Posted by Randy on May 27, 2009 – 2:23 pm
Filed under Sounders, soccer
Last night, it was a beautiful night in Seattle – sunny and right around 70 degrees, great night for a soccer match. My beloved Sounders where playing the final MLS play-in match for the US Open Cup against a Colorado team they’d played just a few days earlier. I got my boy a ticket to the match because he can’t go to regular season matches with me because I only bought one season ticket. (Next year, I’ll do better) 
After a great night of soccer, including hearing my boy start singing “I’m blind, I’m deaf, I wanna be a ref”, the Sounders pulled off a great 1-0 win and got into the US Open Cup.
Then today happened.
I’m excited for lunch so I can watch my favorite English team, Manchester United whoop up on an overhyped FC Barcelona team. Unfortunately, the Man U that loses matches showed up.
Darn you soccer, one minute, I’m up, the next I’m down.
Such is the life of a soccer fan.
Posted by Randy on May 22, 2009 – 8:36 pm
Tonight Cole and Noelle took me out for my birthday dinner at one of my favorite spots Pen Thai. I had the Satay and then Chicken Curry, good stuff. After dinner we headed home and I had my favorite cake, German Chocolate cake. This is my last birthday with one kid, how crazy is that?
Birthday Dinner at Pen Thai
29 candles, going out, that's a lot of heat
Posted by Randy on May 22, 2009 – 9:13 am
So this morning I woke up and found out I’d just turned 29, cool deal. The guys from work, specifically my boss and close friend, took me out for Birthday Breakfast. I order the “Big Mike” because I was pretty hungry. Needless to say, when people warn you that the Brown Bag Cafe has big portions, maybe you should pay attention. I almost ate it all, but then realized I had food up to my esophagus. But, it’s still fun right?
"small" meal
Happy Birthday to me
Posted by Randy on December 2, 2008 – 10:26 am
This Thanksgiving, we went to my parent’s house, as is dictacted by our switching holidays agreement. (Each year, we swap between my parents and Noelle’s for the two major holidays – Christmas and Thanksgiving). This year was especially fun because the hit movie Twilight came out and my wife was very excited to see it. I’ve heard it’s for 13 year old girls, so I am not excited about it:) But the most exciting part was that a good portion of the movie was filmed in a town where I grew up.
Twilight Bookstore
Twilight Courthouse
Where Bella got attacked
Bella's House
Twilight School
Posted by Randy on October 17, 2008 – 8:30 am
My church is partnering with a new ministry: www.adoptanembryo.net
It’s an interesting idea, one of the local news stations did a piece on it last night: http://www.q13fox.com/pages/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3031625
Posted by Randy on October 15, 2008 – 4:44 pm
I’m excited for the game tonight, especially since the US has clinched a World Cup Qualifying finals spot, and is just cruising. It’ll be good to see some of the youth/MLS guys get some playing time. It looks like a good oportunity to watch the youth of US soccer out there on the pitch. And heck, it’s on ESPN, and everyone has that channel, right?
Posted by Randy on October 14, 2008 – 10:34 am
Apple does a lot to get things right the first time, which is a totally great business practice. With this new Macbook Pro, I think they did just that, mostly.
The tech specs are pretty amazing, 4 finger multi-touch, great graphic processor, SSD, sturdy design, 6mb L2. All this is awesome, but it’s missing one essential thing – it’s not pretty. This is one of the ugliest pieces of equipment I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if it’s the black keys on white, or the black frame on the screen, but this sucker is gross. Maybe I’ll warm up to it, but not anytime soon. Apple, you disappoint me, where have all your designers gone?
Posted by Randy on August 7, 2008 – 11:13 am
Today was our last day in India, and a very cool one. We started out the morning by going to the AG school and Craig spoke in their assembly. We all introduced ourselves. The principal told us there were more than 1400 students in attendance, it was awesome! Then we headed to the church staff morning devotion, were we again introduced oursleves. They welcomed us and gave each of us Indian garlands. It was very sweet.
We had a few hours until what we thought was a late lunch, and I went with Lenelle, Angela, and Esther to my favorite market in Kolkata, Gariahat. We got a text while we were shopping that we needed to return to the hospital because the CEO wanted to take us for lunch. He took us to an absolutely amazing hotel called the Taj Bengal. He then gave us all a print of a photo that the team had taken at the Floatel where we ate on Sunday. The CEO is an amazingly gracious man, and a true Godly leader.
We then had some free time in the afternoon, and although I expected to get a knock on my door asking me to go shopping, there was none. It seems the whole team was tired, and almost all of us slept the afternoon away. We had planned on going to a light and sound show, but it was outdoors, and the monsoons caused it to be cancelled. So we had dinner here at the hospital. Mr Prasad (CEO) showed up again, and brought us more gifts. We each received a picture book of the work that Mercy Hospital is doing. It was a very sweet gesture.
We’re leaving at 8.30am tomorrow for Bangkok, Thailand. I’m really excited to be heading home, I miss my beautiful wife and little boy. I can’t wait to see them. We’ll be in Bangkok for two days, and get to meet with a friend of mine who I consider a man who walks very close with God.
Posted by Randy on August 6, 2008 – 9:21 am
Today was an emotional one. We began the day with our team devotions, and then headed to the Bible school’s morning devotion. Craig spoke, and it was really good. We then went and had tea with the students. It was fun to talk with them and hear their dreams. I really hope that they get to realize their dreams!
We had two open hours up to lunch, so Esther and Angela wanted to try a new market, so I went with them. It was by far the most crazy one yet. Lots of beggars, lots of Coolies, (guys who work in the market who aggressively try to “help” you). Noisy and hot, I really didn’t like it. I prefer the first market we went to at night over all of them.
After lunch, we planned on going to Mother Teresa’s to take the training so that we could work with the Sisters of Charity the next day. First we arrived at the tomb of Mother Teresa, it was so intense. This women loved the people of Kolkata so much, and did so much. It was very overwhelming and humbling. I know that her heart was so in tune with God – she was an amazing woman. I strive to be as humble and compassionate as she was, what an example of Christ.
Then we got to the place where you get the training to find out that they are not open to helpers on Thursdays. It was really a bit frustrating, but then one of the Sisters was kind enough to take us through the orphanage, and let us play with the kids a bit. It was so precious!
After that, we had some more free time before bed, and we went shopping again… just around our place, there is a small market near the hospital, and was pretty fun to go to. You could really tell they rarely have foreigners in this market, almost no one spoke English. It was tough but some of my Hindi numbers that I learned on my trip to Delhi came back to mind, and we made it.
Posted by Randy on August 5, 2008 – 9:17 am
So today, I bucked up, got dressed in scrubs, and headed into the Operating Room (here it’s called the Operating Theatre). I got to see a man who had some nasal blockage and a nasal fracture have his nose broken and reset. It really is amazing what they can do to you when you’re knocked out. It was fun to see, and although I’m hesitant, I think watching surgeries is kinda interesting. Weird huh?
Then we took another crazy long bus ride to a clinic that’s in the building phase. It was neat to see it’s foundation being laid. Pastor Craig and the team prayed a blessing over the building and dedicated it to the work of God. That’s some really cool stuff.
Then we went shopping. I got what I needed. The women got all kinds of cool stuff, and everyone was super excited. Tomorrow we’ll go for Mother Teresa’s training to work with her folks, I’m super excited about that!
