Matt’s Blog

This Thanksgiving I traveled all the way from Seattle to Atlanta (again) to, among other things, attend the best college football rivalry game in the country; the Georgia Tech vs. U(sic)GA game. This year the game was the first and only GT game that I attended at Bobby Dodd stadium (readers will recall that I also saw the team play in person at Vanderbilt) and unless you have had your head under a rock for the past few days you probably also know that the game did not go well for us.

Now I don’t really know what qualifies a game as “rough” but here’s what made the game last Saturday rough for the GT faithful. First, we hate UGA. Good, clean hate mind you but hate none the less. Perhaps it’s because most of their fans didn’t even go to the school, and cheer for them because they win a lot and make an easy team to root for. Perhaps it’s because they usually beat us in football. Perhaps it’s because their football players and mascot tear up our field in front of our fans when they win. Whatever. We just don’t like them at all and losing to them only makes that worse. Second, we were actually good this year. Although I’ll admit that I thought the ranking in the top 10 was a bit optimistic, I really do think that we’ve done a good job this year. And in years past when the roles were reversed and U(sic)GA was on top we got trounced. Any of those years we would have loved to play the spoiler to U(sic)GA’s otherwise great season. Why then on the one rare occasion where the roles are reversed are we the ones who provide redemption for our rival’s otherwise mediocre season? Third, the game was so close. Although we were trailing pretty much the entire time, we were always within striking distance. And except for a brief period in the second quarter we had plenty of offensive momentum. This means that for pretty much the entire game we were all on the edge of our seats screaming our heads off hoping that we would take the lead. Right up to the very end. Let me tell you how much fun it was to wake up the next day, unable to speak in anything above a raspy whisper and remember: “oh yeah, we lost to Georgia last night, sweet.” And finally, on the topic of that period in the second quarter, it wouldn’t be a game against the dawgs without a little “coincidence.” How fortuitous that the first play immediately following our recovery of a U(sic)GA fumble for the go-ahead touchdown our star quarterback goes down with a twisted ankle…

Phew, now that’s out of my system.

The rest of the trip was great. I had a great time with friends and like every time I go back I left wondering why I moved so far away. Also, this might sound dumb, but this was the first trip where I realized that I’m really not in college anymore. For the game I was standing with my fraternity just like the old days, except that it wasn’t. Most of my close friends have graduated and in their places are all these new guys who I don’t know. Even those guys that I do know are getting ready to move on to grad school and other things. So the limited connection that I do have there will soon be gone. Even just being around the house or on campus was interesting. For the first time ever I felt more at home at the alumni tailgate then I did anywhere else.

But then, what are my alternatives? I don’t really feel old enough to move to the alumni sections for the games. I mean who really wants to sit through a football game? If I wanted to sit then I’d just stay home where I can camp out on the couch and drink beer that didn’t cost eight dollars a bottle. This might not have been all that bad of an idea given the outcome of the game… Anyways the trip was great and the times were good. So I can’t really complain all that much, even if I’m becoming one of the “old guys.” I’m just not there yet.

Theta Xi Front Porch Swing

Why I Like It:

One of the great benefits of living in the south is that nearly every house has a front porch. And, even better, many of those porches have swings. The relatively moderate weather in the southeast makes a porch swing something that can be enjoyed nearly year round. A blanket will keep you warm in the winter, and the swinging motion will create a refreshing breeze on even the hottest summer day. The swing on the porch in front of Theta Xi is a great place to sit and sip on a cold drink while watching the world go by.

What Happened There:

I’ve spent countless hours studying, thinking, or just talking with friends on the front porch swing. It also makes for a phenomenal place to end a date. I’m hesitant to mention it, but the swing is one of the main reasons I joined Theta Xi in the first place. My favorite times on the swing by far happened in the early morning when I would take Swat (our house dog) out front to frolic in the yard while I had some quiet Bible study.

Stone Mountain

Why I Like It:

While it’s not much to look at, and certainly nothing compared with the mountains in Colorado, Stone Mountain will always have a special place in my heart. It’s only a short hike to the top, but since it’s the highest point for many miles you can see forever (the picture above does not do it justice). There’s a cool breeze at the top as a reward for the sweaty hike up.

What Happened There:

I’ve had lunch, played frisbee, and enjoyed the sunset all atop Stone Mountain. The park surrounding the rock is itself something to behold as well, a beautiful oasis of nature in the middle of the Atlanta metro area. When I was younger I used to spend mornings at the park on the weekends making a few extra dollars cleaning up the lawn where they put on the laser show. The only thing I regret missing is the Easter morning sunrise service at the summit.

Mellow Mushroom Patio

Sadly I don’t have a picture from here.

Why I Like It:

Mellow Mushroom is home to some of the best pizza in Atlanta, just shy of Everybody’s. But the patio is what puts Mellow Mushroom over the top. The Mellow Mushroom on Peachtree Street just north of I-85 has a great outdoor eating area shaded by leafy trees and lit by strings of outdoor lights. It’s close enough to Peachtree that you can watch the world go by, but not so close that you are overly distracted by it.

