What is the deal with Seattle sports?

’08 Mariners–were overrated, then underachieved, and will lose over 100 games.

’07-’08 U.W. Hoops–were overrated, then underachieved and got passed up by the NIT

’08 U.W. Football– O and 3 and the ref in the BYU game just got promoted in the LDS church.

The Sonics– who?  

The one hope we had for the year, the Seahawks.  We have no wide-receiving corp now.  Engram out with injury.  Branch out with injury.  Burleson goes out in game one (and is out for the season), Payne goes down on his first catch in game two (today) and even our emergency wide-receiver, Seneca Wallace, goes down before the game.  This is ridiculous!  I played a little Tight End my Frosh year, perhaps I can help?

Even with the Seattle Curse, I’m still a homer! I KNOW the M’s will be contending next year, the Huskies hoops will recover and ride Jon Brockman to a post season birth, UW Football will come back and save Ty’s job, and the Seahawks will still win the NFC West!  As for the Sonics… hmm? Go Blazers!

Gotta go, Holmgren is calling my cell, I have to report to the Seahawks VMAC (Virginia Mason Athletic Center) tomorrow for my first practice.

Grace,
Brian

One subject I have not yet posted about, but not worthy of its own blog “category,” is, music.  Ever since I was given my ipod as a birthday gift about a year-and-a-half ago I have had pretty much the same music on it (Crowder, U2, Tomlin, some various sermons, etc.).  To be honest, my ipod has been used more to feed my addiction to 24 (yes, I watched all of the first five seasons in less than three months) and Prison Break (all three seasons in less than a month).  Before you feel the need to confront me, let’s get back to music…

Just this week I heard the sweet sound of kids laughing, this is the sound of family safe listening on Spirit 105.3! Every now and again, the talk radio I normally have one gets a little old, or a few too many commercials, so I switch over to the ol’ Christian broadcasting.  Well, on this particular day they were interviewing Chris Tomlin.  I have liked Tomlin for the last few years and was happy to hear he had a new album, Hello Love, coming out.   Immediately after playing one of his songs, the station played a song from another band, Leeland.  I had purchased Leeland’s first album, Sound of Melodies, about a year ago, and listened to it a lot. I really liked the sound of the new song too.  Opposite Way is the title track to their new album.  Instead of paying the $36, plus tax, at Fred Meyer, I decided to check them out on itunes.  Both albums are now safe and secure in my itunes library (and for less than $20)!  And both are quite impressive.  So, here’s my first music review:

Chris Tomlin’s Hello Love:

“Two ears up! Great sounds, consistent with all of his previous albums, be ready to sing some of these songs in your local church [unless your church is struggling to find its “current” sound… 🙂 ].

Leeland’s Opposite Way:

“Two ears up! A very good sophomore album.  Stayed consistent with sound of first album on some songs, but introduced some new funk on some others!  I am already envisioning using a song for some highlight video at a camp.”

Happy listening!

Grace,
Brian

I read an article yesterday that made me ponder the depravity of man… The last line in this article is what made me laugh the most!  I guess this Denny’s wasn’t open 24 hours a day.

MODESTO, Calif. (AP) – Police say a man tried to cut off his own arm at a restaurant in Modesto, Calif., because he thought he had injected air into a vein while shooting cocaine and feared he would die unless he took drastic action.

Authorities say 33-year-old Michael Lasiter rushed into the Denny’s restaurant late Friday and started stabbing himself in one arm with a butter knife he grabbed from a table.

They say that when that knife didn’t work Lasiter took a butcher knife from the kitchen and dug it into his arm.

Police Sgt. Brian Findlen says Lasiter told officers he thought he needed to amputate his arm to keep himself from dying from the cocaine injection.

Lasiter was taken to a hospital for treatment of severe cuts.

The Denny’s closed for the night.

Anyone up for a Grand Slam breakfast?

Grace,
Brian 

It’s one of those weekends!  One I can really say, “ahhhh.”

First, last nights daddy-daughter date with Audrey was a blast.  I let her make the choice of restaurant.  Giving her several options she wanted,  “to go to one that has high tables and high seats.”  So she chose Quiznos (she almost went Round Table).  Keep in mind, Red Robin, Applebees, Stanfords, etc. were all on the table, but these places didn’t have high tables and chairs!  We ate and then went to “the spinny park.”  This park (Petrovitsky) has some high-tech equipment (most of which spins, thus the Audrey given-name).  Fun times with Audrey, great conversations, good time at the park and okay food!

Today is a hodge-podge day, doing a little of this, a little of that and a little resting in between. Have several things that NEED(ed) to get done by the end of the month (emissions, license tabs, PO Box renewal); a few things that could get done (work out, weeding, bank deposits) and a few things that won’t get done (garage organization, study for next weeks talk), but I’m okay with not getting it all done, that’s why it is an Ahhhh day… I want the relaxation to be mixed with the task direction.

The other Ahhhh-factor is the return of Football!  Today, college football is providing the nicest break between the small tasks! Some down time on the couch with Will goes a long way to making a daddy feel pretty relaxed.  We’ll see if that carries through the night– I don’t think the Dawgs will win, but man, wouldnt’ that be cool?

