Raincharm’s Weblog

I just reread the post below. Boy am I wordy.
What I meant to say was, “Soccer is great. I love this game. It is fun to play, a great place to meet people, and fun to watch. We had a fantastic time at the Sounder’s game. Can’t wait to go again.”

Yesterday started early, and basically improved as it went on.

Ashlan and friend arrived safely, managed to get a car, managed to get into their hotel room early, temps in the high 80’s at least. Sounded like they were having fun.  And she checked in to let us know things were going fine. (Carl was much relieved.

Work – went fairly well for such an early start. Got a few things done.

Soccer – went GREAT. What fun. It was the Seattle Sounders inaugural game. Seattle – March – Rain.  A statement of fact most years, although this year had been leaning toward snow. It rained all day at work. It was pouring on the ride over from work, until we hit Seattle. Now blue skies were not really evident, but it did not rain – the entire match.

Saw some friends, including two that we had not seen in years. Now I want to figure their last name so I can find them again.

We had seats care of a friend with season tickets. They were at the top of the box (18-yard) on the sideline and in the front row! There is a walkway between the seats and the field, but the seats are raised enough that those in the walkway don’t block view. The stands were packed with 32,000+. The end zone seems to be devoted to more organized chanting and cheering, but everyone was having a good time.

In soccer the most unique (from other sports) form of support that I am aware of is the scarf.  For the Sounders the ticket to this openning match was attached to the scarf given as part of the ticket package. So 2/3 of the ticket holders had these scarves. Then they had put scarfs all around town one day last week, and if you saw one you could take it. They were draped on statues, light poles, etc (I did not see any myself, but a workmate did). Then you can go the old fashioned route and just buy one. We may have to do this yet. [Carl did buy two t-shirts for us that were large enough to live in, so we could wear them over our jackets.] At the start of the game they said, “Show us your scarves,” and and it was quite a visual site. They also went up after every goal.

Speaking of goals there were 3 of them. All for the Sounders. The New York Red Bulls had two good attempts, but both were saved by Sounder goalie, Kasey Keller (you may remember him from US teams). The game was great. They are so fast, and you could really see the physical aspect of soccer at this level (not quite like what I play).

After the game ended, we skedaddled out – easy since we were in the front. I thought about staying to see what would happen, but the early morning told me it was time to get home.  Caught a bus right away, got a seat and took off.  Home and in bed before 11.

What fun. I am really happy the MSL is back in Seattle.

Good morning to all of those east coasters who happen to be up at a normal time (6:30 ET).
I am not normal.

Today’s agenda – airport (not for me), work (me more than anyone else in the family) and SOCCER (Carl & I)
Going to go to openning day for the MLS season and to the SEATTLE SOUNDERS as an MLS team.

Fun – fun – fun.

I just ate a small York Peppermint Pattie and then took a sip of coffee (strong coffee with Coffemate powdered creamer, cold as it is now 4hours since it was originally poured from the pot to cup). My mind immediately went to S’mores with a burnt edged marshmallow over graham cracker and Hershey chocolate squares, sitting in front of the fire inside the old Cabin.

Convinced me to take another sip, and relive it once more.

It’s 11 PM and I am still up.
I should be in bed, but I’m not – yet.
I have been looking at baseball things and bus things and all sorts of things that may be ignored.

But I can’t help myself.

I AM!

Neighborhood meeting tonight – 7 PM to just after 9 PM.
All of it on my feet and speaking with, well neighbors (not mine, but each others)
A friendly enough crowd, but …

You are not really interested in whether they want sewer or not, or just how it should be put in, or how difficult it is to estimate a construction project at this time … and right now I am more interested in finding a bed to flop into.

For many many years our family has followed the College Basketball March Madness by randomly assigning teams to each of the four of us. We often had individual allegiances, but that did not matter. The draw was random and you got who you got.

Prizes were awarded for each win, frequently on the sweet side, often with an Easter theme. In the first round you might get a chocolate egg for every win, then up to jellybeans, a Cadbury egg, etc. The prizes are not quite the focus they once were – age and distance has made it more difficult and less important.

Yesterday evening I realized that today was Selection Sunday when the brackets are filled in, and we had not spoken about how to do the choosing with far flung folks. So – with four phones, two on speaker in close proximity to each other – the family, in two states and two countries, was made whole for a brief moment.

