2015 Year of Adventure

At this time a year ago I wrote about having change instead of a New Year’s Resolution because they usually end in a matter of weeks. Another way you could say setting priorities or goals. We can start at the beginning of the year with goals and at the end of the year see how we did. I have mentioned that change does not come overnight it can take time, and it can actually be a lifelong experience. The important thing is never to abandoned and give up.

This year I figure we should look at being on an adventure; whether we are on one the whole year or have a new adventure every day. The adventure can be fantasy, reality, or both. If you are ready a book, seeing your favorite television show or movie you can see it as a fantasy adventure. Reality would be your everyday life. You can see things in a new way would be called an adventure. Also, when you go on vacation you can go back to a place you have been before or to some place you have always wanted to go.

When we were children our lives always seemed to be an adventure whether good or bad. Also, for our parents you could call it an adventure as well. Those who have been at a job for a long time can say they are living as a routine. Maybe it is time to change the routine. It could be doing things a little different or going home from work taking other routes home. This is really true for those who drive in very heavy traffic.

If you have started a new job or moved than you can call it an adventure as well. We really do need to make change in our lives. We can discuss it with our family to see what we can do much differently. Not only the adventure for ourselves but those around us as well. The most important thing is to make the adventure fun. At the end of each week we can see or think how the adventure really went and if we want to make some additional changes to the adventure.

Often our lives can be boring besides being routine so adventure can spice up our lives. There other ways we can go about change as well. Maybe go out and get a new wardrobe or a different hairstyle. Also, we could do things differently after work or on the weekends. I know that change can be difficult to handle but it would help us on this adventure.

Remember that this life is only lived once so let’s do it the best we can. Enjoy 2015 the year of adventure. 

College Bowl Games

Tis the season for college football bowl games. Today they start the new College football championship series with the top four teams. The Oregon Ducks will face Florida State in the Rose Bowl, and Alabama vs. Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. The winners of the two games will face each other in two weeks for the national championship.

There are other bowl games happening today as well as tomorrow. My beloved University of Washington Huskies plays Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl tomorrow night. If you never heard of it neither have I; actually it had another name until this year. I am not sure what it was but it does not matter.

One thing for sure is that there are more bowl games now than I remember in the past. If you’re favorite school is in one of the games it is great otherwise I am sure most people do not care. I guess people do watch them because the games would not be on television, and the advertiser’s like it. Of course, ESPN who have most of the games like it too. Many advertiser’s have their name part of the bowl game as well. For instance, this morning there is the Outback Bowl; has to do with the restaurant. With the name you would think it was being played in Australia.

When I was a kid I would know the games played on New Year’s and who likely would play in them. I would always watch the Rose Bowl in the afternoon and the Orange Bowl in the evening. Depending on what was going on with the family I may watch some of the Cotton Bowl and Sugar Bowl in the morning. Now everything is mixed up. Almost any team can play in those bowl games. The Rose Bowl was always the champion of the Pac-8 at that time, and the champion of the Big Ten. There were several really great games between USC and Michigan or Ohio State. My beloved Huskies made it to the Rose Bowl several times as well.

Now of course those days are gone. If the Huskies play in the Rose Bowl it will likely be in the Championship Series. It was sort of nice to debate on who was the champion. Personally I would want to have eight teams go for the championship. Six of the eight teams would be the champions of the six major conferences along with two wild teams. This would allow maybe a team like Boise State is in the series. The first four games would be played the Saturday before Christmas. They would play two games like now on New Year’s and the final championship two weeks later. If this happens it is a few years away. The most important thing is to enjoy our football. This weekend the NFL starts their playoffs as well.

So have a Happy New Year, enjoy your family, friends, and football. Of course, if you are not into football you can enjoy basketball, or hockey. 

Happy New Year

I guess you can say out with the old and in with the new. I am sure some people will say good riddance to 2014 and hello to 2015.

I am sure it will take a few days for me to get used to the fact we will be in a new year. The main thing for me to remember is to write down 2015 when I am putting down the date. I think it is sort of like our birthdays. I do not really feel the difference of being a year older on my birthday. Of course, it really depends on the birthday. Some of them are big ones.

