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.