What Happened There:

During the summer of 2007 my fraternity little brother Devin and I were both working in Atlanta and started a tradition of eating at Mellow Mushroom every Monday evening. We called the event Mellow Mushroom Monday or MMM for short. As in, mmm… that’s good pizza! We would head there in the late afternoon after work and hang out watching the sun set and the world go by while we enjoyed a large House Special pizza. During that summer we got to chat about life, work, cars and sometimes girls. It was a great time. Sadly after that summer I only made it back to Mellow Mushroom a few times but, when I did, I was reminded of all those MMM’s Devin and I shared.

Buckhead Church

Why I Like It:

Where to begin… I started attending Buckhead when I was a freshman at Tech and have made so many good memories and friends there since. As I have grown and changed in the intervening years, so has the church. We’ve moved from a small retrofit grocery store on Roswell road to a brand new facility at Tower Place. Pictured above is my favorite place in the new church building, the KidStuf Volunteer lounge. Although the rest of the building is often bustling and busy all Sunday, this room is usually quiet and a good place to get away for a moment of quiet reflection. Plus it has a fantastic view of Buckhead.

What Happened There:

Mission trips, worship, learning, service, friendship… there are too many memories here for me to put them all down. I’ve served in the family ministry (KidStuf) and in the main service on the production team, and in doing so I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with some great people. I’ve attended the College Ministry where I got to know some of my best friends and certainly ate my fair share of free food. I’ve been challenged by the weekly messages and teaching in the main service. But perhaps the most personally meaningful happening for me was the weekly meeting of my small group, a group of guys with whom I grew quite close to after two years of challenge and accountability as we “did life” together.

Midtown Jason’s Deli Patio

Why I Like It:

Jason’s Deli has to be one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Seriously where else can you get so much good, healthy food for so cheap? Between the sandwiches, pasta, and my favorites the chili and baked potato I never ran out of tasty options there. Not to mention the salad bar. Now that alone would put all Jason’s Delis on the list, but what sets the Jason’s in midtown Atlanta apart is it’s unbelievably awesome second floor patio. With views of the skyline that are fantastic day or night and a busy, interesting street below eating there was always an enjoyable experience. Add the free soft-serve ice cream afterward and there is literally no way you cannot like this place.

What Happened There:

While I ate hunger into submission there too many times for me to count, there are several Jason’s experiences that are particularly memorable. I loved going there after church on Sunday with friends as a prelude to an afternoon of hanging out at Piedmont Park only a couple blocks away. In 2009 I spent my entire spring break in my room hammering out the bulk of my thesis. Jason’s was a great place for me to get away from it all for an hour or so and enjoy some good food and fresh air. Other times I would take a good book and read for a few hours while enjoying unlimited iced tea. I was a big fan of reading C.S. Lewis there (I even called the meals “C.S. Lewis dates”), so much so that now whenever I read Lewis I get a strange craving for baked potato and salad. But perhaps my favorite times at Jason’s were actually had at the Tower Place location where the guys from my small group were repeatedly forced by me to go gladly and enthusastically went after our Monday night meetings. I think there’s something special about bonding with great friends over good food, and those times certainly qualified. They will certainly be missed.

The Thinking Spot

Why I Like It:

I discovered what became known as “the thinking spot” when a fraternity brother took a few of us there one afternoon. With the possible exception of the roof of the Civil Engineering building, this spot has the best view of Atlanta I’ve ever seen. And unlike the CE building no keys are required to get in. Any time of the year you could go here at night for a spectacular view of downtown and midtown Atlanta. The spot was relatively secluded, which made it great for just sitting and thinking or praying. Many of my friends upon introduction to the place promptly christened it the “make-out spot” and although I agree that it would be fantastic for that purpose, I wouldn’t know So the place will, for now, remain for me: the thinking spot.

What Happened There:

Since discovering the spot almost every major decision I’ve made has spent some time there. The thinking spot has seen the beginning of a lot of relationships, and even the end of some. I’ve been there alone for quiet reflection and prayer, or personal celebration. It was here I decided that I didn’t want to pursue a career in Civil Engineering, and here also that I went many subsequent times to ask God for new direction and revelation. After many frustrating days, I’ve found my sanity here. And after many great joys I’ve thanked God for his blessings here. But my favorite times were when I got to share this wonderful place with friends. Often times a group of us would grab dinner or a couple of beers (or both) and sit and talk for hours enjoying the sights and some good music.

I stop short of saying this is my most favorite place in Atlanta, only because there are so many good things about all the places I’ve been, and even more about the places that I’ve forgotten. But the thinking spot is definitely the place with the strongest emotional ties, and so it seems fitting that it’s the final place on my list. Atlanta was a great home for 6 years and although I miss it, hopefully before long I‘ll be writing all about my favorite places in Seattle.

So it’s been a while. Not that there hasn’t been a lot going on. I finally graduated and walked across the stage for the last time. More on that another time. My parents were in town for that and we got to hang out a little bit which was nice. Although this was likely the last time that they will be visiting me in Atlanta.

Now I’m just hanging out and getting things setup for the move to Seattle. Eventually I need to get a list of things to accomplish this summer together, preferably before it’s over.

I have a bunch of blog posts ready to go so, but unfortunately none of them are available as I’ve been in the midst of a domain re-organization project for the past few days. Once that’s finished updates should be both more interesting and more frequent.