Getting back to a new year; I think it really gives us hope for what lies ahead. Some years just are not the same as others. I am sure most people think of 2014 as one of those years we can forget. As I have said before I hope we learn in 2015 from 2014. There are some things in this country and world we need to change. We need to be able to end terrorism so it will not land on our steps. Also, we need to find a way that guns will get out of the hands of young people especially. It is sad to think that suicide is becoming such a problem in this country as well. Some want to take others with them. Of course, we need to stay on course to solve bullying, and domestic violence.

On New Year’s Eve there will be a lot of people out at parties. I will likely stay home again this year. I like a party just like anyone else. I really do not care what the occasion is I just enjoy being with people. Of course, New Year’s Eve is one of those nights where people need to be responsible. It is important not to drink too much. We want to be sure everyone is still around for the whole year of 2015. If you are hosting a party make sure those that come do not drink too much. If they do find a ride home for them, or have them stay the night.

Right now I do not have any but I think it is important to set some goals for 2015. Most likely I will keep going on the goals that I had in 2014. I did not complete all the goals so it is important to continue. No matter how hard it is I believe in meeting the goals. I hope that some things that did not happen in 2014 will happen in 2015.

The thing I liked the most about 2014 was all the people who read my blog for the year. I hope that even more will read this in 2015. If you do really enjoy it pass it on to your family and friends. Speaking of family and friends that is my continue goal is to enjoy and love everyone even greater. We can have a lot of good things going on in our lives but without love it is not the same. If you do anything tonight whether it is going to a party or stay home be sure to hug at least one person. I would say more the merry though.

Everyone have a Happy New Year. 

Playoff Bound

The Seattle Seahawks beat the St.Louis Rams 20-6 on Sunday to be the top seed in the National Football Conference which means they have the home field advantage in the playoffs, and they will have home games during the playoffs. The New England Patriots have the top seed in the American Football Conference. They will only meet if they both make the Super Bowl which is in Arizona.

The Seahawks have a bye the first week so they only need to win two games at home to make it to the Super Bowl.  The Rams actually outplayed the Seahawks in the first half leading 6-0 going into the second half. The Rams scored two field goals. The first field goal was scored after a personal foul penalty on the Seahawks on a punt return. The Rams did not have to go far to kick the field goal. They had the ball around the fifty yard line after the punt return. The second field goal was after a fumble by Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks did have a chance to get either a touchdown or field goal at the end of the first half but Russell Wilson threw an interception. He has not thrown many of them all season.

The Seahawks scoring was all done in the second half. Their first two possessions of the second half led to two field goals. Later they scored in the fourth quarter two touchdowns. They were on Ram turnovers. The first one Rams quarterback Shawn Hill was trying to throw the ball into the dirt, however, Seahawk defensive tackle Hill intercepted the pass which led to a Marshawn Lynch touchdown. The second touchdown was made on defense by linebacker Bruce Irvin. The Rams were making a pass to one of their receivers, and the ball was stripped, and went into Irvin’s arms, and he was able to return for touchdown. The Rams did have an opportunity to score a touchdown late in the game, however, safety Earl Thomas stripped the ball that caused a fumble that made the ball go into the end zone for a touch back. That ended any chance the Rams had in winning the game.

The Seahawks always seem to be the team to outplay the opposition in the fourth quarter. So no matter how close the game seems to be the Seahawks defense always comes to the occasion to win the game. Regardless of how the Seahawks offense is playing the defense always makes sure they stay in the game, and have the chance in winning. I expect the same during the playoffs as well. 

Year in Review

Some people like to think about the year that is now ending. I am not sure if I am one of those but I decided to write about the year in review to see how it went.

I am sure most people would agree that 2014 was a different year than most. Going into 2015 the thing I want to remember about 2014 is there any way we can learn from it. There was so much tragedy that happened throughout the year.