Our drawing took about 10 minutes, at which point we departed for whatever errand/chore/course we had to deal with next. A few notes:
Ashlan did not get a #1 seed, Jay got two.
Rey got Jay’s Alma Mater (MSU)
Rey got Carl’s Almost Mater (Illinois)
Jay got hometown favorite UM(ichigan)
Carl got current hometown favorite UW
Rey got Kansas – his great-grandfather’s team (played for them)

Any other teams of interest? – we can fill you in on who will be cheering them on.
It is a fun family thing, even when the family is spread thin.

Carl and I went out touristing this morning. It was a rainy, windy Seattle spring day – so time to get out and about. (At least it was not snowing this weekend, yet)

The impetus was a member’s event at EMP(Experience Music Project) at the Seattle Center. The event started with breakfast (coffee, fruit, pastries) and then off with a tour guide. You had the opportunity to choose the type tour you wanted (or none at all). Since I had not been there at all before we chose the general tour. Our guide was the museum curator, and he gave a great taste of what they had available to see and experience. I do want to go back, although I am sure it will be more crowded next time. FOR ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY COMES OUT TO VISIT US – this would be a great stop. There is a Science Fiction museum as well. We went through there briefly on our own. Sci-Fi fans could really spend some time there. My favorite was the cyclone of guitars and the place where you could play instruments, either by yourself or with others – all sorts of hands on things. They told of a 10-year old who was playing a tune on a guitar, and some members of a touring punk band asked if they could join in with him on the drums and bass, and another group of 3 teenagers in a studio they have that were joined by Carlos Santana for a jam. 

From there we fed the meter and returned to the Space Needle. The real reason was to up Carl’s membership, but we went up while we were there. The windy, cold rain kept our stay on the outdoor observation deck to just around the block once.

Next we headed for the waterfront and the Aquarium. Carl wanted to share some artwork by Ray Troll he enjoyed in the aquarium.  It was rather crowded (mostly indoors and a rainy weekend). Carl said this crowd was really different from the normal class group and tourist crowds he sees during the week. I did enjoy the art. On the creature front our favorite (viewed by standing in the rain looking in a window to the dryer inside ) was an Oystercatcher, picking up mussels wedging them in between rocks and working his/her bill in and the mussels out. 

Then finally, before returning home for lunch, we got a latte. (Had to – it is Seattle)

It is fun every now and again to just go out and see what there is in the city. While I visit the Zoo regularly (close to home and incorporated into many walking routes), I don’t get out to other sights very frequently. Carl has passes to many, many places where he takes the kids. So he is the expert tour guide. [Almost ashamed to say I have not even been on the Underground Tour, but Carl has been several times. As the tour guide for our rather infrequent visitors, he takes the time, and I have usually been at work.]

Jeopardy update – Ben Bishop won his quarterfinal round, so will be playing at least one more game, either Wednesday-Thursday-Friday (the web-site did not have the match-ups for the semi-finals up yet.

All this talk about spring, so we decided to find some signs. After about 1-1/2 miles we found a robin, a Red Robin. In fact it is the first Red Robin anywhere.
We stopped in for a bite before heading back home. One of the pieces in the restaurant entrance is part of an original sign. In addition to the name of the joint is a robin character, with the baseball cap – and a cigarette.

To make our walk truly Seattle, we got stopped by the drawbridge that is just before the restaurant, going up for a sailboat. On the walk back, in the dark, we could see sculls plying the water.

I am drawing a blank.
My mind is not blank – but it is devoid of anything creative. (Of course you could say that for most days.)

Plans for today
Finish review and edit of our existing and future sewer boundaries, look for stray cleanouts and manholes that should be cleanouts, force mains and low pressure force mains that should be each other …. GIS data review. That is my first item (after the conservation committee meeting that is)

Oh – and for you Jeopardy watchers – Rey’s friend Ben Bishop made the Jeopardy Tournament of Champions YEAH. His quarterfinal appearance is Friday March 13th.

Of course it’s 9:30 at night.

Last night was a late night.
I don’t think, “Early to bed, early to rise” meant both “Earlys” on the same morning.

So the short sleep time and time change conspired to make today my tired day.
If it is the only one I will be satisfied with this spring towards Spring.

It was still light out after work, and two of the blocks little urchins and their dads were playing hockey in the front yard. I really like that our front yard is a bit of a playground for the block. This brief outdoor venture was cut short (for me) by the lack of heat and my lack of a coat. It was followed by a longer than brief venture into a warm bed (see tired day above).

So – now I am awake, and should be trying the “early to bed” part of the adage.
I will give myself another 1/2 hour and then crawl back to the warm place.