Sunday, November 8, 2026
Our American Football Mania weekend was coming to a close but not before one final game today at Seattle's epic and LOUD Lumen Field.
Before we address that game, we must take a quick look at how this weekend's experience is shaping our guest from France, Julien Urgenti.
First of all, he is now a confirmed
Washington Huskies fan
As amazed as Julien was with our
chance meeting with the UW's
starting Left Guard, John Mills . . .
. . . he was no more amazed than these
adoring fans who approached the BIG
man before yesterday's game wearing
matching John Mills lookalike wigs
We started our Sunday after being dropped off near the Johnson's church with a walk down University Avenue (the Ave) and then through the UW campus on our way back to the Johnson's home.
The Ave is always a bit eclectic
Guarding the University Bookstore
Christmas Spirit and Husky Spirit
are one and the same it seems
Artsy Ave Building
The venerable Bulldog News
The Bulldog's Cinnamon Brown
Sugar Latte was the perfect choice
The Bulldog never changes,
thank goodness
We left the Ave and entered the UW campus to check out the main sites.
The Henry Suzzallo Library
The most beautiful building on campus in my opinion.
The Suzzallo Library was erected in 1933
Two bold statues . .
. . . guarding the entryway to Suzzallo
The controversial Broken Obelisk on the
UW's equally controversial Red Square
Rainier Vista looking South
Drumheller Fountain, a.k.a.,
Frosh Pond
The view North on Ranier Vista
By the way, Seattle and the State of
Washington voted BLUE last Tuesday
Thanks to a ride from our hostess, Susie Johnson, we arrived in Seattle's Pioneer Square with plenty of time before the start of today's Seattle Seahawks game.
One of the oldest watering
holes in all of Seattle
Cool old buildings in the
Pioneer Square area
Some modern ones too
Seattle's Train Station Tower
The bars were filling up the
closer that we got to Lumen Field
Julien about to get another serious
lesson in American football culture
The streets around Lumen Field
were teeming with Seahawk fans
No real surprise there because . . .
. . . it was GAME DAY!
Seahawks LB, #0 DeMarcus Lawrence, 6-3 and 254 lbs., looked menacing to me for today's NFC West game.
Arizona Cardinals
3 Wins - 5 Losses
at
Seattle Seahawks
4 Wins - 4 Losses
Everyone in the NFC West
is chasing the 49ers from afar
The Seahawks are indeed the
reigning Super Bowl Champions
After sailing through the entry gates . . .
. . . we found this neat display of the
Top 50 all-time Seahawks players
Hey, we had passes to go
CLUBBING!
The women at this Club were SWEET!
Our first look at Lumen Field
Julien was happy in his new home
for the day
Seahawks Cheerleaders pumping
up the crowd
Cardinals Kicking Off to start the game
End of the First Quarter
Arizona - 3
Seattle - 0
The hitting was Fast and Furious!
Mark, George and Julien
Three Happy Campers at Lumen Field
The Cardinals backed WAY up
Halftime Score
Seattle - 14
Arizona - 3
Running the ball out
of imminent danger
Nice Cardinals pass completion
Please note the noise level on this video.
Lumen Field is easily the second loudest game venue that I've ever been in, leaving my ears literally ringing after the game.
What is my #1 loudest game venue, you ask?
Easy, Simi Valley H.S. in California with their non-stop, piped-in rock music and screaming game announcer.
Seattle marching
End of the Third Quarter
Seattle - 17
Arizona - 3
The pass is away
It was at about this time that the air-blasting Gatling Guns came out on the field to shower the fans with dozens of t-shirts, or so I thought.
Nope, not t-shirts but instead
HOT DOGS in cardboard canisters
Here's one of the lucky winners in the row behind us.
Physical battle at the Goal Line
Game Over
Final Score
Seattle (5-4) - 17
Arizona (3-6) - 3
As we left Lumen Field, we saw
the Smith Tower in the distance
In 1966, when I enrolled at the UW, the now diminutive Smith Tower was the tallest building West of the Mississippi River.
Christmas lights in the distance
After Susie picked us up, again at Pioneer Square, we drove home and were soon hosting the Johnson's acting pastor and six Seattle University male students who also attend the Johnsons place of worship for dinner and a 21st birthday celebration for one of the students.
What a fine group of young men that are lucky to have been befriended by the Johnsons.
It's Georgia's turn again
atop this week's AP Top 25 Poll
The news and photos from Laurie about our home renovations today were all positive.
Work continued today on a Sunday
Looking good!
Almost finished in the TV room
Just the adding the grout and applying the sealer are all that's left.
WOW, I took some serious steps today
and a lot more than usual this week too
Our American Football Mania weekend is now over and it's been GREAT!
Still, I'm looking forward to the flight home tomorrow.
Finally, a profound THANK YOU to Mark and Susie Johnson for being great hosts as always this weekend.