In Washington state and the northwest it started out good with the Seattle Seahawks beating up the Denver Broncos in February to win their first Super Bowl. This current season may look like they could win a second Super Bowl as well. The Seattle Mariners had a good baseball season so we can look as fans going to a World Series real soon. It would be great to have both in the same year.

In March Oso, Washington had a mudslide that killed many of the people living there. They are still working on recovery; hopefully, 2015 will be a better year. On June 4 there was a shooting on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. One student and the gunman were shot. There was a student at the university who was a hero by shooting the gunman or it could have been a lot worse. In September, a popular freshman high school student in Marysville shot and killed four of his close classmates, and himself. There was one student that survived the shooting. No one really knows for sure why the shooting occurred. It will be a long time recovery for the high school and the town.

On the national front there was the shooting of Michael Brown by the police, and an awful outcry with protesting in Ferguson, Missouri as well as other protests across the country. So the issue black/white racial issue raised its head once again. The grand jury found the Policeman that shot Michael Brown not at fault which brought the protesting. Personally I think there needs to be more minority policemen in areas that have trouble with minorities. This would not just be with blacks but Hispanics as well.

In Seattle the city police force among some of their members are wearing cameras while on patrol. This is a testing ground to see if it will help. Also, in Washington State a measure was passed by the voters to have gun control. The purpose is so those who purchase guns will fall through any loop holes. Of course, the pro gun people, and those who do not want to lose their 2^nd amendment rights. It is important that we do not lose any amendment rights, however, the question is how do we keep people safe as well.

On the international front was the Russian-Ukraine conflict which occurred just after the Olympics; somewhat interesting to say the least. I pray for both the Russians and the Ukraine’s. I hope that life will become safe in both areas in 2015. There was shooting down of an airplane in that area as well. Also, another plane in Malaysia is missing for most of the year, and no one knows where it is. This week another plane went down as well. They believe it crashed in the ocean. We will learn about it in the near future.

We continue to hear the whole issues still happening in the Middle East with terrorists doing their thing; issues happening in Africa as well without much news going on. Also, hacking going on giving it to North Korea as well.

I could go on and on but I will not. Going into 2015, and beyond will we learn from all these tragedies or let them continue. We can think in our minds of dooms day, but I think it is better to think positive instead; for all of us to think about the good things that happened in our lives in 2014, and overcoming some things as well. Regardless what we think there is war going on all around us whether is in the natural or in our minds; important to get peace for each of us in the middle of it all.

Have a Happy New Year and enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Boxing Day

First of all I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. If you are not familiar with Boxing Day it is primarily celebrated in England and Canada. It is observed the day after Christmas. It began as a day where servants who had to work on Christmas Day where able to open their presents.

My mother was born and raised in Canada so Boxing Day has always been a big day for her. We always had a large dinner on Boxing Day, and she would invite over four couples to celebrate besides family. She celebrated it for many years until the last three years. She is now in her 90s and she does not have the energy to put it any longer. She made it such a celebration that I think Queen Elizabeth would have really enjoyed it. The dinner usually was larger than Christmas dinner was. She served goodies before the dinner as well. It certainly was the social night gathering at our house every year. If you were invited over that night you got yourself quite the treat. Also, it was nice evening to catch up with each person on what their lives had been for the year, and what they were looking forward to the next year.

I am not sure why it was a big day for my mother but it certainly was. I hope those that celebrate Boxing Day do in the same manner as my mother. It would be nice to have the dinner but she did put quite the effort into it. When she stopped it three years ago I thought she could have had the guests bring dishes themselves but for mother it would not be the same. As I think today about Boxing Day I will remember all those dinners. I am sure we had the dinners for at least fifty years. I think about those couples that came for the dinner. I am sure they felt very special that day. I am not sure whether I appreciated it that much but now that she does not have the dinner I appreciate it a lot more.

I know that my mother is very special because of the life of self sacrifice she led; not only for us children but for others as well. I know when my friends meet my mother they let me know what kind woman she is. What is even better when I meet her friends what she has said to them about me and my siblings. I think it is an honor to have a wonderful mother. It is important to let people know how important your parents are especially in their old age. I am not sure how much longer she will be around but I will enjoy her for every minute I can. 

