Impatient Football Fan Anxiously Waits for Next Season

Waiting for the next NFL season to start is agonizing. As a big Seahawks fan, I wish I could watch them play year-round. I’m never ready for the season to finish and the way that it ended for us this year makes it especially frustrating. The Seahawks fell to the Atlanta Falcons after making what would have been the most impressive comeback in NFL playoff history. It makes me wonder what would’ve happened if they had been able to hold on to the lead for just a little longer. Regardless of the loss, the team looked significantly better this year and I have high hopes for the near future.

Becoming a Seahawks season ticket holder was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve always enjoyed watching Seahawks games on television, but being there in person is an entirely different experience. The enthusiastic screaming fans, with their faces painted blue, white, and green, wear the jerseys of their favorite players. They truly believe that they have an impact on the game, and as a fan, I do too. It’s the reason why we stand up every time our opponent is on third down, making as much noise as humanly possible. We take pride in being the loudest fans in the NFL, statistically speaking, since Century Link Field has logged more false starts than any other stadium for the past several years.

When game day arrives, the energy in downtown Seattle is unbelievable. Fans arrive many hours before the game to tailgate. Burgers and hot dogs sizzle, creating a wonderful scent that cause passersby to salivate. People pass around footballs, share favorite football stories, and discuss what they feel is most necessary for our team to finish the game with a win. The environment is so pleasing to me and it’s almost depressing that I’ll have to wait another six months before experiencing it again. I just keep telling myself, “At least you have something to look forward to!” September needs to get here faster!

Pike Place Market Provides Sights to See

On a gray Monday afternoon, people crowd together at Pike Place Market. In typical Seattle fashion, tourists watch in amazement as workers toss fish to each other. Men and women line up for beautiful, cheap bouquets of tulips and wildflowers. They move through the market slowly, like a herd of cattle, trying to take in all that is to be seen. Some browse through comic books and movie posters while others fill brown paper bags with fresh produce. There are many shops in the market and not one of them is empty.

Children line up outside as a heavy-set clown makes balloon animals. A polite young boy asks, “Could you please make me a puppy?” The clown reaches for his front pocket and pulls out a yellow balloon. After taking a deep breath, he puts the balloon to his mouth and blows into it until it turns into a long, skinny tube. He quickly twists and bends the inflated yellow tube, manipulating it into his preferred shape. His fingers rub against the balloon, making squeaky noises as the boy watches in awe. In less than a minute, the clown has created what looks like a yellow poodle and passes it to the youngster, who gladly accepts his gift.

Street performers capitalize on the huge crowds of people, as they compete for their attention. Across the street, an old man with white hair and a long beard sings songs while playing an old wooden piano. A half a block from him, a younger man draws an impressive audience as he hula-hoops while juggling. In order to see performances as unique as these, one would usually have to go to a carnival or circus. However, at Seattle’s Pike Place Market you never know what you’re going to see, which makes it the perfect tourist attraction.

Skiers and Snowboarders Sacrafice Sleep Sunday

While most people are sleeping in Sunday morning, several skiers and snowboarders across the Pacific Northwest get up bright and early to ensure that they make it to the slopes in time. Highway 2 to Stevens Pass is packed with cars, as people anxiously venture towards the snowy mountain. Most of the people have been looking forward to this moment the entire week and now they are so close that they can feel the cold mountain air.

It is a very busy day at Stevens Pass; there are lines everywhere you go. Cars line up to park, impatient skiers and snowboarders wait in line for their lift tickets, and when they finally get them they hurry over to stand in line to ride the lift. Regardless of the long waits, most of the people are just happy to finally be there.

The snow is falling hard today, which means there will be plenty of powder for everybody. Unfortunately, it is also very foggy and the higher you go up the mountain, the harder it is to see. Nevertheless, people ride the lifts to the top and cruise down, repeating the process over and over all day long.

At the end of the day, noses are runny, muscles and bones ache from the strenuous activity, and people are exhausted. The same people who anxiously hurried to the ski resort now can’t wait to get home to enjoy a hot shower. As passionate as people are about skiing and snowboarding, it really is a big investment. It takes a toll on your body and can be very costly. However, the payoff is the experience and satisfying feeling you get after a long, fun-filled day on the hill.

Sasquatch! Music Festival Gives Music Lovers Something to Look Forward to

Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of music lovers flock to the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington to watch their favorite bands perform at the Sasquatch! Music Festival. The weather could be scorching hot or raining cats and dogs; nevertheless, the campground quickly reaches its maximum capacity as tents spring up and RVs squeeze their way in.

The Sasquatch! Music Festival began over ten years ago as a one-day event and has since evolved, growing into a massive four-day festival. As it continues to mature, it has become so popular that tickets quickly sell out, more rapidly every year. As a matter of fact, tickets to this year’s concert sold out in only a few hours.

Perhaps the most exciting band performing this year is the Postal Service. The band consists of Death Cab for Cutie front man Benjamin Gibbard and Dntel’s Jimmy Tamborello. Ten years ago, they released their only album and also performed at the third Sasquatch! Music Festival. However, they stopped performing together shortly thereafter. Flash forward to 2013, the Postal Service has reunited and will perform at this year’s concert.

Another band to be excited about is Mumford & Sons. After they recently surprised the world by winning a Grammy for Best Album of the Year, it is without a doubt that they will be headlining one of the four nights. There are several bands to be excited about but Mumford & Sons will definitely draw a large crowd. Regardless, there are currently tens of thousands of fans counting down the days to Memorial Day weekend. I know I can't wait!