Smile and a Sunset

Anytime I can share a sunset with this smiling beauty, I will always jump all over the opportunity. 

Yesterday, the Thai island of Koh Lanta afforded me just that chance.

Lucky me. 

Goodbye Dean

We just found out that legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith just passed away. It is pretty tremendously sad news for me, despite not knowing him personally. 

As things have come out about him over the last 5 or 6 years, about the kind of man and mentor he was, I am continually impressed. 

For me, he was initially just the coach who led the '93 Tar Heels to a national championship when I was 9 years old. We watched with the neighbors and ran out in the street when it was all over. However, when I later attended UNC and afterward, I began to learn that Dean Smith didn't simply coach basketball, he attempted to shape young men, and society as well. 

From all accounts, he put his players first. Not because of what they could do for the program, but because of who he believed each of them to be. It created a culture that is now called "The Carolina Way" and a fraternity of Tar Heels called The Carolina Family.

I am proud to be in that family and proud that Dean E. Smith will always be associated with the University of North Carolina. 

A true champion who will be missed. 

Snack Attack kap

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Thailand has some of the best, if not the best food in Asia. A few examples:

Avocado fries: lightly breaded and deep fried wedges of avacado. 

Manao soda: carbonated lime juice. Boom. 

Khao soi: spicy curry noodles with fall-off-the-bone chicken and egg noodles. This one is a game changer. 

So, when are you coming to visit?

Chiang Mai's Jungle Restaurant

Tonight, Stacy and I had dinner with friends at a restaurant in Thailand that was jungley. Very jungley. It was awesome. 

There were waterfalls and trees and amazing flowers and mosquitos and tasty Thai food. The whole deal.

Thailand Doing Me Right

This is what it looks like to "be done right by" Thailand. Well, one of the ways:

Why That's...

…very Chinese of you. To assume those two words can be synonymous.

Ahh, the glorious People's Revolution.

Birthday Girl

On Stacy's birthday, she wanted to go on a walk and take a selfie in front of one of the beautiful peaks near our dorm.

The result? She's absolutely gorgeous. Oh, and I think there's a mountain in the picture somewhere, too.

USMNT!!!

I am currently pretty jacked up on World Cup soccer. Like "missing-sleep-to-watch-games" into it.

Five years ago, I could have cared less, but Stacy and I watched most of the games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup (we had just gotten married and I was… mildly… employed at that time) and ended up really liking it.

Now, we're loving it.


First of all, it's America. On the world stage. So you know I dig it.

Second, our team is looking pretty good this year, despite being in a round-robin group labeled "The Group of Death." Actually, as this post goes live, we are in the midst of a match with Portugal that could decide whether we make it to the Round of 16.

The US Men's National Soccer Team. Doin' work.

Let's GO USA!!! I believe that we will win!

Then Begins the End

These days of beautiful high altitude landscapes are (too) quickly drawing to a close. We're trying to soak up every minute.

Boston Rob

The other lone American in our class is named Rob. 

He's a really nice guy from Boston who is always good for a joke, sharing a movie, and on your wife's birthday - arranging a surprise party for Stace with all the students after class, complete with a tiramisu cake (all ingredients brought in his luggage from thousands of miles away) - topped with CHERRIES (coming in at $10/pound).

What a guy.