Merry Christmas

Just want to give everyone a short message today. I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas in the land of the internet. May you and your family be very blessed. May you remember this day the rest of your life with fond memories.

The Day before Christmas

Today is the day before the big day that many anticipate all year long. Some will be just relaxing while others finish their Christmas shopping. Also, there will be others who will be traveling to visit grandparents or other relatives for Christmas. Many people have more than one family they may celebrate at one today and another tomorrow. Some families have a tradition to open presents on Christmas Eve and others on Christmas. If there are plenty of presents you can open some tonight and others tomorrow.

This year Mother and I will be celebrating Christmas very casual. We will be taking it easy because she has the flu. The chances are good we will be celebrating Christmas more fully when she feels better in a few days. We will open the presents sent to us and remember everyone we know on Christmas. We will talk about the Christmas pasts. Though it will be great joy it will be sad as well since some are no longer with us. It is important to remember those who are close to our hearts whether alive or dead.

I will remember my sister and her two young men in Quebec, Canada. The years we spent Christmas together. Also, my younger brother Jack and his family back on the east coast. I have spent a few Christmases with them. I think about my brother Dick and my dad who are no longer with us. Christmas was very special to them both. I remember the presents we opened together so often, and decorating the Christmas tree. Also, I remember my relatives in Southern France. Last year my nephew Danny spent the year studying in Paris. He visited a few days with the relatives before arriving at his home for Christmas with his family. I am sure he will not forget the experience in France. It is a beautiful place especially in Southern France. People are very friendly. Though I do not know them very well I think about my relatives in South Africa, and Australia as well. As you may be able to tell I have family and friends all over the world. I hope to be able to travel where I can meet each one in the future. I appreciate each one that read’s this blog. This is especially true for those in far off lands. I know that some of you will have a white Christmas; I will have to continue to dream about a white Christmas here at home. Who knows could have a miracle. In fact, I will have to say that you are all miracles to me.

So to you all a Merry Christmas!

Beastmode

Beastmode

If you a fan of the Seattle Seahawks or you watch a lot of NFL football you know what beastmode means.  It is the name of the action of running back Marshawn Lynch when he runs the ball for the Seahawks. He was on display again on this past Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. He had again another remarkable run any running back has ever had. Here is a link for you to see. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f2opCONkw0

The run by Marshawn Lynch was in the fourth quarter put the Seahawks ahead 28-6. The game ended with another touchdown by quarterback Russell Wilson to make it a final of 35-6.

The Seahawks have had a remarkable run this season after starting with a record of 3-3. Since that record they have gone 8-1 losing only to the Kansas City Chiefs. They have one remaining game in the season in Seattle against the St.Louis Rams. The Rams always give them trouble; however, the Seahawks are favored to win.

The Seahawks defense has been playing the best defense this season especially the last six games. They will end the season with giving up the least amount of points in the NFL for the third straight year. This last Sunday the Seahawks offense matched up with them going for a total yardage running and receiving of 596 yards which is a team record. The Seahawks scored twenty-one of the points in the fourth quarter. Though the score was 14-6 heading in the fourth quarter the Seahawks were still dominating the game they had missed three field goals. It was a surprise because going into the game the Cardinals had been playing almost as good a defense as the Seahawks. This season the Seahawks offense has been playing OK going into this game but this was for sure the best. What makes it tough playing against the Seahawks offense is they make very little mistakes. So even if the game is very low scoring it will be hard for the opposing team to get a turnover to win.

If the Seahawks beat the Rams next week they will have the most wins in the NFC conference so they will home field advantage playing all the games in Seattle except the Super Bowl which will be in Arizona. The Seahawks are known to have the best home field advantage primarily because of the noise of their fans.

Until next time continue enjoying your holiday season. Go Seahawks!

New Beginnings

With December coming to the end and we are in holiday festivities we can think about the year 2014 turned out to be and look forward to 2015.

