Sept. 6,7,8 Three days of recovery

On Friday and Sunday we did absolutely nothing. I've got pain in my kidneys where those stents are, and its got me reduced to as little activity as possible. On Saturday, I couldn't stand the vegetating ant more, and I know Pam was getting antsy, so we got some tickets to a professional soccer game in downtown Seattle, where the NFL Seattle Seahawks play. I don't know how it happened, but we ended up at midfield, four rows from the field, in a crowd of over 40,000 people. The home team won, with an own-goal with one minute left in the game. That has probably happened before in he history of pro soccer, but I've never heard of it! Two of Seattle's players were missing because they were playing for the USA in a World Cup qualifying round, so that demonstrates that this is the highest level of soccer in the country, next to the national team itself. The atmosphere was very European with the chanting, drums, and all. The people of Seattle seem to like soccer as much as football or baseball, so it was a great experience.

The game didn't start until 7 PM, so we went to the Seattle Science Center, near the Space Needle, to kill the afternoon. We had free tickets with the package we had bought earlier in the week with the Needle, and the cruise of the Puget Sound. It was a good way to do something to kill time without a lot of walking. I was really glad to get out of the 'house', and my pain held off until the very end of the game, which made me decide that the next day would be an NFL day on TV, even though we can't get the Steelers out here. Stents come out Monday and life begins again, I hope.

Outside the Century Link stadium (Seahawks play there)

Inside the stadium (we were early).  The tables in front are for the people who pay big bucks to sit on the sideline and eat dinner!!

Open end of the stadium was neat.

Thanks for this picture Mike!

Players warming up on the field.  Note the upper level of stadium is covered with soccer pictures.

We were in the charter seat area!  Most of the seats had the seat "owner's" name on the plate!

These are the die hard soccer fans!  They had flags, drums, and chanted the ENTIRE game!

As the referees led the teams out onto the "pitch" (field), all the fans were in "scarves up" mode!  Mike and I were just about the only people in the stadium who didn't have scarves!

After the game, the band played outside the stadium.  They were awesome!

At the science center, Mike was having a little fun!

We spent time in the insect area - this guy actually moved his body parts!  We also spent time in the butterfly garden with hundreds of butterflies.  And we forgot to take pictures!!

This is the reading of the starting line-up.  The announcer would say the first name and all the fans yelled the last name!!  We liked this player because his name is Andy Rose (our daughter is Andi Rose!)

Before the players walked onto the "pitch", the fans started a rhythmic clap.  Imagine 39,998 people doing this - Mike and I were the only ones not doing it cause we didn't have a clue!!!

Enjoy this little bit of the game....