some of them trying to tippy toe the whole time to see what was going on.
Before the game, I also got the chance to meet All-American closer, David Berg.
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| Inside TDAmeritrade Park |
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| Mississippi State fans |
Couple days after I went to Omaha, I went to my first rodeo in Edgewood, Iowa. Like an actually rodeo with hicks and red necks. Everyone dressed up in cowboy/cowgirl attire and everything. But the thing is, I didn't get to see all the events that went on during the day since I went out there during the night. It was a pretty cool experience to be at a rodeo in the country side. I never would have thought in my 23 years of life I would be swarmed in a people of hicks!
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| My Summer family |
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| A real life cowboy. He told us he's broken six ribs and had pneumonia all in one day after a bull stomped on him. |
I also spent my first Fourth of July away from home at a so-called "beach" in Iowa...
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| They didn't know about my gun-show, so I showed them....not really. |
Next thing I did was go to a MLB try out at Rock Valley Junior College in Rockford, Illinois with Carlo, one of my teammates from Mount Mercy. If I had to describe that day in one word, it would be Fail.
Carlo and I decided to go to a Culvers (a fancy hamburger restaurant) and shortly after the try out was cancelled and when we were eating our food, not even ten miutes passed by and it was clear as day outside. You couldn't even see a single cloud. Fail number 2.
Then about a month later, I went to Chicago Illinois to catch a Cubs/Dodgers game. If you haven't been to a game at Wrigley Field, make sure to put that on your bucket list.
Driving from Cedar Rapids to Chicago was easy, until I got to the outskirts of the city, and the traffic was heavy. It almost felt like I was back home in Los Angeles County.
David, my roll dog; summer partner in crime; whatever the adjective is, and I finally got to Wrigleyville (which, for those of you who may not know, is like a tiny city within Chicago where all the bars, shops, etc are), we couldn't fond a parking spot. As I was driving around the neighborhood, I saw a guy in front of his apartment with a sign that said, "Parking $20." David and I thought $20 was too pricey so we drove around a little more and the prices increased as we drove around, the highest being $40. So I quickly drove back to the guy we first saw and parked in his driveway.
The walk from his apartment to Wrigley Field was about 10 minutes.
We drove out from Cedar Rapids to Rockford from four in the morning so we can make it by at least eight, that way we had time to go through the sign up process. So we got there and no one was there at first, so Carlo and I decided to go to the gas station to grab a drink and some snacks until we wait for people to show up. When we got back to the field, it was about 8:30 and had 30 minutes until the try out started and about 50 people were standing around waiting for it to start. So Carlo and I go out there to wait with them.
Another 30 minutes pass by and the next thing you know, there's about 200 to 250 people at this try out. As the try out started the outfielders showed off their arms and the infielders showed off there leather and the catcher, their pop time. After all the skill work was finished, it was time to hit. The outfielders hit first. When the last hitter from the outfield group was hitting, it started to rain, and I mean pour! The guy that ran the try out called it off and told people "Thanks for coming." So Fail number one there.
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| Carlo and I at the Open MLB try out at Rock Valley Junior College in Rockford, Illinois |
Overall, it was a good experience though, seeing who comes out to these try outs. It was also pretty cool that the guy running the tryout called me out, in a good way, while I fielding ground balls.
Driving from Cedar Rapids to Chicago was easy, until I got to the outskirts of the city, and the traffic was heavy. It almost felt like I was back home in Los Angeles County.
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| In front of the Wrigley Field sign. I guess the fans accepted the fact that they aren't the 2013 World Series Champs. |
The walk from his apartment to Wrigley Field was about 10 minutes.
We finally got our tickets at will call and we wanted to eat somewhere before we went into the ballpark. We stepped into a bar but it was pretty packed and we saw a Taco Bell so we grabbed a quick bite there instead (and no, I didn't get to try an authentic Chicago hot dog!).
After we ate, we headed to the field. Stepping into Wrigley had a different feeling than the other Parks/Stadiums/Fields. How I would describe it is the scene from Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, where the the little kid goes into Fenway for the first time. You would have to watch it to know it but there was the old school feel to it.
Our seats were at the upper deck towards right field. I mean when I say right field, it was literally, all the way to the right side and couple of rows from the back.