I wrote a lot about making changes in 2014 and I hope it went well for most of us. I think about 2015 and believe in new beginnings. It may be a new job or new relationships. For some it is adding new members to the family; either through marriage or a new child. New beginnings can also be a rebirth as well. It is having a new life; getting rid of an addiction or an attitude that has been carried for many years. Often we have family curses we have to overcome as well. We may think that we live a perfect life but it is not true at all. There are some things we have to realize that we live with on a daily basis that is not good for us.

There have been years where I have not liked this time of the year. I think why do people really party on New Year’s Eve.  Do they think things will get better in the New Year? Actually I think most people who party on New Year’s Eve just like to party, and it is a good opportunity to do so. You may be able to tell my insecurity is coming out or in another term I have gone through self pity on many occasions. It can be known as depression as well. A dark place I sometimes live in. A place I have lived in much more often than I would like too.  I see this as true time for new beginnings; 2015 can be a fresh start. We can live in light instead of darkness; we can be true champions than be wannabees. We can live the life we are meant to live. We can be true over comers. It is part of being champions.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday season. Reflect on 2014 and what you want 2015 to be. Of course, you do not have to wait the new beginnings can start today.

Hot Stove League

If you are a baseball fan like I am you know exactly what Hot Stove League is; otherwise, it is foreign to you. Hot Stove League is what they call the off-season for major league baseball teams before spring training starts in late February. It allows fans to stay interested during the off-season period. It involves trades, free agent signings, and rumors. The rumors would be who the fans teams they root for may get in trades or free agency.

My favorite team the Seattle Mariners realized after last season they need to get a couple right handed bats in the lineup. They had a weak offense, and new they need to get a couple right handed hitting players primarily at designated hitter, and the outfield. They signed Nelson Cruz who primarily will be the designated hitter and bat fourth in the lineup. He played last year for the Baltimore Orioles and led the major leagues in home runs with 40. Even if he does not hit as many home runs he will still be an upgrade to what they had last season at designated hitter. They also signed third baseman Kyle Seager who will likely bat behind Cruz to a seven year contract. He has been the Mariners best regular player the last three years. This week the Mariners made a trade with the Chicago Cubs, and received outfielder Justin Ruggiano who is a right handed hitter as well. He likely will be batting sixth or seventh in the lineup, and may platoon with another player who bats left handed. A couple weeks ago the Mariners traded outfielder Michael Saunders to the Toronto Blue Jays. He bats left handed so the Mariners are looking for someone else to take his place.

The Seattle Mariners were looking at several other outfielders who batted right handed but the teams looking to trade wanted more from the Mariners than they were looking to give up. One team that was real busy this week and made trades was the San Diego Padres. They got Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Justin Upton from the Atlanta Braves, and Will Myers from the Tampa Bay Rays. All three players are right handed outfielders. Matt Kemp and Justin Upton were two players that were rumored to be in trades with the Mariners, however, they wanted they wanted a couple of the Mariner primary pitching prospects. The Mariners were not willing to give them up. The San Diego Padres have been the busiest team during the Hot Stove League. They may not be done making trades since they now have a new outfield, and they still have some outfielders to trade. Other teams that have been involved in trading and signing free agents are the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland Athletics. The Cubs have improved themselves some, however, the history of the team being losers for so long I sort of wonder if it will do them any good. The Oakland Athletics have made changes where I sort of wonder where they will end up being at the end of next season. Last season in July and August they made several trades to make their team better but they backfired on them. They went on a large losing streak in August and September. They made the playoffs by one game over the Mariners but lost the one game playoff against the Kansas City Royals who went on and lost to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series. They Athletics did not keep any of the players they traded for in July and August; also, they traded all-star third baseman Josh Donaldson to Toronto Blue Jays which was a surprise to everyone. At this point things do not look for the Athletics, however, their general manager Billy Beene has made magic in the past.

It will be interesting to see what the Mariners and the other teams will be doing during the rest of the Hot Stove League leading up to Spring Training. I will keep you up to date. 

