Saturday, March 28, 2009

“Unusual” Weather

We have a chance for snow tonight, even at sea level, for the 15th time during the past year, says the TV news. What you see above is pretty much how it looks outside today.

Most “unusual,” to say the least.

We’ve only lived in the Puget Sound area for five years, but we’ve not experienced a “normal” weather year yet.

Our son, Doug, and his wife, Jamie, will be at the Sounders game tonight at Qwest Field. If the white stuff does come, I wonder how you follow the soccer ball in it?

Friday, March 20, 2009

We Were There As Seattle Began Major League Soccer With A Win


I was fortunate enough to be a part of a major sports event last night, thanks to my son, Doug. He invited me to attend the inaugural game of the Seattle Sounders, who shut out last year’s runner-up MLS Champs, the New York Red Bulls, 3-0.

The pic above is a composite super wide-angle shot of Qwest field, taken by a friend of Doug’s, just as the second half was about to begin. It was an incredible game, and our seats were very near where this shot was taken. Doug and his wife, Jamie, have season tickets, but Jamie was unable to attend last night.

I’m no expert in soccer, but by any standard, it was an outstanding game. Seattle’s rapidly-rising, 21-year-old star striker, Colombian Fredy Montero, scored early and scored late, with a third goal sandwiched in between, as the Emerald City team showed no fear nor intimidation.

The Sounders came out aggressively and controlled the ball for most of the first half. Possession was more even in the second half, but the Red Bulls could not muster a score against the popular veteran Seattle goalie, Kasey Keller, a native of the Puget Sound area.

The Sounders are the most successful franchise ever to enter the MLS with (a capped at) 22,000 season tickets sold. Last night’s attendance was 32,523, filling to capacity the entire lower bowl of Qwest Field. Soccer (football) is said to be the "world game," and it looks like Seattle has become a key part of it here in our country.

Thanks, Doug, for a great experience and a plain old good time!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Great Start For Talli’s Track Season


Our high school Frosh granddaughter, Talli, opened her track season yesterday on the varsity team by winning the 3,000 meter event and placing third in the 1,500. All against sophomores, juniors, seniors and a few other freshman.

Way to go, Talli!

Pic above shows her nearing the finish line in winning the 3,000 fairly easily. “I probably could have done better,” she said, “but I was just trying to get a feel for the pace in a longer race.” She had never run a 3,000 meter race before on a track, though she had run 5,000 meters in cross-country last Fall.

The meet was a dual 6A school meet against Reynolds, a large school in the eastern burbs of Portland. Sure looks like it’s going to be a great spring running season for her.

Today, she’s on her way to Mexico for a Spring break missions trip where almost 90 kids and adults will build three homes in a needy border town. We’ll keep her especially in our prayers for the next 10 days.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Happy 12th Birthday, Hayley!

We had fun over this past weekend visiting Gregg, Elaine and our three granddaughters in Oregon and celebrating the 12th birthday of granddaughter, Hayley (above). Click on the photo for the full benefit. Her actual birthday was a week before, but she was at a Bible Quiz event in Idaho at that time.

Hayley is an amazing young lady. She is sweet, smart, very athletic, and as tech-savvy as they come. Her outer beauty is simply a reflection of what is inside, and we are all very proud of her.

To celebrate her birthday, she had three of her close friends at her house for a sleepover in the RV on Friday night, followed by a big pancake breakfast served up by Dad on Saturday morning.

Unfortunately, we got there a bit too late to enjoy Gregg’s tempting flapjacks, but we did have a nice time seeing Hayley and her buds having fun before her guests went home early Saturday afternoon.

Then in the evening, Dad and mom treated us all to a birthday dinner at a nearby baseball-themed restaurant called Li’l Cooperstown. The eatery is filled with baseball photos and memorabilia sort of like the real Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. It was great fun.

We capped the weekend by attending church yesterday, and Gregg delivered another very incisive sermon. Hopefully, I’ll be able to do a post on it sometime in the next few days. Here’s an advance peek at the headline: “Go… and be the Church.”


ADDENDUM - 3/17/09 ---

Pic below of beautiful baby Hayley was taken on the day of her birth in 1997. This is really frightful a) to see how much Kay Lynne and I have aged in 12 years (me, mostly), and b) to note that neither of us wore glasses then (now we both wear tri-focals) and both of our hair colors have changed since then (naturally, of course). That's cute little Natalie (Talli now), almost three then, in the lower right.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

When It's Nice Here, It's Simply Spectacular


The Pacific Northwest has a singular, incredible quality.

When it's nice, it's also spectacular.

I took the above photo around noon today from a front window. It's pretty much self-explanatory. Click on the photo for a larger, full-effect image, if you'd like. But how long it'll last is always the big question.

Nevertheless, it's a wonderful place to live, if only for the days that look like this.