Although we could see the game fairly well from there, David and I were looking for other seats to sit in. After the 4th inning, we saw some seats behind home plate that had not been taken throughout the game so we merge over.
When we sat down, we met a guy that has been a season ticket holder for five seasons. We told him we were from Los Angeles and bought us beers, actually two.
We talked about the how the Cubs sucked and the history of Wrigley field.
He mentioned to us that the fans already know and expect the Cubs to do bad every season, especially after the whole Steve Bartman deal. But that fact to coming to Wrigley and being part of it has a different meaning to watching the game. You feel like you are part of the history that built the field.
I learned from watching a game at Wrigley Field that not just Cub fans, but the Midwest fan base in general stay loyal to their team and not hop around the bandwagon.
Since it was a day game, after the game was over, David and I made a trip downtown. Since it wasn't David first time but it was mine, he didn't mind going again.
I would say from Wrigley Field to Downtown Chicago is about a 20-30 minute ride, with a train! I mean we have Metro trains here in Los Angeles, but it was pretty cool riding in a train on a track you might see in movies or what not.
David suggested that we go to the Willis Tower (or I guess the Sears Tower since thats what everyone calls it still).
At the Sears Tower, you are able to go in and go almost to the top of building and view the city from inside. But the catch is, you have to pay about $20 to get in.
Once we got to the top, looking outside was the window was awesome. I seen pictures from the building via Facebook during the day, but going there at night was pretty sweet, I'd say.
Four days later, I was off to St. Louis to catch a Cardinals/Dodgers game with David, along with Dorman (or Jeff), Vinnie, and Albert.
St. Louis is a wonderful city. It's not too big or small of a city. I been to St. Louis once before, but only drove past it after playing a baseball game last season.
But that day, even before we got to the city, we went to the mall on the other side of the stadium. The first place we walked into was a Lids out there. As soon as we walked in, Albert notice something unusual.
He asked a kid in there, "Ey, where did you get that hat?" The kid was 19 or 20 (I guess he's not a kid) and he looked somewhat confused, somewhat scared. He point at his hat and and said "This?"
He was wearing a Mount Mercy hat, all the way in St. Louis! He said he was going to be attending there during the Fall (He's now my old roommate's roommate now). Small world I tell you.
After spending about an hour or so (maybe a little more), we went to go grab a bite before we went to the ballpark. Since we knew there was a Jack in the Box in St. Louis and none in Iowa, yes we ate at Jack in the Box.
After we got our Jack in the Box fix, we headed towards the stadium, but had to wait 30 mins before the gates opened.
Though it was a Tuesday, it seemed to me like it was a sell out crowd. You couldn't see an open seat anywhere.
I 've never been to the old Busch Stadium, but this one that opened on April 4, 2006 was pretty sweet. I 'd say one of my favorite ballparks that I have been to, although I only been to five total (Dodgers Stadium, Angels Stadium, PETCO Park, Wrigley Field, and Busch Stadium).
I had an old friend from when I played in Barstow, Cody, that lived in St. Louis so I met up and caught up with him at the game. While we were taking, I hear someone say my name.
I thought to myself, "Who the hell knows me from St. Louis besides Cody?" I turn to my right and I see Johnny, a friend from California that played at Cypress College and Virginia Tech sitting in the same section as me. Again, small world right?
Johnny told me he was playing semi professional baseball in Missouri and he was at the game because he had a day off. Crazy to see someone that far away from home at such a city like St. Louis.
Another cool thing I did while I was in Iowa was I got to visit the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. Yes the original site of where at movie was filmed.
There's a lot more things I could write about my summer in Iowa, but I thought I share some of the experiences with you guys.
Jun
Shout out to...
All my old and new friends in Iowa and the Midwest for making the most out of my summer
The town of Bernard and the Bernard Indians for an awesome season this summer,
The Cedar Rapids Gazette for giving me the opportunity to intern with them,
Alicia and the Spurgin for the hospitality this summer,
And most of all, to my Iowa summer family, David and Mary. I don't know what summer would have been like without you guys,
Also a huge shout out to my parents for supporting in whatever way they can from California.
After we ate, we headed to the field. Stepping into Wrigley had a different feeling than the other Parks/Stadiums/Fields. How I would describe it is the scene from Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore, where the the little kid goes into Fenway for the first time. You would have to watch it to know it but there was the old school feel to it.