So, here’s to the Ahhh! 

Grace,
Brian

I have been putting a lot of time into the missions program Youthmark is about to launch.  I have been thinking through a lot of memories from trips to the likes of Rockaway Beach, OR; Pine Valley, CA; Unity, OR, Council, ID; Skagway, AK; and many others.  These trips have been a hoot and I have learned much from our students.  One of the things that stands out, students on a mission are not much different than adults in church.  We/they often focus on matters that matter little rather than the matters that matter the most!

All have sinned.  People are dying w/o a Savior.

He has provided a way to life eternal, yet people are dying w/o a Savior.

We want behavior change in people we befriend and reach out to, yet people are dying w/o a Savior.

We want people to stop cussing, stop looking at porn, and improve their character… yet w/o Christ they are dying without a Savior.

Read the small print at the bottom

When we approach people to share the greatest love we have we need to look past the sharp edges of his quirky personality, her quick temper, his foul mouth; we must understand that the bridge is out in his or her life.  Improving personality, temper and mouth may help a person look better, sound better and appear more civil, but let’s not forget the deep wounds of sin w/o a Savior.

It is my hope/prayer that the students on the missions we provide will be quick to see the soul of a person and not the behavior.  It is my hope/prayer that I can live that way now!

Grace,
Brian

The television is a pretty phenomenal item.  I have a love-hate relationship with TV.  Sure, I love it for watching a good game; but I hate commercials.  I like being able to to just relax and laugh, but I hate being sucked in for hours on end (this rarely happens).  We limit the amount our kids watch because with more than a 30 minute kids show or two we see their attitudes changing.  Perhaps I don’t even recognize this in my own life?  

With all this being said, I have enjoyed watching some of the Olympics this summer (not very impressed with all the tape-delay of NBC though).  And I am looking forward to a couple shows coming back this next TV season.  Here is the complete list of the shows I will probably watch this next year:

1. 24 (doesn’t come on until January, but am looking forward to it)*

2. Prison Break (got hooked because 24 wasn’t on).*

3. Survivor (yep, it is still on, season 17 or something!)

4. The Amazing Race

5. The Office… I think I have watched one or two episodes, but the frenzy has gotten me interested and I’ll give it a shot.

Okay, I’m done writing, I think I’ll go watch some TV, afterall, it’s a perfect sunny and 78 degree day!**

Oh and this!***

Grace,
Brian 

*Denotes shows I watch w/o Elisabeth (she would want you to know!)

**Denotes a total joke, in case you have no humor.

***Denotes a desire for you to read previous post and help me with some opinions!

I am coming up on about seven weeks since my baseball trip back east with my Dad and brother.  While on the trip I was able to take in several new major league baseball stadiums.  I wrote that at some point I would rank my favorite stadiums, well, here it is!  If you have been to more than three major league stadiums I welcome your rankings as well… if you have nothing to compare then it probably isn’t worth commenting (what’s this, I’m asking people to not comment?  huh? ha).  So, here are my stadiums, followed by my top five.

Major League Baseball Stadiums I have been to (in order first time of visit as well):

My first game, Kingdome

1. The Kingdome (Seattle’s old Stadium before Safeco)… Many times
2. Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta’s old Ballpark before Turner)… one game
3. Dodger Stadium (LA)… many times
4. Safeco Field (Seattle)… many, many, many times
5. Edison Field (Anaheim, Los Angeles Angels)… several times
6. Chase Field/formerly Bank One Ballpark (Phoenix, Arizona Diamondbacks)… many times
7. Petco Park (San Diego)… one game each in 2005 and 2006
   

   Went to Wrigley with my dad last year

8. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox)…one game
9. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs)… one game
10. Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers)… once each the last two years
11. Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles)… one game
12. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies)… one game
13. Yankee Stadium (NY)… one game
14. Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)… one game

The Brian Rankings (top 5):

Honorable Mentions and Reason:

Citizens Bank, Phillies: best food faire of all stadiums I have been to.

A great dog; add mustard and onion!

5. Dodger Stadium… great site lines throughout, Dodger Dog is best hot dog in the either league and for an older stadium, it still looks pretty good.

4. Wrigley Field… horrible site lines but the awesome history and c’mon, Ivy on the outfield fences make this a “have to.”  2nd best fans in the league.

3. Camden Yards… great location near waterfront, great things to do before game, first of the new “old school” stadiums.

2. Safeco Field… I am a homer, but Safeco offers great unique food options, spectacular views and probably one of the best kept fields.  Might be the best family park (fun options for kids… at right, Will’s first game with Daddy).

1. Fenway Park… honestly, the horrible 15,000 wood seats in prime location almost knocked them to two, but the best fans, best atmosphere around the stadium (totally festive) all the history and the Green Monster make it the number one.  Plus they have the best fans I’ve ever seen/heard.

Okay, again, if you’ve had three or more, rank your top three! I want to keep adding parks, so I hope I can do an annual ranking!

Grace,
Brian