Six Days Before Christmas

 We are now less than a week until that magical day of Christmas. I always figured these six days are the longest days of the year.

When I was a kid these last days until Christmas I would look under the tree to see how many presents were laying there. Of course, on Christmas Eve I would count the amount of presents I had because I knew on Christmas morning there would be more because Santa Claus came.

These six days I would look to see if we would have any snow for Christmas. I was disappointed every year because we never did have snow. There were times we would have snow before Christmas or several days after Christmas but the snow would not be on Christmas Day itself. I remember watching Dean Martin Christmas Show which was always from California. I always thought it was silly because I knew they would never have snow. Actually my favorite Christmas Show was with Andy Williams. I enjoyed his singing and stories along with having the Osmond Brothers on.

I found that Christmas Eve was the longest night of the year. Most years I did not get much sleep because I was looking forward to Santa Claus coming down the Chimney. Sometimes I would wake up just after midnight; I had a hard time getting back to sleep. I kept my eyes closed because I figured if Santa Claus knew that I was awake he would skip our house and not leave any presents. I slept a lot better when I knew he had already come and gone.

Our parents told us we could not wake them up until I believe 7 am on Christmas morning to open the presents. I can tell you we were never a second later than 7 am. Besides the presents I always looked forward to the stockings as well. There were always candy, cookies, oranges, and other assorted of goodies. Usually there were additional one or two small gifts as well.

The one thing we always found funny or different at least was every year our Aunt Marian would send clothes for Christmas. The problem was she never knew what size to get each of us. She must have at her own formula or just guessed on the sizes. Sometimes the clothes for my older Dick would fit for my younger brother Jack. The age difference between them was just over four years. Mother would take the clothes that did not fit and go to the store, and exchange them. It was Ok with Jack and I. It was like we got more Christmas presents after Christmas.

Another thing was we always had a very tall tree because we had a very high ceiling. Where we put the tree we could still look outside to the harbor. It did take some time to decorate the tree but it was always enjoyable to see. Dick being the tallest of us three boys always decorated the tree near and at the top. I think the best year decorating the tree was when I was able to finally put the star on the top. There is nothing like Christmas Day.

Have yourself and your whole family a wonderful weekend leading up to Christmas.  

Three All-Americans

This year the University of Washington Huskies football team has three players named to All-American team. This is the first time in the history of the school to have three players named as All-Americans. The previous high had been two All-Americans. Though the season was disappointing to some I would say this achievement makes it a success. Also, the Huskies will be playing Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl on January 2.

The three players named as All-Americans are linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha, defensive tackle Danny Shelton, and linebacker/running back Shaq Thompson. Kikaha was  an unanimous All-American because he was named on all first teams by five services that are recognized by the NCAA. He led the nation with eighteen sacks along with being the Huskies all time sack leader. In the NFL he could be like Bruce Irvin of the Seattle Seahawks who plays linebacker on downs that may expect running plays, and defensive end on passing downs.

Danny Shelton was not only named on the All-American team he was named on the All-Academic American team as well. He is good on both stopping the run as well as sacking the quarterback. He is expected to be either a first or second round draft pick in the NFL. Whether he is a successful NFL player or not his academics show he should be successful in life.

Shaq Thompson played linebacker only the first two seasons for the Huskies, however, this season they decided to use him as a running back as well. They started the season using him as a running back in situations of short yardage; however, they started him in a couple games because two other running backs went down of injuries. In both games he ran for more than 100 yards. When the two running backs returned he went back to playing linebacker. Though he is only a junior expect him to be in the upcoming NFL draft. Depending on the team who drafts him he could be a linebacker or running back. Also, he could be used as a safety as well. When he came to the Huskies he actually was recruited as a safety; however, they need a linebacker. He has the speed to play safety in the NFL. Though he could play running back in the NFL likely he will play defense because he can have a longer career since running backs do not last as long.

It will be great to see all three of them play in the NFL. I always enjoy watching former Husky players in the NFL. It would be nice if at least one of them play for the Seahawks. Good luck to them. Look forward to see them in the Cactus Bowl.