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| The view from our ticketed seats at Wrigley |
Although we could see the game fairly well from there, David and I were looking for other seats to sit in. After the 4th inning, we saw some seats behind home plate that had not been taken throughout the game so we merge over.
When we sat down, we met a guy that has been a season ticket holder for five seasons. We told him we were from Los Angeles and bought us beers, actually two.
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| Our seats when we moved behind home plate |
He mentioned to us that the fans already know and expect the Cubs to do bad every season, especially after the whole Steve Bartman deal. But that fact to coming to Wrigley and being part of it has a different meaning to watching the game. You feel like you are part of the history that built the field.
I learned from watching a game at Wrigley Field that not just Cub fans, but the Midwest fan base in general stay loyal to their team and not hop around the bandwagon.
Since it was a day game, after the game was over, David and I made a trip downtown. Since it wasn't David first time but it was mine, he didn't mind going again.
I would say from Wrigley Field to Downtown Chicago is about a 20-30 minute ride, with a train! I mean we have Metro trains here in Los Angeles, but it was pretty cool riding in a train on a track you might see in movies or what not.
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| Train Ride |
At the Sears Tower, you are able to go in and go almost to the top of building and view the city from inside. But the catch is, you have to pay about $20 to get in.
Once we got to the top, looking outside was the window was awesome. I seen pictures from the building via Facebook during the day, but going there at night was pretty sweet, I'd say.
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| Random picture of Downtown Chicago |
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| View of Downtown Chicago from the SkyDeck at Sears Tower |
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| On the extended glass platform at the SkyDeck |
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| "Downtown Chicago, WE OUT HERE!" |
It was definitely worth the $20...
Four days later, I was off to St. Louis to catch a Cardinals/Dodgers game with David, along with Dorman (or Jeff), Vinnie, and Albert.
St. Louis is a wonderful city. It's not too big or small of a city. I been to St. Louis once before, but only drove past it after playing a baseball game last season.
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| The Arch in St. Louis |
He asked a kid in there, "Ey, where did you get that hat?" The kid was 19 or 20 (I guess he's not a kid) and he looked somewhat confused, somewhat scared. He point at his hat and and said "This?"
He was wearing a Mount Mercy hat, all the way in St. Louis! He said he was going to be attending there during the Fall (He's now my old roommate's roommate now). Small world I tell you.
After spending about an hour or so (maybe a little more), we went to go grab a bite before we went to the ballpark. Since we knew there was a Jack in the Box in St. Louis and none in Iowa, yes we ate at Jack in the Box.
After we got our Jack in the Box fix, we headed towards the stadium, but had to wait 30 mins before the gates opened.
Though it was a Tuesday, it seemed to me like it was a sell out crowd. You couldn't see an open seat anywhere.
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| Outside Busch Stadium |
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| Stan "The Man" Musial statue |
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| Busch Stadium during the day |
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| Busch Stadium at night |
I had an old friend from when I played in Barstow, Cody, that lived in St. Louis so I met up and caught up with him at the game. While we were taking, I hear someone say my name.
I thought to myself, "Who the hell knows me from St. Louis besides Cody?" I turn to my right and I see Johnny, a friend from California that played at Cypress College and Virginia Tech sitting in the same section as me. Again, small world right?
Johnny told me he was playing semi professional baseball in Missouri and he was at the game because he had a day off. Crazy to see someone that far away from home at such a city like St. Louis.
Another cool thing I did while I was in Iowa was I got to visit the Field of Dreams in Dyersville. Yes the original site of where at movie was filmed.
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| In front of the Field of Dreams sign |
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| Where you at, Kevin Costner?! |
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| On the bench at the Field of Dreams |
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| View from the entrance of the site |
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| Another view from the entrance |
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| The Field of Dreams house |
There's a lot more things I could write about my summer in Iowa, but I thought I share some of the experiences with you guys.
Jun
Shout out to...
All my old and new friends in Iowa and the Midwest for making the most out of my summer
The town of Bernard and the Bernard Indians for an awesome season this summer,
The Cedar Rapids Gazette for giving me the opportunity to intern with them,
Alicia and the Spurgin for the hospitality this summer,
And most of all, to my Iowa summer family, David and Mary. I don't know what summer would have been like without you guys,
Also a huge shout out to my parents for supporting in whatever way they can from California.
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